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AN
AMERICAN DICTIONARY '
OF THE * ^ *
ENGLISH LANGUAGES
INTENDED TO EXHIBIT,
I. The origin, affinities and primary signification of English words, as far as they have been ascertained.
11. The genuine orthography and pronunciation of words, according to general usage, or to just principles of ANAL80V.
III. Accurate and discriminating definitions, with numerous authorities and illustrations.
TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED,
AN INTRODUCTORY DISSERTATION
ON THE
ORIGIN, HISTORY AND CONNECTION OF THE
LANGUAGES OF WESTERN ASIA AND OF EUROPE,
AND A CONCISE ^JtAMMAR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
BY NOAH WEBSTER, LL. D.
IN TWO VOIiUMES.
VOL. 1.
He that wishes to be counted among the benefactors of posterity, must add, by his own toil, to the acquisitioDs of his ancestors Rambler.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY S. CONVERSE.
printed by HEZEKIAH HOWE — NEW HAVEN.
1838.
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, ss.
I" ^ Beit remembered, That on the fourteenth day of April, in the fifty-second year of tlie Independence of the United States of America,
Mu» (S» Noah Webster, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words
following, to wit :
** An American Dictionary of the English Language ; intended to exhibit, I. The origin, affinities, and primary signification of English words, as far
as they have been ascertained. II. The genuine orthography and pronunciation of words, according to general usage, or to just principles of analogy.
III. Accurate and discriminating definitions, with numerous authorities and illustrations. To which are prefixed, an inti'oductory dissertation on the ori-
gin, history and connection of the languages of Western Asia and of Europe, and a concise grammar of the English language. By Noah Webster, LL. D.
In two volumes."
In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts
and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." — And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to
an act, entitled ' An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies
during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut.
A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me,
CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut.
April 14th, 1828.
^60^
PREFACE.
In the year 1783, just at the close of the revolution, I published an elementary book for facilitating the acquisition
of our vernacular tongue, and for correcting a vicious pronunciation, which prevailed extensively among the common
people of this country. Soon after the publication of that work, I believe in the following year, that learned and
respectable scholar, the Rev. Dr. Goodrich of Durham, one of the trustees of Yale College, suggested to me, the
propriety and expediency of my compiling a dictionary, which should complete a system for the instruction of the
citizens of this country in the language. At that time, I could not indulge the thought, much less the hope, of
undertaking such a work ; as I was neither qualified by research, nor had I the means of support, during the execution
of the work, had I been disposed to undertake it. For many years therefore, though I considered such a work as
very desirable, yet it appeared to me impracticable ; as I was under the necessity of devoting my time to other
occupations for obtaining subsistence.
About twenty seven years ago, I began to think of attempting the compilation of a Dictionary. I was induced to
this undertaking, not more by the suggestion of friends, than by my own experience of the want of such a work, while
reading modern books of science. In this pursuit, I found almost insuperable difficulties, from the want of a
dictionary, for explaining many new words, which recent discoveries in the physical sciences had introduced into use.
To remedy this defect in part, I published my Compendious Dictionary in 1806; and soon after made preparations
for undertaking a larger work.
My original design did not extend to an investigation of the origin and progress of our language ; much less of
other languages. I limited my views to the correcting of certain errors in the best English Dictionaries, and to the
supplying of words in which they are deficient. But after writing through two letters of the alphabet, I determined
to change my plan. I found myself embarrassed, at every step, for want of a knowledge of the origin of words,
which Johnson, Bailey, .Tnnius, Skinner and some other authors do not afford the means of obtaining. Then laying
aside my manuscripts, and all books treating of language, except lexicons and dictionaries, I endeavored, by a diligent
comparison of words, having the same or cognate radical letters, in about twenty languages, to obtain a more correct
knowledge of the primary sense of original words, of the affinities between the English and many other languages,
and thus to enable myself to trace words to their source.
I had not pursued this course more than three or four years, before I discovered that I had to unlearn a great deal
that I had spent years in learning, and that it was necessary for me to go back to the first rudiments of a branch of
erudition, which I had before cultivated, as I had supposed, with success.
I spent ten years in this comparison of radical words, and in forming a synopsis of the principal words in twenty
languages, arranged in classes, under their primary elements or letters. The result has been to open what are to
me new views of language, and to unfold what appear to be the genuine principles on which these languages are
constructed.
After completing this synopsis, I proceeded to correct what 1 had written of the Dictionary, and to complete the
remaining part of the work. But before I had finished it, I determined on a voyage to Europe, with the view of
obtaining some books and some assistance which I wanted ; of learning the real state of the pronunciation of our
language in England, as well as the general state of philology in that country ; and of attempting to bring about some
agreement or coincidence of opinions, in regard to unsettled points in pronunciation and grammatical construction.
In some of these objects I failed ; in others, my designs were answered.
It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American
Dictionary of the English Language ; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is
desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas ; and if
the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. Now an
PREFACE.
identity of ideas depends materially updn a sameness of things or objects witii which the people of the two count) ies
are conversant. But in no two portions of the earth, remote from each other, can such identity be found. Even
physical objects must be different. But the principal differences between the people of this country and of all others,
arise from different forms of government, different laws, institutions and customs. Thus the practice of hawking and
hunting, the institution of heraldry, and the feudal system of England originated terms which formed, and some of
which now form, a necessary part of the language of that country ; but, in the United States, many of these terms are
no part of our present language, — and they cannot be, for the things which they express do not exist in this country.
They can be known to us only as obsolete or as foreign words. On the other hand, the institutions in this country
which are new and peculiar, give rise to new terms or to new applications of old terms, unknown to the people of
England ; which cannot be explained by them and which will not be inserted in their dictionaries, unless copied from
ours. Thus the terms, laiid-office; land-warrant; locution of land; consociation of churches ; regent of a university;
intendant of a city ; plantation, selectmen, senate, congress, court, assembly, escheat, &c. are either words not
belonging to the language of England, or they are applied to things in this country which do not exist in that. No
person in this country will be satisfied with the English definitions of the words congress, senate and assembly, court,
&c. for although these are words used in England, yet they are applied in this country to express ideas which they
do not express in that country. With our present constitutions of government, escheat can never have its feudal
sense in the United States.
But this is not all. In many cases, the nature of our governments, and of our civil institutions, requires an
appropriate language in the definition of words, even when the words express the same thing, as in England. Thus
the English Dictionaries inform us that a Justice is one deputed by the King to do right by way of judgment — he is a
Lord by his office — Justices of the peace are appointed by the King's commission — language which is inaccurate in
respect to this officer in the United States. So constitutionally is defined by Todd or Chalmers, legally, but in this
country the distinction between constitution and law requires a different definition. In the United States, a plantation
is a very different thing from what it is in England. The word marshal, in this country, has one important application
unknown in England or in Europe.
A great number of words in our language require to be defined in a phraseology accommodated to the condition
and institutions of the people in these states, and the people of England must look to an American Dictionary for a
correct understanding of such terms.
The necessity therefore of a Dictionary suited to the people of the United States is obvious ; and I should suppose
that this fact being admitted, there could be no difference of opinion as to the time, when such a work ought to be
substituted for English Dictionaries.
There are many other considerations of a public nature, which serve to justify this attempt to furnish an Americani
Work which shall be a guide to the youth of the United States. Most of these are too obvious to require illustration.
One consideration however which is dictated by my own feelings, but which I tiust will meet with approbation in
correspondent feelings in my fellow citizens, ought not to be passed in silence. It is this. " The chief glory of a
nation," says Dr. Johnson, " arises from its authors." With this opmion deeply impressed on my mind, I have the
same ambition which actuated that great man when he expressed a wish to give celebrity to Bacon, to Hooker, to
Milton and to Boyle.
I do not indeed expect to add celebrity to the names of Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jay, Madison, Marshall,
Ramsay, Dwight, Smith, Trumbull, Hamilton, Belknap, Ames, Mason, Kent, Hare, SilUman, Cleaveland, Walsh,
Irving, and many other Americans distinguished by their writings or by their science ; but it is with pride and
satisfaction, that I can place them, as authorities, on the same page with those of Boyle, Hooker, Milton, Dryden,
iddison, Ray, Milner, Cowpcr, Davy, Thomson and Jameson.
A life devoted to reading and to an investigation of the origin and principles of our vernacular language, and
especially a particular examination of the best English writers, with a view to a comparison of their style and
phraseology, with those of the best American writers, and with our colloquial usage, enables me to affirm with
confidence, that the genuine English idiom is as well preserved by the unmixed English of this country, as it is by
the best English writers. Examples to prove this fact will be found in the Introduction to this work. It is true, that
many of our writers have neglected to cultivate taste, and the embellishments of style ; but even these have written
the language in its genuine idiom. In this respect, Franklin and Washington, whose language is their hereditary
mother tongue, unsophisticated by modern grammar, present as pure models of genuine English, as Addison or
PREFACE.
Swift. But I may go farther, and affirm, with truth, that our country lias produced some of the best models of
composition. The style of President Smith ; of the authors of the Federalist ; of Mr. Ames; of Dr. Mason ; of Mr.
Harper; of Chancellor Kent; [ihe prose] of Mr. Barlow; of the legal decisions of the Supreme Court of the United
States ; of the reports of legal decisions in some of the particular states ; and many other writings ; in purity, in
elegance and in technical precision, is equaled only by that of the best British authors, and surpassed by that of no
English compositions of a similar kind.
The United States commenced their existence under circumstances wholly novel and unexampled in the history of
nations. They commenced with civilization, with learning, with science, with constitutions of free government, and
with that best gift of God to man, the christian religion. Their population is now equal to that of England; in arts
and sciences, our citizens are very little behind the most enlightened people on earth ; in some respects, they have no
superiors ; and our language, within two centuries, will be spoken by more people in this country, than any other
language on eartii, except the Chinese, in Asia, and even that may not be an exception.
It has been my aim in this work, now offered to my fellow citizens, to ascertain the true principles of the language,
in its orthography and structure ; to piuify it from some palpable errors, and reduce the number of its anomalies, thus
giving it more regularity and consistency in its forms, both of words and sentences ; and in this manner, to fuftiish a
standard of our vernacular tongue, which we shall not be ashamed to bequeath to three hiindrccl miUions of people,
who are destined to occupy, and I hope, to adorn the vast territory within our jurisdiction.
If the language can be improved in regularity, so as to be more easily acquired by our own citizens, and by foreigners,
and thus be rendered a more useful instrument for the propagation of science, arts, civilization and Christianity ; if it
can be rescued from the mischievous influence of sciolists and that dabbling spirit of innovation which is perpetually
disturbing its settled usages and filling it with anomalies ; if, in short, our vernacular language can be redeemed from
corruptions, and our philology and literature from degradation ; it would be a source of great satisfaction to me to
be one among the instruments of promoting these valuable objects. If this object cannot be effected, and my wishes
and hopes are to be frustrated, my labor will be lost, and this work must sink into oblivion.
This Dictionary, like all others of the kind, must be left, in some degree, imperfect ; for what individual is competent
to trace to their source, and define in all their various applications, popular, scientific and technical, sixty or seventy
thousand words ! It satisfies my mind that I have done all that my health, my talents and my pecuniary means would
enable me to accomplish. I present it to my fellow citizens, not with frigid indifference, but with my ardent wishes
for their improvement and their happiness ; and for the continued increase of the wealth, the learning, the moral and
religious elevation of character, and the glory of my country.
To that great and benevolent Being, who, during the preparation of this work, has sustained a feeble constitution,
amidst obstacles and toils, disappointments, infirmities and depression; who has twice borne me and my manuscripts
in safety across the Atlantic, and given me strength and resolution to bring the work to a close, I would present the
tribute of my most grateful acknowledgments. And if the talent which he entrusted to my care, has not been put to
the most profitable use in his service, I hope it has not been " kept laid up in a napkin," and that any misapplication
of it may be graciously forgiven.
New Haven, n2Z. - N.WEBSTER.
INTRODUCTION.
DEFINITION OF LANGUAGE.
Language or Speech is the utterance of jrticulate sounds or
(leied signitic
thoughts.
According I
by
for tlie expression and communication of
this definition, language belongs exchisively to intellectual
and intelligent beings, and among terrestrial beings, to man only ; for no
animal on earth, except man, can pronounce words. Thci word /angua^e
is sometimes usic I in ,i luon icmjiihi hiii-i\c ^in-,-, .m.l .i|.|)li. il in ili.- sounds
by which irr.ilioii.il ;Miiin.)N rvpir^- iL. n i. clin^. u, ,iii,riini,^, ,1^ (o the
neighing of tin- Ihm ^r. Ihr !..» iri^; III til,- .i\ , llir I. ,11 klliu C.I llir ih.u, .Hid to
the cackling and rlriiiMui; lil i.iw I . , Im ih.- s,,un.l- nil. i. .1 \'\ iln -. ;iiiinials
are perfectly understood by the respective species, So also language is
figuratively applied to the signs by which deaf and dumb persons manifest
their ideas ; for these are instruments of communicating thoughts.
But language, in its proper sense, as the medium of intercourse between
men, or rational beings, endowed with the faculty of uttering articulate
sounds, is the subject now to be considered.
Written language is the representation of signiticant sounds by letters,
or characters, single or combined in words, arranged in due order, accord-
ing to usage.
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE.
We read, in the Scriptures, that God, when he had created man, "Bles-
sed them and said to them. Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth
and subdue it ; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, &c." God after-
wards planted a garden, and placed in it the man he had made, with a com-
mand to keep it, and to dress it ; and he gave him a rule of moral conduct,
in permitting him to eat the fruit of every tree in the garden, except one,
the eating of which was prohibited. We further read, that God brought
Adam the fowls and beasts he had made, and that Adam gave them names;
and that when his female companion was made, he gave her a name. Af-
ter the eating of the forbidden fruit, it is stated that God addressed Adam
and Eve, reproving them for their disobedience, and pronouncing the penal
ties, which they had incurred. In the account of these transactions, it i
further related that Adam and Eve both replied to their Maker, and excused
their disobedience.
If we admit what is the literal and obvious interpretation of this narrative,
that vocal sounds or words were used in these communications betiveen God
and the progenitors of the human race, it results that Adam was not only
dowed with intellect for understanding his Maker, or the signification of
words, but was furnished both with the faculty of speech, and with speech
itself, or the knowledge and use of words, as signs of ideas, and this hefor<
the formation of the woman. Hence we may infer that language was be
stowed on Adam, in the same manner as all his other faculties and knowl
edge, by supernatural power; or in other words, was of divine origin ; for
supposing Adam to have had all the intellectual powers of any adult individ
ual of the species, who has since lived, wc cannot admit as probable, or evei
possible, that he should have invented and constructed even a barren Ian
guage, as soon as he was created, without supernatural aid. It may even
be doubted, whether without such aid, men would ever have learnt the
of the organs of speech, so far as to form a language. At any rate, the
vention of words, and the- construction of a language must have been by a
slow process, and niu^t have required a much longer time, than that which
passed betK'een the creation of Adam and of Eve. It is therefore probable
that language as well as the faculty of speech, was the immediate gift of
God. We are not however to suppose tl>e language of our first parents
paradise to have been copious, like most modern languages; or the identical
language they used, to be now in existence. Many of the primitive radical
words may and probably do exist in various languages ; but observation
teaches that languages must improve and undergo great changes as knowl-
and be subject to continual alterations, from other causes^-
aeni lo men m society.
A brief account of the origin and progress of the principal languages,
ancient and modern, that have been spoken by nations between the Ganges
and the Atlantic ocean.
We learn from the Scriptures that Noah, who, with his family, was pre-
served from destruction by the deluge, for the purpose of re-peopling
the earth, had three .sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. This fact, a little ob-
scured by tradition, was retained by our rude German ancestors, to the age
of Tacitus.*
Japheth was the eldestson ; but Shem, the ancestor of the Israehtcs, and
the writers of the Scriptures, is named first in order.
The descendants of Shem and Hani peopled all the great plain, situated
north and west of the Persian Gull, between that Gulf and the Indian ocean
1 the east and the Arabic Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea on the west,
ith the northern coast of Africa ; comprehending Assyria, Babylonia or
Chaldea, Syria, Palestine, Arabia, Egypt, and Lybia. The principal lan-
guages or dialects used by these descendants, are known to us under the
names of Chaldee, or Chaldaic, which is called also Aramean, Syriac, He-
brew, Arabic, Ethiopic, Samaritan and Coptic. Of these, the Chaldee, and
Hebrew are no longer living languages, but they have come down to us in
books ; the Samaritan is probably extinct or lost in the modern languages of
the country, but the language survives in a copy of the Pentateuch ; the
Coptic is nearly or quite extinct, and little of it remains ; the Syriac, Arabic
and Ethiopic are yet living languages, but they have suffered and are con-
tinually suffering alterations, from which no living language is exempt.
These languages, except the Coptic, being used by the descendants of
Shem, I call Shemitie, or Assyrian, in distinction from the Japhetic. As
the descendants of Japheth peopled Asia Minor, the northern parts of Asia,
about the Euxine and Caspian, and all Europe, their languages, have, in the
long period that has elapsed since their dispersion, become very numerous.
All languages having sprung from one source, the original words from
which they have been formed, must have been of equal antiquity. That
the Celtic and Teutonic languages in Europe are, in this sense, as old as the
Chaldee and Hebrew, is a fact not only warranted by history and the com-
mon origin of Japheth and Shem, but susceptible of proof from the identity
of many words yet existing, in both stocks. But there is a marked differ-
ence between the Shemitie and Japhetic languages ; for even when the ra-
dical words are unquestionably the same, the modifications, or inilections
nd combinations which form the compounds are, for the most part, different.
As it has been made a question which of the Shemitie languages is the
most ancient, and much has been written to prove it to be the Hebrew, I
will state briefly my opinion on what appears to me to be one of the plainest
questions in the history of nations. We have for our certain guides, in de-
termining this question — 1st. The historical narrative of facts in the book of
Genesis, and 2d. The known and uniform progress of languages, within the
iod of authentic profane history.
.. The Scripture informs us that, before the dispersion, the whole earth
s of one language and of one oi- the same speech ; and that the descend-
ants of Noah journeyed from the east, and settled on the plain of Shinar,
Chahlea. The language used at that time, by the inhabitants of that
* Celebrant, carminibus antiquis, Tuistonem deum terr4 editum, et filium
Mannum,originem gentis conditoresque. Manno tres filios assignant. — De
Mor. Germ. 2.
In ancient songs they celebrate Tuisto, a god sprung from the earth, and
his son Mannus [Man], the origin and founders of their nation. To Man-
nus they assign three sons.
Noah is here called Man.
INTRODUCTION.
iisf-qucnce of tlie impious attempts
\\ liose top might reach to heaven,
.ind prevent their dispersion, God
- 1 that they could not understand
icy were dispersed '■ from thence
plain, must then have been the oldsst or tl
This must have been tlie original CI
2. The Scriptxire inform- ns ilm
of the people to build ;i i ^
with a view to make tin i, . >
interposed and confoundc 'I i!.. r (■■lu
each other; in conseq-ie.ice .,1 \v li
over the vace of a'l tin; an.tli."
3. If the confusion of languages at Babel originated the differences which
gave rise to the various languages of the families which separated at the
dispersion, then those several languages are all of equal antiquity. Of these
the Hebrew, as a distinct language, was not one; for the Hebrew nation
was of posterior origin.
4. All the words of the several great races of men, both in Asia and Eu-
rope, which are vernacular in their several languages, and unequivocally
the same, are of equal antiquity, as they must have been derived from the
common Chaldee stock which existed before the dispersion. The words
common to the Syrians and Hebrews, could not have been borrowed from
the Hebrew, for the Hebrews originated from Heber and Abram, several
centuries after Syria and Egypt were populous countries. This fact is at-
tested by the Scripture history, which declares that when Abram migrated
from Chaldea, and came into Canaan or Palestine, "The Canaanite
then in the land ;" and when he returned from Egypt, " the Perizzite dwelt
in the land." These declarations, and the history of Abimelceh, and of thi
war of four kings or chieftains with five ; as also of the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, prove Syria to have been, at that time, well-peopled. The Ian
guage of the inhabitants then must have been coeval with the nation, and
long anterior to the Hebrew as a distinct dialect. It may be added that in
the early periods of the woi-ld, when no books existed, nations, living
mote or distinct, never borrowed words from each other. One nation, living
in the midst of another, as the Hebrews did among the Egyptians, may adopt
a single word, or a few words; but a family of words thus adopted is
occurrence rarely or never known. The borrowing of words, in modern
times, is almost wholly from the use of books.
5. It is probable that some dift'erenccs of language were produced by the
confusion; but neither that event nor any supernatural event is necessary
to account for the differences of dialect or of languages, now existing. The
different modern languages of the Gothic or Teutonic stock, all originated
in the natural course of events; and the differences are as great between
them as they are between the languages of the Shemitic stock
6. Soon after two races of men of a common stock have separated and
placed themselves in distant countries, the language of each begins to di
Terge from that of the other, by various means. — 1. One tribe or nation
will suffer one word to become obsolete and be forgotten ; another, will suffe
the loss of another ; sometimes a whole family of words will be lost ; at other
times, a part only ; at other times, a single word only of a numerous family
will be retained by one nation, while another nation will retain the whole
2. The same word will be differently applied by two distant races of men
and the difterence will be so great as to obscure the original afiBnity. 3
Words will be compounded by two nations in a different manner, the same
radical words taking a different prefix or suffix, in different languages. Th
wisdom in English is in German weisheit, [wisehead, wisehood] from wit
wets. In EngMsh misi ead is in Banish fbrleder, (mm lead, leder. 4. The
pronunciation and orthography of words will often be so much changed,
that the same word in two languages, cannot without difficulty, be recogniz
ed as identical. No person, without a considerable attention to the changes
which letters have suffered, would at once suspect or believe the English
let and the French laisser to be the same word.
7. As Abram migrated from Chaldea, he must have spoken the Chaldee
language, and probably, at that time, the Syriac, Arabic and Egyptian, had
not become so different, as to render it impracticable for him to converse with
the inhabitants of Palestine and Egypt. But the language of Abram's
scendants, and that of the land of Stiinar or the Chaldee must, in the natural
course of things, have begun to diverge, soon after the separation ; and th
changes in each language being different, would, in the course of a few
centuries, form somewhat different languages. So in the days of Hezekiah
the Syriac and Hebrew had become, in a degree, distinct languagei
Kings xviii. In which of these languages, the greatest number of alterations
were produced, we do not know ; but from the general observations I have
made, in my researches, it appears that the Chaldee dialect, in the use of
dental letters instead of sibilants, is much the most general in the Celtic and
Teutonic languages of Europe. Thus the German only has a sibilant in
wasser, when the other Teutonic languages have a dental, water. I think
also that there are far more words in the European languages which accord
with the Chaldee or Arabic, than there are words which accord with the He-
brew. If this observation is well-founded, the Hebrew must have suffered
the loss of more primitive words than the other languages of the Shemitic
family. This however is tiue, that all of them have lost some words, and
in some cases, the Hebrew retains what the others have lost,
8. The Hebrew Scriptures are, by many centuries, the most ancient
writings extant. Hence probably the strange inference, that the Hebrew
is the oldest language; as if the inhabitants of Chaldea and Syria had had
no language, for ages before the progenitor of the Hebrews was bor
9. The vernacular words in the Celtic and Teutonic languages of modern
Europe, which are evidently the same words as still exist in the Shemitic
languages, are of the same antiquity ; being a part of the common language
which was used on the plain of Shinar, before the dispersion.
The descendants of Japheth peopled the northern part of Asia, and all Eu-
pe ; or if some colonies from Egypt planted themselves in Greece, at an ear-
ly period, they or their descendants must have been merged in the mass of
Japhetic population. Certain it is that the Greek language is chieHy form-
ed on the same radical words, as the Celtic and Teutonic languages.
The Japhetic tribes of men, whose descendants peopled the south and
west of Europe, were first established in the country now called Persia, or
by the natives themselves, Iran. Of this fact, the evidence now existing is
decisive. The numerous words found in the Greek, Latin, Gaelic, English
and the kindred tongues, which are still used in Persia, prove, beyond all
question, that Persia must have been the residence of the people whose de-
scendants introduced into Europe the languages from which the modern
languages are derived. The fact proves further that a great body of the
original Persians remained in their own country, and their descendants con-
stitute the mass of the population at this day.
In the early stages of society, men dwelt or migrated in families, tribes or
clans. The family of Abraham and Jacob in Asia, and the clans of the Gaels
Scotland, exhibit to us the manner in which societies and nations were
originally formed. The descendants of a man settled around him, and form-
ed a elan, or tribe, of which the government was patriarchal. Such families
often migrated in a body, and often the personal characteristics of the pro-
genitor might be distinctly traced in his descendants for- many generations.
In process of time, some of these families became nations ; more generally,
by means of wars and migrations, different tribes became blended, and the
distinction of families was lost.
In rude ages, the families or tribes of men are named from some character-
tic of the people ; or more generally, from the place of their residence.
The Greeks gave the name of Seythia to the north of Europe and Asia, but
the primitive inhabitants of the west of Europe, they called KtXroi, Kelts,
Celts, a word signifying woods men* These were descendants from the
same ancestors as the Greeks and Romans themselves, but they had pushed
their migrations into Gaul, Spain .ind Britain. The first settlers or occupi-
ers of these countries were driven forward by successive hords, until they
were checked by the ocean ; there they made their stand, and there we
find their descendants at this day. These may be considered as the de-
scendants of the earliest settlers, or first inhabitants of the countries where
they are found. Among these are the inhabitants of France, south of the
Garonne, and those of me north of Spain, called by the Romans Aquitani
and Cantabri, in more modern times Gascoigns, Basques, and Cantabrians,
who still retain their native language ; and in Great Britain, the Gaels in
Scotland, and the natives of the north and west of Ireland, who also retain
their primitive language.!
The first inhabitants of the north and west of Europe, known to the Greeks
and Romans, to whom we are indebted for our earliest accounts of that re-
gion, were the Cimbri, who inhabited the peninsula of Denmark, now called
Jutland, and the tribes which belonged to the Teutonic and Gothic races,
which were established in Germany and on both sides of the Baltic. Wheth-
er tribes of Celtic origin had overspread the latter countries, before the arri-
val of the Gothic and" Teutonic races, and all Europe had been inhabited by
* Welsh celt, a cover, or shelter, a Celt; celtiad, an inhabitant of the co-
ert or wood ; celu, to conceal, Lat. eelo. In Gaelic the word is coilt or
eeilt. The Celts were originally a tribe or nation inhabiting the north of
Italy, or the still more northern territory.
t I purposely omit all consideration of the different families, tribes or na-
tions which first peopled Greece and Italy. In Greece, we read of the
rpawc. or rpoi*o(, the Hellenes, the Acha;ans, the Dorians, the ./Eolians,
the lonians, the Pelasgi, &c. In Italy, of the Illyrians, the Liburni, the
SicuU, the Veneti or Heneti, the Iberi, Ligures, Sicani, Etrusci, Insubres,
Sabini, Latini, Samnites, and many others. "But as these nations or their de-
scendants gave the name of Celts to the Umbri, or nations that dwelt in
the north, in the less cutivated parts of Europe, and to the inhabitants of
Gaul ; and as all the tiibes, under whatever denomination they were known,
branches of the great Japhetic stock, I shall call them by that gene-
ral name, Celts ; and under the general name of Goths or Teutons, shall
comprehend the various tribes that inhabited the north of Germany, and the
country north of the Baltic or Scandinavia.
A late writer seems to consider the Teutonic races, as the only ancestors
of the Greeks and Romans. But from Celtic words, still found in the Greek
and Latin ; words not belonging to any of the Gothic or Teutonic languages ;
demonstrably certain that the primitive settlers in Greece and Italy,
belonged to the Celtic races. Thus the Greek iifxixtav, Lat. Irachium, the
arm, is formed on the Gaelic braigh, raigh, W. brau;, a word not found
among the Teutonic nations. So the Welsh mociaw, to mock, is found in the
Greek fiaxiM, and French moquer, to mock, and Ir. mogadh, a mocking ; but
not in any of the Gothic or Teutonic languages. Many similar facts prove
that the Celtic races were among the earliest inhabitants of Greece.
INTRODUCTION.
the Celts, even to the horders of Savmalia, has been a question much disputed
by historians and antiquaries. The German and French writers generally
contend that the Celts inhabited all the north of Europe, as far at least as
Sarmalia; but some respectable English writers are ot a different opinion.
Now it is agreed that the Welsh are descendants of the Cimbri, inhabitants
of Jutland, and their language bears a strong affinity to the Celtic languages,
which still exist; a fact that countenances the opinion of the German and
Trench writers. But the dispute is of little moment ; the Celtic, Teutonic
and Gothic races being all of the Japhetic stock, migrating from Asia
through Asia Minor at different times, and pursuing different courses west-
ward. The first tribes probably .sought the warm climates along the north
coast of the Mediterranean, and established themselves in Greece and Italy.
Others followed the course of the Danube and its subsidiary streams, till
they fell upon the rivers that conducted them to the Baltic. The first in-
habitants of Greece and Italy were probably of the Celtic race ; but if they
were, it is very evident that tribes of the teutonic or Gothic races invaded
those countries before they were civilized, and intermingled witli the ori-
ginal inhabitants. The Pelasgi may have been among the number. This
is an inference which I draw from the affinities of the Greek and Latin Ian
guages, with those of Teutonic origin. The Teutonic and Gothic races im-
pressed their language upon all the continent of Europe west of the Vistula
and from that river to the Rhine, or rather to the Seine, anterior to the con-
quest of Gaul by Julius Cesar. The same races invading and conquering
the south of Europe, in the fourth and fifth century, on the downfall of the
Uoman eriipiri-, iiilu-iml a portion of their language into the Italian and Span
ish, ul.i.li ,s ,,11,1, -„,.4-„ishal)le.
Tin- Mir . ,,, ■- I . .1 ,. including Poland and Russiia, was probably peo-
pled m in "I nicn who passed into Europe by the country north
of till- i:,,\ ,1 I J 1, (iiiginal residence was along the rivers Kur and
Araxes. oi- on llie mountains between the Euxine and Caspian. The name
of the Rtiss or Russians is clearly recognized in the Roxolani of Pliny and
Ptolemy, and possibly the ancestors of this race may have entered Europe by
Asia Minor. That the Teutonic races, originally from Persia, inhabited Asia
Minor, and migrated westward by that course, is evident from the names
which they impressed on mountains, rivers and places — Such are the Cra-
friis of Pliny, the Welsh and English crag ;* Perga in Pamphylia, now
hurg or bergen ; Thymbreck, the name of a small stream, near the site of
Troy ; a word in which we recognize the English brook. It was contract
ed by the Greeks into ThymbriusA
It is admitted by all gentlemen, acquainted with oriental literature, that
the Sanscrit, or ancient language of India, the parent of all the dialects of
that great peninsula, is radically the same language or from the same stock
as the Greek and Latin ; the affinities between them being remarkably
clear and decisive. If so, the inhabitants of India and the descendants of the
Celtic and Teutonic nations are all of one family, and must have all migrated
from one country, after the separation of the nations of the Shemitic stock
from those of the Japhetic race.t
Whether that country was Persia, or Cashmir, or a country farther east,
is a point not easily determined. One important inference results from this
fact, that the white men of Europe and the black or tawny men of India, are
direct descendants from a common ancestor.
Of the languages of Europe, the Greek was first improved and refined
and next to that the Latin. The affinity between these languages, and
those of the west and north of Europe is very striking, and demonstrates thei
common origin. It is probable however that there are some words in th(
Greek derived from Africa, if Egyptian colonies were established in Greece,
as historians inform us.
The modern Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese, are composed chief-
ly of Latin words, much altered however both in orthography and inflec-
tions. Perhaps nine tenths of all the words now found in those languages
are of Latin origin ; being introduced by the Romans, who held Gau"
subjection, five or six centuries, and Spain much longer ; or being born
cd from Latin authors, since the revival of letters. All these iaiigu;i
however retain many words of Celtic origin ; the primitive language not 1,
ing been entirely extirpated. In some instances, the same word has b
transmitted through both channels, the Celtic and the Latin, and is yet
tajncd. Thus in French cider, and in Italian Cfdere, is directly from the
Latin cedo ,- while the French, congedier, and Italian, congedare, are com-
posed of the same word, with a prefix, derived from the Celtic, and retained
in the Welsh gadaw, to quit, to leave. [L. concedo.] And this same verb
probably appeal's also in quit, a word common to the Teutonic and to the Cel-
tic languages. See Conge, in the Dictionary.
It must be observed further, that the Spanish language contains some
words of African origin, introduced by the Carthaginians, before the Roman
conquest of Spain, or afterwards by the Moors, who, for several centuries,
were masters of thatcounlry. It contains also some words of Gothic oiigiii.
introduced by the Goths who conquered that country, at the downfall of the
Roman Empire. The French also contains some words of Teutonic origin,
either from the Belgic tribes wlio occupied the country to the Seine, at the
time of Cesar's invasion, or from the Franks who estabUshed the dynasty of
the Merovingian Kings in the fifth century, or from the Normans who ob-
tained possession of the northern part of that kingdom in the tenth century,
or from all these sources.
The German, Dutch or Belgic, Anglo-Saxon, Danish and Swedish lan-
guages are of Teutonic or Gothic origin.* They are all closely allied ; a
great part of the words in them all being the same or from the same roots,
with different prefixes or affixes. There is however a greater difference
between the Danish and Swedish, which are of the Gothic stock, and the
German and Dutch, which are of Teutonic origin, than between two lan-
guages of the same stock, as between the Danish and Swedish. The Nor-
wegian, Icelandic, and some of the languages or dialects of Switzerland, be-
long to the same stock ; but of these I have no particular knowledge.
The Basque or Cantabrian in Spain ; the Gaelic in the north of Scotland,
and the Hiberno-Celtic, or native language of Ireland, arc the purest re-
mains of the ancient Celtic. From a comparison of a vocabulary of the Gae-
lic and Hiberno-Celtic, I find little or no difterence between them ; and from
a long and attentive examination of this language, and of the languages *f
Teutonic origin, I find less difference between them, than most autliors Iiave
supposed to exist.
The Armoric or language of Brittany in the northwest angle of France,
and the Cornish, in the southwest of England, are also of Celtic origin. The
Cornish is now extinct ; but the Armoric is a living language.
The English as now spoken, is a language composed of words from
several others. The basis of the language is Anglo-Saxon, or, as I
shall, for the sake of brevity, call it, Saxon, by which it is closely allied to
the languages of Teutonic and Gothic origin on the continent. But it re-
tains a great number of words from the ancient languages of Britain, the
Belgic, or Lloegrian, and the Cymraeg, or Welsh ; particularly from tlie lat-
ter, and some from the Cornish. Cesar informs us, that before he invaded
Britain, Belgic colonics had occupied the southern coast of England ; and
the inhabitants of the interior, northern and western parts, were the ances-
tors of the present Welsh, who call themselves Cymry, and their country
Cymru, a name which indicates their origin from the <?imbri, inhabitants of
the modern Denmark, or Cimbric Chersonese, now Jutland.
The modern Welsh contains many Latin words introduced by the Romans,
who had possession of Britain for five hundred years. But the body of the
language is probably their vemaculai- tongue. It is more nearly allied to
the languages of Celtic origin, than to those of the Teutonic and Gothic
stock ; and of this British language, the Cornish and Armoric are dialects.
It has been commonly supposed that the Britons were nearly extermina-
ted by the Saxons, and that the few that survived, escaped into the west of
England, now Wales. It is true that many took refuge in Wales, which
their descendants still retain ; but it cannot be true that the other parts of
England were entirely depopulated. On the other hand, great numbers
must have escaped slaughter, and been intermixed with their Saxon con-
querors. The Welsh words, which now form no unimportant part of the
English language, aflbrd decisive evidence of this fact. It is probable how-
ever that these words were for a long time used only by the common peo-
ple, for few of them appear in the early Saxon writers.
The English contains also many words, introduced by the Danes, who
were, for some time, masters of England ; which words are not found in the
Saxon. These words prevail most in the northern counties of England ; but
many of them are incorporated into the body of the language, and are used in
the United States.
After the conquest, the Norman Kings endeavored to extirpate the Eng-
lish language, and substitute the Norman. For this purpose, it was ordain-
(ed that all law proceedings and records should be in the Norman language ;
and hence the early records and reports of law cases came to be written in
j Norman. But neither royal authority, nor the influence of courts, could
change the vernacular language. After an experiment of three hundred
years, the law was repealed; and .since that period, the English has been,
;for the most part, the official, as well as the common language of the nation.
A few Norman words however remain in the English ; most of them in law
language.
Since the conquest, the English has not suffered any shock from the in-
termixture of conquerors with the natives of England ; but the language has
undergone great alterations, by the disuse of a large portion of Saxon words,
and tlie introduction of words from the Latin and Greek languages, with
some French, Italian, and Spanish words. These words have, in some in-
stances, been borrowed by authors, directly from the Latin and Greek ; but
most of the Latin words have been received through the medium of the
— ^ jiFrench and Italian. For terms in the sciences, authors have generally re-
am- ivT II I -1- B o.., c^ , I .t - ^ • i- .u 1 .1. r> 1 sorted to the Greek ; and from this source, as discoveries in science demand
^,I^^X-I^^;^:L^r:;^.1^^^^ ^^ vocabulary of the English language is receiving continual
eighth year. Hence perhaps the name from deal, and»ia</( or madh, coun-
try.
t Clarke's Travels. I * In strictness, the Swedish and Danish are of Gothic origin, and the Gei-
J See the word chuk in the Dictionary. liman and Saxon, of Teutonic origin.
Vol. I. B.
INTRODUCTION.
auglnentation. We have also a few words from the German and Swedish,
mostly terms in mineralogy, and commerce has introduced new commodi-
ties of foreign growth or manufacture, with their foreign names, which now
make a part of our language. — Such are camphor, amber, arsenic, and many
others.
The English then is composed of,
1st, Sason and Danish words of Teutonic and Gothic origin.
2d, British or Welsh, Cornish and Armoric, which may be considered as
of Celtic origin.
3d, Norman, a mixture of French and Gothic.
4th, Latin, a language formed on the Celtic and Teutonic.
5th, French, chiefly Latin corrupted, but with a mixture of Celtic.
6th, Greek, formed on the Celtic and Teutonic, with some Coptic.
7th, A few words directly from the Italian, Spanish, German, and other
languages of the continent.
8th, A few foreign words, introduced by commerce, or by political an
Of these, the Saxon words constitute our mother tongue ; being wordi
which our ancestors brought with them from Asia. The Danish and Welsh
also are primitive words, and may be considered as a part of our vernacular
language. They are of equal antiquity with the Chaldee and Syriac
AFFINITY OF LANGUAGES.
On comparing the structure of the different languages of the Shemitic and
Japhetic stocks, we cannot but be struck with the fact, that although a great
number of words, consisting of the same or of cognate letters, and convey-
ing the same ideas, are found in them all ; yet in the inflections, and in the
manner of forming compounds and derivatives, there are remarkable differ-
ences between the two great families. In the modifications of the verb, for
expressing person, time, and mode, very little resemblance is observable be
tween the'm. If we could prove that the personal terminations of the verb,
in the Japhetic languages, were originally pronouns, expressive of the pe
sons, we should prove an affinity between the words of the two races, in
most important particular. Some attempts of this kind have been made ; but
not with very satisfactory results.*
In the formation of nouns, we recognize a resemblance between
the English termination th, in birth, truth, drouth, [Saxon drugothe]
warmth, &c., and the Shemitic terminations n' and ni; and the
plural termination en, retained in oxen, and the Welsh plural ending
coincide nearly with the Arabic termination of the dual number /, )
and the regular masculine plural termination ^^ ^ as well as with the
Chaldee, Hebrew, and Syriac p . And it is justly remarked by Mitford, that
in the variety of plural terminations of nouns, there is a striking resemblance
between the Arabic and the Welsh. There is one instance, in the modem
languages of Teutonic origin, in which we find the Arabic nunnation : — this
is the German and Dutch binnen, the Saxon binnan or binnon, signifying
within, Hebrew and Chaldee pa, Ar. ,,-aj without the mark of nunna-
tion, when it signifies within ; but when it signifies separation, space, inter-
val, the original sense, it is written ... a j > and pronounced, with the nun-
nation, like the Teutonic word.
One mode of forming nouns from verbs in the Shemitic languages is by
prefixing m. I know of no instance of this manner of formation, in the Ja-
phetic languages, except in some names which are of oriental origin. Mars
is said to be fro
I afrii,
but if ;
the word
1 undoubtedly formed in the
cast. So we find Morpheus, the god of sleep, to be probably formed with
the prefix m, from the Ethiopic ^04<J^ '" ''®''' '" '^" asleep; whence we
infer that Morpheus is sleep deified. t
But as many words in all the languages of Europe and Asia, are formed
with prepositions, perhaps it may be found on examination, that some of
these prefixes may be common to the families of both stocks, the Japhetic
and the Shemitic. We find in German, gemnth, in Dutch, gemoed, from
muth,moed, mind, mood. We find mad in Saxon is gemaad; polish, the
h^tin polio, is in Welsh caboli; mail in Italian is both maglia and camag-
lia; belief in Saxon is geleaf, and in German, glaube. We find that in the
Shemitic languages nbo signifies to fill or be full, and we find in the Arabic
y^T has the same signification. In Syriac Jl vN, signifies to remove ;
• According to Dr. Edwards, there is a remarkable resemblance between
the bhemitjc languages, and the Muhhekaneew, or Mohegan, one of the na-
tive languages of New England, in the use of the pronouns as prefixes and
affixes to verbs.— Observations, Sfc.p. 13.
f Ludolf, Col. 446, 447.
and ^^o signifies to wander in mind, to be delirious. In Chaldee and
Syriac, im is to wonder, precisely the Latin demiror, which is a compound
of de and miror.
We find also that nations differ in the orthography of some initial sounds,
where the words are the same. Thus the Spanish has llnmar, llorar, for
the Latin clamo, ploro, and the Welsh has llawr, for the English floor,
llabi, a tall, lank person, coinciding with /aftft?/, llac for slack, and the like.
As the prepositions and prefixes, in all languages, constitute an important
class of words, being used in composition to vary the sense of other parts of
speech, to an almost unUmited extent, it may be useful to give them a par-
ticular consideration.
The simple prepositions are, for the most part, verbs or participles, or de-
rived from them ; when verbs, they are the radical or primary word, some-
times varied in orthography by the addition or alteration of a single vowel,
or perhaps, in some cases, by the loss of the initial consonant, or aspirate.
Such are the Greek ?tapa, ?t£pt, xata ; the Latin con and per ; the English
for, which retain their original consonants. The following, of, by, in, on,
un; the Latin ab, ad, pro, pr<B, re; the Greek ano, trtt, rtpo, may have
lost the initial or final consonants; of [or hof; in (or hin; ab for hab ; pro
for prod. In some words, this loss can only be conjectured ; in others, it
s known or obvious. Thus the English by and be was originally big, as it is
n the Saxon ; and the Latin re, is written also red, evidently a derivative of
an Arabic verb still existing ; the Latin sub and super are foi med probably
from the Greek ii?fo, vrttp, by the change of an aspirate into s, or the
Greek words have lost that letter. The English but in the phrase " They
are all here but one," is a participle ; the Sax. butah, or buton ,- Dutch
buiten, from buiten, to rove. Among is the Saxon gemang, the verb, or the
participle of gemengan, to mingle.
In general, the primary sense of the preposition is moving, or moved.
Thus to in English and ad in Latin, primarily denote advancmg towards a
place or object; as in the sentence, " We are going to town." From, of,
' It. ab, Gr. a?ro, denote motion from a place or object. The French prts,
from the Italian ^resso, and tiiis is the Latin participle pressus, pressed;
hence it denotes near, close.
In some instances prepositions are compounds, as the English before ; that
be or by fore, by the front, and the Fr. aupres, at or at near.
Prepositions, from their frequent use, and from the ease with which their
primary signification is modified to express differences of position, motion or
lation, as occasions demand, have, in many instances, a great variety of
applications ; not indeed as many as lexicogi apheis sometimes assign to
them, butseveral different, and sometimes opposite significations ; as for ex-
amples, the Enghsh /or, with ; tiie Latin con, and the Greek rtopa. For,
which is from the root of Saxon faran, Gr. 7topfuO|Uat, to pass, denotes to-
wards, as in the phrase " A ship bound /or Jamaica ;" or it denotes in /a»or
of, as " This measure is/or the public benefit ;" or " The present is /or a
But it denotes also opposition or negation, as \n forbear, forgive,
forbid.
With is a verb, but has rather the sense of a participle. It is found in the
Gothic with a prefix, ga-withan, to join or unite. Its primary sense then is
joined, close ; hence, in company ; as in the sentences — " go with him,"
" come with me." It has the sense also of from, against, contrariety, op-
position, as in withdraw, withstand, without. In Saxon it had also the
sense of towards, as "with eorthan," towards the earth; also of for, de-
noting substitution or equivalent in exchange, as " sylan with dieges
weorce," to give for a day's work ; also of opposite, over against, as
'* with tha s£e," opposite the sea.
Con in Latin generally signifies with, towards or to, denoting closeness
or union, approach, joint operation and the like, as in concurro, conjungo,
congredior ; but it has also the sense of against or opposition, as in con-
tendo.
The Greek rrapa, is doubtless from the root of the English fare, Saxon
faran, to go, to pass. It signifies from, that is, departure — also at, to, Lat.
ad ; near, with, beyond, and against.
To understand the cause of the different and apparentiy contrary signifi-
cations, we are to attend to the primary sense. The effect of passing to a
place is nearness, at, presso, pres, and this may be expressed by the parti-
ciple, or in a contracted form, by the verb. The act of passing or moving
towards a place readily gives the sense of such prepositions as to, and the
Latin ad, and this advance may be in favor or for tiie benefit of a person or
thing, the primary sense of which may perhaps be best expressed by to-
wards ; " a presentor a measure is towards him," — But when the advance of
one thing towards another, is in enmity or opposition, we express the sense by
against, and this sense is especially expressed when the motion or approach
is in front of a person, or intended to meet or counteract another motion.
Hence the same word is often used to express both senses ; the context de-
termining which signification is intended. Thus/or in English, in the sen-
tence, " He that is not /or us is against us," denotes in favor of. But in the
phrase "for all that," it denotes opposition. " It rains, but/or all that, we
will take a ride,"that is, in opposition to that, or notwithstanding the rain,
we will ride.
The Greek irapa, among other senses, signifies beyond, that is, past, and
otier, Hebrew 13j\
INTRODUCTION.
The prepositions wliicli are used, as distinct words, are called separable
prepositions, or more generally prepositiom : — those which are used only
in composition are called inseparable prepositions. Kor the sake of brevity,
I give to all words or single letters, prefixed to other words in composition,
the general name of prf^xfs.
One of the best mo<lcs of ascertaining the true sense of a preposiUon, is, to
examine its various uses in composition, and discover what effect it has in
modifying the signitication of the word to which it is prefixed.
Prepositions, useil in compounds, often suffer the loss or change of a let-
ter, for the sake of euphony, or the ease of pronunciation. Thus ad in Latin
becomes/ in affero ; con becomes col in colligo ; the Gr. jtapo loses a letter
in Ttapniit,, as does am, in many words.
The following sketch of the principal prepositions and prefixes in several
limguages of Europe will exhibit some of the affinities of these languages,
and in a degree, illustrate the uses of this class of words.
SAXON AND GOTHIC.
^nd. Sax. and Goth, signifies agaitist, opposite. This is the Gr. a»Ti.
and Latin ante, not borrowed from the Greek or Latin, but a native word
Examples, andstandan, to stand against, to resist. Andswarian, answari-
an, to answer ; that is, to speak again, against or in return.
Amb, emb, ym*, usually emb, Saxon, signifying about, around; coincid
ing with the Latin ainb, and Gr. a/i^i.. Example, emb-faran, to go around,
to walk about; emiutan, about; em6, about, and 6utnn, without. See But
Jlmbeht, cmbeht, ymbeht, office, duty, whence we have embassador. Thii
in Gothic is andbahtei, and a bailiif, minister or servant is andbahts. The
Germans have the word contracted in amt, charge, office, Dutch ampt
Dan. ambt. The Gothic ortliography gives rise to the question whether
amb, emb, aniavti, Sax. and Goth, ojid, are not radically the same word;
and it is very certain that the Gothic and Saxon and, is radically the same
word as the Latin in, Dan. ind. So in Gothic, " and wigans," in the ways,
into the highways. Luke, xiv. 23. " and haimos" per vicos, through the
towns. Luke, ix. 6.
This preposition, amb, is in Dutch om ; in German urn ; in Swedish and
Danish om.
At, is a Gothic preposition and prefix, comciding with Eng. at, Lat. ad
Be, in Saxon, as a preposition and prefix, is always written be, or big, an-
swering to the English by, a preposition, and be in beset. In Gothic, it is
written 6i, by and be, being contractions of big. The primary and principal
signification is near, close ; as " stand or sit 6^ me." So in the word by-
stander. It is a prefix of extensive use in the Saxon, German, Dutch
Danish and Swedish. Its use in denoting instrumentality, may be from the
sense of nearness, but more probably it is from passing, like per, through
or it denotes proceedin^from, like of, as salvation is of the Lord.
For, in Saxon, as in English, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use
In Saxon /or signifies a going, from /aran, to go, to fare. It is radically thi
same word as /ore, in the sense of in front, before. Its primary sense i:
advancing ; hence moving towards ; hence the sense of in favor of, and
that of oppo.sition, or negation. See the preceding remarks.
This word in German is/«r, but, with this orthography, the word is little
used in composition. Yet the German has/urfti'He, intercession or praying
for; fllrwort, intercession, recommendation, and a pronoun [for-word;]
andfur-wahr, forsooth.
In the sense of fore, the German has vor, a word of extensive
prefix. Thus in Saxon /oreseoi, to foresee, is in German vorsehen. The
identity of tliese words will not be questioned. But in German as in Dutch
the preposition ver, which is the English far, and Saxon fyr, is used in
composition, in words in which the Saxon and English have/or. Thus for-
gifan,toforgive, is in German, vergeben, and in Dutch, vergeeven — Saxon,
forgitan, to forget; German vergessen; Dutch vergectejt. Hence we see
that the Saxon for, fore, fyr, the English for, fore, far, and tlie German
fur, vor and ver, are from Uie same radix.
In Dutch, /or and fore are represented by voor, and ver represents /or
The Danish also unites/or and fore, as does the Swedish.
The French has this word in pour, and the Spanish and Portuguese in
por. The latter signifies not only /or, but through, as in Portuguese, " Eu
passarei por Fran(;a." " I will pass through France. Here we see the
sense of moving. In Spanish and Portuguese this word is written also para,
as if from the Greek. It is evidently the same word, probably received
through a different channel from that of poi: Now through is the exact
sense of the Latin per ; and per is the Italian preposition answering to for
and pm: But what is more to the purpose, the Spanish, Italian and Portu-
fuese word, equivalent to the English /or^ire, is in Spanish perdonar ; in
talian, perdon<ire, and in Portuguese, periioar ; and the French is ^ardon-
Jier. Here tlien we have strong, if not conclusive evidence, that /or, pour,
por, per, par, and para, in different languages, are all from one stock, the
word being varied in dialect, or by the different families ; just as we have
far, farther, as well as the Saxon^r, and the English /or(A, further, from
the same primitive word. We have the same word in. pursue and pur-
chase, from the French ^o«r.
The Greek has rtcpai; and jtopo, probably from the same root, as well a-
rtOfifvofiai, ;fopo^
Ga, in Gothic, and ge in Saxon, is a prefix of very extensive use. In
Saxon, it is prefixe<l to a large portion of all tlie verbs in the language.
According to Lye, it has sometimes tlie sense of the Latin cum ; but ui most
words I cannot discern any effect of tliis prefix on the signification of the
pie verb. It is retained in the Danish and in some German and Dutch
words, especially in the participles of verbs, and in nouns formed from them.
But it is remarkable that although the Saxon isourmottier tongue, we have
not remaining in the language a single instance of this prefix, with the ori-
ginal orthography. The only remains of it are in the contraction, a, as in
looAre, adrift, ashamed, iic. from gewacan, aweecan ; gedrifan, adrif-
an; gesceamian, ascamian. The letter y prefixed to verbs and participles
used by Chaucer, as yberied, yblent, ybore, ydight, and a few others, is the
remnant of the ge. The words yclad, and ycleped, are the last English
words used, in wliich this letter appears.
It is possible that the first syllable oi govern, from Lat. gubemo, Gr.
xvSi(iva.a, may be the same prefix ; or it may be the Welsh prefix go,
which occurs in goberu, to work, which the Romans wrote operor. But I
know not whether the first syllable of govern is a prefix or not.
There is another word which retains this prefix corrupted, or its equiva-'
lent ; this is common, which we have received from the Latin communis.
This word in the Teutonic dialects is. Sax. getnane; Ger. gemein ; Dutch,
gemeen ; Dan. gemeen ; Sw. gemen. Now if this is the Latin communis,
and of the identity of the last component part of the word, there can, I think,
be no doubt ; then the first part of the word is the Teutonic ge altered to
com, or what is more probable, com is tlie equivalent oi ge, or ge may be a
contracted and corrupted form oi cum, com. In either case, we arrive at
the conclusion that the Teutonic ge, and the Latin cum, are equivalent in
signification.
In, is used in the Saxon and Gothic, as in modern English. It is in Ger-
man ein, Dutch and Swedish in, Danish ind, Greek iv, Lat. in, Fr. en.
This is radically the same word as on and un, the German an, Dutch aan,
and Welsh an. In its original sense, it implies moving, advancing towards,
and hence its use as a particle of negation or contrariety. " Eunt in urbem,"
they are going to the city. " Hebc audio in te dici," I hear these thing.'!
said against you. In mcilern military usage, on is used in the same sense of
advancing. " The army is marching on Liege."
Mid, in Saxon, signifies with. It is the Gothic mith, German mil,
Dutch mede or met, and tlie Gr. jutro; but not retained in English. It
seems to have the same origin as mid, middle, amidst. In the Gothic it is
used as a prefix.
Mis, a prefix, is the verb miss, to deviate. It is used in Saxon, German,
Dutch, Swedish and Danish, in nearly the same sense, as in EngUsh. Its
radical sense is to depart or wander.
Of, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use in the Saxon, as in English.
It denotes primarily issuing, or proceeding from; hence separation, departure,
and distance ; in the latter sense, it is written off. It is the Latin ab, writ-
ten by the early Romans af; the Greek orto, the German ab, the Dutch af;
Dan. and Sw. of. The Saxons often prefixed this word, in cases where we
use it after the verb as a modifier ; as of-drifan, to drive off; as it is still used
by the Germans, Dutch, Swedes and Danes. We retain it as a prefix, in
ffset and offspring. Sax. of-spring. As it denotes proceeding from, it is
the proper sign of the genitive case ; the case expressing production.
qfer, Eng. over, Goth, ufar, G. ttber, D. ot-er, Dan. over, Sw. ofver, is
a preposition and prefix, in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages, which I
have examined ; and in the same or similar senses. This seems to be the
Greek urttp, from which the Latins formed super, by converting the aspirate
of the Greek vowel into s. This is probably the Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar. 13;r, to
ss, a passing, beyond.
On, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of very extensive use. It is obvi-
ously a different orthography of in, and it is used for in, in the Saxon, as " on
onginn," in the beginning. It has also the sense we now give to on and
upon, with other modifications of signification.
In composition, it signifies into, or towards, as on-blawan, to blow in ;
onclifian, to adhere, to cleave to; and it is also a particle of negation, like
un, as onbindan, to unbind. This on is only a different spelling of un, in
Dutch 071, German un, used as a word of negation. The Gothic has un and
«»d, in the like sense, as the Danish has un ; the D. ont. In this sense,
un answers precisely to the Greek avti, and as this is sometimes written
und in Gothic, as in is written ind, in Danish, there can be little doubt,
that in, on, un, avti, are all from one stock. The original word may have
been han, bin, or hon ; such loss of the first letter is very common ; and
inn, from the Ch. and Heb. rUD, presents us with an example. See in and
inn.
The German has an, and the Dutch aan, in the sense of in and on.
0th, is a Saxon preposition and prefix, sometimes written ath and erf, and
answering nearly to the Latin ad and re; as in oth-witan, to twit, to throw
in the teeth. It has also the sense of from, or away, or against, as in oth-
swerian, to abjure. This preposition is obsolete, but we have the remains
of it in tunt, and perhaps in a few other words.
Sam, samod, a prefix. See the Danish and Swedish infra.
INTRODUCTION.
To, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use in our mother tongue. It
occurs as a prefix, in such words as, to-brtBCan, to break ; to-beran, to bring
or bear, [ad-ferre.^ We retain it in together. Sax. togcedere; and in to-
wards. Sax. toward, towardes ; and in to-morrow, to-day, to-night. The
Dutch write it toe, and the Germans zu, and both nations use it extensively
as a prefix. In Gothic it is written du, as in du-gimtan, to gin, that is,
begin. It would be gratifying to learn whether the Ethiopic 'f' , which is
prefixed to many verbs, is not the remains of the same preposition.
f/ra, isa Saxon prefix of extensive use, as a privative or particle of nega-
tion. See on and m.
Under, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of considerable use, in the pres-
ent English sense. The Germans write it unter, and the Dutch onder, and
use it in like manner. The Danes and Swedes write it under, and use i
in the same sense.
Up, ujipe, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of considerable use, in the pre
sent English sense. The Gothic has uf, in the sense of the Latin sub. The
Germans write it ajtfand the Dutch op, the Danes op and tlie Swedes up
and all use it as a prefix.
Us, in Gothic, is a preposition and prefix. This is the German aus, anc
equivalent to the Latin ex. It is the Saxon ut, the English out, Dutch tiit
Swedish ut, and Danish ud, dialectically varied. To this answers the Welsh
ys, used in composition, but ys seems rather to be a change of the Latin ex
tor the Latin expello is written in Welsh yspeliaw, and extendo is estyn.
Wither, in Saxon, from the root of with, denotes against, or opposition.
It is a prefix in Saxon, written in German wider, in Dutch, weder ; Dan. and
Swedish veder. It is obsolete, but retained in the old law term withernam,
a counter-taking or distress.
In the German language, there are some prepositions and prefixes not
found in the Saxon ; as,
Ent, denoting from, out, away.
Er, without, out or to. Dan. er.
JVach, properly nigh, as in nachbar, neighbor ; but its n
.signification in composition is after; as ia nachgehen, to go after. Thi
sense is easily deducible from its primary sense, which is close, near, from
urging, pressing, or following. In Dutch, this word is contracted to »a,
in nabuur, neighbor ; nagaan, to follow. The Russ has no also, a prefix of
extensive use, and probably the same word. This fact suggests the question,
whether the ancestors of these great families of men had not their residence
in the same or an adjoining territory. It deserves also to be considered wheth-
er this no, is not the Shemitic i, occurring as a prefix to verbs.
Weg, is a prefix used in the German and Dutch. It is the Saxon, Ger-
man, and Dutch weg, way ; in tlie sense of away, or passing from, from the
verb, in Saxon, wtegan, wegan, to carry, to weigh, Eng. to wag, the sense
f which is to move or pass ; as Ger. t ' " " ■• -
Zer, in German, denotes separation
5 Ger. wegf alien, to fall offer away.
In the Gothic dialects, Danish and Swedish, /»a is used as a prefix. This
is the Scottish/ra, Eng. frorti, of which it may be a contraction.
Fram in Swedish, and frem in Danish, is also a prefix. The primary
sense is to go, or proceed, and hence it denotes moving to or towards, forth,
&c., as in Danish /rem/aj-er, to bring forth ; fremkalder, to call for. But in
Danish, /rcmjned is strange, foreign, and it is probable that the English /j-om
is from the same root, with a dilferent application. It may be from the same
stock as the Gothic frum, origin, beginning, Latin primus, signifying to
shoot forth, to extend, to pass along.
Oien, igien, in Danish, and igen, in Swedish, is the English gain in again,
against. This is a prefix in both these Gothic languages. It has the sense
of the Latin re, as inigienkommer, to come back, to return; o{ against, as
migienkalder, to countermand, or recall ; of again, as gienbinder, to bind
again. This may be the Latin con.
Mod, in Danish, and mot, emot, in Swedish, is a preposition, signifying to,
towards, against, contrary, for, by, upon, out, &c. ; as " mod staden," to-
wards the city ; modstrider, to resist ; modgift, an antidote ; modbor, a con-
trary wind ; modmnd, the same. This is the Enghsh meet, in the Gothic
orthography, moiyan, to meet, whence to moot.
O, in Swedish, is a negative or privative prefix, as in o/idig, immature, in
English, not tidy. It is probably a contracted word.
Paa, in Danish, p& in Swedish, is a preposition and prefix, signifying on,
in, upon. Whether this is allied to be, by, and the Russ. po, I shall not un-
dertake to determine, with confidence ; but it probably is the same, or from
the same source.
Samman, signifying together, and from the root of assemble, is a prefix of
considerable use in both languages. It answers to the Saxon sam, samod,
equivalent to the Latin con or cum. It seems to be allied to same and the La-
Ti/, both in Danish and Swedish, is a prefix, and in Danish, of very ex-
tensive use. It is equivalent to the EngUsh to or towards, and signifies also
at, in, on, by, and about, and in composition often has the sense of back or
re, as in tilbage, backwards, that is, to back ; but generally it retains the
sense of to or onward ; as in tilbyder, to offer, that is, to speak or order to ;
tildriver, to drive on ; tilgiver, ito allow, to pardon, that is, to give to, and
hence to give back, to remit. This is the English till, which we use in the
same sense as the Danes, but in English it always refers to time, whereas in
Danish and Swedish, it refers to place. Thus we cannot say, " We are going
till town :" but we say, " wait till I come, fill ray arrival ;" literally, " wait
to I come," to my arrival ; that is, to the time of arrival. The difference is not
in the sense of the preposition, but in its application.
The Scotch retain the Danish and Swedish use of this word ; no slight evi-
dence of their origin.
U, in Danish, the Swedish O, is a prefix, equivalent to in, and is used as a
privative or negative ; as in uaar, an unseasonable year ; uartig, uncivil.
RUSSIAN.
by.
may possibly be from the :
: root i
account of, by reason of, after, as in za-
viju, to see, Lat. video ; zadirayu, from
fo or ve, signifies ir
the Eng. be, by. But t
Za, is a prefix signifying/oj
viduyu, to envy, from md, visaj^
deru, to tear ; zamirayu, to be astonished or stupified, from the root of Lat.
miror, and Russ. mir, peace ; miryu, to pacify, to reconcile ; mirnie, pacif-
ic; zamirenie, peace, pacification; zaniirioi/M, to make peace; Arm. mi-
ret, to hold, to stop ; the radical sense of wonder, astonishment, and of
peace.
Ko, a preposition signifying to, towards, for.
J\ra, a preposition and prefix, signifying on, upon, at, for, to, seems to be
the Germ, nach, Dutch na, as in nagrada, reconjpense ; na, and the root of
Lat. gratia ; nasidayu, to sit down, &c.
JVad, a preposition, signifying above or upon.
O, a preposition, signifying of or from, and /or.
Ob, a preposition and prefix, signifying to, on, against, about, as obne-
mayu, to surround, to embrace ; ob and Sax. neman, to take.
Ot, is a preposition, signifying /rom, and it may be the Eng. out.
Po, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use, signifying in, by, after,
from, &c. as podayu, to give to ; polagayu, to lay, to expend, employ, lay
out ; to tax or assess ; to establish or fix ; to believe or suppose ; po and lay.
This corresponds with Eng. by, and the Latin has it in possideo, and a few
other words. [Sax. besittan.] Pomen, remembrzince, po And mens, mind.
Rad, a preposition signifying/or, or for the love of.
So, a preposition and prefixof extensive use, signifying tcirt, o/,/ro?»;
and as a mark of comparison, it answers nearly to the Eng. so or as.
V, with the sound of m, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use. It sig-
nifies near, by, at, with, as uberayu, to put in order, to adjust, to cut, to
reap, to mow, to dress, Fr. parer, Lat. paro ; ugoda, satisfaction ; vgodnd,
good, useful, Eng. good; udol, a dale, from dol.
WELSH.
The prefixes in the Welsh Language are numerous. The following are
the principal.
Am, about, encompassing, Sax. amb, Gr. a/ift.
An. See Sax. in.
Cy, cyd, cyv, cym, implying union, and answering to cum, con and co in
Latin. Indeed cym, written also cyv, seems to be the Latin cum, and cy
may be a contraction of it, like co in Latin. Ca seems also to be a prefix,
as in caboli, to polish, Lat. polio.
Cyn, cynt, former, first, as if allied to begin.
Di, negative and privative.
Di^, negative and precise.
Dy, iterarive.
E and ec, adversative.
Ed and eit, denoting repetition, Uke re. Sax, ed, oth.
Es, separating, like Lat. ex. See ys.
Go, extenuating, inchoative, approaching, going, denotes diminution or a
less degree, like the Latin sub ; as in gobrid, somewhat dear. This seems
to be from the root of English go.
Han, expressive of origination.
Lied, partly, half.
Oil, all.
Rhag, before.
Rhy, over, excessive.
Tra, over, beyond. Lat. trans.
Try, through.
Vm, mutual, reflective.
Ys, denoting from, out of, separation, proceeding from, answering to the
Latin ex; as yspeliaw, to expel. So es, Welsh estyn, to extend.
Most of these prepositions, when used as prefixes, are so distinct as to be
known to be prefixes.
But in some instances, the original preposition is so obscured by a loss or
change of letters, as not to be obvious, nor indeed discoverable, without re-
sorting to an ancient orthography. Thus without the aid of the Saxon or-
thography, we should probably not be able to detect the component parts of
the English twit. But in Saxon it is written edwitan and otkwitan ; the prep-
osition or prefix oth, with witan, to disallow, reproach or cast in the teeth.
It has been above suggested to be possible, that in the Shemitic langua-
ges, the J in triliteral roots, may be the same prefix as the Russian na, the
Dutch na, and German nach. Let the reader attend to the following words.
INTRODUCTION.
video ;
Heb. B3J To look, to behold, to reganl. The primary sense of look, is,
(i) reach, extend or throw.
Ch. To look ; also to bud or sprout.
Ar. tix J To spring, or issue as water ; to flow out ; to devise or strike
°"lf the first letter is a prefix, the Hebrew word would accord with Lat.
ideo ■ the Chaldee, willi video and with butl, Sp. botar, Fr. bouton, boiiter,
>ptU, and Eng. iopout, and Fr. bout, end, from shooting, extending.
Ar. Ckxi To J»rf ,• to germinate. See Ch. supra.
Heb. S3J To fall; to sink down; to wither; to fall off, as leaves and
flowers; to act foolishly; to disgrace. Derivative, foolish; a fool ; SiJJ
Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. to Jail.
Ch. h2i To make foul; to defile ; that is, to throw or put on.
Ar. V A J '^° shoot, as an arrow ; to drive as camels ; to excel ; also to
die, that is prot)^'''y ">/""• . , „ ^ . , , .
Can there be any question, that fall, foul and fool are this very word
without the first consonant ? The Arabic without the first consonant agrees
with Gr. eaTOM, and the sense of falling then, is to throw one's self down.
Heb. IQJ To keep, guard, preserve, retain, observe.
Ch. To observe ; to keep ; to lay up.
Syr. and Sam. id.
Eth. h(r\i To shine.
Ar. lai To keep ; to see ; to look ; to attend.
Remove the first letter, and this coincides with the Greek f jjpjw.
No person will doubt whether hoi to circumcise, is formed on*?!?;.
Ch. ^D3 to cut; tos
Syr. id.
Lat. scrra, serrc
Ar. j^ij To fade, to vanish, to perish, to be empty, to fail.
Heb. nSJ to blow, to breathe. Ch. Syr. Eth. Ar. id. from HB , to blow ,
If the Shemitic J in these and similar words is a prefix or the remains of
a preposition, it coincides very closely with the Russ. and Dutch na, and the
latter we know to be a contraction of the German nach. Now the German
nach is the English nigh ; for no person can doubt the identity of the Ger-
man nachbar and the English neighbor.
In the course of my investigations, I very early began to suspect that b,J,
J), c, g and k before I and r, are either casual letters, introduced by peculiar
modes ofpronunciation, or the remains of prepositions ; mostprobably the lat-
ter. I had advanced far in my dictionary, with increasing evidence of the
truth of this conjecture, before I had received Owen's Dictionary of the
Welsh language. An examination of this work has confirmed my suspi-
cions, or rather changed them into certainty.
If we attend to the manner of articulating the letters, and the ease with
which bl, br,fl,fr, pl,pr, cl, cr, gl, gr are pronounced, without an interven-
ing vowel, even without a slieva, we .shall not be surprised that a preposi
lion or prefix, like fie, i>e, pa, po, or ge should, in a rapid pronunciation, lose
its vowel, and the consonant coalesce closely with the first letter of the prin-
cipal word. Thus blank, prank, might naturally be formed from belank,
perank. That these words are thus formed, I do not know ; but there is
nothing in the composition of the words to render it improbable. Certain it
is, that a vast number of words are formed with these prefixes, on othe-
words, or the first consonant is a mere adventitious addition ; for they an
used with or without the first consonant. Take the following examples.
Hiberno-Celtic, or Irish, brae or brach, the arm, is written also raigh,
Welsh fiiaif, whence ^pa;^iur, brachium. Braigh, the neck, Sax. hraca,
Eng. rack, Gr. po;t'5- Praoch, heath, ling, brake, L. erica.
Welsh, llawr, Basque, lurra, Eng. floor.
haUfloccus, Eng. flock or lock.
Sax. hraccan, Eng. to reach, in vomiting.*
Sax. hracod, Eng. ragged.
Ger. rock, Eng. frock.
Dutch, geluk, Ger. ghtck, Eng. luck.
Greek, Folic Dialect, (Spoioi/, for poSor, a rose.
Latin, clunis, Eng. loin, G. lende, W. dun, from Hun.
Eng. cream, Ger. rahm, Dutch, room.
Sax. hlaf, Polish chlieb, G. leib, Eng. loaf.
Sax. hladan, Eng. to lade or load, Russ. kladu, to lay.
Greek. xAtru, Lat. clino. Sax. hlinian, hleonan, Russ. klonyu, Eng
to lean.
Greek, Xoyjji/of, Lat. Za,^ena, Eng. ^ngon.
Sax. hrysan, Eng. to rush.
Trench, frapper, Eng. to rop.
Sax. gercBdian, to make ready ; in Chaucer, grcilh, to make ready. Sas.
hr(Bd, quick ; hradian, to hasten ; hradties, Eng. leadiiuss.
Spanish, frisar, to curl or frizzle ; rizar, the same.
Sax. gerefa, Eng. reeve, G. graf D. graaf.
Lat. glycyrrhiza, from the Greek ; Eng. liquorice.
But in no language, have we such decisive evidence of the formation of
words, by prefixes, as in the Welsh.
Take the following instances, from a much greater number that might be
produced, from Owen's Welsh Dictionary.
Blanc, a colt, from llanc.
Blith, milk, from lith.
Bliant, fine linen, from lliant.
Plad, a flat piece or plate, from Uad.
Pled, a principle of extension, from lied.
Pledren, a bladder, from pledyr, that distends, from lied.
Pleth, a braid, from lleth, Eng. plait.
Plicciaw, to pluck, from llig.
Ploc, a block, from Hoc ; plociaw, to block, to plug.
Plwng, a plunge, from llwng, our vulgar lunge.
Glwth, a glutton, from llwth. '
Glas, a blue color, verdancy, a green plat, whence Eng. glass, from lla$.
Glyd, gluten, glue, from llyd.
Claer, clear, from llaer.
Clav, sick, from llav.
Clwpa, a club, a knob, from llwb.
Clwt, apiece, a clout, {romllwd, llwt.
Clamp, a mass, a lump.
Clawd, a thin board, from llawd.
Cledyr, a board or shingle, whence cledrwy, lattice, from Ued.
Bran, Eng. bran, from rhan ; rhanu, to rend.
Brid, a breaking out, from rhid.
Bro^, noise, tumult, a brock; from rhoi;.
Bror, froth, foam, anger, brofi, to chafe or fret, from brwc, a boiling or
ferment, from rhwc, something rough, a grunt, Gr. (Jpvj;u.
Bryd, what moves, impulse, mind, thought, from rhyd.
Brys, quickness, brisiaw, to hasten, to shoot along, from rhys, Eng. to
rush, and crysiaw, to hasten, from rhys, to rush. [Here is the same word
rhys, with tlifferent prefixes, forming brysiaw and crysiaw. Hence W.
brysg, Eng. brisk.]
Giaz, [pronounced grath^ a step, a degree, from rhnz, Lat. gradus,
gradior.
Greg, a cackling, from rheg.
Grem, a crashing, gnash, a murmur, gremiaw, to crash or gnash, from
rhem. Hence Lat. fremo, Gr. /3pf^u.*
We have some instances of similar words in our own language ; such flag
and lag ; flap and lap ; clump and lump.
There is another class of words which are probably formed with a prefix
of a different kind. I refer to words in which s precedes another consonant,
calp, skull, slip, slide, sluggish, smoke, smooth, speed, spire, spin,
stage, steep, stem, swell, spout. We find that tego, to cover, in Latin, is in
Greek ftyu ; the Latin fallo, is in Greek c^aM.a. We find ftopa^Joj
* I do not follow Owen to the last step of his analysis, as I am of opinion
that, in making monosyllabic words to he compound, he often errs. For
example, he supposes 6109 a tumult, to be from rlioi;, a broken or rough ut-
terance ; a grunt or groan ; and this, to be a compound of rhy, excess, what
is over or beyond, and of, a forcible utterance, a groan. I believe rAof to be
primitive uncompounded word, coinciding with the English rough.
Owen supposes plad, a flat thing, a plate, to be from Had, with py. Llad
he explains, what is given, a gift, good tilings, and py, what is inward or
involved. I have no doubt that the first letter is a prefix in plad, but beyond
all question, llad is from the same root as lied, breadth, coinciding with Lat.
lotus ; both from a common root signifying to extend. But I do not believe
llad or lied to be compound words.
Dug, a duke, Owen supposes to be formed on ug, over ; which cannot be
true, unless the Latin dux, duco, are compounds. Dur, steel, he derives
from ur, extreme, over, but doubtless it is from the root of the Latin durus.
So par, signifying what is contiguous, a state of readiness or preparation,
Apair, fellow, or match, Owen makes a compound oi py, and ar ; py, as
above explained, and ar, a word of various significations, 911, upon, surface,
&c. But there can be no doubt that^ja)- is from the root of the Latin paro,
to prepare, being the Latin par, equal ; the root of a numerous family of
words not only in the Japhetic languages of Europe, but in the Shemitic lan-
guages of Asia. It certainly is not a Welsh compound, nor is there the
least evidence to induce a belief that it is not an uncompounded word. Had
the learned author of the Welsh Dictionary extended his researches to a va-
riety of other languages, and compared the monosyllabic roots in them with
each otlier, I think he would have formed a very different opinion as to their
origin. I am very well convinced that many of the n ords which he sup-
poses to be primitive or radical, are contractions, such as rhy, lie, lly, the
last consonant being lost.
INTRODUCTION.
is written also ff/iopaySof ; ami it may be inquireJ whether the English
s^j>in, is not from the same root as «>;>'>?, web or woof, rtrtviov, a spindle
rtijufu, to spin. Sprout in English is in Spanish brota.
We find the Welsh ysbrig, the EngUsh sprig, is a compound of ys, i
prefix denoting issuing or proceeding from, like the Lat. ex, and ir/g, top,
summit.
Ysgar, a separate part, a share ; ysgar, ysgarii, to divide ; ysganaw, to
separate, is composed of ys and car, according to Owen ; but the real root
appears distinctly in the Gr. x£tpo. This is the English shear, shire.
Vsgegiaw, to shake by laying hold of the throat, to shake roughly, is
compound o(ys and cegiaw, to choke, from ceg, the mouth, an entrance,
choking. This may be the English shake ; Sax. sceacan.
Ysgin, a robe made of skin; ys and cin, a spread or covering.
Vsgodi, to shade; ysgawd, a'shade ; ys and caied.
Ysgrab, what is drawn up or puckered, a scrip ; ys and crab, what
shrinks. See Eng. crab, crabbed.
Vygravu, to scrape ; ys and crav, claws, from rhav.
Ysgreg, a scream, a shriek, ysgre^iaw, to shriek, from crei;, a shriek
ere(;ian, to shriek, from creg, cryg, hoarse, rough, from rhyg, vye, that ii
rough ; the grain so named from its roughness. This is the English rough
Lat. raucus. Here we have the whole process of formation, from the root
of rough. We retain the Welsh cre(;ia.n, to shriek, in our common word,
to creak, and with a formative prefix, we have shriek, and our vulgar screak
The Latin ruga, a wrinkle, Eng. rug, shrug, are probably from the same
Ysgrivenu, to write, Lat. scriho, from ysgriv, a writing, from criv, a mark
cut, a row of notches ; criviaw, to cut, to grave ; from rhiv, something that
divides. Hence scrivener.
Ysgub, a sheaf or besom, ysgubaw, to sweep, Lat. scojxe, from cub.
collection, a heap, a cube.
Ysgud, something that whirls ; ysgudaw, to whisk or scud
Xerity, Right; ysguth,ysguthaw, the same.
Ysgwth, a push ; ysgwthiaw, to push or thrust ; from gwth, gwthiaw,
the same ; probably allied to Eng. shoot. The Welsh has ysgythu, to jet
or spout, from the same root. , , „ •
Yslac, slack, loose ; yslaciatv, to slacken ; from llac, loose, slack, Uaciaw,
to slacken, from Uag, slack, sluggish ; allied to Eng. lag and slow
Yslapiaw, to slap, to flap, from yslab, what is lengthened or distended,
from «o6,a flag, a strip, a stroke. Llabi, a tall, lank person, a striphng -
looby, a lubber, is from the same root ; llabiaw, to slap.
Ysled, a sled, from (fed, says Owen, which denotes breadth, but it is pro-
bably from the root of slide, a word probably from the same root as lied, thai
is, to extend, to stretch along.
Ysmot, a patch, a spot; ysmotiaw, to spot, to dapple, from mod, Eng
Ysmwciaw, ysmygtt, to dim with smoke, from mwg, smoke. So smooth
from Welsh mwyth
denial ; gwadu, to deny, or disown. If this deduction is correct, the seHse
of denial is a throwing or thrusting back, a repelling. It is so in other
words.
Yswitiaw, to chirp, twitter, from yswid, that makes a quick turn. Qu,
twitter.
In some of the foregoing words, it appears evident that the Welsh prefix,
I alteration of the Latin ex, and the words, in which this is the case.
vere probably borrowed from the Latin, while the Roman ;
i had pos-
fiom cud, ce
Yspail, spoil, from pail, farina, says Owen. I should say from the root of
alea, straw, refuse, that is, from the root of peel, to strip. Yspeilwta, to be
I ball, says Owen : but this is the Latin ex
=f, foremost. The
pah
pilfering.
Yspeliaw, to expel, from pel.
pello, from pello. Ball may be from the same root.
Yspig, a spike, a spine ; yspigaw, to spike ; frompig, a sharp point, zpike.
Hence Eng. spigot.
Yspin, a spine, from pin, pen.
Ysgynu, to ascend, Lat. ascendo, fiom cyn, first, chi(
radical sense is to shoot up.
Yslw?, a slough, from llwc, a collection of water, a lake
Yspar, a spear, from pdr, a cause or principle of producing, the germ or
seed of a thing, a spear. This consists of the same elements as ber, a spit,
and Eng.-*a»-, and in Italian bar is sbarra. The primary sense is to shoot
thrust, drive. . ^ i
Yspinc, a finch, frompinc, gay, fine brisk ; a sprig, A finch.
Ysplan, clear, bright ; ysplana, to explain ; ftomplan, that is parted off,
ray, a shoot, a planting, a plane; -whence plant , a child; Eng
planu, to shoot, as a plant. Hence splendor, W. ysplander.
Ysporthi, to support, from porth, a bearing, a port, passage,
j^orta, porta.
Ystac, a stack, a heap ; ysl
stuffed or clogged. . .^ rru
Ystad, a state ; ystadu, to stay ; from tad, that spreads, a continuity. J he
primary sense is to set.
Fston, that is spread; a stain; tin, 'Lat. stannum; ystaeniaw, to spread
over, to stain ; ystaenu, to tin, or cover with tin ; from taen, a spread, a laye
Qu. is tin from spreading ?
Ystawl, a stool, from tawl, a cast or throw. The sense is to set, to throw
down. TaiBl is the root of deal.
Ystor, a store, that forms a bulk, from tor, a swell, a prominence.
Ystorm, a storm, from torm, that is stretched, but the sense is a rushing.
Ystrym, a stream, from trym, compact, trim, that is, stretched, straight,
from extending.
Ystwmp, a stump, from twmp, a round mass, a tump.
ysmafiOM', to s?uat, from jswarf, a throw, or falling down, from gtvad, a
session of England. But there is a vast number of words, with this prefix,
which are not of Latin origin ; and whether ys is a native prefix in the
Welsh, may be a question. One thing is certain, that s before another con-
sonant, and coalescing with it, is, in a great number of words, a prefix.
The modern Italian affords abundant proof of the extensive use of s, as
the remains or representative of ex ; as sballare, to unpack, itnbale ; sbar-
6ato, beardless ; sfta^iere, to abate ; sftrancare, to pluck off branches; scar-
icare, to discharge ; scommodare, to inconmiode ; sconcordia, discord ; scor-
breakthe horns; scrostare, to pull off the crust; and a great num-
ber of others.
Now if the same manner of forming words with this prefix has actually
prevailed among the northern nations of Europe, we may rationally suppose
that many English words, and perhaps all of this class, are thus formed.
Thus scatter may be formed from a root in Cd; shape, from C'b, Cf or
Cp; skill, from the root of Lat. calleo ; slip, from the root of Lat. labor ;
smart, from the root of Lat. amarus, bitter, Heb. ">n ; smite, from the root
of Latin mitto ; span, from the root of pan, to stretch ; spar, from the root
of bar ; speak, from the root of Lat. voco : speed, from a root in Pd, perhaps
Lat. peto ; steal, from the root of Lat. tollo ; steep, from the root of deep ;
stretch, from the root of reach ; sweep, from the root of wipe ; swan, from
wan, white ; swell, from the root of to well. Sax. wellan, to boil, &c. That
many English and other Teutonic and Gothic words are thus formed, appears
to be certain.
These facts being admitted, let us examine a little further. In Russ.
svadiba is a wedding. Is not this formed on the root of wed, with s for a
prefix ? Svara is a quarrel. Is not this formed on the root of vary, variance,
oTofspar? Sverlo is a horer; qu. bore anti veru ; svertivayu, toroU; qu.
Lat. verto ; skora, furs, peltry ; qu. Fr. cuir ; skot, a beast ; qu. cattle;
skupayu, to purchase in gross ; qu. cheap, Dan. kioben, and its root ; slabei,
weak; qu. Lat. labor, lapsus ; slagaytt, to foW; qu. lay, and plico; slivayu,
to pour out liquors ; qu. Lat. libo ; slvpayu, to peel off bark or skin ; qu.
Lat. liber ; snimayu, to take away ; qu. Sax. neman, to take ; snova, new ;
qu. Lat. novus ; snig, sneig, snow, Fr. neige. The Lat. nivis is from this
root, with g opened to v. Russ. spletayu, to plait, &c.
The Russ. prefix so occurs in a great number of words ; sobirayu, to col-
lector assemble, precisely the Heb. and Ch. 13X.
It now becomes an interesting question, to determine how far any analogy
exists, between the languages of the Japhetic and Shemitic families, in regard
to prefixes. For example, in the Shemitic languages, 3 is a prefix of exten-
sive use, corresponding almost exactly with the English and Dlitch by, the
Saxon be, and German bei. This preposition and prefix has several senses
in the Saxon which are now obsolete ; but its present prevaiUng sense oc-
curs in all the Shemitic languages. r\iy Dnj5 nn3, by a strong east wind.
Ex. xiv. 21. Compare the following definitions of this preposition ; the Sax.
from Lye. and the Shemitic from Castle.
Sax. de, e, ex, in, secus, ad, juxta, secundum, pro, per, super, propter,
circa. , , ,
Heb. Ch. Syr. in, e, ex, cum, propter, usque ad, adeo ut, ad, super, per,
contra, ante.
1. in, per, pro, propter, cum, secundum, apud.
in, cum, propter, per, ad, erga.
... Numbers, xiv. 34, it signifies according to, or after ; D'DTI 13003, ac-
cording to the number of days. This signification is now perhaps obsolete in
English, but was common in the Saxon ; as, " be his majgnum," -"""--ii"" '"
plant ,
Lat,
standard ; from tag, a state of being
' be tham mEstan ;"
ccording to
y the most, is now
his strength ; pro viribis suis,
expressed by, at the most. ,„...,
Now it is remarkable that this word in Hebrew, Arabic and Persic, is the
preposition used in oaths, precisely as it is in English. Gen. xxii. 16, '3, By
myself have I sworn. Arabic, ballah or by Allah; Persic, <Jv-ij be-
choda, or begoda, by God, the very words now used in English. The evi-
dence then Is decisive that the Shemitic prefix a is the Teutonic be, by, bei
contracted, and this Teutonic word is certainly a contraction of big, which
is used in the Saxon, especially in compound words, as in bigspell, [by-spell]
a fable ; bigstandan, to stand by. This prefix then was in universal use by
the original stock of mankind, before the dispersion; and this word alone is
demonstrative proof of the common origin of the Sheraiuc and Teutonic lan-
guages. Now it is equally certain that this is the prefix b, and probably p,
before I and r, in block, braigh, and a multitude of words m all the modern
languages; and probably, the same letter is a prefix in many Shemitic
"" We'know that be in the Saxon bedalan, and Dutch bedeelen, is a prefix,
as the simple verb is found in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages. The
Hebrew and Chaldee '713 corresponds exactly in elements and m sigmtica-
INTRODUCTION.
lion, with the Saxon ;inil Dutch. Whether the fust letter is a prefix in the
latter languages, let the reader judge. See the word deal, which when
ced, terminates in t)ie Welsh tawl, a cast off, a throw ; separation; tawlu,
to cast or throw off, to separate.
In Chaldee, y}2 signifies to scatter, to disperse. The word has the s
signification in the Syriac and Samaritan.
In Ethiopic, the word with ^ prefixed, signifies to wish, love, desire,
and with "t" prefixed, to strive, to endeavor, and without a prefix, strife,
course, race. Both these significations are from stretching, straining.
In Arabic j^j signifies generally to hasten, to run to; but , J^j
signifies to disperse, to sow or scatter seed.
This verb is written in Hebrew IfJ with precisely the .same signification.
The Arabic also hajs the verb with this orthography, signifying to sow, and
also to beat or strike with a stick.
Now in Syriac ; , dar, signifies to strive, or struggle. Here we have
the simple verb, withotit the prefix, with the sense of the Ethiopic, with
a prefix. Supra.
We find also the Arabic , i tharra, the simple verb, signifies to sprinkle
We find in Chaldee Nm, mT and n\the simple verb, signifies todis
perse ; in Syriac, the same. In Arabic ) , ^ signifies to sow, like the
foregoing verb, and hence to procreate. Both this and the former verb sig-
nify also to whiten, a^ the hair of the head, as we say, to sprinkle wjth gray
hairs. The Arabic ^ ^ signifies to drive, to impel, to repel, to contend,
to strive ; to shine, to sparkle. And here we have the literal signification
of this whole class of verbs; to drive, urge, throw, send; hence to scat
ter, to strive, to shoot as rays of Ught, procreate, &.c.
The Hebrew corresponding verb is mt or J?ll to scatter, to sow ; and
the word witli tlie like orthography occurs in Ch. Syr. and Ar. This is
the Latin sero. And who can doubt that 3 is a prefix in tlie verb ir\2
above mentioned .'
In Welsh, goberu signifies to work, to operate; gober, work, operation ;
formed by the prefix go and per ; go denoting progress towards, approach,
and per rendered by Owen, that pervades, a fruit, a pear ; but tlie real
eense is to strain, to bring forth, to drive, thrust, urge, &c.
This word, in the Arnioric dialect, is written either gofter or ober
Latin operor, whence Eng. operate. The same word is in the Ethiopic,
I'Oi gaber, to make, to do. l\1(\i agabar, to cause to be made ;
•^J^ "] Q 4 tagabar, to work, operate, negotiate ; 1 Q ^ gabar, a make
This is the Heb. and Ch. laj to be strong, to prevail, to establish, and as
a noun, a man; Ar. »*.:? jabara, to make strong, to heal, as a broken
bone ; to strengthen.
That this Shemitic word and the Welsh and Ethiopic are all radically one,
there cannot be a question ; and the Welsh proves indisputably that go is a
prefix. This then is a word formed on 13 or N-13. The Heb. T3N,
strong, that is, strained, and T3N, a wing, that is, a shoot, are from the same
root, and in Arabic j. j ? abara, signifies to prick, to sting, and its deriv
pike, a
pear, and per, a
lance, a spit, a spear, Lat. verii ; in Welsh also
spit, ai-e all doubtless of the same origin.
In Syriac, ^o. ,tsabar, signifies to make, to work or operate. Is tliis
the same root with a different prefix ?
The same word in Arabic »aa» signifies to be patient, to bear, to sus-
tain.
W e observe, that in the Teutonic and Gothic languages, the same word
is used with different prefixes. Thus in our mother tongue, begin is writ-
ten gynnan, tlie simple radical word, and aginnan, beginnan, and ongyn-
nan ; and in the Gothic, duginnan, which, in English, would be, login.
Should it appear upon investigation, that verbs in the Assyrian languages
have the same prefixes which occur in the European languages, the fact
will evidence more affinity between the languages of these two stocks than
has yet been known to exist.
Let us now attend to the natural causes which may be supposed to have
obscured or desUoyed the identity or resemblance of languages which had
a common origin.
The afhnity of words, in two or more different languages, is known by
identity of letters and identity of significaUon ; or by letters of the same
organ, and a signification obviously deducible from the same sense. Letters
of the same organ, as for example, b, /,;) and j) are so easily converted, the
one into the other, and the change is so frequent, tliat this circumstance
seldom occasions much obscurity. The changes of signification occasion
more difficulty, not so much by necessity, as because this branch of philolo-
gy is less understood.
1. CHANGE OF ARTICULATIONS, OR CONSONANTS.
The articulations, letters which represent the junctions or joinings of the
organs, usually called consonants, are the stamina of words. All these are
convertible and frequently converted into their cognates. The English word
bear represents the Latin fero and pario, and fero is the Greek fifu.
The Latin vcntus is wind in English ; and habeo is hare. The Latin dens,
in Dutch, Danish and Swedish is land; and darue in English is in German
tanz.
These changes are too familiar to require a multiplication of examples.
But there are others less common and obvious, which are yet equally cer-
tain. Thus in the Gaelic or Hiberno-Celtic,™ and mb are convertible with
V ; and in Welsh m and v are changed, even in different cases of the same
word. Thus in Irish the name of the hand in written either ZaniA or lav,
and in Welsh maen, a stone, is written also vaen. The Greek 0 is always^
pronounced as the English v, as PouXonai, Lat. volo, EngUsh will, German*
wollen ; and the sound of b tlic Greeks express by m(3.
In the Chaldee and Hebrew, one remarkable distinction is the use of a
dental letter in tlie former, where the latter has a sibilant. As ni3 cuth
in Chaldee is tyij cush in Hebrew ; 3rn, gold, in Chaldaic, is 3ni in He-
brew. The like change appears in the modern languages ; for water which,
in most of the northern languages, is written with a dental, is, in German,
written wasser, and the Latin dens, W. dant, Dutch tand, Swedish and
Danish tand, is, in German, zahn. The like change is frequent in the
Greek and Latin. "PpaTiu, in one dialect, is (ppaircrw, in another; and the
Latins often changed t of the indicative present, or infinitive, into a in the
preterit and participle, as initio, mittcre, i/tisi, missus.
L and R, though not considered as letters of the same organ, are really
such and changed the one into the other. Thus the Spaniards write blandir
for brandish, and escolta for escort. The Portuguese write brando for bland,
and branquear, to whiten, for blanch. The Greek has tffayiWm for the
Latin flagellum. In Europe however this change seems to be limited
chiefly to two or three nations on the coast of the Mediterranean. L is
sometimes commutable with D.
We have a few instances of the change of g- or gh into/. Thus rough is
pronounced j«/,and trough, traiif.
The Russians often change the d of a noun into the sound of j, or the
compound g, in the verb formed from that noun ; as lad, accord, harmony,
laju, to accord, or agree ; bred, damage, loss ; breju, to injure.
The Italians and French have also changed a dental into a palatal letter.
ragxone.
any words ; as Italian raggio, a ray, from Lat. radius ;
reason, from ratio ; Fr. manger, to eat, from Lat. mando, or manduco.
In the south of Europe, the Greek % has been changed, in some instan-
ces, into the Italian or Spanish z, and then by the French into s. It seems
that the Spanish z has, at some former period, been pronounced as a guttu-
ral. Thus the Gr. pf axcMi, Lat. brachium, the arm, is in Spanish brazo,
and the Spaniards have the word from the Latin, or from the same source
as the Latin and Greek, the Celtic braic. This word, brazo, the French
changed into bras, and from that we have brace and embrace. A similar
change occurs in Dnrazzo, from Dyrrachium, and in the Spanish luz, light.
The Teutonic nations often used ft to express the power of the Greek «,
and the Latin c, as heart for xapSia, horn for comu. Hence we find that
the Saxon hlinian, hleonian or hlynian, to lean, is the Greek kAho), Latin
clino. The letter h is now dropped and we wiite the word lean.
In like manner, the Saxon hlid, which we no
root as tlie Latin claudo, cludo, Ihp liirfk .'■■
hAhm. And in this word we may ■ ■!
not only to shut, but to praise oi
Latin plaudo, are the same, with
that the primary sense is to strai.
write lid, is from the same
•. wliich is contracted into
' t, that the word signifies
1^ that this word and tlio
, the same as laudo, and
.uii appears in hlud, loud.
Latin, /and h have been converted, as hordeum for fordeum ; and the
Spaniards now write A for/, as Aacer for the Latin facere ; hilo for Jilum ;
herir {orferire, Uc.
3. CHANGE OF VOWELS.
The change of vowels is so common, as to occasion no difficulty in deter-
mining the sameness of words ; indeed little or no regard is to be had to
them, in ascertaining the origin and affinity of languages. In this opinion I
accord with almost a^l writers on this subject ; but! have to combat the opin-
ion of that elegant scholar, Sir William Jones, who protests against the licen-
tiousness of etymologists, not only in transposing letters, but in totally disre-
garding the voicels, and seems to admit the common origin of words only
"'hen written with the same letters, and used in a sense precisely the same.*
* Asiatic Researches, vol. 3, p. 4S9.
INTRODUCTION.
I am not at all surprised at the common prejuJice existing against etymol-
ogy. As the subject has been treated, it is justly liable to all the olyeclions
urged against it. But it is obvious that Sir W. Jones had given very little
attention to the subject, and that some of its most common and obvious prin-
ciples had escaped his obseiTation. His opinion with regard to both articu-
lations and vowels is unequivocally erroneous, as will appear from the fol-
lowing list of words, taken from modern languages, and respecting the
identity of which, that gentleman himself, if living, could not have the
slightest doubt.
English. Saxon. Dutch. German. Swedish. Latin.
draw, I Jiagau, trekken, tragen, draga, tralio.
give, gifan, geeven, geben, gifva,
feet, j
fot, fet, voet,
hook, hoc, haak,
day, dag, dajg, daag,
have, habban, hebben,
[Fr. avoir, ai, as
leap, hleapan, loopen.
fuss,
haken,
fot.
pes.
hake,
tag, dag,
haben, hafva,
, avons, avez, ont.]
laufen, lopa.
hranden, brennen,
willcn, woUen,
, vclle.
sten,
bred,
jord, Dan. iord.
burn, byr
will, willan,
stone, Stan,
broad, bred,
earth, eorth,
who, hwa, wie, ho, Dan. hvo.
seek, secan, zoeken, suchen, s5kia, sequor.
bean, bean, boon, bohne, bona, Dan. bonne.
Here are scarcely two words written with the same letters in two lan-
guages; and yet no man ever called in question their identity, on account
of the difference of orthography. The diversity is equally great in almost
all other words of the same original. So in the same words we often find
the vowel changed, as in the Lat. facio, feci ; ago, egi ; sto, steti ; vello,
vulsi. Nothing is more certain than that the Welsh gwyz, and the English
wood, are the same word, although there is one letter only common to them
both. It is pronounced gooyth, that is, g, and wyth ; as guard for ward.
3. CHANGE OR LOSS OF RADICAL LETTERS.
There are some words, which, in certain languages, have suffered a
change of a radical letter ; while in others it is wholly lost. For example,
word, in Danish and Swedish is ord; wort, a plant, is urt ; the Saxon gear,
orger, English year, in Danish is aar, in Swedish is &r, in Dutch jaar, and
in German jaAr.
In the word, yoke, and its affinities, we have a clear and decisive example
of changes in orthography. Yoke, the Latin jugvm, is from the Chaldee,
Syriac, and Arabic JU. zug, 'o join, to couple ; a word not found in the He-
brew. The Greeks retained the original letters in {u7o!, ?u7ou ; the Latins
changed the first letter to J m jugum, and inserted a casual n in j'ungo.
From the Latin, the Italians formed giogo, a yoke, and giugnere, to join ;
the Spaniards, yugo, a yoke, and junior, to join ; the French, ^'oMg, a yoke,
and ^omdre, to join. In Saxon, yoke is geoc or ioc ; in Dutch, juk; G.
joch; Sw. ok.
One of the most general chaqges that words have undergone is the entire
loss of the palatal letter g, when it is radical and final in verbs; or the open-
ing of that articulation to a vowel or diphthong. We have examples in the
English bow, from Saxon bugan, to bend ; buy, from bycgan; brow, from
Ircg ; lay, I'rom IcBgan, or lecgan ; say, from siegan ;fair, from fceger ; flail,
from the' German /eg-c/, Lat. flagellum; French nier, from Lat. nego, ne-
gare.
The same or similar changes have taken place in all the modern langua-
ges of which I have any knowledge.
The loss and changes of radical letters in many Greek verbs deserve par-
ticular notice. We find in the Lexicons, irpayiia, 7rpa7o!, Trpaxuxoi, are refer-
red to Trpao-cru, wpatTO, as the theme or root ; Toyua, to laaau ; purup, to pra ; and
cpfaytia, to (ppcio-o-o). This reference, so far as it operates as a direction to the
student where to find the verb to which the word belongs, and its explana-
tion, is useful and necessary. But if the student supposes that these words
are formed from the theme, so called, or the first person of the indicative
mode, present tense, he is deceived. I am confident no example can be
found, in any language, of the palatals 7 and «, formed from the dentals and
sibilants, 1 and a, nor is piittop,or any similar word formed by the addition of
the dental to a verb ending in a vowel. The truth is, the last radical in pro
is lost, in the indicative mode, and inirpaaaiji, nptmu, it is changed. The ra-
dical lost in pro is 5 or 9 ; the original word was ptSu or piSoi, and the deriva-
tives pnTup, pniopiKn, were formed before the radical letter was dropped in the
verb. No sooner is the verb restored to its primitive form, than we recog-
nize its connection with the Irish raidham, to speak ; Saxon rad, speech ;
7tedan, to read ; German rath, Dutch raad. Sac.
The original root of irpao-trm, was irpa7M, irpaxu, or irpctKU, and from this were
formed irpa7iia, irpaHTixot, before the last radical was changed. No sooner is
the original orthography restored, than we see this to be the Teutonic verb.
German brauclien, Dutch gebruiken, Danish hruger, Sw. briilia. Sax. bru-
can, to use, io practice, and hence the English broka:
The same remarks are api)licable to ia7na and rao-o-oj ; (ppa7Mo and (ppao-o-to ;
alkay-n and aUac-uu ; xapcuTnp and xafaccra, and many other words of like for-
mation. In all these cases, the last radical letter is to be sought in the deri-
vatives of the verb, and in one of the past tenses, particularly in an aorist.
This fact affords no feeble evidence that in Greek, as in the Shemitic langua-
ges, the preterit tense or an aorist, was the radix of the verb.*
But it is not in the Greek language only that we are to seek for the primi-
tive radical letters, not in what is now called the root of the verb, but in the
derivatives. The fact is the same in the Latin, and in the English. The
Latin fluctus and fluxi, cannot be deduced (rom fluo ; but the orthography
of these words proves demonstrably that the original root wasflugo, or fluco.
So in English sight cannot be deduced from see, for no example can be found
of the letter g introduced to form the participles of verbs. Sight, in Saxon
gesicht, D. zigt, G. sicht, Dan. sigt, Sw. sickt, is a participle ; but the
verb in the infinitive, in Saxon is seon, geseon, Ger. sehen, D. zicn, Dan.
seer, Sw. se ; in which no palatal letter is found, from which g or ch can be
deduced. The truth then is that the original verb was segan, or in Dutch
zegen ; the g being lost as it is in the French nier, from the Lat. nego.
In the change ol letters in the Greek verbs before mentioned, the process
seems to have been from 7 or » to J, and then to o- and t ; Trfaym, jrpnju, nfac-
aa, FpciTTW. This is certainly a process which is natural and common. The
Latin brachiuni thus became in Spanish brazo, and then in French bras :
and thus in the ItaUan, Alexandria has become Alessandria.
When the last radical of a Greek verb is a dental, it may not be certain
whether the original letter was d, or th or t. ' We find the Greek verb oTraK,
to draw, forms its derivatives with <r, airaaiia, araais ■ and this is probably the
Armoric spaza, from which we have spay. So <ppa{u, tpfaun, and (ppaln, are
evidently of the same family. It is not improbable that the original letter
might have a compound sound, or it might correspond neaily to the Arabic
I3 or (^ J or the English dh or th, or ds, so as easily to pass into d oi
It is equally clear that many Greek words have lost an initial consonant.
The letter most generally lost is probably the oriental n, but obviously the
palatals, 7 and «, have, in many instances, been dropped. There seems to
be no question that the Greek o\oi is the English whole and perhaps all.
This in Welsh is oil or holl, in Saxon al or geall ; and this is undoubtedly
the Shemitic '73. So the Gr. o>,Auni is the Welsh colli, to lose ; and £iAro may
be the EngUsh coi7, Fr. cueillir.
In like manner, the Greek has, in many words, lost a labial initial, answer-
ing to the English 6,/or v. The Greek ii5w is undoubtedly the Latin video ;
ifyot is from the same root as work ; lim is from the root olvid, in the Latin
divide, and individuus, that is, separate, and from the Arabic, Jv j badda,
to separate.
In many instances, the Latin retained or restored the lost letter ; thus ha-
maxa, for ojiaja ; harpago for a^ira.-y-n ; harmonia for opuona ; video for £i5w.
If the marks of breathing, called spiritus asper and spiritus lenis, now pre-
fixed to Greek words, were intended to represent the letters lost, or to stand
in the place of them, they answer this purpose very imperfectly. The spir-
itus asper may stand for a palatal or guttural letter, but it does not designate
which letter, the n, or the 3 ; much less does this or the other spiritus just-
ly represent the labials, 6,/, d or «). Whenever the Latins wrote A in the
place of the Greek spiritus, we may conclude that the original letter was n or
a cognate letter ; and we may conclude also that the » in video, and in diiyido,
viduus, individuus, stands for the original labial lost in iidu, and iJus. But
there are many words, I apprehend, in which the lost letter is unknown, and
in which the loss cannot be recovered, by any marks prefixed to the words.
We may well suppose that hymnus exhibits the correct written form of
uuio! ; but what is there in the Greek uipi, to lead us to consider this word as
the English woof, and ucpau, to be the same as weave ? Both the Greek
words have the spiritus asper.
What proportion of Greek words have been contracted by the loss of an in-
itial or final consonant, cannot, I apprehend, be determined with any pre-
cision ; at least, not in the present state of philological knowledge. It is pro-
bable the number of contracted words amounts to one fourth of all the verbs,
and it may be more.
Similar contractions have taken place in all other languages ; a circum-
stance that embarrasses the philologist and lexicographer at every step of his
researches; and which has led to innumerable mistakes in Etymology. We
know that the Swedish &r, and Danish aar, a year, have lost the articulation
g, and that the English y in year, is the representative of g, asj
" * ' ' " jahr : for the g is found in our mother lougue
and in a multitude of words, one language will supply the means of deter
Dutch jaar, and German
* KptUfu, in Greek, is to cry like a crow or rook ; but the last radical is
changed fiom 7, as in the second aorist, it forms «pa7iii. Now in Danish, crow
is krage, in Ger. krahe, in D. kraai, in Sw. kr&ka; a fact that demonstrates
the last radical letter to be a palatal, which in English is opened too, in crow.
INTRODUCTION.
mining the real origin or true orthography which cnnn.i I ■ i. 1 1 iruHl by
anotlier. But doubtless many changes have taken pi i i I ' i. ■ evi-
dence is uncertain ; the chain which might conduct \ I ^ ' ii . I.iithog-
raphy being broken, andno meansnow remaining ol II I n 11 _ ■'■.
In no language, has the rejection or change of consonants s n ft
ually to obscure the original words as in the French. So t-M ■ I
been the changes of orthography in that language, that hii<l n
lexicographers indicated the loss of letters by a mark, it would I ir i : , 1 1 » i I
now to discover the original orthography, or to trace tlic connection oi w .1
with other languages, in a large portion of them. And it is with r.'in
we observe the influence of the French practice of suppressing consoii n;
extending itself to other countries. It is owing to the most servile obsicin,
ousness of nations, that Basil or Basilea, the elegant name of a town m
Switzerland, has been corrupted to Basle, and pronounced most barbarously
bale. The Germans are pursuing a like course in suppressing the palatal
letters; a most unfortunate circumstance for the strength of the language.
The Italians also have a disposition to reject letters when they interfere
with their habits ofpronunciation, and hence we see, in their language, ^ia-
no, written (or piano ; fiore (or flore ; fiocco (or flocco; a change that has
removed a radical consonant, and thus obscured or ratlier destroyed the affin-
ity between the Italian and the Latin words.
Another dilTerence of writing and pronouncing, has been produced by the
change of a sibilant letter into an aspirate : or e converso, by the change of
an a.spirate into a sibilant. No person doubts whether the Latin super is
the Greek uirip ; or o|ia\M is similh ; or a\! is sal, salt. The latter in
Welsh is halen, hal. So helyg, a willow, in Welsh, is in Latin salix. Thq
(Jreek ma is the Latin septem, English seven. This in Persic is C>.x&
heft or haft, which approaches the Greek itna. It has been commonly sup-
posed, that in this case, the aspirate in Greek has been converted into an s.
There are however strong reasons for believing that the change has been
the reverse, and that s has been dropped, and its place supplied by an
aspirate. The word seven is, beyond a question, the Sheniitic ^ j^^
i,'2e>, whence nat?, Eng. sabbath ; and the Gaelic sean, old, whence Latin
senex, in Welsh hen, seems clearly to be the Ar. ^ sanna, to be old.
It is then clear that in these words .s is radical. It is probable however
that the aspirate, in some cases, has been changed into s.
It deserves to be noticed that the radix of a word is sometimes obscured,
in Greek and Latin, by the loss or change of a radical letter in the nomina-
tive case. We find in Latin nepos, in the nominative, is nepotis in the gen-
itive ; honos, honoris, &.c. In these changes, I suppose the letter restored
in the oblique cases to be the true radical letter. Thus adamant has been
deduced by our etymologists from the Greek a negative and ianau, to sub-
due, on the supposition that the stone was named from its hardness. This
is a good example of a great part of all etymological deductions ; they arc
mere conjectures. It did not occur to the inquirer that adamas, in the
nommative, becomes in the gentive adamantis ; that n is radical, and that
this word cannot be regularly deduced from the Greek verb. Any person^
by looking into a Welsh dictionary, may see the original word.
In some words it is not easy to determine whether n before d is casual or
radical. In such words as the Latin fundo, to pour, and tundo, to beat
there is rea.son to think the n is casual, for the preterit is formed without it,
fudt, tutuJt. But ni other words n before d seems to be radical, and the
d casual ; as in fundo, fundare, to found. For this word coincides with the
Irish bun, foundation, and with the Shemitic nj3, banah, to build. So the
English yt«(Z is in Swedish ^inna, and in is in Danish ind.
Another fact of considerable consequence, is, the casual sound of n .-ivcn
tog, which produced the elTect of doubling the 7 in Gi-cek, an. I ..I .1, , 7 , u
mg the insertion of n before g in the Latin, as also in the '
Gothic languages. Thus we see the 7 is doubled in the Greik
we know, m this case, how the change originated; for the oii.Mi> ,1 v. \,' 1
m the Gaelic and Irish, agalla. So 7 is prefixed to another palatal or -ut-
tural letter in wyx'-', 07x01, £771^10.
A similar nasal sound of g probably introduced the n before s in lin-'o. to
hck ,• hnquo, to leave.
We may be confident, in all cases, that n is not radical, when it is dropped
in the supine and participle, as in Kctvm, Hctus, from linguo. When n is
retained in t.ie supine and participle, there may be more reason for doubt;
but m this case, the question may often be determined by the coriespondin<r
word m aiKither language, or by some other word evidently of the sami
lick are the
family.
word.
little doubt that lingo and the English
"* the Lat. lingua and ligula arc of
This casua insertion of n in words of this class must be carefully noticed
by the etymologist, or he will overlook the affinity of words, which are evi-
dent y the same. We have many words in English which are written with
n belore a g or a k, when the ancient words in the Gothic and Teutonic lan-
guages and some of them in the modern Danish and Swedish, are written
without n. Thus sink, in Gothic is sigcwan; to think, is thagkyan. It is
not improbable that the (Jothic word was pronounced with the sound of n
Vol. I. C
■ ng- as in English. So i
- ^stances, we find the Sw .
jways, as tlinka, ttenker and tycka, tykker, to thinks But in general the Ger-
ans, Danes, Swedes and Dutch write words of this sort with ng.
To show how important it is to know the true original orthography, I will
iition one instance. In our mother tongue, the word to dye, or color, is
nw-ndeagan; the elements or radical letters are dg. To determine
il'.cr Ibis and the Latin tingo arc the same words, we must first know
il]r ■ 11 in tingo is radical or casual. This we cannot know with cer-
. ! ■ t'li- form of the word itself, for the n is carried through all the
' I iiMiiis of the verb. But by looking into the Greek, we find the
-, i vM,,Hii with 7, Tiv'/y; and this clearly proves the alliance of the
tiiil «iiii deagan. .'^rr- /(i,r in tin Hirtionary.
j We have many Enjili ' lib a rf ha? been inserted before ;?,
3.% ia badge, budge, Iml'. , -,. In all words, I believe, of this
class, the dis casual, tn,.i . .; , > ,„ ,„^ is the radical letter, as pledge from
the French pleige ; UK^t 1 1 um tin- .s^xon wecg. The practice of inserUng
d in words of this sort seems to have originated in the necessity of some
mode of preserving the English sound of g, which might otherwise be
sounded as the French g before e. And it is for this reason we still retain,
and ought to retain d in alledge, abridge. In like manner the Teutonic c
has been changed into the sound of ch, as Sax. wacian, wacian, to wake,
to watch; Sax. thac, thatch.
There are some nations which, in many words, pronounce and write g
before u or w ; as in the French guerre, for war; guede, for woad ; guet-
ter. for wait : in Welsh, gwal, for wall; gwain, for wain ; gwared, for
guard, which in EngHsh is ward, Sp. guarda. In some instances, the u
or u) is dropped in modern writing, as in the French garcniu, a warren :
garde, for guard. ThisditTerence of orthography makes it difficult, in some
cases, to ascertain the true radical letters.
CHANGE OF SIGNIFICATION.
Another cause of obscurity in the affinity of languages, and one thai
seems to have been mostly overlooked, is, the change of the primary sense
of the radical verb. In most cases, this change consists in a slight deflec-
tion, or difference of application, which has obtained among diflerent fam-
ilies of the same stock. In some cases, the literal sense is lost or obscured
and the figurative only is retained. The first object, in such cases, is to
find the primary or literal sense, from which the various particular applica-
tions may be easily deduced. Thus, we find in Latin, libeo, libet, or lubeo,
lubet, IS rendered, to please, to like ; lubens, willing, glad, cheerful, pleas-
ed; hbenter, lubenter, willingly, gladly, readily. What is the primary
sense, the visible or physical action, from which the iie&ot willing is taken?
I find, either by knowing the radical sense of willing, ready, in other
cases, or by the predominant sense of the elements lb, as in Lat. labor, to
slide, liber, free, &c. that the primary sense is to move, incline or advance
towards an object, and hence the sense of willing, ready, prompt. Now
this Latin word is the English love, German lieben, Hebe. " Lubet me ire."
I love to go ; I am inclined to go ; I go with cheerfulness ; but the affinity
between love and lubeo has been obscured by a slight ditTerence of applica-
tion, among the Romans and the Teutonic nations.
Perhaps no person has suspected that the English words heat, hate and
hest, in behest, are all radically the same word. But this is the fact. Sax.
hattan, to heat, or be hot, and to hate ; haitan, to heat and to call ; hatan,
to call, to order, to command ; ge-haitan or gehatan, to grow warm, to
promise, to vow ; Gothic, gahaitan, to call, to promise ; Dutch, heeten, to
heat, to name, to call, bid or command ; German, heitzen. to heat ; heissen,
to call; hitzen, to heat, to hoist; Swedish, hetsa, to inflame, to provoke :
Dt.viivl, hnlrr. Inlie;ii, to be culled. Behest, we have from the German or
~>''''| >| I'i'I'i Hull loiiuides with the Latin astus torhtnstus, which
' ' I'l' ". ' '" III' <.irnian. //a<e coincides with the Latin otZi,
■' • • > :>'• I' '"1 h.'di. luimti, and as the Teutonic h often represents the
Ljiiti J, ,u m Ian a, cuuui, tlic Danish orthography heder, coincides with the
Latin cito, to call. Now what is the radical sense .' Most obviously to stir,
agitate, rouse, raise, implying a driving or impulse ; and hence in Latin
iBstuo, to be hot, and to rage or storm ; hence to excite, and hence the sense
of the Latin cito, quickly, from stirring, rousing to action. In this case hatred,
as well as heat, is violent excitement. We find also in the Saxon and
Gothic the sense of vowing, that is, of driving out the voice, uttering, de-
claring, a sense allied to calling and commanding, and to this is allied the
sense of the Latin recito, to recite.
In English befall signifies to fall on, to happen to ; in German the same
word, befallen, has the like signification. But in Saxon gefeallan signifies
to fall, to rush on, while in German gefallen signifies to please, that is, to
suit, to come to one's mind, to be agreeable. The Danish gefalder has the
same signification as the German.
We find by the Saxon, that tlie English reck, to care, and reckon, and
the Latin rego, to rule, are all the same word, varied in orthography and appU-
cation. To hnd the primary sense of reck, to care, we are then to examine the
various derivative senses. And we need go no farther than to the Latin rec-
tus and English right, the sense of which is straight, for tliis sense is de-
rived from straining, stretching. Care then is a straining of the mind.
INTRODUCTION.
a sUetcliing towards an object, coinciding with the primary sense of atten-
tion. The primary sense of reckon is to strain out sounds, to speak, tell,
relate ; a sense now disused.
The Saxon care, care, ctcrcian, to care, to cark, is connected in origin
with the Latin career, a prison ; Ijoth from the sense of straining, whence
holding or restraint.
To prove how the jirimary general sense of a word may ramify into differ-
ent senses, by special appropriation of the word among separate families of
men proceeding from the same stock, let us observe the different senses in
wliich leap is used by the English, and by the nations on the continent. In
English, to leap is simply to spring; as, to leap a yard ; to leap over a fence.
But on the continent it signifies to run. Now it will be seen that this
word as used by the Germans cannot always be translated by itself, that is,
by the same word, into English. Take for illustration the following pas-
.sage from Luther's Version of the Scriptures. 1. Sam. xvii. 17. " Nimm
fUr deine bruder diese epha sangen, und diese zehen brod, und lai^'ms heer
zu deinen brudern." " Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched
corn, and these ten loaves, and leap to the camp to thy brethren." Leap,
instead of run, is good German, but bad English.* There are two other
words in this passage, of which a like remark may be made. The German
brod, loaves, is our bread, which admits of no plural ; and sangan is our
singed, which we cannot apply to parched corn.
So in some of the Teutonic languages, to warp kittens or puppies, to ivarp
eggs, is correct language, though to our cars very odd ; but this is only
a particular application of the primary sense, to throw. We say to lay eggs,
but to lay is to throtv down.
By this comparison of the different uses and applications of a word, we
are able, in most cases, to detect its original signification. And it is by this
means, I apprehend, that we may arrive at a satisfactory explanation of the
manner in which the same word came to have different and even opposite
significations.
It is well known, for example, that the Hebrew word p3, is rendered, in
our version of the Scriptures, both to bless and to curse. The propriety of
the latter rendering is controverted by Parkhurst, who labors to prove, that
in Kings and in Job, where it is rendered, to curse, it ought to be rendered,
to bless; and he cites, as authorities, the ancient versions. It is true that
in 1 Kings xxi. 10. 13 ; and in Job i. 11, and ii. 5, the seventy have rendered
the word by euAo^iu), to bless ; and other ancient versions agree with the
Septuagint. But let the word be rendered by bless in the following passa-
ges. " Put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone, and his flesh, and he
will Wess thee to thy face." " J5tos God and die." How very absurd does
such a translation appear. It shows the immense importance of understand-
ing the true theory of language, and the primary sense of radical words.
Let us then endeavor to discover, if possible, the source of the difficulty in
the case here mentioned. To be enabled to arrive at the primary sense, let
us examine the word in the several languages, first, of the Shemitic, and
then of the Japhetic stock.
Heb. "jia To bless ; to salute, or wish a blessing to.
2. To curse ; to blaspheme.
3. To couch or bend the knee, to kneel.
Deriv. A blessing, and the knee.
Chaldee, ■]"13 To bless ; to salute at meeting, and to bid farewell at
partin^^
2. To bend the knee.
3. To dig ; to plow ; to set si
The
'.e ; a blei
To fall
Deriv.
Syriac,
V. 27.
2. To issue or proceed from. Math.
3. To bless.
plant for propagation.
Talm. and Rabbin.
a cion ; the young of fowls.
0 fall or bow down. Judg,
Samaritan, ii'\Si To bless.
Ethiopic, fl/!tl To bless. Deriv. the knee.
Arabic, ,^j.j To bend the knee ; to fall on the breast, as a camel.
2. To be firm,' or fixed.
3. To rain violently ; to pour forth r;iin, as the clouds. Gr. Ppix".
4. To detract from ; to traduce ; to reproach or pursue with reproaches
to revile.
5. To bless; to pray for a blessing on ; to prosper; to be blessed.
6. To hasten ; to rush, as on an enemy ; to assail.
Deriv. The breast ; the bason of a fountain ; a fish pond, or receptacle of
water, as in Heb. and Ch, : also increase ; abundance ; constancy ; splendor;
a flash of light.
In the latter sense, usually from Oj. j Heb. and Ch. pi3.
The Arabic word supplies us with thecertain means of determining th^
radical sense ; for among other significations, it has the sense of pouring
forth rain ; and this is precisely the Greek ppix". The primary sense then
send, throw, or drive, in a transitive sense ; or in an intransitive sense,
to rush, to break forth.
To bless and to curse have the same radical sense, which is, to send or
pour out words, to drive or to strain out the voice, precisely a< in the Latin
ippello, from pello, whence peal, as of thunder or of a bell. The two penses
pring from the appropriation of loud words to express pa: iiciilar acts. This
depends on usage, like all other particular applications of one general .^iini-
fication. The sense in Scripture is to utter words cithir in a good or bad
sense ; to bless, to salute, or to rail, to scold, to rrproaeh ; and this very
1 is probably the root of repj-oacA, as it certainly iinftlie LM'mprecor,
used, like the Shemitic word, in both senses, pnnjinfr ;iTni cursing, or de-
ecating." It is also the same word as the Enj;li-,li ;))<n/, II. pregare, L.
precor, the same aspreach, D.preeken, W. pregethv. To the same family be-
long the Gr. Ppax^^, PpiTCM, Ppuxaojiai, to bray, to roaj-, to low, Lat. rugio.
Here we see that bray is the same word, applied to the voice of the ass and
to breaking in a mortar, and both are radically the same word as break.
The sen.se of kneeling, if radical, is to throw, and if from the noun, the
sense of the noun is a throwing, a bending.
The Chaldee sense of digging, if radical, is from thrusting in an instrument,
breaking the ground ; but perhaps it is a sense derived from the name of
ihoot or cion, and in reality, to set a shoot, to plant.
The Syriac use of this word in Matthew xv. 19, is intransitive, to issue,
shoot or break forth. So in Arabic, to rush on, to assault. The sense of
firmness in Arabic is from setting, throwing down, as in kneeling ; and
hence the sense of breast, the fixed, firm part.
That this word has the sense both of blessing and of cursing or reproach-
ing, we have demonstrative evidence in the Welsh language. Hheg, in
Welsh, is "[13, without the prefix. It signifies a sending out; utterance;
a gift or present ; a consigning ; a ban, a curse or imprecation. Rhegu, to
give ; to consign ; to curse. From rhtg is formed preg, a greeting, or salu-
tation, [the very Hebrew and Chaldee word,] pregeth, a sermon, and pre-
gethu, to preach. Here we have not only the origin oi preach, but another
important fact, that preg, and of course y^l, is a compound word, composed
of a prefix, p or b, and rheg. But this is not all ; the Welsh greg, a cack-
ling, gregar, to cackle, is formed with the prefix g on this same rheg. [Dan.
krage, a crow.]
In Welsh, bregu signifies to break ; breg, a breach, a rupture. This
Owen deduces from bar, but no doubt erroneously. It is from rhegu, and
there is some reason to think that break is from p3, rather than from pnS,
but probably both are from one radix, with different prefixes.
We observe one prominent sense of the Arabic i»J\j baraka, is to rain
violently ; to pour forth water, as clouds. This is precisely the Greek (3pixM ;
word found in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages, but written cither
with or without its prefix.
Saxon, riBgn or regn, rain ; regnan, to rain.
Dutch, regen, rain ; regenen, beregenen, to rain upon.
German, regen, rain ; regnen, to rain ; beregnen, to rain on.
Swedish, regna, to rain.
Danish, regn, rain ; regner, to rain.
Saxon, racu, rain ; Cimbric, riekia, id.
Here we find that the English rain, is from the same root as the Welsh
rhig, rhegu, and the Shemitic "jlj.
Pursuing the inquiry further, we find that the Saxon recan, or reccan,
[W. rhegu,'] signifies to speak, to tell, to relate, to reckon, the primary sense
of which last is to speak or tell ; also, to rule, which shows this to be the La-
tin rego ; also to care, which is the English reck. That this is the same
word as rain, we know fiom the Danish, in which language, regner signi-
fies both to rain and to reckon, to tell, to count or compute. In the German,
the words are written a little differently ; rechnen, to reckon, and regnen, to
rain. So in Dutch, reekenen and regenen; but this is a fact by no means
uncommon.
Here we find that the English reckon and reck, and the Latin rego, arc
the same word. The pi imary sense is to strain, to reach, to stretch. Care
is a stretching of the mind, like attention, from the Latin tendo, and re-
straint is the radical sense of governing. Hence rectus, right, that is,
straight, stretched.
Hence we find that rain and the Latin regnum, reign, are radically the
same word.
Now in Saxon racan, or racan, is the English reach, to stretch or extend,
from the same root, and probably reek, Saxon recan, reocan, to fume or
smoke ; for this is, to send off.
I might have mentioned before, that the Chaldee n0">3, a cion or branch,
is precisely the Celtic word for arm; Irish icoic, or raio:/) ; AVelsh Araif ;
whence the Greek (3?axi"i, the Latin brachium, whence the Spanish braio,
whence the French bras, whence the English brace. The arm is a shoot,
a branch, and branch is from this root oi- one of the family, n being casual ;
branch for brach.
He walks, he leaps, he i
In^robusurget iratis precibus." — Horace.
INTRODUCTION.
On this word, let it be further obser\-cd, or on p-a or p-i3, if radically
different, are formed, with the prefix s, the German sprechen, to speak,
spracAe, speech ; Dutch spreeken, spraak ; Swedish spr&ka, syroA; Da-
nish sprog, speech ; and Swedish spricka, to break; Danish sprekker. The
same word with n casual is seen in spring, the breaking or opening of the
winter; and here we see the origin of the marine phrase, to spring a mast,
Danish springer, to burst, crack or spring. This in Swedish is written
without n, spricka, to break, burst, split ; but a noun of this family has n,
fpringa, a crack, and spring, a spring, a running.
Now let us attend to other Shemitic words consisting of cognate elements.
Chaldee, -tlil To rub or scrape ; to rub out or tread out, as grain from the
car or sheaf; Latin/rico,/rio.
2. To collect and bind, as sheaves; perhaps English, lo rake.
3. To break or break down.
4. To question; to doubt. In Saxon and Gothic fragnan, fragan, signi-
fies to ask.
Deriv. Froward ; perverse. Prov. ii. 12. So in English refractory.
This verb is not in the Hebrew; but there are two derivatives, one signi-
fying tlie inner vail of the temple ;'so called probably from its use in break-
i'ng^Wvit is, interrupting access, or separation, like diaphragm in Engli.sh.
The other derivative is rendered rigor, or cruelty ; that which strains, op-
presses, breaks down, or rakes, harasses.
With this verb coincides the Irish bracaim, to break, to harrow, that is, to
rake.
Syr. 3;.3 To rub, so rendered, Lukevi. 1. Lat. /;ico. A d(
sijnities to comminute.
'Deriv. Distortion ; winding ; twisting. Let this be noted.
Ar. ^j.3 To rub, Lat. /ric«.
2. To hate, as a husband or wife ; to be languid, or relaxed.
Deriv. Laxity ; franeibility ; friability.
Heb. p-13 To 6reafr,burst, or rend; to break off; to separate.
Deri\! A breaking or parting of a road.
Ch. p13 To break.
2. Tb redeem, that is, to free, separate or deliver.
3. To explain, a-s a doubtful question.
Deriv. One who ransoms or delivers ; a rupture ; the neck or
breaking connected in tliis
joint of a reed ; a chapter,
pni)> a rupture, coinciding
ture ; a joint of the fingers, &c. ; the ankle
or section of a book ; explanation ; expositic
with the English broke.
Syr. ,0\.S> To redeem.
2. To depart ; to remove ; to separate.
Deriv. A recess, or withdrawing ; separaUon ; liberation ; redemption ;
safely ; vertebra.
Sam. The same as tlie Syriac verb.
Ar. o.i to separate ; to divide; to withdraw; to disperse, [qu. Lat
spargo\] to lay open; to disclose ; to cast out ; to immerse.
Deriv. Separation ; distinction ; distance ; inter\'al ; dispersion ; aurora,
as we say, the break of day; also, a garment reaching to the middle of the
thigh, qu. frock; also bre'ech.
I have placed these two words together, because I am convinced they are
both of one family, or formed on the same radical word. The latter coincides
exactly with the Latin frango,fregi,fractum, for n in frango, is undoubt-
edly casual. Now in Welsh bregu, to break, would seem to be directly con-
nected with "113, yet doubtless bregii is the English break, the German
brechen, the Dutch breeken, &c. In truth, the three words -p^, pg and
pi3 are probably all from one primitive root, formed with different prefixes,
or rather with the same prefix differently written ; the different words
bearing appropriate senses, among different tribes of men.
We observe in the Chaldee word the sense of questioning. Perhaps this
may be the Gothic /roo^an, to ask, and if so, it coincides with the Latin rogo.
the latter without the prefix. In tlie sense of break, we find, in the Greek,
pT\7vuM, without a prefix. j
Most of the significations of these verbs are too obvious to need illustra
tion. But we find in the Syriac the sense of distortion, a sense which a
first appears to be remote from that of breaking or bursting asunder. Bu
this is probably the primary sense, to strain, to stretch, a sense we retain in
the phrase, to break upon the wheel, and by dropping the prefix, we have
the precise word in the verb, to racfr.
Now if this is the genuine sense, we find it gives the English wreck and
wrack, the Danish vrag, Sw. vrak, a wreck. In Saxon, wracan, wrecan
is the English wreak, that is, to drive, or throw on ; wrace, is an exile, a
uretch. In D.in. vrnger signifies to reject; Sw.vraka, to throw away;
all implying a driving force, and that wreck is connected with breakis prob-
able for another reason, that the Latin fractus, frango, forms a constituent
part of naufiagium, the English shipwreck, which in Danish is simply wag-.
Now if straining, distortion, is one of the senses of this root, the English
wring, tcTong, Danish crang, Sw. vr&ng, may be deduced from it, for un-
doubtedly n is not radical in these words. The Dutch have wringen, but
the German drops the first letter and has ringen, both to twist or wind and
to ring or sound ; the l.itlcr sense from stiainiiig or throwing, as in other
cases. Without n, wring would be wrig, and wrong, wrog ; wrung, vorag,
Dan. vrag.
In Greek, p<i7oi is a blanket or coverlet, and connected with pnyiuiii; that
is, a spread, from stretching, or throwing over.
We find also among the Chaldee derivatives the sense of a neck, and a
joint. Now we find this word in Irish, braigh, the neck ; in Greek, with-
out the prefix, faxn, the spine of the back, Saxon, hraeca, English, the
rack, and from the Greek, the rickets, from distortion.
Coinciding with the Greek priyiuw, to break, we find in Welsh rhwgaw, to
rend, and coinciding with paxm, a rock, a crag, Welsh, eraig, and connect-
ed with these, the Saxon hracod, English ragged, that is, broken ; evidently
the participle of a verb of this family.
Hence we find the senses of distortion and
root, in a great variety of instances.
The Shemitic p^3, to lighten, to shine or flash, is one of this family. The
sense is to shoot' or dart, to throw, as in all like cases. And under this
;, the Arabic has the sense, to adorn, as a female ; to make bright or
shining ; which gives the English prank and prink, D. pragt, 0. pracht.
Prance is of the same family, from leaping, starting, darting up.
In Greek Ppayu:, short, stands in the Lexicons as a primary word or root.
But this is from the root of break, which is lost in Greek, unless in fnym,
without the prefix. From ppax"!, or the root of this word, the French lan-
guage has abreger, to abridge, and what is less obvious, but equally certain,
that from the same root the Latin has brevis, by sinking the palatal let-
ter, as we do in bow, from bugan, and in lay, from lecgan ; so thai abridge
and abbremate, brief, are from one root.
It should have been before mentioned that the Latin refragor, signifies
to resist, to strive against, to deny, whence refractory ; a sense that demon-
strates the primary sense to be to strain, urge, press ; and refraction, in
optics, is a breaking of the direct course of rays of light by turning them ;
sense coinciding witli that of distortion.
We see then that one predominant sense of break, is, to strain, to distort.
Let us now examine some of the bilitcrai roots in rg and rk, wliich, if b
a prefix, must be the primary elements of all the words above mentioned.
Ch. in To desire, to long for. This is the Greek op<7w, and English to
reach; for desire is expressed by reaching forward, stretcliing the mind to-
ards the object. So in Latin appeto, and expeto, from peto, to move to-
ards. This coincides nearly with the Latin rogo, to ask, and the Goth.
fragnan. Sax. frcegnan.
Syr.^ ; To desire ; and with olaph prefixed,.,^ ] to desire, or long ; also
to wet or moisten; also J^ to moisten — Latin rigo, irrigo, to irrigate.
Deriv. Tender, soft, fresh, from moisture or greenness. Qu. Lat recent,
derivative.
Here desire and irrigation are both from one root; desire is a reaching
forward, and irrigation is a spreading of water.
This root, in Hebrew JIN, signifies to weave, or connect as in texture and
net work ; but tlie primary sense js to stretch or strain.
In Arabic, the same verb _ , \ signifies to emit an agreeable smell; to
breathe fragrance ; radically to throw or send out ; to eject ; a mere modifica-
tion of the same sense. This is the Latin fragro, whence fragrant, with a
prefix; but according exactly with the English reek.
"IIN in Ch. Heb. Syr. and Sam., signifies to prolong, to extend. In .\r. as
in Heb. in Hiph. to delay, or retard; that is, to draw out in time.
JH'y in Heb. has been differently interpreted; indeed, it has been rendered
by words of directly contrary signification. The more modern interpre-
ters, says Castle, render it, to sptit, divide, separate, or break; the ancient
interpreters rendered it, to stiffen, to make rigid or rough, to wrinkle or .
corrugate. Castle and Parkhurst, however, agree in rendering it, in some
passages, to quiet, still, allay. Jer. xlvii. 6. 1.34. In Job vii. 6. our trans-
lators have rendered it broken, my skin is broken, [rough, or rigid.] In
Job. xxvi. 12. it is rendered by divide. " He divideth the sea by his power."
In Vanderhooght's Bible it is in this place rendered by commovet — He agit-
ates the sea. The Seventy render it by varrrauo-i, he stilled; and this is tho
sense which Parkhurst gives it.
In Isaiah li. 15, and Jer. xxxi. 35, it is rendered in our version hy divide.
" But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared."
In Vanderhooght's Bible it is rendered in Isaiah Ii. 15, " I am Jehovah
thy God, qui commovens mare, ut perstrepant fluctus ejus." In Jer. xxxi.
35, commovens mare, ut tumultuenter fluctus — agitating or moving the sea,
that the waves roar, or may roar. The passage in Isaiah is rendered by the
seventy, on a 0;ci a:'Vf c tapacrtrwi rtiv 6a\acT(7aVy xai nxwv Ta yviiaia avi-ns, agita-
ting the sea and causing its waves to roar and resound. In the French trans-
lation, the passage in Isai:ih is " qui fend la mer, et ses flots bruient." [I]
who divide the sea and the waves roar. In Jeremiah the passage is " qui
agite la mer et les flots en bruient." Who agitates the sea and therefore
the waves roar. In ItaUan, the passage in Isaiah is rendered " che muovo
il mare, e le sue onde romoreggiano." In Jeremiah, " che commuove il
mare, onde le sue onde romoreggiano." WTio moveth the sea, wherefore
its waves roar, or become tumultuous.
INTRODUCTION.
These dilleient rejideiings show the importance of understanding the lit-]
cral or primary sense of words ; for whatever may be the real sense m the
passages above mentioned, it cannot be to divide I we are give to vau in
the following word, its usual sense of and, it is diflicult to make sense of the
word rJI, by translating it, he stUleth: hestilleth the sea audits waves are
tumultuous, or he stiUeth the sea that the waves may roar or be agitated !
This will not answer. The more rational version would be, he roughens
the sea, and its waters roar, or he drives, impels it into agitaUon. In Lthi-
opic the same word signifies to coagulate, to freeze, to become rigid ; and
this is undoubtedly the Latin riseo, and with a prefix, /ngeo, and this sig-
nification is perhaps allied to Lat. rugo, lo wrinkle ; for as a general rule,
the radical sense of wrinkle is to draw, as in contract, cmitraho, and thu
seems to be the sense of rigeo. Both these words are allied to rough
which is from breaking or wrinkling. This sense would perhaps well suii
the context in these two passages, as it would also that in Job vu. 5 . My
skin is rough.
Now in Arabic, the general signification of ;?JT is to return, to repeat,
to withdraw, which may be from drawing back ; a dififerent application ol
the original sense, to strain, stretch, or extend.
The root pn in Chaldee signifies to spit, and this is probably the Latin j
ructo, somewhat varied in application. The
signifies to diive off, to reject, to shoot or grov
rify or make clear as wine ; precisely the English to rack ; also
1 to pour out. Hebrew p^, to empty, to draw
ame verb in Arabic
long as teeth, to stra
a, spittle ; Syriac, to spit, to di
attenuate or make
out, to attenuate ; Sa-
Ethiopic, to be fine, slender,
Pi. j^3, the verb differently pointed, to hew, to out down. Josh. xvii.
.5. IS.
2. To cut down with the sword ; to kill. Ez. xxiii. 47.
3. To make fat. 1 Sam. ii. 29.
Thus far the Hebrew.
Chal. Sia To create. Gen. i. \.
2. To cut off. Is. xl. 20.
3. To make fat ; to grow sound or strong. Talm.
Deriv. Fat ; whole ; sound ; strong. Castle.
Syr. ] "^O To create. Gen. i. 1. JVIark xiii. 19.
2. To remove to a distance, and Deriv. distance, distant Castle.
Sam. /fSa To create. Gen. i. 22. Deut. iv. 32. Castle
Ar. ^j.j To create. Job xxxviii. 7. [qu. 4 and 6.]
2. To be' free, or guiltless, not obnoxious to punishment. Num. v. 28.
31, and xxxii. 22. Rom. vii. 6.
3. To free ; to absolve, from i
Ex. XX. 7. Num. xiv. 18.
4. To escape ; to forsake.
5. To recover from disease ; to be healed ; to restore to health. Lev. xii
18. Josh. v. 8. Math. iv. 23.
6. To cleanse ; to free from impurities
7. To abstain from.
Deriv. Creator ; free ; unobnoxious ; clean ; empty.
to liberate; to dismiss; to justify.
thin, and i
maritan, to pour out, to draw out, to extend ,
or thin ; Arabic, to be soft, tender, thin. The verb p has a like signifi'
tion, and is perhaps from the same original root. yTTt Hebrew, to spread
stretch, extend. But, says CasUe, all the ancient' interpreters rcnderec
the word, to ordain, establish, make firm ; to strike, to beat, as plates ot
metal. But tlie sense is to stretch, to spread, and the beating is only the
means of extending. Hence y^rrs the firmament, which agrees well with
Lat. regio, an extent ; in Hebrew, properly an expanse. And to reconcile
the ancient and modern interpretations of this word, let it be remembered
HiZi strength znA firmness are usually or always from stretching, tension.
Now let us hear Ainsworth on the word regio. " Regio a rego quod
priusquam provincise fierent, regiones sub regibus erant atque ab his re
•rebantur." How much more natural is it to deduce regio from the prima
ry sense ofrego, which is to stretch, to strain, to extend ! Regio is an ex
tent, a word of indefinite signification.
In Chaldee and Arabic this verb signifies to mend, to repair, to make
whole, from extending spreading over or making strong. See the root
"70 infra. .
We observe that JJT and j;rri agree in original signification, with th'
English reach, on the root of which or some of its derivatives was formed
stretch. That "pZ, p3 and piS were formed on any of the foregoing bilite
ral roots we may not be able to affirm ; but it is certain from the Welsh that
the first consonant of the triliteral root is a prefix, and it is certain from the
Shemitic languages that the primary sense is the same in the biliteral and
triliteral roots, or that all the applications or particular significations may
readily be deduced from one general signification
, to separate, to free, to i
To illustrate this subject more full;
: Other Shemitic words oi
attend to the various applic
produce into being.
2. To form, by accretion or concretion of matter. Gen. i
3. In Hiph. To make fat ; to fatte
t03.
Heb. t03 To create. This, by most lexicographers, is given as the first
signification, in all the Shemitic languages. Parkhurst says, to create ;
Droduce into being. Gen. i. 1.
21.
batten. 1 Sam. ii
To do' or perform something wonderful. Num. xvi. 30.
5. In Niph. To be renewed. In Ka!, to renew, in a spiritual sense
Ps. Ii. 12.
Castle says,
1. To create from nothing, or to produce something new or excellent
from another thing. Gen. i. Is. xlii. 5.
2. In Niph. To be renewed or re-created. Is. xlviii. 7. Ps. cii. 19.
3. To cut off; to take away ; to bear away, or remove ; also to select ; to
prepare. Josh. xvii. 15. 18. Ezek. xxiii. 47.
Gesenius says,
1. Strictly, to hew, to hew out. [Ar. to cut, to cut out, to plane.]
2. To form; to make ; to produce. Ar. lj.j The order of significa-
tions is, as in the Ar. uii.^^ galaka, to be smooth, to make smooth. 2.
To plane. 3. To form, make. Gen. i. 1. 21. 27.
1. Niph. passive of Kal. No. 2. Gen. ii. 4.
8. To be born. Ezek. xxi. 30. Ps cii. 18.
Ar. \j.j To create.
2. To cut off; to hew or pare.
3. To separate ; to distinguish.
4. To make thin.
5. To oppose ; to strive ; to resist.
6. To provoke; to boast, or make a parade.
7. To distribute ; to disperse. Castle.
According to Gesenius, the primary sense of this verb is to hew, to cut out,
and thus to make smooth, and thus to create ; and he deduces these senses
in the same order, as he does those of the Arabic verb, which gives the word
like. But there is no ground for this opinion ; and doubtless the verb ori-
ginated before the use of edge tools.
The predominant senses of this word, ;
we see by the Arabic and Syriac.
Now hewing is indeed separating, and we have the English word pare
from this root ; but we must seek for a signification which is more general
than that o{ paring, or we shall not be able to account for the sense of mak-
ing fat, sound, entire, and strong, nor for that of being born.
The truth undoubtedly is, this word is of the same family with the Eng-
lish bear, the Latin pario, and the radical sense is to throw, to thrust, to
send, to drive, to extend ; hence to throw out, to produce, as applied to the
th of children or of the world. To throw or drive, is the primary sense of
separation and division, that is, to drive off. The English word deal, when
traced to its root, presents the same fact. See Deal. To create, is to pro-
duce or bring forth, the same sense as that o( birth, applied lo a different
object. The sense of hewing and paring is from driving off, separation. In
Syriac, we observe the general application, in removal, or departure to a
distance. The sense of fattening is derivative, and allied to that of healing
making whole, sound, strong, in the Arabic, that is, preparing, bringing
1 good state, or from tension, the usual primary sense of strength and
To obtain a more full and satisfactory view of this subject, let us attend to
the same word in the modern languages of Europe.
LATIN.
Paro, to prepare, make ready, procure, design, &c. The radical sense of
paro is probably the same as in the Shemitic languages ; to produce, to bring
Ibrward. So also ready implies an advancing, and so docsprompt/iess. But
the various ways of preparing a thing for use naturally give to the word, in
process of time, a variety of particular significations ; each of which results
in bringing the thing to the state desired. The compounds oiparo, are ap-
pnro, to prepare, to furnish, accouler or set out ; comparo, to prepare or
procure, to make equal, to compare, to join, to dress or make ready ;
prceparo, to prep-ire; reparo, to repair, to create anew, to regain, to com-
pensate ; separo, to separate. Let the Latin uses of this word be compared
th the same Hebrew word in Joshua xvii. 15, where it is rendered cut
down. "Ascend to the wood country and cut down for thyself;" Septua-
gint, iHxaea? I (TiauM, clear for thyself This is one mode of preparation for
In Ezek. xxi. 19, it is rendered choose. Septuagint, iittiajiii, ap-
Parare, to prepare ; to garnish ; to adorn ; to propose an occasion ;
parry, or ward off, as a blow ; to defend; to cover from or shelter ; to repo
INTRODUCTION.
(o leach a horse to stop, and in horsemanship, lo stop ; parata, a wanling off,
a garnishing ; parato, prepared, ready, prompt, warded ofl or parried, shield-
ed, defended.
Apparare, to learn ; apparato, learned, prepared ; apparato, preparation,
garnishment.
Parecchio, a preparation; also equal, even, [L. par;] parecchiare, to
prepare ; pareggiare, to make equal, to compare ; apparecchiare, to pre
pare, to ornament or garnish, to set in order ; appareggiare, to put in com-
petition, to match, to equal.
Comparare, to compare.
Disparate, to forget; disparare, sparare, to unfurnish, to disgarnish
to make unready, to disbowel, to separate, di'-join, unpair; to discbarge, ai
artillery.
/m;)arare, to learn.
Riparare, to repair, to restore to the first state ; to repair, or resort to, or
have access to ; to parry, or ward otf ; riparo, reparation, a fort, a bank,
fence, mound, remedy, shelter.
SPANISH.
Parar, to prepare ; to stop, detain, prevent ; to end ; to treat or use ill ; to
stoke at cards ; to point out the game, as pointers.
Parada, a halt or stopping, end, pause ; a fold for cattle ; a relay, as
horses ; a dam or bank ; a stake or bet ; a parade, or a place where troops
are assembled to exercise ; parado, remiss, careless, unemployed.
Par, a pair; a peer ; after-birth ; the handle of a bell.
Apnrar, to stretch out the hands or skirts of a garment for receiving any
thing ; to dig and heap earth round plants ; to close the upper and hind quar-
ter of a shoe to the sole ; to couple male and female animals ; to dub as a ship.
AparadoT, a sideboard, a dresser in a kitchen, a workshop, a wardrobe;
aparato, preparation, pomp, show.
Aparear, to match ; to suit one thing to another, [pair.]
Aparejo, preparation, harness, sizing of a piece of linen or board on which
something is to be painted, tackle, rigging employed on board of a ship.
[Apparel, parrel.]
Comparar, to compare.
Vesparejar, to make unequal.
Disparar, to dischaige, as tire arms.
Amparar, to shelter'; lo protect. [Aragon, to sequester, as goods.]
JEmparedar, to confine or shut up.
Reparar, to repair ; to observe carefully, to consider ; to mend or correct :
to suspend or detain ; to guard, defend, protect ; to regain strength or recov-
er from sickness ; to right tlie helm.
Separar, to separate.
PORTUGUESE.
Parar, v. i. to stop, to cease to go forward ; to confine upou, to meet ai
the end, to touch, to be bounded ; to end, to drive at something, to aim at
to come to; to imply, involve, or comprise : " Nao posso parar com feme,'
I cannot bear hunger. " Ninguem pode aqui parar," nobody can live oi
stay here. [Kng. bear.]
Parar, v. t. to stop, to hinder from proceeding ; to parry or ward off; to
turn or change with regard to inclination or morals ; to lay or stake as a wa-
ger. Parada, a stopping or place of stopping ; a bet or wager.
Amparar, to protect, shelter, defend, abet.
Comparar, to compare ; comprar, to buy, to procure.
Aparar, to pare, as an apple ; to mend or make a pen ; to parry a blow.
Aparelhar, to prepare, to tit, to cut out or rough hew ; aparelho, tackle ir
a ship for hoisting things, Eng. a parrel.
Disparar, to shoot, to discharge, as fire-arms.
J?f/)arar, to repair ; to;jarry in fencing; to advert; to observe ; to mak(
amends; to retrieve; to recover ; to recruit; to shelter; reparo, in fortiti
cation, defense.
FRENCn.
Pnrtr, to deck, adorn, trim, set off, embellish ; to parry or ward off. " Pa
rer de j cuirs," to dress lether ; "TJarerlepiodd'uncheval," to pare ahorse'i
hoof.
Parer, v. i. to stop ; paresse, idleness.
Pari, a lay, bet or wager ; parier, to bet or lay a wager.
Appareil, preparation, furniture, train, retinue, [Eng. apparel.] Appa
raux, tackle, sails and rigging, [Eng. parrel.]
Pair, a peer, an equal ; pdire, a pair ; apparier, to pair, to match.
S'emparer, to seize, to invade.
Repnrer, to repair.
Sqiarer, to separate.
ARMORIC.
Uberayu, to put in order, to adjust, to mow or reap,
air. This word has the common prefix u.
poridan, to cut off.
: to dress as the
Para, to dress, to trim, to stop, to parry, lo prepare
WELSH.
Par, .something contiguous, or that is in continuity; a state of readiness
or preparedness ; a pair or couple ; a fellow, match.
/•or, a cause ; the essence, germ or seed of a thing; n spear.
Para, to continue, to endure, to persevere.
Parad, a causing ; parai, that causes to be.
Parawd, prepared, ready ; parodi, to prepare.
That all the foregoing words in the present European languages, [and sev-«
eral others might have been added,] are formed from one stock or radix, co-
inciding with the l.,atin paro, is a fact that admits of no question. The only
doubt respecting the correctness of the wliolc preceding statement, is, wheth-
er the Latin paro is radically the same as the oriental ^Oa ; and with regard
to this point, 1 should suppose the evidence to be convincing. Indeed there
is good reason to believe that the oriental verbs ^n3, 113, 1311, anil 13;r,
are all formed from one primitive radix. Certain it is that the English bear
comprehends both the Latin/ero and /)orio, and the latter corresponds nearly
with ma and Eth. <^l^ to bear.
But admitting only rhat is certain, that all the foregoing European words
are from one radix, we are then to seek for a primary meaning from which
may be deduced the following significations ; Lat. to prepare ; Ital. to adorn,
toparry, to stop, to defend, to repair, to learn ; Span, to prepare, to stop, to
lay or stake as a wager, a pair or couple ; Port, to stop, to confine upon or
be contiguous, to drive or aim at, to parry, to pare ; Fr. to deck, toparry, to
stop, to pare ; Arm. to dress, to prepare, to parry ; Russ. to adjust, to dress,
to mow or reap ; Welsh, preparedness, contiguity, a pair, a cause, to con-
tinue or endure; and several other significations.
The various significations result from throwing, sending, driving. To
separate or remove is to drive or force apart ; hence to parry, and hence to
defend. Separation implies extension, a drawing out in length or time ;
hence the Portuguese senses of confining upon, reaching to the limit. This
gives the sense of par, equal, that is, of the same extent, and hence coming
to, and suiting, as in Latin convenio.
Here let it be observed that admitting the word par, equal, to belong to
this family, as in the Welsh, we have strong reason to believe that the Shcm-
itic T3n, to join, or fit together, to associate, whence as a noun, an associate,
is formed from the same root, or }n3 ; for in the Saxon, we find not only
/era, but gefera, a companion, fellow ov peer; gefera, answering precisely
to the oriental word.
The sense of betting is from throwing down, as we say, to lay a wager.
The sense of stopping is from setting, fixing, or from parrying. The sense
of adorning is from putting on, which is from sending, or from extension, en-
largement, as we say, to set off, and hence it is allied to the sense of show,
display, parade. Preparation is from producing, bringing forward, or ad-
justing, making right ; and often implies advancing, like ready, prompt, and
the latter word, prompt, from promo, to bring forth, affords a good illustra-
tion of the words derived from paro.
The senses of cutting oft', paring, and the like, require no explanation.
The Italian, disparare, and the Spanish and Portuguese, disparar, todis.
charge fire arms, present the original sense of the root, to send or drive. This
sense gives that of the Welsh pdr, a spear, as well as a cause, or that which
impels. A spear is a shoot, from the sense of thrusting ; and our word .ipear
is probably formed from the rootof Jar and Welsh *«, a spit, a pike, a lance,
a spear, Lat. verti. Now in Chaldee, a bar is jn31' from 13;;, to pass, a verb
which is probably of the same family with t03. It is further to be observ-
ed that in Italian, bar is written both baira and sbarra.
It is observed above that N13 is the English ftearand the Latin pario ; but
pario would seem to be the Hebrew mS. parah, to be fruitful, to bear fruit,
applied to plants and animals. But this word seems to denote producing in
general, rather than the production of children. However this may be, it is
certain that bear in English, as well as in Saxon, expresses the sense of both
pario and /(TO in Latin. The Latin fero, and the Greek ipipw, signify both
to carry and to produce, as young or fruit. Pario, does not. So in the Go-
jthic, bairan is to carry, gabairan is to carry and to produce young. In
German, fiihren is to carry, and gebaren, to bring fortli, to bear a child. In
Dutch, beuren is to lift ; voeren, to carry ; and baaren, to bring forth, as
children, to bear, to beget, to cause. Danish, barer, to carry, to support,
and to yield or produce. Sw. biira, to carry ; 6arn, a son. Irish, beirim, to
bear or bring forth, and to tell or relate, like the Latin /cro, whence Fr. par-
ier, to speak.
INTRODUCTION.
Ft appears llicn (hat the English bear and the Saxon from which we have
leceivcd it. and the Gothic and the Danish corresponding words unite, in the
same orthography, the senses of t>vo words of different ortliography in other
languages. I have found other examples of a similar kind. There is there-
fore solid ground to believe that all those words arc from one primitive root ;
the different modes of writing the word, and the several appropriations hav-
ing originated in different families of the great races of men, before langua-
ges were reduced to writing ; and when they come to be written, each word
was written according to its usual pronunciation, and defined according to
its use in each family. And by the intermixture of tribes, two or three
derivatives of the same stock might have become a part of the same na-
tional language. Unquestionably the Greek cptpto, and tpopico, are branches
of the same stock.
We have, in the modern languages, decisive evidence that different verbs
may have, and in fact have a common radix. Thus in English list and lust.
Teutonic dialects,
found in almost every language which I have examined.
The Latin pareo, to appear, to come to light, if not a compound word, may
be of this family. Paries, a wall, if primarily a partition wall, is of tlie same
stock. Per, belongs to this family, as its signification is passing. The Sax.
faran, to fare, Gr. Tropiuo^^', seems to be from one branch of this stock, proba-
bly ^^iT. Seethe wordyiass in the Dictionary, in the derivative senses of
which there are some resemblances to those of S13.
133.
This verb, says Lowth, means to cover, to cover sin, and so to expiate ;
and it is never used in the sense of breaking or dissolving a covenant,
though that notion occurs so often in the Scriptures ; nor can it be forced into
this sense, but by a great deal of far fetched reasoning. See Isaiah xxviii
18. Lowth on Isaiah. Prelim. Diss.
133, says Castle, "texuit, operuit, Anglice, to couer; per metathesin, «pijTr-
Tco, xfujm, pecuUariter bitumine, sive glulinosa aliqua materia ohduxit; pica-
vit." Gen. vi. 14.
Parkhurst gives to this verb the sense of covering or overspreading, as
primary ; and deduces from it the Greek «pu?rTO, and English cover and coffer.
He however admits that in Isaiah xxviii. 18, it signifies, to annul, as a cov-
enant. He also considers the sense of atonement or expiation to be radical-
ly that of cova'ing.
Gesenius agrees with the English Lexicographers, in assigning to this verb
the primary sense oi covering or overlaying, as in Gen. vi. 14. He admits
that this word has the sense, in Isaiah xxviii. 18, oiblotting out, obliterating
But he gives to it the sense of forgiving, in some passages, in which oui
version has that of purging away. Ps. Ixv. 3, and Ixxix. 9. In these pas-
sages, Castle renders the word, to be merciful or propitious.
In all these authors, there is, I conceive, a radical mistake, in supposing
the primary sense to be to cover, and in the opinion that this Hebrew word
is the English verb to cover. A still greater mistake is in the supposition of
Castle and Parkhurst, that this, by a metathesis, gives the Greek npuirrw.
The English word cover comes to us through the French couvrir, from
the Italian coprire, a contiaction of the Latin co-operio, whence co-opcrtus,
ItaUan coperto, covered, Eng. covert.* The Latin aperio, is to open, and
operio, is to cover, both from pario, or one of the roots in Br, which has just
been explained. The root in these words is per or par, and the sense is vari-
ed by prefixes ; perhaps ad-pario or ab-pario and ob-pario. Now cover
can have no connection with 133, unless this latter word is a compound,
with 3 for a prefix. This may be the fact, but the connection, even in that
case, is very remote.
Let us see if we can gain any light upon the subject of the primary sense
of 133 from the cognate languages.
CftaMee, 133 To deny, to reject. Prov. xxx.9.
2. To wipe ; " She eateth and wipeth her mouth." Prov. xxx. 20.
3. To wash or cleanse. Matt, xxvii. 24. Castle.
Syriac, ^2iO To deny. Gen. xviii. 1.5. Luke xii. 9.
2." To wipe, to wipe away, to disannul, to aboHsh. Prov. xxx. 20. I.-;, xxviii.
18. Castle.
.Arabic, . i <:=-, To deny; to disbelieve ; to be an infidel ; to be impious;
to blaspheme. Acts iii. 13, 14. 2Pet. ii. 1-5. Jude 1.5.
2. To cover ; to conceal.
3. To expiate ; to make expiation for one, and free him from crime.
Castle.
Now the senses of the Chaldee, Syriac and Arabic, to deny, to reject, to
disannul, to wipe, wash , or to cleanse by these acts, cannot be deduced from
covering.
In Hebrew, the word has the sense of covering, as the ark, with bitumen
or pitch, in Gen. vi. 14; that is, to smear, or pay over, as our seamen now
* In tliis deduction of cotici- from the Latin, I am supported by Lunier, the
ablest French etymologist, whose works I have seen.
express it. But it should be considered that the sense of covering is rareiy
or never;)rimory ,• it is usually, from the sense of putting on, which is from
the sense of throwing or pressing, or it is from overspreading, which is a
spreading, stretching or throwing aver; hence the derivative senses of
covering and hiding. These latter senses are sometimes derived from others ;
but these are the most general. And in this passage of Genesis, the literal
sense is probably to put on, or to rub or spread over, a sense which coin-
cides with that of tlie Chaldee and Syriac, Prov. xxx. 20, though different-
ly applied.
The real original sense of this Shemitic verb is to remove, to separate, by
thrusting away or driving off. Hence its application, in the Chaldee, Syr-
iac and Arabic, to denial, the rejection of God or truth. To deny or reject,
is to thrust away. Hence from the Arabic, caffer, an infidel, oiie who de-
nies and rejects the Mohammedan religion; hence Caffraria, the southern
part of Africa, the country of infidels ; so called by the'followers of Moham-
med, just as the christians gave the name of pagans, to the inhabitants of
villages, [pagus,^ who rejected the christian religion.
This signification explains the Hebrew uses of this word. Its literal sense
is applied to the cleansing or purification of sacred things, a^i the altar. Lev.
xvi. 18. In a spiritual sense, to the purification of the soul, a typo of the pu-
rification by the blood of Christ; hence it is rendered atnnennitl. oi expia-
tion. Hence probably the sense of appeasing, Gen. xxxii. 21. Prov. xvi.
14, though this may be from removing, or smoothing.
The sense of forgiveness is from thrusting away or giving back, pre-
cisely as in the modern languages ; Lat. remitto, to send back or away ; for-
give, to give back or away: pardon, in French, Spanish, and Italian, has a
like sense, which is more clearly exbitiited by the Dutch vergeeven, Ger-
man vergeben; ver being the English /ar, to give fur, to give away, hence,
to reject, and remember no more. The sense of give and of the French dmi-
ner, is nearly the same as that of 133. To give, is to send, to cause to pass ;
and so of donner.
Now it is a question of some moment whether the opinion that 133 is the
same as the English cover, has not inclined lexicographers and commenta-
tors to render it by this word, in several passages^ where the true sense is
to forgive, or to purify by cleansing from sin.
However this may be, the interpretation given above will fully disprove
Lowth's assertion, that this word is never used in the sense of breaking or
disannulling a covenant. So confident is the learned Bishop on this point
that he ventures to call in question the reading, Isaiah xxviii. 18 ; and to
suppose the true word to be 13n from 113 to break. With respect to the
reading I shall offer no opinion ; but if the present reading is correct, I am
confident that no word in the Hebrew language is better fitted to express
the sense. Your covenant with death shall be wiped away, abolished, or
as in the version, disannulled. And so is the rendering in the Syriac.
If 133 is a compound word and the first letter a prefix, it may be from the
same root as the Arabic j-*-^ gafara, whose signification is to cover.
But the primary sense is to throw or put on. It signifies also to forgive,
but to forgive is to send back or away, remitto, and not to cover. And I
apprehend that for want of knowing the primary sense of such verbs, the
word cover has been often substituted for forgive, in the translating of this
verb.
'73
No. 1. Heb ^13, S3 To hold, to contain ; Sw. ftSHa. '73S3 To hold,
to sustain, to maintain, to comprehend.
Ch. So To measure, that is, to ascertain the contents, or to stretch, and
comprehend the whole.
Pah. To feed, to nourish. See '53S.
Deriv. A measure ; also, custom, rite, manner, probably from holding or
continued practice.
Syr. In Aph. To measure. Deriv. A measure.
Eth. In (DA To follow; to go behind; Gr. a»,^\oo8(w; that is, to hold
to, or to press after.
Deriv. The hinder part; the poop of a ship ; behind. French, cui.
No. 2. Heb. 773 To finish ; to complete ; to make perfect. Gr. Haioi.
S3 all ; the whole ; Gr. o^os, Eng. all, by the loss of the first letter ;
but in Welsh, holl, or oil ; and in Saxon al, eel and geall.
Ch. SS3 To crown ; to adorn
Pih. To perfect; to complete ; to comprehend ; to embrace.
Deriv. Comprehending ; universality ; a general rule, &c.
Syr. ^Xa To crown. Deriv. a crown ; all ; every one.
Sam. IZa As the Chaldee.
Eth. Tl A A The same ; also, to cover.
Ar. y. ^ To be weary or dull ; to be languid ; to tire : also, to crown ;
to shine.
Deriv. All ; dullness ; heaviness.
No. 3. Heb. nS3 To hold ; to restrain ; to shut or confine ; to cheek ;
Gr. «M\i-aj ; Sw. hl^dla.
INTRODUCTION.
,'.ro ; Lat. calo \ Vi'
) deny.
Ucriv. A place of confinement ; Lat. cmda.
Ch. nSd, nSo, ''73 To hold; lo restrain ; also, to trust ;
rely on ; to hope. (See No. 6.) Also, to finish ; to perfd
sumc ; to cause (0 fail.
In Aph. To call ; to cry out ; to thunder
gnhc; Eng.to call ; Lat. gullus, from crowing.
Syr. ^>, 3 To hold ; to restrain ; to forbid ;
Deriv. all ; a cork, bar or bolt.
Sam. /f Z ii To hold, or restrain.
Kth. tlAA To hold, restrain, or prohibit.
Deriv. Lat. alius ; a fellow, or companion.
Ar. ik.^> To keep; to preserve; to turn the face toward.s a thing
and look repeatedly. So in English, to behold. Also, to come to the end, as
of life; also, to feed, to devour food ; also, to abound in pasture ; also, to
hinder, or detain ; also, to look attentively; also, to sprout ; also, to take up-
on a pledge, or upon trust ; supra, Chaldee. (See No. 6.)
No. 4. Heb. th^ To finish; to consume ; to bring to naught; to waste ;
to fail. (See No. 8.)
No. 5. Ch. Sas To eat ; to consume ; also, to take ; to hold ; to con-
tain. In Aph. to fcerl; to give food ; also, to cull; lo thunder; to roar, or
bellow; also, to piibli-li ; lo accuse ; to delame.
Heb. to eat; lo consume.
Sam. tHA- To eat.
Syr. ^O I To publish ; to divulge, as a crime ; to accuse.
Eth. A In A To sufTice, as we say, it is well, Lat. valeo ; also, to be
or exist ; that is, to be hclil, or to be fixed or permanent
Ar. to eat ; to devour ; to corrode ; Lat. hclluu.
or distinguish; also to
othe
nfidence,
edge, wisdom, ignorance. These different significations may result from
the different effects of the prefi.x on the original verb.
In Syr. ^3x0 t)>e same word, signifies to be foolish, or mad ; to cause
lo know, or to give understanding ; to obsei-ve ; to search or know tho-
roughly ; to ask or seek to undci-stand ; to disccr
err, to sin, to be foolish, or perverse.
In Sam. the same word signifies to look, and to be accustomed. Sec
Ca.stelh col. 2.523.
That 73E' is formed on the same root with a different prefix, is obvious
and certain, from the correspondence of significations. This word in He-
brew signifies to understand, or know ; to cause to understand ; to be wise,
or to act wisely ; corresponding with the Ch. SjO above ; and being a mere
dialectical orthography of the word. It signifies also to deprive, strip, be-
reave ; and lo waste, scatter and destroy ; also, to cast, as fruit or offspring ;
also, lo prosper.
Ch. to understand^ and Ch. 773!y to com])lcte, to finish ; also, lo found,
to lay the foundation. This isS'?^ with V prefixed.
Syr. to found, to finish, to adorn.
Ar. y^^ iii shakala, to bind under the belly; to gird; to bind the*
feet ; to fetter ; lo shackle ; to form, or fashion ; to be dubious, obscure,
and intricate; to agree, suit or answer to ; to be like ; to have a beautiful
tbiin ; to know, perceive, or comprehend ; lo hesitate ; lo be ignorant. De-
rivative, a shackle. See Caslell. Col. 3750.
To this root Castle refers the English skill ; and it is certain the words
correspond both in elements and in sense. Now in the Gothic and Teu-
tonic languages, the verbs corresponding to these Shemitic verbs, signify in
Saxon, scylan, to separate, to distinguish ; Icelandic and Swedish, skilid,
lo divide, separate, sever; whence shield, that which separates, and
hence defends ; D. scheelen, to differ; schillen, lo peel, or pare ; whence
scale and shell. To this root our lexicographers refer skill. The prefix in
this word would seem to have the force of a negative, Uke L. ex. Now is
it possible to suppose that these words can be formed from a common root ?
The sense of sin and folly is probably from wandering, deviating, as in
delirium ; and this is only a modification of the primary sense of hj, to
stieleh or extend ; that is, departure, separation. Or the t? has, in these
senses, the force of a negative.
The sense of knowing, understanding, is usually or always from taking,
holding, or extending to; as we say, I take your meaning. In this appli-
cation these words would seem to be directly from the Eth. and Ch. 'jDJ
lo be able ; the Latin calico, lo be haid, and lo know or be well skilled.
That this word SfU is from the same root as h'tJ, nhz, vhs, we know by
the Samaritan 2, 3 iJ wliich signifies all, and which is a mere dialectical
spelling of the Heb. and Ch. hZ-
The sense of depriving and wasting, in the Hebrew, is from separation,
the sense of the Gothic and Teutonic words ; but it is to be noticed that
this sense seems to imply throwing, as one mode of parting, and this is also
the direct act of founding, lajing the foundation.
When we turn our attention to the Arabic, new affinities are disclosed.
The first definition is to bind, to gird, to shackle, and hence the English
word. The radical sense of bind is to sUain, the sense of hold. And here
we arrive at the origin and primary sense of shall, should ; Saxon
scealan, to be obliged ; that is, to be bound or constrained. Hence we see
why the words scale, shell and shall are all written alike in Saxon, sceal ; for
scale and shell are from peeling, or covering, binding.
From this verb the Saxon has scyld, a crime, or guilt, Lat scelus, and
scyld, a sliield. The German has the same word in scliuld, guilt, culpabili-
ty, debt ; Dutch, schuld ; Danish skulde, should, and scyld, a debt, a
ifault, a crime ; Sw. skuld, the same. This word sculd, skuld, and schuld,
is tlie English should, the preterit of the verb <hall; and it is the word
used in the Saxon, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian,
ilcelandic, and Swiss Lord's prayer, to express what is rendered in English
\debts ; forgive us our debts. Here we see the primary sense of the word
is lo be held, or bound ; hence, liable. The EngUsh word guilt may be
from the same root, without a prefix ; but whether it is or not, we observe
|the word expresses more than the English word debt, trespass or offense ;
it comprehends the sense of /au/f, or sin, with that of being held, or liable
Ito answer or lo punishment. Debt, in the modern use of the word, impliee
|the latter, but not the former; trespass and offense imply the sin, but not
Heuce'the sense of' publishing, accusing and defam-!|the Uability to answer. We have no English word that includes both sen-
|ses, except guilt, and this seems to be hardly adequate to express the full
- he sense of sprouting, in the Arabic, is a shooting or pushing out, as inijsense of scyld.
other cases ; Lat. caidis. To account for the various significations of the same word, in different
The sense of ability, power, strength, in No. 7, is from straining, stretch- ^languages, and often in the same language, it is necessary lo find the ptima-
ing, or holding, as in other words of the hke sense. Hence Lat. calleo, to 'ry action expressed by the root; and in compound words it is necessary to
be skilled, and lo be hard, callus. lobserve or ascertain the different effects produced on the original word by
On this rootSj is probably formed ^30, a word differently pointed in the the prefixes. Thus the verb inculpo in Low LaUn signifies lo excuse ; but
Hebrew and Chaldee. This word signifies in Hebrew to pervert, to err, some modern writers use inculpate m a directly different sense ; that is, to
to be foolish or infatuated, to act foolishly. I' Stone. ....
In Chaldee, to understand, know, or consider: to look or behold; to cause'; In like manner im7)art!6ie has two different significations; that may be
to understand; Rabbinic, to be ignorant ; whence its derivatives, knowI-''tm/)arterf,- and in law, not i)ar<!6/e, or divisible. Such is the fact also with
this
hat is held
hole that is compre-
No. 6. Ar. y^S} To trust ;
(See No. 3.)
Eth. ® n A with a prefix ; to trust, as above.
No. 7. Heb. hy To be able ; to prevail ; Lat. calico ; W. gallu ; Eng.
could.
No. 8. Ch.bo;' To digest ; to consume. (No. .5.)
Ar. J. Ji c To collect ; to tie ; to bind ; to unite ; also, to divide, im-
pel, or compel. This is the primary sense of the word, or rather of this
root; topless; to strain ; to urge, or impel ; also, to extend. These verbs
are different modifications of one radix ; and hence the English hold, call,
hollow, heal, hale ; the Latin calo, caulis, calleo, callus ; Greek, KKKa,
KnX s or tiak>.os ; and a multitude of words in all the modern languages of
Europe.
The sense of holding, restraining, forbidding, hindering, and keeping, are
too obvious to need any explanation. They arc from
sense is nearly allied the sense of measuring, or ascertaining
or contained. That which is contained is all, thi
hended, from the sense of extension.
The signification of finishing or perfecting, seems, in a good sense, to be
from that of soundness ; a sense which is from stretching or strength. Or
it maybe from coming lo the end, UVe finish and achieve, or from shutting,
closing. And the sense of consuming, wasting, failing, may be from bring-
ing to an end. In Latin, to consume is to take all ; and possibly this may
be the sense of this verb. But the Arabic sense of failure would seem rath-
er lo be from holding, slopping, or coming to an end.
The sense of eating may be from consuming, or taking apart, but from
some of the derivatives of No. 5, I am inclined to tliink the primary sense
is to feed, to crowd, lo stuff; tlie primary sense of the root applied to this
particular act ; for under Ihe Chaldee root we find words which signify the
nutof aspeciesof oak, the Gr. axuA.01, anda collection or crowd of people,
[Gr. oxXo!,] both of wliicli aje from collecting or pressing together.
The sense ot s. , ,1- umI l.,>>l,ing is (toiu reaching or casting and stri-
king, orfrom !:■''' . . .ii.- eyes on.
The sense 01/ l-o to be that of holding to or resting on.
The English ii.H^i m .,'(/,/ 1 imiu this root.
The sense of calling, >.,iiriiig, and thunder, is from impelling the voice
or sound ; a pressing, driving, or straining, applied to sound ; like the Latin
appello, from pelli
ing.
INTRODUCTION.
impassionate. I am persuaded a vast number of instances of similar diver-
sities in the application of prefixes may be found in the Shemitic languages ;
and this will account for differences which otherwise seem utterly irre-
concilable.
We find in our mother tongue, that the same word signifies to heal, and
to conceal, Lat. celo ; Saxon IkbI, health ; htslan, helan, to heal, to con-
ceal ; ge-hailan and ge-helan, to heal and to conceal ; Old English hele.
Hence we see that the English heal and the Latin celo are the same word
differently applied, but from a common signification, which is to make
strong or fast, or to hold, from the sense of pressing. Or perhaps the Latin
ceh may have this sense of holding, restraining ; and heal may rather be
from making perfect. No. 2. Supra.
We may now also see the radical sense of holy ,• Saxon hal and ge-hal,
whole, sound, safe ; halig, holy ; halgian, to hallow. If this word contains
the sense of separation, or driving off, like Latin sacer, as it may, it is from
shutting, confining, or restraining intercourse. But I am inclined to be-
lieve the primary sense of holy is sound, entire, coinciding with the radical
sense of heal.
Clod, Laudo, Claudo.
In Welsh clod is praise, from llod, a forcible utterance. This is the Eng-
lish lottd, and Lat. laudo, which with a prefix becomes plaudo. In Welsh,
llodi signifies to reach out, to crave, from the radical sense of llod, to thrust
out or extend ; but according to Owen, llodi is from llawd, which signi-
fies a shooting out, or a going onward, pi-oductiveness, a lad, and as an
^idjective, tending forward, craving, lewd; llodig, craving, brimming;
llodineb, lewdness. Now, beyond all question, these words are tlie Chal.
dee, Syriac, Hebrew, and Samaritan nV to beget; to bring forth ; to cause
to be be born ; and as a noun, a child of either sex, a lad. The Arabians
and Ethiopians use vau or waw, where the Hebrews use yod. The Arabic
corresponding word is »>,!• the Ethiopic ®A,? to beget, to bring
forth.
But this is not all. In Greek, the verb hAmu, a conti-action of Auiaa,
signifies to praise, to celebrate. Here we have precisely the Welsh llod,
above, corresponding with the Latin laudo and plaudo. But the same
Greek word xAhio, nKtioa, signifies to shut or make fast. This is the Latin
cludo, claudo. The Saxons used h for the Greek x and the Latin c ; and
with these words accords the Saxon hlid, a cover ; English a lid ; that
which shuts or makes fast. That these words are all from one root, is
a fact, apparent beyond any reasonable doubt ; nor is there the least diffi-
culty in ascertaining the atfinity, for the radical sense, to reach forward, to
thrust, to strain, solves the whole mystery. To thrust, gives the sense of
begetting and producing ; to strain or throw out the voice, gives the sense
of praise ; and to thrust or press together, gives tlie sense of closing and
making fast. In this manner, words, which, at first view, appear to have
no connection, will, when pursued through different languages, assimilate
and unite, not only without forced analogies, but in defiance of all precon-
ceived opinions ; and the reluctant mind is at last compelled to admit their
identity.
There is another set of words whose derivation from the same root is very
certain, though perhaps less obvious. These are the Danish slutter, to
shut, close, conclude, finish, determine ; slutter, a key-keeper, a jailor ;
Swedish, sluta, ctaudere,obserare,to shut, or shut up, or end; sZo», a castle ;
D. sleutel, a key ; slot, a lock, a castle, a conclusion ; sluiten, to shut, lock,
close, stop, conclude ; G. schloss, a lock ; schliessen, to close, conclude, fin-
ish, fetter, shackle; schleuse, a sluice; D. sluis, id. Eug. sluice, that is,
which shuts or fastens ; Low Latin, exclusa. See Spelman's Glossary.
These words are unequivocally formed from the root of claudo, clausi, by
the prefix s, just as the Welsh yslac, slack, loose, is formed on llac, and
yspeiliaw, on yspail, spoil, and this on the root olpeel. We observe all the
Teutonic dialects use the dental t, as the final radical, except the German
The Latins use both the dental and a sibilant, claudo, clausi, clausus.
If the Danish lyd, sound, Sw. lyda, to sound, is the same word as Eng-
lish loud, these words belong to this family.
Cradle.
Another example. The English word cradle, Saxon cradel, is in Welsh
cryd, a rocking, a shaking, a cradle. In Welsh, the verbs crydu, cry
diaw, crydian, signify to shake, to tremble. These correspond to the Irish
creatham, to shake ; Greek xpaSow, to shake, to swing. The Welsh verb:
are by Owen, deduced from rhyd, which signifies a moving. Now TJ?T in
Hebrew, Chaldee, and Ethiopic, signifies to shake or tremble. The same
word in Arabic ^Cj signifies to thunder ; to impress terror ; to trem-
ble ; to shake. This coincides with the Latin rudo, to roar, to bray ; and
we know from the voice of the ass, that roughness or shaking is an ingre-
dient in the sense of this word. We know it also from rudis, one of the af-
finities of rudo. There is also in Arabic i Sj which is rendered to
run hither and thither ; to move one way and the other ; to tremble ; to
shake. In Hebrew fyn signifies to tremble or shake, and to palpitate
Syriac and Eth. to rub or scrape. This connects the word directly with
cradle, through the Hebrew ; and through the Syriac, with the Latin rado.
Here again we find the sense of roughness or yvstintr. Then turning tcf
the Welsh, we find grydiau
hout, hoop or scream ; grydwst.
"r hoop, and
this from »%(£, the word above mentioned ; so 1 1 :
crarfZe, is from the same root as gn/'i/ni''. '<« -' i!r ;, ;iie Italian
gridare; Sp. and Port. gi-iZar ; Sa-con .;. r.-'r,, , , -riitir, I). m. grader ;
Dutch kryten ; German greiten. i I - iicb is contracted, by
the omission of the last radical, into <■. ' . .. lance, probably, we
have cry, W. cri. Hence we find ih : • : < . i rry is to utter a rough
sound ; and this is connected with the braying of the ass, with shaking,
trembling, and with roaring, murmuring, and thunder. The connection in
this example, is so marked as to preclude all hesitation as to the identity of
the words.
The Shemitic roots mj, Oin, mn, and Tip, all, in some of the languages
of that stock, coincide in sense and elements with the English grate, French
grafter; and if the first letter is a prefix, they would seem to unite with
the Latin rado. But this is a point I would not undertake to determine.
One fact more. The Welsh cri, above mentioned, signifies a cry ; and
an adjective, rough, raw. Now this coincides with the Latin criidiis, in
sense ; and crudus with the WeL^h cryd, above mentioned.
The Dan. brygger, English to hrew, are probably connected with break,
with freckle, and with rough. So under this root, the Welsh grediatv, sig-
nifies to hciit, scorch, parch, whence grcidyll, ;i prriddle. from graid, thai
shoots in lays, heat, ardency, from gra, that shoots, or lises, as the nap or
frieze of cloth. The latter is probably a contracted word, of the same fam-
ly, but not the root, as Owen supposes. But the radical sense implies a
shaking, agitation and roughness.
Meet, mete, measure.
Saxon. — W{etan,to put, to place; Fr. meitre. It. mettere, Sp. Port, me-
ter, Lat. mitto.
Mtstan, metan, to find, to meet, or meet with ; to paint ; to dream ; to
measure, to mete, Lat. metior, metor, Gr. nEipiw, (nrpov, Lat. mensus, with a
casual n, that is, mesas. Ft. mesure.
Ametan, gemetan, to meet, to find, to measure.
Gemeting, gemetung, a meeting.
Gemet, gemete, fit, suitable, Eng. meet ; also, painted or portrayed
Gemetegan, gemetian, to moderate; gemetlic, moderate, modest.
Mete, measure, mode, Lat. modius, modus.
Meter, measure in verse, meter. [Not metre.]
Metere, an inventor, a painter.
Mcete, middling, [mediocris,] modest, moderate.
Mot, gemot, a meeting, a council.
Witena-gemot, a council of wise men.
Motian, to meet, especially for debate. Eng. to moot.
Gothic. — Motyan, gamotyan,to meet, to find.
Mota, a place for the receipt of toll or customs.
Dutch. — Ontmoeten, to m^et, to encounler.
Meet en, and ioemeeten, to measure.
Meeter, a measurer.
Gemoeten, to meet; gemoet, a meeting.
German. — Mass, measure, meter ; masse, moderation.
Messen, vermessen, to measure ; messer, a measurer.
Gemass, measure ; also conformable, suitable ; Eng. meet, suitable ; Ger-
man gemassigt, temperate, moderate.
Swedish. — M'ota, to meet, to fall on, to come to, to happen. [This is
the sense oi finding.']
Mote, a meeting.
Mot, and emot, towards, against; as in motsfS, to stand against, to
resist.
Mata, to measure ; mhtt, measure, meter, mode.
Matielig, moderate, middling, frugal, temperate.
Malta, to be sufficient, to satisfy, to cloy.
Vanish.— Mader,tomeet, to convene; made or mode, a meeting ; mod,
contrary, opposite, against, to, towards, for, on, by, aside, abreast, as in
modsetter, to set against, to oppose ; modsiger, to say against, to contradict ;
mod-vind, a contrary wind.
Moed, moden, ripe, mellow, mature. [Qu. Lat. mitis.]
Mode, manner, fashion. [Probably from the Latin.]
Maade, measure, form, style of writing, way, mode, manner, fashion.
[This is the native Danish word corresponding to the Lat. modu^.]
Maadelig, moderate, temperate.
MiBt, enough, sufficient ; mietter, to satisfy, or sate, to glut.
From the same root are the G. mit, D. 7net, mede, Sw. and Dan. med, Gr.
iiiTa, signifying imtti.
By the first significa
word, which is the En
word, which is the English meet, is also the French mettre and Lat. mitto,
tlie sense of which is to throw or send, to put, to lay. Meet is only a modi-
jfication of the same sense, to come to, to fall, to reach, hence to find ; as we
say, to /a;/ on.
The sense of painting or portraying is peculiar to the Saxon. I am not
[confident that this sense" is from finding ; but we observe that metere is reii-
INTRODUCTION.
The sense oi paint then may I
1 find
dered an inventor anil a pa
out, to devise or contrive.
The sense of dreamins; is also peculiar to the Saxon. The sense may he
todevise or imagine, or it may be to roue, as in some other words of like sig-
nification. If so, this sense will accord with the .Syriac j.lc infra.
The other si2;nifications present no difliculty. To meet, is to come to, to
reach in proreeiling or in extending; hence to find. The primary seni-e of
measure is to (-xteml, to stietch to the full length or size of a thing.
Meet, fit, suitable, Wke par, peer, pair, is from extending or reaching to.
So suit is from the Latin sejuor, through the French, to follow, to press or
reach toward. See par, under X13. supra.
The English meet and mete appear to be from the Saxon dialect, but moot
from the Gothic.
Let it be remarked that in the Saxon, meet and mete, are united in the
same orthography ; and in the Dutch the orthography is not very different ;
ontmoeten,gemoeten, to meet, and mecten, to measure. Not so in the other
languages.
In German, mafis is measure, and tnessen, to measure ; but the scn.se of
meet, does not occur. Yet that mass is the same word as meet, fit, varied
only in dialect, appears from this, that gemass, with a prefix, is suitable, an-
swering to the English meet.
The Swedish and Danish words follow the Gothic orthography ; Swedish
mita, to meet, to fall on, to come to, to happen. These significations give
the sense of finding, and are closely allied to the senses of the Arabic verb
.\^ infra.
The Danish verb is mader, to meet, but in both tlie Swedish and Danish,
the sense of measure is expressed by a different orthography. Sw. 7nhta,
to measure ; matt, measure ; Dan. maadc, measure, mode. In these two
languages we find also the sense of sufficiency, and to satisfy. See infra, the
Ar. J^ ^ and Heb. and Ch. XYa.
But in these Gothic dialects, there is one application o( meeting, which
deserves more particular notice. In Swedish, mot and emot is a preposition of
the same signification as the English against. It is rendered toward,
against. So in Danish, mod is contrary, opposite, against, to, toward, by,
aside, abreast. This preposition is the simple verb, without any addition of
letters, prefix or suffix. We hence learn that the sense of such prepositions
is a meeting or coming to, which gives the sense of to or toward ; but when
one meets another in Front, it gives the sense of opposition, or contrary direc-
tion. This coming to or meeting, may be for a friendly purpose, and hence
in one's favor, like /or in English. Thus in Danish, " Guds godhed mod os,"
God's goodness or mercy towards us. In other cases, mod signifies against
and implies counteraction or opposition ; as modgift, an antidote ; modgang,
adversity. So for in English signifies towards, or in favor of; and also op-
position and negation, as m forbid.
In the Danish we find moed, moden, ripe, mature. We shall see this
sense in the Chaldee NOD. The sense is to reach, extend, or come to.
The Latin modus is from this root, and by its orthography, it seems to
have been received from the Gothic race. The sense is measure, limit, from
extending, or comprel)ending. This then becomes the radix of many words
which express limitation or restraint, as moderate, modest , modify ; a sense
directly contiary to that of the radical verb.
This leads us a step further. In Saxon, Gothic, and other northern lan-
guages, mod, moed, signifies mind, courage, spirit, anger, whence English
moody. The primary sense is an advancing or rushing forward, which
expresses mind or intention, that is, a setting or stretching forward, and
also spirit, animation, heat, and lastly, anger. So the Latin animus,
fives rise to animosity ; and the Greek iiivoi, mind, signifies also, strength,
irce, vehemence, and anger. Mania is from the same radical sense.
Let us now connect this root or these roots, with the Shemitic languages.
In Hebrew and Chaldee, HID signifies to measure ; no, a measure.
This coincides with the Latin metior, and Gr. (iirpii:, as well as with the
Saxon, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish, which all write the word with a den-
tal, but the German is mass.
In Syriac ^io signifies to escape, to get free, that is, to depart, a modifi-
cation of the sense of extending in the Arabic. A derivative in Syriac sig-
nifies a dutj-, toll or tribute ; and we have seen in the Gothic, that mota is a
toll-house. It may be from measuring, that is, a portion, or perhaps income.
This word in Arabic A^ madda, signifies,
1. To stretch or extend, to draw out, to make or be long, to delay or give
time, to forbear, to bring forth. To extend is the radical sense of measure.
2. To separate, or throw offer out; to secern, secrete or discharge. Hence
to become matter or sanies, to produce pus, to maturate. Here we have
the origin of the word matter, in the sense of pi;,'!. It is an excretion, from
throwing out, separating, freeing, discharging. Here we have the sense of
the Latin mitto, emitto.
3. To assist, to supply. This sense is probably from coming to, that is, to
approach or visit. " I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and ye
came tome." Math. xxv.
You I. D.
This application coincides witJi the English meet, but particularly with
the Swedish and Danish sense of the word.
4. To make thin, to attenuate ; probably from stretching.
Among the Arabic nouns formed under this root, we hnd a measure, or
modius, showing that this verb is the same as the Chaldee and Hebrew ; we
find also matter or pus, and lenity. Qu. Lat. mitis.
In Chaldee, NBD or DBB; signifies to come to, to happen, to reach, [to
meet,] to be ripe or mature, to cause to come, to bring or produce. The
first sense gives that of finding, and tlie latter gives that of maturing, and
we observe tliat matter, or pus, is from the Arabic Jv^ madda, and the
sense oi mature from the Chaldee WJD mita. Yet in the use o( maturate
from the Latin maturo, we connect the words, for to maturate, is to ripen,
and to generate matter.
In Syriac, this verb signifies the same as the Chaldee, to come to; and
also to be strong, to prevail, that is, to strain or stretch, the rtidical sense of
power.
In Hebrew, NXD has the sense of the foregoing verb in the Chaldee, to
find, to come to, to happen. .
In Chaldee, this verb signifies to find, and to be strong, to prevail ; hencr
both in Hebrew and Chaldee, to be sufficient. Here we see the Danish
and Swedish, matter, and mhtta, to be sufficient. This is also meet, dialec-
fically varied.
In Syriac also this verb signifies to be strong or powerful ; also in Pah. to
bring or press out, to defecate, which sense unites this word with the Heb.
nSD, to press, to squeeze. In Ethiopic, this verb signifies to come, to hap-
!ause to come, to bring in, to bring fortli. Now it is evident that
NSO, and the Chaldee NBD, are dialectical forms of the same word ; tiie
former coinciding with the German mass, in orthography, but with the
oUier languages, in signification.
In Chaldee, ySD signifies the middle, and as a verb, to set in tlie middle,
to pass the middle, in Syriac, to be divided in the middle. Qu. Is not this a
branch of the family of meet?
The Chaldee nox, amad, to measure, is evidently frtmi "TO, with a pre-
fix or formative X. This word, in Syriac, signifies like the simple verb, to
escape, to be liberated. In Pael, to liberate.
- t
In Arabic, this verb y,^\ amida, signifies, to be tcriiiinated, to end.
whence the noun, an end, limit, termination, Latin niefa, which, Ainsworth
informs us, signifies, in a nietaphorical sense, a limit. The fact is the re-
verse ; tliis is its primary and literal sense, and that of a pillar and goal are
particular appropriations of that sense.
In Hebrew, HOJ signifies a cubit, a measure of length.
The same in the Rabbinic, from no, with a prefix.
In Chaldee, this verb signifies to be contracted, to shrink.
Is not this sense from 10, measure, modus, a limit, or a drawing.
That the Shemitic wortls, nno, twn, NXD and nOK, are words of tin-
same stock with meet, mete, Lat. metior, there can be no doubt, but it is
not easy to understand why the different significations of meeting and meas-
uring, should be uruted in one word, in the Saxon language, when they arc
expressed by very different words in the Shemitic, and in most of the Teu-
tonic languages. We know indeed that in German a sibilant letter is often
used, in words which are written with a dental in all the other kindred langua-
ges. But in this case the German mass, measure, mu.st coincide with itj, as
must the Swedish mhta, and Dan. maade, and the Saxon metan, Dutch g€-
moeten, Goth, motyan, Sw. mbta, Dan. mlder, with the Chaldee XOD, but
not with the word SVD.
It may not be impossible nor improbable that all these words are fi-omone
stock or radix, and that the different orthographies and applications are dia-
lectical changes of that root, introduced among different families or races of
men. before languages were reduced to writing.
In th.> I.iitin /»<iis»s. from metior. the n is probably casual, the original
bcliiij /.i-:(s, .,. Ill 111,. French nifxiire. I have reason to think there are
niaii\ I 1,1- iiiscilion of )i I'cfore rf and s.
1,, :., ,,1 ,, I, ,,11 of words .inil tlicir significations, we may fairly in-
fer tin Luiiiiiun ' ii;;iii otlb'^ following words. Lat. mitto. French mettre,
English mtci, to come to, meet, fit, and niftc, to measure, Lat metior, metor,
Gr. nnpci,iuTf'm, Lat. mensvra, Fr. mesure, Eng. measure, Lat. modus, mode.
Sax. and Goth, mod, mind, anger, whence moody, Eng. moot, Lat. maturus,
mature, and Eng. tnatter.
In Welsh, niarfu signifies, to cause to proceed; to send, [Lat mitto;] to
suffer to go off; to render productive ; to become beneficial ; and mad sig-
nifies, what proceeds or goes forward, hence what is good; and mad, the
adjective, signifies, proceeding, advancing, progressive, good or beneficial.
This word then affords a clear proof of the radical sense of good. We have
like evidence in the English better, best, and in prosperity, which is from
the Greek irp.'(7?ip", to advance.
In Welsh also we find madrez, matter, pus ; madru, to dissolve, to putre-
fy, to become pus. That these words are from the same root as the Arabic
INTRODUCTION.
Jv^ supra, I think to be very obvious; and here we observe that the
Welsh have one important sense derived from the root, that of good, which
occurs in none of the other languages. But the primary sense is the same as
that of the other significations, to go forward, to advance; hence to pro
mote interest or happiness. Here we have undeniable evidence that thi
sense of good, Welsh mad, and the sense of matter, pus, proceed from the
same radix.
LEGO.
The Greek Aiyu is rendered, to speak or say ; to tell, count, or number
to gather, collect, or choose ; to discourse ; and to lie down. This last defi
nition shows that this word is the English lie and lay ; and from this appli
cation, doubtless, the Latins had their lectus, a bed, that is, a spread, a lay
The Latin lego, the same verb, is rendered, to gather ; to choose ; to
read ; to steal, or collect by stealing ; and the phrase, legere oram, signifies
to coast, to sail along a coast ; legere vela, is to furl the sails ; legere hali-
turn, to take breath C legere littus, to sail close to the shore ; legere mililes.
to enlist or muster soldiers; legere pugno, to strike, perhaps to lay on with
the fist.
It would seem, at first view, that such various significations cannot pro
ceed from one radix. But the fact that they do is indubitable. The prima-
ry sense of the root must be to throw, stiain or extend, which in this, as ii
almost all cases, gives the sense of speaking. The sense of collecting,
choosing, gathering, is from throwing, or drawing out, or separating by
some such act ; or from throwing together. The sense of lying down is,
probably, from throwing one's self down. The sense of reading, in Latin,
is the same as that of speaking in the Greek, unless it may be from collect-
ing , that is, separating the letters, and uniting them in syllables and
words ; for in the primitive mode of writing, diacritical points were not used
But probably the sense of reading is the same as in speaking.
The phrases legere ora?n, legere littus, in Latin, may coincide with that of
our seamen, to .stretch or lay along the shore or coast, or to hug the land ;
especially if this word lay in Sanscrit signifies to cling, as I have seen it
stated in some author, but for which I cannot vouch. If this sense is at-
tached to the word, it proves it closely allied to the L. ligo, to bind.
That the sense of throwing, or driving, is contained in this word, is cer-
tain from its derivatives. Thus, in Greek, cnoUytj signifies to select, to collect ;
and also to reject, to repudiate, and to forbid ; which imply throwing,
thrusting away.
Now, if throwing, sending, or driving, is the primary sense, then the Lat-
in lego, to read, and lego, legare, to send, are radically the same word ; the
inflections of the verb being varied, arbitrarily, to designate the distinct ap-
plications, just as iopello, appello, appellere, to drive, and appello, appel-
lare, to call.
And here it may be worth a moment's consideration, whether several
that of light. So the river Aar, in Europe, is doubtless iVonj
the same source as the Orienntal niN, to shine, whence air. And nriJ.
which, in Hebrew, signifies to flow as water, as well as to shine, chiefly signi-
fies in Chaldee and Syiiac, to shine.
To show the great importance, or rather the absolute necessity, of ascer-
taining the primary sense of words, in order to obtain clear ideas of the
sense of ancient authors, more particularly of difficult passages in dead
languages, let the reader attend to the following remarks.
In commenting on certain parts of Isaiah xxviii, Lowth observes in his
Preliminary Dissertation, the difficulty of determining the meaning of niH,
in verse loth. In our version, as in others, it is rendered agreement ; but,
says Lowth, " the word means no such thing in any pait of the Bible, ex-
cept in the -ISth verse following ; nor can the lexicographers give any satis-
factory account of the word in this sense." Yet he agrees with Vitringa,
that in these passages it must have this signification. The difficulty, it
seems, has arisen from not understanding the primary sense of seeing, for
the verb generally signifies to see ; and as a noun the word signifies sight,
vision ; and so it is rendered in the Latin version annexed to Vanderhooght's
Bible. The seventy render it by <rvt,iw,, a covenant or league ; and they are
followed by the moderns. " Nous avons intelligence avec le sepulchre."
French. " Noi habbiam fatta lega col sepulcro." Italian of Diodati.
Parkhurst understands the word to signify, to fasten, to settle, and he cites
2 Sam. XX, 9, inn, " Joab took Amasa by the beard." Here the sense is
obvious ; and from this and other passages, we may infer with certainty,
that the radical sense is to reach to, or to seize, hold, or fix. If the sense is
to reach to, then it accords with covenant, conveniens, coming to ; if the
sense is to fix, or fasten, then it agrees with league, Lat. ligo, and with pact,
pactum, from pango, to make fast; all from the sense of extension, stretch-
ing, straining. Hence the meaning of niH, the breast; that is, the firm,
fixed, strong part. And if the English gaze is the same word, which is not
improbable, this determines the appropriate sense of seeing in this word, to
be to fix, or to look or reach with the eye fixed.
But we have other and decisive evidence of the primary signification of
this word in the obvious, undisputed meaning of triN, the same word with
a prefix, which signifies to catch, or lay hold on ; to seize ; hence, behind,
following, as if attached to ; and hence drawing out in time, to delay.
Now it is not improbable that the Arabic jL=» hauz, may be a word
of the same stock ; and this signifies among other senses, to collect, contract
or draw together, to accumulate, to have intercourse or commerce with
another. The latter sense would give nearly the signification of the He-
brew word.
Lexicographers are often embarrassed to account for the different signifi-
cation of words that are evidently derived fioni the same root. Thus,
in Hebrew, "W is rendered to sing ; to look, behold, or observe ; and to
|ru!e ; and its derivatives, a ruler, a wall, the navel-string, a chain or
words with prefixes, such as slay, flog, and the Latin pz/co, W. plygu, are iSfl'*'^' ^\ """' '='° " """'t ^T%u ■■"''' ?°^ u T^' """^ '° '""''u'
not formed on the ro^t of la„. ihlt. In. or Ink Th/LL .f^/^f, 'sfv !|N<"h'n.g "n be more easy or natural. The sense is m both cases to stretch
not formed on the root of lay, that is, lag or lak. The
of slay. Sax
imen ; and to !
In Latin sei
ach. To sing is to strain the voice ; to rule is to restrain
gon heora wedd," they slew their league, or contract ; that is, they struckl;™''" ' '■"'" '° ^"^ '' '° '?^'=''' '"' "> ''""'' '" ''''"'•
a bargain. It signifies also to throw, as to slag one into prison ; also toll '" ^'''"^ *"""' sigmfies to sow, to plant, to beget, to spread ; consero,
fall ; to set or lay. The sense of killing is derivative from that of stiiking,!!'" *°"'' ^"<' '" "^'"'^ or join ; desero, to leave off, to desert ; assero, to plant
a striking down. jiby or near, and to assert, affirm, and pronounce; dissero, to discourse ;
Flog, Lat. fligo, signifies prim-irWy to rush, drive, strike, Eng. to «cft /li*"*^™' '° '"**'''• '"'"P'""' 5 resero, to unlock, to open, to disclose. Desero,
and if formed on the root of lay. is precisely the popular phrase, to lay on. |l*° desert, Amsworth says, is a compound of de and sero, '• ut sit desertum
If plico is formed with a prefix on lay or its root, it must have been ori-i|l"°'* "°" seritur nee colitur." And dissero he supposes must be a meta-
ginally pelico, that is, belico. belay. Then to fold, would be to lay on orlP'^'"'''^*' ^^^ °f ** ^*°''''- ^o""' "" *« principles I have unfolded, nothing
dosf; to lay one part to another. Now this word is the Welsh pfygu,!'"**^^'^'' *""'"' ^"P'^"*''"'"''^ *'^'*^ ^*'"'''^'- Thesenseofi
fold, which Owen makes to be a compound of nu and ««. The'^iatterii'"*™'* 5 ''*'''''™' • -- ., .
word must be a contraction of %g. ' thrust or drive together; desero is to throw from ; assero is to throw, in
We know that the word reply is from the French repliquer, the Latin """"ds> or to 'lirow out, as in appeMo ; rfmero is to throw words or arguments,
replico. Now, to reply, is not to fold back, but to send back to throw i^'* •'''^ '*"^^ of spreading, expatiating; f«.sero is to throw orthrustin;
back, as words, or an answer ; and this gives the precise sense of %, tojj''««"''''*'o throw or drive from, hence to unlock or open.
throw, to send, which must be the sense of the radical word. It is by resorting to the primary idea of words that we are able to ex-
It is no inconsiderable evidence of the truth of my conjecture, that wel|plain applications, apparently, or in fact, diverse and even contrary. A ve-
constantly use the phrase to lay on, or lay to, as synonymous with ply, ajiry common example of this contiaiiety occurs in words which signify to
word belonging to this family. To pledge, another of this family, is to ioyj,guard or defend. For instance, the Latin mceo signifies to drive ofT, and to pro-
In Welsh, llugiaw signifies to throw, fling, east, or dart ; to pelt ; to drift ;
from llui;, a darting, a flash, glance, or sudden throw ; hence llu(;ed, light-
ning. Llug signifies also, that breaks, or begins to open, a gleam, a break-
ing out in blotches ; the plague. Llwg signifies also, that' is apt to break
out, that is bright, a tumor, eruption. These words coincide with Eng-
lish light, Lat. luceo ; the primary sense of which is to throw, shoot, or dart ;
and these words all contain the elements of ^o.? and fling.
In Welsh, lly(;u signifies to fall flat, to lie extended, or to squat. This
is evidently allied to lay and lie.
These senses agree also with that of luck, to fall, or come suddenly ; that
js, to rush or drive along.
In Russ. vlagayu is to lay, or put in ; equivalent to the German einlegen.
The Latin ^uo is contracted from flugo; and the radical sense of flotv is
tect, secure, hold, restrain, or keep from dep
5ore.scapm^; twos
partmgo
rectly opposite. This is extremely natural ; fororceo signifies to thrust ofT,
repel, drive back ; and this act defends the person or object attacked. Or if
we suppose the sense of straining to be anterior to that of repulsion, which
is not improbable, then the act of straining or holding produces both effects;
to repel or stop what advances to assault, and protect what is inclosed or as-
saulted. The woi df guard and warren present a similar application of the
primary idea; and all languages which I have examined, furnish a multi-
tude of similar examples.
These examples illustrate the utility of extensive researches in language ;
as all cognate languages throw light on each other ; one language often re-
taining tlie radical meaning of a word which the others have lost. Who,
for instance, thai is ac(|uainted only with the English use of the verb to
have, would suspect thai (his woid and happen arc radically one, and that
the primary scn-e is to fall or rush, hence to fall on and seize ? Yet nothing
INTliODUCTlOxX.
is more certain. In the Spanisli lanp;uage the senses of both verbs are re-
tained in /laier,- and the VieUh hap iaw gives us the true original signifi-
cation.
In Uke manner the primary sense of venio in Latin, cannot be certainly
determined without resorting to other words, and to kindred languages. In
Latin, the word signifies to come or arrive; but in Spanish, venida,(rom
venir, the Latin venio, signifies not only a coming or arrival, but an attack
in fencing. Venio coincides in origin with the English /ind ; Saxon find-
an ; German and Dutch finden, to find, to fall or light on ; Danish/nder ;
Swedish finna, to find, to discover, to meet, to strike against [ofTendere.j
The primary sense of tienio then is not merely to come or arrive, but to rush or
move with a driving force ; and this sen.se is applicable to coming or goin^.
That the primary sense is to fall or rush, we have evidence in the Latin
ventus, and English wind, both from the root of this verb. We have still
further evidence in the word venom, which in Welsh is gwcnwyn ; gwen,
white, and gwyn, rage, smart, whence gtoynt, wind. Venom is that
which frets or excites a raging pain. Hence we may infer that L. venor, to
hunt, to chase, is of the same family : and »n i^ rniia, leave, or leave to de-
part, or a departure, a leaving, coinriilini; in >iL'ii'rhMtion with/ea»e.
The latter word,«e7ita, proves aiiuih. i l..< i, ih t ihe primary sense of tie-
nio is, in general, to move in any ilijt < tion. nil 1I1..1 Ihe Latin sense, to come,
is a particular appropriation of that sense.
In ascertaining the primary sense of word*, it is often useful or necessa-
ry to recur to the derivatives. Thus the Latin Icedo is rendered to hurt ;
but, by adverting to allido, elido, and collido, we find that the original sig-
nification is to strike, hit, or dash against. Hurt then is the secondary
sense ; the effect of the primary action expressed by the verb.
So the Latin rapio, to seize, does not give the sense of rapidus, rapid,
but the sense of the latter proves the primary .sense of rapio to be to rush,
and in its application, to rush on and seize.
These examples will be sufficient to show how little the affinities of
language have been understood. Men have been generally satisfied with
a knowledge of the appropriate sense of words, without examining from
what visible or physical action, or ^jnmai!/ sense, that particular application
has been derived. Hence the obscurity that still rests on the theory of lan-
guage. It has been supposed that each word, particularly each verb, has
an original specific sense, or application, distinct from every other verb.
We find, however, on a close examination and comparison of the same
word in different language;;, that the fact is directly the reverse ; that a
verb expressing some action, in a general sense, gives rise to various ap-
propriate senses, or particular applications. And in the course of my re-
searches, I have been struck with the similarity of manner in which differ-
ent nations have appropriated derivative and figurative senses. For exam-
ple, all nations, as far as my researches extend, agree in expressing the
sense o( justice and right, by straightness, and sin, iniquity, wrong, by a
deviation from a 5traight line or course. Equally remarkable is the simpli-
city of the analogies in language, and the small number of radical signifi-
cations ; so small indeed, that 1 am persuaded the primary sense of all the
verbs in any languas;e, may be expressed by thirty or forty words.
We cannot, at tliis period of the world, determine, in all cases, which
words are primitive, and which are derivative ; nor whether the verb or
the noun is the original word. Mon. Gebelin, in his Monde Primitif,
maintains that the noun is the root of all other words. Never was a great-
er mistake. That some nouns may have been formed before the verbs
with which they are connected, is possible ; but as languages are now con-
structed, it is demonstrably certain, that the verb is the radix or stock fron
which have sprung most of the nouns, adjectives, and other parts of speed
belonging to each family. This is the result of all my researches into th<
origin of languages. We find, indeed, that many modem verbs are form-
ed on nouns ; as to practice from practice; but the noun is derived from i
Greek verb. So we use wrong as a verb from the adjective wrong ,
but the latter is primarily a participle of the verb to wring. Indeed
a large part of all nouns were originally participles or adjectives, and
the things which they denote were named from their qualities. So pard,
pardus, is from T13 barad, hail ; and the animal so named from his spots
as if sprinkled with hail, or rather from the sense of separation. Crape,
the Fr. cr^pe, is from crSper, to crisp. Sight signifies, primarily, seen ; it
being the participle of seon contracted from sigan. Draught is the parti-
ciple of draw, that which is drawn, or the act of drawing ; thought is the
participle of think.
As the verb is the principal radix of other words, and as the proper pro-
vince of this part of speech is to express action, ahnost all the modifica-
tions of tlie primary sense of the verb may be comprehended in one word,
to move.
The principal varieties of motion or action may be expressed by the fol-
lowing verbs.
1. To drive, throw, thrust, send, urge, press.
2. To set, fix, lay. Buttheseareusually from thrusting, or throwingdown.
3. To strain, stretch, draw, whence holding, binding, strength, power, and
often health.
4. To turn, wind, roll, wander.
5. To flow, to blow, to rush.
6. To open, part, spht, separate, remove, scatter. See No. 16.
7. To swell, distend, expand, spread.
8. To stir, shake, agitate, rouse, excil
agitate, rouse, excite.
To shoot as a plant; to grow ; allied to No. 1.
10. To break, or burst; allied sometimes to No. 3.
11. To lift, raise, elevate ; allied to No. 9.
12. To flee, withdraw, escape ; to fly; often allied to No. 1.
13. To rage ; to burn ; allied to No. 7 and 8.
11. To fall ; to fail ; whence fading, dying, &c.
15. To approach, come, arrive, extend, reach. This is usually the sense
of gaining. No. 34.
16. To go, walk, pass, advance ; allied to No. 6.
17. To seize, take, hold; sometimes alUed to No. 31.
18. To strike; to beat; alhed to No. 1.
19. To swing ; to vibrate. No. 29.
20. To lean; to incline ; allied to the sense of wandering, or departing.
21. To rub, scratch, scrape; often connected with driving, and with
roughness.
22. To swim ; to float.
23. To stop, cease, rest; sometimes at least from straining, holding, fas-
tening. *
24. To creep ; to crawl ; sometimes connected with scraping.
215. To peel, to strip, whence spoiling.
26. To leap, to spring; allied to No. 9 and 1.
27. To bring, bear, carry; in some instances connected with producing,
throwing out.
28. To sweep.
29. To hang. No. 19.
30. To shrink, or contract; that is, to draw. See No. 3.
31. To run ; to rush forward ; allied to No. 1.
32. To put on or together; to unite ; allied to No. 1 and 3.
33. To knit, to weave.
34. To gain, to win, to get. See No. 15.
These and a few more verbs express the literal sense of all the primary
roots. But it must be remarked that all the foregoing significations are not
distinct. So far from it, that the whole may be brought under the significa-
tion of a very few words. The Enghsh words to seiid, throw, thrust, strain,
stretch, draw, drive, urge, press, embrace the primary sense of a great part
of all the verbs in every language which I have examined. Indeed it must
be so, for the verb is certainly the root of most words ; and the verb expres-
3 moJion, which always imphes the application of force.
Even the verbs which signify to hold or stop, in most instances at least, if
tin all, denote primarily to strain or restrain by exertion offeree ; and to
lie is primarily to throw down, to lay one's self down. So that intransitive
verbs are rarely exceptions to the general remark above made, that all
verbs primarily express motion or exertion of force. The substantive verb
has more claims to be an exception, than any other ; for this usually denotes,
I think, permanence or continued being ; but the primary sense of this verb
may perhaps be to set or fix ; and verbs having this sense often express ex-
tension in time or duration. So mvu in Greek is to stretch, but the same
word teneo in Latin, is to hold ; hence continuance.
Let us now attend to the radical sense of some of the most common verbs.
Speaking, calling, crying, praying, utterance of sounds, is usually from
the sense of driving or straining. Thus in Latin, appello and compello,
though of a different conjugation from pello, depello, impello, are from the
same root ; and although the Latin repello does not signify to recall, yet the
corresponding word in Italian rappellare, and the French rappeler, signify
to recall, and hence the English repeal. Hence also peal, either of a bell
or of thunder. This is the Greek i3aUw, and probably TraUu is from the
same root. The sense oi striking is found in the Greek verb, and so it is in
the Lat. loquor, Eng. clock. But in general, speaking, in all its modifica-
tions, is the straining, driving, or impulse of sounds. Sometimes the sense
coincides more exactly with tiidAoi breaking or tmrsting.
Singing is a driving or straining of the voice ; and we apply strain to a
passage of music, and to a course of speaking.
■ I am not confident that I can refer the sensation ot hearing to any visible
action. Possibly it may sometimes be from striking, hitting, touching. But
we observe that hear is connected in origin with ear, as the Latin audio is
with the Greek on, "roi, the ear ; whence it appears probable that the verb
to hear, is formed from the name of the ear, and the ear is from some verb
which signifies to shoot or extend, for it signifies a limb.
The primary sense of seeing, is commonly to extend to, to reach ; as it
were, to reach with the eye. Hence the use of behold, for the radical sense
of hold is to strain ; and hence its signification in beholden, held, bound, ob-
ligated. See the verb See in the Dictionary.
The sense of look may be somewhat different from that of see. It appear*
in some instances to have for its primary signification to setid, throw, cast ;
that is, to send or cast the eye or sight.
Wonder and astonishment are usually expressed by some word that sig-
nifies to stop or hold. Hence the Latin miror, to wonder, is the Armoric
tniret, to stop, hold, hinder ; coinciding with the EngUsh moor, and Spanish
amarrar, to moor, as a ship.
INTRODUCTION.
3 primarily to fall or rush
1 in Latin tento. See As-
sually ex-
To begin is to come, or fall on ; to thrust on. We have a familiar exam
pie in the Latin incipio, in and capio ; for Capio
on and seize. See Begin in the Dictionary.
Attempt is expressed by straining, stretching, ;
say and Essay.
/"oi/jer, sfrengtA, and the corresponding verb,
pressed by straining, stretching, and this is the radical sense ol ruling or
governing. Of this the Latin rego is an example, which gives rectus, right
that is, stretched, straight.
Care, as has been stated, is usually from straining, Aat is, a tension of
the mind. . , . ■
Thinking is expressed by setting. To think is to set or fix or hold in thi
mind. It approaches to the sense of suppose, Lat. suppono.
And under this word, let us consider the various applications of the Latin
puto. The simple verb puto is rendered to prune, lop or dress, as vines,
that is, according to Ainsworth, putum, i. e. purum reddo, purgo, by vphicli
I understand him to mean, thatputum is either a change of purum, or used
for it ; a most improbable supposition, for the radical letters t and r are
coramutable. Puto is rendered also, to make even, clear, adjust, or cast up
accounts ; ;Jso to think or consider; to suppose ; to debate. Its compounds
are amputo, to cut off, prune, amputate, to remove ; computo, to compute
to reckon, to think or deem ; disputo, to make clear, to adjust or settle, tc
dispute or debate, to reason ; imputo, to impute, to ascribe or lay to, tc
place to account ; reputo, to consider, to revolve, to reckon up, to impute
The Latin deputo signifies to think, judge or esteem, to account or reckon
and to prune ; but the Italian deputare, Spanish diputar, and French depu-
ter, from the Latin word, all signify, to send. How can the sense of think
and that of lop or prune, be deduced from a common root or radical sense :
We find the solution of this question in the verb to depute. The primary
sense is to throw, thrust or send, or to set or lay, which is from throwing,
driving. To prune is to separate, remove, or drive oiT; to force off; to
think is a setting in the mind ; to compute is to throw or put together, either
the mind or in numbers; to dispute is to throw against ' '•''" ■^'
bate, to beat from; to impute, is to throw or put to or on; and
to think or throw in the mind, repeatedly. To amputate
apart, like de
I repute, is
to separate by
probably, as the
also the Dutch
cutting round. Puto then in Latin is from the same
English put, or the same word ditferently applied ;
pooten, to plant ; pool, a paw, a twig or shoot, Gr. (furov, sic.
In attempting to discover the primary sense of words, we are to carry
reflections back to the primitive state of mankind, and consider how rude
men would effect their purposes, before the invention or use of the instru-
ments which the moderns employ. The English verb to cut, signifies or-
dinarily to separate with an edged tool ; and we are apt to consider tins ai
the chief and original sense. But if so, how can cut, the stroke of a whip
which is a legitimate sense of the word, be deduced from the act of severing
by an edged tool ? We have, in this popular use of the word, a clew to guide
us to the primary sense, which is, to drive, urge, press, and applied to the
arm, to strike. But we have better evidence. In the popular practice of
speaking in New England, it is not uncommon to hear one person call to ar
other when running, and say, cut on, cut on ; that is, hurry, run faste
drive, press on ; probably from striking a beast which one rides on. This is
the original sense of the word. Hence we see, that this verb is the Latin
cado, to strike, to cut down, somewhat differently applied, and cado, to fall
is only a modified sense of the same root, and the compounds incido, to cut
and incido, to fall on, are of one family. To cut, is therefore primarily to
strike, or drive, and to cut off, if applied to the severing of bodies, before
edged tools were used, was to force off, or to strike off; hence the
separating in the phrase to cut off 2. retreat or communication.
So the Latin carpo is the English ca/rve, originally to separate by plucking,
pulling, seizing and tearing, afterwards, by cutting.
Asking is usually expressed by the sense of pressing, urging. We have
a clear proof of this in the Latin pete and its compounds. This verb signi-
fies primarily to rush, to drive at, to assault, and this sense, in Dictionaries,
ought to stand first in the order of definitions. We have the force of the ori-
ginal in the words impetus and impetuous. So the Latin rogo, coincides
in elements with reach.
The act of understanding is expressed by reaching or taking, holding,
sustaining ; the sense of comprehend, and of understand. We have a pop-
ular phrase which well expresses this sense, " I take your meaning or your
idea." So in German, begreifen, to begripe, to apprehend.
.Knowing seems to have the same radical sense as understanding.
Pain, grief, distress, and the like affections, are usually expressed by
pressure or straining. Affliction is from striking.
Joy, mirth, and the like affections, are from the sense of rousing, excit-
ing, lively action.
Covering, and the like actions aie from spreading over or cutting off, in-
terruption.
Hiding, is from covering or from withdrawing, departure ; or concealment
may be from withholding, restraining, suppressing, or making fast --=-"--
Latin celo.
Heat usually implies excitement; but as the effect of heat as well as of
cfdd is sometimes to contract, I think both are sometimes from the same ra-
4ix. Thusco^d and the Lat. caleo, to be warm, and calhts and catleo, to be
hard, have all the same elementary letters, and I suppose them all to be
from one root, the sense of which is, to draw, strain, shrink, contract. I am
the more inclined to this opinion, for these words coincide with callta, to be
strong or able, to know ; a sense that imples straining and holding.
Hope is probably from reaching forward. We express strong desire by
longing, reaching towards.
Earnestness, boldness, daring, peril, promptness, readiness, willingness,
love and favor, are expressed by advancing or inclining.
Light is often expressed by opening, or the shooting of rays, radiation ;
and probably in many cases, the original word was applied to the dawn of
day in the morning. fVhiteness is often connected in origin with light.
We have an instance of this in the Latin caneo, to shine and to be white.
And that the primary sense of this word, is to shoot, to radiate, that is, to
throw out or off, we have evidence in the verb cano, to sing, whence canto,
the sense of which is retained in our popular use of cant ; to cant a stone ;
to cant over a cask ; give the thing a cant ; for all these words are from one
The Latin virtus, the English worth, is from the root of vireo, to grow,
that is, to stretch forward, to shoot; hence the original sense is strength, a
sense we retain in its application to the qualities of plants. Hence the La-
tin sense of virtus, is bravery, coinciding with the sense of boldness, a pro-
jecting forward.
Pride is from swelling or elevation, the primary sense of some other words
nearly allied to it.
Fear is usually from shrinking or from shaking, trembling; or some-
les perhaps from striking, a being struck, as with surprise.
Holiness and sacredness are sometimes expressed by separation, as from
common things. The Teutonic word holy however seems to be from the
nse of soundness, entireness.
Faith and belief seem to imply a resting on, or a leaving. It is certain
that the English belief is a compound of the prefix be and leaf, leave, per-
mission. To believe one then is to leave with him, to rest or suffer to rest
ith him, and hence not to dispute, contend or deny.
Color may by from spreading over or putiing on ; but in some instances,
the primary sense is to dip. See Dye and Tinge.
Spots are from the sense of separating or from sprinkling, dispersion.
The radical sense of making is to press, drive, or force. We use make in
i true literal sense, in the phrases, make your horse draw, mafce your ser-
vant do what you wish.
Feeding is from the sense of pressing, crowding, stuffing, that is, from
driving or thrusting. Eating seems to have a somewhat different sense.
Drinking is from drawing, or from wetting, plunging. Drench and
drink are radically one word.
Anger, and the like violent passions imply excitement, or violent action.
Hence their connection with burning or inflamnuttion, the usual sense of
hich is raging or violent commotion.
Agreement, harmony, are usually from meeting, or union, or from ex-
tending, reaching to.
Dwelling, abiding, are from the sense of throwing or setting down, or
from stretching; as we see by the Latin continuo, from teneo,
extend.
Guarding and defending, are fiom roots that signify to stop, or to cut off;
or more generally, from the sense of driving off, a repelling or striking
back. In some cases perhaps from holding.
Opposition is usually expressed by meeting, and hence the prepositions
wliich express opposition. Thus the Danish preposition mod, Swedish mot
or emot, against, contrary, is the English word to m^et.
Words which express spirit denote primarily breath, air, wind, the radi-
cal sense of which is to flow, move or rush. Hence the connection between
spirit and courage, animus, animosus ; henc^ pa.ssion, animosity. So in
Greek ippiviTii, frenzy, is from ippiv, the mind, or rather from its primary sense,
a moving or rushing.
So in our mother-tongue, mod is mind or spirit ; whence mood, in Eng-
Ush, and Sax. modig, moody, angry. Hence mind in the sense ofjampose,
its primary signification, is a setting forward, as intention is from intendo,
to stretch, to strain, the sense that ought to stand first in a Dictionary.
Reproach, chiding, rebuke, are from the sense of scolding, or throwing
out words with violence.
Sin, is generally from the sense of deviating, wandering, as is the prac-
tice of lewdness.
Right, justice, equity, are from the sense of stretching, making straight,
from laying, making smooth.
resting.
Falsehood is from falling, failing, or from deviation, wandering, draw-
ing aside.
The primary sense of strange a.ni foreign, is distant, and from some verb
signifying to depart. Wild and fierce are from a like sense.
Vain, vanity, wane, and kindred words, are from exhamtmg, drawing
out, or from departing, withdrawing, falling away.
Paleness is usually from failure, a departure of color.
Glory is from opening, expanding, display, or making clear.
Binding, making fast or close, is from pressure, or straining.
Writing is from scratching, engraving, the sense of all primitive words
which express this act.
INTRODUCTION.
A aowd, a mass, a wood, Sic, are from collecting or pressing, or soj
allied signification.
Vapor, steam, smoke, are visually from verbs which signify to exhale
throw off.
Stepping seems to be from opening, expanding, stretching. Thus passus
in Latin is from pando, to open, -but this agrees in origin with pateo, and
with tlic Greek irartw. Gradus in Latin coincides witli the Welsh rhawd,
a way, andthi*, when traced to its root, terminates in the oriental T1, TXT),
Chaldee, to open, stretch or expand: in Syriac (»j radah, to go, to pass.
Walking may be sometimes from a like source ; but the word walk signifies
primarily to roll, pre.'*.'?, work and full, as a hat, whence walker signifies a
fuller.
Softness and weakness are usually named from yielding, bending, with-
drawing, as is relaxation. Softness however is sometimes connected with
smoothness, and perhaps with moisture.
Sweetness seems to have for its primary sense, either softness or smooth-
Roughness is from sharp points, wrinkling or breaking ; and acidity is from
sharpness or pungency, and nearly allied to roughness.
Death is expressed by falling or departure ; life by fixedness or continu-
ance, or from animation, excitement.
Selling is primarily, a passing or transfer. Sellan, in Saxon, signifies to
give as well as to sell.
A coast or border, is usually the extreme point, from extending.
Law is from setting, establishing.
The primary sense of son, daughter, offspring, is usually a shoot, or as we
say, issue. Hence in Hebrew :3 ben, signifies both a son, a cion, a branch,
and the youn» of other animals. A son, says Parkhurst, is from nJ3 banah,
to,build, and hence he infers that a son is so called, because he builds up or
continues his father's house or family. But if so, how does the word apply
to a branch, or an arrow .' What do these build up .' The mistake of this
author, and of others, proceeds from their not understanding the origiM;il
meaning of the verb, which is not to erect, or elevate, but to" throw, to set,
to found; and this verb is probably ictainnl in niir word found. .\ son is
that which is thrown or .shot out, a cion nv l.rnuli h llie same, an offset, one
an offset of the human body, the olliir ni , |,l,ini, jn.l .in arrow is that which
is shot or thrown. Hence probably iln HiIm i u J3vS' oben or even, a stone,
W. maen, or vaen, that which is set, so uaiued liuin its compactness or hard-
Qess. And in Arabic j t abana, signifies to think, Lat. opinor, that is,
to set in the mind.
Few and small are senses often expressed by the same word. Thus, al-
though/eM> in English expresses merely a small number, yet the same word
in French, peu, and in the Italian, poco, signifies little in quantity, as well as
few in number.
Cause is from the sense of urging, pressing, impelling. Hence it well
expresses that which produces an effect ; and hence it is peculiarly expres-
sive of that by which a man seeks to obtain a claim in law. A cause ii:
court is properly a pressing for right, like action from ago ; and prosecu-
tion from the Latin seqiurr, which is our word seek. Hence the Latin ac-
cuso, to accuse, to throw ui)on, to press or load with a charge. The Saxon
saca, contention, suit in law, is synonymous with cause, and from the root
of seek, sequor. It is the English sake.
The word thingis nearly synonymous with cause and sake. See Thing
in the Dictionary.
The primary sense of time, heck, chance, fortune, is to fall, to ^„...,., „
arrive, to happen. Tide, time and season, have a like original sense. Tide
in Saxon is time, not a flow of the sea, the latter being a secondary and mod
em application of the word. This primary signification of time will unfold
to us what I formerly could not understand, and what I could find no pei-soi
to explain, that is, why the Latin tempora should signify times and the tern
pies. It seems that tempora are the falls of the head. Hence also we un
derstand why tempest is naturally deducible from tempus, as the primary
sense is to fiill, to rush. Hence te7tipestivus, seasonable, that c
good time. Season has a like sense.
Hence also we are ted to understand, what has seemed inexpUcable, how
the French heureux, lucky, happy, can be regularly deduced from heure, an
hour. W e hnd that in Greek and Latin, the primary sense of hour is time.
anil time is a coming, a falling, a happening, like the English luck, and
hence the sense of lucky ; hence fortunate and happy. The word fortunate
IS precisely of the same character.
The primary sense of the Shemitic 13n davar, or thavar, corresponds al-
most precisely with that of cause and thing in EngUsh, that is, to stiain,
urge, drive, fall or rusli. Hence it signifies, to .speak, and in Ch. and Syr.
to lead, to direct, to go\ern. As a noun, it signifies a word, that which is
uttered ; a thing, cause or matter, that is, that which happens or falls, like
event from evenio ; also a plague, or great calamity, that is, that which
tails, or comes on manor beast, like plague, a stroke or affliction, from
striking. And it may be observed, that if the first letter is a prefix answer-
ing to the Gothic du, Saxon and English to, in the Saxon to-drifan, to drive,
then the iw. 13 coincides exactly with the Welsh peri, to command, which
(s retained lu composiUon in Uie Lat. impero. Indeed if the first syUable of
Igufteriio is a prefix, the root of this word may be the same. The object
however for which this word is here mentioned, is chiefly to show the uni-
formity which men have observed in expressing their ideas ; making use of
the same visible physical action to represent the operations of the mind and
moral ideas.
Silence, deafness, dumbness, are from stopping, holding, or making
fast.
War is from the sense of striving, driving, struggling.
Good is generally from enlarging, or advancing, like prosperotts.
Evil is from wandering, departing, or sometimes from softness, weakness,
ni,from the Welsh
flowing or fluxibility, as is tlie case with the L,
mall.
The primary sense of the names of natural and material objects cannot
always be ascertained. The reasons are obvious. Some of these names are
detached branches of a family of words, which no longer form a part of our
language, the verb and all the derivatives, except a single name, being ex-
tinct or found only in some remote country. Others of these names tiave
suffered such changes of orthography, that it is dilBcult or impossible to as-
certain the primary or radical letters, and of course the family to which they
belong. Numerous examples of such words occur in EngUsh, as in every
'other language. «
I But from such facts as have occurred to me, in my researches, I may ven-
ture to affirm with confulcnce, that most names of natural objects are taken
from some obvious (ju.iiityor action, or some supposed quality of the thing;
]or from the particular action or operation by which it is produced. Thus tu~
\mors are named from jiushing, or swelling ; and redness, or red, seems, in
some instances at least, to be named from eruptions on the body. The human
body is named from shaping, that is, setting, fixing, or extending, and hence
.sometimes, the general name of the human race. The arm is a shoot, a
push, as is the branch of a tree. A board, a table, a floor, is from spreading,
or expanding, extending. Skin, and hark are from peeling, stripping, &c.
The names of particular animals and plants cannot always be traced to
Ibiir source ; but as far as I have been able to discover their origin, I find
animals to be generally named from some striking characteristic of external
appearance, from the voice, from habits of life, or from their office. There
is reason for believing that the Greek spouSoj and Latin slruthio, or ostrich, is
from the same root as the English strut, the strutter ; the primary sense of
which root is, to stretch, wliich explains all the senses of the Greek and
Latin words of this family. It is certain that the crow is named from its cry,
] and the leopard from his spots.
I Thus planLs were named from their qualities: some from their form, oth-
ers from their color, others from their effects, others from the place of their
I growth. The English root, Lat. radix, is only a particular application of rod
jand ray, radius; that is, a shoot. Spurge is undoubtedly from the root of
I the Latin pur go.
j There is reason to think that many names of plants were originally adjec-
tives, expressing their qualities, or the name was a compound used for the
same purpose, one part of which has been dropped, and the other remaining
as the name of the plant. Thus pine, pinus, is from pin, pinna, penna ; tor
in Welsh pin is a pin and a pen or style for writing, and pinbren is a pine-
tree. The tree then was named from its leaf.
Pir has a similar origin and signification.
It is probable or rather certain that some natural objects, as plants and
minerals, received their names from their supposed qualities; as in ages of
ignorance End superstition, men might ascribe effects to them, by mistake.
The whole history of magic and enchantment leads us to this conclusion.
Minerals are, in many instances, named from their obvious qualities, as
\gold from its yellowness, and iron from its hardness. The names can, in
[some cases, be traced to their original, as that of gold and of the Latin /«■-
\ru.m ; but many of them, are not easily ascertained. Indeed tlie greatest
part of the specific names of animals, plants and minerals appear to be ob-
scure. Some of them appear to have no connection with any family of words
in our language, and many of them are derived to us from Asia, and from
roots which can be found only, if found at all, in the Asiatic languages.
These observations and explanations will be sufficient to show the impor-
jtance of developing, as far as possible, tlie origin of words, and of comparing
tlie different uses of the same word in different languages, in order to under-
stand either the philosophy of speech, or the real force and signification of
words in their practical application.
If it should be found to be true, that many of the Shemitic verbs are form-
ed with prefixes, Uke those of the European languages, this may lead to new
illustrations of the original languages of the scriptures. In order to deter-
mine this fact, it will be useful to examine whether the Chaldee and Hebrew
3 is not often a prefix answering to ic in tlie Teutonic languages ; whether
J and 3 are not prefixes answering to the ga and ge of the Gothic and Teu-
tonic ; whether T, 0 and n, and I, a dialectical form of £3, do not coincide
with the Gothic du, the Saxon <o, the Dutch <oe, and the German zu;
whether J does not answer to the Russ. and Dutch na, tlie German nach;
and whether D and \t/ do not answer to s, sh, and sch in tlie modern English
and German.
If many of the Shemitic triliteral verbs are compound, it follows that the
imary radix has not been detected. At any rate, I have no hesitation in
atfirming that the primary sense of many of the roots in the Shemitic Ian-
INTRODUCTION.
guages, that sense which is almost indispensable to an understanding of
many obscure passages in the scriptures, has been hitherto overlooked or
mistaken. In order fully to comprehend many uses of the words, it will be
necessary to compare them with the uses of the words of the same family
in the modern languages, and this comparison must be far more extensive
than any hitherto made, and conducted on principles which have not been
before duly appreciated and applied.
I have introduced the foregoing comparative view of the several signifi-
cations of the same word indifferent languages, not merely to illustrate the
general principles of language, but with a special reference to an explana-
tion of the etymologies which occur in this work. Should my synopsis ever
he pubUsbed, the learned enquirer might pursue the subject at his pleasure.
The results of the foregoing remarks and illustrations may be thus reca-
pitulated.
1. The nations which now constitute the distinct families or races of Ja-
phet and Shem, are descendants of the common family which inhabited the
plain of Shinar, before the dispersion.
2. The families at the dispersion retained a large proportion of the words
which were in common use, before that event, and the same were conveyed
to their posterity. In the course of time, some of these words were drop-
ped by one family or tribe, and some by another, till very few of them are
retained in their original form and signification by all the nations which
have sprung from the main stock. A few of them however are still found
in all or nearly all the languages which I have examined, bearing nearly the
same signiiication and easily recognized as identical.
3. Although few of the primitive words can now be recognized, as exist-
ing in all the languages, yet as we better understand the changes which
have been made in the orthography and signitication of the same radical
words, the more affinities are discovered ; and particularly, when we un-
derstand the primary sense, we find this to unite words whose appropriate
or customary significations appear to have no connection.
4. A great number of the primitive radical words are found in compounds,
formed in different languages, with different affixes and prefixes, which ob-
scure the affinity. Thus Veritas in Latin is wahrheit in German ; the first
syllable in each is the same word, the last, different. In other instances,
both difference of orthography, of formation and of application concur to ob-
scure the affinity of words. Thus, the English word strong is in Danish
streng, signifying stern, severe, rigid, strict; and strenghed [stronghood] is
severity, rigor, strictness. Now, n in these words is not radical ; remove
this letter and we have strog, streg, which coincide with the Latin stringo,
stricttis ; and these words are found to be from the same radix, which signi-
fies to draw, to strain, to stretch.
5. It appears that 6, p and/ are often prefixes, either the remains of pre-
positions, or casual additions to words, introduced by peculiar modes of pro-
nunciation, which prefixes now precede consonants with which they readily
coalesce in pronunciation, as I and r, forming triliteral words on biliteral
roots ; as in block from Hoc, or lock; play, Saxon jj/egara, from leg or lek,
Swedish /efta, Dan. leger ; flow, Lat. fluo, bom lug, or luc, which appears
in light, lux, luceo, and in lug, a river, retained in Lugdunum.
6. It appears also that c or k and g, are often prefixes before the same
consonants, I and )•, as in Lat. clunis, Eng. loin ; W. clod, praise, from Hod.
Latin, laus, laudo ; German gluck, English luck ; Lat. gratia, W. rhad.
7. It appears also that s is a prefix in a vast number of words, as in speed,
spoil, swell, sweep ; and it is very evident that st are prefixed to many words
whose original, radical, initial consonant was r, as in straight, strict, strong,
stretch, from the root of right, rectus, reach, and in stride, from the root of
the Latin gtadior, W.rhaz.
If these inferences are just, as I am persuaded they are, it follows tha
there is a more near resemblance and a much closer affinity between thi
languages of Europe and of Western Asia, than has hitherto been supposed
to exist. It follows also that some of the most important principles or rudi
ments of language have hitherto escaped observation, and that pliilology i:
yet in its infancy. Should this prove, on further examination, to be the stat(
of philology, it is reserved for future investigators to examine the original
languages of the scriptures on new principles, which may sei-ve to illustrate
some obscure and difficult passages, not hitherto explained to the general
satisfaction of critics and commentators.
If any persons should be disposed to doubt or contradict these facts, let
them first consider that my conclusions are not hasty opinions, formed on
isolated facts ; but that they have been forced upon me, in opposition to all
my former habits of thinking, by a series of successive proofs and ace
lating evidence, during a long course of investigation, in which I have
pared most of the radical words, in more than twenty languages, twice and
some of them three times.
No part of my researches has given me more trouble or solicitude, than
that of arriving at tlie precise radical sigrufication of moral ideas ; such for
example, as hope, love,favor, faith. Nor has it been with much less labor
that I have obtained a clear knowledge of some of our physical actions. _.
is literally true that I have sometimes had a word under consideration for
two or three years, before I could satisfy my own mind, as to the primary
signification. That I have succeeded at last, in every instance, can hardly
-yet, in most cases, I am perfectly satisfied with the results of
esearches.
Progress and Changes of the English Language.
lias been already observed that the mother tongue of the EngUsh i»
the Anglo-Saxon. The following are specimens of that language as it was
spoken or written in England before the Norman conquest. The first is
from the Sa.xon Chronicle. The original is in one column, and the literal
translation in the other. The English words in italics are Saxon words.
The number of these will show how large a proportion of the words is re-
tained in the present English.
An. DCCCXCI. Her for se here
east, and Earnulf cyning gefeaht with
thKm raede-here asr tha scipu co-
mon, mid East-Francum, and Seaxum,
and Bfcgerum, and hine geflymde.
And thry Scottas cwomon to iElfrede
cyninge on anum bate, butan aelcum
gerethum, of Hibernia; and thonon
hi hi bestaelon, forthon the hi woldon
forGodes lufan on eltheodinesse bion,
by ne rohton hwar.
Se bat wss geworht of thriddan
healfre hyde, the hie on foron, and hi
namon mid him that hie hsefdon to
seofon nihtum mete, and tha comon
hie ymb seofon niht, to londe on
Corawealum, and foran tha sona to
filfrede cyninge.
rray east and Earnulf, the king,
fought with the cavalry [ride army]
ere the ships come, with the East-
Francs, and Saxons and Bavarian*,
anrf put them to flight. Jliul thru
Scots come to Alfred, the kli'^. in n
[an] boat, without any rower.-., liom
Hibernia, and thence they privately
withdrew [bestole] because that the\
would, for God's love be [or livej
where they should not be anxious —
[reck, care.]
The boat teas wrought of ttfo
hides and a half [third half hide,] in
which they fared [came] and they
took with them that they had for sr-
ven nights meat, and they come
about the seventh night, to land in
Cornwall, and fared [went] soon to
iElfred, the king.
The following specimen is from the Anglo-Saxon version of Orosius, suppo-
' ■ be made by King Alfred.
Ohthere sasdc his hiaforde, M\-
frede kyninge, tha-t he ealra North-
manna north mest bude. He cwaeth
that he bude on thsm lande northe-
weardum with tha west ss. He
sa!de theah thaet that land sy
swythe north thanon ; ac hit is eall
west buton on feawum stowum sticce
jm wiciath Fionas, on huntathe
■intra, and on sumera on fiscothe
be there sae. He saede tha;t he a;t
sumum cyrre wolde fandiam hu
lange thst land north right tege.
Octhere told [said] his lord, king
Alfred, that he lived north most ol
all the north men. He quoth that
he dwelt in the [them] land north-
ward, opposite [with] the west sea.
He said though, that that land is due
north from thence, and that it is all
waste except [but] in a few places
[stows] where the Fijifis for the most
part dwell, for hunting in winter,
and in summer (or fishing iu that sea,
[by the sea.] He said that he, at
some time, would find how long that
land lay right north.
Laws of King iEthelbert.
Gif Cyning his Icode to him geha-
;h, and heom mon thsr yfel gedo,
II bote and cyning L. scillinga.
Gif in Cyninges tune man mannan I
fsleah, L. scill. gebete.
Gif on Eorles tune man
ofsleath, XII Scil. gebete.
Gif man
scil. gebete
: man ofslsehth, XX |
Gif thuman (of astehth) XX scil.
Gif "thuman nsgl of wcordeth III
scil. gebete. Gif man scytefinger (of
a slahth,) VIII scil. gebete. Gif man
middle finger (of a slaehth,) IV. scil.
gebete. Gif man gold-finger (of a
slaehth,) VI scil. gebete. Gif man
then litlan finger (of a sloehth) XI
scil. gebete.
If the King shall call [cite] his
people to him, and any one [man]
shall there do evil, let double com-
pensation be made, and Mty shillings
to the King.
If in the King's town a man slay
la man, let him compensate [boot]
I with fifty shillings.
j If in an Earl's town one man
slayeth another tnan, let him pay
[ twelve shilli7igs for reparation.
I If man, [any one] slayelh any
man, let him compensate with twen-
I ly shillings.
If the thumb shall be cutoff, twen-
ty shillings. If the thumb naii shall
be cut off, three shillings shall be the
compensation. If any one [off slay-
eth, striketh off,] cutteth off the fore
finger [shoot finger,] let him com-
pensate with eight shillings. If one
cutteth off the middle finger, let him
pay four shillings. If any one cut-
teth off the gold finger [ring finger,]
let him pay six shillings. If any
one cutteth off the little finger, let
pay eleven shiHings.
INTRODUCTION.
Laws of king Eadgar.
We lasrath that a;lc cristen man
Ms licarn to cristendome geornlUe
wffinige and him pater noster and
ciedon taece.
We order or instruct that each
christian iium earnestly accustom
[wean] his children to Christianity
[Christendom] and teach him the
Pater Noster and Creed.
We larath that preost ne beo hun- 1 We direct that a priest be not :
ta ne hafecere ne tsflere ; ac plegge hunter, nor hawker, nor a gamester
on his bocum swa his hade gebirath. but that he apply to his books, as i
I becomes his order.
We observe by these extracts that rather more than half the Saxon words
have been lost, and now form no part of our language.
This language, with some words iulroduced by the Danes, continued
be used by the English, till the Norman confjuest. After that event, great
numbers of Saxon words went into disuse, not suddenly, but gradually, and
French and Latin words, were continually added to the language, till it be-
gan to assume its present form, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Vet the writings of Gower and Chaucer cannot now be fully understood
without a glossary.
But it was not in the loss of nati\e Saxon words and the accession of French
and Latin words alone that the change of our language consisted. Most
portant alterations were made in the sounds of the vowels. It is probable,
if not certain, that our first vowel a had usually or always the broad sound
as we now pronounce it in fall, or in some words perhaps the Italian sound
as it is now called, and as we pronounce it in ask. The sound of e was pro-
bably nearly the same as it is in French and Italian, and in the northern
languages on the continent ol Kmnpo ; which is nearly that of a in favor.
The Saxon sound of t wi- pMluii- dr ^;iine as it is still on the continent
the sound of ee or long I. II > l i " was that of our present oo, French
ou, the sound it still li,i>- n. li.li.i] u m most countries on the Europeai
continent. It is probable lli.ii the ihaii-c of the sound of u happened in con
sequence of the prevalence of the French pronunciation after the conquest
for the present sound of u may be considered as intermediate, between the
full sound of 00, or French ou, and the French sound of
These changes, and the various sounds given to the same character, now
serve to perplex foreigners, when learning English ; and tend, in no small
degree, to retard or limit the extension of our language. This is an unfor-
tunate circumstance, not only in obstructing the progress of science, but of
Christianity.
The principal changes in the articulations are the use of A for c, as in look
for locian ,• the loss of A before I, as in loaf from hlaf, lot (or hlot, lean for
hlinian ; and the entire loss of the prefix ee or ga. as in deal for ge-dalan,
deem for ge-deman; and of <o as ;i piftr\, ii^ in tn-hiJjmv. In help ; to-dai-
/on, *odeal. In no instance do we I.. I tihih -,.n-ilil\ ihr ili.di^r of sounds
in the vowels, than in that of i, w Iim li m i i. n. Ii. S|i.iiu-li .mm I Ii.iImei, is e
long; for in consequence of this. priMJii,, « hu ,iu ruii jc ;|u.,i]iiril vmiIi these
foreign languages, mispronounct, tuth u ur^l^ ,i^ wu/uiu, .1/i3inn(, iima,
giving to i its English sound, when in fact the words arc to be pronounced
mareeno, Messeena, Leema.
In grammatical structure, the language hassufifered considerable altera-
tions. !n our mother tongue, nouns were varied to form ca-ses, somewhat
as in Latin. This declension of nouns has entirely ceased, except in the
possessive or genitive case, in which an apostrophe before s has been sub-
stituted for the regular Saxon termination es. Some of our pronouns retain
their declensions, somewhat varied. The plural termination in en has been
dropped, in a number of words, and the regular plural termination been sub-
stituted, as houses for housen.
In most cases, the Saxon termination of the infinitive mode of verbs, has
been dropped, and for gifan, we now write, to give. The variations of the
verb, in the several persons, have been materially changed. Thus for the
.Saxon—
rite-
Ic lufige,
Thu lufast.
He lufath.
I love,
We lufiath,
Ge lufiath.
Hi lufiath.
Ye love,'
They love.
Thou lovest.
He loveth or
loves.
In the Saxon plural however we see the origin of the vulgar practi
still retained in some parts of England and of this country. We loves, they
loves, which aie contractions of lufiath.
In the substantive verb, our common people universally, and most persons
of better education, unless they have rejected their traditionary language
retain the Gothic dialect, in the past tense.
I was, I We was.
Thou wast, Ye was.
He was. J They was.
However people may be ridiculed for this language, it isof genuine origin,
38 old as the Saxon word were. In Gothic, tlie past tense runs thus —
Ik was, I Weis wesum,
Thu wast, Yus wesuth.
Is was. I Eis wesun.'
n the present tense of the substantive verb, our common people use d'7it
as in this phrase : " he a'n< present." This is evidently a contraction of the
Swedish and Danish, fir, er, present, indicative, singular, of the substantive
verb, vara or veerer, to be, which we retain in are and were.
In Swedish, ban hr, and in Danish, han er, he is. Hence he er not or ar
not, contracted into he a'nt or e'nt.
These facts serve to show how far the Gothic dialect has been infused into
the English language.
It would be tedious and to most readers uninteresting, to recite all the
changes in the forms of words or the structure of sentences which have ta-
ken place, since the Norman conquest. Since the invention of printing,
changes in the language have been less rapid, than before ; but no art nor
effort can completely arrest alterations in a living language. The distin-
guished writers in the age of Queen EUzabeth, improved the language, but
could not give it stability. Many words then in common use arc now obso-
lete or have suffered a change of signification. In the period between
Queen Elizabeth, and the beginning of the eighteenth century, the lan-
guage was improved in grammar, orthography, and style. The writers in
gnof Queen Ann and of George I, brought the language nearly to
perfection; and if any improvement has since been made, it is in the style
or diction, by a better selection of words, and the use of terms in science
and philosophy with more precision.
In regard to grammatical construction, the language, for half a century
last, has, in my apprehension, been suffering deterioration, at least as far as
egards its written form. This change may be attributed chiefly to the in-
luence of the learned Bishop Lowth, whose grammar made its appearance
nearly sixty years ago. I refer particularly to his form of the verb, which
was a'djusted to the practice of writers in the age of Queen Elizabeth, instead
of the practice of authors in the age of WiUiam and Mary, Queen Ann, and
George I. Hence he gives for the form of the verb in the subjunctive
mode, after the words which express a condition, if, though, &.C. I love,
thou love, he love, observing in a note, that in the subjunctive mode, the
event being spoken of under a condition or supposition, or in the form of a
wish, and therefore doubtful and contingent, the verb itself in the present,
and the auxiliary both of the present and past imperfect times, often carry
with them somewhat of a future sense ; as " if he come to-morrow, I may
speak to him" — " If he should come, I should speak to him." This is true ;
but for that very reason, tliis form of the verb belongs to the future tense, or
should be arranged as such in Grammars. If he come, would be in Latin
si venerit, in the subjunctive future.
But the learned author has entirely overlooked the important distinction
between an event or fact, of uncertain existence in the yreaent time, and
which is mentioned under the condition of present existence, and a future
contingent event. " If the mail that has arrived contains a letter for me, I
shall soon receive it," is a phrase that refers to the present time, and ex-
presses an uncertainty in my mind, respecting the fact. ** If the mail con-
tain a letter for me," refers to a future time, that is, " if the mail of to-mor-
row contain [shall or should contain] a letter for me." The first event,
conditional or hypothetical, should be expressed by the indicative mode, and
the latter by the subjunctive future. The Saxon form of the verb, if he
ly, if he go, is evidently a contingent future, and is so used in the laws.
This distinction, one of the most important in the language, has been so
totally overlooked, that no provision has been made for it in British Gram-
mars; nor is the distinction expressed by the form of the verb, as used by a
at part of the best writers. On the other hand, they continually use one
n of the verb to express both senses. The fact is the same in the com-
mon version of the scriptures. Jfhe go, if he speak, sometimes express a
present conditional tense, and sometimes a contingent future. In general
this subjunctive form of the verb in scripture, expresses future time. " If
he thus say, I have no delight in thee," expresses a future contingent
event. 2 Sam. xv. 26. " If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away," ex-
presses a fact, under a condition, in the present time. Job xi. 14.
In many iastances, the translators have deviated from the original, in us-
ing the subjunctive form of the Enghsh verb to express what in Greek, is
expressed in the indicative. Thus Matthew iv. 6. Ei tito; ti rov ©tot, if
thou be [art] the son of God.
Ch. V. 29 and 30. Et it o 04)80X^05 aov 0 «f?io5 sxaviaXiifi ae ; if thy
right eye offend, [offendeth] thee ; ti >; if|io am j;£ip axaiia^i^ii Bty if thy
right hand offend, [offendeth] thee.
So also in Chapter xviii. 8 and 9.
* This is probably the Latin esse. The Latins dropped the first articula-
tion V, which answers to our w.
The present tense indicative mode of the Latin verb, with the V restored,
would lie written thus.
Ego vesum, I nos vesumus, [was,]
tu ves, vos vestis, [was,]
ille vest. I illi vesunt, [was.]
INTRODUCTION.
C'h. xii. 26. El o fforai'o; foe eatavav (xSaXKii, if Satan cast [casteth] out
Satan.
Ch. xix. 10. Et ouftdj fftr fj atfta tov avSpuTtOfv fiita tri^ yvvaixo^, if the
case of the man be [is] so with his wife.
Ch. xxii. 45. Et mv AofSiS xoXtt a-vtov Kvpior, if David then caH [calleth]
him Lord.
2 Coi-. iv. 16. Ec 0 (|u s^fiuf avBfiaHoi Sia^^ufitai, though our outward
man perish, [perishes or is perishing.]
In all these passages, the Enghsh verb, in the subjunctive, properly ex-
presses a conditional, contingent or hypothetical future tense, contrary to
the sense of the original, except in the last passage cited, where the apostle
evidently speaks of the perishing of the outward man as a fact admitted,
which renders the translation still more improper.
Let us now attend to the following passages.
Matthew vii. 9. H m i;i,v i% v/tap ai'SfUTio;, ov £cw atfijSJj o vioj cwfov
aptoti, or what man is there of you, whom if his eon ask [shall ask] bread,
will he give him a stone.
Koi cav ixSw aifTjeti, if he ask [shall ask] a fish, will he give him a ser-
pent.
Here the original tense is varied to express a future or hypothetical
event, yet the verb in English is in the same tense as in the first class of ex-
amples ; and what renders the version more objectionable, is, that the verb
in the first clause, does not correspond with that in the second clause.
There is no possible way of making good English of the translation, but by
supposing the verb in the first clause ask, to be in the future tense. So it
would be in Latin, and so it is, " si petierit." If thy son shall ask (or should
ask) a fish, will he give, (or would he give) him a serpent?
This fault runs through the whole English version of the scriptures, and
a distinction of tenses clearly marked in the original languages, is generally
neglected in the translation.
Now the most unlettered man in this country, would express the sense in
English, with the same marked distinction of tenses, which appears in the
Greek. If thou ajf the son of God; if thy right eye offends thfee ; if the
case of the man is such ; if David calls him Lord ; or if the sense is under-
stood to be future and contingent, if thy son shall ask bread, or if he should
ask bread, would be the uniform language of any of the common people of
our country. There would not probably be a single exception, unless in
the use of the substantive verb, which is often used in the subjunctive form.
And the most unlettered man would use the corresponding verbs in the two
clauses, if he shall ask, will he give; or if he should ask, would he give.
The use of the verb in all similar phrases, is perfectly well settled in this
country, and perfectly uniform among the higher and lower classes of men ;
unless when the practice has been varied by the influence of Grammars, in
which the conjugation of the verb is according to the antiquated practice
«f the age of Elizabeth.
1 Tim. v. 4. E( St ti,; XVP"' i'""'" V ixyova txn, if any widow, have [has]
children or nephews.
Verse 8. Et fit rtj ruv tStwr xat fxa'Kt^a t'wi' otXftcoi- ov rtpwoft, if any
provide [provideth] not for his own, and especially for those of his own
house.
This subjunctive form of the verb, if he be ; if he have ; if he go ; if he
say ; if thmi write ; whether thou see ; though he fall, which was gene-
rally used by the writers of the sixteenth century, was, in a great measure,
discarded before the time of Addison. Whether this change was in conse-
quence of the prevalence of colloquial usage over grammar rules, or be-
cause discerning men perceived the impropriety and inconsistency of the
language of books, I pretend not to determine. Certain it is, that Locke,
Watts, Addison, Pope, and other authors of the first disUnction, who adorn-
ed the close of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century,
generally used the indicative mode to express condition, uncertainty, and
hypothesis in the present and past tenses. Thus Locke writes — " If these
two propositions are by nature imprinted." " If principles are innate."
" If any person hath never examined this notion." " Whether that sub-
stance thinks or no." " If the soul doth think in sleep." " If one con-
siders well these men's way of speaking." " If he does not reflect."
" Unless that notion produces a constant train of successive ideas." " If
your Lordship means." Such is the language of Locke.
Now what is remarkable, the learned Dr. Lowth, the very author who
has, by his grammar, done much to sanction the subjunctive form of the
verb, in such cases, often uses the indicative in his own writings. " If he
does not carefully attend to this— if this pleasure aiises from the shape of
the composition — if this is not firmly and well established." These verbs are
in contradiction of his own principles. On Isaiah. Prelim. Diss.
Addison. " If the reader has a mind to see a father of the same stamp."
" If exercise throws off all superfluities — if it clears the vessels — if it dis-
sipates a growing distemper." Such is the language of Addison, the most
elegant writer of the genuine English idiom in the nation.
" If the thief is poor — if it obliges me to be conversant with scenes of
wretchedness." Wilberforcc.
" If America is not to be conquered. Lord Chatham.
" If we are to be satisfied with assertions." " If it gives blind confi-
dence to any executive government." " If such an opinion /las gone forth."
" If our conduct has been marked with vigor and wisdom." Fox.
" If my bodily strength is equal to the task." •• A negro, if he works
for himself and not a for master, will do double the work." " If there i*
any aggravation of our guilt." If their conduct displays no true wisdom."
" The honorable gentleman may, if he chooses, have the journals read
again." " Whether this is a sufficient tie to unite them." " If this meas-
ure comes recommended." " If there exists a country which contaiai! the
means of protection." Pitt.
" If the prudence of reserve and decorum dictates silence." " If an as-
sembly ).s viciously or feebly composed." If any persons are to make good
deficiences." " If the King of the French has really deserved these mur-
derous attempts." " If this representation of M. Neckar was false."
" Whether the system, if it deserves the name." " The politician looks
for a power that our workmen call a purchase, and if he finds the power."
" If he feels as men commonly feel." Burke.
" If climate ftos such an effect on mankind." " If the effects of climate
ore casual.
" If he finds his coUeclic
sufficiently enlightened."
I too small.'
Whether it leads to
Coxe's Ru^s.
If he thinks his judgment not
others against his own failings." This is generally the language of John-
son.
In regard to this distinguished author, I would observe that, except the
substantive verb, there is in his Rambler but a single instance of the sub-
junctive form of the verb in conditional sentences. In all other cases the
use of the indicative is uniform.
Such also is the language of the most distinguished men in the United
States, particularly of those who wrote their native language as they recei-
ved it from tradition, and before grammars had made any impression on its
genuine construction.
"The prince that acquires new territory, if he finds it vacant." "If
we are industrious we shall never starve." " If one has more corn than
he can consume, and another has less." Such is the languag-e of Franklin.
" If any persons thus qualified are to be found." " If it is thought pro-
per." " If the congress does not choose to point out the particular regi-
ment." " If I am rightly informed." " If the army has not removed."
" If a proposition has not been made." Such is the language of Wash-
ington.
" If any phWosopher pretends." " If he has food for the present day."
" If a revelation is not impossible." " If the Christian system contains a
real communication to mankind." " If the former of these facts opposes
our reception of the miraculous history of the gospel." "If the preceding
reflections are just." Such is the language of the late President Smith.*
" ij^any government deems the introduction of foreigners or their mer-
chandize injurious." " Unless he violates the law of nations." " If a per-
son has a settlement in a hostile country." " If he resides in a belligerent
country." " If a foreign Consul carries on trade as a merchant." Such
is the language of the ex-Chancellor Kent.
But neither the authors here mentioned, nor most others, even the most
distinguished for erudition, are uniform and consistent with themselves in
the use of the tenses. In one sentence we find the indicative used, " If it is
to be discovered only by the experiment." "If other indications are to be
found." In the next sentence, " If to miscarry in an attempt he a proof
of having mistaken the direction of genius." Johnson.
'■ If the former be refined — if those virtues are accompanied with equal
abilities." Gibbon.
" If love rewardhim, or if vengeance strike." Cowper.
" Or if it does not brand him to the last." Cowper.
" If he is a pagan — if endeavors are used — if the person hath a liberal
education — if man be subject to these miseries. Milner.
The following expressions occur in Pope's Preface to Homer's Iliad, in
the compass of thirteen lines.
" If heAas given a regular catalogue of an army."
" If he hcts funeral games for Patroclus."
" If UlyssesjJiSJ* the shades."
" If he be detained from his return."
" If Achilles be absent."
" If he gives his hero a suit of celestial armor."
I recollect one English author only, who has been careful to avoid this in-
consistency ; this is Gregory, who, in his Economy of JVature, has uni-
formly used the indicative form of the verb in conditional sentences of this
kind.
The like inconsistency occurs in almost .ill American writings. " If
moral disposition lie here." " If preference necessarily involves the
knowledge of obligation." " If the proposition is true." " If the propo-
sition be confirmed." " If he refutes any thing."
In a pamphlet now before me, there are no less ^an fifty of these incon-
sistencies in the compass of ninety pages ; and three of them in one sen-
tence.
*The substantive verb is often used in the subjunctive form by writers
who never use that form in any other verb. The reason doubtless is that
be is primarily the indicative as well as the subjunctive mode of that verb.
/ be, we be, as used in Scripture. So in German Ich bin.
INTRODUCTION.
Mow, In this case, is a foreigner to understand the author ? and how can
such sentences be translated into another language without a deviation from
(he original .'
The propriety of using the indicative form of the verb to express a pre
sent or past event conditionally, does not rest solely on usage ; it is most
correct upon principle. It is well known, that most of the words which
are used to introduce a condition or hypothesis, and called most improperly
conjunctions, arc verbs, having not the least affinity to the class of wordi
»ised to connect sentences. If is the Saxon gif, give, having lost its first
letter ; if for the ancient gif. Though is also a verb now obsolete, except in
the iniiieralive mode. Now let us analyze this conditional tense of tlie
verb. " If the man knows his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel."
Here is an omission of the word that after if. The true original phrase
was " //■ that the man knows his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel" —
that is, give that [admit the fact which is expressed in the following clause]
the man knows his true interest, then the consequence follows, he will
avoid a quarrel. That in this sentence is a relative or demonstrative sub-
stitute lor the following clause. This will more plainly appear by transpo-
sing the clauses. " The man knows his true interest ; give that [admit
that ;] lie will then avoid a quarrel. Now let the subjunctive form be used
" The man knowhis true interest ; give that; he will avoid a quarrel."
Here the impropriety of this form of the verb appears in a strong light.
It will appear more clearly by the use of other words of equivalent signifi
cation. Grant the man know his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel
Allow the man know his true interest. Suppose the man know his true
interest. We never use the subjunctive form after the three last" verbi-
which introduce the condition. Though is sometimes followed by the in-
<Iicative ; sometimes by tlie subjunctive ; but it ought always to be follow-
ed by the indicative, for it supposes the fact to be given ; and so does admit,
when used in hypothetical sentences. Admit that the man knows his in-
terest. We have then decisive proof that the use of the indicative form of
the verb after if when it expresses a conditional event in present time, is
most correct ; indeed it is the only correct form. This remark is equally
applicable to the past tense, conditional.
The language of Addison, Johnson, and other distinguished writers of the
last century, in the use of the indicative, is therefore, more correct than
the language of the writers in the age of Elizabeth ; and their practice is
principally the common usage of our country at this day.
I have, therefore, constructed a grammar on this usage; bringing down
the standard of writing a century and a half later than 'Bishop Lowth. I
have done this,_^rs<,onthe authority of strict analogical principles, as above
stated ; secondly, on the authority of the best usage of that cluster of dis-
tinguished writers who adorned the beginning of the last century ; and
thirdly, on the authority of universal colloquial practice, which I consider
as the real and only genuine language. I repeat this remark, that general
and respectable usage in speaking is the genuine or legitimate language
of a country to which the written language ought to be conformed. Lan-
guage is that which is uttered by the tongue, and if men do not write the
language as it is spoken by the great body of respectable people, they do
not write the real language. Now, in colloquial usage, the subjunctive
form of the verb, in conditional sentences, is rarely used, and perhaps ne-
ver, except when the substantive verb is employed. Our students are
taught in school the subjunctive form, if thou have, if he come, &c. and
some of them continue, in after life, to write in that manner ; but in the
<ourse of more than forty years, I have not known three men who have
ventured to use that form of the verb in conversation. We toil in school
to learn a language which we dare not introduce into conversation, but
which the force of custom compels us to abandon. In this respect, the
present study of grammar is worse than useless.
This colloquial custom accords with other languages. The French
say and write s' il est, if he is. The Latins often used the same form,
■' si quid est in me ingenii, judices ;" but the use of the Latin subjunctive
depends on certain other words which precede ; as " cum sit civis," as he is
a citizen, or, since he is a citizen ; and the present tense is often used to ex-
press what we express by an auxiliary. That the Greeks used the indica-
tive to express a conditional present tense, we have seen by citations above.
By this arrangement of the verb, the indicative form after ]/ and other
verbs inhoducing a condition or hypothesis, may be used uniformly to ex-
press a fact or event under a condition or supposition, either in the present
or past tenses ; the speaker being uncertain respecting tlie fact, or represent-
ing it as doubtful.
If the man is honest, he will return what he has borrowed. If the ship
A a« arrived, we shall be informed of it tomorrow. If the bill was present-
ed, it was doubtless paid. If the law has been passed, we are precluded
from further opposition.
On the other hand, when it is intended to speak of a future contingent
event, 1 would always use the auxiliaries that are proper for the purpose.
" If it shall or should rain tomorrow, we shall not ride to town." I would
never use the subjunctive form if it rain in prose ; and in poetry, only from
necessity, as an abridged phrase for if it shall or should rain. In thi"
ijer, the distinction between the tenses,
founded, may be preserved and made obv
vhich are now constantly con-
s, both to natives and foreigners,
tended by the ]
lily of Murr.i'^-'s giaiij
cstablisli a form of the verb in writing,
guage ; to fill our books with a conluV;
language unsettled. Nothing can be m
every where to meet with disci epancics
There is another erroneous manner i
thors in the language, which seems t
ins been to introduce, or
I 'rii- in colloquial lan-
11' I thus to keep the
I : iij the student than
111' ,ind practice,
common to the best au-
aped notice. This is, to
connect a verb in the past tense with a preceding one in the same tense,
when the latter verb is intended to express a very different time from the ^/^
former. Thus, " Then Manasseh knew that the Lord, he was God." 2
Chron. xxxiii. 13.
The Latins, in this case, would probably have used the infinitive ; Ma-
nasseh novit Jehovam deum esse. In Engli.sh we ought to write and say,
" Manasseh knew Jehovah to be God," or, Manasseh A)i«o that Jehovah
he is God. In most similar cases, the use of the infinitive in English is as
elegant as in Latin. But there are many cases where the infinitive cannot
be used. We cannot use it after say ; " he said him to be a good man," is
not English ; though he declared, or affirmed, or believed him to be a good
man, is elegant.
In order to understand the impropriety of the common mode of using the
latter verb, as in the example above cited, it may be remarked, that the pres-
ent tense is that which is used to express what exists at all times. Thus we
say, God is or exists, whenever we speak of his permanent existence ; we
say, gold is yellow or ductile ; iron is a most valuable metal ; it is not <*n-
vertible into silver ; plants and animals are very distinct living beings. We
do not say, gold was yellow ; iron was a valuable metal ; for we mean ta
express permanent qualities. Hence, in the passage cited from Chronicles,
the first verb Imeio, referring to a fact past, is correct ; but the last, which
is intended to express the permanent being or character of God, should be
in the infinitive or the indicative present tense. The following are examples
of correct language : " His master had taught him that happiness consists
in virtue." Anacharsis, ii. 120.
" Sabellius, who openly taught that there is but one person in the God-
head." Encyclopedia.
" Our Savior taught that eternal death is the proper punishment of sin."
Emmo7is.
But very different is the following : " Having believed for many years,
that water was [is] an elastic fluid." The following would be still better •:
" Having believed water to be an elastic fluid."
So the following : " We know not the use of the epidermis of shells.
Some authors have supposed that it secured [secures] the shells from being
covered with vermes." Edin. Encyc.
It was jnstyemarked, that marine fossils did not [do not] comprise ve-
getable remains." lb.
If my readers will turn their thoughts back on their old friends, they
will find it diflicult to call a single man to remembrance who appeared to
know that life was short [is short,] till he was about to lose it."
jRambler, jVo. 71.
" They considered the body as a hydraulic machine, and the fluids as pass-
g through a series of chimical changes ; forgetting that imimation was
[is] its essential characteristic." Darwin.
It was declared by Pompey, lliat if the Commonwealth was [should be]
violated, he could stamp with his foot and raise an arniy out of the ground."
Rambler, JVo. 10.
the foregoing sentence, the past tense is used for the future contingent.
It was affirmed in the last discourse, that much of the honorable practice
of the world rested [rests] on the substratum of selfishness ; that society
was [is] held together, in the exercise of its relative virtues, mainly by
the tie of reciprocal advantage ; that a man's own interest bound [binds]
him to all those average equities which obtained [obtain] in the neighbor-
hood around him ; and in which if he proved [should prove] himself glaringly
deficient, he would be abandoned by the respect, and the confidence, and
the good will of the people with whom he had [might have, or should have]
to do." Chalmer's Com. Dis. 4.
In the last discourse, I observed that love constituted [constitutes] the
whole moral character of God," Dwight's Tlieology.
' And he said, nay, father Abraham ; but if one u-ent [shall or should go]
to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said to him, if they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither will tliey be persuaded though one
[shall or should rise] from the dead." Luke, xvi. 30, 31.
Independent of parties in the national legislature itself, as often as the
period of discussion arrived, the state legislatures, who will always be not
* Lindley Murray, in the introduction to his grammar, "acknowledges, in
general terras, that the authors to whom the grammatical part of this com-
pilation is principally indebted for its materials are, Harris, Johnson,
Lowfh, Priestley, Beatiie, Sheridan, Walker, and Coote." But on examina-
tion, it appears that the greatest portion of the grammatical part is from
Lowth, whose principles form the main structure of Murray's compilation.
Some valuable notes and remarks are taken from Pritstley's grammar. I
The effect of the study of Lowth's principles, which has been greatly ex- and, in citing authorities, deem it proper to cite the original!
A'^OL. I. E.
INTRODUCTION.
only vigilant, but suspicious and jealous guardians of the rights of the citi-
zens, against encroachments from the federal government, will constantly
have their attention awake to the conduct of the national rulers, and will be
ready enough, if any thing improper appears, to sound the alarm to the
people."
Let any man attempt to resolve the foregoing sentence, if he can, or ren-
der it into another language.
"Cicero vindicated the truth, and inculcated the value of the precept,
that nothing was [is] truly useful which ivas [is] not honest."
" He undertook to show that justice was [is] of perpetual obligation."
" The author concedes much of his argument, and admits that the sea was
[is] susceptible of dominion." [Better still ; he admits the sea to be suscept-
ible of dominion.]
"A nation would be condemned by the impartial voice of mankind, if it
voluntarily U'en* [should go] to war, on a claim of which it doubted [should
doubt] the legality."
" The Supreme Court observed that they were not at liberty to depart from
the rule, whatever doubt might have been entertained, if the case was [had
been] entirely new."
'■ He held that the law of nations prohibited [prohibits] the use of pois-
" He iusisted that the laws of war gave [give] no other power over a cap-
tive ihan to keep him safely."
" The general principle on the subject is, that, if a commander makes a
compact with the enemy, and it be of such a nature that the power to make
it could be reasonably imphed from the nature of the trust, it would be valid
and iiincliiig, though he abused his trust." Let any man translate this sen-
tence into another language, if he can, without reducing the verbs to some
coinistency.
•• Congress have declared by law, that the United States were [are] enti-
tled to priority of payment over private creditors, in cases of insolvency."
"The Supreme Court decided, that the acts of Congress, giving that gen-
eral priority to the United Siates, were [are] constitutional.
" It was admitted that the government of the United States was [is] one
of enumerated powers."
" From his p,ist ilesigns and administrations we could never argue at all to
those which were future." [This is an odd combination of words.]
" Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that
he was come from God and went to God." John xiii. 3.
" Alexander dispatched Eumenes with three hundred horse to two free
cities — with assurance that if they submitted and received him, [should or
would submit and receive,] as a friend, no evil should befall them."
" The apostle knew that the present season was [is] the only time allowed
for this preparation."
" What would be the real effect of that overpowering evidence, which
our adversaries required, [should require,] in a revelation, it is difficult to
foretell"
" It could not otherwise have been known that the word had [has] this
meaning."
I told him if he went [should go] to-morrow, I would go with him.
This fault occurs in our hearing every hour in the day.
A like fault prevails in other languages; indeed the English may have
been led into it by reading foreign authors. " Mais on a remarque avec rai-
son, que I'espace conchoidal etait infini." Lunier. It has been remarked
with reason that the conchoidal space was [is] infinite.
But whatever may be the practice of other nations, there would be no dif-
ficulty in correcting such improprieties in our own language, if as much at-
tention were given to the study of its true principles, as is given to other
subjects of literature and science. But if in this particular, there is a Brit-
ish or American author who writes his vernacular language correctly, his
writings have not fallen under my inspection.
There is another fault very common among English writers, though it is
less frequent in the United States ; this is the conversion of an intransitive
verb into a passive one. It is surprising that an error of this kind should
have gained such an established use, in some foreign languages, as to be incu-
rable. Barbarous nations may indeed form languages ; but it should be the
business of civilized men to purify their language from barbarisms.
In the transitive verb, there is an agent that performs some action on an
object, or in some way affects it. When this verb becomes passive, the
.igent and the object change places in the sentence. Thus, John loves Peter,
is transitive, but Peter is loved by John, is passive. In the intransitive verb,
Ihe case is different; for the action is limited to the agent; and when it is
stated that a thing is done, there is no agent by which it is done. I perish
is intransitive ; I am perished is the passive form ; but the latter neither ex
presses nor implies an agent by which I perish.
This fault occurs frequently in the common version of the Scriptures.
" Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old
age was [had] perished." Job xxx. 2.
" Their memorial is [has] perished with them." Ps. ix. 6.
" The heathen are [have] perished out of this land." Ps. x. 16-
^' Israel is [has] fled before the Phihstines." 1 Sam. iv. 17.
■' David is [has] fled." 2 Sam. xix. 9.
" The days ivere [had] not expired." 1 Sam. xviii. 26.
" And when the year was [had] expired." 2 Chron. xxxvi. 10.
" I only am [have] escaped alone to tell thee." Job i. 15.
" And it came to pass, when he was [had] returned." Luke xix. 15.
Return is sometimes a transitive verb, and sometimes intransitive. When
a sum of borrowed money is returned, the phrase is correct, for this is the
passive form of a transitive verb. But when a man is returned, we may
ask, who has returned him .' In this case, the man returns by his own act,
and he cannot be said to be returned.
" He found the Empress was [had] departed." Coxe.
" They were [had] arrived within three days journey of the spice country."
Gibbon, Ch. i. Note.
" Neither Charles nor Diocletian were [liad] arrived at a very advanced
period of life." lb. Ch. xiii.
" The posterity of so many gods and heroes was [had] fallen into the
most abject state." lb. Ch. ii.
" Silver was [had] grown more common." lb.
" He was [had] risen from the dead, and was [had] just ascended to
heaven." Milner, i. 20.
" Hearing that they ti'erf [had] nmccd." /J. 211.
" Claudius — vexed because his wife was [had] become a christian." lb,
274.
" Does not the reader see how much we are [have] already departed
from christian simplicity ?" lb. 299.
" My age is [has] departed." Isaiah xxxviii. 12.
" The man out of whom the demons were [had] departed." Luke viii.
35.
" Workmen were [had] arrived to assist them." Milford.
" A body of Athenian horse was [had] just arrived." lb.
This fault is common in Mitford's History of Greece. In the writings of
Roscoe, which are more elegant, it occurs, but less frequently.
" The time limited for the reception of the cardinal was expired." Ros-
coe, Leo. X.
" He inquired whether the report was true, that a legate was arrived.'^
lb. L. Med.
"Tho nation being [having] once more got into a course of borrowing."
Price on Liberty.
" When he was [had] retired to his tent." Coxe's Russ.
" He was [had] not yet arrived."* lb.
The intransitive verb grow is constantly used by the English as a transi-
tive verb, as to grow wheat. This is never used in the northern states, un-
less by persons who have adopted it recently from the English.
It seems almost incredible that such errors should continue, to this time,
to disfigure the language of the most distinguished writers, and that they
should escape animadversion. The practice has evidently been borrowed
from the French or Italian ; but surely no lover of correctness can excuse
such violation of the best established principles in our language.
This fault occurs in a few instances, in the writings of the best American
authors, as in the writings of Ames and Hamilton. It is however very rare,
either in books or in colloquial usage. Even our common people are re-
markably accurate in using the auxiliary have with the participles of intran-
sitive verbs. They always, I believe, say, a ship has ariived, a plant has
perished, the enemy had fled, the price had fallen, the corn has or had
grown, the time has expired, the man has returned, the vessel had depart-
ed. Such also is the language of our most eminent writers.
" The Generals Gates and Sullivan have both arrived."
Washington's Letters.
" The Indians of the village had fled." B. Trumbull.
" Our Tom has grown a sturdy boy." Progress of Dullness.
" Our patriots have fallen." Discourse of D. Webster, Aug. 182C.
"Our commissary had not arrived." Ellicott,
The exceptions to this correct practice are chiefly in the use of the parti-
ciples of come and go. It is very common to hear the expressions he is
come or is gone, in which case, the participle seems to take the character of
an adjective ; although in most instances, the regular form of expression, he
has come or has gone, is to be preferred. So dead, originally a participle,
is used only as an adjective ; and deceased and departed are often used in
the like manner. We say, a deceased, or departed friend ; but it should be
remarked that the original expression was, our fiiend has deceased, or has
departed this life ; and this phraseology, by an easy but heedless transition,
became is deceased or is departed. In general, however, the conversion of
an intransitive verb or form of expression into the passive form, is very rare
among the people of New England.
There is a grammatical error running through the writings of so respecta-
ble a writer as Mitford, which ought not to be passed unnoticed ; as it seems
to be borrowed from the French language, whose idioms are different from
the English, but which the English are too apt to follow. This fault is, in
using the preterit or perfect tense, instead of the past tense indefinite, usu-
* On this use of intransitive verbs, as the ship was departed, it may I
who departed it ? The mail is arrived, who has arrived it .' Th
be asked,
departed it ? The mail is arrived, who has arrived it ! The tree if
perished, who has perished it ? The enemy was fled, who fled them ? Th^
time iras erpired, who expired it .'
[NTRODUCTION.
ally called raosl improperly, the imperfect. Take the following sentences forj
examples. " The conduct of Pelopidas towards Arcadia and its minister a
the Persian court — has scarcely been the result of mere caprice or resent
ment." The verb here ought to be was.
" The oration [of Isocrates] has been [was] a favorite of Dionysius o
Halicarnassus."
This form of expressing the time would be good in French, but is very
bad in English. And it may be here remarked, that the tense he was, he ar-
rived, he ii'rote, is not properly named imperfect. These verbs, and all
verbs of tliis form denote actions finished or perfect, as "in six days God
created the he,i\ en and the earth." Imperfect or unfinished action i:
pressed in English in this manner, he was reading, they were writing. The
error of calling the former tense imperfect has probably proceeded from a
servile adoption of the Latin names of the tenses, without considering the
difTerence of application.
There are some errors in all the English Grammars, that have been de
rived to us from antiquity. Such is the arrangement of that among the con
junctioas, like the Greek on, and the Latin ut. Kai ^xopia rj rtiffuBoao
OT't £5'at t'fXf twfftj rot5 ^^aT^Tjfievot^ avtij rtapa Kuptou. And blessed is she
w ho believed tliat there shall be a performance of the things which
told her from the Lord. Luke i. 45. In our version, or, is rendered /or, but
most erroneously. The true meaning and character of 071 will best appear,
by a transposition of the clauses of the verse. " There shall be a perfor-
mance of the things told her from the Lord ; blessed or happy is she who be-
lieved that." Here oti, that, appears to be what it really is, a relative 01
substitute for the whole clause in Greek .succeeiiing it. So in Luke xxii. 18,
Afyo yap v^uv on. ov fir) Hiu, &c. I say to you that I will not drink. I will
not drink, I say to you that. It is the same in Latin, " Dico enim vobis
quod non bibam." (itwd is here a relative governed by dico, and referring
to the following clause of the sentence.
So also Matthew ix. 28. JXi^tvirt oft hwafjuu rouro jtoMjuai ; Do ye be
lieve that I am able to do this ? [I am able to do this, do ye believe that?]
This error runs through all Grammars, Greek, Latin, French, English, i
But how such an obvious fact, that the word that and its correspond!
words in other languages, refer to the clause of a sentence, should escape
observation, age after age, it is not easy to explain. How could it be suppos-
ed that a word is a conjunction which does not join words or sentences
That is used, in the passages cited, not to unite two sentences, but to con-
tinue the .fome semoiice, by an additional clause.
The relative, when referring to a sentence or the clause of a sentence, is
not varied, for a variation of case is not wanted.
So notwithstanding imd provided in English, and poui-pjt que in French, are
called conjunctions : but most improperly ; as they are participles, and when
called conjunolions, they always form, with a word, clause or sentence, tht
rase absolute or independent. Thus, " it rains, but notwithstanding that
[it rains,] I must go to town." That fact, (it rains,) not opposing or pre-
venting me, that is, in opposition to that, I must go to town ; hoc non ob-
stante.
Thati
■ill ride.
" I will ride, provided you will accompany me
the fact, you will accompany me, being provided.
Such is !he structure of these sentences. See my Philosophical and
PracUcal Grammar. It is the same in French, pourvu que, that being
vided, que referring to the following clause.
There are other points in grammar equally faulty. Not only in English
grammar, but in the grammars of other languages, men stumble at the thresh-
old, and teach their children to stumble. In no language whatever can
there be a part of speech properly called an article. There is no word or
class of words that falls within the signification of article, a joint, or that can
otherwise than arbitrarily be brought under that denomination. The defin-
itive words called articles, are all adjectives or pronouns. When they are
used with nouns, they are adjectives, modifying the signification of the
nouns, like other adjectives ; for this is their proper olfice. When they
stand alone, they are pronouns, or substitutes for nouns. Thus hie, ille,
ipse in Latin, when used with nouns expressed, are adjectives; hie homo,
this man; ille homo, that man: When they stand alone, hie, ille, they
*'"•?!! '"r P '"'""^- '^^^ ^^'^^ '* *^ ^^"^ '" ""•fi"" languages.
The Enghsh the is an adjective, which, for distinction, I call a df.
adjective, and for brevity, a definitivf. as it dofinps tho ,,0,.=^^ r,,. .1
definitive
which it refers, or rathe
three, four, and every other number in tlie language. Take the followin»
examples. °
Bring me an orange from the basket ; that is, any one of the number.
Bring me two oranges from the ba.sket; that is, any two of the number.
Bring me three oranges fiom the basket ; that is, any three of the num-
ber ; and so on to any number ad infinitum.
VVhen thus used, an, two, three, are all indefinite ; that is, they are used
with nouns which are indefinite, or expressing things not particularly desig-
nated. But this is not owing to the essential character of the adjectives, an,
one, two, three; for any of them may be used with definite nouns ; and an
IS continually thus used.
" I will be an adversary to thine adversaries."
" The angel stood for an adversary against Balaam."
" Make this fellow return, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us."
" Rezon — was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon."
" And he spake a parable to them to this end."
" And there was a widow in that city."
" And seeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain."
" I will be a God to thee and thy seed after thee."
"Thou art a God ready to pardon."
Now let any of these phrases be tested by the common definition of on op
a, " that It IS used in a vague sense, to point out one single thing of the kind ;
in other respects indeterminate." Lowth.
" I will be an adversary to tliine adversaries;" that is, " I will be any ad-
versary, one of the kind, but vague or indeterminate."
" Rezon was an adversary to Israel ;" that is, in a vague sense any adversa-
ry, indeterminate.
"And he spake a parable to them ;" that is, any parable, indeterminate.
"Thou art a God, ready to pardon;" that is, any God, one of the kind, in a
ague sense, indeterminate !
If it should be said, the noun is rendered determinate, by other words in
the sentence, and not by an or a, this may be and generally is tnle ; but
this .shows that an does not give to the noun its character of definiteness or
indefiniteness ; it always retains its proper signification, which is one, and
nothing more ; and it is used indifferently before nouns definite or indefi-
This mistake of the character of an is found in other languages; but I
was gratified to find a French Grammar in Paris, recommended by the In-
stitute, the author of which had discarded the indefinite article.
In English, an or a is, for the most part, entirely useless. Used with a
nouii in the singular number, it serves no purpose, except that which the
form of the word, in the singular number, is intended to answer. It expres-
ses unity only, and this is the province of the singular number. Were it
not for habit, " give me orange," would express the sense of " give me an
orange," with precision and certainty. In this respect the Latin language
has the advantage over the English. But the use of such a short word is
not very inconvenient, and the usage cannot be changed. Other languages
are subject to the same inconvenience ; even the definite articles, or defini-
tives, in Greek and in French, are very often useless, and were it not for
usage, would be improper.
which It refers, or rather designates a particular person or thing. But why
this should be selected as the only definitive in our language, is very
strange ; when obviously this and that are more exactly definitive, desig-
nating more precisely a particular person or thing than the. These words
answer to the Latin hie and ille, which were always used by the Ro-
mans, when they had occasion to specify definite persons or things.
As to the English an or a, which is called in grammars, the indefinite ar-\
ttcle, there are two great mistakes. ^ being considered as the original'
word. It IS said to become an before a vowel. The fact is directly the re-j
verse, ^n is the original word, and this is contracted to a by droppins the
n before a consonant. j fi o
But an is merely the Saxon orthography o( one, un, unus, an adjective
found m nearly all the languages of Europe, and expressing a single person!,
or thing. It is merely a word of number, and no more an article than twoji
ORTHOGR.lPirV".
From the period of the first Saxon writings, our language has been suffer-
ng changes in orthography. The first writers, having no guide but the ear,
followed each his own judgment or fancy; and hence a great portion of
Saxon words are written with different letters, by different authors ; most of
them are written two or three different ways, and some of them, fifteen or
twenty. To this day, the orthography of some classes of words is not en-
tirely settled ; and in others, it is settied in a manner to confound the learner
and mislead him into a false pronunciation. Nothing can be more disrepu-
table to the literary characterof a nation, than the history of English orthog-
raphy, unless it is that of orthoepy.
1. The Saxon dipthong «, which probably had a specific and uniform
sound or combination of sounds, has been discardeii and ea generally substi-
tuted in its place, as brieth, breath. Now ea thus united have not a uni-
form sound, and of course diey are no certain guide to pronunciation. In
some instances, where tiie Saxon spelling was not uniform, the modern or-
Uiography follows the most anomalous and difficult, instead of that which is
regular. Thus the Saxons wrote f<ether and fether, more generally the lat-
ter, and the moderns w site feather.
2. The letter g in Saxon words, has, in many English words, been sunk
..1 pronunciation, and eitiier wholly lost, or it is now represented by y or w
Thus dffl^, or dag, has become day ,- gear is year, bugan is bow, and
fteger is/air.
3. The Saxons who adopted the Roman alphabet, with a few alterations
used c with its hard sound Uke that of ft. Thus lie, like ; locian, to look.
But after the Norman conquest, c before e, i, and y, took the sound of s ■
hence arose the necessity of changing this letter in words and syllables',
where it was necessary to retain the sound of ft before these vowels. Thus
the Saxon licean, pronounced originally likean, becomes, with our present
sound of c before e, lisean; and locian becomes losian. To remedy this
INTRODUCTION.
pvii, our ancestors iutioduced k from the Greek, writing it generally after e,
:H in lick, stick, though in some instances, omitting c, as in like and look.
Hence in all monosyllables in which a syllable beginning with e or i is ad-
ded to the word, as in the past time and participles of verbs, we use k in
the place of the Saxon c, as in licked, licking.
Our early writers attempted to extend this addition to words introduced
from the Latin and Greek, in which no such reason exists for the use of k
Thus they wrote publick, timsick, rhetorick. In these and similar words
the Latins used c for the Greek «, as musicus, for noutriHot, and the early En
glish writers took both letters, the Roman c and Greek «. This was absurd
enough ; but they never proceeded so far as to carry the absurdity Uirough
the derivatives ; never writing publickation, musickal, rhetorickal. After
long struggle with the force of authority, good sense has nearly banished
this pedantic orthography from use; and all words of this kind now appear
in most of oar public acts and elegant writings, in their proper sunplicity ;
public, publication, music, musical.
In many words, formerly ending in ie, these letters have been discarded
from the singular number, and y substituted. Thus remedie, memorie, are
now written remedy, memory. But what is very singular, the plural of
these words retains the in, with the addition of s, as in remedies. This anom
aly however creates no great inconvenience, except that it has been ex
words ending m ey, as m attomies
.J, y ^.„j,^ . .J „.„„e the plural by simply
attorneys. The same rule applies to verbs when an s is added, as in conveys.
1 surveys.
; inserted in
, chlorine, chloride, oxyde,Si.c. with-
tended by negligent
words ending in ey properly make the plural by simply taking
e same rule applies to verbs when an s is addei
t number of words, the vowel e has been discarded as useless ;
as in eggs for egges ; certain for certaine ; empress for empresse ; goodnes.
lor goodnesse. This is an improvement, as the e has no sound in modern
pronunciation. But here again we meet with a surprising inconsistency
for the same reason which justifies this omission, would justify and require
the omission of e final in motive, jiensive, juvenile, genuine, sanguine, do
trine, examine, determine, and a multitude of others. The introduction of
in most words of these classes, was at first wrong, as it could not plead any
authority in the originals ; but tlie retaining of it is unjustifiable, as the let-
ter is not merely useless, but, in very numerous classes of words, it leads to
a false pronunciation. Many of the most respectable English authors, a
century ago or more, omitted e in such words as examin, determin, famin,
ductil, fertil, definit, &c. but these improvements were afterwards rejected
to the great injury of orthography. In like manner, a final e '
words of modern coinage, as in alumine,
out the least necessity or propriety.
6. A similar fate has attended the attempt to anglicize the orthography of|
another class of words, which we have received from the French. At a
very early period, the words chambre, desastre, desordre, chartre, monstre,
tendre, tigre, entre,fievre, diametre, arbitre, nombre, and others were redu-
ced to the English form of spelling ; chamber, disaster, disorder, charter,
monster, tender, tiger, enter, fever, diameter, arbiter, number. At a later
period. Sir Isaac Newton, Camden, Selden, Milton, Whitaker, Prideaux,
Hook, Whiston, Bryant, and other authors of the first character, attempted
to carry through this reformation, writing scepter, center, sepulcher. But
this improvement was arrested, and a few words of this class retain their
French orthography; such are metre, mitre, nitre, spectre, sceptre, theatre,
sepulchre, and sometimes centre. It is remarkable that a nation distinguish-
ed for erudition, should thus reject improvements, and retain anomalies, in
opposition to all the convenience of uniformity. I am glad that so respecta-
ble a writer as Mitford has discarded this innovation, and uniformly written
center, scepter, theater, sepulcher. In the present instance, want of uni-
formity is not the only evil. The present orthography has introduced an
awkward mode of writing the derivatives, for example, centred, sceptred,
sepulchred ; whereas Milton and Pope wrote these words as regular deriva-
tions of fe«<er, scepter, sepulcher: thus, " Sceptered King." SoCoxe, in
his travels, " The principal wealth of the church is centered in the
teries." This is correct.
7. Soon after the revival of letters in Europe, English writers began to
borrow words from the French and Italian ; and usually with some little al-
teration of the orthography. Thus they wrote authour, embassadour, pre-
decessour, ancestour, successour ; using our for the Latin termination or
and the French eur, and writing similar words, in like manner, though not
of Latin or French original. What motive could induce them to write
these words, and errour, honour, favour, inferiour, &c. in this manner,
following neither the Latin nor tlie French, I cannot conceive. But this
orthography continued down to the seventeenth century, when the u began
lo be rejected from certain words of this class, and at the beginning of the
last century, many of these words were written, ancestor, author, error,
Ike. as they are now written. But favor, honor, labor, candor, ardor, ter-
ror, vigor, inferior, superior, and a few others, were written with «, and
.Fohnson introduced this orthography into his dictionary. Nothing in lan-
guage is more mischievous than the mistakes of a great man. It is not
easy to understand why a man, whose professed object was to reduce the
language to some regularity, should write author without u and errour and
honour with it ! That he should write labour with u and laborious with-
out it! Vigour, with u, and vigorous, invigorate, without it! Inferiour,
superiour, with u, but inferiority, and superiority, without it ! Strange as
it is, this inconsistency runs through his work, and his authority has been
the means of continuing it, among his admirers, to this
In this country, many of our best writers have rejected the u from all
words of this class, and reduced the whole to uniformity.' This is a desirable
event; every rejection of an anomaly being a valuable improvement,
which sound judgment approves, and the love of regularity will vindicate
and maintain. I have therefore followed the orthography of General Wash-
ington, and the Congress of the United States, of Ash in his Dictionary, of
Mitford in his History of Greece, &c.
S. There is another class of words the orthography of which is not uni-
form, nor fully settled, such as take the termination able to form an adjec-
tive. Thus Johnson writes proveable with e, but approvable and reprova-
ble, without it. So moveable, but immovable and removable ; tameable,
but blamable, censurable, desirable, excusable; saleable, but ratable.
With like inconsistency Walker and Todd write daub with « and bedawb
th 10, deviating in this instance, from Johnson. Todd writes abridge-
ment and judgement with e, but acknowledgment without it. Walker
writes these words without e, but adds it to lodgement. I have reduced all
words of this kind to uniformity.
Johnson writes octoedrical ; Todd octoedral ; Sheridan, Walker and
Jones follow Johnson ; but Jones has octahedron, which is not in the other
Dictionaries. The Greek, in words of this kind, is inconsistent, for oxiui is
changed, in compound words, to oktci. I have followed the Greek com-
pounds, and have inserted h which I consider as almost indispensable in the
English orthography, as octahedron.
10. Johnson introduced instructer, in the place of instructor, in opposi-
n to every authority which he has himself adduced to exemplify his defi-
ions; Denham, Milton, Roscommon, Locke, Addison, Rogers, and the
common version of the Scriptures. But what is more singular, this orthog-
raphy, instructer, is contrary to his own practice ; at least, in four editions
of his Rambler which I have examined, the word is uniformly written in-
structor. The fact is the same with visitor.
This is a point of little importance in itself; but when instructor had
been from time immemorial, the established orthography, why unsettle the
practice ? I have in this word and in visitor adhered to the old orthography.
There is not a particle of reason for altering instructor and visitor, which
would not apply to collector, cultivator, objector, projector, and a hundred
other %vords of similar termination.
H. Most of these and some other inconsistencies have been of long con-
tinuance. But there are others of more recent date, which admit of no
apology, as they are changes from right to wrong. Such Is the change of
the old and correct orthography of defense, expense, offense, pretense, and
recompense, by substituting c for s as in defence. This change was probably
made or encouraged by printers, for the sake of avoiding the use of the old
long s ; but since this has been discarded, that reason no longer exists. The
old orthography, defense, &.c. is justified, not only by the Latin originals,
but by the rule of uniformity ; for the derivatives are always written with
defensive, extensive, offensive, pretension, recompensing.
12. No less improper was the change of sceptic into skeptic. In favor
of this innovation, it is alledged that the word is from the Greek owtikos.
True ; but is not scene derived from the Greek ctkiivti, and scepter from
o-xTiTTTpov, and ascetic from oo-htitiiio!, and ocean from msaioi ! Are not all
these words in exact analogy with each other, in their original orthography ?
Were they not formerly analogous in the English orthography > Why vio-
late this analogy ? Why intioduce an anomaly .' Such innovations, by divid-
ing opinions and introducing discrepancies in practice, in classes of words of
like formation, have a mischievous effect, by keeping the language in per-
petual fluctuation.
13. In like manner, dispatch, which had, from time immemorial, been
written with i, was changed into despatch, on the wonderful discovery, that
the word is derived from the French depecher. But why change one vowel
not the other ? If we must follow the French, why not write despech,
or depech ? And why was this innovation limited to a single word ? Why
not carry the change through this whole class of words, and give us the
benefit of uniformity ? Is not disaster from the French desastre ? Is not
discharge from decharger ? Is not disarm from desarmer ? Is not disobey
from desobeir ? Is not disoblige from desohliger ? Is not disorder from des-
ordre? The prefix dis is more properly EngUsh than de, though both are
used with propriety. But dispatch was the established orthography ; why
then disturb the practice ? Why select a single word from the whole class,
and introduce a change which creates uncertainty where none had existed
" ages, without the smallest benefit to indemnify us for the perplexity and
discordance occasioned by the innovation ?
It is gratifying to observe the stern good sense of the English nation, pre-
senting a firm resistance to such innovations. Blackstone, Paley, Coxe,
Milner, Scott and Mitford, uniformly use the old and genuine orthography
of instructor, visitor, sceptic and dispatch.
14. The omission of one I in befall, imtall, installment, recall, enthrall,
&c., is by no means to be vindicated; as by custom, the two letters //,
serve as a guide to the true pronunciation, that of broad a or aw. Accord-
ing to the established rules of English pronunciation, the letter a in instal-
* The reformation commenced or received ifc
authority at the revolution. See Washington' f
8vo, 179.5.
most decided support and
Letters, in two volumes,
INTRODUCTION.
ment would have the souiul it h:is in balance ; it is therefore expedient to
retain both letters in all words of this chiss.
15. It is an established rule, in the English language, that monosyllabic
verbs, ending in a single consonant, not preceded by a long vowel, and
other verbs ending ill a siiiKlc acrcnted consonant, and of course not pre-
ceded by a loii'j; v"V, .■] (! MiM, il,r III, ■! roi--..n.iiif, in :,M '!h> .<, : ii ili. r -,
which arc for ' ' •. * ■ 1 1 , ' ■ . _■■:■'".'■■ . < 1 i ,,,■.■'' ■
bar, when tlic\ ' •' ■ ■ i ■ , .n. :.- ' ■ '' n ■ . : '"i ■- -, " •' -
teth,fiiting; il .! :■!■!'. :n -'. //-,., ;,m,./, :^,,:< . , i, /
compel, form tlic iikc iierivatives; iibcliul, (ibtlhlh. .linlun^ , r.,iii)<i iiril
fonipelleth, compelling. The reason of this rule is, tli.ii \iiilinut ihis .lupli-
cation of the !.>.st consonant, the vowel of the priinilivr word wmiM, in the
derivative, be naturally pronounced wrong, that is, with ils i.iii'4 >m\\v\ ; fil-
ed, bloting, bared, compeled. Hence we see the reason w hy verbs, hav-
ing the long sound of a vowel, do not double the last consonant, as feared,
repealed, repeated.
The converse of this rule is, that verbs, ending in a single consonant, but
having the accent on the first syllable, or on a syllable preceding the last,
o\ight not to double the final consonant in the derivatives. Thus limit, la-
bor, charter, clatter, pardon, deliver, hinder, have for their derivatives,
limited, laboreth, chartered, pardoning, delivering, hinderest. But
strange as it may seem, the rule is wholly neglected and violated, in most
of the words of this class in the language. Thus we observe, in all authors,
ballotting, beoelling, levelled, travelled, cancelled, revelling, rivalling, wor-
shipped, worshipper, uiipartlhil, inihoircUid, //icWmg, and many others,
;i , iii^ii to one of the oldest and
'lis Dictionary, lays down
I ' III all cases, to observe it.
. I \ Ml- to aregularand uniform
.•■■I Mom such verbs are written
Ur, worshiper, for the purpose of
re may be no exception. What
"iidittor, alterrer, barterrer, ban-
■ I reason can be assigned why the
lit'se words as well as in jeweller,
ll.ible to be added is the usual ter-
vhich the last consoii.iii( i- -' ■
best established rules in r
the rule for guidance, Im; ' i
I have endeavored to ri'ili
orthography. In like m i i
with a single consonant,
establishing a general i i;l'
should we say to a man ^^ i
terrer, gardenner, lahui ,
final consonant .should \i I '
traveller, enameller. Tin i
minalion er or or, and noilnn- nn n
Not less remarkable is the |)rac!ice oi <loubling the last consonant in equal-
led, equalling, but not in the verb equalize. And to add to the inconsisten-
cy, the last consonant is sometimes doubled in tranquillize, a word in exact
analogy with equalize.
With regard to words which recent discoveries have introduced into the
sciences, there may be some apology for differences of orthography, as
writers have not established usage for a guide. Hence we find oxyd is writ-
ten also oxide and oxyde ; oxygen and hydrogen, are written also oxigene.
oxygene and hydrogene. Sulphate, nitrate, &.C., are written also sulphat,
nitrat.
In this case, what course is the Lexicographer to pursue .' Shall he
adopt tlie method by which Walker attempts to settle pronunciation, and
cite authorities in favor of each mode of spelling i' Then the result is, so
many names appear on one side, and so many on the other. But who, it
may be asked, will undertake to graduate the scale by which the weight of
authorities is to be determined .' Numbers will not always decide questions
of this sort to the satisfaction of the public.
In this case, I have determined to conform the orthography to established
English analogies ; the only authority from which there can be no legitimate
appeal. Now, no rule in orthography is better established, than that which
we have adopted from the Latin language, of representing the fireek ^lpsi-
lojiby the letter y. In the orthography of o,ri/gen and hydrogen, from ojti
and uiuf, this rule has been observed; and why should oxyd he an excep-
tion ?
With regard to sulphate, nitrate, and other names of that class of com-
pounds, I consider the final e as essential to the words, to prevent a false
pronunciation ; the vowel a having its first sound as in/ate, though slightly
pronounced.
The word chimistry has undergone two or three changes, according to
fancy or to conjectural etymology. Men have blundered about the plainest
thing imaginable ; lor to detcrniine its true orthography, nothing was neces-
sary but to open an Arabic Lexicon. The inhabitants of the South of Eu-
rope, who introduced the word, doubtless knew its origin, and wrote it cor-
rectly with i, not with y or e ; and had the English been contented to take
it as they found it, the orthography would have been correct and uniform.
In introducing words from other languages, it is desirable that the orthog-
raphy should be conformed, as nearly as maybe, to established English anal-
ogies. For this reason I must approve of tlie practice of Darwin who drops
the Latin termination of pyrites, wvitin^ pyrite, witli the accent on the first
syllable. Botanic Garden, Canto 2. 350.
Stalactite has in like manner, been anglicized ; and barytes, it is hoped,
may suffer the like change. In this manner, the words, in the English
form, become susceptible of a regular plural ; barytes and pyrites in two
syllables, and stalactites in three : and further they admit of regularlv form-,
ed adjectives, pjrific, 6an/(tc, stalactitic, which cannot be regularly form-
ed from the Greek terminations.
he wnnl tnlr is nlso ill-fiinricd. The original word on the continent of
i|i i /,('/, ni 'I,'- . Ill I liii , i, II,:;,- of k into c is not merely needless,
V. : t : , i I - 'i ' - ■ II , : ilui regular adjective, talcy. Hence
' ■ i' 1,1,1, 1,1 .iwkward compound of a Teutonic
I . ii : ,111, 1, I III, , I I, ) MI- uiird should be written fa/Ar or fa/cfc,
will, ii '■ ,11 linii n ■;iii ir ,!.iiv;iiivcs. /a/cfey, (a/ffci?iess. In like manner,
:■• u :iii,',. u,iii!.l ,,,liuit the regular adjective zinky, as written
i I ;> . IS (111- siMiil -vstem of the celebrated Swedish naturalist i.s
iiuw ifciiiiiily received, it seems proper to make the new terms, by which
the cliisses and orders of plants are designated, a part of our language. Hith-
erto these names have not been anglicized ; but from the technical terms,
English and American writers have begun to form adjectives which are at
variance with the analo<;i, - of ,iin InniiMgr. \Vi- -, c in books such words
as hexandrous, monos'ii'"'!!-^- i"'!tii:iuiiuii-<. ,,iii| .:/iil:, ,i, sinus. The writ-
ers who use these word-. -, . m ni,i i,i I,.- ,,\s 1 ih. ni!|iort.mce of pursu-
ing settled rules in the cniniiii; nl wnni-, ;i^ iniu,)i nnty ..uls both in learning
and in recollecting new names. The regular mode ot forming adjectives
from nouns ending in a or ia, is to add n to the noun, not ous. So we form
Italian from Italia ; .American from America. In some cases, the termin-
ation ic is used, but rarely or never ous ; or if it is, it is an anomaly.
To arrest, if possible, the progress of these irregularities, and at the same
time, to make the more important botanical terms really English, by giving ^
them appropriate English terminations, and further to abridge the language
of description, I have ventured to anglicize the names of all the classes anil
orders, and insert them in this work.
Thus from monandria, the name of the class containing plants with flow-
ers having one stamen, I form monander, the name of an individual plant of
that character. From monogynia, the name of the order containing plants
with flowers which have one pistil, I form monogyn, [pronounced monojyn]
to express an individual plant of that order. The adjectives are formed from
the nouns with regular English terminations ; monandrian, monogynian,
syngetiesian, diecian, monecian,&Lc.
In describing a plant technically, according to this nomenclature, instead
of saying, it is of the class monondria and order monogynia, the botanist will
call it a monogynian monander, a digynian pentanaer, a trigynian octan-
der, a pentandrian diadelph. These terms designate the class and order,
as perfectly as the use of the Latin technical names : and in this manner we
unite, in our botanical language, technical precision, with brevity, correct-
ness and elegance.
It is with no small regret, that I see new terms formed, without a due re-
gard to regular English analogies. New terms are often necessary, or at
least very useful ; but they ought to be coined according to the settled prin-
ciples of the language. A neglect of these principles is observable in the
word systematize, which, not being borrowed from the Greek, ought to fol-
low the general rule of English formation, in agreement with legalize, mod-
ernize, civilize, animalize, and others, and be written systemize. This is
the more important, as the derivatives systemizing, systemization, are of
more easy utterance, than those of systematize, and particularly the noun
systematization.
I obser\'e in modern works on Natural History, the words crustaceology,
and testaceology ; terms that are intended to designate the science of differ-
ent kinds of shells, from Crustacea, testacea. But who can countenance the
use of such words? Where do we find another instance of similar terms
formed from adjectives .> Why should we violate an established principle
in coining words of this family ? Besides, who can endure the derivatives,
ci-ustaceological, testaceological, and much less tlie adverbs, if they should
ever be wanted ? I have not admitted these anomalous words into this vo-
cabulary ; but have inserted the proper words, austalogy, testalogy, which
are regularly formed, like mineralogy.
On this head I would subjoin a remark or two on the mode of writing In-
dian names of rivers, mountains and places in America, which we have
adopted.
The French were the first Europeans who explored the country between
the great lakes and the gulf of Mexico, and of course, the first to commit to
writing the Indian names which occurred to them in their travels. In do-
ing this, they attempte<l to express the sounds in letters, according to the
French manner of pronunciation. Hence it happened that they wrote ch,
where we should have written sh, had we first reduced those names to
writing. Thus we have Chenango, Michigan and Michillimackinac,*
in the French orthography. And as the French have no ir in their lan-
guage, they could not express the proper sound of the first syllable of Wa-
bash, Wisconsin, Wachita, otherwise than by writing them Ouabache,
Ouisconsin, Ouachita, and Missoori in French is Missouri. All this is
very proper for Frenchmen, for the letters used express the true sounds of
the words. But in English, the letters used lead to a false pronunciation,
and for this reason, should not be used in English compositions. It is to be
deeply regretted that our language is thus doomed to be a heterogeneous
medley of English and foreign languages ; as the same letters representing
' This word is, I believe, customarily pronounced Mackinaw, and the
riginal may well be sutiered to fall into disuse.
INTRODUCTION.
<5ift'erent sounds, in dillerent languages, sGi\e to cmLanass the reader who
understands only his own.
The irregularities in the English orthography have always been a subject
of deep regret, and several attempts have been made to banish them from
the language. The first attempt of this kind was made by Sir Thomas Smith,
Secretary of State, to Queen Elizabeth ; another was made by Dr. Gill, a
celebrated master of St. Paul's School in London; another by Charles But-
ler ; several attempts were made in the reign of Charles I. ; an attempt was
made by Elphinstone, in the last century; and lastly, another effort was
made by Dr. Franklin. The latter gentleman compiled a dictionary on his
scheme of reform, and procured types to be east, which he offered to me,
with a view to engage me to prosecute his design. This offer I declined to
accept ; for I was then, and am still convinced, that the scheme of introdu-
cing new characters into the language, is neither practicable nor expedient.
Any attempt of this kind must certainly fail of success.
But that some scheme for expressing the distinct sounds of our letters by
visible marks, ought to be adopted, is a point about which there ought to be,
and I trust there can be, but one opinion. That such a scheme is practica-
ble as well as expedient, I should presume to be equally evident. Such is
tlie state of our written language, that our own citizens never become mas-
ters of orthography, without great dilBculty and labor; and a great part of
them never learn to spell words with correctness. In addition to this, the
present orthography of some classes of words leads to a false pronunciation.
In regard to the acquisition of our language by foreigners, the evil of our
irregular orthography is extensive, beyond what is generally known or con-
ceived. While the French and Italians have had the wisdom and the policy
to refine and improve their respective languages, and render them almost
the common languages of all well-bred people in Europe ; the English Ian
guage, clothed in a barbarous orthography, is never learned by a foreignei
but from necessity ; and the most copious language in Europe, embodying
an uncommon mass of science and erudition, is thus very limited in its
fulness. And to complete the mischief, the progress of arts, science and
Christianity among the heathen, and other rude or unevangelized nations,
is most sensibly retarded by the difficulties of mastering an irregular or-
thography.
The mode of ascertaining the proper pronunciation of words by marks,
points and trifling alterations of the present characters, seems to be the only
one which can be reduced to practice. This mode resembling the use of
points in the Hebrew, has been adopted by some of the nations on th
tinent ; and I have pursued it, to a certain extent, in designating distinctions
in the sounds of letters, in this work. The scheme I have invented is not
considered as perfect ; Ijut it will accomplish some important purposes, by
removing the most numerous classes of anomalies. With this scheme, the
visible characters of the language will present to the eye of a reader the true
sounds of words ; and the scheme itself is so simple, that it may be learned
in a few moments. To complete a scheme of this kind, a few other altera
tions would be necessary, but such as would not materially change the or
thography, or occasion the least difficulty to the learner or reader.
After these alterations, there would remain a few words whose anomaliei
may be considered as incorrigible, such as know, gnaw, rough, &c., which
may be collected into tables and easily learned, and all the other irregul
ties may be so classed under general rules, as to be learned with very little
labor.
The adoption of this or any other scheme for removing the obstacles
which the English orthography presents to learners of the language, must
depend on public opinion. The plan I have adopted for representing the
sounds of letters by marks and points, in this work, is intended to answer two
purposes. First, to supersede the necessity of writing and printing the
words a second time in an orthography adapted to express their pronuncia-
tion. The latter method pursued by the English orthoepists, as applicable t(
most words, is I think not only unnecessary but very inexpedient. The se.
cond purpose is, to exhibit to my fellow citizens the outline of a scheme for
removing the difficulties of our irregular orthography, without the use of
new characters ; a scheme simple, easy of acquisition, and sufficient to an
swer all the more important purposes of a regular orthography.
PROMTNCIATIOX.
As our language has been derived from various sources, and little or n(
systematic elibrt has been made to reduce the orthography to any regularity
tjie pronunciation of the language is subject to numerous anomalies. Each
of our vowels has several different sounds; and some of the consonants re-
present very different articulations of the organs. That part of the lan-
guage which we have received from the Latin, is easily subjected to a few
general rules of pronunciation. The same is tlie fact with most of the de
rivatives from the Greek. Many words of French origin retain their French
orthography, which leads to a very erroneous pronunciation in English; and
a large portion of our monosyllabic words of Saxon origin are extremely ir
regular both in orthography and pronunciation.
If we can judge, with tolerable certainty, from the versification of Chau
cer, the pronunciation of words must have been, in many respects, dilferent
. in his age, from that of the present day: particubirly in making a distinct
syllable of e final, and of the termination ed. But no efibrt was probablj
ever made to settle the pronunciation of words, till the last century. Ii.
England, which was settled by various nations, there are numerous dialect.-
diversities of language, still retained by the great mass of the population.
The first settlers of New England, were almost all of English origin, and
ming from different parts of England, they brought with them sonje di-
versities of language. But in the infancy of the settlements, the people
lived in towns adjacent or near to each other, for mutual aid and protectiou.
from the natives : and the male inhabitants of the first generation frequently
assembled for the purpose of worship or for government. By the influence
of these and other causes, particularly by that of common schools, the differ-
ences of language among our citizens have been gradually lost ; so that in
this part of the United States, there can hardly be said to exist a difference
of dialect.
It is to be remarked further, that the first ministers of the gospel, who
migrated to this country, had been educated at the English universities, and
brought with them all the learning usually acquired in those institutions,
and the English language as it was then spoken. The influence of these
men, who were greatly venerated, probably had no small effect in extin-
guishing differences of speech.
Hence it has happened that the traditional pronunciation of the language
of well-educated people has been nearly the same in both countries, to this
day. Among the common people, whose pronunciation in all countries is
more or less corrupt, the diversities in this country are far less numerous
than in England.
About fifty or sixty years ago, Thomas Sheridan, an Irish gentleman, who
had been the pupil of an intimate friend of Dean Swift, attempted to reduce
the pronunciation of English words to some system, and to introduce it into
popular use. His analysis of the English vowels is very critical, and in this
respect, there has been little improvement by later writers, though I
think none of them are perfectly correct. But in the application of his prin-
ciples, he failed of his object. Either he was not well acquainted with the
best English pronunciation, or he had a disposition to introduce into use some
peculiarities, which the English did not relish. The principal objection
made to his scheme is that he gives to s the sound oi sh, in sudorific, superb,
and other words where .1 is followed by u long. These he pronounces
shooderific, shonperb, shooperjluity, &c. This pronunciation of s corres-
ponding to the Shcmitic W, he probably learnt in Ireland, for in the Irish
branch of the Celtic, s has often the sound of sh. Thus sean, old, is pro-
nounced shean. This pronunciation was no sooner published, than con-
demned and rejected by the English.
Another most extraordinary innovation of Sheridan was, his rejection of
the ItaUan sound of a, as in father, calm, ask, from every word in the lan-
uage. Thus his notation gives to a in bar, the same sound as in barren,
arrel, bat ; to a in father, pass, mass, pant, the same sound as in/of, pas-
sion, massacre, pan, fancy. Such a gross deviation from established Eng-
lish usage was of course condemned and rejected.
In his pronunciation of ti and ci, before a vowel, as in partiality, omni-
science, Sheridan is more correct than Walker, as he is in some other words;
uch for example as bench, tench, book, took, and others of the same classes.
Sheridan also contributed very much to propagate the change of tu into
chu, or tshu ; as in natshur, cultshur, virtshue. This innovation was vin-
dicated on the supposed fact, that the letter u has the sound of yu; and
natyur, cultyur, virtyue, in a rapid enunciation, become natshur, &c. And
to this day, this error respecting the sound of u is received in England as
truth. But the fact is otherwise, and if not, it does not justify the practice ;
for in usage, u is short in nature, culture, as in tun; so that on the princi-
"es of Sheridan himself, this letter can have no effect on the preceding
articulation.
This innovation however has prevailed to a considerable extent, although
Sheridan subjected the change of tu to no rules. He is consistent in apply-
ing this change equally to tu, whether the accent follows the t or not. If
fu is to be changed to (s7ju, in /«(u;'e, and perpetual, it ought to undergo
the same change in futurity, and perpetuity ; and Sheridan, in pronoun-
cing tutor, tutelage, tumult, as if written txhootor, tshootelage, tshoomult,
is certainly consistent, though wrong in fact. In other words, however,
Sheridan is inconsistent with himself; for he pronounces multitshood, recti-
tshood, servitshood, while habitude, beatitude, certitude, decrepitude,
gratitude, Stc. retain the proper sound of (.
Walker's rule for changing tti to chu, only when the accent precedes, is
entirely arbitrary, and evidently made by him to suit his own practice. It
has however the good effect of reducing the chus, and removing the outra-
geous anomalies of tshootor, tshoomult, &c.
There are many other words which Sheridan has marked for a pronuncia-
tion, which is not according to good usage, and which the later orthoepists
have corrected. In general, however, it may be asserted that his notation
does not warrant a tenth part as many deviations, from the present respectable
usage in England, as Walker's ; yet as his Dictionary was republished in this
country, it had no small effect in corrupting the pronunciation of some class-
es of words, and the effects of its influence are not yet extinct. What the
precise effect of Sheridan's scheme of pronunciation was in England, I am
not able to determine. But I have had information from the late venerable
Dr. Johnson of Stratford, and from the late Dr. Hubbard of New Haven,
INTRODUCTION.
ulio were in Eno-Ianil between the year 17G5 and the revolution, that about 1 classes of words, he entirely rejects. He condemns, as a slovenly enuncia-
that period, the change of ( into cliii had not taken place, to anv cMont. It tion, the sound given to d, which, before t and u. Walker directs, in certain
began to prevail on the stage and among the younger I.mh inv ,,,1 in, m- [words, to be pronounced like j. He rejects also his notation of ch, or tsh,
bers^of parliament, before Dr. Johnson left England,
Ame'rica, and Sheridan's Dictionary, published soon
tributed to extend the i
the acquisition of a lanj
dable and perplexing,
immense inconvcnicnc.
and the i m. m-', . i
d.^nirc pi.
(h lin congratulation, flatulent, natural, and all similar words. He rejects
I also the affected pronunciation of Sheridan and Walker, in such words as
Sttidi. mil l.iiul. Most of the other errors of Walker, he copies, as he does
or changes the est.il
<iit, does an injury u
ty men of the same
n a few years after the publication of Sheridan's Dictionary, appeared
Walker's, the author of which introduces the work to the public, with the
following remarks, on the labors of his predecessciis.
" Among those writers who deserve the In^i n .1 - .1. il ,^ -iihject, isMr.
Elphinstone; who, in his principles of the 1 I 1 _. has reduced
the chaos to a system, and laid the foundation : " j u I, ir pronunci-
ation. But this ■.ciTitleni:m. liv treating his sul.; 1 v i:ii n /llreted obscuri-
ty, and by absni.iU . n: :. " ii: : in niter the w'holc orttiogruphy of the lan-
guage, has unlui'i I credit with the public, for the part of his
labors which ciri 1 m : , ■ iiuhest praise."
"After him Lh. 1- nuck rLutiibuted a portion of improvement, by his
Rhetorical Uictionaiy, but he has rendered his Dictionary extremely im-
perfect, by entirely omitting a great number of words of doubtful and diffi-
cult pronunciation ; those very words for which a Dictionary of this kind
would naturally be consulted." [Let it be noted, that tlie same objection
lies in full force against Sheridan, Walker, and .lones.]
" To him succeeded Mr. Sheridan, who not only divided the words into
syllables, and placed figures over the vowels, as Dr. Kenrick had done, but
by spelling these syllables os they are pronounced, seemed to complete the
idea of a Pronouneinu DiitiDu^iry. and to leave but little expectation of im-
provement. It iiiiivi he (i.nl. -^ed that his Dictionary is generally superior
to every thing lli;it pn < i.li .1 li, nid his method of conveying the sound of
of words bv ■ip.llin lb, II] 1. lb, V are pronounced, is highly rational and use
ful. lint ill 1 1 - 1 in . - lie to stop. The numerous instances I have
given nt I I. r \ . and want of acquaintance with the anal
ogies oi il ! 11, . - II 1\ show how imperfect I think his Dictiona-
ry is, upuii iliL i\ liule, .Mii; u liji ample room was left for attempting another
that might better answer the purpose of a guide to pronunciation."
" The last writer on this subject is Mr. Nares, who, in his elements of or-
thoepy, has shown a clearness of method, and an extent of observation, which
deserve the highest encomiums. But he seems, on many occasions,* to'
have mistaken the best usage, and to have paid too little attention to the first
principles of pronunciation."
Soon after the publication of Walker's Dictionary, appeared the Dictiona-
ry of Stephen Jones, w^ho undertakes to correct the errors of Sheridan and
Walker. This author objects to Sheridan, that he has not introduced the
Italian .sound of a, [as in fath'er,'] in asingle instance, and that Walker has
been too sparing in the use of it. He objects that Sheridan has not, by any
peculiar marks, pointed out the sound of oi or oy, as in noise and cloy; and
that Walker has given distinctive marks of pronunciation to the diphthong
mi, which are terrific to the learner, and not well calculated to express the
exact soimd. He considers it as no trivial error in Walker's system, that he
uses the long e in place of the short y, which gives to asperity, for example,
the ludicrous sound of aspereetee. He notices also as a fault in W^alker's
scheme, that he makes no difference in the sound of 00 in tool, tooth, and in
look, took.
In all these particulars, except that of oi and oy, I think every man who
understands genuine English, will accord with Jones. From careful obser-
vation, while in England, I know that Jones's notation is far more correct
than that of Sheridan or Walker, and except in two or three classes of words,
his pronunciation is exactly that which I uniformly heard in England, and
nearly the same as that of well-educated gentlemen in New England.
A few years after the appearance of Jones's Dictionary, William Perry
published a pronouncing dictionary, in which an attempt is made to indicate
the sounds of the letters by certain arbitrary marks. In this work, the au-
thor has rejected most of the pecuharities of Sheridan, Walker and Jones,
and given the language nearly as it was spoken, before those authors under-
took to regulate the pronunciation. This author's manner of designating
the soimds of the letters is too complex for convenience, but his pronuncia-
tion is nearer to the actual usage in England, than that of either of his pre-
decessors before mentioned. His orthography also is more correct, accord-
ing to present usage, than that of his predecessoi-s.
During the year past, appeared the dictionary of R. S. Jameson, of Lin-
coln's Inn, intended to combine the merits of the most popular dictionaries,
and to correct the false pronunciation of Walker, whose notation in some
' In many instances, I suppose the writer means.
Ill- /,i;i.'r I ,1 ..I ib.i-i,,|iliy.
1m ; : ii |ii-ts have analyzed, and in general, have well defined
- 1^ and appropriate uses of the letters of the alphabet.
--Ill hi III - III !\ ■ v. bich appeared a few years before Walker's, is for the
most part, correct ; but in describing the sounds of what may be called the
diphthongal vowel i, I think he has erred, in making it to consist of the broad
ate and e. He admits indeed that the voice does not rest on the sound
but he contends that the mouth is opened to the same degree of aperture,
is in the same position, as if it were going to sound aw; hut before the
voice can get a passage to the lips, the under jaw is drawn up to the position,
for sounding e. On this it is justly remarked by Walker, that atv and e are
precisely the component elements of the diphthong oi and oy. If the aw is
pronounced, I would add, then t and oy must he pronounced exactly alike ;
and if aw is not pronounced, then it is not a component part of the diph-
thongal vowal i.
Walker contends that this diphthong i, is composed of the sound of the
Italian a, as hi fathtr, and the sound ol e. If so, he must have given to a, a
very different sound from that which we are accustomed to give it. But*
this is a mistake; that sound of a is no more heard in t, than the sound of
aw. The sound of i in fight, mind, time, idle, i^ not faweght, mawend,
tawem, awedle ; nor is it fdeght, maend, them, aedle. Let any man utter
the aw or the Italian a before the e, and he will instantly perceive the
error, and reject both definitions, as leading to a false pronunciation. The
truth is, the mouth, in uttering i, is not opened so wide as in uttering aw or
a; the initial sound is not that of ajo or a ; nor is it possible, by any char-
acters we possess, to express the true sound on paper. The initial sound is
not formed so deep in the throat as aw or o ; the position of the organs is
nearlj', yet not exactly the same. The true sound can be learned only by
the ear.
Equally inaccurate is the definition of the diphthongal «, or long u;
which these writers alledge to consist of the sounds of e and 00 or yu. It
has this sound indeed in certain words, as in unite, union, and others ; but
this is a departure from the proper sound of this character, as heard in cube,
abuse, durable, human, jury. These words are not pronounced, keoob,
abeoose, deoorable, heooman,jeoory. The effort to introduce this affected
pronunciation is of most mischievous tendency. The sound of e is not
heard in the proper enunciation of the English u, and for that reason, it
should not be so stated on paper, nor named yu ; as the error naturally leads
to a corrupt pronunciation. Dr. Kenrick remarks that we might as well
prefix y to the other vowels, as to «, and pronounce them ya, ye, yi, yo.
But this is not the whole evil ; this analysis of u has led orthoepists to give
to our first or long «, two distinct sounds, or rather to make a diphthong and
a vowel of this single letter. Thus they make it a diphthong in almost all
situations, except after r, where they make it a vowel equivalent to 00 or
the French ou. They represent u as being equivalent to ew, that is, e and
00, in cube, tube, duty, confusion, endure, pronounced, kewbe, tewbe, dewty,
confewsion, endewre, but in brute, fruit, rude, intrude, ruby, they make u
equivalent to 00 ; thus, broote,froot, roode, introode, rooby.
I know not where this affectation originated; it first appeared in Sheri-
dan's Dictionary, but it is a most unfounded distinction, and a most mischiev-
ous error. No such distinction was known to Dr. Johnson ; he gives the
long u but one sound, as in confusion; and no such distinction is observed
among good speakers generally, either in this country or in England. I was
particularly attentive to the public speakers in England, in regard to this
point, and was happy to find, that very few of them made the distinction
here mentioned. In that country as in this, the long u has a uniform sound
after all the consonants.
The source of the error in this as in another case to be mentioned here-
after, may be an inattention to the manner in which the articulations affect
the vowels which follow them. To understand this, it will be necessary or
useful to examine the anatomical formation of articulate sounds.
" An articulate sound," says Lowth, " is the sound of the human voice,
formed by the organs of speech. A vowel is a simple articulate sound."
These definitions seem not to be sufficiently accurate. Articulation, in
human speech, is the jointing, juncture or closing of the organs, which pre-
cedes and follows the vowels or open sounds, and which partially or totally
intercepts the voice. A vowel or vocal sound is formed simply by opening
the mouth. Thus in sounding a or 0, the mouth is opened in a particular
manner, but without any articulation or closing of the organs. In strictness
therefore, a simple vowel is not an articulate sound, as Lowth supposes ;
and it is certain that many irrational animals, without the power of articula-
tion, do utter vowel sounds with great distinctness.
An articulate sound then is properly a sound preceded or followed or both,
by an articulation or junction of the organs. 'Thus ba, ab, and bad, are ar-
ticulate sounds ; the vowel being begun or closed, with a junction of the
lips, interrupting the voice, in ba and ab ; and in bad the vocal sound being
preceded by one articulation and followed by another. The power of arti-
INTRODUCTION.
(•Illation constilutcs Ihc great difference between men and brute? ; the latter
being unable to articulate, can utter only vocal sounds. The imperfect ar-
ticulations of the parrot and some other animals form no exception that de-
serves notice.
I give the name articulation, to the act of joining the organs, and to the
character or letter which represents the junction. In the latter sense, the
word is equivalent to consonant ; and articulation may be considered the
preferable term, as it expresses the fact of closing the organs.
Human speech then consists of vocal sounds separated and modified by
articulations of the organs. We open the moutli, in a particular manner, to
utter a vowel ; we then close the organs, interrupt that sound, and open the
organs to utter a second vowel, and continue this opening and closing, to the
end of the word. This process is carried on with surprising rapidity.
Now in passing from an articulation or close position, to an open position
for uttering a vowel, it happens often that a very slight sound of e is uttered
so as to be perceptible to the ear, eitlier before or after the utterance of the
proper vowel. This is remarkably the case with the long vowels preceding
r, for such is the nature of that letter, that bare, mire, more, parent, appar-
ent, &c., cannot well be pronounced without a slight sound of e, between
the long vowel and the consonant. Thus the words above named are pro-
nounced nearly baer ,mier ,moer , paerent,appaerent, and bare, mire, really
form two syllables, though they are considered to be monosyllables.
A like case, though less obvious, occurs in uttering u, particularly after
the labial and palatal articulations. In passing from the articulations, eb,
eg, em, ep, or pe, to the sound of le, as in nnite anApure, we are apt insen-
sibly to utter a slight sound of e ; and this utterance, which proceeds from
the particular situation of the organs, has been mistaken for the first compo-
nent sound of the diphthongal «. The same cause has given rise to the
pronunciation of e before the vowel in such words as guide, guard, kind,
guise. This is precisely similar to the vulgar pronunciation of cow, gown,
county, town, &c., that is, keow, geown, keounty, teoum ; a pronunciation
formerly common in New England, and not yet wholly extinct. This vi-
cious pronunciation, in all words of this kind, whether countenanced by men
of low life or of fashionable life, ought to be carefully avoided ; as the slen-
der sound of e, in such cases, gives a feebleness to the words utterly incon-
sistent with that full, open and manly enunciation which is essential to elo-
quence.
The genuine sound of u long, detached from the influence of consonants,
is the same in all the words above specified ; and the reason why it has been
made a distinct vowel after r, as in rude [rood,] is, that the organs are open,
before the sound commences; whereas when it follows most of our conson-
ants, the sound is commenced immediately after an articulation, or close posi-
tion of the organs, as in mutable and infusion. For this reason, u has more
distinctly its diphthongal sound after labials and palatals, than after r; but
this accidental circumstance should not be the ground of radical distinctions,
equivalent to the sounds of different letters.
There is, in Walker's analysis of the alphabet, an error peculiar to himself-
This is, in making a distinction between the short i when it is followed by a
consonant, and when it is not ; as in ability. In this case, he calls the first
(, in abil, short ; but the second he calls open, and equivalent to e in equal.
See principles 107, 544. He also makes the unaccented y at the end of a syl-
lable precisely like the first sound of e, in me, meter. Ability then written
according to his principles would be abileetee. Never was a grosser mis-
take. The sound of i and y in unaccented syllables, whether followed by
an articulation or not, is always the short sound of e long, that is, e shorten-
ed ; the same sound in quality or kind, but not in quantity. To prove this
fact, nothing is necessary but an attention to the manner in which the words
little and tiny, are pronounced, when they are made emphatical by utter-
ance. They are then pronounced leetle, teeny — and this we hear every
day, not only among children, but often among adults. In this change of
pronunciation, there is nothing more than a prolongation of the sound of i,
which, in the syllables, lit, tin, is short, in leetle, teeny, is long.
In consequence of this mistake. Walker has uniformly made a different
notation of i when accented, and followed by a consonant in the same sylla-
ble, and when it stands alone in the syllable and unaccented. Thus to the
first i in ability he assigns a different sound from that of the second ; and in
article, he gives to i the sound of e long, arteecle ; but in articular, articu-
late, he gives it the short sound, tik. It is in consequence of this mistake,
that he has throughout his Dictionary assigned to i and y unaccented and to
y unaccented terminating words, the sound of e long ; an error, which it is
ascertained by actual enumeration, extends to more than eleven thousand
vowels or syllables ; an error, which, if carried to the full extent of his prin-
ciples, would subvert all the rules of English versification. Jones and Perry
have corrected this error in their notations, throughout the language.
If it should be said, that Walker did not intend to direct y in this case, to
be pronounced as e long, but that his notation is intended only to mark the
quality of the sound ; it may be replied, he either intended the sound to be
that of c long, according to his express direction, or he did not. If he did
his notation is not according to any good practice, either in England or the
U. States, and by changing a short vowel into a long one, his notation would
subvert the rules of metrical composition. If he did not, his notation is
adapted to mislead the learner, and it does mislead learners, wherever his
book is strictly followed. In truth, this notaliun is generally condemned ij
England, and universally rejected in practice.''
In the notation of sounds, there is a mistake and inconsistency in all the or-
thoepists, which deserves notice, not on account of its practical importance
o much, as to expose an error in syllabication or the division of words into
yllables, which has been maintained by all writers in Great Britain, fron:
time immemorial. The rule is that " a single consonant between two vow-
must be joined to the latter syllable." According to this rule, habit,
baron, tenet, are to be divided thus, ha-bit, ba-rou, te-net.
This rule is wholly arbitrary, and has for ages, retarded and rendered dif-
ficult, the acquisition of the language by children. How is it possible that
of discernment should support a rule that, in thousands of words,
makes it necessary, to break a syllable, detaching one of the letters essen-
tial to it, and giving it a place in the next .' In the words above mentioned^
" , bar, ten, are distinct syllables, which cannot be divided without vio-
lence. In many words, as in these, this syllable is the radix of the word ;
the other syllable being formative or adventitious. But where this is not the
case, convenience requires that syllables should, if possible, be kept entire ;
and in all cases, the division of syllables should, as far- as possible, be SHch
to lead the learner to a just pronunciation.
As in our language the long and short vowels are not distinguished by
differences of character, when we see a single consonant bet^veen vowels,
we cannot determine, from the preceding vowel character, whether the
sound is long or short. A stranger to the language knows not whether to
pronounce habit, ha-bit or hab-it, Ull he is instructed in the customary pro-
•iation. It was probably to avoid this inconvenience that our ancestors
wrote two consonants instead of one in a great number of words, as in ban-
ner, dinner. In this respect however there is no uniformity in English ; as
we have generally retained the orthography of the languages from which
we have received the words, as in tutor, rigor, silent, and the like.
Now it should be observed that although we often see the consonant
doubled, as in banner, yet no more than one articulation in these cases is
ever used in speaking. We close the organs but once between the first and
second syllable, nor is it possible to use both the letters n, without pronoun-
cing ban, then intermitting the voice entirely, opening the organs and clos-
ng them a second time. Hence in all cases, when the same consonant is
written twice between vowels, as in banner, dinner, better, one of them only
is represented by an articulation of the organs, the other is useless, except
that it prevents any mistake, as to the sound of the preceding vowel.
In the notation of all the orthoepists, there is inconsistency, at least, if not
ror. If they intend to express the true pronunciation by using the precise
letters necessary for the purpose, they all err. For instance, they write
bar'run for bar'on, when one articulation only is, or possibly can be, used ;
also ballance, biggot, biggamy, mellon, mettaphor, mellody. This is
not only useless, for the use of the accent after the consonant, as bar'on,
bal'ance, big'ot, mel'on, &c. completely answers the purpose of determining
the pronunciation ; but it is contradictory to their own practice in a vast
ber of cases. Thus they write one consonant only in civil, civic, rivet ;
and Walker writes kullonade, doubling /, but kalony, kolonise, with a single
This want of system is observable in all the books which are offered to
to the pubHc as standards of orthoepy.
A still greater fault, because it may lead to innumerable practical errors,
consists in the notation of unaccented syllables. In this particular, there is
■ and discrepancy in the schemes of the orthoepists, which shows the
utter impossibility of carrying them into effect. The final y unaccented.
Walker makes to be e long, as I have before observed ; while Sheridan,
Jones, and Perry, make it equivalent to short i, or at least, give it a short
sound, according to universal practice. Walker pronounces the last vowel
in natural and national, as a short ; Sheridan, as e short, naturel ; Jones,
as u short, naturul. Sheridan's notation may be a mistake, for he gives
to al in national, the sound of ul. In the adjective deliberate. Walker and
Jones give a in the last syllable its proper long sound ; and Sheridan, the
sound of e short, deliberet. Dignitary is pronounced by Sheridan dignite-
ry, and Walker and Jones give to a its short sound, as in at. The termina-
ting syllable ness is pronounced by Walker and Jones nes, by Sheridan nis,
blessednes, blessednis. The same difference exists in their notation of
less ; Sheridan, pronouncing it lis, as in blatnelis, and Walker and Jones,
* From the fact, which Walker relates of himself, Prin. 246, that he made
a distinction between the sound of ee in flee and in meet, until he had con-
sulted good speakers and particularly Mr. Garrick, who could find no differ-
ence in the sound, it might be inferred that his ear was not very accurate.
But his mistake evidently arose from not attending to the effect of the artic-
ulation in the latter word, which stops the sound suddenly, but does not vary
it. It is the same mistake which he made in the sound of i in the second
syllable of ability, which he calls short, while the sound of the second i and
of y is that of long e. The celebrity of Walker as a teacher of elocution,
and his key to tlie pronunciation of ancient names, which, with a few excep-
tions, is a good standard work, have led many persons to put more confidence
in his English Orthoepy than a close examination of its principles' will
support.
INTRODUCTIOIN.
giving e its proper sound. These differences, and many others, run through
their worlcs, and appear in a large portion of all the words in tlie language.
Now it is prohahle that all these gentlemen pronounced these words alike,
or so nearly alike that no difference would be noticed by a bystander. The
mischief of these notations is, that attempts are made to express minute
distinctions or shades of sounds, so to speak, which cannot be represented
to the eye by characters. A great part of the notations must, necessarily,
be inaccurate, and for this reason, the notation of the vowels in unaccented
syllables should not be attempted. From a careful attention to this subject,
1 am persuaded that all such notations are useless, and many of them
mischievous, as they lead to a wrong pronunciation. In no case can the
true pronunciation of words in a language be accurately and completely ex-
pressed on paper ; it can be caught only by the ear, and by practice. No
attempt has ever been made to mark the pronunciation of all the vowels, in
any other language ; and in our language it is worse than useless.
As Walker's pronunciation has been represented to the people of this
country as the standard, I sliall confine my remarks chiefly to his work,
with a view to ascertain its merits, and correct any erroneous impressions
which have been received from such representations.
1. The first class of words which I shall mention, is that in which a has
what is called, its Italian sound, as we pronounce it io father, psalm, calm.
From a hasty enumeration of words of this class, I find there are two or
three hundred in number, in which Walker gives to a its short sound, a
fat, bat, fancy, when, in fact, the most respectable usage in England
well as in the United States, gives that letter its Italian sound. This error
Jones and Perry have corrected. To he correct in this class of words, we
have only to retain the customary pronunciation of the northern States.
2. The notation of the sound of oo by Walker is wrong in most or al
the words in which oo arc followed by k, and in some others. Notwith
standing the distinction between the long and short sound of oo is clear and
well established in a great number of words, yet he assigns the short sound
to eight words only, viz. wool, wood, good, hood, foot, stood, under-
stood, and withstood. Principles 307. It seems inconceivable that a man,
bred or i-csident in London, should assign to oo in book, cook, took, and oth
erlike words, the same sound as in cool, boom, boot, food. Jones and Per
ry have corrected this notation, and given the pronunciation according to
good usage, and just according to our customary pronunciation. While in
England, I did not hear a single word of this class pronounced according to
Walker's notation.
3. To the letters ch in bench, bttnch, clinch, drench, inch, tench, wrench,
and many other words. Walker gives the French sound, that is, the sound
of sh, instead of ch, as bensh, insh, &c. It would seem by this and other
examples of wrong notation, that the author had been accustomed to some 1
cal peculiarities, either inLondon where all kinds of dialects are heard, or
some other place. In this instance, he gives to these words a pronunciation
different from that of other orthoepists, and one which I have never heard
either in England or in this country. His notation is palpably wrong.
our customary pronunciation is universally correct.
4. It has been already remarked, that Walker's notation of the sound of
; and y short, in unaccented syllables, which he directs to he pronounced
every other orthoepist, except Jameson. W'alker admits i to be short when
followed by a consonant in the same syllable. Thus the first i in ability is
short, but the second i and the y are long e, abileetee. Now observe the
consequence. In the plural, abilities, according to his rule, must be pro-
nounced abileeteez ; but tlie word is never thus pronounced ; universally
it is pronounced abilitiz ; the last vowel sound is in practice immediately
followed by a consonant, and by his own rule must be short. Then the re-
sult is, y in ability is long e, but ie in the pluralis short i. And for this
change of sound no provision is made in Walker's scheme, nor in any other
that I have ever seen.
5. In the analysis of the sounds of our letters. Walker alledges the diphthong
mi; ow, to consist of the broad a, or aw, and the Italian sound of u. Ac
cording to his scheme, about, abound, round, now, vow, are to be pronoun
red, abawut, abuwund, rawund, nawu, vawu. But whoever heard this
pronunciation ? The fact is not so ; the broad sound of a is not the initial
sound of this diphthong ; it is not commenced as deep in the throat, or with
the same aperture as aw ; it is a sound that can be learned only by the ear:
The pronunciation of tliis diphthong is uniform in both countries.
6. In noting the sound of the unaccented vowels, and those which have
tlie secondary accent, there are mistakes without number, in all the schemes
which I have seen, and one continued series of differences between the
ortlioepists. The following is a specimen
Sheridan.
Walker.
Jcmes,
Deliverense.
Dcliveranse.
Deliveranse.
Dignytery.
Uignetare.
Dignytary.
Anser.
Ansur.
Ansur,
Assembledzh.
Assembladje.
Assembladzhe
Averaje.
Averaje.
Averedzh.
Barrin.
Barren.
Barren.
Penal.
Penal.
Penul.
Pennens.
Pennanse.
Penaunse.
Vol. I.
F.
Sheridan.
Pennytenshel.
Pennytensherry.
Persunidzh.
Proksymet.
Proflyget.
Pennetrent.
Akkrymunny.
Allymunny.
Sercmunny.
Walker.
Pennetenshal.
Pennetenshare.
Persunidje.
Proksemat.
Proflegat.
Pennetrant.
Akkuzatore.
Akkremone.
Allemunnc.
Seremone.
Jones.
Pennylenshul.
Pennytenshary.
Persunedje.
Proksymet.
Proflyget.
Pennetrant.
Akkuzatury.
Akkrymunny.
Allymunny.'
Serymony.
I take no notice of the different letters by wliich these writers express the
same sound, one using e where another uses y, hut of the different sounds
which they give to the vowels in the secondj third, or last syUable. Now,
I appeal to any person who has a tolerably correct ear, whether it is the
sound of a that is uttered by good speakers, or any speakers in deliverance
and dignitary ? Is it tlie sound of a that we hear in the last syllabic of
penance, penetrant, and assemblage ? Do we hear in the last syllable of
profligate, the short a, as in fat > So far fiom it, that a public speaker, who
should utter the sound of a so that it should be distinctly recognized in any
polite audience, would expose himself to ridicule. The sound of the last
vowel approaches to tliat of e or u, and the notation of Sheridan is nearest
the truth. But any notation is worse than useless ; for without it, there
would be no difference in customary pronunciation.
To show the utter impracticability of expressing the unaccented vowels,
in all cases, with precision, let the reader observe Walker's notation of a,
in the word moderate and its derivatives. In the adjective and verb, the
a is long, as in/a<e ,• in moderately and moderateness, it is short, as in fat.
This is certainly incorrect notation ; no good speaker ever pronounces these
words moderally, moderatness. In addition to this, the a in the verb to
moderate is more distinctly pronounced than it is in the adjective, in which
it has rather the sound of e short, moderet ; at least the sound is more near-
ly that of ethan of a. And this distinction of sound, between letters in the
same word, when an adjective, and when a verb, occurs in a multitude of
cases; a distinction for which no provision is made in any system of orthoe-
py that I have seen, and one which must be left to the cognizance of the ear
alone.
There is another class of vowel sounds that comprises too many inaccu-
racies to be overlooked. This is the class in which the first syllable has
an unaccented e, as in debate. In all words of this kind, Walker directs
the letter e to have its long sound, as in me, mete. Then, become, bedeck,
begin, debate, debar, declare, elect, legitimate, mechanic, medicinal, me-
morial, necessity, peculiar, petition, rebuke, recant, relate, secure, select,
velocity, &.c. are to be pronounced beecomc, beedeck, beegin, deebate,
deebar, deeclare, eelect, leegitimate, meechanic, meedicinal, meemorial,
neecessity, peeculiar, peetition, reebuke, reecant, reelate, seecure, seelect,
veelocity, &c.
According to this notation, the first vowel e in evil, even, and in event, is
to have the same sound, being all marked with the same figure. Now, let
me ask, where a speaker can be found who pronounces these words in this
manner .' Who ever heard of such a pronunciation ? This notation is er-
roneous and mischievous, as it is inconsistent with the regular accent, which
carries the stress of voice forward to the next syllable, and must, necessa-
rily, leave the first vowel with the feeble sound of short i or y. 'This short
sound is that which we always hear in such words.
The like error occurs in Walker's notation of i in direct, diminish, and
many other words. Walker himself, under despatch, calls the sound of e
the short i, but under rule 107, says this sound of t cannot be properly said
to be short, as it is not closed by a consonant ; yet it has half its diphthongal
■ ■ ~" ■ " ■ the
sound, Oie sound of e .' .' This reason that i or t
not short, because I
sound is not closed by a consonant, is entirely groundless, and contradicted
by the universal pronunciation of thousands of English words. To direct
such words to be pronounced decreet, deeminish, is inexcusable. This er-
ror corresponds with that specified under No. 4, supra.
Thus, there is neither uniformity nor consistency among the orthoepists
in the notation of the unaccented vowels ; and it is hardly possible there
should be, for many of the sounds are so slight, in ordinary pronunciation,
that it is almost impossible for the ear to recognize the distinctions, and ab-
solutely impossible to express them on paper. In truth, as Dr. Ash remarks,
in a dissertation prefixed to his Dictionary, the sounds of the five vowels,
in unaccented, short, and insignificant syllables, arc nearly coincident ; and
it must be a nice ear that can distinguish the difference of sound in the con-
cluding syllable of altar, alter, manor, murmur, .latyr. It is for this reason
that the notation of such vowels at all savors of hypercritical fastidiousness,
and by aiming at too much nicely and exactness, tends only to generate
doubts and multiply differences of opinion. If the accent is laid on the prop-
er syllable, and the vowel of that syllable correctly pronounced, the true
pronunciation of the word will follow of course ; at least, the pronunciation
is more likely to be right than wrong, and no mistake will occur, which shall
be an object of notice.
Nor can I approve the practice of writing all words, in different charac-
ters, to express their pronunciation, as if their proper letters were so many
INTRODUCTION.
liieroglyphics, requiring interpretation. A great part of English words have
an orthography suliiciently regular, and so well adapted to express the true
pronunciation, that a few general rules only are wanted as a guide to the
7. Another error of notation, in most of the English hooks, is that of the
vowel in the first syllable of circle, circumstance, and many other words,
the tii'st syllable of which Sheridan first and afterwards Walker and Jones
directed to be pronounced ser. This pronunciation 1 liavc never heard ei-
ther in England or in this country. Perry's notation makes the syllable sur,
according to all the usage with which I am acquainted.
8. Another objection to the books offered as standards of pronunciation,
particularly to the dictionaries of Sheridan and Walker, is that the rules are
inconsistent, or the execution of the work is inconsistent with the rules.
Thus Walker lays it down as a rule. No. 357, that c after the accent and fol-
lowed by ea, ia, ie, io, or eous, takes the sound of sh, as in ocean, social,
Phocion, saponaceous, which are pronounced as if written oshean, sosheal,
Phosheon, saponaslieous. But in the Dictionary, the author departs from
the rule, and directs these words to be pronounced as if written oshun, so-
shnl, saponashus. So also in gracious, ancient, especial, provincial, tena-
cious, rapacious, and I know not how many others, the author depaits from
his own rule ; so that either his rule or his practice must be wrong.
And here it may be proper to notice a mistake of the author which has led
to an erroneous notation in a great number of words. The mistake is, that
he assigns to c and t before the vowels ea, ia, ie, eo, and io, the sound of sA
Thus in ocean, he considers c as pronounced like sh ; and in partial he con-
siders the sound of sh as proceeding from t only. Now the ti-uth is, that the
sound of sft in these and in all similar cases, results from the combination of
e, t, or s with the following vowel ; that is, from the rapid enunciation and
blending of the two letters. Then the sound of the first vowel being blend-
ed with c or t, it ought not to be repeated and form a distinct syllable. To
make three syllables of ocean, is to use the vowel e twice. In most cases
all the orthoepists agree in pronouncing these combinations correctly in dis-
syllables, and primitive words; as oshun, grashus, tenashus, parshal, sub-
stanshal, nashun, relashun, preshus, and the Uke. But in a number of
words that are primitive in our language. Walker and Jones depart from this
rule ; for although they pronounce conscience in two syllables, conshense,
yet they pronounce nescience ani prescience, in three, neshyense, preshy-
ense. So also when they make tial one syllable in the primitive word, they
make two syllables of these letters in the derivatives ; partial is parshal,
but partiality is parsheality. Thus one error has led to another, and a large
part of all words of this kind are mispronounced. Sheridan and Perry, in
this respect, are consistent and correct ; making one syllable only of cia, cie,
f 10, tia, tio, both in primitives and derivatives, throughout the language. A
single line of poetry ought to settle this point forever.
Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man. Pope.
9. A remarkable instance of inconsistency occurs in the following words.
Armature, aperture, breviature, feature, &c., Walker pronounces arina-
ishure, apertshure, breviatshure, overtshure; hut forfeeture is forfeetyure,
zni Judicature, ligature, literature, miniature, nunciature, portraiture,
preficture, quadrature, signature, are pronounced as here written. Car
any reason be possibly assigned for such inconsistency .'
10. Obedience and its family of words, Walker pronounces obejeence, obe-
jeent, obejeently, but disobedience, disobedient, as here written. Expedi-
ent is either as here written, or expejeent ; but expedience without the alter-
native. Why this inconsistency ?
11. Obdurate, obduracy, are marked to be pronounced obdurate or obju-
rate, obduracy or objuracy ; but objurately, objurateness, without an alter-
native. In these last words occurs another error, the a in the third syllable
is made short, as if pronounced rat ; a deviation from all good usage.
This notation of obdurate is inconsistent also with that of indurate, and
with that of obdvre ; an inconsistency which appears to have no plausible
pretext.
The conversion of d intoj before )', is rejected, I believe, in all words, by
Jones, Perry and Jameson, and before u is rejected by Perry and Jameson,
and in many words by Jones. It is a departure from orthography wholly in-
excusable.
12. Walker, Principles No. 92, lays it down as a rule, that when a is pre
reded by the gutturals hard g or c, [he should have said palatals,] it is, in
polite pronunciation, softened by the intervention of a sound like e, so that
card, cart, guard, regard, are pronounced like heard, heart, gheard, re
gheard. Now it is remarkable that in the vocabulary or dictionary, the au
regoing
guard, DOT in a multitude of other words which fall within the rule, has he
thor has departed from his rule, for in not one of the foregoing words, except
guard, DOT in a multitude of other words which fall within the rule, has he
directed this sound of e before the following vowel. Had he conformed to
his own rule, he must have perverted the pronunciation of car, carbuncle
care, carcass, cardinal, cargo, garden, garter, discard, and a long list of
other words, too long to be here enumerated. The English orthoepists now
confine this prepositive sound of e to guard, guaranty, guardian, guil
kind, and a few others. The probable origin of this fault, has been already
assigned, in treating of the letter k. It is an affected pronunciation, which
Nares calls " a monster, pecuUar to the stage." Indeed this slender sound
of e before another vowel, is wholly incompatible with that manly enuncia
Pion which is peculiarly suited to the genius of the language. Perry and
,l<imeson have rejected i(
13. In the first edition of Walker's Dictionary, the author, under the word
tripod, observes, that " all words of two syllables, with the accent on the
first, and having one consonant between two vowels, ought to have the vow-
"' in the first syllable long." But this was too rash, for such words as cem'-
ent,des'ert,prej'ace,pres'ent,profit,reb'el,trop'ic,andaniuhitudc of others,
tand, in the author's book, in direct opposition to his own rule. In a sub-
sequent edition, the author, or some otiier person, has qualified the rule by
an exception in favor of settled usage. This exception destroys the ^ alue
of the rule ; and indeed there is, and there can be no rule applicable to
ords of this class. The pronunciation of the first vowel can be known
only by the usage.
14. The derivatives of nation and ratio. Walker and Jones pronounce
nash'onal, rash'onal. If this should be defended on the ground of the shor-
tening power of the antepenultimate accent, then let me ask why we have
' nosh'onal from notion, deuosh'onal from devotion, probash'oner from
probation, stash'onary from station ? Why make rules and not apply
them ? Why indulge such palpable inconsistences and multiply anomalies ?
15. Possess is, by the English orthoepists, pronounced ^ozzess; but why
not then pronounce assess, assist, assassin, conscssion, obsession, with the
sound of z? Can any good reason be assigned for makingyossess an excep-
tion to the pronunciation of this class of words .' This utterance of sounds
through the nose is always disagreeable to the ear, and should be restricted
to words in which usage is established. Good taste should rather induce a
limitation, than an extension of this piactice. This remark applies also to
some words beginning with dis, in which Walker goes beyond other orthoe-
pists in giving to s this nasal sound.
16. Walker lays it down as a fact, that u has the sound of e and oo or yu- '
This is true in many words, as in union, unite, unanimity, &c. Hence
according to his principle, u in these words is to be pronounced yunion,
yunite, without the letter y prefixed. Yet he writes these and similar
ords with y, yunion, whicli upon his principles, would prefix yu to the
sound ofyu, and the pronunciation would be yuyunite, '" "
his notation of this sound of u is not uniform ; for i
unite without y, though it must be as proper in the compound as in the
Ie word. The same inconsistency occurs between use, written yuse,
yuze, and disuse, disuze.
17. There is a fault in Walker's notation of o, when it has the sound of oo,
the French ou. In the Key, he marks o when it has this sound with the
figure 2, and gives niove as an example. Then according to his Key, o
alone when thus marked, sounds as oo- But in the vocabulary, he thus
IS both vowels in booh, look, boot, and all similar words. Then accor-
ding to his notation, each of the vowels has the sound of oo, and book, look,
are to be pronounced boo-ooh, loo-ook. He certainly did not intend this ;
but such is precisely his direction, or the result of his notation ; and a for-
gner, without counter-direction, must be led into this pronunciation.
The same fault occurs in his notation of ee, as in meet and seek.
18. Volume, Walker and Jones pronounce volyiwie ; why not then change
column into colyum ? Will it be said that in volume the u is long ! This is
not the fact; at least I never heard it thus pronounced either in England or
America ; it is always short in common usage, and so marked by Perry.
19. Ink, uncle, concord, concourse, concubine, are pronounced by Wal-
ker, ingk, ungkl, kongkord, honghorse, kongkubine ; and these odious
vulgarisms are offered for our adoption. There can be no apology for such
attempts to corrupt our language.
20. The words bravery, finery, knavery, nicety, scenery, slavery, are,
by Walker and the other orthoepists, pronounced in tliree syllables, and im-
agery, in four ; the final e of the primitive word being detached from it, and
uttered with »■ as a distinct syllable. Why savagery has escaped the same
fate, I do not know. It is obvious that in negligent practice, these words
have often been thus pronounced. But the most correct pronunciation re-
tains the original word entire in the derivative, the slight sound of e before r
no more constituting a syllable, than it does in /noce and mire. Take the
following examples.
Of marble stone was cut
An altar carv'd with cunning imagery. Spenser.
When in those oratories might you see
Rich carvings, portraitures, and imagery. Dryden.
Your gift shall two large goblets be
Of silver, wrought with curious imagery. Dryden.
What can thy imagery of sorrow mean ; Prior.
Pronounced in four syllables, imagery, in these lines, makes a syllable too
much, and injures the measure, and in the last example, utterly destroys it.
The true pronunciation of Spenser, Dryden and Prior is the same as it al-
ways has been in my elementary books.
21. Formerly, the viotis puissance , puissant , had the accent on the sec-
ond syllable ; although the poets seem, in some instances, to have blended
the four first letters'into one syllable. But the modern change of the ac-
cent to the first syllable is not in accordance with English analogies, and it
impairs the measure of many lines of poetry in which these words occur.
In the adverb puissantly it has a very bad effect.
The foregoing observations extend to whole classes of words, in which the
genuine pronunciation has been changed, unsettled and perverted. It
would be inconsistent with the limited nature of this Introduction, to enter
into an examination of every particular word of disputable pronunciation. It
Ii\TRODUCTIOi\.
seems to be inexpedient and useless to bestow, as Walker has d
page or a page, on a single word, in attempting to settle some tn
or, in many cases, to settle a point tiiat, in tliis country, has
disputed.
2, half a
To give a brief statement of the errors, diversities and contradictions of 1 the orthography
I The following lists are not complete, but they comprehend the greatest
j number of words in their respective classes. The dates at the head of the
columns designate the year when the dictionaries in my possession were
Ipublished, indicating nearly, but not exactly, the origin of each scheme. In
the principal schemes of orthoepy, which have been oliered to the publi
within the last half century, two classes of words only will be sufficient, as]lfollowed the common orthograph
specimens.
e given the letters used by each author, in the sylla-
the difference of pronunciation ; in the others, I have
jShet'idati,
1784.
Abbrevyature,
Accentuate,
Accentuation,
Actual,
Actuate, &c.
Admikstshur,
Adventual,
Adventshur,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Arkitektshur,
Armature,
Artuate,
Attaintshur,
Aventshur,
Bcfortune.
Bountyus,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capsular,
Captshur,
Cartulary,
Celature,
Cinctshur,
Claushur,
Commensurate,
Commutual,
Compactshur,
Compostshur,
Concretshur,
Congratulate,
Conjectshur,
Conjunctshur,
Connatural,
Constituent,
Constructshur,
Contextshur,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Courtshus,
Creatshur,
Cultshur,
Debentshur,
Decoctshur,
Dcfcatshur,
Dejectshur,
Departshur,
Dictatshur,
Discomfitshur,
Discourtshus,
Disnaturalize,
Disnat'ihured,
Divestshur,
Dutyus,
Effectual,
Enraptshur,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual,
Expostulate,
Factshur,
Fastuous,
Featshur,
Fistula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous,
Fluctuate,
Fortune,
Fractshur,
Fructuous,
Futshur,
Uarnitshur,
Walker,
1794.
Abbreveatshurc,
Accentshuate,
Accentshuatiou,
Acljhual,
Actshuate,
Admikstshure,
Adventshual,
Adventshure,
Agricultshure,
Architectshuro.
Armatshur.-,
Artshuate,
jVttaintshurc.
Aventshure,
Befortshune,
Bountcheous,
Calentshurc,
Capitulate,
Capshular,
Captshure,
Cartshulary,
Celatshure,
Cinctshurc,
Clauzhure,
Commenshuratc,
Comniutshual,
Compactshure,
Compostshure,
Concretshure,
Congratshulate,
Conjectshuic,
Conjunctshure,
Connatshural,
Constitshuent,
Constructshure,
Contextshure,
Conventshual,
Counternatshural,
Courtsheous,
Cretshure,
Cultshurc,
Debentshure,
Decoctshure,
Defeatshure,
Dejectshure,
Departshure,
Dictatshure,
Discomfityure,
Discourtshus,
Disnatshuralizc,
Di.snatshurcd,
Dive^tshure,
Duteous or Dutsheous,
Efl'ectshual,
Enraptshure,
Estshuary,
Estshuate,
Eventshual,
Expostshulate,
Factshure,
Fastshuous,
Featshure,
Fistshula,
Flatshulence,
Flatshuous,
Fluctshuate,
Fortshune,
Fractshure,
Fructshuous,
Futshure,
Garnitshure,
Jont-s,
1798.
Abbreviature,
Accentuate,
Actual,
Actuate,
Admixture,
Adventual,
Adventure,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Architectshure,
Armature,
Artuate,
Attainture,
Aventure,
Befortune,
Bounteous,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capshular,
Captshur,
Cartulary,
Celatshure,
Cincture,
Clauzhure,
Commenshurate.
Commutshual,
Compacture,
Compostshure,
Concretshure,
Congratulate,
Conjectur,
Conjunctur,
Connatshural,
Constituent,
Constructure,
Contextshure,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Courteous,
Creatshure,
Culture,
Debenture,
Decocture,
Defeature,
Dejecture,
Departshure,
Dictature,
Discomtityure,
Discourteous,
Disnaturalize,
Disnatshured,
Divestshure,
Duteous,
Effectual,
Enraptshure,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual,
Expostulate,
Facture,
Fastshuous,
Featshure,
Fistshula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous,
Fluctuate,
Fortshune,
Fractshure,
Fructuous,
Futshur,
G;uniturc,
Pet-ry,
1805.
Abbrev'iaturc,
Accentuate,
Accentuation,
Actual,
Actuate,
Admixture,
Adventual,
Adventure,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Architecture,
Armature,
Attainture.
Befortune,
Bounteous,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capsular,
Capture,
Cartulary,
Celature,
Cincture,
Clauzhure,
Commensurate,
Commutual,
Compacture,
Compos ture,
Concreture,
Congratulate,
Conjecture,
Conjuncture,
Connatural,
Constituent,
Constructure,
Contexture,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Curtcheous,
Creature,
Culture,
Debenture,
Decocture,
Defeature,
Dejecture,
Departure,
Discomfiture,
Discurcheous,
Disnaturalize,
Disnatin-ed.
Divesture,
Duteous,
Effectual,
Enrapture,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual.
Expostulate,
Facture,
Fastuous,
Feature,
Fistula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous.
Fluctuate,
Fortune,
Fracture,
Fractuous,
Future.
Garniture,
Jameson,
1827.
Abbrfeveature.
Accentuate.
Accentuation.
Actual.
Actuate.
Admixture.
Adventual.
Adventure.
Agriculture.
Aperture.
Architecture.
Aventure.
Befortune.
Bounteous.
Calenture.
Capitulate.
Capsular.
Capture.
Cartulary.
Celature.
Cingkture.
Clauzhur.
Commensurate.
Commutual.
Compacture.
Concreture.
Congratulate.
Conjecture.
Conjunkture.
Connatural.
Constituent.
Constructure.
Contexture.
Conventual.
Courteous.
Creture.
Culture.
Debenture.
Decocture.
Dejecture.
Departure.
Dictature.
Discomfiture.
Discourteous.
Disnaturalize.
Divesture.
Duteous.
Effectual.
Enrapture.
Estuary.
Estuate.
Eventual.
Expostulate.
Facture,
Feteyer.
Fistula.
Flatulence.
Fluctuate.
Fortune.
Fracture.
Fructuous.
Futyure.
Garniture,
INTRODUCTION.
Sheridan.
tValker,
Jmies,
Perry,
Jameson ,
1784.
1794.
1798.
1806:
1827.
Gestshur,
Gestshure,
Gestshure,
Gesture,
Gesture.
Gratulate,
Gratshulate,
Gratulate,
Gratulate,
Gratulate.
Guttural,
Guttshural,
Guttural,
Guttural,
Guttural.
Habitual,
Habitshual,
Habitual,
Habitual,
Habitual.
HorUcultshur,
Horticultshure.
Horticulture,
Horticulture,
Horticulture.
Hortulan,
Hortshulan,
Hortulan,
Hortulan,
Hortulan.
Illnatshur,
Illnatshure,
Illnatshure,
Ulnature,
lUnatyur.
Immenshurable,
Immenshurable.
Immenshurable,
Immenshurable.
Immensurable.
Impetuous,
Impetehuous,
Impetshuous,
Impetuous,
Impetjous.
Importunate,
Importshunate,
Importshunate.
Importunate,
Importunate.
Impostshur,
Impostshure,
Impostshure,
Imposture,
Impostyur.
Incestuous,
Incestshuous,
Incestshuous,
Incestuous,
Incestuous.
Indentshur,
Indentshure,
Indentshure,
Indenture.
Indrntyur.
Ineffectual,
Ineffectshual,
Inetfectshual,
Ineffectual,
Ineffectual.
Infatuate,
Infatshuate,
Infatuate,
Infatuate,
Infatuate.
Insculptshur.
Insculptshure.
Insculptshure,
Insculpture,
Insculptyur.
Insular,
Inshular,
Insular,
Insular,
Insular.
Insulated,
Inshulated,
Insulated,
Insulated,
Insulated.
Intellectual.
Intellectshual.
Intellectshual.
Intellectual,
Intellectual.
Jointshur,
Jointshure,
Jointure,
Jointure,
Jointyur.
Junctshur.
Junktshure,
Junctshure,
Juncture,
Junctyur.
Lectshur,
Lectshure,
Lectshure,
Lecture,
Lectyur.
Legislatshur,
Legislatshure,
Legislature,
Legislature,
Lcgislatyur.
Mantua,
Mantshua.
Mantua,
Mantua,
Mantua.
Manufactshur.
Manufactshurc,
Manufactshure,
Manufacture,
Manufactyur.
Maturate,
Matshurate,
Matshurate,
Maturate,
Maturate.
Menshurable,
Menshurable,
Menshurable,
Mensurable,
Mensurable.
Meteor,
Meteor or Metsheor,
Meteor,
Meteor,
Meteor.
Misfortshun,
Misfortshune,
Misfortshune,
Misfortune,
Misfortune.
Mixtshur,
Mixtshure,
Mixtshure,
Mixture,
Mixtyur.
Moistshur,
Moistshure,
Moistshure,
Moisture,
Moistyur.
Morshur,
Morshure,
Morshure,
Morshure.
Mutshual,
Mutshual,
Mutshual,
Mutual,
Mutual.
Natshur,
Natshure,
Natshur,
Natchure,
Nateyur.
Natshural,
Natshural,
Nattshural,
Natural,
Natural.
Noctshuary,
Noctshuary,
Noctuary,
Noctuary,
Noctuary.
Nurtshur,
Nurtshurc,
Nurtshure,
Nurture,
Nurtyur.
Overtshur,
Overtshure,
Overture,
Overture,
Overture.
Paintshur,
Paintshure,
Paintshure,
Painture,
Pastshur,
Pastshure,
Pastshure,
Pasture,
Pastyur.
Peninshula.
Peninshula,
Peninshula,
Peninsula,
Peninsula.
Periostshum,
Periostshum,
Periosteum,
Periosteum,
Periosteum.
Perpetshual,
Perpetshual,
Perpetshual,
Perpetual,
Perpetual.
Perpetshuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity.
Pictshur,
Pictshure,
Pictshur,
Picture,
Pictyur.
Piteous,
Pitcheous,
Piteous,
Piteous,
Piteous.
I'lentshus,
Plentshus,
Plenteous,
Plenteous,
Plenteous.
Postshur,
Postshure.
Postshure,
Posture,
Postyur.
Postshulate,
Postshulate,
Postshulate,
Postulate,
Postulate.
Presumptuous,
Prezumtshuous,
Prezumtshuous,
Presumptuous,
Presumptuous.
Projectshur,
Projectshure,
Projectshure,
Projecture,
Projecture.
Promptshur,
Promptshure,
Promptshure,
Prompture,
Promptyur.
PuncUhual,
Punctshual,
Punctual,
Punctual,
Pungtual.
Punctshur,
Punctshure,
Punctshure,
Puncture,
Pungktyur.
Pustshul,
Pustshule,
Pustshule,
Pustule,
Pustule.
Raptshur,
Raptshure,
Raptshur,
Rapture,
Raptyur.
Recapittshulatc,
Recapittshulate,
Recapittshulate,
Recapitulate,
Recapitulate.
Ritshual,
Ritshual,
Ritshual,
Ritual,
Ritual.
Ruptshur,
Ruptshure,
Ruptshure,
Rupture,
Ruptyur.
Sanctshuary,
Sanctshuary,
Sanctuary,
Sanctuary,
Sangktuary.
Satshurate,
Satsliurate,
Satshurate,
Saturate,
Saturate.
Scriptshur,
Sculptshur,
Scriptshure,
Sculptshure,
Scriptshure,
Scripture,
Scriptyur.
Sculptshure,
Sculpture,
Sculptyur.
Septshuagint,
Septshuagint.
Septuagint,
Septuagittt,
Septuagint.
Sittshuate,
Sittshuate,
Situate,
Situate,
Situate.
Spirittshual,
Spirittshual,
Spirittshual,
Spiritual,
Spiritual.
Sportshul,
Sportshule,
Sportshule.
Stattshuary,
Stattshuary,
Stattshuary,
Statuary,
Statuary.
Stattshu,
Stattshu,
Stattshu,
Statu,
Statu.
Stattshur,
Stattshure,
Stattshure,
Stature,
Statyur.
Stattshut,
Stattshute,
Stattshute,
Statute,
Statute.
Strictshur,
Strictshure,
Strictshure,
Stricture,
Stiictyur.
Structshur,
Struetshure,
Struetshure,
Structure,
Structyur.
Sumptshuous,
Sumptshuous,
Sumtshuous,
Sumptuous,
Sumptuous.
Shootshur,
Sutshure,
Sutshure,
Suture,
Suteyur.
Tarantshula,
Tarantshula,
Tarantshula,
Tarantula,
Tarantula.
Tempestuous,
Tenshur,
Tempestshuous,
Tenshure,
Tempestshuous,
Tempestuous,
Tenshur,
Tempestuous.
Tenshur.
Tenshure,
Textshuary,
Textshuary,
Textshuary,
Textuary,
Textuary.
Textshur,
TexLshure,
Textshure,
Texture,
Textvur.
Tinctshur,
Tinctshure,
Tinctshure,
Tincture,
Tingklyur.
INTRODUCTION.
Sheridan.
1784.
Titshular,
Tortshur,
Tortshuou",
Tiitshuralion,
TshooinultshuoHS.
Unctshuous,
Unstatuhutable,
Vestshur,
Ventshur,
Veolentrhelo,
Vertshu,
Vilshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshur,
Waftshur,
Walker,
1794.
Tittshular,
Tortsliure,
Tortsliuous,
Tritshuratioil,
Tumultsliuous,
Ungktshuous,
Unstattshutable,
Vestshure,
Ventshure,
Veolentshelo,
Vertshu,
Vitshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshure,
Waftshure,
179S.
Titshular,
Tortshure,
Tortshuou.s,
Tritshuration,
Tumultshuous,
Unctuous,
Unstattshutable,
Vestshure,
Ventshure,
Veolonchelo,
Vertshu,
Vitshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshure,
Waftshure,
Perry,
1805.
Titular,
Torture,
Tortuous,
Triturate,
Tumultuous,
Unctuous,
Unstatutable.
Vesture,
Venture,
Violoncello,
Virtue,
Vituline.
Voluptuous,
Vulture,
Wafture.
Jameson,
1827.
Titular.
Tortyur.
Tortuous.
Trituration.
Tumultuous.
Ungktuou.*.
Vestyur.
Ventyur.
Veolontsello.
Virtu.
Voluptuous.
VultjTir.
This table of words may perhaps be thought a burlesque on English or-
thoepy. It certainly presents a phenomenon altogether novel in the history
of language.
Of these live authorities, the notation of Perry, with the exception of a
few words ending in ure, is most nearly accordant to the present usage in
England, as far as my observations, while in that country, extended. That
of Walker is by far the most remote from that usage. From an actual enu-
meration of the syllables In certain classes of words in which the vowel
is erroneously pronounced. In Walker's scheme, 1 have ascertained that the
number amounts to more than twelve thousand, without Including several
classes of unaccented syllables, which would swell the number by some
thousands. Of this whole number, I did not, while in England, hear one
vowel pronounced according to Walker's notation. The zeal manifested In
this country, to make his pronunciation a standard, is absolute infatuation,
as if adopted in its full extent, it would introduce many differences In the
pronunciation of words in the two countries, where sameness now exists ;
and even the attempt, should it not be successful, must multiply discordan-
cies and distract opinions, and thus place the desired uniformity at a greater
distance than ever. Fortunately, Walker's pronunciation has never been
generally received in England, and where it has been received, we see, by
Jameson's Dictionary, that It Is becoming unpopular and obsolete.
We observe in the following list, that the three first of these orthoepists
have no rule by which their pronunciation Is regulated. Hence the want
of uniformity in words of like orthography. See bounteous, courteous, du-
teous and plenteous. Why should plenteous be reduced to two syllables,
when bounteous is pronounced in three ? And what reason can be assigned
for the different notation of capitulate and recapitulate?
A remarkable instance of inconsistency In Walker's notation
words of more syllables than two, ending i
verted into chure [tshure] i
Thus we find ture con-
Abbreviatshure.
Celatshure.
Contextshure
Admixtshure.
Calentshure.
Debentshure.
Adventshure.
Compactshure.
Decoctshure.
Agricultshure.
Compostshure.
Defeatshure.
Apertshure.
Concretshure.
Dejectshure.
Attaintshure.
Conjectshure.
Departshure.
Aventshure.
Conjunctshure.
DIctatshure.
Impostshure.
Overtshure.
Divestshure.
Indentshure.
Projectshure.
ut in the following
words the terminating syllable
remains unaltered
Illiterature.
Literature.
Prelature.
Intemperature.
Miniature.
Quadriture.
Investiture.
Nunciature.
Serrature.
Judicature.
Nutriture.
Signature.
Ligature.
Prefecture.
Temperature.
In this class of words, Sheridan and Jones are also inconsistent with them-
selves, though not to the same extent as Walker. Perry and Jameson re-
tain, in all these words, the true orthrography and pronunciation. In these
words also. Walker gives to u, in the last syllable, its first or long sound ; but
this is an inaccurate notation ; the sound, in actual usage, is that of short u,
at least so far as my observation extends, either in England or the United States.
In the following classes of words, as pronounced by Walker, there is either
error or inconsistency, or both.
Assidjuou
Commodious or commojcus
Credjulous,
Dividual or dividjual,
Fastidious or fastidjeous.
Gradient or grajeent.
Gradual or gradjual.
Guardian or guarjean,
HIdeus or hidjeus.
Immediacy or immejeasy,
Incendiary or incenjeary.
i.ljual.
Mediocrity or mejeocrity.
Medium or mejeum.
Melodious or melojeus.
Meridian or merldjean.
Modulate or modjulate,
Nidjulation,
Prelujcus,
Presidjeal,
Procejure,
Quotljean,
Radiate or rajeate.
Radiant or rajeant,
Radius or rajeus,
Rezidjual,
Sardius or sarjeus.
Sedulous or sedjiilous,
Studious or stujeus.
Tedious or tejeus.
Nodjule,
Noctidyal or noctidjeal,
Obejeence,
Obejeeut,
Obduracy or objuracy,
Obdurate or objurate,
Occidjuus,
Odium or ojeum,
Ojus or ojeus.
Ordeal or orjeal,
Penjulous,
Penjulum,
Predial or prejeal.
It would seem that, in a large part of these words, we may take our choice,
either to retain the proper sound of d, or to convert it into that of j. This
choice certainly makes an odd kind of standard. But why mediate should
retain the sound of d, while itntnediacy and medium suffer a change ; or
why radiate should be given in the alternative, radiate or rajeate, while
irradiate and irradiance are not subjected to any change ; or why obedi-
ence should be changed into obejeence, and diiobedience remain unchanged,
I am not able to conjecture.
These classes of words exhibit a specimen of the modern orthoepv, so
called, of our language ; it is indeed a brief and imperfect specimen, for I
have ascertained by actual enumeration, that a catalogue of all the differen-
ces of notation in these authors, would comprehend about one <Ai>dof all the
Is in their vocabularies. Amidst this mass of errors and contradictions,
our consolation is that the good sense of the English nation, a learned and re-
spectable people, is triumphing over the follies and caprices of fashion, and
frowning on this most mischievous spirit of innovation.
In proportion as the importance of settled usages and of preserving invio-
late the proper sounds of letters, as the true and only safe landmarks of pro-
nunciation, shall be appreciated by an enlightened people, just in that pro-
portion will all attempts of affected speakers to innovate upon such estab-
lished usages be reprobated and resisted.
The Intentions of the men who have undertaken to give a standard of pro-
nunciation, have unquestionably been upright and sincere ; but facts have
proved that instead of g"ood they have, on the wliole,done harm; for instead
of reducing the pronunciation of words to uniformity, they have, to a consid-
erable extent, unsettled It, and multiplied differences. The whole process
of these attempts, from Sheridan's first publication, is within my memory,
and I am confident, that whatever has been the effect of these attempts in
Great Britain, the result of them in the United States, has been to multiply
greatly the diversities of pronunciation. And such is the present state of the
authorities, offered as standards, that it is impossible from books to gain a
correct knowledge of what Is the general usage. If I had no other means of
knowing this general usage, than the English books, I should be utterly un-
able to ascertain it and should give up the attempt as hopeless.*
Some of the differences of notation. In the several books, may be rather ap-
parent thitn real ; but with all due allowance for this imperfection of the
schemes, I am persuaded that there are ten dllTerences among these orthoe-
pists, where there is one in the actual pronunciation of respectable people in
England and the United States ; and In most of them, the notation, if strictly
followoil. u ill I.- Ill t.i /<;i differences of pronunciation, where one only now
exists 111 ilii Mill;] 1. 1. unice of the two countries.
Tlii- . II, t oi iiuiliiplying doubts and diversities, has resulted from very
1. The limited acquaintance of orthoepists with the general usage, and
* The multiplicity of books for Instructing us in our vernacular language
is an evil of no small magnitude. Every man has some peculiar notions
which he wishes to propagate, and there is scarcely any peculiarity or ab-
surdity for which some authority may not be found. The facility of book-
making favors this disposition, and while a chief qualification for authorship
Is a dextrous use of an inverted pen, and a pair of scissors, we are not to ex-
pect relief from the evil.
IiXTRODUCTION.
tlieii- taking tlie pronunciation of Lomlon, (
t city, for the best usage. Tlie propagation of such a dialectical or pec
! dialect or local practice in
liar practice would of course disturb the uniformity of any other practice, in
other parts of England or in tliis country.
2. The difficulty or rather impracticability of representing sounds, and
nice distinctions of sound, on paper; especially in unaccented syllables.
3. The partiality of authors for the practice of particular speakers, either
stage players or others, which would lead them to denominate that the best
practice, which had been adopted by their favorites.
4. A spirit of fastidious hypercriticism, which has led writers to make mi-
nute distinctions, that are liable to be disputed, and which tend only to per-
plex the inquirer, and generate uncertainty or diversity, where no essential
difference had previously existed in practice. This spirit is continually pro-
ducing new books and new schemes of orthoepy, and every additional book
serves only to increase the difficulty of uniting opinions and establishing
uniformity.
This view of the subject is probably the most favorable that can be pre-
sented. The real fact seems to be this; these men have taken for the stand-
ard, what they were pleased to call the best usage, which , in many cases, is a
local usage or some favorite peculiarity of particular speakers, at least if they
have had any authority at all ; or they have given the pronunciation which
happened to please their fancy, though not authorised by usage. In this
manner, they have attempted to bend the common usage to their particular
fancies.
It has been in this manner, by presenting to the public local or particular
practice, or mere innovation, for a standard, instead of general or national
usage, that the authors above mentioned have unsettled the pronunciation of
many words and multiplied diversities of practice. These attempts to ob-
trude local usage on the public, and bend to it the general or national usage,
are the boldest assumptions of authority in language that the history of lite-
rature has ever exhibited. In England however these pretensions to direct
the pronunciation of the nation have less effect than they have in the United
States, for this obvious reason, that in England pronunciation is regulated
almost exclusively by the practice of the higher classes of society, and not
by books; hence if books do not exhibit the customary pronunciation, the
falsity of notation is easily detected, and the work which offers it is neglected.
But in this country, where the people resort chiefly to books for rules of pro-
nunciation, a false notation of sounds operates as a deception and misleads the
inquirer. How long the citizens of this country will submit to these imposi-
tions, time only can determine.
The Englisli language, when pronounced according to the genuine com-
position of its words, is a nervous, masculine language, well adapted to popu-
lar eloquence; and it is not improbable that there may be some connection
between this manly character of the language and the freedom of the British
and American constitutions. They may perhaps act and react upon each
other mutually, as cause and effect, and each contribute to the preservation
of the other. At the same time, the language is, by no means, incapable of
poetical sweetness and melody. The attempts to refine upon the pronuncia-
tion, within the last half century, have, in my opinion, added nothing to its
smoothness and sweetness, but have very much impaired its strength of ex-
pression as well as its regularity. The attempts to banish the Italian sound
of a and to introduce the sound of e before i and «, as in kind, guard, duty,
&c. ought to be resisted, as injurious to the manly chaiacter of the genuine
English pronunciation.*
In order to produce and preserve a tolerable degree of uniformity, and the
genuine purity of our language, two things appear to be indispensable, viz.
1. To reject the practice of noting the sounds of the vowels in the unac-
cented syllables. Let any man, in genteel society or in public, pronounce
the distinct sound of a in the last syllable of important, or the distinct sound
of e in the terminations less and ness, as in hopeless, happiness, and he would
pass for a most inelegant speaker. Indeed so different is the slight sound of a
great part of the unaccented vowels, in elegant pronunciation, from that
which is directed in books of orthoepy, that no man can possibly acquire the
nicer distinction of sounds, by means of books ; distinctions which no charac-
ters yet invented can express. Elegant pronunciation can be learned only
by the ear. The French and Italians, whose languages are so popular in
Europe, have never attempted to teach the sounds of their letters by a system
of notation, embracing the finer sounds of the vowels.
2. To preserve purity and uniformity in pronunciation, it is necessary to
banish from use all books which change the orthography of words to adapt
the pronunciation to the fashion of the day. The scheme now pursued is
rendered easy in utterance, has become so feeble in sound as to be unfit for
bold, impressive eloquence. From the specimens which I witnessed in the
Chamber of Deputies in Paris, I should suppose the orator must depend al-
most entirely on his own animation and action for success in popular speak-
ing, with little or no aid from the strength and beauty of language. The lan-
guage of popular eloquence should be neither the mouthing cantof the stage,
nor the mincing affectation of dandies, nor the baby talk of the nursery.
Such was not the language of Demosthenes nor of Cicero; and such may
never be the language of the British Chatham, and of the .\merican .\ines.
the most mischievous project for corrupting the language, that humau iii'ii
nuity ever devised. By removing the landmarks of language, all the feulc
which can secure the purity and regularity of the language from unlicensin
depredations without end are demolished, the chief use and value of alphii-
writing are destroyed, and every thing is given to chance and ti
caprice.
In determining the pronunciation of words in this work, I have availed
myself of the most respectable English authorities, as well as of my owu
personal observations in both countries, and of the observations of Americin
gentlemen of erudition who have visited England. In selecting from ..
mass of contradictory authorities, I may not, in all cases, have adopted the
best pronunciation ; but I have spared no pains to execute this part of th.
work with fidelity.
In general, the rules I have prescribed to myself are these. 1. Th.
usage of respectable people in England and the United States, when idem
ical in the two countries, settled and undisputed. This rule comprehend-
most of the words in the language. 2. When usage is unsettled or uncer
tain, I have adjusted the pronunciation to the regular, established analogie^
of the language, as for as these can be definitely ascertained ; having how-
ever, in accentuation, some regard to euphony, or the prosaic melody which
proceeds from a due succession of accented and unaccented syllables.
There are some words, differently pronounced by respectable people, in
which no decisive reasons appear for preferring one mode of pronouncing
them to another; either might be adopted, without any injury to melody or
analogy. I see no particular reason, why pat'ent should have its first vowel
short, and ma'tron, pa'tron, and pa'triot, the first vowel long. Much less
do- 1 approve the reasons assigned for making the a short in mat'ronal, and
not in ma'tronly, or short in pat'ronal, and not in pa'troness. The reasons
assigned by Walker appear to me to be absolute trifling. The rule of uni-
formity is paramount to every other, excepting that of general undisputed
custom ; and when the practice is unsettled, it seems to be tiie duty of the
lexicographer to be guided by that rule, for his authority may lead to the
uniformity desired.
In a few instances, the common usage of a great and respectable portion
of the people of this country accords with the analogies of the language, but
not with the modern notation of English orthoepists. In such cases, it
seems expedient and proper, to retain our own usage. To renounce a prac-
tice confessedly regular for one confessedly anomalous, out of respect to for-
eign usage, would hardly be consistent with the dignity of lexicography. ■
When we have principle on our side, let us adhere to it. The tinifi cannot
be distant, when the population of this vast country will throw off their
leading strings, and walk in their own strength ; and the more we can raise
|the credit and authority of principle over the caprices of fashion and innova-
tion, the nearer we approach to uniformity and stability in practice.
It is difficult, if not impracticable, to reconcile the opinions of a nation, in
regard to every point, either of orthography or pronunciation. Every at-
tempt that has yet been made, in regard to the English language, has served
only to increase the difficulty ; and as a gentleman remarked to me in Lon-
don, a convention of learned men could not effect the object, for no two men
would think alike on the subject.
The language of a nation is the common property of the people, and no
individual has a right to make inroads upon its principles. As it is the me-
dium of communication between men, it is important that the same written
words and the same oral sounds to express the same ideas, should be used
by the whole nation. When any man therefore attempts to change the es-
tablished orthography or pronunciation, except to correct palpable errors
and produce uniformity, by recalling wanderers into the pale of regular
analogies, he offers an indignity to the nation. No local practice, however
respectable, will justify the attempt. There is great dignity, as well as pro-
priety, in respecting the universal and long established usages of a nation.
With these views of the subject, I feel myself bound to reject all modern
innovations, which violate the established principles and analogies of the
language, and destroy or impair the value of alphabetical writing. 1 have
therefore endeavored to present to my fellow citizens the English language,
in its genuine purity, as we have received the inheritance from our ances-
tors, without removing a landmark. If the language is fatally destined to
be corrupted, I will not be an instrument of the mischief.
ETYJIOLOGY.
Irregular as is the orthography of the En^li n 1 .,,;,. .Jiid unsettled
or corrupt as is the pronunciation, there is i, - i _ . , , h i:nglish or iu
any other language of which I have any kn;.\-. ,•
kingly the low state of philology as the etyin .
or the history of their origin, affinities and prima
the young inquirer to estimate the erudition, correctness, or negligence of
writers on this subject, and to awaken more attention to this branch of learn-
ing, I will state briefly the results of my reseaiches and the opinions which
I have been compelled to form on the merits of the principal treatises on this
subject. And if these opinions or this statement should be charged to ego-
tism, or my over-weening confidence in the success of my own investiga-
tions, my apology is, that I have suffered so much myself by a misplaced
confidence in the erudition of writers ; I have so often embraced errors
INTRODUCTION.
which it has cost me more labor to unlearn than to learn; that if I can pre-
vent my fellow-citizens, wlio li^ve a taste for this study, from being subject-
ed to the same evils, J shall think the advantage obtained more than a bal-
ance for any unmerited imputation.
The lirst example of etymology which I-shall mention, is that of Josephus,
the historian of the Jews, who informs his readers, that the first man " was
called Adam, which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red, because'
he was formed out of red earth compounded together ; for of that kind is
virgin and true earth." Here is a mistake proceeding from a mere resem-
blance of words ; it being certain that Adam no more signifies red earth,
than it does red cedar, this mistake is connected with another, that Adam
was the proper name of the first man, an individual ; whereas the word is
tlie generic name of the human species, and like man in English, signifies
form, shape, image, expressing distinctively the characteristic eminence or
distinction of form of the human race. This fact explains the use of the
plural pronoun, in the account of the creation of the species. " And Godi
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them havei
dominion over the fish of the seaj &c." Gen. i. 26. It is evident also that
the words used in relation to the species, the image, the likeness of God,j
have reference, not only to their intellectual and n\oral faculties, but also to:
their external form; and so the Apostle interprets the words, 1 Cor. xi. 7.!
Not that God has any bodily shape of which man can be the image, but that
man has a superior or super-excellent form, corresponding to his inn II, mi ,1
powers, and distinguishing him from all other animals. Now ih. i
Josephus has infected the christian world for eighteen hundn il v
tlie mistake, with erroneous inferences from it, enters into the m -i i, , , ills
published systems of theology. i
Among the most celebrated authors of antiquity, who have written on the
subject of language, is Varro, who has left a treatise De Lingua Latina.\
On this author's learning, Cicero, Quinctilian and Aii(riistii\p have bestowcil
the most unbounded praises. He ispronounri-.l i.. I. \i Im.h nr i u'f ^m^ ■
eruditissimus Romanorum; peritiasimus lin^n i I n, .: m m- . : i; i,
tatis, sine uUa dubitatione, doctissimus." 11. \\ . ...n :,— i m n . i nii
common erudition for the age in which he livcil ; .m-i I,:- 1 1\ :iijlu;;ir,il ul.i-
tise may be consulted with advantage by per^uns who have knowledge
enough of this subject to separate the certain or probable from the improb-
able and conjectural. But it is certain from wliut remains of his treatise,
that his knowledge of the origin of words did not extend beyond the most
obvious facts and principles. Thus he deduces iniViMm from irteo; exitus
from exeo ; victoria from vinco. All this is well ; and we have reason to
think him correct, in deducing vellus, fleece, from vellere, to pluck, a.sdoubt-|
less fleeces were plucked from sheep, before the use of shears. And wej
have reason to believe him when he informs us that imber was originally
written kimber ; that hircus was written by the Sabines fircus, and tuedus,
fedus.
Very different must be our opinion of the following et\ molosrie':.
Pater, says Varro, is from patefacio; ager cultus is -o . illi.l lu < ;mse in
it seeds coalesce or unite with the earth; referrin.; f^n |m ; li jp, t.i the
root of 0|:g-ej-, or the Greek a7£ipro. Campus, he says, w ,is -o n.iiiiL.I be-
cause fruits were first gathered from the open field, dcduLiiij; iliu uoiJ liom
capio. Next to this, were the hills, colles, so named colendo, from cola,
because these were cultivated next to the open plain. That land or field
which appeared to be ihe foundation of cattle and money was called fundus,
or it was so called because it pours forth [fundat] niwn ii r,,,n< II,. de-
duces cogitare from cogendo; concilium from ro- liom
burning cor, the heart; volo from voluntas, and a vri >ii>e
the mind flies instantly whither it will. Howlowmu-i; n of
philology, when such improbable conjectures as these l„i.. . ,.;..,_; ..i.: en-
comiums before mentioned from Cicero and Quinctilian I
The reader will find many things in Isidore and Priscian, worthy of his
attention, though much of what their woiks contain is now so familiar to
scholars of moderate attainments, as scarcely to repay the labor of perusil
But he who learns that Isidore makes orotic, a compound of oris ratio , « .
men, a contraction of nota7nen ; and that he derives rerbum, from verbi r ' <
acre, will hardly think it worth his labor to pursue his researches into ili
author's works. Nor will he be disposed to relish Priscian's deduction u.
lilera from legilitera, because a letter aftbrds the means of reading, or from,
liluro, to obliterate, because the ancients used to write on wax tables, and!
afterwards to oblitci ate what they had written.
Vossius wrote a folio on the etymology of Latin words ; but from repeat-
ed examinations of his book, I am persuaded that most of his deductions are
far-fetched, conjectural and fanciful; many of them are certainly erroneous.
Menage and Minshuw I have not consulted ; chiefly because from such
extracts as 1 have seen, from their writings, I am certain that little reliance
can be placed on their opinions, except in cases too plain to be mistaken
Junius and Skinner, the authorities for most of the etymologies of Bailey
and Johnson, are sulficiently correct in referring English words to the Ian
guage from which they are immediately derived, especially when the or-
thography is too plain to be mistaken. They inform us that father is from
the Saxon feeder, that drop is from Sax. droppan, that picket is from the
French piquet, and the like. So Johnson informs us that accent is from the
Latin accentus, and accept from the French accepter, Latin accipio. All
this is well, but it can hardly be called etymology, or the deduction of words
from their originals.
Whiter, in his Etvmologicoiv Magnum, the first volume only of
which I have perused, began his work on a good plan, that of bringing to-
gether words of the same or of cognate radical letters, and in pursuance of
his plan, he has collected many real affinities. But he has destroyed the
value of his work by mistaking the radical sense of many words, and by
confounding words of different elements.
Jamieson, in his Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, has
collected the affinities of words in that language, particularly words of
Gothic and Teutonic origin, with industry and probably with judgment and a
good degree of accuracy. In some instances, I think he has departed from
correct principles of etymology, and mistaken lads, nrid he, as well as Whi-
ter, falls very short of truth in a most ii]i|M,i',ii,i [,,iii,i, I. ir. :i clear under-
standing of the primary sense of words. I I* !!,,iiary however
contaius a valuable addition to our stock ot , i,)ials."
To Home Tooke are we indebted for tin- li i , \i 1 , :, n of certain inde-
, liu.il.le words, called conjunctions and propo^iiioiis; and for this let him
! \ -■ ,dl merited praise. But his researches were very limited, and he hag
I ri into most material errors, particularly in his second volume. 1 have
, ill no use of his writings, in this work.
* Of the full value of these (
Varro's writings have perished, and some of t
a mutilated forin. But tlie greater his enidilii
pear his ignorance of this subject.
1 hardly judge, as most of
ie which survive appear in
the more striking will ap-
* Thus far had I written, before I had seen this author's Hermes Scvth-
icus. By this work I find the author agrees with me in regard to the
lie niity and common origin of many of the Gothic and Greek prepositions,
i 1 1, k cd I had supposed that proof of such an obvious fact could hardly be ne-
, '-JI y, in the present state of philological knowledge. Some of these pre-
1 ,-i:ioii3 he has illustrated wilha good degree of accuracy ; although should
Ibis H ork ever fall into liis hands, 1 think he will be convinced that in one or
two important points, his explanations are defective. In regard to other
prepositions, I am satisfied the author has ventured upon unsafe ground, at
least his opiiiiotis appear to me not to be well supported.
In respect to his explanations of the names of the mythological deities, it
appears to me the author, like all other authors whose works I have seen,
wanders in darkness. From all my researches into the origin of words, I
have drawn this conclusion, that the pagan deities are mostly the powers or
supposed powers of nature, or imaginary beings supposed to preside over the
various parts of creation, or the qualities of men, deified, that is, exalted and
celebrated as supernatural agents. There are few of the namesof these de-
ities which I piftoiul to uiiiloi>laiid: Ijiit there are a few of them that seem
to be too obvioii i,. !,, m: t,,,;, \ , prrson, I think, can doubt that the
DiT/ads are 11,111 •'-■■>-. Hence I infer that this name
was appUed to , , I : ! ' _;i , ,,- niliabiting the forests.
Nopersouci: ,!,,ii'i, ili i ,\,,,".. 1 1 1, deity of the sea, and the nereids,
nymphs of the sea, are named from the oriental inj, J- ^ ■' a river, from
the corresponding verb, to flow. No person doubts that Flora, the goddess of
flowers, is merely a flower deified.
Hence I infer that the true method of discovering the origin of the pagan
deities, is to find the meaning of their names.
Now Diana is Ihc goddess of hunting. Wiat (|ualily then is most neces-
sary I'll ,1 liuil, 1 ■ \\ hat quality would ni ',■ m, ;i, I, -fiinli- of the weapon.s
wli'ioli >, 1 -, I -I value as useful ill, il, ; I , ;' , .nro? Doubtless
coui;i;:, ui .;!; Thus we have sill, ^i Ii i - iir Iielieving that
Dim,"'. ,',, i . 1;. ,l<i, I it\- diaii. wliirli -I :i ,'i - I ,i.'. -I long, vehement,
in:;,,'!!,.. .'! I,, ',! /»,>,/,,,',./"',,-■/. ,,i,ii ,,:!., : ,', iiiifs 01 large rivers.
; I ,•, , , I, I ,','•■ ' I mid that the first syllable
, , , 1 :, I, '.nnd; and the last constit-
II, !,; P II ,1 II,,- w ,1,: r,,i I. .|„iii .- s> i :i •.'.nil, i.t-rman arbeit, D. arbeid,
l.itior, v.ork. ine List consonant beins iosi. W oil. what are the characteristics
of Minerva ; Why, she is the goddess of wisdom and of the arts. The sense
of-wivos, would give one of her characteristics, and thatof;;iamts and arbeit,
the other; but which is the tnif word, I do not know.
Tlif iv. ,, rii , iiiii-;,in, ,'- \\I:I, Ii ili^-flv ,Ii-tir!,;-;isli Hercules are his labors
and li: ' ''', , ,1 I, , ,:ll ', ' , i ,- ih these accompaniments.
Now II , I, I '. i , , ' I, - I I ,, loot of the Greek *P7ov,
tp-/ci,,, I;, I I- . ,'i,, , w 1,1, li ni,iii I _i , , '0, -, i;~r of work, labor. Whether
the last coiisui'iLiu ol ilie name isx\fi-i or Iroiii ih.il root, I shall not pretend to
affirm. Indeed, 1 offer tliese explanations rather asprobable, than as clearly
proved ; but they do appear to be probably well founded. Hercules then
was a name given to any bold, heroic leader of a tribe of rude men, who was
distinguished for his achievements as a warrior ; and this name must have
originated in very early ages, when clubs were the principal weapons of war,
and instruments of defense. And hence probably the origin of the scepter,
as a badge of royalty. Now it is worthy of remark that the war club of rude
nations, at this day, especially of the savage nations of the south sea isles, is of
the same shape as tlic ancient scepter.
INTRODUCTION.
The Hermes of Harris, according to Dr. Lowth, "is the most beautiful
and perfect example of analysis, that has been exhibited since the days of
Aristotle." This, in my opinion, is not the character of the work, which,
for tlie most part, consists of passages from the works of Aristotle, Ammonius,
Apollonius, Priscian, and other grammarians. It is little more than a col-
lection of the opinions of the ancient writers on philology, whose meta-
physical subtilties rather obscure than illustrate the subject. To show how
easily men may be misled liy metaphysics, when applied to the plainest sub-
ject imaginable, take the following example from the Hermes.
"Jt respects our primary perception, and denotes individuals as un-
known ; the respects our secondary perception, and denotes individuals as
known." [This is nearly a literal translation of a passage in Priscian, Lib. 17.]
To illustrate the truth of this observation, the author gives the following
example. "There goes a beggar with a long beard" — indicating that the
man had not been seen before ; and therefore a denotes the primary percep-
tion. A week after the man returns and I say, " There goes the beggar
with the long beard ;" the article the here indicating the secondary percep-
tion, that is, that the man had been seen before. All this is very well.
But let us try the rule by other examples, and see whether it is universal,
or whether it is the peculiar and proper office of an or a to denote primary
perception.
" The ai tide a, says Harris, leaves the individual unascertained:' Let
us examine this position.
" But Peter took him, saying, stand up; I myself also am a man." Now,
according to Harris, a here denotes the primary perception, and the individ-
ual is unascertained. That is, this man is one, I have never seen before.
" He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a reward -
er of them that diligently seek him." Whether a, in this sentence, denotes
first perception, I cannot determine ; but sure I am the individual is not left
unascertained.
A B says to me, " I have lately dismissed an old servant, who has lived
with me for thirty years." Here an may present a primary perception to
the hearer, but not so to the speaker. To both, the individual must be well
ascertained.
It appears then that this definition of an or a is incorrect, and the pains of
these metaphysical writers who form such perfect analyses of language, is
little better than learned trifling. On testing the real character of an or a
by usage and facts, we find it is merely the adjective one, in its Saxon or-
thography, and that its sole use is to denote one, whether the individual is
known or unknown, definite or indefinite.
Again Harris translates, and adopts the definition which Aristotle has
given of a conjunction. " An articulate sound or part of speech devoid of
signification by itself, but so formed as to help signification, by making two
or more significant sentences to be one significant sentence."
This is so far from being true, that some of the conjunctions are verbs,
equivalent to join, unite or add, in the imperative mode. In like manner,
the prepositions called inseparable, and used as prefixes, are all si
per se, although by custom, they sometimes lose their appropriate use. For
example, re, which denotes repetition, has lost its use in recommend, which
is equivalent to commend, without the sense of repetition. But still it has
ordinarily an appropriate sense, which is perfectly understood, even when
first prefixed to a word. Let any person prefix this word to pronounce for
the first time, and direct a boy of fourteen years old to repronounce his ora-
tion, and he would perfectly well understand the direction.
Bryant, the author of " An Analysis of Ancient Mythology," whose works
I should love to read, if I could have confidence in his opinions, has giver
to the public a history of the Cuthites or descendants of Ham, a race oi bold
adventurers, who, as he supposes, made expeditions by sea and land, intro-
ducing arts, founding cities, and corrupting reUgion by the propagation of
Sabianism. For proof of his opinions, he relies very much on etymology
and the signification of names. Two or three examples of his deductions
will be sufficient to show his manner of proof Ham or Cham, signifying
heat and the sun, he deduces from DDH to be hot, to heat. So far he may
be correct. But he goes on to deduce from this root, also, as Castle had
done before him, the Greek xauna, heat, not considering that this is from
naiu, to burn, in which m is not radical, but probably s is (he radical conso-
nant, as this occurs in the derivafives. Kavfia has no connection with Ham
From Cam or Cham he then deduces the Latin Camera, Gr. xouapa, an
arched roof or vault, whence our chamber, though it is not easy to discovei
the connection between this word and heat, and from the same root, he de
duces Camillus, Camilla, and many other words, without any support foi
his opinions, but a mere similarity of orthography in the first syllable. Ir
all this, he is certainly wrong.
The Greek ©los, God, he supposes most unwarrantably to be formed from
the Egyptian Theuth or Thoth, Mercury.
The sun he supposes to have been styled El-uc ; El [nXips] and uc or
oc/i, a title of honor among the Babylonians. This word, says Bryant, tlie
Greeks changed into Xonoi', [a wolf,'] and hence the Latin iitx, luceo
strange conjecture this, not to call it by a harsher name. Now if Bryant
had examined the Teutonic dialects, and the Welsh, he would have seen hii
mistake; for the Saxon leoht, liht, Dutch and German licht, are from
the common root of the Welsh Hug, a shooting or gleaming, lluciaw, to
throw, llM, a darting or flashing, the root of luceo ; a simple root, that can
have no connection with El-uc.
Excepting Faber's work on the Cabiri, I have seen scarcely a book in
any language, which exhibits so little etymological knowledge, with such
a series of erroneous or fanciful deductions, as Bryant's Analysis. Drum-
mond's Origines abounds with etymological deductions of a similar char-
acter.
Gebelin, a French writer, in his Monde Primitif, has bestowed much la-
bor in developing the origin and signification of words ; but a large part of
his labor has produced no valuable effect. His whole system is tounded on
a mistake, that the noun is the root of all other words.
Of all the writers on etymology, whose works 1 have read or consulted,
Spelman and Lluyd are almost the only ones, in whose deductions much con-
fidence can be placed. I do not name Camden, Hicks, Selden and Gibson,
as their etymological inquiries, though generally judiciously conducted,
were very limited. This is true also in some degree of Spelman and Lluyd ;
but the researches of Spelman into the origin of law terms, and words of the
middle ages, have generally produced very satisfactory results. From the
limited nature of the designs of Spelman and Lluyd, errors may have occa-
sionally escaped them ; but they are few, and very pardonable.
I know of no work in any language in which words have been generally
traced to their original signification, with even tolerable correctness. In a
few instances, this signification is too obvious to be mistaken, but in most in-
stances, the ablest etymologist is liable to be misled by first appearances,
and the want of extensive investigation. I have been often misled myself,
by these means, and have been obliged to change my opinions, as I have
advanced in my inquiries. Hence the tendency of my researches has been
very much to increase my caution in referring words to their originals ; and
such, I am persuaded, will be the lesult of all critical and judicious investi-
gations into the history and affinities of language.
A principal source of mistakes on this subject, is a disregard of the identi-
ty of the radical consonants, and a licentious blending and confounding of
words, whose elementary letters are not commutable. Another source of
error is an unwarrantable license in prefixing or inserting letters, for the
purpose of producing an identity or resemblance of orthography ; a fault
very justly opposed by Sir William Jones.
The learned Dr. Good, in his Book of J^ature, Lecture IX, of the se-
cond series, suggests it to be probable that both papa and father, issued
from the Hebrew source 2N, N3N, n3N. He then fearlessly ventures to
affirm, that there is scarcely a language or dialect in the world, polished or
barbarous, in which the same idea is not expressed by the radical of one or
the other of these terms. True ; the letter S is found in most words of this
signification ; although our knowledge of languages is too limited to war-
rant such a broad assertion. But the attempt to deduce all words signifying
father from the Hebrew must certainly fail ; for we know from history that
a great part of Asia and of Europe was inhabited before the existence of the
Hebrew nation. Besides, a large portion of the European population have
no word (or father which can be rationally deduced from 3X. The Welsh
tdd, whence our daddy, the Gothic atta, Irish aithair, Basque aita, and
Laponnic atki, cannot be formed from the Hebrew word, the letter D and
T not being commutable with B. One would suppose that a leained physi-
ologist could not fail to assign the true cause of the similarity of words, bear-
ing the sense oi father and mother, among the nations of the earth. The
truth is, the sound of a is very easy and probably the easiest for children,
being formed by simply opening the mouth, without any exertion of the or-
gans to modulate the sound. So also the articulations b, m, and d or t, be-
■ ig natural and easy, will generally enter into the first words formed by
children. The labials are formed by simply closing the lips, and the den-
tals, by placing the tongue against the root of the upper teeth ; the position
which it naturally occupies in a healthy child. From these circumstances,
we may fairly infer, a priori, that such words as ab, aba, papa, tad, mam-
ma, must be the first words uttered by children. Indeed, were the whole
human race to lose their present names (or father, mother, and nurse, sim-
ilar names would be formed by a great portion of mankind, without any
communication between different nations.
The author further observes, that the generic terms for the Deity are
chiefly the three following, Al or Allah, Theus or Deus, and God. " Be-
sides these, there is scarcely a term of any kind, by which the Deity is de-
signated, in any part of the world, whether among civilized or savage man.
Yet these proceed from the same common quarter of the globe." True :
men, and of course words, all came from a common quarter of the globe.
But it so happens, that these three terms must have originated among dif-
ferent families, or from different sources, for they are all formed with differ-
ent radicals, and can have had no connection with a common radix. But it
happens also, that not one of these terms, as far as I can learn, exists among
the Slavonic nations, who compose a large portion of all the population of
Europe, and whose name of God is Bog, a word radically distinct from all
which the author has mentioned.
The author proceeds to say, " that the more common etymon for death.
among all nations, is mor, mart or mut." But if either of these terms for
death, is a native woid among the great GoUiic, Teutonic, and Slavonic fam-
ilies, which constitute the half or two thirds of all the inhabitants of Europe,
INTRODUCTION.
ilically
1 have not been able to find it. Besides, wioi- and rrnit are words
distinct, and thus originated in different families.
" Sir," says the author, " is, in our lanffuage, the common title of respect ;
and the same term is employed in the name sense throughout every quarter
of the globe. In the Sanscrit and Persian, it means the organ of the head
itself." He finds the word in Arabia, Turkey, in Greek, among the Peru-
vians in South America, in Germany, Holland, and the contiguous coi
tries. In some of the languages of these countries, I have found no su
word; but if it exists, the author's inference, that the name of the head
gave r'fe i" llii- !■ im nf respect, (for this is what! understand him to mean,)
is totailv i",! I. lid equally fanciful and unfounded is his supposition,
that. li\ , , Mil sAei, the pronoun her, and the German herr, lord,
are lo I" i.i i i i sir. In all this, it is demonstrably certain there is
no trulli u. 1. i L ji .-.( iiiiil.ince of reality.
Man, the author deduces from the Hebiew rUO to discern or discrimi-
nate, [a sense I do not find in the Lexicons,] and hence he infers that the rad-
ical idea of man is that of a thinking or reasonable being. With this word
he connects Menu, .Menes, Minos, and )ii»o', mens, mind ; a sweeping in-
ference made at random from a similarity of orthography, without a distant
conception of the true primai-y meaning of either of these words. But what
is worse, he appears, if I do not mistake his meaning, to connect with these
words, the tane, tanato, or tangi, of the Sandwich isles ; words, which are
formed with a radical initial consonant not convertible with m, and most
certainly unconnected with man. See the words father, r,
the Dictionary.
The author offers some other etymologies and affinities equally remote
from truth, and even from probability.
The governing principles of etymology arc, first, the identity of radical
letters, or a coincidence of cognates, in difterent languages ; no affinity be-
ing admissible, except among words whose primary consonants are articu-
lations of the same organs, as B, F, M, P, V and W ; or as D, T, Th and S ;
or as G, C hard, K and Q ; R, L and D. Some exceptions to this rule must
be admitted, but not without collateral evidence of the change, or some evi-
dence that is too clear to be reasonably rejected.
Second. Words in diflerent languages are not to be considered as proceed-
ing from the same radix, unless they have the same signification, or one
closely allied to it, or naturally deducible from it. And on this point, much
knowledge of the primary sense of words, and of the manner in which col
lateral senses have sprung from one radical idea, is necessary to secure the
inquirer from mistakes. A competent knowledge of this branch of etymolo-
gy cannot be obtained from any one, or from two or three languages. It is
almost literally true, that in examining more than twenty languages, I have
found each language to throw some light on every other.
That the reader may have more clear and distinct ideas of what is intend-
ed by commutabte letters, and the principles by which etymological deduc-
tions are to be regulated, it may be remarked that commutabte or inter-
changeable letters are letters of the same organs ; that is, letters or articu-
lations formed by the same parts of the mouth. Thus 6, m and p, are form-
ed immediately by the lips, the position of which is slightly varied to make
the distinction between these letters. F and v are formed by the lips, but
with the aid of the upper teeth. Now the difference of the jointings of the
organs to utter these letters is so small, that it is easy for men in utterance
to shde from one form into another.
The following examples will illustrate this subject.
Labial letters commuted for other labials.
English bear, Lat.fero,pario, G. ipipu, (popeu, D. voeren, G.fuhren.
Here is the same word written in different languages, with five differ-
ent initial letters.
German wahr, true, L. verus.
Celtic lamh, lav, the hand, Goth. lofa.
L. guberno, Fr. gouverner, Eng. govern.
Dental letters commuted for other dentals.
Eng. deu\ G. thau.
Eng. good, G. gut.
Eng. dare, Gr. eappsw.
Eng. day, G. tag.
Eng. thank, D. danken.
Eng. brother, D. broeder.
Palatal letters commuted for other palatals.
Eng. call, W . galw, Gr. »o\iw.
Eng. get. It. cattare.
Greek \iina, L. hiems, winter.
Dentals converted into sibilants.
Eng. water, G. wa^ser.
Lat. dens, a tooth, G. zahn.
Eng. let, Fr. laisser.
Ch. nD, Heb. »13.
Sax. tid, time, G. zeit.
Vol. I. G.
Change of Unguals.
Eng. escort, Sp. Port, escolta.
Fr. blanc, white. Port, branco.
Letters formed by different organs are not oommutable ; hence we are not
to admit a radical word beginning or ending with 4, /or v, to be the same as
a word beginning or ending with g, d, t, ror s; nor a word whose radical
letters are m, n, to be the same as one whose elements are r, d, or s, t. If
such words are in any case the same, they must have suffered some anom-
alous changes ; changes which are very unusual and which are never to
be admitted without the clearest evidence.
When this work was in the press, I first obtained a .sight of a " History of
the European Languages," by the late Dr. Alexander Murray, Professor of
Oriental languages in the University of Edinburgh.
From a hasty perusal of the first volume, I find this learned professor stud-
ied the European languages with much attention and profit. He has gone
further into the origin and formation of languages, than any author whose
works I have read; and his writings unfold many valuable principles and
facte. But he formed a theory which he attempted to support, in my opin-
ion with little success : at least, on his principles, all the usual rules of ety-
mology are transgressed, and all distinction between words of different radi-
cal letters is abandoned. According to his theory, nine words are the foun-
dations of language, viz. ag, wag, hwag, bag or bwag, [of which/ag and
pag are softer varieties,] dwag, thwag or twag, gwag or cwag, lag and
Mag, mag, nag, and hnag, rag and hrag, swag. " By the help of these
nine words and their compounds all the European languages have been
formed." These are the author's words.
To make out his scheme, he joins ag, having, to wag, move, and forms a
diminutive, wagag, to move a little or often. With ba, bear or bring, and
la, hold, wagaba signifies literally move-bearing, and wagla is move-having.
Then wagaba contracted into wabba, to wave, to weave, and wagla into
wala, to turn. From dag, to wet, bedew, comes damp ; from ceag, to
chew, comes champ ; fal, joined, wrought together, fiom fag, to work, to
join; hwal and hal, to hold, and turn, from hwag ; bat from bagd or bagt ;
bigt, abite, from bigt; bladder from blag; modera, mother, the producer,
from magd, produced ; bottom from bogd, a stump, root or foundation ; field
(vomfagd, -dearth from airtha,acertha, from acer, aker, ager ; field, an un-
cultivated plain, from fag, to make to fall.
It seems that in order to maintain his theory, it was necessary to make it
appear that g formed a part of all original words, and that this letter has, in
modern words, been dropped. The author then introduces this letter into
words where it never had any place, such as field, earth, bat, &c. The au-
thor's work presents one of the most singular medleys of truth and error, of
sound observation and visionary opinions, that has ever fallen under my
notice.
On the same principles, he must have inserted the letter g in bear, fero.
pario, 803 ; in bend, found, tame, Saiiau, domo ; in dream, wander, turn ,
&c. ; and supposed them to have been originally beager,fegro, pagrio, JOJ2.
bcgnd, fougnd, tagme, idniiam, dogma, dreagm,wagnder, tugrn, &,c.
Now on such a principle as this we might deduce any word in the lan-
guage from any other word, or from any root that could be imagined. In
short, all such theories are the produce of wild conjecture, and they serve no
purpose but to confound the student and bring the study of etymology into
contempt.
ACCENTUATIOx\.
Ac c ENT is the more forcible utterance of a particular syllable of a word,
by which it is distinguished from the others. The accented syllable of a
word serves therefore as a kind of resting place or support of the voice,
which passes over the unaccented syllables with more rapidity and a less
distinct utterance.
Accent is of two kinds, or rather of two degrees of force, primary and
secondary. Words of one syllable can have no accent. Words of two syl-
lables have the primary accent only. Words of three and four syllables may
have the primary and secondary accent; but many of them have nosecond-
ary accent that deserves notice ; such are dignity, enemy, annuity, fidelity.
In words of four, five or more syllables, a secondary accent is often essential
to a clear distinct articulation of the several syllables. Thus heterogeneous
cannot be well uttered without two accented syllables ; the fourth syllable
receiving the principal stress of the voice, and the first clearly distinguished
by more forcible utterance, than the second, third, fifth, and sixth.
The accent of most English words has been long established ; and evi-
dently, it has been determined by the natural ease of speaking, without the
aid of rules or instruction. If any man should ask, why we lay the accent
of such words aa elocution, meditation, relation, congratulation, on the last
syllable, except one ; the answer is, tliat such accentuation renders the pro-
nunciation more easy to the organs of .speech and more agreeable to the ear,
than the accentuation of any other syllable. The ease of speaking, and a
kind of prosaic melody, resulting from a due proportion of accented and un-
accented syllable^, which enables the speaker to bound with ease from one
accented syllable to another, without omitting those which are unaccented,
are the two great principles by which the accentuation of words has been
INTRODUCTION.
regulated. And it is to be extremely regretted that these principles should,
in any instances, be neglected, or forced to yield to arbitrary reasons of deri-
vation, or to a pedantic affectation of foreign pronunciation. When we know
that the great mass of a nation naturally lall into a particular manner of pro-
nouncing a word, without any rule or instruction, we may rely upon this
tendency as a pretty certain indication that their accentuation is according to
the analogies of the language, by which their habits of speaking have been
formed ; and this tendency cannot be opposed without doing violence to those
analogies and to national habits.
Thus formerly, the word horizon was universally accented on the first
syllable, and this accentuation was according to the settled analogy of the
language. But the early poets had a fancy for conlbrniing the English to
the Greek pronunciation, and accented the second syllable ; the orthoepists
followed them ; and now we have this forced, unnatural pronunciation of the
learned in colUsion with the regular, analogous popular pronunciation. By
this affectation of the Greek accent, the flowing smoothness of the word is
entirely lost.
In like manner, an imitation of the French pronunciation of confesseur,
■jnd sticcessetir, led the early poets to accent the English words on the first
syllable, in violation of analogy and euphony; and some orthoepists affect to
follow them; but public usage frowns on this affectation, and rejects their
authority.
There are many words in the English language, indeed a large part of the
whole number, which cannot be reduced under any general rule of accentu-
ation, as the exceptions to any rule formed will be nearly as numerous as the
words which the rule embraces. And in most instances, we shall find, in the
structure of the words, satisfactory reasons for the difference of pronunciation.
DISSYLLABLES.
No general rule can be given for the accentuation of words of two sylb
bles. It is however, worth observing that when the same word is both
noun or an adjective and a verb, it happens, in many instances, that the noun
or adjective has the accent on the first syllable, and the verb on the last
Instances of which we have in ab'sent, to absent' ; con'cert, to concert' .
cx'port, to expdrt. The reason is, the preterit and participles of the verbs
require to have the same syllable accented, as the verb; but if the first syl-
lable of the preterit and participles were to be accented, it would be difficult
(o pronounce the words, as may be perceived by attempting to pronounce
ub'scnting, con'certed, con'ducted, with the accent on the first syllable.
In a few instances, the word has a different accent when a noun, from that
which it has when an adjective ; as Au'gust, august' ; gallant', gaVlant.
TRISSYLLABLES.
Words of three syllables, derived from dissyllables, usually retain the ac-
cent of their primitives. Thus
Pdet, pdetess; pleas'ant, pleas' antly ; gra'cious, gr&ciously; reldte, re-
lated; poU'te,poli'test.
In Uke manner, words of four syllables, formed from dissyllables, gene-
rally retain the accent of the primitives ; as in collect'ible from collect', ser'-
I'iceable from ser'vice.
In all cases, the preterit and participles of verbs retain the accent of the
verbs.
Words ending in tion, sion, tian, cious, tious, cial, cian, tial, tiate, tient,
cient, have the accent on the syllable preceding that termination ; as motion,
christian, precious, erudition, patient, &c.
Words of more than two syllables, ending in ly, have, for the most part, the
.iccent on the antepenult; as gratuity, propriety, prosperity, insensibility.
Trissyllables ending in mcnt, for the most part have the accent on the f^rst
syllable, as compliment, detriment; but to this rule there are many excep-
tions, and particularly nouns formed from verbs, as amendment, command-
ment.
Words with the following terminations have th
ble except two, or antepenult.
fluous, as super'fluous, mellifluous.
ferous, as bacciferous, argentifero,
-fluent, as circum'fluent.
cracy, as democracy, theoc'racy.
gonal, as diag'onal, sexag'onal.
gony, as cosmog'ony, theog'ony.
chy, as logom'achy, theom'aci
: accent on the last sylla-
'.ogom'actiy, tlieom'achy.
-loquy, as ob'loquy, ventril'oquy.
-mathy, as polym'athy.
-meter, as barom'eter, hygrom'eter.
-nomy, as econ'omy, astron'omy.
-pathy, as ap'athy, antip'athy.
-phony, as eu'phony, sym'phony.
—parous, as ovip'arous, vivip'arous.
-scopy, as deuteros'copy, aeros'copy.
-strophe, as apos'trophe, catas'trophe
--: igniv'omous.
voroiis, as carnivorous, graminivorous.
tomy, as anat'omy, lithot'omy.
raphy, as geog'raphy, orthog'raphy.
Compound words, as book-case, ink-stand, pen-knife, note-book, usually
have asUght accent, that is, one syllable is distinguished by some stress of
voice ; but as the other syllable is significant by itself, it is uttered with
more distinctness than the syllables of other words which are wholly unac-
cented. And in some words, there are two accents, one on each component
part of the word, which are barely distinguishable. Thus in legislative, le-
gislator, legislature, the accent on the first syllable can hardly be distin-
guished from that on the third ; and if a .speaker were to lay the primary
accent on the third syllable, his pronunciation would hardly be noticed as a
singularity. Indeed there are some compound words, in which there is so
little distinction of accent, that it is deemed unnecessary to mark either syl-
lable or part of the word as accented.
As to a great part of English words, their accent must be learned from
dictionaries, elementary books, or practice. There is no method of classifi-
cation, by which they can be brought under a few simple general rules, to
be easily retained by the memory ; and attempts to effect this object must
only burden the memory, and perplex the learner.
The differences in the accentuation of words, either in books or in usage,
are not very numerous. In this respect, the language is tolerably well set-
tled, except in a few words. Among these are acceptable, commendable,
confessor, successor, receptacle, recepiory, deceptory, refragable, dyspepsy,
which the orthoepists incline to accent on the first syllable. But with re-
gard to most of these words, their accentuation is contrary to common usage,
and with regard to all of them, it ought to be rejected. The ease of pronun-
ciation requires the accent to be on the second syllable, and no effort to re-
move it can ever succeed.
The words accessory, desultory, exemplary and peremptory would all
have the accent on the second syllable, were it not very difficult, with this
accent, to articulate the three last syllables of the derivatives, aceessorily,
desultorily, exemplarily, peremptorily. It is for this reason, that the pri-
mary accent is laid on the first syllable, and then a secondary accent on the
third enables the speaker to articulate distinctly and with tolerable ease the
last syllables. If the primary accent is laid on the second syllable, there can
be no secondary accent. Yet the natural accent of the primitives being on
the second syllable of the three first, and the derivatives little used, we find
good speakers often lay the accent on the second syllable ; nor is it easy to
change the practice.
This circumstance of regarding the pronunciation of derivative words, in
settUng the accent, has been either wholly overlooked, or not sufficiently
jobserved in practice. Hence the orthoepists accent the second syllable of
khe verbs alternate, demonstrate, contemplate, compensate, extirpate, con-
\fiscate, expurgate. Notwithstanding all authorities however, such is the
j tendency to consult ease and melody in utterance, that many respectable
speakers lay the accent of these and similar words on the first syllable. The
reason of this is obvious, although perhaps it never occurs to the speakers
themselves. It is, that when the accent is laid on the second syllable, the
two last syllables of the participles, altern'ating, demon'strating, compen'-
sated, &c. are either pronunced with difficulty, being wholly unaccented,
or they are disgustingly feeble. How very difficult it is to utter distinctly
the words alternating, demonstrating, &c. with the accent on the second
syllable ; the organs being compelled to change their position and form three,
four, five, or six articulations in an instant, to utter the two last syllables!
But place the primary accent on the first syllable, and a secondary one on the
Ithird, and the voice resting on these, the speaker is enabled to bound with
.ease from syllable to syllable and utter the whole word distinctly without
I effort, al'ternating, dem'onstruting.
In extirpate, compensate and confiscate, the accent on the second sylla-
ble leaves the last syllables of the participle most miserably weak. What a
feeble line is this of Pope :
Each seeming ill compen'sated of course.
This evil is remedied by placing the primary accent on the first syllable,
and a secondary one on the third ; com'pensated ; com'pensating ; ex'tirpa-
ting; ex'tirpated; confiscating; con'fiscated; the full sound of a giving
due strength to the last syllables.
It is further to be observed that there are some words which, in poetry
and prose, must be differently accented, as the accent has been transferred
by usage from one syllable to another within the two last centuries. Nares
enumerates more than a hundred words, whose accent has been thus chang-
ed since the age of Shakspeare. Of this class of words are aspect, process,
sojourn, convex, contest, retinue, converse, the noun horizon, which Mil-
ton accents on the second syllable, and acceptable, which he accents on the
first, as he does attribute and contribute. But the accent of all these
words has been changed ; the seven first have the accent indisputably on the
first syllable ; the two last, on the second syllable ; and although some differ-
ence of opinion may exist, as to the accentuation oi horizon and acceptable,
yet the common popular practice of accenting horizon on the first and ac-
ceptable on the second, is according to regular analogies and cannot well be
altered. Nor ought it to be; the poetic accent, in both, is harsh and un-
natural. This difference of accent is a slight inconvenience ; but custom is
the arbiter in language; and when well settled and general, there is no ap»
peal from its decisions, the inconvenience admits of no remedy.
INTRODUCTION.
in which the following work
Dr. Johnson was one of the greatest men that the English nation has ever
produced ; and when the exhibition of truth depended on his own gigantic
powers of intellect, he seldom erred. But in the compilation of his diction-
ary, he manifested a great defect of research, by means of which he often
(ell into mistakes ; and no errors are so dangerous as those of great men.
The authority created by the general excellence of their works gives a
sanction to their very mistakes, and represses that spirit of inquiry which
would investigate the truth, and subvert the errors of inferior men. It
seems to be owing to this cause chiefly that the most obvious mistakes of
Johnson's Dictionary have remained to this day uncorrected, and still con
tinue to disfigure the improved editions of the work recently published.
In like manner, the opinions of this author, when wrong, have a weight of
authority that renders them extremely mischievous. The sentiment con-
tained in this single line
Quid te excmptajuvat spinis de pluribus una?
is of this kind; that we are to make no corrections, because we cannot com-
plete the reformation; a sentiment that sets itself in direct opposition to all
improvement in science, literature and morals; a sentiment, which, if it had
been always an efficacious principle of human conduct, would have condem-
ned not only our language, but our manners and our knowledge to everlast-
ing rudeness. And hence whenever a proposition is made to correct the
orthography of our language, it is instantly repelled with the opinion and
ipse dixit of Johnson. Thus while the nations on the European continent
have purified their languages and reduced the orthography to a good de-
gree of regularity, our enemies of reform contend most strenuously for re-
taining the anomalies of the language, even to the very rags and tatters of
barbarism. But what is more extraordinary, the very persons who thus
struggle against the smallest improvement of the orthography are the most
ready to innovate in the pronunciation, and will, at any time, adopt a
change that fashion may introduce, though it may infringe the regularity of
the language, multiply anomalies, and increase the difficulty of learning it.
Nay, they will not only innovate themselves, but will use their influence to
propagate the change, by deriding those who resist it, and who strive to re-
tain the resemblance between the written and spoken language.
A considerable part of Johnson's Dictionary is however well executed ;
and when his definitions are correct and his arrangement judicious, it seems
to be expedient to follow him. It would be mere affectation or folly to alter
what cannot be improved.
The principal faults in Johnson's Dictionary are
1. The want of a great number of well authorized words belonging to the
language. This delect has been in part suppUed by Mason and Todd; but
their supplemental Ust is still imperfect even in common words, and still
more defective from the omission of terms of science.
2. Another great fault, that remains uncorrected, is the manner of noting
the accented syllable ; the accent being laid uniformly on the vowel, wheth-
er it closes the syllable or not. Thus the accent is laid on e in te'nant as
well as in te'acher, and the inquirer cannot know from the accent whether
the vowel is long or short. It is surprising that such a notation should still
be retained in that work.
3. It is considered as a material fault, that in some classesof words, John-
son's orthography is either not correct upon principle or not uniform in the
class. Thus he writes heedlessly, with ss, but carelesly, with one s ; de-
fence, with c, but defensible, defensive, with s; rigour, inferiour, with u,
but rigorous, inferiority, without it; publick, authentick with k, but pub-
Hcation, authenticate, without it; and so of many other words of the same
classes.
4. The omission of the participles or most of them, is no small defect, as
many of them by use have become proper adjectives, and require distinct
definitions. The additions of this kind in this work are very numerous. It
is also useful both to natives and foreigners, to be able, by opening a diction-
ary, to know when the final consonant of a verb is doubled in the participle.
5. The want of due discrimination in the definitions of words that arp
nearly synonymous, or sometimes really synonymous, at other times not, is
a fault in all the dictionaries of our language, which I have seen. Permeate,
says Johnson, signifies, to pass through, and permeable, such as matj be
passed through. But we pass through a door or gate; although we do not
permeate it, or say that it is permeable. Obedience, says Johnson, is obse-
quiousness, but this is rarely the present sense of the word ; so far from it
that obedience is always honorable, and obsequiousness usually implies
meanness. \Peculation, says Johnson, is robbery of the public, thefl of
pubUc money. But as robbery and theft are now understood, it is neither.
Inaccuracies of this kind are very numerous.
6. There are in Johnson's Dictionary, some palpable mistakes in orthog-
raphy, such as comptroller, bridegroom, redoubt, and some others, there
being no such legitimate words in the language. In other instances, the
author mistook the true origin of words, andhas c;
> erred in the orthography, a
7. The mistakes in etymology are numerous; and the whole scheme of
deducing words from their original is extremely imperfect.
8. The manner of defining words in Johnson, as in all other dictionaries,
is susceptible of improvement. In a great part of the more important words,
.and particularly verbs, lexicographers, either from negligence or want of
knowledge, have inverted the true order, or have disregarded all order in
the definitions. There is a primary sense of every word, from which all the
other have proceeded; and whenever this can be discovered, this sense
should stand first in order. Thus the primary sense of make is to force or
conijiel; but this in Johnson's Dictionary is the fifteenth definition; and
this sense ot facto in Ainsworth, the nineteenth.
9. One of the most objectionable parts of Johnson's Dictionary, in my opin-
ion, is the great number of passages cited from authors, to exemplify his
definitions. Most English words are so familiarly and perfectly understood,
and the sense of them so little liable to be called in question, that they may
be safely left to rest on the authority of the lexicographer, without exam-
ples. Who needs extracts from three authors, KnoUes, Milton and Berkeley,
rove or illustiate the literal meaning of hand ? Who needs extracts from
Shakspearc, Bacon, South and Dryden, to prove hammer to be a legitimate
English word, and to signify an instrument for driving nails? So under
household, we find seven passages and nearly thirty lines employed to ex-
plify the plain interpretation, a family living together,
n. most cases, one example is sufficient to illustrate the meaning of a
word ; and this is not absolutely necessary, except in cases where the sig-
nification is a deviation from the plain literal sense, a particular application
f the term ; or in a case, where the sense of the word may be doubtful,
and of questionable authority. Numerous citations serve to swell the size
Dictionary, without any adequate advantage. But this is not the only
objection to Johnson's exemplifications. Many of the passages are taken
from authors now little read, or not at all ; whose style is now antiquated,
and by no means furnishing proper models for students of the present age.
In the execution of this work, I have pursued a course somewhat difl'er-
t; not however without fortifying my own opinion with that of other gen-
tlemen, in whose judgment I have confidence. In many cases, where the
sense of a word is plam and indisputable, I have omitted to cite any authori-
ty. I have done the same in many instances, where the sense of a word is
wholly ob%)lete, and the definition useful only to the antiquary. In some
nstances, definitions are given without authority, merely because I hail
neglected to note the author, or had lost the reference. In such cases, I
must stand responsible for the correctness of the definition. In all such
cases, however, I have endeavored to be faithful to the duly of a lexico-
grapher ; and if in any instance, a mistake has escaped me, I .shall be happy
to have it suggested, that it may be corrected.
In general, I have illustrated the significations of words, and proved them
to be legitimate, by a short passage from some respectable author, often
abridged from the whole passage cited by Johnson. In many cases, I have
given brief sentences of my own; using the phrases or sentences in which
the word most frequently occurs, and often presenting some important
maxim or sentiment in religion, morality, law or civil policy. Under words
which occur in the scriptures, I have often cited passages from our common
version, not only to illustrate the scriptural or theological sense, but even
the ordinary significations of the words. These passages are short, plain,
appropriate, and familiar to most readers. In a few cases, where the sense
of a word is disputed, I have departed from the general plan, and cited a
number of autliorities.
In the admission of words of recent origin, into a Dictionary, a lexico-
grapher has to encounter many difficulties; as it is not easy, in all cases, to
determine whether a word is so far authorized as to be considered legitimate.
Some writers indulge a licentiousness in coining words, which good sense
would wish to repress. At the same time, it would not be judicious to re-
ject all new terras ; as these are often necessary to express new ideas ; and
the progress of improvement in arts and science would be retarded, by de-
nying a place in dictionaries, to terms given to things newly discovered.
But the lexicographer is not answerable for the bad use of the privilege of
coining new words. It seems to be his duty to insert and explain all words
hich are used by respectable writers or speakers, whether the words are
destined to be received into general and permanent use or not. The future
use must depend on public taste or the utility of the words; circumstances
hich are not within the lexicographer's control.
Lexicographers are sometimes censured for inserting in their vocabularies,
vulgar words, and terms of art known only to particular artisans. That this
practice may be carried too far, is admitted ; but it is to be remarked that, in
general, vulgar words are the oldest and best authorized words in language;
and their use ij as necessary to the classes of people who use them, as ele-
gant words are to the statesman and the poet. It may be added that such
words are often particularly useful to the lexicographer, in furnishing him
th the primary sense, which is no where to be found, but in popular use.
In this work, I have not gone quite so far as John.son and Todd have done, in
admitting vulgar words. Some of them are too low to deserve notice.
The catalogue of obsolete words in Johnson has been considerably aug-
mented by Mason and Todd. I have, though somewhat reluctantly, insert-
' nearly the whole catalogue, which, I presume, amounts to seven or eight.
INTRODUCTION.
and perhaps, to ten thousand words. Most of these may be useful to the
antiquary ; but to the great mass of readers, they are useless.*
I have also inserted many words which are local in England ; being re-
tained from the diftercnt languages that have been spoken in that country,
but which are no more a part of our present language in the United States,
than so many Lapland words. These however occur in books which treat of
agriculture and the arts ; books which are occasionally read in this country.
Law-terms, which are no part of the proper language of the U. States,
and never can be, as the things they express do not exist in this country, are
however retained, as it is necessary that the gentlemen of the bar should
understand them ; and it will be time to dismiss them from books, when
they are obsolete in practice.
As to Americanisms, so called, I have not been able to find many words,
in respectable use, which can be so denominated. These I have admitted
and noted as peculiar to this country. I have fully ascertained that most of the
new words charged to the coinage of this country, were first used in England.
In exhibiting the origin and affinities of English words, I have usually
placed first in order the corresponding word, in the language from or
through which we have received it ; then the corresponding words in the
languages of the same family or race ; then the corresponding word in the
languages of other families. Thus, for example, the word break we have
from our Saxon ancestors ; I therefore give the Saxon word first ; then the
same word in the other Teutonic and Gothic languages ; then the Celtic
words ; then the Latin ; and lastly the Hebrew, Chaldaic and Arabic. This
order is not followed in every instance, even of vernacular words, but it is
the more general course I have pursued. When there can be no rational
doubt respecting the radical identity of words, I have inserted them without
any expression of uncertainty. When there appears to be any reason to
question that identity, I have mentioned the probability only of an affinity
or inserted a query, to invite further investigation. Yet I am aware that
many things, which, in my view, arc not doubtful, will appear so to per
not versedin this subject, and who do not at once see the chain of evidence
which has led me to my inferences. For tliis there is no remedy but fur-
ther investigation.
In regard to words, which have been introduced into the language in
modern days, I have generally referred them to the language, from which
the English immediately received them. A great part of these are from the
Latin through the French; sometimes probably through the Italian or Span-
ish. In some instances however the order is reversed ; indeed it cannot al-
ways be known from which language the words have been received, nor is
it a matter of any consequence.
One circumstance however deserves to be particularly noticed; that when
1 refer a vernacular word to the corresponding word in one of the Shemitic
languages, 1 would not have it understood that the English word was rfi
ed or borrowed from that oriental word. For example, I have giver
Shemitic TnS as the verb corresponding with the English break, that is, the
same word in those languages; not intending by this that our ancestors bor
rowed or received that word from the Chaldeans, Hebrews or other Shemi
tic nation. This is not the fact. It would be just as correct for the com
piler of a Chaldee or Hebrew lexicon to derive pIB from the English break]
or German brechen. So when I deduce coin, through the French, Spanish
or Italian, from the Arabic ^LS , I do not consider the word as borrowed
from the Arabic but as proceeding from a common radix. With regard to
vernacular words, in any European language, such deduction is always in-
correct. Yet errors of this kind abound in every book I have seen, which
treats of this subject. The truth is, all vernacular words in the languages
of Europe, are as old as the same words in Asia ; and when the same words
are found in the Shemitic and Japhetic languages, it is almost demonstiably
certain that these words were in use before the dispersion; the nations of
both families have them from the common stock, and the words, like the fami
lies of men, which use them, are to be considered as of the same antiquity
When therefore I state the words of another language as corresponding
with vernacular words in the English, they are offered as affinities, or the
same word, varied dialectically perhaps, in orthography or signification, but
words from the same root as the EngUsh. Thus under the word bright, I
state the Saxon word, and then the corresponding word in the Ethiopic, the
participle of a verb ; not that our ancestors borrowed the word from the
Ethiopians, but that the verb, from which bright was derived, though lost
in the Saxon, is still retained in the Ethiopic. This fact proves that the an-
cestors of the Saxons once used the verb, but suffered it to go into disuse,
aubstituling shine, scinan, in its place.
It is much to be regretted that British authors and travelers admit into
Iheir writings foreign "words without conforming them, in orthography, to
regular English analogies. It is owing to this disregard of the purity and
■gular form of orthography in English, that we are perplexed with such
ords as burlesque, soup, group, tour, corps, depot, suite, pacha, ennui, and
many others. In this respect, modern writers manifest less taste than the
writers of former centuries, who, when they borrowed foreign words, wrote
them in conformity to English analogies. This practice of blending with the
EngUsh many words of an orthography, which in our language is anomalous,
is very embarrassing to readers who know only their vernacular tongue, and
often introduces an odious difference between the pronunciation of different
classes of people ; an evil more sensibly felt in this country, than in Great
Britain, where differences of rank exist : in short, it multiplies the irregu-
larities of a language, already so deformed by them as to render it nearly
impracticable for our own citizens ever to overcome the difficulties of its
orthography ; irregularities which foreigners deem a reproach to the taste
of a literary nation.
Where is the good sense which should dictate a manly firmness in pre-
serving the regular analogies and purity of the language ? Where is there a
due attachment to uniformity which constitutes the principal beauty and
excellence of a language, and beyond all other means facilitates its acquisi-
tion ? I would not refuse to admit foreign words into the language, if neces-
sary or useful ; but I would treat them as our laws treat aliens ; I would
compel them to submit to the formalities of naturalization, before they should
be admitted to the rights of citizenship ; I would convert them into English
words, or reject them. Nor would I permit the same word to be written
and pronounced in two different ways, one English, the other French. The
French suite in English is suit, whether it signifies a set of clothes, or of
apartments, or of armor, or of attendants.
In the orthography of certain classes of words, I have aimed at uniform-
ity ; but I have not proceeded so far in this desirable reformation of the com-
mon spelling, as my own wishes, and strict propriety might dictate. Thus
if vicious, from the Latin vitiuni, is written with c, the verb vitiate should
regularly be written with the same letter, and we have precedents in the
words appreciate and depreciate, from the Latin pretium. In like manner,
expatiate should be conformed to the orthography o( spacious ; exceed, pro-
ceed, and succeed, should follow the analogy of concede, intercede, and re-
cede. These are points of minor importance, but far from being unimportant.
In writing the termination of such verbs as civilize, legalize, modernize,
there is a diversity which may be corrected without inconvenience. We
indeed have some of the verbs of this class from the French in which lan-
* There is, among some poets of the present day, an affectation of reviv-
ing the use of obsolete words. Some of these may perhaps be revived to
advantage ; but when this practice proceeds so far as to make a glossary ne-
cessary to the understanding of a poem, it seems to be a violation of good
taste. How different is the'simple elegance of nrvdcn, Pope, Gray, Gold-
smith and Cowper !
uagei
1 ; but most of them we have borrowed directly
from the Latin or Greek, or perhaps from the Spanish or Italian, or they i
of our own coinage. As the termination ize is conformable to the Greek
original, and as it expresses the true pronunciation in English, it seems expe-
dient to reduce the whole class to a uniformity of orthography.
Enterprise, devise, comprise, revise, compromise, and surprise, belong to
a different class and retain the orthography of their originals.
There is a fact respecting the pronunciation o{ gn, in cognizance, and re-
cognizance, which seems to have escaped observation ; this is, that g was
introduced to express a nasal sound, as in the French gn, or Spanish n, but
not for the purpose of being pronounced as g. It is probable that the Latins
changed con before nosco into co^ for this reason; and it may be inferred
from the modern pronunciation ot these words, that the Greeks omitted or
softened the sound of 7 in yi^vwo-xcj and yiyv^iiai. However this may be, the
old pronunciation of the words was undoubtedly conusance, or conizance,
reconizance, and hence in the old writers on law, the letter g was omitted.
Indeed there is a harshness in the pronunciation of g in these words, that
offends the organs both of the speaker and hearer, and which well justifies
the pronunciation of the old lawyers; a pronunciation which we frequently
hear, at this day, among gentlemen of the bar.
Whether the Latins pronounced the letter g in such words as benignus,
condignus, malignus, it is of no moment for us to determine. In our mode
of writing benign, condign, malign, the sound of g must be dropped ; but it
is resumed in the derivatives benignity, condignity, malignity : so in de-
sign, designate ; resign, resignation*
In noting the obsolete words which amount to some thousands, I may have
committed mistakes ; for words obsolete in one part of the Briti.sh dominions,
or in some part of the United Stales, may be words in common use, in some
other part of such dominions, not within my knowledge. The rule I have
generally observed has been to note as obsolete such words as I have not
heard in colloquial practice, and which I have not found in any writer of the
last century. The notation of such words as are disused may be of use to
our own youth, and still more to foreigners, who learn our language.
Under the head of etymology, in hooks, the reader will observe referen-
ces to another work, for a more full explanation or view of the affinities of
the words under which these references occur. These are references to a
Synopsis of the principal uncompounded words in twenty languages ; a work
that is not published, and it is uncertain whether it will ever be published.
But if It should be, these references will be useful to the philologist, and I
thought it expedient to insert them.
* The Spanish puno is the Latin pugnus ; and our word pawn, the Tl.pand,
is the Latin pignus. So we pronounce impune, for impugn, French im-
pugner, from the Latin pugno, pugna. How far these facts tend to show
the Latin pronunciation, let the reader judge.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In the year 1803, I received a Letter from Lindley Murray, with a copy of his Grammar. The following is a copy
of the Letter.
" I take the liberty of requesting that the author of ' Dissertations on the Enghsh Language,' will do me the favor
to accept a copy of the new edition of my grammar, as a small testimony of my respect for his talents and character.
At the same time, I hope he will permit me to thank him for the pleasure and improvement, wliich I have derived
from perusing his ingenious and sensible writings.
" If, on looking over the Grammar, any thing should occur to him, by which he thinks the work may be further im-
proved, I will take\he communication of it, as a particular favor ; and will give it an attentive and respectful con-
sideration. Should he prepare any remarks, he will be so good as to send his letter to my brother John Murray, jun.,
Pearl Street, New York, who will carefully forward them to me. I am very respectfully, &c.
LINDLEY MURRAY."
Holdgate, near York, 1803."
Twenty years before the date of this letter, 1 had prepared and published a Grammar, on the model of Lowth's, with
some variations, and on the same principles, as Murray has constructed his. This work passed through many edi-
tions, before Murray's book appeared in this country. But before this period, my researches into the structure of
language had convinced me that some of Lowth's principles are erroneous, and that my own Grammar wanted ma-
terial corrections. In consequence of this conviction, believing it to be immoral to publish what appeared to be false
rules and principles,' I determined to suppress my Grammar, and actually did so; although the public continued to
call for it, and my bookseller urged for permission to continue the publication of it. As I had the same objections to
Murray's Grammar, as I had to my own, I determined on the publication of anew work, which was executed in 1807 ;
and with a view to answer Lindley Murray's request, but in a different manner, I sent him a polite letter^ with a copy
of my Grammar. I have understood from his friends in New York, that these never reached him ; but he received a
copy of my Grammar from his friends, and soon afterward prepared for publication a new edition of his own Gram-
mar, in the octavo form. In the preface to this edition, dated in 1808, he informs his readers, that, " in preparing for
the octavo edition, the author examined the most respectable publications on the subject of grammar, that had re-
ceiithj appeared; and he has, in consequence, been the better enabled to extend and improve his work." On care-
fully comparing this work with my own Grammar, I found most of his improvements were selected from my book.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In the first edition of this work, the compiler gave me credit for one passage only, (being nearly three pages of my
Grammar,) which he acknowledged to be chiefly taken from my work. In the later editions, he says, this is in part
taken from my book, and he further acknowledges that Tifew positions and illustrations, among the syntactical notes
and observations, were selected from my Grammar. Now the fact is, the passages borrowed amount to tliirti/ or more,
and they are so incorporated into his work, that no person except myself would detect tlie plagiarisms, without a
particular view to this object. It may be further observed that these passages are original remarks, some of them
illustrating principles overlooked by all British writers on the subject.
This octavo edition of Murray's Grammar, has been repeatedly published in this country, and constantly used in
our higher seminaries of learning; while the student probably has no suspicion that he is learning my principles in
Murray's Grammar.
For the injustice done to me, by this publication, in violation of the spirit, if not of the letter of the law, for secur-
ing to authors the copy-right of their works, I have sought no redress ; but while I submit to the injury, it seems to be
my duty to bear testimony against this species of immorality. A man's reputation, and character, and writings, are
as much his property, as his land, and it is to be hoped that correct morality will, in due time, place the protection of
the former on as high ground as that of the latter.
Being perfectly satisfied that some principles of Lowth's Grammar, which constitutes the body of Murray's, are
entirely erroneous, I have prefixed a brief Grammar to this Dictionary ; which is committed to my fellow citizens, as
the mature result of all my investigations. It is the last effort I shall make to arrest the progress of error, on this
subject. It needs the club of Hercules, wielded by the arm of a giant, to destroy the hydra of educational prejudice.
The club and the arm, I pretend not to possess, and my efforts may be fruitless ; but it will ever be a satisfaction to
reflect that I have discharged a duty demanded by a deep sense of the importance of truth. It is not possible for
me to think with indifference, that half a million of youth in our schools are daily toiling to learn that which is not
true. It has been justly observed that ignorance is preferable to error.
Some of the more prominent errors of the English Grammars, are,
1. The admission oiihe article, as a distinct part of speech, and an entire mistake respecting what is called the
indefinite article. The word article signifies, if any thing, a. joint ; but there is no class of words, unless it may be
the conjunctions, which can, with a shadow of propriety, be brought under that denomination. The words called
articles, are, in all \ang\iages, adjectives ; words limiting or in some way qualifying the sense of names or nouns. In
most languages, they are varied like the nouns which they qualify, and attached to them like other adjectives.
2. The arrangement of words in a class to which they do not belong. Thus, that is called sometimes a pronoun,
and sometimes a conjunction, when in fact it is always a pronoun or substitute, and never a conjunction. So also if,
though, unless, notwithstanding, are called conjunctions ; which is a most palpable mistake. Notwithstanding,
is placed by Murray among the conjunctions. But after he procured my Grammar, he inserted, under his twenty-first
rule of Syntax, the following remark. " It is very frequent, when the word notwithstanding agrees with a number
of words, or with an entire clause, to omit the whole, except this word ; and in this use oi notwithstanding, we have
a striking proof of the value of abbreviations in language," &c. The whole passage, taken from my Grammar, and
the two subsequent passages, are too long to be here recited. The remark to be made here is, that the author, by
attempting to patch a defective system, falls into the absurdity of making notwithstanding a conjunction, in one part
of his book, and in another, he makes it a word agreeing ivith a number of words, or with an entire clause !
3. There is no correct and complete exhibition of the English verb in any British Grammar which I have seen.
The definite tenses, which are as important as the indefinite, are wholly wanting ; and the second future in Murray
is imperfect. It seems that he had in his first editions inserted this form, thou shall, or ye shall have loved, but in his
octavo edition, he informs us that shall in the second and third persons is incorrectly applied. To prove this, he
gives the following examples. " Thou shalt have served thy apprenticeship, before the end of the year." " He
shall have completed his business, when the messenger arrives." Very true ; but the author forgot that by placing
when or after, as an introduction to the sentence, the use o{ shall is not only correct, but in many cases, necessary.
When thou shalt or you shall have served an apprenticeship, after he shall have completed his business, are perfectly
correct expressions. But in consequence of this oversight, Murray's second future ia defective throughout the whole
paradigm.
ADVERTISEMENT.
4. The Syntax of every British Grammar that I have seen, is extremely imperfect. There are many English
phrases which are perfectly well established and correct, which are not brought within the rules ; and of course they
cannot be parsed or resolved by the student.
5. There are several false rules of construction which mislead the learner ; rules which are in direct opposition to
the practice of the best writers.
6. There are some phrases or modes of expression, frequently used by authors, which are not good English, and
which it is the business of the Grammarian to correct, but which are not noticed in any British Grammar. Some
of these have been considered in the preceding Introduction.
There is a great difficulty in devising a correct classification of the several sorts of words ; and probably no classi-
fication that shall be simple and at the same time philosophically correct, can be invented. There are some words
that do not strictly fall under the description of any class yet devised. Many attempts have been made and are still
making to remedy this evil ; but such schemes as I have seen, do not, in my apprehension, correct the defects of the
old schemes, nor simplify the subject. On the other hand, all that I have seen, serve only to obscure and embarrass
the subject, by substituting new arrangements and new terms, which are as incorrect as the old ones, and less intel-
ligible.
On the subject of the tenses of the verbs, for example, we may attempt philosophical accuracy, and say that there
are, and there can be three tenses only, to express the natural division of time \nio past, present, and future. But a
language which should have words to express these three divisions only, would be miserably imperfect. We want to
express not only the past, the preseiit, and the future, with respect to ourselves or the time of speaking and writing,
but the past with respect to other times or events. When we say, the mail will have arrived before sun-set, we ex-
press not only a. future event, at the time of speaking, but an event to be past before another event, the setting of the
sun. Hence I have given to that form of words, the denomination of the prior future. So of the past time. He
had delivered the letter, before I arrived, denotes an event not only jjast, as to the time of speaking, but past before
another event, my arrival. This tense I call the prior-past. These denominations, like the terms of the new chim-
istry, define themselves. The old names of the latter tense, i)luperfect ox preterphiperfcct, more than finished or past,
or beyond more than finished or past, I have discarded. These small alterations of the old system will, I hope, be
well received.
If it should be said, that our verbs have not tenses, because they have not variations of termination to express them ;
I would reply, that this may be considered as a mistake, proceeding from an early bias, impressed upon us by the
Greek and Latin forms of the tenses. A tense is a term intended to denote a form of verbs used for expressing time
or some division of it, and it is just as properly applied to a combination of words for that purpose, as to a modifica-
tion of the simple verb. The use of it is entirely arbitrary. Locutus sum are not the less a tense, because two words
are employed. It is the time and not the form of words used to express it, which stamps propriety on the denom-
ination.
If we attempt to dispense with some of the English tenses, by analyzing them, and resolving them into their prima-
ry elements, that is, parsing the words composing them, each distinctly, we shall meet with insuperable difficulties.
Let a man attempt to make out the sense of this phrase, he hud been writing, by analysing it. Had alone denotes
field, jiossessed, as in the phrase, " he had an estate in New York." Then in the phrase above, it will signify, he held
or possessed been writing.
It is alledged that the auxiliary verbs are not secondary, but the most important verbs in the language. The point
of importance must be determined by this fact, that by themselves they do not make complete sense ; they leave the
sense or affirmation imperfect. He may, he can, he will, he shall, are incomplete sentences, without another verb
expressed or understood. They express nothing definite which is intended to be affirmed. When I ask, whether
you can lend me a sum of money, and you reply, / can, the verb lend is understood. Not so with the verbs consid-
ered as principal. When I say, / ivrite, Itcalk, the sense or affirmation is complete without the use of another verb.
Hence it is with perfect propriety, that such verbs as can be used only in connection with others, should be considered
as of a secondary character, and being used to aid in forming the tenses, they may very justly be denominated aux-
iliars or auxiliaries.
Some of our verbs are used eitiier as principal or as auxiliary, as have and will ; and will takes a diflTerent and reg-
ular form when principal ; I will, thou wiliest, he tvilleth or wills an estate or a legacy ; but when auxiliary, thou wilt,
he will bequeath his estate.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Will, indeed, in its primary use, expresses volition, as when we say, " I ivill walk or ride ; but as an auxiliary, it
often loses this signification. When it is said, " it will rain to-morrow," what relation has will to volition 1
To show the utter futility of attempting to explain phrases by the primary signification of the auxiliaries, take the
following example. May and might express power, liberty or possibility ; have and had express holding or possession.
On this plan of explanation, resolve the following sentence. " He miffht have had more prudence than to engage in
speculation ;" that is, he was able, or had power, to hold or possess, held or possessed more prudence than to engage
in speculation.
So the following. " It maij have rained on the land." That is, it has power or is possible, to hold or possess, rained
on the land.
All attempts to simplify our forms of the tenses by such resolution, must not only fail, but prove to be perfectly ridic-
ulous. It is the combination of icords only that admits of definition ; and these must be exhibited as tenses ; forms
of expression presenting to the hearer or reader the precise time of action. This is necessary for our own citizens ;
but for foreigners, indispensable, as they want to know the tenses in Enghsh which correspond with the tenses in
their own languages.
Nor shall we succeed much better in attempting to detect the primary elements of the terminations which form the
variations of the simple verb. We may conjecture any thing ; we may suppose loved to be a contraction of love-did;
but in opposition to this, we find in our mother tongue, this termination ed, was od, or ode. Ic liifode, I loved ;
we lufodon, we loved. Besides, if I mistake not, this termination is the same as that in the early Roman laws,
in which esto was written estod ; and I believe we have no evidence that do and did ever belonged to the Latin lan-
guage. But what settles this question, is, that did itself is formed of do and this same termination, do-ed. Here
the question may rest.
We may conjecture that the personal terminations of the verbs were originally pronouns, and this conjecture is
certainly better founded than many others ; but we find in our mother tongue, the verb love, in the plural number, is
written, we hifiath, ge liifath, thi hifiath, all the persons having the same termination ; but certainly the same word
was never used to express %ve, you or ye, and they.
I have attentively viewed these subjects, in all the lights which my opportunities have afforded, and I am convinced
that the distribution of words, most generally received, is the best that can be formed, with some slight alterations
adapted to the particular construction of the English language. Our language is rich in tenses, beyond any language
in Europe ; and I have endeavored to exhibit all the combinations of words forming them, in such a manner that
students, natives or foreigners, may readily understand them.
I close with this single remark, that from all the observations I have been able to make, I am convinced the dic-
tionaries and grammars which have been used in our seminaries of learning, for the last forty or fifty years, are so
incorrect and imperfect, that they have introduced or sanctioned more errors than they have amended ; in other
words, had the people of England and of these States been left to learn the pronunciation and construction of their
vernacular language solely by tradition, and the reading of good authors, the language would have been spoken and
written with more purity than it has been and now is, by those who have learned to adjust their language by the rules
which dictionaries and grammars prescribe.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL. GRAMMAR, «Stc.
The Grammar of a language is a collecdon of principles and rules, taken
from the established usages of the nationusing that language ; in other words,
an exhibition of the genuine structure of the language. These principles
and rules iie il. ri\e.l tiom the natural distinctions of words, or they are ar-
bitrary, iiml ill [H !i(i lui Ibcir authority wholly on custom.
A riih \- .ui r.,|jlilished form of construction in a particular class of words
Thus it is J rule iu Kiiglish that the plural number of nouns is formed by
adding » or cs to the singular, as hand, hands, cage, cages, fish, fishes.
An exception to a rule is, the deviation of a word from the common con-
struction. Thus the regular plural of tnan would be mans,- but the actua
plural is men. This word then is an exception to the general rule of form-
ing plural nouns.
Grammar is usually divided into four parts — orthography, etymology, syn-
tax, and prosody.
Orthography treats of the letters of a language, their sounds and use
whether simple or in combination; and teaches the true mode of writing
words, according to established usage-
Etymology treats of the derivation of words from their radicals or pi
fives, and of their various inflections and modifications to express person,
number, case, sex, time and mode.
Syntax is a system of rules for constructing sentences.
Prosody treats of the quantity or rather of the accent of syllables, of poetic
feet, and the laws of versification.
The elements of language are articulate sounds. These are represented on
paper by letters or characters, which are the elements of written language
A syllable is a simple sound, or a combination or succession of sounds ut
Icred at one breath or impulse of the voice.
A word consists of one syllable or of a combination of syllables.
A sentence consists of a number of words, at the pleasure of the speakei
or writer ; but forming complete sense.
ENGLISH ALPHABET.
The English Alphabet consists of twenty six letters or characters, viz.
A a— B b— C c— D d— E e— F f— G g— H h— I i— J j— K k— L 1 — M m—
N n— 0 o— P p— Q q— R r— S s— T t— U u— V v— W w— X x— Y y— Z z
Of these, three, a, e, and o, are always vowels ; i and u arc either vowels
or diphthongs ; and yisa vowel, diphthong, or consonant. To these may be
added to, which is actually a vowel. H is an aspirate or mark of breathing,
and the rest are consonants, or articulations.
A vowel is a simple sound formed by opening the mouth, in a particular
manner. This may be known by the power we have of prolonging the
sound, without changing the position of the organs, as in uttering a, e,and o.
When the position of the organs is necessarily varied, during the utterance,
the sound is not simple, but diphthongal; as in uttering i and u.
The vowel characters in English have each several different sounds.
A has four souiiil^ ; First or long, as in /ate, ale.
2. Shiirt, .1- :ii nt. I), it. ban. This is nearly the fourth sound shortened.
3. 1)1.1, 111, -i II. I///. /(i,7, and shortened, as in toAot.
4. ll.ili.iii, lis [II Jiilfur, calm, ask.
E has two sounds; First or long, as in mete, me, meter.
2. Short, as in met, bet, pen. This is nearly the first sound of a shortened.
E has also the sound of a long, as in prey, vein ; but this is an anomaly.
/has two sounds; First or long, and diphthongal, as in fine, wine, mind.
2. Short, as inpit, ability. This is the short sound of e long.
O has three sounds ; Fir.st or long, as in note, roll.
2. Short, as in not, nominal. This is the short sound of broad aie, as in
what, warrant.
3. The sound of oo, or French ou, as in move, tomb, lose.
J/has three sounds; First or long, as in cube, rude, enumerate; a diph-
thongal sound.
2. Short, as in cub, but, number.
5. The Italian M, as in bush, bullet; the short sound of oo.
¥ has two sounds ; the first and long is the same as tliat of ?' long, as in
defy, rely, try, chyle.
2. Short, as in sym^Hom, pity ; the same as the short sound off.
Vol. I. H.
At the beginning of words, y may be considered a consonant, as in year.
Wis properly avowel, having the same sound as oo, in Kjoo^the French
ou, the Italian, German, and Spanish u. It is the same in English as iu
the Welsh. Thus dwell is pronounced dooell. When initial, it has been
considered to be a consonant, as in well, will, ooell, ooill; but although the
position of the organs in uttering this letter at the beginning of words may
be a little closer, it can hardly be called an articulation. In this combina-
tion, the two vowels arc rather diphthongal.
Consonants or articulations are characters that represent the junctions,
jointings, or closings of the organs, which precede or follow the vocal sounds.
Some of them are close articulnliens whieh wbr.lly infereept the voice.
Such arefe,p, and <, as in the syll '''.-.' '/ '' I ': . ir ii^nnlly railed
mutes, OT pure mutes. Others';.. .. !.• | . I. , _ n ..i -.mnil, as b.
rf, and g, in the syllables cd, e(<, I i; 1! ii, : .i.,//!,, muhs.
Others are imperfect articulatiuu.-, aui > niii. Ij imciiu(jiuiii, ilie \oice, but
admitting a kind of hum, a hiss, or a breatliiug; and for lliis reason, they
are sometimes called semi-vowels. Such are/, /, m, n, r, $, v, and z,as in
the syllables eX, el, em, en, er, es, ev, ez.
J and the soft g represent a compound sound, or rather a union of sounds,
which may be expressed by edge, or t^e, as in join, general.
X represents the sounds of ks, or gz.
Th have an aspirated sound, as in thing, wreath ; or a vocal sound, as in
thus, thou, breathe.
Sh maybe considered as representing a simple sound, asm esh,she,shall.
This sound, rendered vocal, becomes ezh, for which we have no character.
It is heard infusion, pronounced fuzhun.
The letters ng in combination have two sounds ; one as in sing, singer ;
the other as in finger, longer. The latter requires a closer articulation of
the palatal organs, than the former ; but the distinction can be communica-
ted only by the ear. The orthoepists attempt to express it by writing g
after the ng, &sfing-ger. But the peculiar sound of ng- is expressed, if ex-
pressed at all, solely by the first syllable, as will be obvious to any per.son,
who will write sing-ger for singer ; for let sing in this word be pronoun-
ced as it is by itself, sing, and the additional letter makes no difference,
iless the speaker pauses at sing, and pronounces ger by itself.
The articulations in English may all be thus expressed : eb, ed, ef, eg, ek,
el, em, en, ep, er, es, et, ev, ez, eth, aspirate and vocal, esh, ezh, ing.
These articulations may be named from the organs whose junctions they
represent — Thus
Labials, or letters of the lips, eb, ef, ev, ep, em.
Dentals, ed, et, eth, es, esh, ez, ezh, en.
Palatals, eg, ek, el, er.
Nasals, em, en, ing.
The letters « and z, are also called sibilants, or hissing letters — to which
may be added, esh, and ezh.
Q is precisely equivalent to k; but it differs from it in being always follow-
by M. It is a useless letter; for quest might as well be written kuest or
kwesi, in the Dutch manner.
A diphthong is a union of two vowels or simple sounds uttered so rapidly
and closely, as to form one syllable only, or what is considered as one sylla-
' le ; as oi and oy in voice and joy, ou in sound, and ow in vow.
A triphthong is a union of three vowels in one syllable ; as in adieu.
There are many combinations of vowels in English words, in which one
owel only is sounded: as ai, ea, ie, ei, oa, ui, ay, ey,&ic. These may be
called digraphs. They can be reduced to no rule of pronunciation.
The combinations au and aw have generally the sound of the broad a, as in
fraud, and law. The combination ew has the sound of u long, as in pew,
new, crew; and sometimes at the beginning of words the sound of ^u, as in
eucharist, euphony.
The letters cl, kl, at the beginning of a word, are pronounced as tl, as in
clear. Gl at the beginning of words are pronounced as d/, as in glory.
DIVISION OF SYLLABLES.
The first and principal rule in dividing syllables, is not to separate letters
that belong to the same syllable, except in cases of anomalous pronunciation.
GRAMMAR OF THE
The best division of syllables is that which leads the learner most easily to a^
just pronunciation. Thus, hab-it, ham-let, bat-ter, ho-ly, lo-cal, en-gage,
an-i-mal, al-i-ment, pol-i-cy, eb-o-ny, des-ig-nate, lam-ent-a-ble, pref-
er-a-b!e.
An exception to this rule occurs in such words as vicious, ambition, in
which the ci and fi are pioiiouuccil like sh. In this case, it seems prefera-
ble todiride tlie wok!- 'r.,~ r,-,,, i;v, nm-bi-tion.
Individiu;; the syii ■ \ mi e words it seems advisable to keep the
original eniire, uu!.' - i ■ i' oi\ i ion may lead to a wrong pronunciation.
Thus aet-or, help-cr. ^7 , . >-"/ . lu.y he considered as a better division than
ac-tor, hel-per, op-pres-^or. But it may be eligible in many cases, to devi-
ate from this rule. Thus op-pres-sion seems to be more convenient both
lor children in learning and for printers, than op-press-ion.
RULES FOR SPEtlilNG.
1. Verbsof one syllable, ending with a single consonant preceded by a
short vowel, and verbsof more syllables than one, ending with an accented
consonant preceded by a short vowel, double tiie final consonant in the par-
ticiple, and when any syllable is added beginning witli a vowel. Thus,
Abet, Sin, Permit,
Abetted, Sinned, Permitted,
Abetting, Sinning, Permitting,
Abettor. Sinner. Permitter.
2. When the final consonant is preceded by a long vowel, the consonant
is usually not doubled. Thus,
Seal, Repeal, Defeat,
Sealed, Repealed, Defeated,
Sealing, Repealing, Defeating,
Sealer. Repealer. Defeater.
3. When the accent falls on any syllable except the last, the final conso-
nant of the verb is not to be doubled in the derivatives. Thus,
Bias, Quarrel, Worship, Equal,
Biased, Quarreled, Worshiped, Equaled,
Biasing, Quarreling, Worshiping, Equaling,
Biaser. Quarrelei'. Worshiper. Equaler.
The same rule is generally to be observed in nouns, as in jeweler, from
jewel.
These are general rules ; though possibly special reasons may, in some
instances, justify exceptions.
CLASSIFICATIOX OF WORDS.
Words are classified according to their uses. Writers on grammar are not
perfectly agreed in the distribution of words into classes. But I shall, with
one exception, follow the common distribution. Words then may be distrib-
uted into cisht classes or parts of speech. 1. The name ornoun. 2. The
pronoun orsubsliliite. 3. the adjective, attribute or attributive. 4. The
verb. 5. Tlie adverb. 6. The preposition. 7. The connective or cmi-
junction. 8. The exclamation or interjection.
The participle is sometimes treated as a distinct part of speech; it Is a de-
rivative from the verb, and partakes of its nature, expressing motion or ac-
tion. But it sometimes loses its verbal character, and becomes a mere ad-
jective, expressing quality or habit, rather than action.
Sames or
JVO'
A name or noun is that by which a tiling is calletl; and it expresses the
idea of that which exists, material or immaterial. Of material substances,
as man, horse, tree, table — of immaterial things, as faith, hope, love. These
and similar words are, by customary use, made the names of things which
exist, or the symbols of ideas, which they express without the help of any
other word.
Division of Names.
Names are of two kinds; common, or those which represent the idea of
a whole kind or .species ; and proper or appropriate, which denote individu
hIs. Thus animal is a name common to all beings, having organized bodie:
and endowed with life, digestion, and spontaneous motion. Plant and reg
rtable are names of all beings which have organized bodies and life, with
out the power of spontaneous motion. Fori'l is the common name of all
iethereil animals which fly— ^s7i, of animals which live wholly in water.
On the other hand, Thomas, John, William, arc proper or appropriate
names, each denoting an individual of which there is no species or kind
London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rhine, Po, Danube, Massachusetts, Hudson,
Potomac, are also proper names, being appropriate toimUvidual things.
Propel names however become common when they comprehend two
more individuals ; as, the Capets, the Smiths, the Fletchers.
" TiPo Hoberts there the pagan force defy'd." Hook's Tasso, b. 5
Limitation of Names.
Proper names are sufficiently definite without the aid of another word
to Umit their meaning, as Boston, Baltimore. Savamrjh. \vi when cc
individuals have a common character, or predominant qualities which create
a simiUtude between them, this common character becomes in the mind a
species, and the proper name of an individual possessing this character, ad-
ndts of (he definitives and of plural number, like a common name. Thus a
conspirator is called a Cataline ; and numbers of them Catalines or the Cata-
lines of their country. A distinguished general is called a Cesar — an emin-
ent orator the Cicero of his age.
But names, which are common to a whole kind or species, require often
to be limited to an individual or a certain number of individuals of the kind
or species. For this purpose the English language is furnished with a num-
ber of words, as an, or a, the, this, that, these, those, and a few others,
which define the extent of the signification of common names, or point to
the particular things mentioned. These are all adjectives or attributes,
having a dependence on some noun expressed or implied.
Rule I. — A noun or name, without a preceding definitive, is used either
in an unUmited sense, extending to the whole species, or in an indefinite
sense, denoting a number or quantity, but not the whole.
" The proper study of mankind is man." Pope-
Here man comprehends the whole species.
" In the first place, woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than
man to the perfect discharge of parental duties." LiJ'e of Cowper.
Here woman and 7nan comprehend each the whole species of its sex.
Note. — The rule laid down by Lowth, and transcribed implicitly by his
followers, is general. " A substantive without any article to limit it, is taken
in its widest sense ; thus man means all mankind." The examples al-
ready given prove the inaccuracy of the rule. But let it be tried by other
examples.
"There are fishes that have wings, and are not strangers to the airy re-
gions."— Locke, b. 3. ch.6. 12. If the rule is just, timt fishes is to be
■"' taken in its widest sense," then all fishes have wings I
Rule II.— The definitive an or a, being merely one, in its English or-
thography, and precisely synonymous with it, limits a common name to an
individual of the species. Its sole use is to express unity, and with respect
to number, it is the most definite word imaginable; as an ounce, a church, n
hip, that is, 07ie ship, one church. It is used before a name which is indefi-
lite, or applicable to any one of a species ; as
" He bore him in the thickest troop.
As doth a lion in a herd of neat." Shakspearc.
Here a limits the sense of the word lion, and that of herd to one — but
does not specify the particular one — " As any lion does or would do in
herd."
his definitive is used also before names which are definite and as specific
as possible : as, "Solomon built a temple." "The Lord God planted a gar-
den eastward in Eden." London is a great commercial city. A decisive
battle was fought at Marengo. The English obtained a signal naval vic-
tory at the mouth of the Nile.
Note. — When the sense of words is sufficiently certain, by the construc-
tion, the definitive may be omitted ; as, " Duty to your majesty, and regard
for the preservation of ourselves and our posterity, require us to entreat
your royal attention."
It is also omitted before names whose signification is general, and requires
no limitation — as '^wisdom is justified of her children" — "anger resteth in
the bosom of fools."
The definitive a is used before plural names preceded by few or many —
as a few days, a great many persons. It is also used before any collective
word, as a dozen, a hundred, even when such words are attached to plural
nouns ; as a hundred years.
It is remarkable that a never precedes many without the intervenUon of
great between them — but follows many, standing between this word and a
name — and what is equally singular, many, the very essence of which is
to mark plurality, will, with a intervening, agree with a name in the singu-
' • number ; as
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene." Gray.
" Where matiy a rose bud rears its blushing head." Beattie.
Rule. III. — The definitive the is employed before names, to limit their
signification to one or more specific things of the kind, discriminated from
[hers of the same kind. Hence the person or thing is understood by the
reader or hearer, as the twelve Apostles, the laws of morality, the rules of
good breeding.
This definitive is also used with names of things which exist alone, or
which we consider as single, as the Jews, the Surt, the Globe, the Ocean ;
and also before words when used by way of distinction, as the Church,
the Temple.
Rule IN .— The is used rhetorically before a name in the singular num-
ber, to denote the whole species, or an indefinite number; as, ''the fig-tree
pulteth forth her green figs." Sol. Song.
" The almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden.
" Or ever the silver cord shall be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken," &.c.
I Ecclcsiastes.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
■ Tlie Christian, who, with pious horror, avoided the abominations of the
•us or the theater, found himself encompassed with infernal snares," &c.
G-ib. Rom. Emp. ch. 15.
■ The heart likes naturally to bo moved and affected."
CampbelVs JRhet. ch. 2.
; is also used before i
i employed figuratively
Note 1.— Thisdcfii
in a general sense; as, • , .,
" His mates their safety to the waves consign. Lusiad, 2.
Here waves cannot be understood of any particular waves ; but the word
is a metaphor for a particular thing, the ocean.
Note 2. The definitive the is used before an attribute, which is selected
from others belonging to the same object ; as, " The very frame of spirit;
proper for being diverted with the laughable in objects, is so different from!
- - "■ philosophizing on them." Campbell's Rhet. 1.2.
that which is necessary for ]
A«m6e
As men have occasion to .speak of a single object, or of two or more indi-
viduals of the same kind, it has been found necessary to vary the noun or
name, and usually the termination, to distinguish plurality from unity. The
different forms of words to express one or more are called in Grammar, num-
bers; of which there are in English, two, the singular and the plural.
The singular denotes an individual, or a collection of individuals united in a
body ; as, a man, a ship, an office, a company, a society, a dozen. The plu-
ral denotes two or more individuals, not considered as a collective body ; as,
men, ships, offices, companies, societies. The plural number is formed by
the addition of s or es to the singular.
Rule 1. When the terminating letter of a noun will admit the .sound of
I coalesce with the i
the plural ; as sea,
vales ; vow, vows.
2. Whentbr Im.
lable of it, tlw .< •
houses; grace. i;i i ,
3. When the i, u,
ral is formed by add
cannot be pronounced ;
I or the last syllable of it, s only is added to for
hand, hands ; pen, pens ; grape, grapes ; vale,
. . I ; combine insound with the word orlastsyl-
I i.-.i«es the number of syllables; as, house
[' J.'*; rose, roses; voice, voices; maze, mazes,
- II, . ss. sft, or eft with its English sound, the plu-
5 to the singular; for a single s after those letters
as, fox, foxes; glass, glasses; brush, brushes;
church, chtirches. But after eft with its Greek sound, like *, the plural is
formed by « only ; as monarch, monarchs.
4. When a name ends with y after a consonant, the plural is formed by
dropping y and adding tes ,■ as vanity, vanities. Alkali has a regular plu
ral, alkalies.
But after ay, ey, and oy, s only is added ; as, delay, delays; valley, val
leys; joy, joys; money, moneys.
Note. — A few English nouns deviate from the foregoing rules in the
formation of the plural number
Class 1. — In some names, / in the singular, is for the convenience of
utterance, changed into
knife,
wife,
leaf,
calf.
knives,
wives,
leaves,
calves.
self,
half,
beef,
staff,
loaf.
selves,
halves,
beeves.
sheaf,
shelf,
wolf,
whaif,
tliief.
CL.4.SS 2. — The second class consists of words which
numbers, with plurals irregularly formed; as.
sheaves.
shelves.
wolves.
wharves.
thieves.
used in both
chad,
foot,
tooth,
louse,
goose,
beau,
thesis,
emphasi
antithesi
peas or pease,
criterioiis or criteria,
focuses or foci,
radiuses or radii,
indexes or indices,
calxes or calces,
phenomena.
children. hypothe
feet. brother,
teeth. penny,
men. die,
women. pea,
oxen. criterion,
lice. focus,
geese. radius,
beaux. index,
theses. calx,
emphases. phenomenon,
antitheses.
Pennies is used for real coins; pence for their value in computati
Dies denotes stamps for coining; dice, pieces used in games. — Peas denotes
the seeds as distinct objects ; pease the seeds in a mass. — Brothers is the
plural used in common discourse; brethren, in the scripture style, but is not
restricted to it.
Cherubim and Seraphim are real Hebrew plurals; but such is the pro-
pensity in men to form regular inflections in language, that these words are
used as in the singular, with regular plurals, cherubims, seraphims. In like
manner, the Hebrew singulars, cherub and seraph, have obtained regular
plurals.
The influence of this principle is very obvious in other foreign words,
which the sciences have enlisted into our service; as may be observed in
the words radius, focus, index, &c. which now begin to bo U5ed with regu-
lar English plural terminations. This tendency to regularity is, by all means,
to be encouraged ; for a prime excellence in language is the uniformity of
its inflections. The facts here stated will be evinced by a few authorities.
" Vesiculated corallines are found adhering to rocks, shells and /ucuscs."
Encyc. art. Corallines.
" Many /etiwes are deficient at the extremities."
Var. Zoon. Sect. 1, 3, 9.
"Five hundred denariiises." Baker's Livy, 4. 491.
"The radiations of that tree and its fruit, the principal /oeitsfs of which
are in the Maldivia islands." Hunter's St. Pierre, vol. S.
"Tlie reduction of metallic calxes into metals."
Ency. art. Metallurgy.
See also Jl/ediunw, Campbell's Rhetoric, 1, 150 — Ca/jxcs, Darwin's Zoon.
1, 74 — Caudexes, Phytologia, 2, 3 — Irises, Zoon. 1. 444. Reguluses and
residuums. Ency. art. Metal.
In authorities equally respectable, we find stamens, stratums, funguses ;
and in pursuance of the principle, we may expect to see lamens for lamina ;
lamels for lamella; barytc for barytes; pyrite for pyrites; strontite for
strontites ; stalactite for the plural stalactites. These reforms are necessa-
ry to enable us to distinguish the singular from the plural number.
Class 3. — The third class of irregulars consists of such as have no plural
termination ; some of which represent ideas of things which do not admit of
plurality ; as rye, barley, flax, hemp, flour, sloth, pride, pitch, and the names
of metals, gold, silver, tin, zink, antimony, lead, bismuth, quicksilver. When,
in the progress of improvement, any thing, considered as not susceptible of
plurality, is found to have varieties, which are distinguishable, this distinc-
tion gives rise to a plural of the term. Thus in early ages our ancestors
took no notice of different varieties of wheat, and the term had no plural.
But modern improvements in agriculture have recognized varieties of this
grain, which have given the name a plural form. The same remark is ap-
plicable to fern, clay, marl, sugar, cotton, &c. which have plurals, formerly
unknown. Other words may hereafter undergo a similar change.
Other words of this class denote pluraMty, without a plural termination ; as
cattle, sheep, swine, kine, deer, ho.se ; trout, salmon, carp, perch, and many
other names of fish. Fish has a plural, but it is used in the plural sense
without the termination ; as,
"We are to blame for eating these fish." Anacharsis 6. 272.
"The^sft reposed in seas and crystal floods,
" The beasts retired in covert of the woods." Hoole T. 2. 726.
Cannon, shot and sail, are used in a plural sense ; as,
" One hundred cannon were landed from the fleet."
Burchctt, A'aval Hist. 732.
" Several shot being fired." Ibm. 455.
" Several sail of ships." " TZim. 426.
In the sense in which sail is here used, it does not admit of a plural
ending.
Under this class may be noticed a number of words, expressing time, dis-
tance, measure, weight, and number, which, though admitting a plural ter-
mination, are often, not to say generally, used without that termination, even
when used with attributes of plurality ; such are the names in these expres-
ions, two year, five mile, ten foot, seven pound, three tun, hundred, thou-
and, or million, five bushel, twenty weight, &c. Yet the most unlettered
people never say, two minute, three hour, five day, or week, or month ; nor
inch, yard or league ; nor three ounce, grain, dram, or peck,
like singularity is observable in the Latin language. " Tritici quadra-
gintamilUa modium." Liv. lib. 26. 47. Forty thousand modiura of wheat.
Quatuor milliapondo auri," four thousand pound of gold. Ibm. 27. 10.
Here we see the origin of our pound. Originally it was merely weight —
four thousand of gold by weight. From denoting weight generally, pondo
became the term for a certain division or quantity ; retaining however its
lignification of unity, and becoming an indeclinable in Latin. Twenty
pound then, in strictness, is twenty divisions by weight ; or as we say, with
a like abbreviation, twenty weight.
The words horse, foot and irtfantry, comprehending bodies of soldiers, are
used as plural nouns and followed by verbs in the plural. Cavalry is some-
times used in like manner.
Class 4. — The fourth class of irregular nouns consists of words which
have the plural termination only. .Some of these denoting plurality, are al-
ways joined with verbs in the plural ; as the following :
Annals, drawers, lees, customs,
archives, downs, lungs, shears,
ashes, dregs, matins, scissors,
assets, embers, mallows, shambles,
betters, entrails, orgies, tidings,
bowels, fetters, nippers, tongs,
compasses, filings, pincers, or thanks,
clothes, goods, pinchei-s, vespers,
calends, hatches, pleiads, vitals,
breeches, ides, snuffi -?, victuals.
Letters, in the sense of literature, may be aJded to the foregoing list.
Manners, in the sense oi behavior, is also plural.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Other words of tliis class, though ending in s, are used either wholly ir
the singular number, or in the one or tlie other, atthe pleasure of the writer
Amends, wages, conies, economies,
alms, billiards, catoprics, mathematics,
bellows, fives, dioptrics, mechanics,
gallows, sessions, acoustics, hydraulics,
odds, measles, pneumatics, hydrostatics,
means, hysterics, statics, analytics,
pains, physics, statistics, politics,
news, ethics, spherics,
riches, optics, tactics.
Of these, jja/rts, riches, and wages* are more usually considered as plu-
ral— netvs is always singular — odds and /neons are either singular or plu
ral — the others are more strictly singular; for measles is the name of adis.
ease, and in strictness, no more plural than gout or fever. Small pox, for
pocks, is sometimes considered as a plural, but it ought to be used as sin]
lar. Billiards has the sense of game, containing unity of idea; and eth
physics and other similar names, comprehending each the whole system of
a particular science, do not convey the ideas of parts or particular branches,
but of a whole collectively, a unity, and hence seem to be treated as words
belonging to the singular number.
AUTHORITIES.
Pre-eminent by so mttch odds.
With every odds thy prowess I defy.
Where the odds is considerable.
The wages of sin is death.
Much pains has been taken.
Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high. Bible
Here he erected a fort and a gallows. Lusiad 1. 134
The riches we had in England was the slow result of long industry and
wisdom, and is to be regained, &c. Davenant, 2. 12.
Mathematics informs us. Encyc. art. strength of Materials.
Politics is the art of producing individual good by geneial measures.
Beddoes' Hygeia. 2. 79.
Politics contains two parts. Locke, vol. 2. 408.
Locke however uses a plural verb with ethics. "The ideas that ethics
are conversant about." — B. 4. 12. 8.
Pains, when preceded by much, should always have a singular verb.
Means is so generally used in either number, every means, all means,
this means, and these means, that authorities in support of the usage are
deemed superfluous.
Gender.
Milt. P. L. 4. 474.
Hoole Tas. 6. 19. 40.
Camp. Rhet, ch. 5.
Bible.
Enfield Hist. Phil. ch. 2.
Gender, in grammar, is a difference of termination, to express distinc-
tion of sex.
There being two sexes, tnale und female, words which denote males are
said to be of the masculine gender ; those which denote females, of the fem-
inine gender. Words expressing things without sex, are said to be of neuter
gender. There are therefore but two genders; yet for convenience the
neuter is classed with the genders ; and we say there are three, the mascu-
line, feminine and neuter. The English modes of distinguishing sex are these :
1. The regular termination of the feminine gender, is ess; which is ad-
ded to the name of the masculine ; as lion, lioness. But when the word
ends in or, the feminine is formed by retrenching a vowel, and blending
two syllables into one; as actor, actress. In a few words, the feminine gen-
der is represented by ix, as testatrix, from testator ; and a few others are ir-
regular. The following are most of the words which have a distinct termi-
nation for the feminine gender :
Actor,
abbot,
adulterer,
baron,
benefactor,
governor.
priest,
poet.
actress.
deacon.
deaconess.
abbess.
duke.
duchess.
adultress.
embassador,
embassadress.
baroness.
emperor.
empress.
benefactress.
tiger.
tigress.
governess.
songster,
songstress.
heroine.
seamster.
seamstress.
heiress.
viscount.
viscountess.
peeress.
jew.
Jewess.
priestess.
lion.
Uoness.
poetess.
master.
mistress.
princess.
marquis.
marchioness.
prophetess.
patron.
patroness.
shepherdess.
protector.
protectress.
.sorceress.
executor.
executrix.
tutoress.
testator.
testatrix.
instructress.
elector.
electrcss.
traitress.
administrator.
administratrix
countess.
widower.
widow.
prmce,
prophet,
shepherd,
sorcerer,
tutor,
instructor,
traitor.
2. In many instances, animals, with which we have most frequent occa-
sions to be conversant, have different words to express the dilTerent sexes ;
'Originally wagis, and really singular.
as man and woman; brother and sister ; uncle and aunt ; .son and daughter;
boy and girl ; father and mother ; horse and mare ; bull and cow.
Man however is a general term for the whole race of mankind ; so also,
horse comprehends the whole species. A law to restrain every man from
an offence would comprehend women and boys ; and a law to punish a tres-
pass committed by any horse, would comprehend all marcs and colts.
3. When words have no distinct termination for the female sex, the sexes
are distinguished by prefixing some word indicating sex ; as a male rabbit,
a female opossum ; a he goat, a she goat; a man servant, a maid servant ; a
male coquet, a female warrior ; a cock-sparrow, a hen-sparrow.
4. In all cases, when the sex is sufficiently indicated by a separate word,
names may be used to denote females without a distinct termination. Thus,
although females are rarely soldiers, sailors, philosophers, or mathematicians,
and we seldom have occasion to say, she is a soldier, or an astronomer, yet
there is not the least impropriety in the application of these names to females,
when they possess the requisite qualifications; for the sex is clearly marked
by the word she or female, or the appropriate name of the woman ; as *' Joan
of Arc was a warrior." " The Amazons, were a nation of female warriors."*
Encyc. art. Amazons.
5. Although the Englisli language is philosophically correct in consider-
ing things without life as of neither gender, yet by an easy analogy, the
imagination conceives of inanimate things a.s animated and di^tingnished by
sex. On this fiction, called ;)£/-soni^cation, depends much of the descrip-
tive force and beauty of poetry. In general, those objects which are re-
markable for their strength, influence, and the attribute of imparting, take
the masculine gender ; those which are remarkable for the more mild and
delicate qualities, for beauty and the attribute of producing, become femin-
ine ; the sun darts his scorching rays ; the moon sheds her paler light.
" Indus or Ganges rolling /us broad wave." Akenside.
" There does the soul
Consent her soaring fancy to restrain." Ibm.
" Now morn he>' rosy steps in th' eastern clime
Advancina— "
' The north east spends his rage."
Case.
Case in Grammar denotes a variation of words to express the relation of
things to each other. In English, most of the relations are expressed by
separate words ; but the relation of property, ownership or possession, is ex-
pressed by adding s to a name, with an apostrophy ; thus, John's book ;
which words are equivalent to " the book of John." This is called the Pos-
sessive Case. In English therefore names have two cases only, the nomi-
native or simple name, and the possessive. The nominative before a verb
and the objective after a verb are not distinguished by inflections, and are to
be known only by position or the sense of the passage.
When the letter s, added as the sign of the possessive, will coalesce with
the name, it is pronounced in the same syllable ; as John's. But if it will
coalesce, it adds a syllable to the word ; as Thomas's bravery, pronoun-
ced as if written Thomasis ; the Church's piosperity, Churchis prosperity.
These examples show the impropriety of retrenching the vowel; but it oc-
casions no inconvenience to natives.
When words end in es or ss, the apostrophy is added without e; as on
eagles' wings ; foi- righteousness' sake.
Pronouns or Substitutes.
Pronouns or substitutes are of two kinds ; those which are used in the
place of the names of persons only, and may be called personal ; and those
hich represent names, attributes, a sentence or part of a sentence, or a se-
BS of propositions.
The pronouns which are appropriate to persons, are, I, thou, you, he, she,
e, ye, and who.
/is used by a speaker to denote himself, and is called the first person of
the singular number.
When a speaker includes others with himself, he uses we. This is the
first person of the plural number.
Thou and you represent the person addressed — thou, in solemn discourse,
and you, in common language. These are the second person. In the plu-
al, ye is used in solemn style, and you in familiar language.
He represents the name of a male, and she, that of a female, who is the
subject of discourse, but not directly addressed. These are called the third
person.
It is a substitute for the name of any tlung of the neuter gender in the
third person, and for a sentence.
They is a substitute for the names of persons or things, and forms the
third person of the plural number.
• The termination or in Latin, is a contraction of vir, a man ; as o" in Eng-
lish is of iver, the same word in Saxon. But in common understanding, the
idea of gender is hardly attached to these terminations ; for we add er to
words to denote an agent, without life, as grater, heater.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
iriio U a rela(ive or personal pronoun, used to introduce a new clause or
affirmation into a sentence, which clause has an immediate dependence on
the pieciding one. IVho is also used to ask questions, and hence it is called
an inlorrOi£;>tive. ; . , .
Ulikh is also a relative, but is of neuter gender. It is also mterrogative.
These pronouns have two cases; the nominative which precedes a verb,
and the objective which follows it. They are inflected in the following
manner
Sing.
Plu.
Si71g. Plu.
Nominative
we
Nom.
she they
Objective
me
us
Obj. -
- her them
Norn. -
- thou
ye
Nom.
it they
Obj.
thee
you
Obj. -
- it them
Nom. -
you
you
Nom. -
who who
Ol.j.
you
you
Obj. -
- whom whom
Nom. -
- he
they
Obj.
him
them
Note. — Mine, thine, his, hers, yours and theirs, are usually considered
as the possessive case. But the three first are either attributes, and used
with nouns, or they are substitutes. The three last arc always substitutes,
used in the place of names which are understood, as may be seen in the note
below.*
Its and whose have a better claim to he considered as a possessive case;
but as they equally well fall under the denomination of attributes, I have,
for the sake of uniformity, assigned them a place with that part of speech.
* That 7ni7ie, thine, his, yours, hers and theirs, do not constitute a poss
ive case, is demonstrable ; for they are constantly used as the nominatives to
verbs and as the objectives after verbs and prepositions, as in the following
passages. " Whether it could perform its operations of thinking and memo-
ry out of a body organized as ours is," — Locke, b. 2. 27. " In referring our
ideas to those of other men called by the same name, ours may hefalse."—" It
is lor no other reason but that his agrees not with our ideas." — ibm. ch. 32
9 and 10.
'• You may imagine what kind of faith theirs was."
Bacon, Unity in Religion
"He ran headlong into his own ruin whilst he endeavoured to precipitate
ours." Bolingbroke, Let. to Windham.
" The reason is that his subject is generally things ; theirs, on the contra-
ry, is persons." Camp. Rhet. b. 1. ch. 10.
" Yours of the 26th Oct. I have received, as I have always done yours,
with no little satisfaction." Wyeherley to Pope
"Therefore leave your forest of beasts for oitrs of brutes, called men." Ibm
" These return so much better outof your hands than they went from mine.'
Ibm
Your letter of the 20th of this month, like the rest of
with
much more wit, sense and kindness than mine can
yours-
expres
-tells me
s," &c.
/6m.
" Having good works enough of your own besides to ensure yoxirs and
tlieir immortality."
" The omission of repetitions is but one, and the easiest part oC yours and
of my design." Pope to Wyeherley.
" iVIy sword and yours are kin." Shakspeare,
It is needless to multiply proofs. We observe these pretended possessives
uniformly used as nominatives or objectives. To say that, in these passagi
ours, yours, theirs, and mine form a possessive case, is to make the possessive \
perform the office of a nominative case to verbs, and an objective ease after
verbs and prepositions — a manifest solecism.
Should it be said that a noun is understood ; I reply, this cannot be true,
in regard to the grammatical construction ; for supply the noun for which
the word is a substitute, and the pronoun must be changed into an adjective.
" Vours of the 26th of October," becomes your letter — "he endeavoured to
precipitate ours," becomes our ruin." This shows that the words are real
substitutes, like others, where it stands for other men or thi7igs.
Besides in three passages, just quoted, the word yaurs is joined by a con-
nective to a name in the same case ; " to ensure yours and their immortali-
ty." " The easiest part of yours and of my design." " My sword and'
yours are kin." Will any person pretend that the connective here joins dif-
ferent cases ?
Another consideration is equally decisive of this question. 1( yours, ours,
&c. are real possessives, then the same word admits of two different signs of
the case ; tor we say correctly, " an acquaintance o( yours, ours, or theirs"
— o/ being tlte sign of the possessive ; but if the words in themselves are
possessives, then there must be two signs of the same case, which is absurd. t
Compare these words with a name in the possessive case — " My house is
on a hill ; my father's is on a plain." Here father's is a real possessive case ;
the word /loiMe being understood ; and the addition of the noun makes no
alteration in the word/a(Aer's ,• " my father's is, or my father's house is."
1 This case does not compare with that of names. We say, a " soldier of
the king's," or a soldier of the king's soldieis ; but we cannot say, " an ac-
•luaintance of yours acquaintance."
But it must be ob.servcd, that although it and who are real substitutes,
never united to names, like attributes — it day — who man ; yet its and whose
cannot be detached from a name expressed or implied — as, Hs shape, its
figure — whose face — whose \forks— whose are they ? that is, 'whose works.
These are therefore real adjectives.
n the use of substitutes, it is to be remarked, that /, thou, you, ye and
we are generally employed without an antecedent name. When /, and the
name of the person are both employed, as they are in formal writings, oaths
and the like, the pronouns precede the name ; as, " I, Richard Roe, of Bos-
ton." In similar language, you and we also precede the name ; as, "" You,
John Doc, of New- York." "We, Richard Roe and John Doe, of Phila-
delphia."
Vou is used by writers very indefinitely, as a substitute for any person
who may read the work — the mind of the writer imagining a person ad-
dressed.
He and they are used in the same indefinite manner; as, " He seldom lives
frugally, who lives by chance." " Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted."
He and they, in such sentences, represent any persons who fall within the
subsequent description.
PVho and whom are always substitutes for persons, and never for things
or brutes. Whose is equally applicable to persons as to things.
Whoever is often employed as the nominative to two verbs ; as, " Whoever
expects to find in the scriptures a specific direction for every moral doubt
that arises, looks for more than he will meet with." Paley, Phil. ch. 4.
Mine, thine and his are equally well used as substitutes, or as attributes.
" The silver is mine, and the gold is mine." Hag. ii. 8. " The day is thine,
the night also is thine." Ps. Ixxiv, 16. " The lord knoweth them that are
his." 2 Tim. ii. 19. In these examples the words, mine, thine, his, may
be considered as substitutes — " The silver is mine," that is, my silver.
In this character the words usually follow the verb; but when emphati-
cal, they may precede it ; as " His will I be." 2. Sam. xvi. 18. " Thine,
0 Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory." " TTiine is the king-
dom." 1. Ch. xxix. 11.
These words are also used as attributes of possession ; as, " Let not mine
enemies triumph." " So let thine enemies perish." " And Abram remov-
ed his tent.»' Mine and thine arc however not used in familiar language ;
but in solemn and elevated style, they are still used as attributes.
" Mine eyes beheld the messenger divine." Lusiad. B. 2.
There is another class of substitutes, which supply the place of names,
attributes, sentences or parts of a sentence.
It.
In the following sentence, it is the substitute for a name. " The sun rules
the day ; it illumines the earth." Here it is used for sun, to prevent a re-
petition of the word.
In the following passage, it has a difTerent use. " The Jews, it is well
known, were at this time under the dominion of the Romans." Porteus,
Led. S. Here it represents the whole of the sentence, except the clause in
which it stands. To understand this, let the order of the words be varied.
" The Jews were at this time under the dominion of the Romans, it [all
that] is well known.
" It is a testimony as glorious to his memory, as it is singular, and almost
unexampled in his circumstances, that he loved the Jewish nation, and that
he gave a very decisive proof of it, by building them a sjTiagogue." ibm.
To discover what is represented by the first it, we must inquire, what is a
glorious testimony ? Why, clearly that he loved the Jewish nation, and gave
them a decisive proof of it, by building them a synagogue. It then is a
substitute for those clauses of the sentence. The second it refers to the
same clauses. In the latter part of the sentence, he gave a magnificent
proof of it — of what ? of what is related in a preceding clause — He loved the
Jewish nation — of that he gave a decisive and magnificent proof. Here it
represents that member of the sentence.
As for the pulling of them down, if the affairs require it." Bacon on
Ambition. Require what ? " The pulling of them down" — for which part
of the sentence, it is a substitute.
" And how could he do this so effectually, as by performing works, which
it utterly exceeded all the strength and ability of men to accomplish." Por-
teus,'Led. 5.
What utterly exceeded ? To what does it refer ? Let us invert the or-
der of the words — " as by performing works to accomplish which exceeded
all the strength of men." Here we find to accomplish, a verb in the infin-
itive, is the nominative to exceeded, and for that verb, it is a substitute.
This inceptive use of t< forms a remarkable idiom of our language, and
deserves more particular illustration. It stands as the substitute for a sub-
sequent member or clause of a sentence ; and is a sort of pioneer to smooth
the way for the verb. Thus, " It is lemarkable, that the philosopher Seneca
makes use of the same argument." Partem Led. 6. If we ask, what is
remarkable.' The answer must be, the fact stated in the last clause of the
sentence. That this is the real construction, appears from a transposition
of the clauses. "The philosopher Seneca makes use of the same argument.
that is remarkable." In this order we observe the true use of that, which
GRAMMAR OF THE
is also a subsUtule for the preceding clause of the sentence, and it becomes
redundant. The use then of the inceptive it appears to be to enable us to
begin a sentence, wi(lir.:it y>].:' iir; r, v,-:b as the introductory word ; and by
the use of ii and Wio' ' : i- iibsequent members of the sentence,
the order is inverted \' ■ nut; obscurity.
It is to be noticed i,i j.uU'r substitute, iJ, is equally proper to
begin sentcnr;. V.I: ,, in.-ol a ;>ereo« is afterwards used; as, " It
was John H I,. ' i powers of eloquence." But if we transpose
the words, .1 , , ' ' ihat, the substitute which begins anew clause,
next after iIj ■ , ,i >■ ';.l, we must use /leforthe inceptive — "He, who
or that exliiliur.l Muh pdvicrs of eloquence, was ,Iohn."
In interros^ilive scutences, the order of words is changed, and it follows
the verb. Wlio is it that has been thus eloquent?
Tlicre is a sentence in Locke, in which the inceptive it is omitted.
" Whereby comes to pass, that, as long as any uneasiness remains in the
mind. £. ch. 21. In strictness, this is not a defective sentence, for that
may be considered as the nominative to comes. Whereby that comes to
pass which follows. Or the whole subsequent sentence may be considered
as the nominative — for all that comes to pass. But the use of the inceptive
it is so fully established as the true idiom of the language, that its omission
is not to be vindicated.
This and that., these and those.
This and that are either definite attributes or substitutes. As attributes,
they are used to specify individuals, and distinguish them from others ; as,
" This my son was dead and is alive again." '■ Certuiidy Wi/.s was a right-
eous man." " The end of (Aaf man is peace." ■■ \\ /',< / iiim liy whom
the son of man is betrayed." This and that hay j' ' .\.\ those.
The general distinction between this and tliu>. 1 ' - , :i object
to be presenter near in time or place ; that, to if .,'< ni. ;'..i' ;Ih ; distinc-
tion is not always observed. In correspondence bowt.'\t-'r with this distinc-
tion, when, in discourse, two things are mentioned, this and these refer to
the last named, or nearest in the order of construction ; that and those to
the most distant ; as,
" Self love and reason to one end aspire,
Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire ;
But greedy that [self love] its object would devour.
This [reason] taste the honey and not wound tlie flower." Pope.
" Some place the bliss in action, some in ease.
Those call it pleasure, and contentment these." Ibm.
The poets sometimes contrast these substitutes in a similar manner, to de-
note individuals acting or existing in detached parties, or to denote the
whole acting in various capacities ; as,
" 'Twas war no more, but carnage through the field.
Those lift their sword, and these their bosoms yield."
Hoole's Tasso. b. 20.
" Nor less the rest, the intrepid chief retain'd ;
n>ese urged by threats, and those by force constraiu'd." Ibtn.
There is a peculiarity in the use oi that ; for when it is an attribute, it is
always in the singular number; but as a substitute for per.sons or things,
it is plural as well as singular, and is used for persons as well as things
more frequently than any word in the language ; as, |
" I knew a man that had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to
a conclusion, ' Stay a little that we may make an end the sooner.' "
Bacon on Dispatch.
Here that is the representative of man, and (( stands for the last clause
of the sentence or by- word.
" Let states that aim at greatness take heed how their nobility and gen-
tlemen multiply too fast." Bacon.
Here that is a substitute for a plural name. So also in the following.
" They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
" They that had eaten were about four thousand" — "they that are in the
flesh" — " they that weep"- — '* bless them that curse you."
Another very common use of this and that, is to represent a sentence or
part of a sentence ; as,
" It is seldom known that, authority thus acquired is possessed without
insolence, or that, the master is not forced to confess that, he has enslaved
himself by some foolish confidence." Rambler, JVo. 68.
In this sentence, the first that represents the next member — " Authority
thus acquired is possessed without insolence, that is seldom known." It rep-
resents the same clause. The second that represents all which follows, in-
cluding two clauses or members. The third that is the substitute for the last
clause. In strictness the comma ought always to be placed after that ;
which punctuation would elucidate the use of the substitute and the true
construction ; but the practice is otherwise, for that, in this and like sen-
tences, is either a nominative or an objective. The first that in the fore-
going sentence is the nominative, coinciding with it, or in apposition to it ;
and when the clauses are transposed, the inceptive it, being redundant, is
dropped, and that becomes the nominative. The same remark is applicable
to the second that ; the verb and first clause, it is seldom known, being
understood. The third that is the objective after confess. " The master
has enslaved himself by some foolish confidence— he is forced to confess that
— all that is seldom known."
Such is the true construction of sentences— the definitive that, fnstead of
being a conjunction, is the representative of a sentence or distinct clause,
preceding that clause, and pointing the mind to it, as the subject which fol-
lows. And it is'as definite or demonstrative in this application to sentences,
as when it is applied to a name or noun.
The following sentence will exhibit the true use of that as a substitute —
" He recited his former calamities ; to which was now to be added that he
was the destroyer of the man who had expiated him.
Beloe's Herodotus, Clio, 4.5.
AccorJiiiu- to our present "ranmiars, that is a conjunction ; if so, the pre-
ceding vcri, //,,.. Iii u, 1 [.<.•.].•■ word. But the sense is, " to which
was to be > ■ .; '1 I'od in the following words.
The II -^r , - ''stitute are more clearly manifest, when
it denotes \<f,\' r mi , 1:, , , . , i-, I'.l- |,,,ssa;;e, "And he came and dwelt in
a city called ISazareth ; thni , _ ; , iiliillcd which was spoken by the
prophets, 'He shall be c;ill. > ,. Matt. ii. 23. Here that If.
equWiilent to that purpost , i 'il- and dwelt in Nazareth, /or
the jmrpose expressed in ir'i.ii / / ,/ // and jffticA represent the last
clause in the sentence — " He shall be called a Nazarene." The excellence
and utility of substitutes and abbreviations are strikingly illustrated by this
use of that.
This substitute has a similar use in thi^ Introihietory sentence. That we
may proceed — </ia< here refers to the inliAir' '.>,:,!-. The true construc-
tion is, jBm( Wiaiu'e 7«o^ proceed — hill .> I ; I lie shown, denoting
supply or something more or further— - .\ .lintepretation of the
expression is — More that — or fiirthei Ih-i ir, i.i f<, /.i.icted. It is the sim-
ple mode our ancestors used to express addition lo \vhat has preceded, equiv-
alent io the modern phrase, let us add, or we may add wh-at follows, by
way of illustrating or modifying the sense of what has been related.
That, like who and which, has a connecting power, which has given to
these words the name of »-cZa«(»e ,■ in which character, it involves one mem-
ber of a sentence within another, by introducing a new verb ; as, " He.
that keepethhis mouth, keepeth his'life." Prov. xiii. In this passage, that
keepeth his mouth, is a new atfirmation, interposed between the first nom-
inative and its verb, but dependant on the antecedent nominative.
" The poor of the Hock, that waited upon me, knew that, it was the word
of the Lord." Zech. xi. 11. In this passage we have that in both its char-
acters— the first that is a substitute for poor of the flock ; the second, for the
last clause of the sentence, it was the word of the Lord.
This exposition of the uses of that enables us to understand the propriety
of that that joined in construction.
" Let me also tell you that, that faith, which proceeds from insufficient or
bad principles, is but little better than infideUty." In this passage, the first
that is a substitute for the whole subsequent part of the sentence ; the se-
cond that is an attribute agreeing with faith— "That faith which proceeds
from bad principles is little better than infidelity — let me tell you that."
Hence it might be well always to separate the two words by a comma. We
now distinguish these words by a stronger emphasis on the last.
"He, whom thou now hast, is not thy husband ; in that saidst thou truly."
John iv. 18. That is, in that whole declaration.
From these passages and the explanation, we learn that that is a substi-
tute, either for a single word or a sentence ; nor has it any other character,
except when an attribute.
This is much less frequently a substitute for sentences than that, but is
used in this character, as well as in that of an attribute ; as, " Let no prince
measure the danger of discontents by this, whether they be just or unjust ;
for that were to imagine people to be reasonable, who do often spurn at their
own good ; nor yet by this, whether the griefs whereupon they rise be in
fact great or small." Bacon on Kingdoms.
Here this, in each part of the sentence, is the representative of the clause
in Italics succeeding.
" Can we suppose that all the united powers of hell are able to work such
astonishing miracles, as were wrought for the confirmation of the christian
religion ? Can we suppose that they can control the laws of nature at pleas-
ure, and that with an air of sovereignty, and professing themselves the lords
of the universe, as we know Christ did .' If we can believe this, then we
deny," &c. We observe here, this represents a series of sentences.
In some cases, this represents a few words only in a preceding sentence,
as in the following — " The rule laid down is in general certain, that the
king only can convoke a parliament. And this, by the ancient statutes of
the realm, he is bound to do, every year or oftener, if need be."
Blacks. Comment. B. 1. ch. 2.
If we ask, what is the king bound to do ? The answer must be, convoke a
parliament ; for which words alone this is the substitute, and governed
by do.
The plurals, these and those, are rarely or never used as substitutes for
MHiich.
7-fTiicA is also a substitute for a sentence, or part of a sentence, as well as
for a single word ; as, "if there can be any other way shown, how men may
come to that universal agreement, in the things they do consent in,
which I presume may be ilone." Locke oti Viid. B. 1. 2.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Wliich, in this passage, represents all which precedes — u-hich or all that
is above related, maybe done.
" Anolh>r reason that makes me doubt of any inn', pi m li- I ; : ];., •■■]■ -.
is, that I think there cannot any one moral rule l" I I ,
may not justly demand a reason; tf/u'cA would li.
absurd, if they were innate, or so much as self-ci-i'l" : .' i . .;
principle must needs be." /■'"' * 'r<ii>- '■'<
In this passage, the first v;hich represents the next prerclm^ |.,.ri oi ihr
sentence, aman may jui^tly demand a reason — which jiuinr <;/ ./. 'nint.lnia
« reason would be 'ridiculous — The second «'/iic/i is a sllll^lllnll• lor v//-
evident ; which, that is, self-evident, every principle must be.
" Judas declared him innocent, which he could not be, had he, in any re-
spect, dccei\ ed the disciples." Porteus, Led. 2. Here which represents
tlie aitiibuto innocent.
That would c([ually well represent the same word, with a connective.
" Judas declared him innocent, and that he could not be," &.c.
" We shall fiml the reason of it to be the end of language, which being to
communicate thou;;hts" — that is, end of language, and for those words, is
uhich the substitute.
What.
This substitute has several uses. First, it has the sense of that which ; as,
" I have heard what has been alledgcd."
Secondly — VVTiat stands for any indefinite idea; as, " He cares not what
lie says or' does." " We shall the better know what to undertake."
Locke on Und. 1. 6.
Tliirdly — M'hat is an attribute, either in the singular or plural number,
and denotes somethins uncertain or indeterminate ; as, " In what character,
Kutler was admitted into that lady's service, is unknown."
Johnstin's Life of Butler.
" It is not material what names are assigned to them."
Camp. Rhet. 1.1.
•' I know not what impressions time may have made upon your person."
Life of Cowp. Let. 27.
" To see what are the causes of wrong judgment." Locke 2. 21.
Fdurlhly — IVhat is used by the poets preceding a name, for the or that
which, but its place cannot be supplied by these words, without a name be-
tween them ; as,
" What time the sun withdrew his cheerful light.
And sought the sable caverns of the night." Hoole's Tasso. b. 7.
That is, at the time when or in which.
Fifthly — A principal use otichat is to ask questions ; as, " What will be
the consequence of the revolution in France ?"
This word has the singular property of containing ttvo ca.'ies ; that is, it
performs the office of a word in the nominative, and of another in the objec-
tive case ; as, •' I have, in ii-hat goes before, been engaged in physical in-
quiries fartlu 1 111. HI I i iplr.I." Locke 2. 8. Here what contains the ob-
ject after (n .m ' ■ 1 r tog-oes.
H'AaMs n 1 ' i n ,h an attribute and a substitute ; as, " It was
agreed that //■''' - ~ v\ . i r alioard his vessels, should be landed." Mick-
le's Discovery «/ Jiidia. fi'J. Mere what goods, are equivalent to the goods
U'hich ; for what goods include the nominative to two verbs, were and
should be landed. This use of tlie word is not deemed elegant.
As.
.3s, primarily signifies like, similar ; the primary sense of which is even,
equal. It is used adverbially in the phrases, as good, as great, as probable ;
the sense of which is tike or equally good, great or probable. Hence it fre-
quently follows si/f/i . •• Send him such books as will please him." But in
tills and similar phrases, as must be considered as the nominative to will
please ; or we mn^t su|)|jii^e iin ellipsis of several words. "Send him such
books as(/u b.','', . n Ij', ', w ;i| pi, ase liim,or as </iose which will please him."
So in the foil.. V-
" We havr ' i ■ . I to repose on its veracity with such humble
confidonci- ..~ - Illy." Johnson's Life of Cowley.
■' MI I'l. ji \ . Ii Cod is concerned to see inflicted on sin is on-
ly -:. ' .1 irovernment."
• ' 'ill themselves with such probable conclu3ioi\s
ii,v\\.i. -ii:.,. , i;' i..i i(,, |.i i Ileal purposes of life."
■ The malcontents made such demands as non.-
In the last example, if as is to be considered as . I .. .; i -u .:
it is in the objeclive case.
These and similar phrases are anomalous; and we can resolve them only
by supplying the ellipsis, or by considering as in the nature of a pronoun,'
and the nominative to the verb. j
In the following form of expression, we may supply it for the nominative.
Doevery thing fls was said about mercury and sulphur." Encyc.l
•• As it was said."
In poetry, as supplies the place of st*c7i.
"From whence might contest spring and mutual rage,
.is would the camp in civil broils engage." ' Hoole's Tasso.'
In prose we would say, " such contest and rage as."
.7.5 sonictinic! refers to a sentence or member of a sentence, and some-
ii . - i* 1 ' ' ' 1 y be supplied by which. "On his return to Egypt, os I
i ' lie authority, he levied a mighty army." Beloe, Herod.
''I .! "On his return to Egypt, he levied a mighty army,
" ' .' li'ij I 'iiM'd from the same authority.
./s niun (II ;;ins a sentence. " Jls to the three orders of pronouns already
mentioned, they may be called prepositive, as may indeed all sub.stantives."
Harris. That is, concerning, respecting the three orders, or to explain that
\\ liich respects the three orders, &c.
Both.
Both is an adjective of number, but it is a substitute also for names, sen-
tences, parts of sentences, and for attributes.
\braliam took sheep and o.ten, and gave them unto Abimelech, anil
both of them made a covenant."- Genesis xxi. 27.
Here both is the representative of Abraham and Abimelech.
'• He will not bear the loss of his rank, because he can bmr the loss of
his estate; but he will bear both, because he is prepared for both."
Baling, on Exile.
In the last example, both represents the parts of the sentences in italics.
nious." Mickle,p. 159.
As an attribute, it has a like position before names ; as, " Tousa confessed
he had saved both his life and his honor." Viro. IfiO.
" It is both more accurate, and proves no inconsiderable aid to iIk- liibt
understanding of things, to discriminate by ditTerent signs such as arc liniy
different." Campbell's Rhet . \.:a.
In this passage, both represents more accurate, and the following member
of the sentence ; but tlie construction is harsh.
The necessity which a speaker is unilcr, of suiting himself to his audi-
ence, both that he may be understood by them, and that liis words may
lave an influence upon them." Camp. Rhet. ch. 10.
Here both represents the two following clauses of the sentence. The
definitive the is placed between both and its noun ; as, " To both the pre-
ceding kimis, the term burlesque is applied." Camp. Rhet. 1. 2.
Same.
The attribute same is often used as a substitute for persons and sentences
or parts of a sentence ; as, " Nothing appears so clearly an object of the mind
or intellect only, as the future does, since we can find no place for its exis-
tence any where else. Not but the same, if we consider, is equally true of
the ^josf." Hermes,p. \V2.
In this ill constructed sentence, same has reference to all which is pre-
dicated of the future tense — that is, that it is an object of intellect only,
since we can find no place for its existence any where else — The same, all
this, is true of the past also.
" For iraeeaud generous ever are the same." Lusiad, 1.
Many,fex!;, all, any.
These words we often find used as substitutes for names. " For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." 'Matt.
xxiv. 5. " Many are called, but few chosen." xx. 16. " All that come
into the tent, and all that is in the tent shall be unclean .seven days." .V«»i.
xix. 14. " If a soul shall sin against any of the. commandments." Lev. iv. 2.
" Neither is there any, that can deliver out of my hand." Deut. xxxii. 3?.
First, last, former, latter, less, least, more, most,
are often used as substitutes.
" The victor's laurel^ as the martyr's crown.
The first I hope, nor less the last I prize." Hoole's Tasso. 6. S.
'• The last shall be first, and the^rsf last." Matt. xx. 16.
" It will not be amiss to inquire into the cause of this strange phenome-
non ; that, even a man of diseernnienl should write without meaning, and
not be sensible that be hath no meaning; and that judicious people sliould
I . . ; \, ■ I I ii'i ' ... : •! u in this way, and not discover (he defect. Both
; 1 ' much more than the last." Camp. Rhet. 2. 7.
I i ,11 \\o clauses of the sentence, preceded by that —
. re surprising. First a.Tii last st:>.ni in the placj
lehemence are often confounded, the /aHer being con-
-i ! - I'i Ihe former. Camp. Rhet. 1.1.
I . . !. 111. I to go thither with less than the appointed equipment."
M.ckle. I. i.M. Heie/e.>.s supplies the place of e?u!/)me«^ and prevents
the necessity of its repetition.
"To the relief of these, Noronha sent some supplies, but while he was
preparing to send more, an order from Portugal arrived." Mickle, 1. 180.
Here more is sufficiently intelligible without a repetition of the name —
supplies.
GRAMMAR OF THE
•' And the diildicn ol' Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less.'
Exod. xvi. 17
"I cannot go beyond the word of tlie Lord, my God, to do less or more.'
JVunib. xxii. 18
"Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty work;
were done." JV/a«.xi. 20
" Was not tliis love indeed ?
We men say more, swear more, but indeed
Our shews are more than will." Shahs. Twelfth JVight
Such.
" Jabal was the father o( such as dwell in tents." Gen. iv,
'•Thou shalt provide able men such as fear God." iJ.c. xviii,
"Objects of importance must be portrayed byolyectsof importance; such
as have grace, by things graceful." Ca7np. Rhet. 1. 2
Such here supplies the place of a name or noun, but it retains its attribu
tivc sense and the name may be added.
Self and o-mn.
Self is said to have been originally an attribute, but is now used as an in
tensive word to give emphasis to substitutes and attributes. Sometimes it is
used as a noun. In the plural, it forms selves. It is added to the attributes
my, your, own, as myself, yourself,* ourselves; and to him, her, them, as
himself, herself, themselves. And though annexed to substitutes in the ob-
jective case, these words are indifferently in the nominative or objective.
Self is never added to his, their, mine, or thine.
the compounds himself, herself, thyself, ourselves, themselves, may be
placed immediately after the personal substitute, as he himself wrote a let-
ter to the minister, or immediately after the following verb or its object, as
" He wrote a letter himself," — "he went himself to the admiralty." In
such phrases himself not only gives emphasis to the affirmation ; but gives
to an implied negative, the force of one expressed. " He went himself to
the minister," carries with it a direct negation that another person went. In
negative sentences, it has a different effect. " He did not write the letter
himself," implies strongly that he wrote it by an agent, or had an agency in
procuring it to be written.
These compound substitutes are used after verbs when reciprocal action
is expressed ; as, " They injure themselves."
Itself is added to names for emphasis ; as, " this is the book itself."
Own is an attribute denoting property, used with names to render the
sense emphatical ; as, " this book is my owti."
Otvn is sometunes a substitute; as, " He came unto his own and his own
received him not." Johni. 11.
" This is an invention of his own."
One, other, another, none.
The attribute one is very often a substitute ; other is used in the same
manner, and often opposed to 072e. "All rational or deductive evidence is
derived from one or the other of these two sources." Camp. Rhet. ch. 5.
To render these words more definite, and the specification of the alternative
more explicit, the definitive rte is placed before them; as, "either he will
hate the one and love the other."
,3nother has sometimes a possessive case ; as, " the horse is another's "
but this form of speech is but little used. '
Another is the Saxon an, one, and other — one other. It is an attribute
but often used as a substitute. " Let another praise thee and not thine own
mouth." prov. xxvii. 2.
JVone [no one] is often a substitute ; as, "Ye shall he down and none
shall make you afraid." Lev. xxvi. 6. It is used in the plural as well as the
singular number.
The cardinal numbers are all used as substitutes, when the thino-s to
which they refer are understood by the train of discourse, and no ambiguity
is created by the onussion of the name ; as, " The rest of the people also cast
lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem." j\-eh. xi. 1.
One has sometimes the possessive form ; as, " One's person is to be protected
bylaw;" and frequently the plural number; as, "I have commanded my
sanctified ones, and I have called my mighty ones." /so. xiii. 3.
* In this compound, we have a strong confirmation of what I have ailed,
ed respectmg the arrangement of you in the singular number, when used of
a smgle person. Self is invariably In the singular— setoes in the plural.
^ow ityov. is to be classed with plurals in all cases, we must, to be consist-
ent, apply yourselves to a single person. Yet we make the proper disUnc-
tion— yourself is applied to one person— yourselves to more. But upon the
principle of our grammars, that you must always be joined to a verb in the
plural, we are under the necessity of saying " Vou yourself were," when
we address a single person— which is false construction. Whatever verb
therefore IS used with you when applied to an individual, must be considered
as a verb in the singular number.
One, when contrasted with other, sometimes represents plural names, and
is joined with a plural verb, as in this passage, "The reason why the one
are ordinarily taken for real quahties, and the other, only for bare powers,
seems to be," &,c. Locke, b. 2. ch. 8. 25.
One and another, have a peculiar distributive use in the following and the
like expressions; "Brethren, let us love one another." The effect of these
words seems to be, to separate an act affirmed of a number collectively, and
distribute it among the several individuals — " Let us love — let each one love
the other." " If ye have love one to another" — " by love serve one anoth-
er." One another, in this phraseology, have the comprehensive sense of
every one. " By love serve" — every one serve the otlier. Each is used in
a like sense — They loved each other — that is — they loved— each loved the
other.
Several.
Several is an attribute, denoting originally one thing severed from others.
But this sense seems to be now confined to technical law language ; as a
"joint and several estate." In common use, it is always plural, expressive
of an indefinite number, not very large. It is frequently a substitute ; as,
" Several of my unknown correspondents." Spectator, 281.
Some.
The attribute some is often used as a substitute ; as, " Some talk of sub-
jects they do not understand ; others praise virtue who do not practice it."
Johnson.
Each, every, either, neither.
Each is a distributive attribute, used to denote every individual of a num-
ber, separately considered ; as, " The king of Israel and the kingof Judahsat
each on his throne." " Thou also and Aaron, take each of you his censer."
The /our beasts had each of them six wings."
In these passages, each is a substitute for the name of the persons or ob-
jects, one separate from the other.*
Eveiy denotes all the individuals of a number considered separately. It is
therefore a distributive attribute, but sometimes a substitute, chiefly in the
law style ; as, " every of the clauses and condiUons." It is generally follow-
ed by the name to which it belongs, or by the cardinal number one.
We sometimes see every separated from its name by the definitive the and
an attribute of the superlative degree ; as, " every the least variation."
Locke.
Either and neither are usually classed with the conjunctions; but in
strictness, they are always attributes or substitutes. Their correlatives or
and 7ior, though considered as conjunctions, belong to the latter class of words ;
or being merely an abbreviation of other, and nor being the same word
with the Saxon negative prefixed, as will be hereafter shown.
Either and or denote an alternative ; as, " I will take either road at your
pleasure." That is, I will take one road or the other. In this use, either is
an attribute.
Either is also a substitute for a name ; as, " Either of the roads is good."
It also represents a sentence or a clause of a sentence ; as, " No man can
serve two masters, for either, he will hate the one and love the otlier, or
else," &c. Matt. vi. 24. To understand the true import of either, let or be
also reduced back to its original orthography, " for either, he will hate the
one and love the other ; other else he will hold to the one and despise the
other." Here we are presented with the sentence as it would have stood
in the Saxon ; and we see two distinct affirmations, to the first of which is
prefixed either, and to the last other. These words then are substitutes for
the following sentences when they are intended to be alternative. Either
and or are therefore signs of an alternative, and may be called alternatives.
Either is used also for each ; as, " Two thieves were crucified — on either
side one." This use of the word is constantly condemned by critics, and as
constantly repeated by good writers ; but it was the true original sense of
the word, as appears by every Saxon author.
Either is used also to represent an alternative of attributes ; as, " the emo-
tion must be either not violent or not durable." Camp. Rhet. 1. 2.
JYcither is not either, from the Saxon ne-either; and nor is ne-other, not
other. As either and or present an alternative or a choice of two things, so
neither and nor deny both or the whole of any number of particulars ; as,
" Fight neither with small nor great." 1 Kings, xxii. 31. Which sentence
when resolved stands thus ; " Fight not either with small, not other with
great." Such is the curious machinery of language !
JVeither is also used as an attribute and as a substitute for a name ; as,
" JVeither office is filled, but neither of the offices will suit the candidate."
Note. — Or, either, nor and neither are here explained in their true origi-
nal character ; but when they stand for sentences, it is more natural to con-
sider them as connectives, under which head I have arranged them.
In general, any attribute [adjective] which describes persons or things
with sufficient clearness, without the name to which it strictly belongs, may
* Each is as applicable to a hundred or thousand as to two. " The prince
had a body guard of a thousand men, each of whom was six feet high."
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
)>(• used as a substitute ; as, " The rich have many fi lends ' — " Assocuiti
with the uitseand good"—" The future will resemble the pa.it"—'' Such i
(he opinion of the learned."
Attributes or Adjectives.
Attributes or Adjectives, in grammar, are words wliich denote flic quali
ties inherent in, or ascribed to things ; as, a bright sun ; a splendid equip
age; & miserable hut; a niusmficcnt hon^i- : ai. hmiest man; an amiable
woman; liberal chdrity ; /ii!sr\ h , ,i >," " ''ii~<ience.
As qualiUes may exist ii. liiil. I' i may be compared with
each other, suitable iiiodo^ ..i -]» . ', - i -spress these compara-
tive degrees. In English, rmiM all iihh,- .>n i /7„<<; degrees of compar-
ison, and a few admit of fum: There are thcretore four degrees of com-
parison.
The/)-s< denotes a slight degree of the quality, and is expressed by Uie
termination ish ; as reddish, brownish, yellowish. This may be denomina-
ted the imperfect degree of the attribute.
The second denotes such a degree of the attribute as to constitute an abso-
lute or distinct quality ; as red, brown, great, small, brave, tvise. This is
called the positive degree.
The third denotes a greater or less degree of a quality than e.\ists in
another object, with which it is compared ; as greater, smaller, braver,
tmser. This is called the comparative degree.
The fottrth denotes the utmost or least degree of a quality ; as bravest,
zmsest, poorest, smallest. This is called the superlative degree.
The imperfect degree is formed by adding ish to an attribute ; as yellow,
yellowish. If the attribute ends in e, this vowel is omitted ; as white, whitish.
The comparative degree is formed by addina r to adjectives ending with e,
as wise, wiser; and by adding cr to words cij.linu uuli an articulation, as
cold, colder ; or by prefixing more or less, w- /.i i. /»>/, /. ^ luihle.
The superlative degree is^formed by addin- / lo ilnu^.nding withe,
as wise, wisest; and es< to those which end uilli mi niiLciihuion, as coW,
coldest ; or by prefixing tnost and least, as?mist brave, teasi charitable.
Every attribute, susceptible of comparison, may be compared by more and
most, less and least.
All monysyllables admit of er and est, and dissyllables when the addition
maybe easily pronounced ; as happy, happier, happiest; lofty, loftier, loftiest.
But few words of more syllables than one will admit of er and est. Hence
most attributes of more syllables than one are compared by more and ntost,
less and least ; as more fallible, most upright, less generous, least splendid.
When attributes end in y after a consonant, this letter is dropped, and i
substituted before er and est ; as lofty, loftier, loftiest.
A few attributes have different words or irregular terminations for-expres-
sing the degrees of comparison ; as good, better, best ; had or evril, worse,
worst ; fore, former, first ; less or lesser, least; much, more, most; near,
nearer, nearest or next ; old, older, oldest or eldest ; late, later, latest or la^t.
When qualities are incapable of increase or diminution, the words which
express them do not admit of comparison. Such are the numerals, first,
second, third,&t.c., and attributes of mathematical figures, as square, spher-
ical, rectangular ; for it will readily appear, that if a thing is/rs( or square,
it cannot be more or less so.
The sense of attributes however is not restricted to the modification, ex-
pressed by the common signs of comparison, but may be varied in an indefi-
nite number of ways, by other words. Thus the attiibute very, which is
the French tirai, true, formerly written veray, is much used intensively to
express a great degree of a quality, but not the greatest; as very wise or
learned. In like manner are used much, far, extremely, exceedingly, and
most of the modifiers in ly.
Some attributes, from partitular appropriate uses, have received names,
by which they are distinguished. But the usual classification is by no means
correct. The following distribution seems to result from the uses of the
words named.
An or a, the, this, that, these, those, other, another, one, none, some, may
he called definitives, from their office, which is to limit or define the extent
of the name to which they are prefixed, or to specify particulars.
My, thy, her, our, your, their, and tnine, thine, his, when used as attri-
butes, with names, are possessive attributes, as they denote possession or
ownership. /«sandi»Aose, if ranked with attributes, belong to the same class.
Each and every are distributives, but they may be classed with the de-
finitives.
Either is an alternative, as is or, which is now considered merely as a
connective.
Own is an intensive adjective. The words to which self is affixed, him-
self, myself, themselves, yourself, yourselves, ourselves, thyself, itself, may
be denominated intensive substitutes, or for brevity, intensivcs. Or they
may be called compound substitutes.
Verb.
The verb is a primary part of speech, and next to the name or noun, is of
the most importance. The uses of the verb are,
1st. To affirm, assert, or declare ; as, the sun shines ; John loves study ;
God is just ; and negatively, avarice is not commendabU'.
Vol. I. ■ I.
2(1. To comiTK
3d. Toprav. 1
4th. Toiiiqiiii
From the vai.
attend, let us observe.
' ' ; as, 0 may the spirit of grace dwell iu us.
K. docs it rain .' Will he come ?
iiiiitications of verbs, have originated several
divisions or t-l ! i , nne in English which seems to be correct
and Mill, n iiiU i ,;r, i , ,,, is, into transitive and intransitive. To
th(<< I I I ' lion of the verb be, with certain auxiliaries
and \> : .' ' ^ ;- I . ! :t pas.sive verb.*
1. \ ' . , ' ir , uiinii or < lit rgy, which is exerted upon
soiiir (i!.j, (I, ..! in I in. iirj ■■:'!•.•■ r'liri In Miiiiral construction, the word
cx|)jc- in; i!i: MiM ■'■;. Inll'iiv- 1; li.- intei-vcntion of any other
wo:.l, i!ni:i:ii 111 I, I iua\ I . :,. . . I'hus, " ridicule provokes
angiT," i; a cniiii.l. I, i-iniiiiviii.a, , .',,"'. i 'I l^l lit or uominative wofd,
which causes l!i. a.ti ai ; /.rmv-/.. i^ilir mi l. .a ailiniiatioii of an act ; a?i-
g-er is the objcti ^i.lii.'t iiK.iiii.'.al, Inllnim- ihr !i.in-iiiM_- vcrbprotJ»/ce.
The wind III -pi- a>]iiii." i- ilir iHiriiiaii"n ni an ad nf the wind exerted
onaship. rfidi/ is llu- a;;.;nl ; ;i,v)^,r/,s, tin- veil, ; anil ■./(/;(, the object.
2. An intransitive verb denotes simple being or existence in a certain
state, as to be, to rest ; or it denotes action, which is limited to the subject.
Thus, "John sleeps," is an affirmation, in which John, the nominative to
sleeps, is the subject of the affirmation ; sleeps is a verb intransitive, affirming
a particular thing of John, which extends to no other object.
3. The 7)assi»c verb in English is formed by adding certain auxiliaries and
participles to the verb be. It denotes p.assion orsuflering; that is, that the
subject of the affirmation or nominalive i< alledril Ijy the action affirmed; as,
John is convinced ;" "Laura i^ li. < i m I . ii in-d."
In this form of the verb, the a- 1 I iimge places. Inthetran-
sitive form the agent precedes ili iliject follows; as, "John
has convinced Moses." In the jia- i, r i .i .a Hi. order is changed, and the
agent follows the verb preceded by a preposition ; as, " Mosea is convinced
by John."
To correspond with their nominatives, verbs are used in both numbers,
and with the three persons in each.
As action and being may be meiiinin. i a< pn -ipul, past and future, verbs
have modifications toexpress time. ^^llH h an . ilkil tenses. And as action
and being mai^be represented in \ i- \\ a\-, ii iljs have various modifica-
tions to answer these purposes, calli. il iihuli s m muuds. Hence to verbs be-
long person, number, tense and mode.
The persons, which have been already explained, are I, thou or you, he.
he, it, in the singular number; in the plural, we, ye or you, they. The
numbers have been before explained.
Tenses.
There are .six tenses or modifications of the verb to express time. Each
of these is divided into two forms, for the purpose of distinguishing the defi-
nite or precise time from the indefinite. These may be thus explained and
lemplified.
Present Tense, indefinite.
This form of the present tense affirms or denies action or being, in present
time, without limiting it with exactness to a given point. It expresses also
facts which exist generally, at all times, general truths, attributes which are
1 permanent, habits, customary actions, and the like, without reference to a
specific time ; as, God is infinitely great and just; man is imperfect and de-
pendent ; plants spring from the earth ; Vudsfly ; fishes swim.
Present Tense, definite.
This form expresses the present time with precision ; usually denoting ac-
tion or being which corresponds in time with another action; as, lam wri-
ting, while you are waiting.
Past Tense, indefinite.
This form of the past tense represents action which took place at a given
time past, however distant and completely past ; as, " In six days, God crea-
ted the heavens and the earth." "Alexander conquered the Persians."
" Scipio was as virtuous as brave." " The Earl of Chatham was an elo-
quent statesman."
Past Tense, definite, [imperfect.]
This form represents an action as taking place and unfinished in some spe-
cified period of past time ; as, " I was standing at the door when the proces-
sion passed."
*The common distribution into ac^iue, neuter and passive, is very objec-
tionable. Many of our neuter verbs imply action in a pre-eminent degree,
as to run, to umlk, to/y ; and the young learner cannot easily cbnceive why
such verbs are not called active.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
This form of the perfect tense represents an action completely past, and
often at no great distance, but the time not specified ; as, " I have accom-
plished my design." But if a particular time is named, the tense must be
the past ,■ as, " I accomplished my design last week." " I have seen
my friend last week," is not correct Enghsh. In this respect, the French
idiom is different from the English, for "J'ai vu mon ami hier" is good
French, but "I have seen my friend yesterday" is not good English. The
words must be translated, " I saw my friend yesterday." No fault is more
common than a mistranslation of this tense.
It is to be noted however that this perfect indefinite tense is that in which
we express continued or repeated action; as, "My father has lived about
eighty years." " The king has reigned more than forty years. " He has
been frequently heard to lament." Life of Cowper. We use it also when a
specified past time is represented, if that time is expressed as apart of the
present period. Thus, although we cannot say, " We have been together
yesterday," we usually say, " We have been together this morning, or this
evening." We even use this tense in mentioning events which happened
at a greater distance of time, if we connect that time with the present ; as,
" His brother has visited him once within two years." " He has not seen
his sister, since the year 1800."
Perfect Tense, definite.
This form represents an action as just finished; as, '
a history of the revolution in France."
Prior-past Tense, indefinite, [pluperfect.]
This form of the prior past tense expresses an action which was past at or
before some other past time specified; as, " he had received the news before
the messenger arrived."
Prior-past, definite.
This form denotes an action to be just past, at or before another time spe
cified ; as, " I had been reading your letter when the messenger arrived,"
have been reading
Future Tense, indefinite.
This form of the future tense gives notice of an event to happen hereafter
as, " Your son will obtain a commission in the navy." " We shall have
fine season."
Future Tense, definite.
This form expresses an action which is to take place and be unfinished at
a specified future time ; as, " He tcill be preparing for a visit, at the time
This form of the futu
ture time specified ; as
Prior-Future, indefinite.
re tense denotes an action which will be past at a fu-
, " They will have performed their task, by the ap
puiuieu Hour.
Prior-Future, definite.
This form represents an action which will be just past at a future speci
fied time ; as, " We shall have been making preparations, a week before our
friends arrive."*
In the use of the present tense, the following things are to be noticed,
1. The present tense is customarily used to express future time, when by
any mode of expression, the mind is transported forward to the time, so as to
conceive it present; as, "I cannot determine, till the mail arrives
soon as it is light, we shall depart." " When he has an opportunity, he will
write." The words tilt, when, as soon as, carry the mind to the time of an
event to happen, and we speak of it as present.
2. By an easy transition, the imagination passes from an author to his writ-
ings ; these being in existence and present, though long after his decease
we substitute the writer's name for his works, and speak of him as living,
or in the present tense ; thus, Milton resetnbles Homer in sublimity and in-
vention, as Pope resenift/es Virgil, in smoothness of versification. Plato is
fanciful ; Aristotle is profound.
*The common names and distribution of the tenses, are so utterly incor-
rect and incompetent to give a just idea of their uses, that I have ventured
to offer a new division, retaining the old names, as far .as truth will warrant.
The terms prior-past, and prior-future, are so perfectly descriptive of the
tenses arranged under them, that I cannot but think they will be well re-
ceived. The distincUon of indefinite and definite is not wholly new ; but I
have never seen the definite forms displayed, though they are as necessary
as the indefinite forms. Indeed, I see not how a foreigner can learn our lan-
guage, as the tenses are commonly distributed and defined.
3. It gives great life and effect to description, in prose or verse, to repre-
sent past events as present ; to introduce them to the view of the reader or
hearer, as having a present existence. Hence the frequent use of the pres-
ent tense for the future, by the historian, the poet and the orator :
" She spoke ; Minerva burns to meet the war ;
And now heaven's empres.'s calls the blazing car ;
At her command rush forth the steeds divine.
Rich with immortal gold, the trappings shine." Iliad, 5.
The definite tenses, it will be observed, are formed by the participle of the
present tense, and the substantive verb, be. This participle always ex-
presses present time, even when annexed to a past or future tense ; for, /
was writing, denotes that, at the past time mentioned, the action was pres-
ent; I shall be writing, denotes future time, but an action then to be present.
The past tense of every regular verb ends in ed; d being added to a verb
ending in e, and erf to a verb with other terminations; as hate, hated ; look,
looked.
The future tense is formed by the present tense of shall and will; for, I
shall go, he will go, are merely an appropriate use of / shall to go, I will to
go. See an explanation of these words under the head of auxiliaries.
There are other modes of expressing future time ; as, " 1 am going to
write" ; " I am about to write." These have been called the inceptive fu-
ture, as they note the commencement of an action, or an intention to com-
mence an action without delay.
We have another mode of expression, which does not strictly and posi-
tively foretell an action, yet it implies a necessity of performing an act, and
learly indicates that it will take place. For example, " I have to pay a
um of money to morrow." That is, I am under a present necessity or obli-
gation to do a future act.
The substantive verb followed by a radical verb, forms another idiomatic
expression of future time ; as, " John is to command a regiment." " Eneas
went in search of the seat of an empire which was, one day, to command
the world." The latter expression is a future past ; that 'i»,past to the nar-
rator, but future as to the event, at the time specified.
Modes.
Mode, in grammar, is the manner of representing action and being, or the
wishes and determinations of the mind. This is performed by inflections of
the verb, or by combinations of verbs with auxiliaries and participles, and
by their various positions.
As there are scarcely two authors who are agreed in the number and de-
nominations of the modes in English, I shall ofler a distribution of the verbs,
and a display of their inflections and combinations, somewhat different from
any which I have seen.
1. The first and most simple form of the verb, is the verb without inflec-
tions, and unconnected with persons. This form usually has the prefix to;
as to love.
This form of the verb, not being restricted to person or number, is usually
called the Infinitive Mode.
2. Another use of the verb is to affirm, assert or declare some action or
existence, either positively, as he runs, or negatively, as you are not in
'health. This form is called the Indicative Mode.
3. Another office of the verb is to command, direct, ask, or exhort ; as
arise, make haste, let us be content. This is called the Imperative Mode.
4. Another form of the verb is used to declare the power, liberty, possi-
bility or necessity of acting or being, by means of certain words called aux-
iliaries, as may, can, must, &c. This form is called the Potential Mode; as,
/ may or can write ; he tnust wait.*
5. Another use of verbs is to represent actions or events which are un-
certain, conditional or contingent; as, if he shall go; if they would attend.
' ■ Mode, but would better be denominated the
and Potential become conditional, by means
jof words used to express condition; as if, though, unless, whether.
I The Modes then are five ; the Infinitive, the Indicative, the Impera-
tive, the Potential, and the Subjunctive.
It may also be observed that the combinations and arrangements of our
verbs and auxiliaries to express negative and interrogative propositions, are
really 7nodes of the verb, and a place might be assigned to the verb for each
purpose, were it not for the inconvenience of having modes of modes. For
the sake of distinction, I denominate these verbs interrogative and negative,
and have exhibited the conjugation of each.
Participles.
Participles are derivatives from verbs, formed by particular terminations,
and having the sense of verbs, attributes or names.
There are two species of participles; one denoting present lime, and
formed by adding ing to the verb, as turn, turning, or when the verb ends
with e, by dropping that letter and adding ing, as place, placing. But e is
* This mode is inserted in compliance with the opinions of many Gram-
marians, but in opposition to my own. It is in fact the indicative mode, af-
firming the power, &c. of acting, instead of the act itself.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
retainpil in ilyeing from dye, to color, to distinguisti it from ilying, the parti-
ciple of die; in which word, yis used to prevent the duplication of i. In
singeing from singe, e is retained to soften g, and to distinguish the word
from singing; so also in twingeing.
This participle of the present tense is used, as before observed, to form
the definite tenses. But it often loses the sense of the verb, and becomes
an attribute ; as a loving friend, lasting friendship. In this use, it admits of
comparison by more or less, most and least ; as more lasting, less saving
most promising.
This participle also becomes an adverb or modifier by receiving the ter-
mination ly, as lovingly, laughingly; and this species of modifiers admits of
comparison, as more lovingly, most charmingly.
This participle also becomes a name and admits of tlie definitive; as, "the
burning of London in 1666." In this capacity, it takes the plural form ; as,
"the mier^ouJiHgs of the Nile ;" "he seeth all his goings." And some-
times the plural is used when a modifier is attached to the participle ; as,
" the goings out, the comings in." Ezek. xliii. II. But this use of the par-
ticiple is not esteemed elegant, nor is it common.
In a few instances, the participle in ing becomes a name by receiving the
termination ness; as willingness, from willing.
The other species of participle is formed from the verb, by adding d or erf,
and in regular verbs, it corresponds exactly with the past time ; as loved,
preceded. This may be called the participle of the perfect tense.
This participle, when its verb is transitive, may be joined with the verb
be, in all its inflections, to form a passive verb, and the participle, in such
combination, is called pctssive.
But this participle, when formed from an intransit ive verb, cannot, except
in a few instances, be joined to the substantive verb, or used in a passive
sense; but it unites with the other auxiliaries.
This participle often loses its verbal character, and becomes an attribute ;
as a concealed plot, a painted house. In this character it admits of compari-
son, as " a more admired artist," " a most respected magistrate ;" and a fc
these verbal attributes rec
pointedly, more conccitnlh/
Those verbs, whose pi-i
lar. All which deviate li"
ticiples of the perfect tcn-r
found in the sequel.
ation ly, and become modifiers, as
>/■
iple end in ed, are deemed regu-
deemed irregular, and their par-
n and g. A list of them will be
Auxiliaries.
In English, a few monosyllabic verbs are chiefly employed to form the
modes and tenses of other verbs, and from this use, are denominated auxilia-
ries or helping verbs. These are followed by other verbs, without the prefix
to, as " he may go ;" though they were originally principal verbs, and some
of' them still retain that character, as well as that of auxiliaries.
The verbs which are always auxiliary to others, are nmy, can, shall, must;
those which are sometimes auxiliaries, and sometimes principal verbs, are
will, have, do and be. To these may be added need and dare.
May conveys the idea of «&«% or permission; as, "he may go, if he will."
Or it denotes possibility ; as, " he may have written or not."*
Can has the sense of to be able.
Shalt, in its primitive sense, denotes to be obliged, coinciding nearly with
Might ; which sense it retains in the German. But this signification, though
evidently the root of the present uses of this word, is much obscured. Th(
following remarks will illustrate the several usesof «'iH and shall.
Will h.is a common origin with the Latin volo. Hence the German wol
len, the old English woH, and the present contraction won'*, that \s,woll-not.\
This was originally a principal verb, and is still used as such ii
guage. It denotes the act of the mind in determining, or a deter
for he teills to go, and he will go, are radically of the same import.
* The primitive idea expressed by inay was power ; Sax. magan, to
be able,
f It is supposed that the Roman ti was pronounced as our w, wolo.
When a man exprcs-^cs his own detcrminalion of inind, I will, we are ac-
customed to consider tlie event, or act willed as certain ; for we naturally
connect the power to act, with the intention; hence we make the declara-
tion of will a ground of confidence, and by an easy association of ideas, we
connect the declaration, with an obligation to carry the determination into
efTect. Hence will expressed by a person himself, came to denote a promise.
But when a person declares the will of another, he is not supposed to pos-
sess the power to decide for him, and to carry his will into effect. He merely
offers an opinion, grounded on infoi-mation or probable circumstances, which
give him more or less confidence of an event depending on another's will.
Hence will in the second and third person simply foretells, or expresses an
opinion of what will take place.
Sliall, in some of its inflections, retains its primitive sense — to be obliged
or bound in duty ; but in many of its uses, its sense is much varied. In the
first person, it merely foretells ; as, " I shall go to New- York to-morrow."
In this phrase, the word seems to have no reference to obligation ; nor is it
)nsidercd by a second person as imposing an obligation on the person utter-
ig it. But when shall is used in the second and third persons, it resumes
3 primitive sense, or one nearly allied to it, implying obligation; as when
superior commands with authority, you shcUl go ; or implying a right in the
second and third person to expect, and hence denoting a promise in the
speaker ; as, " you shall receive your wages." This is radically saying,
' you ought to receive your wages ;" but this right in the second person to
•eceivc, implies an obligation in the person speaking to pay. Hence shall
n the first [lerson foretells ; in the second, /(romise.s, commands, or expresses
determination. When shall in the second and third persons, is uttered with
iphasis, it expresses determination in the speaker, and implies an authority
enforce the act. " You shall go."
Must expresses necessity, and has no variation for person, number or
tense.
Bo is a principal and a transitive verb, sisiTiifying to act or make; but i<
used in the present or past tenses as an auxiliary to give emphasis to a dec-
laration, to denote contrast, or to supply the place of the principal verb.
)uld have been impossible for Cicero to inflame the minds of the
people to so high a pitch against oppression, considered in the abstract, as he
II y did inflame them against Verres the opjnessor
10. Here did expresses emphasis.
t was hardly possible that he should not distinguish you as he has done."
Coup. Let. 40. Here done stands in the place oi distinguished you. For
it must be oliserved that when do is the substitute for another verb, it sup-
plies the place not only of the verb, but of the object of the verb.
" He loves not plays
As thou dost, Anthony."
That is, as thou lovest plays.
Do is also used in negative and interrogative sentences ; the present and
past tenses of the Indicative Mode being chiefly formed tiy this auxiliary :
, " I do not reside in Boston." " Does John hold a commission ?"
Have is also a principal and transitive verb, denoting to possess ; but much
used as an auxiliary, as " He has lately been to Hamburg." It is often used
to supply the place of a principal verb, or participle, preventing a repetition
of it, and the object after it ; as, " I have not seen Paris, but my brother has,"
that is, has seen Paris.
Equally common and extensive is the use of be, denoting existence, and
nee called the substantive verb. Either in the character of a principal
rb, or an auxiliary, it is found in almost every sentence of the language.
The inflection of a verb, in all the modes, tenses, numbers and persons, is
termed Conjugation. The English verbs have few inflections, or changes
of termination ; most of the tenses and modes being formed by means of the
auxiliaries.
Note. — In the following conjugations, a small n in an Italic character, is
inserted in the place where not should stand in negative sentences. The
place is generally occupied by never, but not in every case. It is be-
jlieved this letter will be very useful, especially to foreigners. The learner
[may conjugate the verb with or without tiot, at pleasure.
Camp. met. 1.
2d. Person,
May. — Present Tense .
Singular. Plural.
1st. Person, I may n We may n
C Thou mayest n C Ye niay n
( You may n* ( You may n
*" It may be remarked once for all, that thou and
ye are the second person used in the sacred style,
and sometimes in other grave discourses. In all
other cases, you is the second person of the singu-
lar number, as well as of the plural. It is not one of
the most trivial absurdities which the student must
now encounter at every step, in the study of En-
CONJITGATION OF XtlE AUXILIARIES.
Singular. Plural.
C mas. He may re They may n
3d. Persoti,2fem. She may n
( neut. It may n
glish grammar, that he meets with you in the plu-
ral number only, though he finds it the represen-
tative of an individual. Now if you is always plu-
ral, then you yourself is not grammatical, but ab-
surd; the true expression then must be, you your-
selves, applied to an individual. Then I must say
to a friend, who visits me, please to seat yourselves,
Sir. This Is equal to the royal style, tee Ourself'
Singular.
I might n
( Thou mightest n
\ You might ;i
He might n
Past Tense.
'•• Plural.
We might re
J Ye might n
( You might 7i
They might n
Can.— Present Tense.
I can re
{ Thou canst
[ You can re
He can n
J Ye can n
{ V ou can n
They can ti
Singular.
1 could n
Plural.
We couUl n
J Ye couM n
C Thou couldst n
I You could u i You could
He could n They could re
Shall.— Present Tense.
I shall n We shall n
i Thou Shalt re ( Ye shall n
I You shall n { You shall u
He shall n They shall re
Past Tense.
I should n We should n
C Thou shouldst n < Ye should ti
I You should II ( You should n
He should » They should re
Will .—Present Tense.
I will re We will n
C Thou wilt re C Ye will n
I You will n I You will n
He will re They will re
Past Tense.
I would n We would re
( Thou wouldst re ( Ye would re
I You would re \ You would re
He would n They would re
Note. — Will, when a principal verb, is regu-
larly conjugated ; I will, thou wiliest, he wills
Pa-st tetxse, I willed.
Must.
Must has no change of termination, and is join-
ed with verbs only in the following tenses.
Present Tense.
I must re love We must re love
( Thou must re love { Ye must re love
\ You must re love ( You must re love
He must re love They must re love
Perfect Tense.
I must re have loved We must re have loved
r Thou just re have Jy^^^^j^j^^^^I^^^^j
l^bveT'' " ''^"M You must re have loved
He mustnhave loved They must re have loved
Do. — Indicative jl/ode— Present Tense.
I do re love We do n love
C Thou dost re love C Ye do n love
( You do n love ( You do re love
He does or doth re love They do re love
Past Tense.
I did re love We did re love
C Thou didst re love ( Ye did n love
\ You did re love I You did re love
He did n love They did n love
Infinitive Mode. Participles.
To do. Doing, done, having done.
Note. — In the third person singular of the pre-
sent tense, doth is used in sacred and solemn lan-
guage; does in common and familiar languagi
This verb, when principal and transitive, has all
the tenses and modes, 1 have done, I had done, 1
will do, &c.
HAVE.-Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.- To have.
Perfect Tense. — To have had.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Having.
Of the Perfect Tense.— Had.
Compound. — Having had.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Perfect Tense.
Singular. Plural.
I have re had We have n had
C Thou hast re had ( Ye have re had
I You have re had ( Y'ou have re had
He has or hath re had They have re had
Prior-past Tense.
I had re had We had re had
C Thou hadstre had C Ye had re had
I You had n Iiad { You had re had
He had re had They had re had
Note. — In these tenses, the perfect and prior-
past, this verb is always principal and transitive.
Future Tense.
In this tense the verb is principal or auxiliary
with the same form of conjugation.
The following form foretells.
I shall re have We shall re have
C Thou wilt re have CYcwillrehave
) You will re have { You will re have
He will re have They will n have
The following form promises, commands or de-
termines.
I will re have We will re h,ave
C Thou Shalt re have ( Ye shall re have
I You shall re have ( You shall re have
He shall re have They shall re have
Prior-Future
This tense foretells, and is used only when the
verb is principal.
hall 7t have had
fThou Shalt or wilt re
J have had
1 You shall or will re 1 You shall or will re have
|_ have had
He shall or will re 'They shall or will re
have had have had
Note. — Will is not used in the iirst person of
is tense ; it being incompatible with the
of a promise. We cannot say, " I will have had
possession a year, on the first of October next;
but I shall have had, is a common expression.
Imperative Mode.
I have n
^ Thou hast re
t You haven
He has or hath re*
Past Tense.
I had re
i Thou hadstre
(You had re
He had re
Note. — In the foregoing te
used either as a principal verb <
We have re
; Ye have re
■ They have
C Ye had re
I You had re
They had re
ises, this verb is
r an auxiliary
Have you n or do re you
Let me re have
Let him n have
No
Thou mightestre have
Thou shouldst re have
Thou couldst re have
Thou wouldst re have
You might re have
You should re have
You could re have
You would re have
He might re have
He should re have
He could n have
He would re have
Ye might >i havi?
Ye should n have
Ye could re have
Yc would II have
You might re have
You should re have
You could re have
You would n have
They might re have
They should re have
They could n hai?e
They would n have
Perfect Tense.
In this tense, have is a principal verb only.
Imaynhavehad We mayn have had
; Thou mayest re have had C Ye may re have had
> You may re have had { You may 7i have had
" He may re have had They may re have had
Prior-past Tense — the principal verb only.
" might re ha ' " -^r ^
might re have
had
' Thou mightest re have
had
' You might re have had You |
" He might re have had
In the same manner
would.
There is no future tense, distinct from that of
the indicative mode.
Conditional or Subjunctive Mode.
The Conditional or Subjunctive Mode is the
me as the Indicative, with some preceding word
expressing condition, supposition or contingency.
These words are, if, though or although, unless,
except, whether, lest, albeit.
If is a. corruption of gif, the imperative of gifaii,
the Saxon orthography of give.
Plural.
Have ye re, have you re
Do re you have
request or exhortation,
the solemn style ; ha
ust, in the nature of things, be addressed to the
second person ; nor can these phrases, let me have,
let xis have, be considered, in strictness, as the first
person of this mode, uorlet him have, astheihini;
but they answer to the first and third persons of
this mode in other languages, and the mere nam-
ing of them is wholly immaterial.
The true force and effect of the verb, in this
mode, depend on its application to characters, and
the manner of utterance. Come, go, let him go,
if uttered with a respectful address, or in a civil
manner, may express entreaty, request or exhort-
ation. On the other hand, such words uttered
with a tone of authority, and addressed to inferiors,
express command.
Potential Mode. — Present Tense.
I In the following tense, this verb is either auxil-
iary or principal.
I may or can n have We may or can re have
C Thou mayest or canstre ( Ye may or can re have
] have ]
( You mayor canre have ( Youmayorcanrehave
He may or can re have They may or can n
have
Must is used in the foregoing tense, and in the
perfect also.
Past Tense.
In this tense, the verb is principal or auxiliary.
I might re have We might re have
I should re have We should re have
I could re have We could re have
I would n have Wc would n have
ixon theah, signifie
Though, the
permit, allow. Mthough
compound of all and though, give or allow all.
The old word thof, still used in some parts of Eng-
land, is the imperative of the Saxon thajian, to al-
low. Unless is the imperative of the Saxon on-
lysan, to loose or dissolve. Except is the impera-
tive of that verb. Lest is from lesan, to lease or
dissolve. Albeit is a compound of all, be and if,
let it be so.
These words, if, though, answer in signification
and use, to the following : admit, grant, allow,
suppose, as signs of a condition or hypothesis. " If
you shall go," is simply, "give, you shall go;"
that is, give that condition or fact ; allow or sup-
pose it to be so.
It has been, and is still customary for authors
to omit the personal terminations of the second
d third persons of the verb in the present tense,
form the subjunctive mode; if thou go, if he
write.
The correct construction of the subjunctive
mode is precisely the same as that of the indica-
tive ; as it is used in popular practice, which has
preserved the true idiom of the language; if thou
tiast, if he has or hath ; to denote present uncer-
tainty. But a future contingency may be ex-
pressed by the omission of tlie personal termina-
tions ; if he go, that is, if he shall go.
Be.
Be is a verb denoting existence, and therefore
called the substantive verb. It is very irregular,
being derived from different radicals, and having
undergone many dialectical changes.
Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.— To ie.
Perfect Tense.— To have been.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Being.
Of the Perfect.— Seen.
Compound. — Having been.
Indicative Mode.— Present Tense.
I am re We are re
C Thou art re (Ye are re
> You arc re ( You are re
fit is re
The foregoing form of the pre
enerally used by good wrilcrs.
They :
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
ing form is the most ancient, anJ if still veiy gen-
eral in popular practice.
I be n Wc lie )i
Vou be n Ve or you be n
Heisn They ben
Tlwu beest, in the second person, is not in use.
Past Tense.
I was « We were n
C Thou wast n C Ye were re
\ Vou was or were n { You were Ji
He was ft They were n
Perfect Tense.
I have n been We have been
{ Thou hastn been ( Ye have been
) You have n been { You have n been
He hath or has n been They have n been
Prior-past Tense.
I had n been We had n been
( Thou hadstJt been ( Ye had n been
) Vou had n been ( You hadn been
He had « been They had n been
Future Tense.
I shall or will n be We shall or will n be
i Thou Shalt or wiltJi be ( Ye shall or will n be
) Vou shall or will n be ( You shall or will n be
He shall or will n be They shall or will n be
Prior-future Tense.
I shall n have been We shall n have been
("Thou .shall or wilt n f Ye shall or will »i have
I have been J been
] You shall or will n] You shall or will n
I have been I. have been
He shall or will n have They shall or will »
been have been
Imperative Mode.
C Be n ; be thou n ; do n thou be, or
Command < do n be ; be ye n ,• do n you be, or
( do you n be, or do n be.
Exhortation C Let me n be, let him n be, let us n
Entreaty ( be, let them n be.
Potential Mode.
I may or can n be We may or can n be
^ Tljou mayst or canst n ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^„ ^ ^^
You may or can n I
be
^ You may or can n be
He may or can n be They may or can n be
Must is used in this tense, and in tlie perfect
also.
Past Tense.
I might n be We might n be
(, Thou mightest n be ( Ye might n be
I You might n be \ You might n be
He might n be They might n be
In the same manner witli could, should and
■would.
Perfect Tense.
I may or can have « We may or can n have
been been
Ye may or can n have
Past Tense.
// I was We were
i Thou wast ( Ye were
) Vou was or were \ You were
He was They were
The foregoing tenses express uncertainty,
wliether a fact exists or existed ; or they admit
the fact. The following form is used for tlic like
purposes :
Ifl be We be
C Thou be ( Ye be
I You be \ You be
He be They be
But this is more properly the form of the condi-
tional future ; that is, the verb without the sign of
the future— i/Ae be, for if he shall be.
The following is the form of expressing sujiposi-
m or hypothesis, and may be called the
Hypothetical Tense.
Ifl were We were
j Thou wert ( Ye were
I Vou was or were I Vou were
He were They were
" Ifl were," supposes I am not; "if I were
noV' supposes I am.
other tenses are the same as in the indica-
tive mode.
The Conjugation of a Regular Verb.
Love. — Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.
To love.
Perfect Tense.— To have loved.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Laving.
Of the Perfect.— toBcd.
Compound. — Having loved.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
I love n We love n
C Thou lovest re (Ye love rt
I You love 71 ( You love re
He loveth or loves n They love n
With the auxiliary do.
I do n love We do n love
C Thou dost n love ( Ye do n love
( You do n love ( Vou do re love
He doth or docs re love They do n love
Definite.
I am re loving We are re laving
iiig
rThou mayest or canst ("l
1 n have been J
I Vou may or can n have | 1
[ been (^
You may or can re have
been
He may or can n have They may or can 7i
been have been
Prior-past Tense.
I might n have been We might re have been
C Thou mightest re have C Ye might nhave been
< been J Vou might n have
^ You might n have been ( been
He might n have been They might re have
been
In the same manner with could, would and
fhould. There is no future tense in this mode.
Subjunctive Mode.
This Mode is formed by prefixing any sign of
condition, hypothesis or contingency, to the indie
ative mode in its various tenses.
Present Tense.
If I am We are
( Thou art ^ Ye are
I Vou are ( V'ou are
He is They are
I loving
C Ve are n
\ V ou are n loving ( You are re loving
He is n loving They are n loving
Past Tense, indefinite.
I loved n We loved n
C Thou lovedst n J Ye loved re
I You loved re ( Vou loved n
He loved re They loved n
With the auxiliary did.
I did re love We did n love
C Thou didst re love C Ve did re love
( You did re love I Vou did n love
He did re love They did n love
Definite.
I was n loving We were re loving
( Thou wast re loving C Ye were n loving
( You was re loving ( You were re loving
He was re loving They were re loving
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
I have n loved We have n loved
Thou hast n loved C Ye have re loved
You have re loved ' \ You have n loved
He has or hath n loved They have re loved
Definite.
I have n been loving We have re been lov-
ing
re been lov
He has
hath
lov
rVehavei
■ing I ing
.•mg j Vou havi
t loving
been They have n been
mg
lov
ing
Prior-past, indefinite.
I had n loved We had re loved
: Thou hadst re loved C Ye had re loved
Vou had 71 loved I Vou had n loved
' He had rt loved They had re loved
{Ye had re been lov-
ing
You had n been lov-
ing
He had re been loving They had ;ibeenlov-
ing
Future Tense, indefinite.
The form of predicting.
I shall re love We shall n love
C Thou wilt n love ( Ve will 7i love
I You will « love ( You will n love
He will n love They will re love
The form of promising, commanding and deter-
mining.
1 will re love We will n love
C Thou shalt re love C Ve shall re love
( You shall re love ( You shall n love
He shall re love They shall n love
Definite.
I shall or will n be lov- We shall or will re be
ing loving
(Thou shalt or wilt re be ("Ye shall or will n be
loving J loving
You shall or will re be] You shall or will n
loving (^ be loving
He shall or will re be lov- They shall or will n
ing be loving
Prior-future, indefinite.
I shall n have loved We shall n have loved
{Thou shalt or wilt re have [" Ye shall or will n
loved J loved
You shall or willTi have) Vou shall or will n
loved (^ have loved
He shall or will re have They shall or will n
loved have loved
Definite.
I shall n have been lov- We shall »ihave been
ing loving
iThou shalt or wilt re have f Ye shall or will n
been loving J have been loving
You shall or will re have | You shall or will n
been loving l^ have been loving
He shall or will re have They shall or will re
been loving have been loving
Imperative Mode.
Let me n love Let us n love
Love re Love 7i
Do re love Do 7i love
Do thou re love Do ye or you n love
Do you n love Let them 7i love
Let him 71 love
In the place of let, the poets employ the verb
without the auxiliary.
" Perish the lore that deadens young desire."
Beat. Minst.
That is, let the lore perish.
" £e ignorance thy choice, where knowledge
leads to woe." Ibm.
Potential Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
I may or can n love We may or can 77 love
C Thou mayst or canst 77 C Ve may or can n love
? love 2 Vou may or can 7»
( You may or can re love ( love
He may or can 71 love They may or can n
love
Must is used in this tense and in the perfect.
Definite.
I may or can re be loving We may or can n be
loving
iThou mayst or canst re be fYe may or can n be
loving J loving
Vou may or can re be lov- i You may or can 71 be
ing t loving
He may or can re be lov- They may or can 71
ing be loving
Past Tense, indefinite.
I might re love We might n love
C Thou mightest re love C Ye might re love
( You might n love I You might n love
He might 11 love They might re love
GRAMMAR OF THE
With couhl, would and should in tliesame man
Definite.
I might n he loving We might n be lovinf^
' Thou mightest n be lov- f Ye might n be loving
ing < You might n be lov
' You might n be loving ( ing [ing
He might n be loving They might n be lov-
With could, would and should in the same man
1 iii<ty ui c
fThou maj
< canst n
( You may i
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
We
;Ye
' You
■ They
f have
> loved
1 may can n \
He may or can n J
Defi
I may or can ii have
been loving
f Thou mayest or canst
1 n have been loving
, have
r
We may or can
been loving
' Ye may or can n have
) been loving
Du may or can ra S Youmayorcannha
have been loving ( been loving
He may or can n have They may or can
been loving have been loving
Prior-past Tense, indefinite.
I might n have loved We might n have loved
Thou mightest n have C Ye might n have
loved 1 loved
You might n have \ You might n hav
loved ( loved [loved
He might « have loved They might n h:
Definite.
I might n have been
loving
Thou mightest n have
We might 71 have been
loving
Ye might nhave been
loving
You might n have
been loving
They might n have
been loving
been loving
J You might n have
f been loving
He might n have been
been loving
With could, would and should in tlie same man
ner, in the two last forms.
The potential mode becomes conditional by mean
of the modifiers, if, though, unless, &c. prefixed to
its tenses, without any variation from the foregoing
inflections. This may, for distinction, be called
the Conditional Potential.
Subjunctive Mode. — Present Tense.
If, though, unless, whether, suppose, admit, fyc.
I love n We love 7i
< Thou lovest n i Ye love n
I You love n { You love n
He lovethorlovesji They love «
Some authors omit the personal terminations in
the second and third persons — if thou love, if he
love. With this single variation, which I deem
contrary to the principles of our language, the
subjunctive mode differs not in the least from the
indicative, and to form it the learner has only to
prefix a sign of condition, as if, though, unless, &c.
to the indicative, in its several tenses. With this
exception, however, that in the future tense, the
auxiliary may be and often is suppressed. Thus
instead of
If I shall or will love We shall or will love
S Thou Shalt or will love J Ye shall or will love
l You shall or will love ( You shall or will love
He shall or will love They shall or will love
Authors write,
//; «■<•. I love
We love
S Thou love
< Ye love
) You love
I You love
He love
They love
This form is properly used, when shall or will
may precede the verb, and when the verb is pre-
ceded by a command or admonition ; as, " See that
none render e\i\ for evil to any man."
1 Thess. V. 15.
In the subjunctive mode, there is a peculiarity
in the tenses which should be noticed. When I
say, if it rains, it is understood that I am icncer-
tai/i of the fact, at the time of speaking. But
when I say, '' If it rained, we shouM be obliged
to seek shelter," it is not understood that I am un-
certain of the fact; on the contrary, it is under-
stood that I am certain, it does not rain at the time
of speaking. Or if I say, " if it did not rain, I
would take a walk," I convey the idea that it does
rain at the moment of speaking. This form of ourj
tenses in the subjunctive mode has never been the
subject of much notice, nor ever received its due
explanation and arrangement. For this hypothet-
ical verb is actually a present tense, or at least in-i
definite — it certainly does not belong to past time. I
It is further to be remarked, that a negative sen-
tence always implies an affirmative — " if it did not
rain," implies that it does rain. On the contrary,
an affirmative sentence implies a negative — " if it
did rain," implies that it does not.
n the past time, a similar distinction exists ; for
" if it rained yesterday," denotes uncertainty in
the speaker's mind — but " if it had not rained yes-
terday," implies a certainty, that it did rain.
Passive form of the Verb.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense.
I am Ji loved We are n loved
SThou art n loved ( Ye are n loved
You are n loved ( You are n loved
He is n loved They are n loved
Past Tense.
I was n loved We were « loved
^ Thou wast n loved C Ye were )i loved
( You was or were n loved ( You were n loved
He was n loved They were n loved
Perfect Tense.
I have n been loved
( Thou hast n been loved
( You have n been loved
We have » been
Ye have n been
loved
You have n been
loved
He has or hath n been They have n been
loved loved
Prior-past Tense.
I had n been loved We had n been loved
Thou hadst n been loved ( Ye had n been loved
Y'ou had n been loved I You had n been loved
He had n been loved They had n been
loved
Future Tense.
I shall or will ti be loved We shall or will n be
Thou shalt or wilt n be
loved
( Ye shall or will n be
loved
> loved
You shall
or will n be
\ You shall or will n
loved
( be loved
He shall
)r will n be
They shall or will n
loved
be loved
Prior-future
Tense.
I shall n
have been
We shall nhave been
loved
loved
: Thou shalt or wilt w T Ye shall or will n
) have been loved 1 have been loved
\ Y'ou shall or will n S You shall or will n
f have been loved f have been loved
He shall or will n have They shall or will n
been loved
Imperath
Let me n be loved
Be thou or you n loved
Do you n be loved'
Let him n be loved
have been loved
• Mode.
Let us n be loved
Be n loved
Be ye or you n loved
Do you n be loved
Let them n be loved
Potential Mode. — Present Tense,
may, can or must n be We may, can or must
loved
■ Thou mayest, canst or
I must n be loved
I You may, can or must
n be loved
He may, can or must n
be loved
n be loved
Ye may, can or musti
n be loved
You may, can or must
n be loved
They may, can or
must n be loved
Past Tense.
I might n be loved We might Jt be loved
( Thou n\ightest nhe loved C Ye might n be loved
( You might n be loved ( You might n be loved
He might n be loved They might n be
loved
With could, should and would in the same manner.
Perfect Tense.
We may, can or must
n have been loved
Ye may, can or must
71 have been loved
You may, can or must
71 have been lov-
been
CYe
J You
They
might n
■ith could, would and
I may, can or must n
have been loved
Thou mayest, canst or
must n have been
loved
You may, can or must n
have been loved
He may, can or must »s They may, can
have been loved must n have been
loved
Prior-past Tense.
I might n
( Thou mightest
( You might n
He might n
In the same manne
should.
Subjunctive Mode. — Present Tense.
If, Src. I am n loved We are n loved
C Thou art n loved ^ Ye are n loved
( You are n loved ( You are » loved
He is 71 loved They are n loved
Or thus :
If, iV<". I be n loved We be »i loved
{ Thou be )i loved C Ye he n loved
I You be n loved ( Y'ou be n loved
He be n loved They be n loved
Past Tense.
If, Src. 1 was n loved We were n loved
f Thou wastn loved C Ye were n loved
< You wasor were n }
( loved ( You were n loved
He was ?i loved They were n loved
Or thus :
If, Sfc. I were n loved We were n loved
( Thou wert »( loved ( Ye were n loved
\ You were n loved ( You were « loved
He were n loved They were n loved
Perfect Tense.
If, Src. I have ra been loved We haven been loved
C Thou hast n been C Ye have n been lov-
1 loved * ed
j You have 7i been J You have n been
f loved ( loved
He has or hath n They have ?i been
loved loved
Prior-past Tense.
If, ^c. I had n been loved We had n been loved
C Thou hadst n been C Ye had n been loved
5 loved )
J You had n been j You had n been lov-
f loved ( ed
He had n been They had n been lov-
loved ed
Future Tense.
If, Src. I shall, will or We shall, will or
should 7ibe loved should n be loved
fThou Shalt, wilt or C Ye shall, will or
shouldst n be lov- should n be loved
< ed J
I You shall, will or You shall, will or
t should n be loved [^ should n be loved
He shall, will or They shall, will or
should n be loved should « be loved
Prior-future Tense.
If, Src. I shall or should n We shall or should n
have been loved have been loved
TThou shalt or shouldst fYe shall or should n
J n have been loved J have been loved
I You shall or should »J ] You shall or should
1^ have been loved (^ n have been loved
He shall or should n They shall or should
have been loved n have been loved
The future is often elliptical, the auxiliary being
omitted. Thus instead of <// shall be loved, &c.
used the following forms :
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
If, SfC. I be 11 loved We be n loved
( Thou be n loved ( Ye be n loved
\ You be n loved \ You be n loved
He be n loved They be n loved
An exhibition of the verb in the interrogative
form, with the sign of the negative.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
Love In? Love we n ?
^ Lovest thou it ? < Love ye n ?
( Love you n 7 \ Love you n ?
Loveth or loves he n ? Love tliey n ?
The foregoing form is but little used. The fol-
lowing is the usual mode of asking questions.
Do I n love > Do we n love ?
( Dost thou n love ? < Doye n love ?
\ Do you n love ? \ Do you n love ?
Does or doth he n love ? Do they « love ?
Definite .
Am I « loving .' Are we n loving ?
J Art thou 71 loving ? J Are ye n loving ?
^ Are you n lo\ ing .' ^ Are you n loving ?
Is he n loving ? Are they n loving .'
Past Tense, indefinite.
Did I n love .' Did we n love .'
( Didst thou n love >. < Did ye n love ?
^ Did you n love .' < Did you n love ?
Did he n love ? Did they n love .'
The otlier form of this tense, loved he ? is sel-
dom used. Definite.
Was I n loving .' Were we n loving ?
( Wast thou n loving ? t Were ye n loving ?
? Was or were you ?i <
I loving ? ( Were you n loving ?
Was he n loving? Were they n loving?
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
Have I n loved? Have we n loved ?
< Hast thou n loved ? < Have ye n loved ?
I Have you »i loved ? ( Have you n loved ?
Has or hath he n loved ? Have they n loved ?
Definite.
Have I n been loving? Have we n been lov-
[ing ? ing ?
■ Hast thou n been lov- C Have ye nbeenloving!
' Have you n been lov- < Have you n been lov-
' ing i ing?
Has or hath he n been Have they n been lov-
loving ? ing ?
Prior-past, indefinite.
Had I n loved ? Had we ?i loved ?
Hadst thou n loved ? < Had ye n loved ?
Had you n loved ? ( Had you n loved ?
Had he n loved ? Had they n loved
Definite.
Had I n been loving ? Had we n been loving ;
'Hadst thou Jt been < Had ye Ji been loving?
loving ? \ Had you n been loving;
' Had you n been loving? Had they n been lov.
Had he n been loving ? ing?
Future Tense, indefinite.
Shall I n love ?
, Shalt or wilt thou
S love ?
> Shall or will you
V. l,,ve ?
Shall we n love ?
■ Shall or will ye n love
Shall or will you »
' love ?
Sh.)ll
he
Shall r n be loving ?
r Shalt or wilt thou n be
) loving ?
\ Shall or will you n be
' loving ?
Shall or will he n he
loving ?
Shall we n be loving ?
Shall or will ye n be
loving?
Shall or will you n be
Shall or will they n be
loving ?
Prior-future, indefinite.
Shall I re have loved:
Shalt or wilt thou n
have loved ?
Shall or will you n
have loved ?
Shall or will he t
have loved ?
Shall we n have loved ?
Shall or will ye n have
loved ?
Shall or will you n
have loved ?
Shall or will they n
have loved ?
The definite form of this tense is little used.
Will, in this tense, is not elegantly used in the
first person.
The interrogative form is not used in the imper-
ative mode ; a command and a question being in-
compatible.
It is not necessary to exhibit this form of the
verb in the potential mode. Let the learner be
only instructed that in interrogative sentences, the
nominative follows the verb when alone, or the
first auxiliary when one or more aroused; and
the sign of negation not, (and generally never,)
immediately follows the nominative.
IRREGULAR VERBS.
All verbs whose past tense and perfect participle do not end in ed
Bemed irregular. The number of tliese i
I about one hundred and seventy
seven. They aie of three kinds.
1. Those whose past tense, and participle of the perfect are the same as
the present ; as, beat, burst, cast, cost, cut, hit, hurt, let, put, read, rent,
rid, set, shed, shred, shut, slit, split, sjnead, thrust, sweat, wet. Wet has
sometimes wetted; heat sometimes het ; but the practice is not respectable.
Light and qidt have lit and quit in the past time and participle, but they
are also regular.
2. Verbs whose past time and participle are alike, but different from the
present; 3iS, meet, met ; sell, sold.
3. Verbs whose present and past tense and participle are all different ; as,
hnow, knetp, known.
A few ending with ch, ck, x,p, II, ess, though regular, suffer a contraction
of ed into t ; as, snatcht for snatched, checkt for checked, snapt for snapped,
mixt for mixed, dwelt for dwelled, past for passed. Others have a digraph
shortened ; as, drearn, dreamt ; feel, felt; mean, meant ; sleep, slept ; deal,
dealt. In a few, v is changed into/,- as bereave, bereft ; leave, left.
As some of the past tenses and participles are obsolete or obsolescent, it
deemed proper to set these in separate columns for the information of the
IRREGULAR VERBS.
Infin.
Past tense.
Participle.
Past tense obs. Part, o
Abide
abode
abode
Am
was
been
Arise, rise
arose, rose
arisen, risen
Awake
awoke, awaked
awaked
Bear
bore
borne
bare
Beat
beat
beat, beaten
Begin
begun, began
begun
Bend
bended, bent
bended, bent
Bereave
bereaved, bereft bereaved, bereft
Beseech
besought
besought
Bid
hid
bid
bade bidden
Bind
bound
bound
bounden
Bite
bit
bit, bitten
Bleed
bled
bled
Blow
blew
blown
Break
broke
broke, broken
brake
Breed
bred
bred
Bring
Build
brought
brought
builded, built
built
Burst
burst
burst
Buy
bought
bought
Cast
cast
Catch
catched, caught catched, caught
Chide
chid
chid
chidden
Chuse.choose
chose
chose, chosen
1 Ir>fin.
" Past tense.
Participle. Past tense obs. Part. obs.
Cleave, to stick cleaved
cleaved clave
Cleave, to
Cling
spUt cleft
cleft clove cloven
clung
clung
Clothe
clothed
clothed clad
Come
came, come
come
Cost
cost
cost
Crow
crowed
crowed crew
|Creep
crept
crept
jCut
rut
cut
Dare
durst, dared*
dared
Deal
dealt, dealed
dealt, dealed
Dig
dug, digged
dug, digged
Do
did
done
Draw
drew
drawn
Diive
drove
driven, drove drave [drunk
Drink
drank
drank drunken,
Dwell
dwelt, dwelled
dwelt, dwelled
Eat
cat, ate
eat, eaten [ved
Engrave
engraved
engraven, engia-
fell
fallcn
Feel
felt
felt
Fight
fought
fought
Find
found
found
Flee
fled
fled
Fling
flung
flung
Fly^
flew?
flown
Forget
forgot
forgot, forgotten forgat
forsaken, forsook
Forsake
forsook
Freeze
froze
frozen, froze
Get
got
got, gotten gat
Gild
gUded, gilt
gilded, gilt
Gird
iirded, girt
girded, girt
Give
gave
given
Go
went
gone
Grave
graved
graved, graven
Grind
ground
ground
Grow
ia7
grown
Have
had
Hang
hanged, hung
hanged, hung
Hear
heard
heard
Hew
hewed
hewed, hewn
Hide
hid
hid, hidden
Hit
hit
hit
Hold
held
held holden
* When transitive, this verb
is always regular; as, "he dared him."
GRAM3IAR OF THE
Infill.
Hurt
Keep
Knit
Know
Lade
Lay
Lead
Leave
Lend
Let
Lie (down)
Lose
Make
Meet
Mow
Read
Rend
Rid
Ride
Ring
Past tense ubs. Part, ubs
Run
Saw
Say
See
Seek
Sell
Send
Set
Shake
Shape
Shave
Shear
Shed
Shine
Shew
Show
Shoot
Shrink
Shred
Shut
Sing
Sink
Sit
Slay
Sleep
Slide
Sling
Slink
Slit
Smite
Sow
Speak
Speed
Spend
Spill
Spin
Spit
Spread
Spring
Stand
Steal
Sting
Stink
Stride
Strike
String
Strive
Strow
Strew
Swear
Sweat
Swell
Swim
Swing
Take
Teach
Tear
Tell
kept
knit
knew
lent
let
lay
lost
made
met
mowed
paid
rid
rode, 1
rung
saw
sought
shook
shaped
shaved
sheared
shed
shone, shined
shewed
showed
shod
shot
shrunk
shred
shut
sung
sat
slung
slunk
slit, slitted
sowed
sped
spent
spilled, spilt
spit
sprung
stood
stride, strode
struck
strove
showed
strewed
swore
sweat
swelled
swum, swam
swung
took
taught
told
kept
knit
known
laden
met
mowed, mown
paid
set
shaken, shook
shaped
shaved
sheared
shed
shone, shined
shewn
shown, showed
shod
shot
shrunk
shred
shut
sunk
sat
slain
slept
slid
slung
slunk
slit, slitted
smitten, smit
sowed, sown
spoke, spoken
sped
spent
spilled, spilt
spun
spit
spread
sprung
stood
stole, stolen
stung
stunk
strid
struck
strung
striven
strowed, shown
strewed
swung
taken, took
taught
torn, tore
told
ipake
Infin.
Think
Thrive
iThrow
Thrust
Tread
Wax
Wear
Weave
Weep
Pa,<it tense.
thought
thrived
threw
thrust
trod
waxed
ept
on
ound
Participle.
thought
thrived
thrown
trod, trodden
waxed
worn, wore
woven, wove
wept
Past tense obs. Part.
wound
Work worked,wrought worked, wrought
Wring wrung, wringed wrung, wiinged
Write wrote, writ writ, written
Note 1. — The old forms of the past tense, sang, spake, sprang, forgat,
&c. are here placed among the obsolete ivonls. They are entirely obsolete,
in ordinary practice, wheth. r |">]' H -i ■ i ;- liilo ; and it seems advisable not
to attempt to revive them. I: : i I'l; reason for omitting them,
there is one which is not i ■ . '.. ii,l. The sound of a in these
and all other like cases, w.i- u;] mm!I\ h- lunada or aw ; which sound, in
the Gothic and Saxon, as in the niodeir! Scotch, corresponded nearly with
0 in spoke, swore. Spoke is therefore nearer to the original than spake, as
we now pronounce the vowel a with its first or long sound, as in sake.
Note 2. — In the use of the past tense and participle of some of these
verhs, there is a diversity of practice ; some authors retaining those which
others have rejected as obsolete. Many words which were in use in the
days of Shakspeare and Lord Bacon are now wholly laid aside ; others are
used only in books; while others are obsolescent, being occasionally used ;
and a few of the old participles, having lost the verbal character, are used
only as adjectives. Of the last mentioned species, are fraught, drunken,
[molten, beholden, shorn, clad, bounden, cloven. Holpen is entirely obso-
lete. Holden, swollen, gotten and forgotten, are nearly obsolete in com-
mon parlance. Wrought is evidently obsolescent. Stricken is used only
in one phrase, stricken in age or years, which we learn from the bible ; but
in every other case, is inelegant and pedantic.
Bishop Lowth has attempted to revive the use of many of the obsolescent
past tenses and participles, for which he has, and I think deservedly, incur-
red the severe animadversions of eminent critics. " Is it not su.-jjrising,"
says Campbell on Rhetoric, b. 2, ch.2, "that one of Lowth's penetration
should think a single person entitled to revive a form of inflection in a par-
ticular word, which had been rejected by all good writers of every denom-
ination, for more than a hundred and fifty years." This writer declares
what Lowth has advanced on the use of the past tense and participle, to be
inconsistent with the very first principles of grammar. He observes justly
that authority is every thing in language, and that this authority consists in
reputable, national, present usage.
Independent of authority however, there are substantial reasons in the
language itself for laying aside the participles ending with en, and for re-
moving the difTerences between the past time and participle. In opposition
to the opinion of Lowth, who regrets that our language has so few inflec-
tions, and maintains that we should preserve all we have, I think it capable
■of demonstration that the differences between the past time and participle of
the past tense of our irregular verbs, is one of the greatest inconveniences
in the language. If we used personal terminations to form our modes and
tenses like the Greeks, it would be desirable that they should be carefully
tained. But as we have no more than about half a dozen different termi-
nations, and are therefore obliged to form our modes and tenses by means of
auxiliaries, the combination of these forms a part of the business of learn-
ing the language, which is extremely difficult and perplexing to foreigners.
Even the natives of Scotland and Ireland do not always surmount the diffi-
culty. This diflBculty is very much augmented by the difference between
the past tense and the participle. To remove this difference, in words in
which popular usage has given a lead, is to obviate, in a degree, this incon-
venience. This is recommended by another circumstance — it will so far
reduce our irregular verbs to an analogy with the regular, whose past tense
and participle of the perfect are alike.
number of words, the dropping of n in the participle, will make a
convenient distinction between the participle and the adjective ; for in the
llatter, we always retain en — we always say, a written treatise, a spoken lan-
guage, a hidden mystery — though the best authors write, a " mystery hid
from ages ;" " the language spoke in Bengal."
Besides, whenever we observe a tendency in a nation to conti act words,
we may be assured that the contraction is found to be convenient, and is
therefore to be countenanced. Indeed if I mistake not, we are indebted to
such contractions for many real improvements; as write from gewrite;
slain from ofslegen ; fastened from gefastnode ; men from mannan ; holy
from haligan, &c. And as a general remark, we may be assured that no
language ever suffas the loss of a useful word or syllable. If a word or
syllable is ever laid aside in national practice, it must be because it is not
wanted, or because it is harsh and inconvenient in use, and a word or sylla-
ble more consonant to the general taste of a nation or state of society, is
substituted.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Such is the fact with our participles in en ; the e being suppressed m pro-
nunciation, we have the words spokn, icrittn, holdn, in actual practice.
Nothing can be more weak, inefficient and disagreeable than this nasal
sound of the half vowel n ; it is disagreeable in prose, feeble inverse, and
in music, intolerable. Were it possible to banish every sound of this kind
from ihe language,
rable. At any rate, when
people in generat have laid a.side any of these sounds, writers, who value
the beauties of language, should be the last to revive them.
Defective Verbs.
Verbs which want the past time or participle, are deemed defective. Of
these we have very few. The auxiliaries may, can, will, shall, nntst,
having no participle, belong to this cla.ss. Ought is used in the present and
past tenses only, with the regular inflection of the second person only — /
ought, thou oughlest, he ought. We, you, they ought, quoth is wholly ob-
solete, except iii poetry and burlesque. It has no inflection, and is used
chiefly in the third person, with the nominative following it, quoth he.
Wit, to know, is obsolete, except in the infinitive, to introduce an expla-
nation or enumeration of particulars ; as, " There are seven persons, to wit,
four men and three women." Wot and leiat are entirely obsolete.
Adverbs or Modifiers.
Adverbs arc a secondary part of speech. Their uses are to enlarge, re-
strain, limit, define, and in short, to modifi/ the sense of other words.
Adverbs may l)e classed according to their several uses.
1. Those which qualify the actions expressed by verbs and participles;
as, "a good man lives ^ioit.s(y ;" " a room is c?C|£fan% furnished." Here
piously denotes the manner oj living ; elegantly denotes the mannerof be-
ing furnished.
In this class may be ranked a number of other words, as when, soon, then,
where, whence, hence, and many others, whose use is to modify verbs.
2. Another class of adverbs are words usually called prepositions, used
with verbs to vaiy their signification; for which purpose they generally
follow them in construction, as to fall on, give out, bear with, cast up; or
they are prefixed and become a part of the word, as overcome, underlay.
In these uses, these words modify or change the sense of the verb, and
when prefixed, are united with the verb in orthography.
A few modifiers admit the terminations of comparison; as soon, sooner,
soonest ; often, oftcner, oftenest. Most of those which end in ly, may be
compared by more and most, less and least ; as more justly, more excellent
ly ; less honestly, least criminally.
Prepositions.
Prepositions, so called from their being put before other words, serve
to connect words and show the relation between them, or to show the
Thus a man of benevolence, denotes a man who pos
( liii^i was crucified between two thieves. Receive
i\f\ mvi- ii to Thomas.
Hisi (MihiTion, are to, for, by, of, in, into, on, upon,
ir<jt. iiji. over, under, beneath, against, fri
iriirilx, before, behind, after, without, across.
r of particles, which serve to vary or modify the words
K'fixed, and which are sometimes called inseparable
■ they are never used, but as parts of other words.
mis, pre, re, sub, in abide, become, conjoin, mistake..
as connectives. Their use is to express ni
alternatives. Thus, " Either John or Ii .
an alternative sentence ; the verb or pre li
but not to both ; and whatever may br ti
thus joined by or, the verb and predioriI( 1
' One very common use of ur, is to jo'
vord
iidlshallcallthcm
the Exchange," is
■ . i.ne or the other,
r :,i.3or propositions
,1;,.
condition of thing'
sesses benevoI«-nc
the book /ro»i .l"i
The prepositiHi!
(imoHff, belli; , „
with, tlinnmli. ol
a, be
prefix, return, subjoin, ^c. These may be called prefixes.
Connectives or Conjunctions.
Connectives are words which unite words and sentences in construction
joining two or more simple sentences into one compound one, and continu-
ing the sentence at the pleasure of the writer or speaker. They also begin
sentences after a full period, manifesting some relation between sentences
in the general tenor of discourse.
The connectives of most general use, are and, or, either, nor, neither,
hut, than. To which may be added because.
And is supposed to denote an addition; as, " The book is worth four shil
lings and sixpence." That is, it is worth four shillings, add sixpence, oi
with sixpence added. " John resides at New York, and Thomas, at Bos
ton." That is, John resides at New York, add, [add this which follows,]
Thomas resides at Boston. From the great use of this connective in join-
ing words of which the same thing is affirmed or predicated, it may be just-
ly called the copulative by way of eminence.
The distinguishing use of the connective is to save the repetition of
words ; for this sentence, " John, Thomas and Peter reside at York," con-
tains three simple sentences ; '■ John resides at York," — " Thomas resides
at York," — "Peter resides at York;" which are all combined into one,]
with a single verb and predicate, by means of the copul
added by way of explanation or definition. Thus, " No di •
can more fatally disable it from benevolence, than ill-him
ness." Rambler, J\i~o. 74. Here peevishness is not inteml.
thing from ill-humor, but as another term for the same idea. In lhi> o.i-j,
m- expresses only an alternative of words, and not of signification.
Iher andur are affirmative of one or other of the particulars named,
so neither and nor are negative of all the paniculars. Thus, " For 1 am
persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor highth, 7ior depth, nor
any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God." Rom.
39. Here neither is in fact a substitute for each of the following
particulars, all of which it denies to be able to effect a certain purpose — not
either of these which follow shall separate us from the love of God. It is
laid down as a rule in our grammars, that nor must always answer to nei-
ther; but this is a great mistake, for the negation o{ neither, not either, ex-
tends to every one of the following alternatives. But nor is more general-
ly used, and in many cases, as in the passage just recited, is far the most
mphatical.
But is used for two Saxon words, originally by mistake, but now by es-
tablished custom ; bet or bote, the radical of our modern words better, boot,
and denoting sufficiency, compensation, more, further, or something addi-
tional, by way of amendment ; and buton or butan, equivalent to without
or except.
In the former sense, we have the word in this sentence ; " John resides
at York, but Thomas resides at Bristol." The primitive sense here is, John
resides at York ; more, add or supply, Thomas resides at Bristol. It does
not signify opposition, as is usually supposed, but some addition to the sense
of what goes before.
In the latter sense, or that of butan, it is used in this passage, " He hatli
not grieved me, but in part." 2 Cor. ii. 5. That is, " He hath not grieved
me, except fn part." The first assertion is a complete negation ; the word
but, (butan,) introduces an exception. " Nothing, but true religion, can
give us peace in death." Here also is a complete negation, with a saving
introduced by but. Nothing, except true religion.
These were the only primitive uses of 6ut, until by means of a mistake,
a third sense was added, which is that of only. Not knowing the origin
and true meaning of but, authors omitted the negation in certain phrases
where it was essential to a true construction ; as in the following passages,
" Our light affliction, which is but for a moment." 2 Cor. iv. " If they
kill us, we shall 6uf die." 2 Kings, vii.
The but, in these passages, is buton, be o>it, except; and according to
the true original sense, 7iot should precede, to give the sentence a negative
turn. " Our Ught affliction is not, but (except) for a moment." " We shall
not, but die." As they now stand, they would in strictness signify. Our
light affliction is except for a moment — We can except die, which would not
be sense. To correct the sense, and repair the breach made in the true
English idiom, by this mistake, we must give but a new sense, equivalent
to only. Thus we are obliged to patch and mend, to prevent the mischiefs
of innovation.
The liistory of this word but should be, as Johnson expresses the idea, " a
guide to reformers, and a terror to innovators." The first blunder or inno-
ation blended two words of distinct meanings into one, in orthography and
pronunciation. Then the sense and etymology being obscured, authors
proceeded to a further change, and suppressed the negation, which was es-
sential to the buton. We have now therefore one word with three different
and unallied meanings ; and to these may be reduced the whole of John-
son's eighteen definitions ofbut.
Let us however ti'ace the mischief of this change a little further. As the
word but is now used, a sentence may have the same meaning with or with-
out the negation. For example : " he hath ?wt grieved me, but in part,"
and " he hath grieved me, but in part," have, according to our present use
of but, precisely the same meaning. Or compare different passages of
scripture, as they now stand in our bibles.
He hath not grieved me, but in part.
Our light affliction is but for a moment.
This however is not all ; for the innovation being directed neither by
knowledge nor judgment, is not extended to all cases, and in a large pro-
iporlion of phrases to which but belongs, it is used in its original sense with
a preceding negation, especially with nothing and none. " There is none
good, but one, 3iat is God." Matt. xix. 17. This is correct — there is none
good, except one, that is God. " He saw a fig-tree in the way, and found
nothing tliereon but leaves only." Matt. xxi. 19. This is also correct —
" he found nothing, except leave* ;" the only is redundant. " It amounts
to no more but tliis." Locke, Und. b. 1. 2. This is a correct English
Eitherlni or have been already explained under'the head of substitutes,! Phrase; "it amounts to no more, except this;" but it is nearly obsolete,
for in strictness they are the representatives of sentences or words; but as j Hence the propriety of these phrases. "They could not, hut be known
or has totally lost that character, both these words will be here considered I be fore." Locke, 1. 2. " The reader may be, nay cannot choose but be
Vol. I. J.
GRAMMAR OF THE
very fallible in the understanding of it." Locke, 3. 9. Here but is used inll
its true -onse. They eould not, except this, be known before. That is, thei'n
fontrary was not possible. The other phrase is frequently found in Shaks-|;i,
peare and other old writers, but is now obsolete. They cannot choose butj >
that is, they have no choice, power or alternative, except to be very fal-
lible.
But is called in our grammars, a disjunctive conjunction, connecting
sentences, but expressing opposition in tne sense. To illustrate the use of
this word which joms and diyoins at the same time, Lowth u;ives this ex-
ample ; " You and I rode to London, but Peter staid at home. ' — Here the
Bishop supposed the but to express an opposition in the sense. But let 6wi
be omitted, and what diflerence will the omission make in the sense .' "Youj
and I rode to London, Peter staid at home." Is the opposition in the sense!
les? clearly marked than when the conjunciion is used ? By no means.
And the truth is, that the opposition in the sense, when there is any, is never
expressed by the connective at all, but always by the following sentence or
phrase. " They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes have they, but see
not." Psalm cxv. 5. Let 4t«< be omitted. " They have mouths, they speak
not ; eyes have they, they see not." The omission of the connectives makes
not the smallest alteration in the sense, so far as opposition or difference of
idea in the members of the sentence is concerned. Indeed the Bishop is
mo.=t linfiirtunntr in the examplr Jr 1. rtrl in il!n«trate his rule ; for the cop-
ulativi ami ihay !"■ \i-r,\ lor / ;;/ ;'.,.'', ' ■ ,.t alteration in the sense —
" Voii and ( loilf tn Loiiilnii. ■• ; . : , i ' ■: home." In this sentence
the iipijj uliju is as cuiiiplclrl-, . >, . .J ,, .! ..,/.' was Used; which proves
that the opposition in Ihe senst- lus nu iiepc-mlL-nce on the connective.
Nor is it true that an oppo-ition in the seuse always follows 6ut. "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth out of
the mouth of God." Matt. iv. 4. Here the la-t clause expresses no oppo-
sition, but merely an additional fvf Tlr <:■; • ■ i^ ■:■ r.f hut when used for
bote,is supply, more, further, s' ''' ' anplete the sense ;
it may be in opposition to wli.:' '■ ; ' : Liuation only. In
general, hoxvcvcr. the word //;(/ i. ■■<•• ,.,• , , > ', n . ; I , ,:,re a clause of a
senlrn". . i'.'r- '■■■' 'o in'ri 'i'. ■;■ .1 new ami -Mine w ii.ii ilnirrunt idea, by way
of '',1 ■■' :'. pieceding clause. This use is very naturally
drilii' 'I I ^i " ' i~r of the word, something further which is toi
mak. ■11 ',:>:>■':■ " ',|'''|'' a ^lai has preceded.
ThiDi i< a coiinicuie oi luiuparison ; "John is taller than Peter."
Because is a mere compound of by and cause — by cause. " It is the] 21. Now
case of some to contrive some filse periods of business, ftecawse they mayiadjective
seem men of dispatch." Bacon on Dispatch. See also j?po(7i. 7. 6. Thisljtile ; prol
from nouns ami adjectives by the termination izi
: system, systemize; moral, moralize. When the p
. u'.vel, the consonant ( is pretixed to the terminatioc
I goodness, from good ; gror
. ; - i ,.■'', l.om nouns and adjectives by the addition of en orn;
;;uH-ii. uiJ..'ii, from length, wide.
Verbs ior:/ied by fy; asbrutify, stratify, from bi'ute, stratum.
Nouns foi-nied from adjectives by ness ; ;
from gracious.
8. Nouns formed by dom and ric, denoting jurisdiction; as kingdom,
bishopric, from king and bishop. Dom and ric, are nouns denoting jurisdic-
tion or territory.
9. Nouns formed by hood and ship, denoting state or condition ; as man-
hood, lordship, from man, lord.
10. Nouns ending in ment and age, from the French, denoting state or
act ; as commandment, parentage, from command, pai"ent.
11. Nouns in er,o»- and ee, used byway of opposition, the former denoting
the agent, the latter the receiver or person to whom an act is performed ; as
assignor, assignee; indorser, indorsee.
12. Adjectives formed IVom nouns by the addition of y; as healthy, from
health ; pithy, from pith : or ly added to the noun ; as stately, from state-
Ly is a contraction of like.
13. Adjectives formed from nouns by the addition of/uJ ,• as hopeful, from
hope.
11. Adjectives formed from nouns or verbs by ible or able ; as payable,
from pay ; creditable, from credit ; compressible, from compress. Jible de-
notes power or capacity.
15. Adjectives formed from nouns or adjectives by ish; as whitish, from
white; blackish, from black; waggish, fom wag.
16. Adjectives formed from nouns by less, noting destitution ; as father-
less, fi'om father.
17. Adjectives formed from nouns by ous ; as famous, from fame ; gra-
cious, from grace.
18. Adjectives formed by adding some to nouns ; as delightsome, from
delight.
li). Adverbs formed from adjectives by ly ; as sweetly, from sweet.
20. Nouns to eTpipis f males formed by adding ess to the masculine gen-
der; ash.'i:, - f:r„>ii'
! ' ■ sirne directly from the Latin, others formed from
■ , from responsible ; contractility, from contrac-
Englisb
riticism to the contrary notwith-
orriKu hy adding a/ to nouns; as national, from nation,
standing; but it is now obsolete. 23. Adjectives ending in jc, mostly from the Latin or French, but some
of them by the addition of ic to a noun ; as balsamic, from balsam ; sul-
Exclamations. phuric, from sulphur.
24. Nouns formed by ate, to denote the union of substances in salts ; as
Exclamations are sounds uttered to express passions and emotions ; usu- jcarbonate, in the chimical nomenclature, denotes carbonic acid combined
ally those which are violent or sudden. They are called interjections, ,y,\f]^ another body.
words throum in between the parts of a sentence. But this is not alwaysj' 25. Nouns ending in ite, from other nouns, and denoting salts formed by
the fact, and the name is insignificant. The more appropriate name is, ex- j the union of acids with other bodies; as sulphite, from sulphur.
clamaiions; as they are mere irregular sounds, uttered as passion dictates i 26. Nouns ending in ret, formed from other nouns, and denoting a sub-
and not subject to rules. ||stance combined with an alkaline, earthy or metallic base; as sulphuret,
A few of these sounds however become the customary modes of expres-lcarburet, from sulphur and carbon.
sintr particular passions and feelings in every nation. Thus in English, joy,-' 27. Nouns formed fiom other nouns by adding cy; as ensigncy, eaptain-
surpiisc and tiriitare expressed by oh, uttered with a different tone andj,(.y^ from ensign, captain.
counlenauce. .'lias expresses grief or great sorrow— pisA, i)sAa«', express i ^-ords are also formed by prefixing certain syllables and words, some of
iitempt. Sometimes jerbs, names, and^ attributes aj-e uttered by wa^ o{,^]^^^ siiinificanf by themselves, others never "used but in composition; as
xi„.ii Tir.i— „i Tji„„- .„„r /-!„„ - ^ pre, con, mis, sub, super : and great numbers are formed by the union
two words ; as bed-room, ink-stand, pen-knife.
1 and sub-
detached manner ; as. Hail ! Welcome ! Bless me ! Gr
cious heavens !
In two or three instances, exclamations are followed by
stilulcs in the nominative and objective; as, O «/io?/, in t1
ah me, in the objective. Sometimes that follows O, expressing a wish ; " '
that the Lord would guide my ways." But in such cases, we may conside
ivish or some other verb to be understood.
Derivation.
However numerous may be the words in a language, the number of rad
tal words is small. Most words are formed from others by addition of ce
Syntax.
Syntax teaches the rules to be observed in the construction of sentences.
A sentence is a number of words arranged in due order, and forming a
complete atfirmation or proposition. In philosophical language, a sentence
consists of a subject and a predicate, connected by an affirmation. Thus,
" God is omnipotent," a complete propodtion oi- sentence, composed of God,
_^^ „,..^... „ „„ „.. „. ^^. ,'lie subject, omnipotent, the predicate or thing affirmed, cormected by the
tain words or syllables, which were oHeinalTy 'distinct words,""but "wWc'h !verb is, which forms the affirmaUon. , . „
have lost their distinct character, and are now used only in combinalionij The predicate is often included m the veto ; as, " the sun shines,
with other words. Thus er in lover, is a contraction of wcr, a Saxon word;! A simple sentence then contams one subject and one personal verb, that
denoUng man, [the Latin vir ,-] ness denotes state or condition ; ly is an ab-jlis, the noun and the verb ; and without these, no proposition can be tormed.
breviation of like or liche ; fy is from facio, to make, &c. A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences, joined by
Most of the English derivatives fall under the following heads :— | connectives. The divisions of a compound sentence may be called inem-
1. Nouns formed from nouns, or more generally from verbs, by the addi-l|bers or clauses.
tion of r, er or or, denoting an agent; as lover, hater, assignor, flatterer,!; Sentences are declaratory, as, I am writing, the wind h\ov/s— imperative,
from love, hate, assign, flatter. In a few instances, words thus formed arenas, go, retire, be quiet— inten-ogative, as, where am I ? who art thou .—or
less regular; as glazier, from glass; courtier, from court; parishioner, fromjicondifionoj, as, if he should arrive,
parish. I The rules for the due construction of sentences fall under three heads :
2. Nouns converted into verbs by the prefix to ,• as from water, cloud, tojFJrsi, concord or agreement-Second, government— r/iird, arrangement
water, to cloud. ijand punctuation.
3. Adjectives converted into verbs in the same manner ; as to lame, tOj| In agreement, the name or noun is the controlling '
. ool, to warm, from lame, cool, warm.
ojl in agreemeni, me nattte or iiuuu is mt. v.winiv.iii.^ „v.iu, »J it carries wit/i
(lit the verb, the substitute and the attribute. In government, the verb is
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
id ; but name? and prcposilions have their share of ioflu-
■ h
It or Concord.
Rule I.-
The .
Note S. — We sometime': see a nominative introducing a sentence, the
sense suddenly interiupted, and the noininalive left without its intended
verb ; as, " Tlie name of a procession ; what a great mixture of indepen-
dent ideas of persons, habits, tapers, orders, motions, sounds, docs it con-
tain," he. Lnrke, 3.5.13. This form of expression is often very striking in
;iiv -I 'i-^ '-o. The first words being the subject of the discourse and
ii r to usher in the sontence, to invite attention ; and the
. in the fei-vor of aniniaUon, quitting the trammels of a
1m , I. rushc~ forward to a description of the thing mentioned.
iiiiii 1.1L-. .1.1 i..i liioie striking idea; in the form of exclamation.
Rule 11. — A name, a nominative case, or a sentence, joined with a par
iimiple of the present tense, may sl.uid in construction witho
Ijing i\\<i case absolute, ov clause independent ; as, "Jesus had couveycil
young learners, by askingi kj^jseif away, a multitude being in that place." John v. 13. Here mul-
s, a young man of greatlljj^„^g^ the noun, joined with being, stands without a verb.
His father harassed with I <i gy memory we conceive heat or light, yellow or sweet, <A« object be-
I business, recommendedjL^^g. removed." Loclie, 2. 10.
be asked, who inherited! " I have, notwithstanding this discouragement, attempted a dictionary
verb must agree with its nominative in number and person
Examples.
In solemn style. " Thou hast loved righteousness." Heb. i. 9
" Thou Shalt not steal." Commandment
"Art thou called, being a servant ?" 1 Cor. vii. 21
" But j/e are washed, but i/« <""e sanctified." 1 Cor.vi.ll .^^^,, ..._.. ..„...^, „ ..„ ^ .„o^, „. ,j - r-
In familiar language. I v-'rite; John reads; JVetoton was the first ofjltjcipie of the present tense, may stand in construction without a verb, form
astionomers. ' ' -»--7..j. ... . *_ __ « „ „,
vh ' ' ' '' ''
is £«meufs, which is the nominative to thellofthe English I
verb "m/ien/«/. Who recommended the quiet of a private station ? •W'*il " Whatever .substance begins to exist, it must, during its eristencc
/a<fter, which is therefore the nominative to the verb recommenrferf ■ • " r-->-- « «-
"I " What
J cessarily I
of| "Ther
Johnson's Preface.
ts existence, nc-
Locke, 2. 27. 28.
custom to the
be the same
Note 2.— Let the following rules be observed respecting the position ofll " xhe penalty shall be fine and imprisonment, any law (
the nominative. \\contrary notwithstanding."
I. The nominative usually precedes the verb in declaratory phrases ; as,. The latter phraseology is peculiar to the technical law style. In no other
" God created the world ;" " the law is a rule of right." But the nomina- L^jg^ joes notwithstanding follow the sentence. But this position makes
tivc maybe separated from its verb, by a member of a period; as, "ii6(!7"'.!/,|| no difference in the true construction, which is, "any law or custom to the
say the fanatic favorers of popular power, can only be found inadcmocra- Lontrary not opposing" — the real clause independent,
cy." Anarcharsis, ch. 62. L n \g very common, when this participle agrees with a number of words,
n. Tlie nominative often follows an intransitive verb, for such a verb|Lr a whole clause, to omit the whole except the participle ; and in tliis use
can have no object after it, and that position of the nominative creates no jof noteitAstanding-, we have astriking proof of the value of abbreviations
ambiguity; thus, " .\bove it stood the Seraphim." /». vi. "Gradual sinks !;„ language. For example: "Moses said, let nc
the breeze." Thomson. , . I morning. JVotwithstanding, they hearkened i
III. When the verb is preceded by Acre, there, hence, thence, then, thus
yet, so, nor, neither, such, the same, herein, therein, wherein, and perhaps.
But after a single veil
by some other words, the nominative may follow the verb, especially be;
as, " here are five men ;" " there was a man sent from God ;" " hence
arise wars ;" " thence proceed our vicious habits ;" " then came the scribes
and Pharisees ;" " thus saith the Lord." " Yet required not I bread of the
governor." JVcA. v. 18. " So panteth my soul after thee, O Lord." Psalm
xlii. " Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents." John ix. " Such
were the facts ;" " the same was the fact." " Herein consists the excel-
lency of the English government." Blackstone's Comm. b. 1.
IV. When an cmphatical attribute introduces a sentence, the nominative
may follow the verb ; as, " Great is the Lord, glorious are his works, and
happy is the man who has an interest in his favor."
V. In certain phrases, which are conditional or hypothetical, the sign of
the condition may be omitted, and the nominative placed after the auxili:
ry ; as, " Did he but know my anxiety," for if he did but know—" Had
known the fact," for if I had known—" Would they consent," for if they
would, &c.
VI. When the words whose, his, their, her, mine, your, he. precede the
verb with a governing word, the nominative may follow the verb; as, " Out
ofivhose modifications have been made most complex modes."
Locke, 2. 22. 10.
VII. In interrogaUve sentences, the nominative follows the verb wh
alone, or the first auxiliary ; as, Believest thou ? Will he consent ? Has
been promoted ? The nominative also follows the verb in the imperative
mode ; as, go thou ; " be ye warmed and filled." "■■* "*■•"■■ " '
the nominative is commonly omitted ; as, arise, flee
Note 3. — In poetry, the nominative is often omitted in interrogative sen
tences, in cases where in prose the omission would be improper; as, "Live
there who loves his pain." Milton. That is, lives there a man or person.
Note 4. — In the answer to a question, the whole sentence is usually |
omitted, except the name, which is the principal subject of the interroga
tion; as, " who made the chief discoveries concerning vapor? Black."
Note 5. — In poetry, the verb in certain phrases is omitted, chiefly such
verbs as express an address or answer ; as, " To whom the monarch" — that
is, said or replied.
Note 6. — When a verb is placed between two nominatives in different
numbers, it may agree with either, but generally is made to agree with the
first, and this may be considered as preferable ; as, " His meat was locusts lindependent.
and wild honey." " /( [piracy] is the remains of the manners of ancient This omission
Greece." Anarch, ch. 36.]!in ar.y other ca^
Note 7. — Verbs follow the connective ttan, without a nominative ex- ;' ur'h I',, -."i
pressed: as, " Not that any thing occurs in consequence of our late los-, r
more afflictive than jca.'; to be expected." Lifeof Cowper, Let.iVl ■
" He felt himself addicted to philosophical speculations, with more ardor m i, . ; v ,i .
than consisted with the duties of a Roman and a senator."
Murphy's Tacitus, 4. 57.
"All words that lead the mind to any other ideas, than are supposed really
to exist in that thing." Locke, 2. 25.
These forms of expression seem to be elliptical ; " more afflictive than
that which was to be expected." That which or those which will gener-
ally supply the ellipsis.
leave of it till the
unto Moses." Ex. xvi.
19. 20. Here notwithstanding s'tands without the clause to which it be-
longs; to complete the sense in words, it would be necessary to repeat the
whole preceding clause or the substance of it — " Moses said, let no man
leave of it until the morning. JVotwithstanding this command of Moses ,
or notwitjistanding Moses said that which has been recited, they hear-
kened not unto Mo.ses."
Folly meets w ith success in this world ; but it is true, notwithstanding.
that it labors under disadvantages." Porteus, Lecture 13. This passage at
length would read thus — " Folly meets with success in the world ; but it is
true, notwithstanding folly meets with success in the virl-l. ibt •! Ichors
under disadvantages." By supplying what is really m]!-' ■ . •; rily
well understood, we learn the true construction; so lii.ii . ' /i?
is a participle always agreeing with a word or clause, i .i.i - I ... i..!.!-
stood, and forming the independent clause, and by a cu^.on.uij c;ii(<-i=, it
stands alone in the place of that clause.
Such is its general use in the translation of the Scriptures. In the fol-
lowing passage, the sentence is expressed — " Notwithstanding I have spo-
!ken unto you." Jer. xxxv. That is, "This fact, I hare spoken unto
you, not opposing or preventing." Or in other words, "In opposition to
this fact."
It is also very common to use a substitute, this, that, which or what, for
the whole sentence; as, " Bodies which have no taste, and no power of af-
fecting the skin, may, notwithstanding this, [notwithstanding they have no
taste, and no power to aflect the skin,] act upon organs which are more
delicate." Fourcroy, Translation.
I have included in hooks, the words for which this is a substitute.
"To account for the misery that men bring on themselves, notwithstand-
ing that, they do all in earnest pursue happiness, we must consi.ler how
things come to be represented to our desires under deceitful appearances."
* iocAe, 2. 21.61.
Here that, a substitute, is used, and the sentence also for which it is a
substitute. This is correct English, but it is usual to omit the substitute,
when the sentence is expressed—" JVotwithstanding they do all in earnest
pursue happiness."
It is not uncommon to omit the participle of the present tense, when a
participle of the perfect tense is employed. " The son of God, while cloth-
ed in flesh, was :
biect to all the frailties and inconveniences of human na-
, Dje
sin excepted." Locke, 3. 9. That is, sin being excepted — the clause
more frequent when the participle provided is used, than
" In the one case, provided the facts on which it is
f. Nil''!- I '<> -riru-iently numerous, the conclusion is said to be morally cer-
r !l (III lihet. I. m. Here being is omitted, and the whole
, i^ independent — " The facts on which it is founded are
..,< ,, , ; ;/ ,, :;i,-rous, that 6e!Hg prodded, the conclusion is morally cer-
tain. Provuled, in such cases, is equivalent to giren, admitted or sup-
posed.
" In mathematical rea-^oning, provided you are ascertained of the regu-
lar procedure of the mind, to aSrm thai the conclusion is false, implies a
contradiction." Ibm. 134.
In this phrase, that may follow provided — provided that, you ai-e ascer-
tained, &c., as in the case oi notwithstanding, before meationed; that be-
GRAMMAR OF THE
ia^ a definitive substitute, pointing to the following sentence — that which
follows being provided.*
It is not uncommon for autliors to carry the practice of abridging discourse
so far as to obscure the common regular construction. An instance fre-
quently occurs in the omi-!sion both of the nominative and the participle in
the case independent. For example : " Conscious of his own weight and
importance, his conduct in parliament would be directed by nothing but the
constitutional duty of a peer." Junius, Let. 19. Here is no noun expressedj
to which conscious can be referred. We are therefore to supply the neces-,
sary words, to complete the construction — " He being conscious" — forming!
the clause independent. [
Rule III. — A sentence, a number of words, or a clause of a sentenccj
may be the nominative to a verb, in which case the verb is always in the
third person of the singular number; as, "All that is in a man's power in
this case, is, only to observe what the ideas are which take their turns in
the understanding." Loeke 2. 14. Here the whole clause in italics is the
nominative to is.
■' To attack vices in the abstract, without touching persons, may be safe
I'ighling indeed, but it is fighting with shadows." Pope, Let. 48.
•' I deny that men's coming to the use of reason, is the time of their dis-
covery." Locke, 1. 2.
" TTiat any thing can exist without existing in space, is to my mind in-
comprehensible." Darwin, Zoon. sect. 14. Here the definitive substitute
mav be transferred to a place next before the verb — " Any thing can exist, \bler, JVo. 58,
- - -.-.-■' ■? .. . j^^j^ ^.
may „^ ..^..„ ^ — -—j r, —
without existing in space," that [whole proposition] is incomprehensible.
Rule IV. — The infinitive mode may be the nominative to a personal
verb ; as, " to see is desii-able ;" " to die is the inevitable lot of men." Some-
times an attribute is joined with the infinitive ; as, " to be blind is calami-
tous." In this case the attribute has no name expressed to which it refers
The proposition is abstract, and applicable to any human being, but not ap-
plied to any.
Rule V. — In some cases the imperative verb is used without a definite
nominative ; as, " I will not take any thing that is thine — save only that
which the young men have eaten." Gen. xiv. 23. 24.
" Israel burned none, save Hazor only." Josh. xi. 13.
" I would that all were such as I am, except these bonds. Jlcts xxvi. 29.
" Our ideas are movements of the nerves of sense, as of the optic nerve in
recollecting visible ideas, suppose of a triangular piece of ivory.
Darwin, Zoon. sect. 39.
This use of certain verbs in the imperative is very frequent, and there is a
peculiar felicity in being thus able to use a verb in its true sense and with
its proper object, without specifying a nominative ; for the verb is thus left
applicable to the first, second or third person. I may save or except, or you
may except, or we may suppose. If we examine these sentences, we shall
be convinced of the propriety of the idiom ; for the ideas require no appli-
cation to any person whatever.
Rule VI. — When the same thing is affirmed or predicated of two or
more subjects, in the singular number, the nominatives are joined by the
I this sentence, resi-\
dence at Oxford is a predicate common to three persons ; and instead of
three affirmations — John resides at Oxford, Thomas resides at Oxford, Peter
resides at Oxfoid, the three names are joined by and, and one verb in the
plural applied to the whole number.
" Reason and truth constitute intellectual gold, which defies destruc-
tion." Johnson. "Whyaie whiteness Ani coldness in snow?" Locke.
'• Your lot and mine, in this respect, have been very different." ' Cowp.
Let. 38.t
Note 1. — The rule for the use of a plural verb with two or more names
in the singular number, connected by and, is laid down by critics with too
much positiveness and universality. On original principles, all the names,
except the first, are in the objective case ; for it is probable that and contains
in it the verb add. " John and Thomas and Peter reside at York," on prim-
itive principles must be thus resolved — "John, add Thomas, add Peter re-
side at York." But without resorting to first principles, which are now los
or obscured, the use of the singular verb may be justified by considering the
verb to be understood after each name, and that which is expressed, agree-
ing only with the last ; as, " Nor were the young fellows so wholly lost to a
.<ense of right, as pride and conce?? Tins since made them affect to be." Ram
hler, JVo. 97. That is, as pride has and as conceit has. " Their safety and
welfare is most concerned." Spectator, JVo. 121. In our best authors the
singular verb is frequent in such sentences.}
What will the hypercritic say to this sentence, " Either sex and every age
ii^as engaged in the pursuits of industry." Gibbon, Ro?n. Emp. ch. 10
[s not the distributive effect of either and every, such as to demand a siugu-
ar verb? So in the following: " The judicial and every other power is ac-
countable to the legislative." Paley, Phil. 6. 8.
Note 2. — When names and substitutes belonging to ilifferent persons,
are thus joined, the plural substitute must be of the first person in prefer-
to the second and third, and of the second in preference to the third.
/, you and he are represented by we ; you and he, by you. Pope in one of
his letters makes you or / to be represented by we or you. " Either you or
■ are not in love with the other." The sentence is an awkward one, and
ot to be imitated.
Rule VII. — When an affirmation or predicate refers to one subject only
mong a number, which are separately named in the singular number, the
subjects are joined by the alternative or, or nor, with a verb, substitute and
name in the singular number; as, " Either John or Peter was at the Ex-
change yesterday; but neither John nor Peter is there to day."
Errors. — " A circle or square are the same in idea." Locke, 2. 8.
" But whiteness or redness are not in the porphyry." Ibm.
" Neither of them [Tillotson and Temple,] are remarkable for precision."
Blair.
Substitutes for sentences, whether they represent a single clause, or the
parts of a compound sentence, are always in the singular number ; as, " It is
true indeed that many have neglected opportunities of raising themselves
to honor and to wealth, and rejected the kindest offers of fortune." Ram-
nd that rcl'er to the clauses which follow — " /* is
cted tlie kindest offers," &c.
y have i
Rule VI H. — Collective or aggregate names, comprehending two or
more individuals under a term in I lie singular number, have a verb or sub-
stitute to agree with them in the singular or plural ; as, the council is or
are unanimous ; the company was or were collected ; this people, or these
people.
No precise rule can be given to direct, in every case, which number is to
used. Much regard is to be had to usage, and to the unity or plurality
of idea. In general, modern practice inclines to the use of the plural verb
" substitute ; as may be seen in the daily use of clergy, nobility, court,
council, commonalty, audience, enemy and the like.
The clergy began to withdraw themselves from the temporal courts."
Blackstoae's Coram. Introduction.
Let us take a view of the principal incidents, attending the nobiUty, ex-
clusive of their capacity as hereditary counselors of the crown."
Blackstone's Comm. 1. 12.
" The commonalty are divided into several degrees." Ibm.
" The enemy were driven from their works."
Portuguese .Ssia. Mickle. 163.
"The chorus 7)re/?a7"e resistance at his first approach — the chorus sings
of the battle^thc chorus entertains the stage." Johnson's Life of Jttilton.
The nobility are the pillars to support the throne."
Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2.
Party and army.
language.
oined with a verb in the
' Provided that, says Johnson, is an adverbial expression, and we
times see provided numbered among the conjunctions, as its
word is in French. What strange work has been made with Urammar
t Is this last example an evidence that mine is in the possessive case !
t This was also a very common practice with the best Greek and Roi
writers. JiTens cnim, et ratio, et consilium, in senibi's dsf. Cicero, de
Senec. ca. IM. "!?ed etiani insius terra; vis ae natura dclectat. Ibm. 15,
singular number. Constitution cannot be plural. Church may be singu-
lar or plural. J\Iankind is almost always plural.
The most common and palpable mistakes in the application of this rule, oc-
Lr in the use of sort and kind, with a plural attribute — these sort, those
kind. This fault infects the works of our best writers ; but these words are
trictly singular, and ought so to be used.
When a collective name is preceded by a definitive which clearly limits
he sense of the word to an aggregate with an idea of unity, it requires a verb
and substitute to agree with it in the singular number; as, a company of
detached ; a troop of cavalry was raised ; this people is become
a great nation ; that assembly teas numerous ; " a government established
by that people." Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2.
Yet our language seems to be averse to the use of it, as the substitute for
names, even thus limited by a, this or that. " How long will this people
provoke me, and how long will it be ere they will believe me for all the
signs that I have shewed among them 7" JVum. xiv. 11. " Liberty should
leach every individual of a yeopie ; as they all share one common nature."
Spectator, JVo. 287. In these passages, it in the place of they, would not be
relished by an English ear ; nor is it ever used in similar cases.*
Rule IX. — When the nominative consists of several words, and the last
of the names is in the plural number, the verb is commonly in the plural
also ; as, " A part of the exports consist of raw silk." '• The number of
oysters increase." Golds. Anim. JVat. vol. i, ch. S. " Of which seeming
equality we have no other measure, but such as the train of our ideas
have lodged in our memories." Locke, 2. 14. 21. " The greater part of
philosophers have acknowledged the excellence of this government."
Anarch, vol. 5. 2T2.
Rule X. — Pronouns or substitutes must agree with the names they rep-
resent, in number, gender and person ; as.
* The Romans used a greater latitude in joining plurals with collective
names, than we can. " Magna pars in villis rcpleti cibo vinoque." Liv. 2.
26. Here is an attribute plural of the masculine gender, agreeing with a,
noun in the singular, of the feminine gender.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
'• Mine answer to them that do examine me is this." 1 Cor. ix. )3.
•' T%ese are not the children of God." Horn. ix. 8.
" Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, when ye come into the
land whither I bring you." JVumb. xv. 18.
"This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inherit-
ance." Matt. xxi. .38.
" Esther put on her royal apparel— sAe obtained favor in his sight — then
the king said unto her." Esth. v.
"A river went out of Eden to vpater the garden, and it
I parted — '
Gen. ii. 10.
6?e«. iii. 12.
" The woman whom thou gavest to be with me. ■
"Ignatius, who was bishop of Antioch, conversed with the apostles."
Paley, Evid. sect.
-A letter, which is just received, gives us the news."
•'O thou who rulest in the heavens."
IVIio and whom are exclusively the substitutes for persons ; u-hose is of
«ll genders, and as correctly applied to things as to persons
" The question whose solution I require."
" That forbidden fruit whose mortal taste."
''A system whose imagined st'.ms."
" these are the charnun;; agonies of love.
Whose miseries deligh ."
It, though neuter, is used as the substitute for infant i
tinction of sex in the lirst period of life ijcing disregarded.
Formerly which na-i used as a subslitiue (or persons ; ,i-
authors. III. I , |. m:1'., in fhe vulgar version of the -,:i, .;.!>■ ' i,i:_li'\
men ii !' ' .- i ' ' But this use of the won! i- : : ! I I
iVli.iii I:- ' hi- persons, when a question i- .: ii :
tioii ;m • II ' '■ : .1 ..■'■,,",'; lit' the men was it; I know nm »■,/,,, p, i ;\-,i-
IVho i-' soujftiiius ii^od in the substitute for things, bui most unwarr;im-
ably. "The countries wno—." Vavenant on Rev. 2. Vi. "Tlie towns
who—." Hume Cnntin. 11. ch. 10. "Thi- lat-tion or party who — ." Equally
faulty is the use of who and whom for brutes ; " the birds who — ."
The use of it for a sentence, seems to have given rise to a very vague ap-
plication of the word in phrases like this : How sliall 1 contrive it to attend
conn? How fares if with you? But such phrases, whatever may have
given rise to them, are used chiefly in familiar colloquial language, and are
Seemed inelegant in any other style.
A more justifiable use of it is seen in this sentence: "But it is not this
nryden.
Milton.
Goldsmith.
rs fiv,
to the verb, and the other is governed by the verb or a preposition in the
objective ease, or by a noun in the possessive ; as, " Locke, whom there is
no reason to suspect of favoring idleness, has advanced." Ramb. 89. Here
reason is the nominative to is, and whom is governed by suspect.
" Take thy only son Isaar, whom thou lovest." Gen. xxii. Here are
two substitutes, one the nominative to the verb, and the other governed by
it in the objective.
" God is the sovereign of the universe, whose majesty ought to (ill us
with awe, to whom we owe all possible reverence, and whom we arc
bound to obey."
It is not unusual to see in periods, a third clause introduced within a se-
Icond, as a second is within the fust, each with a distinct substitute for a
Inorainativc; as, " Those modifications of any simple idea, which, as has
been said, I call simple modes, arc distinct ideas." Locke, 2. 13.
Involution to this extent may be used with caution, without embarrassing
a period ; but beyond this, if ever used, it can hardly fail to occasion obscu-
rity. Indeed the third member included in a second, must be very short,
or it will perplex the reader.
Substitutes are sometimes made to precede their principals : thus, " When
a man declares in autunm, when he is eating them, or in spring when there
arc none, that he loves grapes — ." Locke, 2. 20. But this arrangement is
usually awkward and seldom allowable.
Kui.E XIII.— When there are antecedents in different persons, to which
a nominative substitute refers, the substitute and verb following may agree
with either, though usage may sometimes offer a preference ; as, "lam
I'; I..mI (lilt make all things; that stretch forth the heavens alone; that
; . I ; I 1 (he earth," &c. Isa. xliv. Here /and Lord are ofdiUercnt
; 1 I hut may agree with either. If it agrees with /, the verbs
.1 1 ii II (he first person : " I am the Lord that make." If Mat agrees
uilh Lord in llie third person, the verb must be in the third person : " I
am the Lord that maketh." But in all cases, the following verbs should all
be of the same person.
Rule XIV. — The definitive adjectives, this and /ftoi, the only attributes
which are varied to express number, must agree in number with the names
to which they refer ; as, this city, that church ; these cities, those
churches.
This and <AaJ are often used as substitutes for a name in the singular
number, which is omitted, but the same name in the plural iimnediately
follows after a connective ; as in this example, " The mortality produced
connective ; as in tl
sence that distinguishes them into species; it is men who rangcj by (Ais and other diseases." Life of Washington, Z. S. That is, by this
Locke, 3. 6. ."(i.rdisease and other diseases. The sentence may be varied thus, by this dis
Here it is in the singular, though referring to men in the plural. The
cause or origin of this, in our language as in others, may perhaps be found
in the disposition of the mind to combine the particular agents employed in
performing an act, into a single agent. The unity of the act or effect
seems to predominate in idea, and control the grammatical construction of
the substitute.
Rule XI. — In compound sentences, a single substitute or relative, who,
which or that, employed to inlroducf a new clause, is the noiniiKitive to the
verb or verbs belonging (■» (I: i' » l.ui -i', . trl i" nilhi .. rniiiin ;. J w iin ii ;
iise and others ; but the first form is the most common, and it occasions i
obscurity.
Other adjectives and participles, used as adjectives, are joined to the
names wlii.-b tbi-y qualify without inflection ; as, a wise man, wise men ; an
amiiiM. iliill."! i.iii.ril,. I'niMnn. ,1 irii-ived truth, or received truths ; a
Shblill- ii . I '■• III li:i,M.. I ;: • I •!, I.
iwin:,';
■s r,:
nes of men and things
/eio were present; the wise are
" The thirst after cuiiosili
83. "He who suffers nt
good." Ibm. "Theyt/ii
flesh." Rom. viii. 5. "
' I I I ,1 .', ' I . , • , i L, I ir plural form, and are qualified by
! i i; i I , :.; ,,1 I, ,11, , iwo jinites or infinites, unirer-
■■ I ;!h' iii-h, iiii iiiii,! till- K'liiu- i.i ;li. . I,'.. '4, ,./,;;,. I'll. .■.'■..,,' -,r,i,,', , ': iri'ii I, n: "The extraordinary great."
those irho urr the most nchly endnwed' Bin ke on the . ■Sublime, -.ifH. - Thr blue profound." Akenside.
by nature, and [are] accomplished by their own industry, how few arell When nouns are joined by a copulative, an adjective preceding the first is
there whose virtues are not obscured by the ignorance, prejudice or envy (applied to the others without being repeated ; as, " From ^reat luxury and
of their beholders." Spiel. .Va. 2.5j.| licintiousness, converted to sfricf sobriety and frugality of manners." En-
In a few instances, the substitute for a sentn . II rii i-i i, mi < 'n I '. / ' :( n c'/eaf belongs to licentiousness as well as to luxury,
as the nominative to a verb, before the senlei . i , , < '; i i \ ', — Adjectives are usually placed before the nouns to which
sents; as, "There was therefore, ji'Aicfe is 1 1 1 > :; as, a tctse prince ; an ofte(/ie»^ subject; a pious clergyman;
life pursued by them, different from that wliic ii 'ii\ I i.n I .i' r.,:. >,\ ,,;,.,, -oMin-.
Evid. ch. 1. Here which is the representative of the \^hole of the last part' Kx-ccplion 1. When some word or words are dependent on an adjective,
of the sentence, and its natural position is after that clause.
The substitute what combines in itself the offices of two substitutes,
which, if expressed, would be the nominatives to two verbs, each in distinct
subsequent clauses ; as, " Add to this, tvhat, from its antiquity is but little
known, has the recommendation of novelty." Hermes, pref. 19. Here
what stands for that, which; and the two following verbs have no other
nominative.
This use of what is not very common. But what is very frequently used
as the representative of two cases ; one, the objective after a verb or prepo-
sition, and the other, the nominative to a subsequent verb. Examples :
" I heard what was said." " He related rckat was seen."
" We do not so constantly love what has done us good."
Locke, 2. 20, 14.
" Agreeable to what was afterwards directed." Black. Com. b. 2. ch. S.
" Agreeable to what hath been mentioned." Prideaur, p. 2, 6, 3.
" There is something so overruling in whatever inspires us with awe."
Burke on the Sui)lime, 304. In these sentences what includes an object
after a verb or preposition, and a nominative to the following verb. " I have
heard that, which was said."
Rule XII. — When a new clause is introduced into a sentence, with two
pronouns, or with one pronoun and a noun, one of them is the nominative
it follows the noun; as, knowledge requisite for a statesman; furniture
convenient for a family.
Exception 2. When an adjective becomes a title, or is emphatically ap-
plied to a noun, it follows it ; as Charles the Great ; Henry the First ; Lewis
the Gross ; Wisdom incomprehensible.
Exception 3. Several adjectives belonging to the same noun, may pre-
cede or follow the noun to which they belong ; as a learned, wise and raar-
■tial prince, ora prince Uai ill' ' vx ) n' m.irtial.
' Exception 4. The v, r n i .tcs the noun from its adjective :
as, war is e.vpensive ; -mi i ,-
Exceptions. An einpl : is n!(en used to introduce a sen-
tence,in which case it |ii I ' I ii || i|ii ill!;. -. Ill ! iMiii'limes
at a considerable distance , , , • , ; de thai
event ; /octunafc is thai v ,, -i ,
Exceptiond. Theailjriin, .■, ■, , :. i i n - i„"ir. I.y Mp.
which never precedes it in constniciion ; as. ■•,-,11 the nations of Europe."
Such and many are separated from nouns by a ; as, " such a character is
rare;" "many a time."
All adjectives are separated from nouns by a, when preceded by so and
las, as ".10 rich a dress," "as splendid a retinue;" and they are separated
by a or the, when preceded by hotc and however, as " how distingubhed an
GRAMMAR OF THE
just the com-
; and the noun
get of bravery," --liow brilliant the prize," "how
plaint."
The v/ori soever may be interposed between the adje
as, " how clear soever this idea of infinity ;" "how remote soever it may
seem." Locke.
Double is separated from its noun by the ; as " double the distance" —
the in such cases, never preceding double. But a precedes double, as well
as other adjectives.
^11 and singular or every precede the before the noun in these phrases —
" All and singular tlie articles, clauses and conditions" — " All and every of
the articles" — phrases of the law style.
Rule XVI. — Adjectives belong to verbs in the inlinitive mode ; as, " to
see is pleasant ;" " to ride is more agreeable than to walk ;" " to calumniate
is detestable." ~
Sometimes the adjective belongs to the infinitive in union with another
adjective or a noun; as, *'to be blind is unfortunate ;" " to be a coward is
disgraceful." Here the attribute unfortunate is the attributive of the first
clause, to be blind, ^c.
RuLK XVII. — Adjectives belong to sentences, or whole propositions.
Examples :
" Agreeable io this, we read of names being blotted out of God's Book.'''
Burder's Oriental Customs, 375.
What is agreeable to this ? The answer is found in the whole of the last
clause of the sentence.
" Antiochus — to verify the character prophetically given of him by Dan-
iel, acted the part of a vile and most detestable person, agreeable to what
hath been aforementioned of him." Prideaux, part 2. b. 3.
" Her majesty signified her pleasure to the admiral, that as soon as he had
left a squadron for Dunkirk, agreeable to what he had proposed, he .should
proceed with the fleet." Burchei's JYav. Hist. 439.
" Independent of his person, his nobility, his dignity, his relations and
friends may be urged," &c. Guthrie's Quintilian.
" No body can doubt but that these ideas of 7ni.xed modes are made by a
voluntary collection of ideas put together in the mind, independent from
any original patterns in nature." Locke, 3. 5.
" Whereupon God was provoked to anger, and put them in mind how,
contrary to his directions, they had spared the Canaanites."
Wliiston's Josephus, b. 5. eh. 2.
" Greece, which had submitted to the arms, in her turn, subdued the un-
derstandings of the Romans, and contrary to that which in these cases com-
monly happens, t'ne conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the
conquered." Enfield, Hist. Phil. b. 3. 1.
"This letter of Pope Innocent enjoined the payment of tithes to the par-
sons of the respective parishes, where any man inhabited, agreeable to
what was afterwards directed by the same Pope in other countries."
Blackstone's Comm. b. 2. ch. 3.
"Agreeable to this, wc find some of the Anglo-Saxon ladies were ad-
mitted into their most august assemblies."
Henry, Hist. Brit. b. 2. eft. 7. and 6. 4. ch. I. sect. 4.
" As all language is composed of significant words variously combined, a
knowledge of them is necessary, previous to our acquiring an adequate
idea of language." Encyc. art. Grammar.
" His empire could not be established, previous to the institution of pret-
ty numerous societies." Smellie, Phil. JVat. Hist. 339.
" Suitable to this, we find that men, speaking of mixed modes, seldom
imagine, &c. Locke, 3. 5. 11.
"JVo such original convention of the people was ever actually held, an-
tecedent to (he existence of civil government in that country."
Paley, Phil. b. 6. ch. 3.
Note. — Writers and critics, misapprehending the true construction ofj
these and similar sentences, have supposed the attribute to belong to the
verb, denoting the manner of action. But a little attention to the sense of
such passages will be sufficient to detect the mistake. For instance, in the
example from Enfield, the attribute contrary cannot qualify the verb adopt-
ed ; for the conquerors did not adopt the opinions of the conquered in a man-
ner contrary to what usually happens — the manner of the act is not the
thing affirmed, nor does it come into consideration. The sense is this, the
fact, that tfte conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the con-
quered, was contrary to what commonly happens in like cases. The at-
tribute belongs to the whole sentence or proposition. The same explana-
tion is applicable to every similar sentence.
In consequence of not attending to this construction, our hypercritics,
who are very apt to distrust popular practice, and substitute their own rules
for customary idioms founded on common sense, have condemned this use
of the attribute ; and authors, suffering themselves to be led astray by these
rules, often use an adverb in the place of an adjective.
" The greater part of philosophers have acknowledged the excellence of
this government, which they have considered, some relatively to society,
and others as it has relation to the general system of nature."
Anarch, ch. 62.
"The perceptions are exalted info a source of exquisite pleasure inde-
pendently of every particular relation of interest."
Studies ofJVature, 12.
In the first of these examples, relatively is used very awkwardly for u.i
relative, or as rekitiiig, oi a? it relates, or in relation ; lor the word has a
direct reference ii. _■ , , / 1///.- / /
In the second . \ . ; i ; •■ i.hntly is used as if it had been intended
to modify the vii !'■ , , ••'■pWoxis are independently exalted. But
the manner of f i!: i:: 'm liiino- described. It is not that the per-
ceptions are exalted in ;iri m : |. i, ■ ...
of a relation to interest ; Inn i.
a source of exquisite plio.-, m .
Equally faulty is the follo\..'i, i
'^ Agreeably to this law, chiUrc
nor in a manner independent
perceptions are exalted into
of every relation of interest.
ind to support their parents."
Paley, Phil.
lodify the action of verbs, and to
with the action by which they
Deut. XV.
Rule XVIII.— Adjectives :
express the qualities of things i
are produced. Examples :
" Open thine hand wide."
We observe in this passage, that wide, the attribute of hand, has a con-
nection with the verb open ; for it is not " open thy wide hand," but the at-
tribute is supposed to be the effect of the act of opening. Nor can the mod-
ifier, widely, be used ; for it is not simply the manner of the act which is
intended, but the effect.
" Let us wiilc slow and txncl." Guthrie's Quintilian, 2. 375.
Wc II. 1.:. |M il;,,,.^ - i' :;,, I. ./.,/(•/(/ for s/ozi', as describing only the man-
ner of iv . - .; ,' I : lie substituted for ™«f/. for tills word is
intendi.l '■'■ i . H ' - . mng, in the correctnc^s of what is writ-
ten. 'I'll. ."li. , ui . , \|i;, ■,. i;i,' idea with a happy jirecision nnii brevity.
As this is one of the most common, as well as most beautiful idioms of
our language, which has hitherto escaped due oliscrvation, the following au-
thorities are subjoined to illustrate and justify the rule.
" We could hear distinctly the bells^which sounded sweetly soft and
pensive." Chandler's Travels, ch. 2.
" A southernly wind succeeded blowing/;esft." Ibm. vol. 2. 3.
" His provisions were grown very short." Burchet's JVav. Hist. 357.
" When the caloric exists ready combined with the water of solution."
Lavoisier, Trans, ch. 5.
" The purest clay is that which burns white." Encyc. art. Chimistry.
" Bray, to pound or grind small." Johnson's Diet.
" When death lays «ias(e thy house." Beattie's Minst.
" All which looks very little like the steady hand of nature."
Paley, Phil. ch. 5.
" Magnesia feels smooth; calcarious earths feel dry; lithomarga feels
very greasy or at least smooth, yet some feels dry and dusty."
Kirwan, vol. 1.12.180.
" By this substance, crystals and glasses are colored blue."
Chaptal, TVam. 299.
" There is an apple described in Bradley's work, which is said to have
one side of it a sweet fruit, which boils soft, and the other side a sour fruit,
which boils hard." Darwin, Phytol. 105.
" Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." Pope.
" Heaven opened wide her ever during gates." .Milton, P. L. 7.
" The victory of the ministry cost them dear." Hume, Contin. 11. 9.
" Ani just as short of reason he must fall." Pope.
" Thick and more thick the steely circle grows." Hoole's Tasso. b. 8.
" Ancus marched strait toFidens." Hooke, Bom. Hist. 1. 6.
" The cakes eat short and crisp." Vicar of Wakefield.
" A steep ascent of steps which were cut close and deep into the rock."
Hampton's Polybius, 2. 265.
" It makes the plow go deep or shallow."
" The king's ships were getting jeodi/."
" After growing old in attendance."
" The sun shineth watery."
" Soft sighed the flute."
" I made him just and right."
" He drew not iiigh unheard." —
" When the vowel of the preceding syllable is pronounced short."
Murray's
" Here grass is cut close and gravel rolled smooth. Is not that trim r
Boswell, Johnson, 3. I
" Slow tolls the village clock — deep mourns the turtle."
Beattie's JWinstrel.
" If you would try to live independent." Pope, Let.
" He obUged the Nile to run bloody for your sakes.""
fVhiston's Josephus, 3. 5.
" Correct the heart and all will go right." Porteus, Lect. 3.
The poets sometimes use adjectives in this manner, when modifui--
would express the idea. Sometimes they are induced to it by the measmr
and not unfrequently by the obvious superiority of the adjective in expii -
sing the idea with force and precision.
* " Cruentam etiam fluxisse aquam Albanani, quidam auctores erai
Liv. lib. 27. 11. Some authors related that the Albaii river ran bloody.
Encyc. art. Agriculture.
Lusiad, 1. 91.
Sped. JVo. 282.
Bacon. Apoph.
Thomson, Spring.
Milton, 3. 98.
Ibm. 645.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
When two qualifying word:
though appUed to a verb ; as,
It !■,
Ihe i(j]i
imil lea
ire wanted, tlie latter rnay be
He beat time tuleiahly exact."
Goldsmith, An. JVat. ch. 12.
found diminished in weight exactly equal to what the
Lavoisier, ch. 3.
I'r, ,••"•'■,■ r!riir." Goldsmith.
' /■ ■■: .1." Tlwmaon. Spring.
I 111. |)lc very til " Vatlel, Trans. 2. 7.
! u( no idvnbial foim of the adjective in
II t •' < <it more and most, less
' h the regular
Boole's Tasso. 7.
sons of the l)e?t sense — do not a little encourage me." Spectator, 124. " It
great deal better ;*' a trijle stronger ; the last of which expressions is
colloquial.
Rule XXI. — The adjectives each, every, either and neither, have verbs
and substitutes agreeing with them in the singular number ; as,
" Each one was a head of the bouse of his fathers." Josh. xxii. 1-t.
" Kvery one that Jindeth me, shall slay me." Geii. iv. 14.
" And lake every man his censer." A'um. xvi. 17.
" Nadab and Abihu took either of them his censer." Lev. x. 1.
" AVther of the ways of separation, real or mental, is compatible to pure
pace." Locke, 2. 13.
Jirrors. " Let each esteem others better than themselves." It ought to
be himself.
1 1,, n III, |... : '..^ "There are bodies, eac/i of which arc so small." lMclte,2.8. It ought
Of nature and lieiAiudijartiitJ c„i„, to be is.
Worthier I'd sing." Jikenside, Pleas, of Imag. 1. 323. Note. — .\ plural verb, which affirms something of a number of particu-
' So while we taste the fragrance of the rose, lars, is often followed by a distributive which nssigns the affirmation to the
Glows not her blush the/airer.'" TJm. 2. 77. particular objects or individuals. Thn^ " If im •'d'! have, each a peculiar
" When we know our strength, we shall the better know what to under-jiearth." Hence we may considc; , .. /, .. i! , i n^vtivc to has understood
take with hopes of success." Locke, I. 6.^}, — " If metals have, if each met. il I ;> .ith." There is no other
" And he that can most inform or best understand him, will certainly be j way of resolving the phrase. Tin . i \ ... -^ion is common, though
Aielcoiiied." Rambler, JVo. 99. j quite useless; as Ihe last clause, ■ ii i ..lii i... i..l li.is," is sufficient. It has
" How much nearer he approaches to his end." not the merit of an abbreviation. Thi-, phrase, •' Let us love one another,"
" I have dwelt the longer on the discussion of this point." lis of a similar construction, but it is not easy to find a substitute of equal
Junius, Let. 17.||brevity.
"The next contains a spirited command and should be pronounced muchij Rule XXII. — Nouns of measure or dimension stand without a govcrn-
his,her." Murray's Grammar.* Ang word, followed by an adjective ; as, "a wall seven feet high and two
"Leviathan, which God of all his works ijfeet thick ;" "a carpet six yards wide ;" "a line sixty fathoms long;" " a
Created htigest that swim th' ocean's stream." Milton, 1. 201. kingdom five hundred miles square ;" " water ten feet deep."
" But mercy tii-st and last shall brightest ^iliine." Ibm. 3. 134. I " An army forty thon^^nn.' ttnnr" i ; n -imilTv phra.se.
•■ Such opinions as seemed to approach nearest [to] the truth." Note. — Double coni|> . " . .. ';. ^'t ■ most straitest, most high-
Enfield, Hist. Phil. 2. 59.1'est, being improper an.l n I . . . . I The few which were
" Her smiles, amid the blushes, lovelier show ; [formerly used are obsol. i. (I . . , . ,. im-i !>■ in spelling wyrsa, is obso-
Amid her smiles, her blushes lovelier glow." Hoole's Tasso. 6. 15.. lete ; but lesser, a mistake lo. Us^-a, i, sull ux^\, as well as its abbreviation.
Authors, misguided by Latin rules, and conceiving that every wordj /ts.«.
■which is used to qualify a verb, must be an adverb, have pionounced many The superlative form of certain attributes, which in the positive degree,
of the passages here recited and similar ones to be incorrect ; and in such|;contain the utmost degree of the quality, as extremest, chiefest, is improper
as are too well established to bear censure, they call the adjective an arf-'^and obsolete. But authors indulge in a most unwarrantable license of an-
verb. Were it not for this influence in early education, which impresses aljncxing comparison to attributes whose negative sense precludes increase or
notion that all languages must be formed with the like idioms, we should jdiminution ; as in these sentences, "These are more formidable and more
never have received an idea that the same woi-d may not modify a noun, zniimpassable than the mountains." Goldsmith, An. J\'at. ch. 2. "This dif-
adjeclive and a verb. Ificulty was rendered still more insurmountable by the licentious spirit of
So far are the words here used from being adverbs, that they cannot be our young men." .Murphy, Tacit. Oral. 35. "The contradictions of im-
changed into adverbs, without impairing the beauty, weakening the force, piety are still more incomprehensible." Massillcm, Serm. to the Great.
or destroying the meaning of the passages. Let the sentences be put to the Similar to these are numerous expressions found in good authors — more
test — Magnesia feels smoothly — the cakes eat shortly and ciispV — t'..- p ;t pnssible, more indispensable, le.ss universal, more uncontrollable; and
pies boil softly or hardly — glows not her blush
English ear rejects Ibis alteration at once ; the sci
Nor can the adjective be separated from the verli — " Amid li.i " li ■ , 1. ■ . .
blushes, being lovelier, glow" — this is not the sense ; nor will ii miswer m wil
say, " Her lovelier blushes glow" — this is not the idea. The sense is, thatjj I
the attribute expressed by lovelier, is not only a quality of blushes, but a! ten
quality derived, in a degree, from the action of the verb, glow. llln i
Thus, clay burns white — objects may be seen double — may rise high — lUt;
, in which the sign of comparison i
! the epithet ; for the word itself cxpres.
iisht to boar some emphasi--, which, if a qualifying word is prefixed,
.n.,,-.!lv '.. )i:,i-i fiv, ,! t.i that word.*
I ! , I . ■ -.■ seems to be too well established to be al-
a of more ani moat, less 3.ui least perfect.
. K I w" :.' Ill ,. i.i.jie precision of thought to apply a term of
ribute less possible, less surmountable, less
1 low — grow strait, or thick, ot thin, or fat, or lean — one may speak louddcontrollable, rather than a term of increase to a negative attribute,
1 shines clear — the.^ner a substance is pulverized — to grow wiser,
to plunge deeper, spread rvider — and similar expressions without number,
constitute a well established idiom, as common as it is elegant.
Rule XIX —Some adjectives are used to modify the sense of others and
of participles ; as, a very clear day ; red hot iron ; a more or most excellent
character ; more prcssiug necessity ; most grating sound. " Without com-
ing any nearer." Locke. " A closer grained wood." Lavoisier, TVans.
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene." Gray.
" Some deem'd him wondrous wise." Bcaltic's .Minstrel.
In these expressions the last attribute belongs more immediately to the
noun i'\p .^-iii- iiv ,1.1 ilily ; and the first attribute qualifies the second.
Ni.' I' , .1 'V .'.' aitributes are used to modify a third, or the princi-
pal on, i i iiiierin which external force acts upon the body is
veryhr . . .will." Rambler, A'o. 7S
Kr 1 . . \ . , I'. .'.^ are used to qualify the sense of adverbs ; as, a
city «..- ' I. llnded; the soldiers were most amply rewarded; a
donati.ii ... I ! lly bestowed; a house less elegantly furnished; a
man lli.- /../v' |...i. . .: i\ .lisposed.
We have a lew otii. r words which are often used to modify adjectives as
well as verbs ; as, a little ; a great deal ; a trifle. " Many letters from pe
deeyt :
deejilii .
■ The vices which enter deeper or
■/ /■ and deepest, should be more
t.- in the two passages 1 have ci-
.1.- is pronounced s/iuitij" — " Ihe
liighU/!" This alteration will put
Note 2. — In English, two nouns are frequently united to form a new
noun; as earth-woini, drill-plow, ink-stand, book-case. In some cases,
these compouii.; i. ' \ . 'i !i...i cirectually blended into one term ; in other
cases, they ai.' ' i i I'ir component parts by a hyphen. In other
cases, words ... . ' Iv lirst term forms a sort of occasional adjec-
tive to the sc(..i, . : I ' // ',,' Kst, or family-consumption.
Note 3. — Kiom a disposition to abridge the number of words in discourse,
we find many expressions which are not reducible to any precise rule,
formed at first by accident or ellipsis. Such are, at first, at last, at best, at
worst, at most, at least, at farthest, at the utmost. In these expressions
there may have been an ellipsis of some noun ; but they arc well establish-
ed, brief and significant, and may be numbered among the /)m(0«s of Mer-
Note 4.— Wcbave c.-ilain ;
djectives which follow a verb and a noun to
which Ihey bi-I..i : m i. ^ . i |.ncede Ihe noun. Such are, adry, afeared.
afraid, alone, ii' . ' n. alive, asleep, mvake,athirst, aloft, aghast,
afloat, askeu. ,1 ■ /it, plenty, worth; lo which may be added,
amiss, agrouniK ... .. - . .nid a few others which may be used as at-
tributes or moiMiii is. \\ e .say, one is adry, ashamed, alive or awake; but
never an a/iry person, an ashamed child, &.c. We say, "A proclamation
was issued pursuant to advice of council." But we can in no case place
pursuant before a noun.
* This clTect may proceed also from another consirleration. If the adjec-
tive alone is used, its sense precludes the idea of increa.se or diminution — it
expresses all that can be expressed. But admit comparison, and it ceases
to express the utmost extent of the quality.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Worth not only follows the noun which it qualifies, but is followed by ajiguage by grammar, and neglect usages which are much better authority,
I denoting price or value ; as, a book worth a dollar or a guinea ; it is land the basis of correct grammar. " Pieces of iron arranged in such a way
well worth
'It
worth observation." Beloe's Herodotus,
Erato. 98. If a substitute is used after worth, it must be in the objective
case. It is worth them or it.
But worthy, the derivative oi worth, follows the usual construction of ad-
jectives, and may precede the noun it qualifies ; as, a worthy man.
Regimen or Government.
Rule XXIII.— One noun signifying the same thing with another, or de-
scriptive of it, may be in apposition to it ; that is, may stand in a like charac-
ter or case, without an intervening verb; as, Paul, the apostle; John, the
baptist ; Newton, the philosopher ; Chatham, the orator and statesman.
Note I. — In the following sentence, a noun in the plural stands in appo-
sition to two nouns in the singular, joined by an alternative. "The terms
of our law will hardly find words that answer them in the Spanish or Ital-
ian, no scanty languages." Locke, 3. 5. 8.
Note 2. — Nouns are not unfrequently set in apposition to sentences ; as,
" Whereby if a manhad a positive idea of infinite, either duration or space,
he could add two infinites together ; nay, make one infinite infinitely big-
ger than another: absurdities too gross to be confuted." Locke, 2. 17. 20.
Here the absurdities are the whole preceding propositions.
" You are too humane and considerate ; things few people can be charged
with." Pope Let. Here things is in opposition to temane and considerate.
Such a construction may be justified, when the ideas are correct, but it is
not very common.
" The Dutch were formerly in possession of the coasting trade and freight
of almost all other trading nations; they were also the bankers for all Eu-
rope : advantages by which they have gained immense sums." Zimmer-
man's Survey, 170. Here advantages is put in apposition to the two first
members of the sentence.
Rule XXJV. — When two nouns are used, one denoting the possessor,
the other the thing possessed, the name of the possessor precedes the other
in the possessive case ; as, " In my Father's house are many mansions."
Men's bravery ; England's fleet ; a Christian's hope ; Washington's pru-
dence.
Note 1. — When the thing possessed is obvious, it is usual to omit the
noun ; as, " Let us go to St. Paul's," that is, church ; " He is at the Presi-
dent's," that is, house.
" Nor think a lover's are but fancied woes." Coioper.
That is, a lover's woes. " Whose book i"; this ? William's."
Note 2. — When the possessor is described by two or more nouns, the
sign of the possessive is generally annexed to tlie last; as, " Edward, the
se'cond of England's Queen." Bacon on Empire.
" In Edward the third's time." Blackstone's Comm. b. 1, ch. 2.
" John the Baptist's head." Matt. xiv.
" jj member of parliament's paying court to his constituents." Burke.
But if the thing possessed is represented as belonging to a number sever-
ally specified, the sign of the possessive is repeated with each ; as, " He
has the surgeon's and the physician's advice." " It was my father's, moth-
er's, and uncle's opinion."*
Note 3. — When of is used before the possessive case of nouns, there is
a double possessive, the thing possessed not being repeated ; as, " Vital air
was a discovery o/Pitesf/e^'s." "Combustion, as now understood, was a
discovery of Lavoisier's." The sense of which is, that vital air was one of
the discoveries of Priestley. This idiom prevents the repetition of the
same word.
Note 4. — The possessive may be supplied by of, before the name of the
possessor; as, "the hope of a christian." But <)/' does not always denote
possession ; it denotes also consisting of, or in, concerning, &c. and in these
cases, its place cannot he supplied by the possessive case. Thus cloth of
wool, cannot be converted into wool's cloth ; nor a cup of water, into water's
cup ; nor an idea of an angel, into an angel's idea ; nor the house of Lards,
into the Lord's house.
Rule XXV. — Participles are often used for nouns, and have the like
effect in governing them in the possessive case; as, "A courier arrived
from Madrid, with an account of his Catholic majesty's having agreed to
the neutrality." " In case of his Catholic majesty's dying without issue."
" Averse to the nation's involving itself in another war." Hume, Contin
vol. 7, 6. 2, ch. 1. " Who can have no notion of the same person's possess-
ing Aifkreui accomplishments." Spectator, J\'o. 150
This is the true idiom of the language ; yet the omission of the sign of
the possessive is a common fault among modern writers, who learn the Ian
part.
1 seemed most favorable for tlie combustion being communicated to every
Lavoisier, Trans.
exception." Ibm. These
* The contrary rule in Murray is egregiously wrong ; as exemplified in
this phrase, " This was my father, mother and imcle's advice." This is not
English. When we say, " the king of England's throne," the three words,
king of England, are one noun in ctlect, and can have but one sign of the
possessive. But when two or three distinct nouns are used, the article pos-
sessed is described as belonging to each. " It was my father's advice, my
mother's advice, and my uncle's advice." We can omit advice after the
two first, but by no means, the sign of the possessive.
There is no reason for hydrogen being
expressions are not English.
Rule XXVI. — Transitive verbs and their participles require the object-
ive case or the object of action to follow them : as, '• In the beginuiug, God
created the leaven and the earth."
" If ye love jne, keep my commandments." "0 righteous fatlier, the
world hath not known thee."
Sometimes the object and often the objective case of substitutes precedes
the governing verb ; as, " The spirit of truth, whoyn the world cannot re-
ceiue." " Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."
Whom and which, when in the objective ca.se, always precede the verb.
In verse, a greater license of transposition is used, than in prose, and
uns are often placed before the governing verb.
" But through the heart
Should jealousy its venom once diffuse." Thomson.
" She with extended arms his aid implores." Ibm.
A noun with whatever, whatsoever or whichever, preceding, is placed be-
e the governing verb ; as, "whatsoever positive ideas we have."
Locke, 2. 17.
-We have some verbs which govern two words in the objective
Not
case ; as.
Miltm, 10. 744.
Life of Cmtyper.
Did I request thee, maker, from my clay
To mould me man?"
" God seems to have made hitn what he was."
"Ask Aim his opinion." " You have asked me the news'
Will it be said that the latter phrases are elliptical, for " ask oj him his
opinion .'" I apprehend this to be a mistake. According to the true idea of
the government of a transitive verb, him must be the object in the phrase
under consideration, as much as in this, " Ask him for a guinea ;" or in this,
" ask him to go."
This idiom is very ancient, as we often see it in the Latin. " Intcrroga-
tus sententiam." Liv. 26. 33. "Se id Scipioncm orare." Ibm. 27. 17.
"Auxilia regem orabant." Ibm. lib. 2S. 5. The idiom in both languages
had a common origin.
Note 2. — Some verbs were formerly used as transitive, which are no
longer considered as such ; as, " he repented him" — " flee thee away" —
" he was swerved" — " the sum was amounted," &c. which are held im-
proper.
Cease, however, is used as a transitive verb by our best writers. " Cease
this impious rage." Milton. " Her lips their music cease." Hoole's Tasso.
Rule XXVII. — Intransitive verbs are followed by the name of the act
or effect, which the verb expresses in action ; as, " to live a life of virtue ;"
"to die the deathoi i\ie righteous;" "to dream dreams;" " to run sl race ;"
" to sleep the sleep of death."
We observe, in these examples, life is the 7iame of living supposed to be
complete, as race is the name of the act of running when accomplished.
Note. — Nearly allied to this idiom is that of using, after verbs transitive
or intransitive, certain nouns which are not the objects of the verb, nor oi
precisely the same sense, but which are either the names of the result of
the verb's action, or closely connected with it. Examples : " A guinea
weighs five penny weight, six grains ;" " a crown weighs nineteen penny
weight;"* " a piece of cloth measures ten yards."
" And on their hinges grate har.sh thunder." "And rivers run potable
gold." " The crispid brook ran nectar." "Groves whose rich trees wept
odorous gums and balm." " Grin a ghastly smile." Milton.
" Her lips blush deeper sweets." Thomson.
" To ascend or descend a flight of stairs, a ladder, or a mountain."
" To cost a guinea."
Under this rule or the following may be arranged these expressions.
" Let them go their way." " When matters have been brought this
length." Lavoisier, Translation. " We turn our eyes this way or that
way." " Reckoning any way from ourselves, a yard, a mile, &c."
Locke, 2. 17.
Similar to this idiom are the phrases, to go west or east — pointing north
or south, north-west or south-east, and the like, which I find to be Saxon
phrases and very ancient.
In some instances verbs of this sort are followed by two objects; as, " a
ring cost the purchaser an eagle."
Rule XXVIII. — Names of certain portions of time and space, and espe-
cially words denoting continuance of time or progression, are used without a
governing word ; as, " Jacob said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel."
" And dust shalt thou cat all the days of thy life." " And he abode with
* The radical idea of teeight is carry, bear or sustain, from the Saxon
wteg, a balance. The idiom in question has its originial in that idea — a
guinea weighs five penny weights, six grains — that is, carries or sustains
that weight in the scales. How much of the propriety, and even of the
beauty of language is lost, by neglecting to study its primitive state and
(principles '.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
him the space of a mmith." " The teee of hie yielded her
month." " In those days F Daniel was mourning three full weeks'
" Whosoever shall urge thee to go a mile, go with him twain." " To walk
Amile, or a league."
" EtTects occurring every moment to ourselves."
. " You have asked me news a hundred times." Pope.
Words expressing particular or precise points of time, are usually prece-
ded hy a preposition ; as, " at that hour ;" " ou that day." But to both these
rules there are exceptions.
Rule XXIX. — The verb he has the same ca.se after it as before it; or
two substitutes connected with be in construction are in the same case. " Jt
is/, be not afraid." "Thou art she." "It is Ac." " Who was he?"
" Who do men say that / am .'" " JVhom do they represent me to be.'
But " Whom do men say that I am," is incorrect.
Ru L E X X X . — Transitive verbs and their participles admit of a sentence,
a clause or number of words as their object; as, "He is not alarmed so far
as to consider how much nearer he approaches to his end."
Rambler, JVo. 78.
Consider what ? The whole following clause, which is the object of the
verb.
" If he escapes being banished by others, I fear lie will banish himself."
Pope, Let. to Swift.
Here being banished stands in the place of a noun, as the object after
«»capes.
wrvH Rule XXXI.— T
"" ciple ; a.s, " he love:
abandon a vicious lit
•Add to this, whal./i
very drcumstance, tin
In this sentence tlie i\lv
and is the actual objcci .
■' Suppose then (Ac
s but little known, has from that
nf novelty." Hermes, Preface.
■■ in italics, is what is to be added,
irb add.
to have had a creator" — " Suppose
Paley, Ev. 1.
the disposition which dictated this council to continue
" For that mortal dint,
Save tie who reigns above, none can resist." Milton, 2. 815.
" I wish I could give you any good reasons for your coming hither, ex-
cept that, /earnestly invite you." Pope, Let.
" Lord Bathurst is too great a husbandman to like barren hills, except
they are his own to improve." Pope, Let. Sept. 3, 1726.;
In these and similar passages, the object of the verb is a whole proposi-
tion or statement, in a sentence or clause of a sentence. In this passage,
"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," the fact excepted is af-
firmed in a single verb. Take away this fact " that you shall repent," and
the consequence must be, you will perish. This is one of the modes of ab-
breviation in language which I have so frequently mentioned, and which
constitutes a principal excellence of the English.
We observe, in some of the passages here cited, the pronoun that, after
the verb. This is probably the true original construction ; the substitute,
that, pointing to the whole following clause. " He cou Id do no mighty works
there, save that, [except that single fact which follows,] he laid his hand
on a few sick and healed them."
Note.— It may be here observed that in some of the passages cited the
verb has no definitive nominative; the verbs save, except, suppose, add, !fc.
are in the imperative mode, but the address is not made to any particular
person or persons. Ani this probably has led authors to class save and ex-
cept among conjunctions, prepositions or adverbs, or to consider them as
used adverbially ; for it has been already observed that the class of adverbs
has been a sort of common sink to receive all words which authors have not
been able to comprehend. I
Is it not strange that suppose, add, admit, allow, and other verb.s, which
are constantly used in the same manner, should have hitherto escaped the
same doom .' In the passages above cited from Paley, suppose is used pre-
cisely in the same manner, as except and save in others. Indeed nothing
but the most inexcusable negligence could have led critics to this classifica-
tion of sane and except— (or in many passagesof scripture, these very words,
in the sense in which they are called conjunctions or adverbs, have an ob-
ject lolloHinii them, lik« other transitive verbs; as, " Israel burned none of
them, sar, Hazor only." Josh. xi. l.S. " Ye shall not come into the land,
.save I „l, I: iiiul .1, shun." JVum. xiv. 30. " I would that all were as I am,
except tli,s, l,,.,iih:- jtcts, xxri.
This u-i- 1.1 Mrli< without a definite nominative occasions no inconven-
ience; for the address is not made to any p,irticular person, but is equally
'•" apply it. See the subject further expL ' "
applicable to any
unde '
rule
ifiiiilive mode follows, first, anotlier verb or parti-
lurish the social alfections ;" " be persuaded to
'he is willing to encounter danger;" "he was
[proceeding to relatehis adventures."
2dly. The infiniUve follows a noun ; as, " The next thin-r natural for the
[mind to do." Locke. " He has a task to perform."
I 3dly. It follows an adjective or verbal attribute; as, " a question difficult
to be solved." " it is delightful to contemplate the goodness of Providence."
"God is viorihy to be loved and trusted." "Be prepared to receive your
fiiend."
4thly. It follows as ; thus, " an object so high as to be invisible ;" " a
question so obscure as to perplex the understanding."
5thly. It follows than after a comparison; as, " Nothing makes a man sus-
pect much, more than to know little." Bacon on Suspicion.
6thly. It follows the preposition/oj-, noting cause or motive ; as, " What
went ye out /or to see?" Matt. xi.
Tills is the true original idiom, but it is usual now to omit /or; as, " he
went to see a reed shaken with the wind." In every phrase of this sort,/n/-
is implied in the sense ; but the use of the word is vulg.ir.
The infinitive mode is independent, standing as a substitute for a whole;
phrase ; as, " It is not once in ten attempts that you can find the case you
seek, in any law book ; to say nothing of those numerous points of conduct
concerning which the law professes not to prescribe." Paley, Phil. ch. -1.
Rule XXXII. — The verbs, bid, make, see, hear, feel, let, with the auxil-
aries, may, can, must, shall and will, and dare and need, when used as aux-
iliaries, are followed by the infinitive without the prefix to ; as, " he bids
me come;" " we cannot make them understand;" " let me see youwrite;"
"we heard liim relate the story;" " we felt the earth Uemble." " Which
(hey \e\.pass." Locke. " He may go, can go, must go, shall go, will go."
" I dare engage; 1 dare say." " He need not be anxious."
Note 1.— In the uses of dare and need, there are some pecuharities which
deserve remark.
When dare signifies to defy or challenge, it is regular in the tenses and
persons, is a transitive verb, and is followed by the infinitive with the usual
prefix ; as, " he dares me to enter the list." But when it is intransitive,
denoting to Aare courage, it more generally drops the personal terminations,
has an anomalpus past tense, and is followed by the infinitive without to; in
short it has the form of an auxiliary, and in the German, it is classed with
the auxiliaries. Examples: " I dare engage." Pope's Works, Letter to
Gay. " I dare not confess." Swift to Gay. " I dare say." Locke. "But
my Lord, you dare not do either." Junius, Let. 28. '■• Dursil venture to
deliver my own sentiments." Hume, Es. 7.
The past tense, when regular, is followed by the infinitive with the usual
prefix. " You have dared to throw more than a suspicion upon mine."
Junius, Let. 20. The same remark may be extended to the future tense.
He will not rfaie to attack his adversary."
In like manner, need, when a transitive verb, is regular in its inflections;
, " A man needs more prudence" — " The army needed provisions." But
hen intransitive, it drops the personal terminations in the present tense, is
formed like an auxiliary, and is followed by a verb, without the prefix to ;
as, " Nobody need 6e afraid he shall not have scope enough." Locke, 2.22.9.
i" I need not j?o any farther." Ibtn. "Nor need we wonder." Ibm. "The
lender need be under no fear." Anarch, ch. 69. " There need be no diffi-
culty." Heddoes, Hygeia, I. 27. " She need dig no more." Spectator,
.Vo. 121. " A man need not be uneasy on these grounds." Boswell, 3. 41.
" He need not urge to this honorable court." Judge Chase.
lu the use of this verb, there is another irregularity, which is pecuUar,
the verb being without a nominative, expressed or implied. " Whereof here
needs no account." Milton, P. L. 4. 235. "There is no evidence of the
fact, and there needs none." This is an established use of need.
Note 2.— The infinitive mode has, in its sense and use, a near affinity to
a noun and often has the construction of one. It is much employed to intro-
duce sentences which are the nominatives to verbs, as well as the objects
following them ; as, " To will is present with me, but to perform that which
is good I find not." Here the first infinitive is the nominative to is, and the
second begins the sentence which is the object afler^nd.
Note 3. — A common mistake in the use of the infinitive is, to use the
perfect tense after another verb in the past time, when in fact one of the
verbs in the past time would correctly express the sense ; thus, " It would
have been no difficult matter to have compiled a volume of such amusing pre-
' ■ " Cowper to Hill, Let. 29. Here the first verb states the time
The following passage in Locke, 2. 27. 2. contains another iP^!' ^''^" " "'*'* ""' difficult to compile a volume ; at that time the compi-
verb used in the same manner : " Coiild two bodies he in the same place at
the same time, then those two parcels of matter must be one and the same,
take them great or little."
The error of considering sore as an adverb or conjunction, has however
produced a mulfitude of mistakes in construction, as in tb.>..- i,nc^:,._r.>.. •
" Save Ae who reigns above." Milton. "Which no man kii.v\ i . t
Ae that receiveth it." iieti. ii. 17. The nominative Ae cannot lu
any principle of true construction. We ought to he Aim, the .^
verb. Except might have been used, andthis word beins cull. I .. i^.i ,ju^:
tion, would have required after it the objective else. Biit both -"..i= -r„i
verbs, and ought to have the same construction.
Vol. I. K.
lation couM not be past ; the verb therefore should have been to compile,
which is present and always indefinite.
In the following passage, we have a like use of verbs which is correct.
" A free pardon was granted to the son, who teas known to have offered in-
ilignities to the body of Varus." Murphy's Tacitus, fi. I. Here 'the offer-
'::s of indignities was a fact precedent to the time stated in the verb icas
'niiwn; and therefore the verb, to have offered, is well employed.
Rule XXXIII. — The infinitive signifying motive or purpose, often in-
ioiluces a clause or sentence which is not ihenoininative orobjecli'
I verb; as, " To see how far this reaches, and what are the causes of
)any
j|VtiL,, a=., J. u Oct: nitw lai iiii> readies, auQ wnai are me causes Of wrong
lijudgment, we must remember that things are judged good or bad in a double
GRA3IMAR OF THE
.»eiise." Lode, 2. 21. 61 . " To present property from being too unequally
distributed, no pei-son should be allowed to dispose of his possessions to the
])rpiudice of his lawful heirs." Anarch, ch. 62.
Note. — This form of sentence -seems to be derived from the use o{ for
before the verb,/oi- to see. The modern practice is to prefix some noun, as
ill order to see, or " With a view to prevent."
Rule XXXIV. — In the use of the passive form, there is often an inver-
sion of the order of the subject and object ; thus, " The bishops and abbots
were allowed their seats in the house of Lords."
Blackstone, Comm. b. 1, ch. 2.
Here the true construction would be, " Seats in the house of Lords were
allowed to the bishops and abbots."
"Theresa was forbid the presence of the emperor." Murphy's Tacitus,
2. .540. Note. — This is a common phrase. It may be resolved thus : The
presence of the emperor wa* forbid to Theresa — or, Theresa was forbid to
approach the presence of the emperor.
KuLE XXXV. — The participle of the present tense without a definitive
a or the, or with any possessive attribute, usually retains the sense of its
verb, and has the objective case after it; as, "The clerk is engrossing the
bill." "The love we bear our friends is generally caused by our finding
the same dispositions in them, which we ieel in ourselves."
Pope's Letters.
" In return to your inviting me to your forest." Ibm.
But when the participle is preceded by a or the, it takes the character and
government of a noun, and in most cases, must be followed by of; as, "The
middle station of life seems to be most advantas:eously situated for the gain-
ing of wisdom. Poverty turns our thoughts too much upon the supplying of
our wants, and riches, upon enjoying our superfluities."
Spectator, JVo. 464,
In many cases this participle becomes a noun, without a or the ; as, " It
is more properly talking upon paper, than u^ting." Pope, Let
Note. — The foregoing rule is often violated by our best writers, and to
make it universal is (o assume an authority much too dictatorial. " Some
were employed in bloiving of glass ; others in weaving of linen."
Gibbon, Rom. Emp. ch. 10.
Rule XXXVI. — Participles of the present tense, either single or in un-
ion with the participle of the perfect tense, often perform, at once, the office
of a verb and a noun ; as, " The taking from another what is his, without his
knowledge or allowance, is called stealing." Locke, 2. 28. 16.
" By the mind's changing the object to which it compares any thing."
Locke, 2. 25.
" To save them from other people's damning them." Wycherley to Pope.
" Such a plan is not capable of being carried into execution."
Anarch, ch. 62.
" They could not avoid submitting to this influence."
Baling, on Hist. Let. 8.
Note 1. — The participle in ing, though strictly active in its signification,
is not unfrequently used by modern authors in a passive sense ; as, " More
living particles are produced — than are necessary foi- nutrition or for the
restoration of decomposing organs," that is, organs suffering decomposition.
Darwin, Zoon. sect. 39. 9. " From which caloric is disengaging," that is,
undergoing the process of separation. Lavoisier, Translation. " The num-
ber is augmenting daily." Ibm. " They seemed to think Cesar was slay-
ing before their eyes rather than that he was slain." Guth. Quin. 2. 18.
" The nation had cried out loudly against the crime while it was commit-
ting." Boling. on Hist. Let. 8. " My lives are re-printing." Johnson
to Boswell, 1782.
Many of this kind of participles have become mere attributes ; as writing
paper ; looking glass ; spelling or pronouncing dictionary. Wanting and
owing have long had the character of passive participles, with the sense of
wanted, iiwed.
Note 2. — The use of two participles in the place of a noun is one of the
most frequent practices of our best writers ; as, " This did not prevent John's
being acknowledged and solemnly inaugurated Duke of Normandy." Hen-
ry, Hist. Brit. b. 3. The participle being with an attribute, supplies the
place of a noun also. " As to the difference of being more general, that
makes this maxim more remote from being innate." Locke, 1. 2. 20.
Rule XXXVII. — Participles, like attributes, agree with a sentence, a
part of a sentence, or a substitute for a sentence ; as, " Concerning relation
in general, these things may be considered." Locke, 2. 25.
Here concerning relates to the whole of the last clause of the sentence —
■' These things may be considered" — all which is concerning relation in
general.
" This criterion will be different, according to the nature of the object
which the mind contemplates." Enfield, Hist. Phil. 2. 15.
That is, the dilTerence of criterion will accord with the nature of the ob-
ject.
" According to Hierocles, Ammonius was induced to execute the plan ol
a distinct eclectic school," &.c. Ibm. p. 63.
Here the whole statement of facts in the last clause was according to Hie-
rocles; that is, it accorded with his testimony.
" I have accepted thee, concerning this thing also." Gen. 19.
" I speak concAning Christ and the church." Eph. v. 32,
" Thus shalt thou do unto thcLcvitcs, touching their charge."
Aum. viii. 26.
Rule XXXVIII. — Participles often stand without a noun, sentence or
substitute, on which they immediately depend, being referable to either of
the persons indefinitely ; as, " It is not possible to act otherwise, considering
the weakness of our nature." Spectator.
Note — Johnson, in his Dictionary, calls this a kind of conjunction,
and adds — " It had been more grammatically written considered; vu,
French ; but considering is ahvays used."
This criticism indicates an incorrect view of tlie subject. Considered,
cannot be used without a change in the structure of the sentence — "The
weakness of our nature being considered." But to make this form of ex-
pression correspondent to the other clause, that ought also to be varied, and
definite person introduced ; thus, " It does not appear (to us) possible to act
otherwise, the weakness of our nature being considered." But this amend-
ment would be of no advantage.
To comprehend the use of such expressions, we should consider that men
find it useful to deal in abstract propositions and lay down truths without re-
ference to persons. This manner of discoursing is often less invidious than
to apply propositions or opinions to persons. To accomplish this purpose,
have devised words and modes of speech which enable them thus to
communicate their ideas. In the passage cited, the first clause contains a
general abstract proposition, equally applicable to any person—" It is not
possible to act otherwise." That is, it is not possible for me, for you, for
,, or for her ; but it might be invidious to specify persons. It is not pos-
e for John or Thomas to act otherwise, he considering the weakness of
nature. Hence the proposition is left without application ; and it fol-
lows naturally that the persons who are to consider the cause, the weakness
of our nature, should be left indefinite, or unascertained. Hence co?i-
sidering is left without a direct application to any person.
Whatever foundation there may be for this explanation, the idiom is com-
mon and well authorized.
" Generally speaking, the heir at law is not bound by the intention of the
testator." Paley, Phil. 23.
" Supposing that electricity is actually a substance, and taking if for
granted that it is different from caloric, does it not in all probability contain
caloric, as well as all other bodies ?" Thomson, Chim. art! Calnrir.
Here is no noun expressed or implied, to which supposing and taking
can be referred ; we would be most naturally understood.
" Supposing the first stratum of particles to remain in their place, after
their union with caloric, we can conceive an affinity, &.c." Am. Here
supposing may be refened to tve, but is tliis the real construction ?
" For supposing parliament had a right to meet spontaneously, withoui
being called together, it would be impossible to conceive that all the mem-
bers would agree," &c. Blackstone, Comm. B. 1. 2.
" The articles of this charge, considering by whom it was brought, were
not of so high a nature as might have been expected."
Henry, Brit. B. 4. ch. 1.
" It is most reasonable to conclude that, excepting the assistance he may
be supposed to have derived from his countrymen, his plan of civilization
was the product of his own abilities." Enfield, Hist. Phil. 1. ch. 9.
" None of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for
washing." JVeh. iv. 23.
" And he said unto them, hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered
my way." Gen. xxiv. 56.
" Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds." Col. iii. 9.
" Comparing two men, in reference to a common parent, it is easy to
frame th^ ideas of brothers." Locke, 2. 25.
" Granting this to be true, it would help us in the species of things no
farther than the tribes of animals and vegetables." Locke, 3. 6. 23.
Rule XXXIX. — Adverbs or Modifiers are usually placed near the
words whose signification they are intended to affect.
First. They are placed before adjectives : as, truly wise ; sincerely up-
right ; unaffectedly polite.
Secondly. They usually follow a verb when single ; as, he spoke elo-
quently : and if a verb is transitive with an object following, the adverb
follows the object ; as, " John received the present gratefully."
To this rule, the exceptions are very numerous, and not to be classed
under general heads. " So it frequently happens." " Men often deceive
themselves." Indeed, in many eases the position of the modifier makes no
difference in the sense, and may be regulated entirely by the preference of
sound, in the general structure of the period, provided it is not such as to
mislead the reader, in the application of the word.
Thirdly. When one auxiliary and a participle are used, the modifier is
usually placed between them or it follows the participle ; as, " he was gra-
ciously received," or " lie was received graciously." The first is the most
elegant.
Fourthly. When two auxiliaries are used, the adverb is usually placed
after the second ; as, " We have been kindly treated." But it may follow
the participle, as " We have been treated kindly ;" and in some cases it
may precede the auxiliaries, as " -Vnd certainly you must have known."
.hmiun. Letter 8.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Fifililv. Wlien ailverbs are emphatical, they may introduce a sentence,
anil l» - |. 1 h 1 n ,111 the word to ivhieh they belong ; as, " Haw complete-
ly t\,\ I liviman virtues Aarf taA-CTi possession of his soul!"
po,i ;. - I |,fi-itiou of the nioditicr is most frequent iu interroga-
tive .uhI r-,, ■!,.-, I. 3 jihrases.
The adverb alirays is usually placed before a verb.
JVever commonly precedes a single verb, except be, which it follows ; as,
" We are never absent from Church on Sunday." It is sometimes placed
before an auxiliary, as " He never has been at court;" but it is more cor-
rectly and elegantly placed after the first auxiliary, as " He has never been
at court," "he has never been intoxicated."
This word ha-s a peculiar use in the phrase ; " Ask me never so much
dowry." Gen. xxxiv. " The voice of charmers, charming never so wise-
ly." Ps. Iviii. The sense i-j, '• Ask me so much dowry as never was asked
brfore ;" an abbreviation siri<!;ularly expressive of the idea of asking to any
amount or extent. Authors not imderstanding it, have substituted ever for
never, which impairs the force, if it does not destroy the sense, of the
phrase) The use of both is now common, but never is preferable. " Some
agreements indeed, though never so expressly made, are deemed of so im-
portant a nature, that they ought not to rest in verbal promise only."
Blackstone, Comm. B. 3. eh. 9.
The use of here and there, in the introduction of sentences before verbs,
forms an authori/cd idiom of the language ; though the words may be con-
sidered as redundant. The practice may have originated in the use of the
liand in pointing, in the early stage of society.
Here, there, and where, originally denoting plaee, are now used in re-
ference to words, subjects and various ideas of which place is not predica-
blc. " It is not so with respect to volitions and actions ; here the coalesence
is intimate." Hermes, ch. 8. " We feel pain, in the sensations, where we
expected pleasure." Locke, 2. 7. 4.
Hence, whence, and thence, denoting the place from which a departure is
stated, are used either teith or without the preposition/ram. In strictness,
the idea of /inm is inclculcil in the words, and it ought not to be u.sed.
These word* .il- i i i "iily in reference to jdace, but to any argu-
ment, subjccl. . • ! - nirse.
Hither, thitir . i ■ - - . ^'enoting to a place, are obsolete in popular
practice, and ul-ul,-. .m u< writing; being superseded by here, there,
■where. This change is evidently the effect of the all-controlling disposi-
tion of men to abridge speech, by dismissing useless syllables, or by substi-
tuting short words of easy pronunciation for those which are more difficult.
Against this disposition and its effects, the critic remonstrates in vain ; and
we may rest assured that common convenience and utility are better guides
in whatever respects the use of words, than the opinions of men in their
closets. No word or syllable in a language, which is essential, or very use
ful, is ever lost.
While Is a noun denoting time, and not a modifier. In this phrase, "
will go while you stay," the word is used in its primitive manner, without
government, like many other names of portions of time — a month, a week
We are accustomed to use, as modifiers, a little and a great ileal. " The
many letters I receive, do not a little encourage me." Spectator, JVo. 124
Many names are used in like manner, as modifiers of the sense of verbs
" You don't care six-pence whether he was wet or dry." Johnson
Rule XL. — In polite and classical language, two negatives destroy the
negation and express an affirmative ; as, " JVor did he not perceive them,'"
that is, he did perceive them. This phraseology is not common nor agreea-
ble to the genius of our tongue.
The following is a common and well authorized use of negatives. " Hii
manners are not inelegant," that is, are elegant. This manner of expres-
sion, however, when not accompanied with particular emphasis, denotes i
moderate degree of the quality.
Note. — In popular language, two negatives are used for a negation, ac-
cording to the practice of the ancient Greeks and the modern French. This
idiom was primitive, and was retained in the Saxon ; as, " Oc se kining
Peada ne risadc nane while." Sax. Chron. p. 33. And the king Peada did
not reign none while, that is, not a long time. The learned, with a view
to philosophical correctness, have rejected the use of two negatives for one
negation. The consequence is, we have two modes of speaking directly op
posile to each other, but expressing the same thing. " He did not owe
nothing," in vulgar language, " and he owed nothing," in the style of the
learned, mean precisely the same thing.
Rule XLI. — Prepositions are followed by the names of objects and the
objective case ; as, /rum New York to Philadelphia ; across the Delaware ;
ouer land; 6^ water; </iro«gA the air; with us ; for me ; (othem; in you
among the people ; toward us.
The preposition to is supposed to be omitted after verbs of giving, yield
ing, affording, and the like ; as, " give them bread," instead of give bread
M them. " Afford him protection ;" " furnish her with books." But tliis
idiom seems to be primitive, and not elliptical.
From is sometimes suppressed ; as in this phrase, " He was banished the
kingdom."
Home, after a verb denoting motion to, is always used without to ; as,
" We are going home."
Afler the attribute near, to is often omitted ; as, " To bring them nearer tlic
truth." Massillon. Also after adjoining ; as, " a garden adjoining a river."
The preposition is sometimes separated from the word which governs ; as,
' With a longing for that state which he is charmed with," instead of with
which he is charmed.
n many cases, the relative pronoun may be suppressed, as " I did not
see the person he came with," that is, «'iWt M.)/io»rt he came ; and in other
cases, what is employed for the word governed, as " I know not what per-
son he gave the present to."
This separation of the preposition from the word governed by it, and the
ppression of the substitute, are most common and most allowable in collo-
quial and epistolary language. In the grave and elevated style, they arc
elegant, and never to be admitted to the prejudice of perspicuity ; a.i
in the following passage, "Of a space or number, which, in a constant and
endless enlarging progression, it can in thought never attain to."
Locke, 2. 17. 8.
A separation of the preposition to such a distance from the word with
which it is connected in construction, is perplexing and inelegant.
Note. — In the use of who as an interrogative, there is an apparent devi-
ation from a regular construction — it being used without distinction of case ;
Who do you speak to ?" " Who is she married to ':" " Who is this re-
served for ;" " Who was it made by .'" This idiom is not merely colloquial;
is found in the writings of our best authors. It is the Latin cui and quo.
Rule XLU. — Prepositions govern sentences and clauses or members of
, " Without seeking any morejustitiable reasons of hostility."
Hume, 1. 3.
' Besides making an expedition into Kent." Hume, 1. 36.
' From what has been said." Blair, Serm.
' To the general history of these periods will be added, &c."
Enfield, Prelim.
' .^bout the beginning of the eleventh century." Ibm.
' By observing these rules and precautions." Ibm.
' In comparing the proofs of questionable facts." Ibm.
' For want of carefully attending to tlic preceding distinction."
Jinfield, Hist. Phil. b. 2.
' -ifter men became christians." Paley, Evid. ch. 1.
' Before you were placed at the head of affairs." Junius. Let. 8.
' Personal bravery is not enough to constitute the general, without he
animates the •vhole army with courage." Fielding's Socrates, p. 18S.
Pray, get these verses by heart against I see you." Chesterfield, Let.
After having made me believe that I possessed a share in your affec-
tion." Pope, Let.
" Ambition, envy, — will take up our minds, without we can possess our-
Ives with sobriety." Spectator, jXo. 143.
Note. — We obsei-ve, in the foregoing passages, the preposition has two
uses. One is to precede a word to which other words are annexed as ne-
cessary to complete the sense — " about the beginning." Here the sense is
complete ; the time is not designated. To define the time wiiich is the
object of the preposition about, it is necessary to add the words — " of the
eleventh century"— «6o«f that time. So that the whole clause is really
the object after the preposition.
The other use of the preposition is to precede nouns, verbs or other words
which are not the object of the preposition, but which have a construction
independent of it ; as, " after men became christians." Here men is the
nominative to became ; yet the whole proposition is as really the object gov-
erned by after, as the word hour, in the phrase, after that hour. " Against
I see you," is a phrase of like construction. No single word is an object or
in the objective case after against ; but the whole affirmation is the object.
" Without we can possess ourselves," has a like construction, and though
superseded, in a degree, by unless, a word of similar import, is a true En-
glish phrase. After [this fact] men became christians — Against [that time
when] I see you — Without [this fact] we can possess ourselves.
Rule XLIII. — The modifiers of sentences, if, though, unless, and lest,
may be followed by verbs in the future tense, without the usual auxiliaries,
shall, will or should; as, "If his son ask bread, will he give him a
stone ?" " If he asft a fish, will he give him a serpent ?" " Though he slay
me, yet will I trust in him." " He shall not eat of the holy things, unless
he wash his flesh with water." " Lest thou say I have made Abram rich."
Except has a like effect upon the following verb ; as, " I will not let thee
go, except thou bless me." Wluther ha.s been numbered also among the
conjunctions, which require the conditional mode, but by an egregious mis-
take. It is not a connective, nor does it imply a condition or hypothesis, but
in alternative.
Rule XLIV. — Connectives join two or more clauses or members in a
compound sentence; as, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from
.speaking guile."
Here are two clauses united by and, which continues the sense and pre-
vents the repetition of the verb keep.
"I sought the Lord, antZ he heard me, and delivered me from all my
fears." Here are three clauses combined into a sentence or period by the
help of and ; but a new verb is introduced in each, and the second connec-
tive prevents the repetition of the substitute he only.
" A wise son heareth his father's instruction ; but a scorner heareth not
rebuke." Here but joins tlie t(vo clauses, but a new character i.i the nomi-
native to a distinct verb, in the second clause, which exhibits a contrast to
the first, and no word is omitted.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Rule XLV.— Connectiv
10 the same verb, expi-essed
live verb or a preposition in the same case. Connectives also join verbs,
-tdjectives, and adveri)S. Kxample:
" Peter and John went up into the Temple."
Connectives join attributes and modifiers; as, "He is wise and virtuous,
*' An orator pleads eloquently and plausibly."
The connectives perform a very important office in abridging language,
by enabling us to omit words which must otherwise be repeated. Thus
when I say, " I esteem religion and virtue," two affirmations, •' I esteem re-
ligion, I esteem virtue," are actually included in the sentence.
When several words or clauses succeed each other, it is not uncommon to
omit the connective ; as, " We hear nothing of causing the blind to see, the
lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers to be cleansed." Paley, Evid.
After the connective than, there may be and usually is an ellipsis of a
verb, a noun, or other words ; as, " There is none greater in this house than
I." Gen. xxxix. 9. That is, than I am.
"Only in the throne will I be greater than thou." Gen. \\\. That is,
than thou shalt be.
" He loves his money more than his honoi," that is, more than he loves
his honor.
" The king of the north shall return and set forth a multitude greater
than the former." Dan. xi. 13. That is, than the former multitude.
" I will pull down ray barns and build greater." Luke xii. That is,
greater barns.
Sometimes other words may be suppressed without obscuring the sense ;
as, " It is better for me to die than to live." Jonah iv. That is, better than
for me to live.
Precise rules for the ellipsis of words, in all cases, cannot be given. In
general, a writer will be governed by a regard to perspicuity, and omit no
word, when the want of it leaves the sense obscure or ambiguous, nor
when it weakens the strength of expression. But the following remarks
and examples may be of use to the student.
1. When a number of words are joined in consti'uction, the definitive
ifiay be omitted, except before the first ; as the sun, moon and stars ; a house
and garden. So also when two or more attributes agree with the samel
name ; as a great, wise and good prince. But when attributes or names are
particularly emphatical, the definitive should be expressed before each ; as
the sun, the moon and the stars.
2. The repetition of names adds emphasis to ideas ; as, " Christ, the pow-
er of God and the wisdom of God," is more emphatical than " Christ, the
power and the wisdom of God."
3. An adjective belonging to two or more nouns joined by a connective,
may be omitted except before the first ; as my house and garden ; good
qualities and actions. " rAejr interest and solicitation— " Ratnbler,5Q. Nor
does it make any difference that the nouns are in different numbei
adjectives have no distinction of number, the same word may be applied to
the singular number and the plural ; as a magnificent house and gardens ;
his bouse and lands. But when a precedes the first adjective, this construc-
tion is not elegant.
4. In compound sentences, a nominative pronoun or noun may be omitted
before all the verbs except the first ; as, I love, fear and respect the magis-
trate— instead of, I love, I fear and I respect. The substitute may some-
times be suppressed ; as the man I saw, for the man ivhom i saw.
5. An adverb need not be repeated with every word which it qualifies,
the connective and rendering it unnecessary ; as, he spoke and acted grace-
fidli/. Here gracefully belongs to speaking as well as to acting.
A preposition may be omitted after a connective ; as, he walked over the
hills and the valleys, that is, over the valleys.
After like and near, to is usually omitted ; as, " Like three distinct powers
in mechanics." Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2. That is, like to three. " Such
opinions as seemed to approach nearest the truth." Enfield, 2. 59. That is,
nearest to the truth.
Likewise* after join and adjoin, to is sometimes omitted ; as, " a garden
adjoining the river."
For is omitted by the poets after mourn.
" He mourn'd no recreant friend, no mistress coy." Beatlie.
PUNCTUATION.
Punctuation is the marking of the several pauses which are to be ob-
served, in reading or speaking a sentence or continued discourse. By
means of pauses, a discourse is divided into periods or complete sentences,
.md periods into clauses or simple sentences, and these, into phrases.
A period is a sentence complete, making perfect sense, and not connect-
ed in constniction with what follows. The pause after the period is mark-
ed by a point [.] and in speaking, is distinguished by a cadence or fall of the
The members of a period, or clauses and phrases, are all more or less con-
nected in sense, and according to the nearness of the connection, are mark-
ed by a comma [,] a semicolon [ ;] or a colon [:]
The comma is the shortest pause, and is often used to mark the construc-
tion, where very little interruption of voice is allowphle
I A simple sentence or clause contains an affirmation, a command or a
iquesuou, that is, one personal verb, with its nominaiive and adjuncts. By
adjunct^ is meant any phrase or number of words added by way of modify-
ing or qualifying the primary words. Thus when it is said, " Cicero was
an orator of a diffuse style," the latter words, of a diffuse style, are the ad-
jmict of orator, and the whole forms a complete simple sentence, with one
verb or affirmation.
A phrase contains no assertion, or does not amount to a proposition.
Comma.
Rule I. In general the parts of a simple sentence or clause are not to
be separated by any point whatever ;
dition of life." But when a simple
phrase or phrases, modifying the affir
, " To be very active in laudable p
istic of a man of merit ""
Hope is necessary in every con-
is long, or contains a distinct
it may be divided by a comma;
is the distinguishing character-
. revengmg an injury, a man is but even with
his enemy." In most cases, where a short pause will give distinctness to
ideas, a comma is well placed after an important word ; as, " To mourn with-
out measure, is folly; not to mourn at all, insensibility." The pause
after measure, in this sentence, is essential to the sti engtli of the expression.
" The idea of beauty is vague and undefined, different in different minds,
and diversified by time or place." Rambler.
Rule II. When a connective is omitted between two or more words,
hether names, adjectives, pronouns, verbs or modifiers, the place is sup-
plied by a comma ; as, " Love, joy, peace and blessedness are reserved for
the good." " The miseries of poverty, of sickness, of captivity, would,
without hope, be insupportable." Rambler. " We hear nothing of caus-
ing the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers to be
cleansed." Paley. " He who loves, serves and obeys his maker, is a pi-
ous man." " Industry steadily, prudently and vigorously pursued, leads
to wealth." " David was a brave, martial, enterpiising prince." " The
most innocent pleasures are the most rational, the most delightful and the
most durable."
Rule HI. Two or nvore simple sentences closely connected in sense,
or dependent on each other, are separated by a comma only ; as, " When
our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves we leave them." " The temperate
man's pleasures are durable, because they are regular." " That all the
duties of morality ought to be practised, is without difficulty discoverable,
because ignorance or uncertainty would immediately involve the world in
confusion and distress." Rambler.
Rule IV. The sentence independent or case absolute, detached affir-
mations or phrases involved in sentences, and other important clauses, must
be separated from the other parts of a sentence, by a comma; as, "The
envoy has returned, his business being accomplished." The envoy, hav-
ing accomplished his business, has returned." " Providence has, I think,
displayed a tendeiness for mankind." Rambler. " The decision of patron-
age, who was but half a goddess, has been sometimes erroneous." Ibm.
" The sciences, after a thousand indignities, retired from the palace of pat-
ronage." Ibm. " It is, in many cases, apparent." Ibm.
Rule V. A comma is often required to mark contrast, anfithesis, or re-
markable points in a sentence, and sometimes very properly separates words
closely dependent in construction ; as, " a good man will 'love himself too
well to lose, and his neighbor too well to win, an estate by gaming."
" Prosperity gains friends, and adversity tries them." " It is harder to
avoid censure, than to gain applause."
" Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull."
Rule VI. A single name in apposition is not separated by a comma ;
as, " the Apostle Peter:" but when such name is accompanied with an ad-
junct, it should be separated ; as, " Parmenio, a friend of Alexander's, hear-
ing the great offers that Darius had made, said, " Were 1 Alexander, I
would accept them." " So would I," replied Alexander, " were I Par-
menio."
Rule VII. Terms of address, and words of others repeated, but not in-
troduced as a quotation, are separated by a comma ; as, " Wherefore, Sirs,
be of good cheer." " My son, hear the counsel of thy father." "Thus
halt tliou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
Exodus.
Rule VIII. Modifying words and phrases, as however, nay, hence, be-
ides, in short, finally, formerly, &c. are usually separated by a comma ; as,
' It is, however, the task of criticism to establish principles." Rambler.
Semicolon.
The semicolon is placed between the clauses of a period, which are less
losely connected than such as are separated by a cojnma.
First. When the first division of a sentence completes a proposition, so
as to have no dependence on what follows ; but the following clause has a
dependence on the preceding, the two parts are separated generally by a
semicolon ; as, " It may he laid down as a maxim, that it is more easy to
take away superfluities than to supply defects ; and therefore he that is cul-
pable, because he has passed the middle point of virtue, is always accounted
a fairer object of hope, than he who fails by falling short." Rambler. In
this sentence the part of the sentence preceding the semicolon is a perfect
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
period in itself, and miglit have beeu closed with a full point ; but the au- (voice, and the longest pause used between sentences. It closes a discourse
5ior has added' another division, by way of inference, and this is dependent :also, or marks a completion of a subject, chapter or section,
on the first division. The author proceeds— " The one has all that perfec- ; The full point is used also after initials when used alone, as after N. S.
tion requires, and more, but the excess may be easily retrenched ; the other\for New Style ; and after abbreviations, as Croc. Anglic, for Crocus All-
wants the qualities requisite to excellence." Here the first division makes l[glicanus.
t complete proposition ; but the antithesis begun by the numeral one, is not
complete, without tlie last division.
" Economy is no disgrace ; for it is better to live on a little, than to out-
live a great deal." , , , v . . <•
" Be in peace with many ; nevertheless, have but one counselor of a
thousand."
" A friend cannot be known in prosperity ; an enemy cannot be hid in ad-
versity."
In general then, the semicolon separates the divisions of a sentence,
when the latter division has a dependence on the former, whether the for-
1 the sentence or an abrupt turn; as.
To these may be added.
The dash [ — ] which marks a break i
** If thou art he — but O how fallen !"
The interrogation point [.'] that closes a sentence which asks a question ;
as, " How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity .'"
The exclamation point [!] which is used after sudden expressions of sur-
prise, or other emotions; as, "O happiness ! Our being's end and aim I"
The parenthesis ( ) and hooks [ ] include a remark or clause not essential
to the sentence in consti-uction, but useful in explaining it or introducing an
mportant idea. They mark a moderate pause, and the clause included is
iner has a dependence on the latter or not. j.read with a depressed tone of voice ; ;
Secondly. When several members of a sentence have a dependence on^ "Know then this truth (enough I
each other, by means of a substitute for the same principal word, and the | Virtue alone is happiness below." Pope.
clauses, in other respects, constitute distinct propositions, the semicolon ,! n ^jn be readily seen that the sentence is not at all dependent on the
may be used ; as, " Wisdom hath builded her house ; she hath hewn out ' parenthetical clause ; but the converse is not true, for that clause has a de-
her seven pillars ; she hath killed her beasts
£he hath also furnished her table." Prov. ix
Colon.
The Colon is used when the sense of the division of i
tigled her wine ;
■ man to know)
pendence more or less remote on the sentence. Thus, enough for 7nan to
know, is not intelligible without connecting it with the parts of the sentence
preceding and following. So in this passage ; " If any one pretends to be so
sceptical, as to deny his own existence (for really to doubt of it, is manifest-
ly impossible) let him enjoy his beloved happiness." Locke, 4. 10. 2. The
, as to admit of a full point, but something is ^dded by way of illustration .^^^ .^ .^ ^ substitute for existence. V ^V
as, " A brute arrives at a point of perfection that he can never pass m a ^,.^^ ^ ^^ j,^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^
few years he has all the endowments he is capable of and were he tohve ;^^^ seliicolon, colon and full pointfmay bear to each other the propor-
.„„ ...„„.,„. ,„„.„ „.„„M h„ .h, same thmg he is at P'^^e" -^^^^ ^^^ | tion of one, two, four and six ; and the interrogation point and exclamation
'^ >- • 'jpoint may be considered each as equal in time to the colon or period. But
Period. "° precise rule can be given, which shall extend to every case ; the length
ten thousand i
The Period or full point marks c
nplctic
of the pauses must depend much on the nature of the discourse, and their re-
1 of the sense, a cadence of the Ispective proportions may be often varied to advantage by a judicious speaker,
DIRECTIONS
PRONUNCIATION OF WOMO^.
els are the first or long, and the second
Examples of the first or long
sound.
a in make, fate, grace.
c in me, mete, meter.
i in pine, bind, strife.
o in note, hold, port.
u in true, duty, rude.
y in dry, defy, imply.
The principal things to be regardec
Examples of the second or short
sound.
a in mat, ban, grand,
e in bet, men, send.
i in bit, pin, miss,
o in not, boss, bond,
u in dun, must, refund,
y in pity, cycle, synonym
in learning the pronunciation of Eng-
lish words, are the accent and the sound of the vowel of the accented syl-
lable.
Rule I. This mark ' called an accent, designates the accented syllable.
II. The accent placed immediately after a vowel indicates the vowel to
have its first or long sound, either at the end or in the middle of a
syllable ; as in sa'cred, prc'cept, ri'ot, po'et, mu'sic, cy'press ; de-
gra'de, reple'te, divi'de, explo'de, intru'de.
HI. A horizontal mark or point over a vowel shows it to be long, and
when no accent is found in the word, this mark designates the ac-
cented syllable; as in discourse, encroach, bestow, enroll,
suitable.
IV. An accent placed immediately after a consonant, or combination of
consonants in the same syllable, indicates that the vowel of that syl-
lable, if unpointed, is short; as in hab'it, ten'et, con'duct, ul'cer,
sym'bol ; adapt', intend', predict', despond', abrupt'.
Exceptions.
1. A pointed vowel has the sound designated by the point or
points ; as in full'ness, al'terable, book'ish, convey'.
2. a before II, Id and Ik, in monosyllables or accented syllables,
has its broad sound like aw; as in befall', bald'ness, walk'ing.
3. 0 before II is long ; as in enroll'.
V. An accent immediately after a diphthong, or after a syllable con-
taining one, designates the accented syllable, but the diphthong has
its proper sound; as in renew', devour', avow', appoint', annoy'.
\'I. This mark ' called in Greek the grave accent, placed before a vowel,
indicates that vowel to have its ItaUan sound, as in >ask, b'ar, fa-
ther, m'ask. In words of two or more syllables, when no other ac-
cent is used, this designates the accented syllable ; as in ^answera-
ble, b'argain.
VII. Two accents immediately before c, / or s, indicate that c, t or s, in
pronunciation, coalesces with the following vowel, and form the
sound of sA or zh, which closes the syllable, and of course the pre-
ceding vowel is short. Thus, vi"cious, ambi"tion, are pronounced
vish'us, ambish'on ; vi'sion is pronounced vizh'un.
VIII. C before a, o and m, and in some other situations, is a close articula-
tion, like k, and in the vocabulary of this work, whenever it is equiv-
alent to A:, it is marked thus C
Before e, i and y, c is precisely equivalent to s, in some, this ; as
in cedar, civil, cypress, capacity.
IX. E tinal answers the following purposes.
1. It indicates that the preceding vowel is long ; as in hate, mete,
sire, robe, lyre ; abate, recede, invite, remote, intrude.
2. It indicates that c preceding has the sound of s, as in lace,
lance, and that g preceding has the sound of j, as in charge,
page, challenge.
3. In proper English words, e final never forms a syllable, and
in most words, in the terminating unaccented syllable, it is si-
lent and useless. Thus, motive, genuine, examine, juvenile,
reptile, granite, are pronounced motiv, genuin, examin, juve-
nil,reptil, grauil.
In a few words of foreign origin, e final forms a syllable ; a?
in syncope, simile. These are noted in their place.
X. E final is silent after I in the following terminations, ble, cle, die, fle,
gle, kle, pie, tie, zle; as in able, manacle, cradle, ruffle, mangle,
wrinkle, supple, rattle, puzzle, which are pronounced a'bl, man'aci,
cra'dl, ruPfl, man'gl, wrin'kl, sup'pl, puz'zl.
XI. In the termination en, e is usually silent ; as in token, broken, pro-
nounced tokn,brokn.
XII. The termination ous in adjectives and their derivatives is pronounced
us ; as in gracious, pious, pompously.
XIII. The combinations ce, ci, ti, before a vowel, have the sound of sh ; as
in cetaceous, gracious, motion, partial, ingratiate, pronounced ceta-
shus, grashus, moshon, parshal, ingrashate.
But ti after a consonant have the sound of ch ; as in christian, bas-
tion, mixtion, pronounced chrischan, baschan, mixchun. So in
combustion, digestion.
St after an accented vowel are pronounced like zh ; as in Ephe-
sian, confusion, pronounced Ephezhan, confuzhon.
When cior ti precede similar combinations, as in pronunciation,
negotiation, they may be pronounced ce, instead of she, to prevent
a repetition of the latter syllable ; as pronunciashon, instead of pro-
nunshashon.
XIV. Gh, both in the middle and at the end of words, are silent ; as in
caught, bought, fright, nigh, sigh ; pronounced caut, baut, frite.
Exceptions. In the following words gh are pronounced as/ —
cough, chough, clough, enough, hough, laugh, rough, slough,
tough, trough.
XV. When wh begin a word, the aspirate A precedes M> in pronunciation,
as in what, whiff, whale, pronounced hwat, hwif, hwale ; id having
precisely the sound of oo, French mi.
In the following words, iv is silent — who, whom, whose, whoop,
whole, whore.
XVI. H after r has no sound nor use ; as in rheum, rhyme, pronounced
reum, ryme.
XVII. K and g before n arc silent ; as in know, gnaw, pronounced no, naw.
XVIII. W^ before ris silent; as in wring, wreath, pronounced ring, reath.
XIX. £ after m is silent ; as in dumb, numb, pronounced dum, num.
XX. L before k is silent ; as in baulk, walk, talk, pronounced bank, wauk,
tank.
XXI. Ph have the sound of/; as in philosophy.
XXII. The combination no- has two sounds; one, as in sing, singer; the
other, as in finger, linger, longer. The latter is the more close pal-
atal sound; but the distinction can only be learned by the ear.
XXIII. The letters c/, answering to kl, are pronounced as if written tl ;
clear, clean, arc pronounced tlear, tlean.
Gl are pronounced as dl; glory is pronounced dlory.
XXIV. ,/V after m, and closing a syllable, is silent ; as m hymn, condemn.
XXV. P before s and t is mute ; as in psalm, pseudology, ptarmigan, pro-
nounced s;\m, sudology, tarmigan.
The letter y unaccented and terminating words of more syllables than one
is short, like I in pity and ability. This letter, in the plural number of nouns
and in the third person singular of the present tense of verbs, is dropped, and
ie substituted and followed by s. The termination thus formed is pronoun-
ced iz ; as from vanity, is formed vanities, pronounced vanitiz ; from the verb
to pity is formed pities, pronounced piUz.
But when y in monosyllabic verbs, and accented y in other verbs ends the
word, the termination ies in the third person is pronounced izc; as in flies
from fly, defies from defy. So cries, both the verb iuid noun, is pronounced
crizp.
<V has two sounds : its proper souiul as in see, and that of z as in his. It
PRONUNCIATION OF WORDS.
has its proper sound after the following consonants/, p, t, k, €, and //; as-
pirate, whether they end the word or are followed bj' c final ; as in rhiefs
caps, streets, franks, hates, hopes, fates, flakes, breaths, wreaths. It has
(he sound of z, after 6, c followed by e final, rf, g, g!i, I, m, n,n, r,s and ss
z, V, aw, ay, ew, ey, ow, oy, sh, ng, th vocal, eh, oe, ie, both in nouns anil
verbs, and whether these letters end the word or are followed by e final ; a-
in robs, robes, races, rods, rides, rags, rages, toils, dreams, sighs, rains, bars
waves, roses, passes, mazes, laws, days, newt, preys, vows, joys, brushes,
ftngs, breathes, churches, foes, goes, ijies.
Sc before e, i and y, have only the sotnid of the single letter s or e. Thus
scene is pronounced sene; sciolist, siolist.
S before m, in the terminations, asm, earn, ism, has the sound of z; as ii
fpasra, telesm, baptism.
The pronunciation of the word which is radical or primitive in English ii
lo be observed in the derivatives. Thus the letter s is directed to be pro
Bounced as z in bruise, and this direction is to be observed in all its deriva
lives. Earth being directed lo he pronounced erth, all its derivatives and
compounds are to follow the same direction. So freight is pronounced yra^e.
POINTED LETTERS.
A has the short sound of aw; as in alter, what.
€ [ke] is the sairie as k ; as in cape, access.
E whether by itself or followed by i or y, has the sound of c
long ; as in lohere, there, vein, survey,
i has the sound of e long, or ee ; as in machine.
O has the sound of oo, or French ou; as in move.
0 lias the sound of sliort it ; as in come, wonder.
QQ have the short sound of oo ; as in book, look.
__ y has the .sound of oo ; as above, as in full, pull.
CH have tlie French sound, like sh; as in chaise.
G has the sound of ^■.
TH have their vocal sound ; as in thou, this.
V has the sound otyu; as in unite, use, pronounced yunite,yuse
In digraphs or combinations of vowels, of which one only is pronounced,
the mark over one vowel designates the sound, and the other vowel is qui
escent ; a.s in bear, boat, course, soul, blood, bilw, low, crow, bestow.
The digraphs ea, ee, ei, ie have uniformly the sound of long e ; as in meat,
feet, seize, siege.
Before the letter r. there is a slight sound of e between the vowel and the
consonant. Thus bare, parent, apparent, mere, mire, more, pure, pyre, are
pronounced nearly baer, paerent, appaerent, me-er, mier, moer, puer, pyer.
This pronunciation proceeds from the peculiar articulation r, and it occa-
sions a slight change of the sound of a, which can be learned only by the ear.
The vowels in unaccented syllables are either short, or they have thcirl
first sound slightly pronounced. Thus in the words produce, domestic, a
has its first sound, but pronounced rapidly and without force. In syllables
which have a secondary accent, the vowel is often long, and little distin-j
guishable from that in syllables having the primary accent ; as in legislature,'
in which a in the third syllable has its long sound. I
In syllables wholly unaccented, the sounds of the vowels are so rapidly
uttered, that they cannot be designated by written characters ; they are all
sounded nearly alike, and any attempt at a proper notation of such evanes
cent sounds serves only to perplex or mislead the learner.
Words of anomalous pronunciation, not falling under the foregoing rules,
jre printed in an orthography which expresses their true pronunciation,
The Welsh z has the sound of the vocal tk, in thou.
In the expression of the sounds of foreign words in English characters,
iheio IS often an insurmountable difficulty, as there are sounds, in some Ian
guages, which English characters, according to our use of them, will not
express with precision. But in regard to etymology, such exact expression
of .sounds is not necessary. For example, in regard to the affinity of words,
it is wholly immaterial whether the Hebrew 3 is expressed by b, v, or bh;
whether 1 is expressed by d, th, or dh ; whether D is expressed by h or
ch ; and whether p is expressed by k, q, or qu. So in Arabic it is immate-
rial whether j^ is expressed by th or ds, and ri by g or kh.
The Arabic vowel ^arta, I am informed, is differently pronounced by the
Persians and Arabians; the one nation pronouncing it as the English a in
mate; the other, generally, as a in fall. I have expressed it by a or aw.
It was desirable that the Russ, Saxon, Swedish, and German words should
be printed with the appropriate types ; but the utility would have liardly
compensated for the expense of suitable fonts, and no essential incoHveni-
ence can result from the want of them; the English characters being suffi-
cient to express the sounds of the letters, with all the exactness which et)'-
mology requires.
ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED.
a. stands for adjective.
adv. „ for adverb.
con. ,, for connective or conjunction.
exclam. „ for exclamation, or interjection.
n. ,, for name or noun.
Obs. „ for obsolete.
prep. „ for preposition.
pp. „ for participle passive.
ppr. „ for participle of the present tense,
pret. ,, for preterit tense.
pron. „ for pronoun.
". J. „ for verb intransitive.
'•. '. ,, for verb transitive.
./Ir. „ for Arabic.
yirm. m „ for Armoric.
Ch. „ for Chaldee.
Corn. „ for Cornish.
Dan. „ for Danish.
D. „ for Dutch or Belgic.
Eng. „ for England or English.
Eth. „ for Ethiopic.
Fr. „ for French.
G. or Ger. „ for German.
Gr. „ for Greek.
Goth. „ for Gothic.
Heb. „ for Hebrew.
Ice. „ for Icelandic.
.''■• „ for Irish, Hiberno-Celtic, and Gaelic.
11. „ for Italian.
Lat. or L. „ for Latin.
Per. „ for Persic or Persian.
Port. „ for Portuguese.
Ptiss. „ for the Russ language, or Russian.
Sam. „ for Samaritan.
Sans. „ for Sanscrit.
Sax. „ for Saxon, or
Sp. „ for Spanish.
Sw. „ for Swedish.
Syr. „ for Syriac.
TV. „ for Welsh.
Anglo-Saxon.
ALPHABETS.
Hebrew and
Chaldee.
Aleph N
Samaii
Beth
3
a
Gimel
J
1
Daleth
T
^
He
n
^
Vau
1
■K
Zain
I
^
Clieth
n
^
Yod
'
m
Caph
13
a
Lamed
h
I
Mem
D D
a
Nun
1 J
i
Samech
0
^
Ain
}f
V
Phe
r\S
3
Tzaddi
Y^
•m
Koph
P
p
Resch
1
^
Sin
Shin
l\
Mi
-J >
j >
fcli
Names.
Elif
Be
Jim
Dal
Dhal
He
Wau
Ze
Ha
Kha
Ta
Tha
Ye
Kef
Lam
Mim
Nmi
■tjtanting
Ain
Gain
Fe
Tsad
Dhad
Kaf
Re
Sin
Shin
Te
The
The Arabic vowels are only three, viz. Fatha ^ a, e. Kesra ~ e, i. Dhamina J
The diacritical signs are Jesm Jj_ or quiescent Slieva. Teshdid _^ or Dagesh forte.
Nunnation or double final vowels, j^~ ^, showing that they are to be pronounced
The Persians use the Ar
Short.
it
o iJi
J J'
%
Names.
Olaph
Beth
Gomal
Dolath
He
\'au
Zain
Heth
i \
medial.
\
^i^-
Yud
^^
Coph
—
Lomad
^'^,
Mim
Nun
Semcath
V-
Ee
V\'\
Fe
^3.^
Tsode
vi-
Kuph
^^
Rish
i I
— i
ibic alphabet with the addition of Pe J ; Che ^ ; Ghaf ■
Long. Ethiopic.
, en or in, i
and Zhe
Long.
Alph
Bet
Gemel
Den
Hoi
Waw
Zai
Haut
^a
nba
Ogd
yha
f\ c Ay l\o
a be HI by pbo
Ige Tgy -^go
£de jrdy ^do
yhe yhv 1/ho
Aa (Vu A.1
nba fVbu n,bi
T ga ^ gu 1 gi
S da J?, dii j^ di
Uha l>hu yhi
0 wa (D, \vu "^ wi T wa T we (D' vvy p wo
H za I+. zii H, zi H za H, ze Th zy h zo
rhha d>hu dxbi rhba rh,be ^hy rbho
Hharm '*7ha -V hn "^hi -^ha -^ be -^hy <ho
Tait mtba f[vthu fj^thi rfitha n\tbe ^tby fptho
Yaman pya pyu aj' ^J^- ^Y^ ^JJ P'jo
duaf nka rbku n.ki nka n,ke ^ky ^ko
Lawi A la A^ lu A, h A la A, le A ly A" lu
Mai
Nahas
Saut
Ain
Af
Pait
Psa
Zadai
Zappi
Kaf
JRees
Saat
Tawi
<wma <?>niu ''^mi t^ma '^me /^niy <prao
^na Vnu ^ni 'I'na ^ne ^ny S°no
U] sa U> su 111, si m sa IH, se ^ sy MJ so
Oa Ou <\i 0,0. o^e 6y Po
d!:fa .<fu <i;fi <tfa ^fe <i:fy tf^fo
f\ pa ^ pu ?i, pi ;^ pa /^ pe ?i py {Kpo
T pa T pu X P' J pa T pe T py T po
8za ft,zii a,zi 8za f^ze 8'zy 8zo
9 zza 9- zzu (^ zzi q zza q, zze e zzy ^zzo
«t>ka <fekii "^ki fka <feko ^ ky 'Pko
d.ra 4.111 (^ri ^ra 4 re £;ry Cro
rtsa iVsu i\si i^sa i^se ?isy ^so
i- ta i^tu 'titi ^ta -tie '=hty i^to
Note. — In the foregoing alphabets, the order of the Arabic and Ethiopic letters is conformed to that of the Chaldee and Hebrew. The reader will
observe two or three defects, which are owing to the imperfection of the fonts of type.
AN
AMERICAN DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
i/a is the first letter of the Alphabet in
of the known languages of the eartli ; in
the Ethiopic however it is the thirteenth,
and in the Runic the tenth. It is naturall;
the first letter, because it represents the
first vocal sound naturally formed by the
human organs : being the sound uttered
with a mere opening of the mouth without
constraint, and without any effort to alter
the natural position or configuration of the
bps. Hence this letter is Ibund in many
words first uttered bv infants ; which
words are the names of the objects with
which infants are first concerned, as the
breast, and the parents. Hence in He-
brew DK am, is mother, and ax ah, is father.
In Chaldee and Syriac ahba is father ; k
Arabic, aba ; in Ethiopic, abi ; in Mala-
yan and Bengalese, lappa ; in Welsh, tad,
whence we retain daddy ; in Old Greek and
in Gothic atta ; in Irish, aithair ; in Can
tabrian, aita ; in Lapponic, atki ; in Abys
sinian, abba ; in Amharic, aba ; in Shilhit
and Melindane, Afi-ican dialects, baba
and papa is found in many nations. Hence
the Latin mamma, the breast, which is, ii
popular use, the name of mother ; in Swe
dish, amma, is a nurse. This list might be
greatly extended ; but these examples
prove A to be the first natural vocal sound,
and entitled to the first place in alphabets.
The Hebrew name of this letter, aleph
signifies an ox or a leader.
A has in English, tliree sounds ; tlie long or
slender, as in place, fate ; the broad, as in
wall, fall, which is shortened in salt, what ;
and the open, as in father, glass, which is
shortened in rather, fancy. Its primitive
.sound was probablv aw. A is also an
abbreviation of the Saxon an or ane, one,
used before words beginning with an ar-
ticulation ; as a table, instead of an table,
or one table. This is a modern change;
for m Saxon an was used before articula-
tions, as well as vowels, as, an tid, a tune
an gear, a year [See An.]
This letter serves as a prefix to many Eng
lish words, as in asleep ; awake ; afoot
aground ; agoing. In some cases, this is a
contraction of the Teutonic ge, as in asleep,
aware, from the Sa.xon geslapan, to sleep ;
gewarian, to beware ; the Dutch gewaar.
Sometimes it is a corruption of the Saxon
on, as again fi-om ongean, awake from on-
wacian, to watch or wake. Before parti-
ciples, it may be a contraction of the Celtic
ag, the sign of the participle of the present
tense ; as, ag-radh, saying ; a saying, ago
mg. Or this may be a contraction of on,
or what is equally probable, it may have
proceeded from a mere accidental sound
produced by neghgent utterance. In
some words, a may be a contraction of
at, of, in, to, or an. In some words of Greek
original, a is privative, giving to them a
negative sense, as in anonymous, from a
and ovo/ia name.
Among the ancients, A was a numeral .ieno
tmg 500 ; and with a dash A 5000. In the
Hebrew, Syr. Ch. Sam. and Ar. it denotes
one or unity. In the Julian Calendar, A
is the first of the seven dominical letters.
Among logicians. A, as an abbreviation,
stands for a universal aflirmative proposi-
tion. A asserts ; E denies. Thus in bar-
hara,a tlu-ice repeated denotes so many of]
the propositions to be universal.
The Romans used A to signify a negative orj
dissent in giving their votes ; A standing
for antiquo, I o])pose or object to the pro-
posed law. Opposed to tliis letter were
U R, uti rogas, be it as you desire — the
words used to express assent to a proposi-
tion. These letters were marked on
wooden ballots, and each voter had an
aflirmative and a negative put into liis!
hands, one of which at pleasure he gavel
as his vote.— In criminal trials, A stood for
absolvo, I acquit : C for condemno, I con-|
denm ; and AT L for non liquet, it is not
evident ; and the judges voted by ballots
thus marked.— In inscriptions, A stands for
Augustus ; or for ager, aiunt, aurum, ar-
gentum, &c.
A is also used for anno, or ante ; as in An-
no Domini, the year of our Lord ; anno
mundi, the year of the world ; ante merid-
iem, before noon ; and for arts, in artium
magister, master of arts. Among the Ro-
mans, A U C stood for anno ab urbe condi-
ta, from the building of the city or Rome.
In algebra, a and the first letters of the al-
phabet represent known quantities— the
last letters are sometimes used to repre-
sent unknown quantities.
In music, A is the nominal of the sixth note
in the natural diatonic scale — called by
Guido la. It is also the name of one of
the two natural moods ; and it is the open
note of the 2d string of the violin, by which
the other strings are tuned and regulated.
In pharmacy, a or aa, abbreviations of the
Greek ana, signify of each separately, or
that the things mentioned should be taken
in quantities of the same weight or meas-
ure.
In chimistry, AAA stand for amalgama, or
amalgamation.
In commerce, A stands for accepted, as in case
of a bill of exchange. Mercliants also
number their books by the letters — ^A, B, C,
instead of figures. PubUc ofiicers number
their exhibits in the same manner ; as the
document A, or B.
Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters
of the Greek Alphabet, are used in Scrip-
ture for the beginning and end — represen-
tative of Christ.
In mathematics, letters are used as represen-
tatives of nimibers, Hues, angles and quan-
tities. In arguments, letters are substitu-
ted for persons, in cases supposed, or stat-
ed for illustration, as A contracts with B
to deliver property to D.—h\ the English
ABA
ABA
ABA
jJuaseolonjy " a landlord has a hundred
a year," " the sum amounted to ten dollars
rt man," a is merely tlie adjective one, and
this mode of expression is idiomatic ; a
hundred in o [one] year ; ten dollars to a
AAM, n. [Ch. riDN, or xnK a cubit, a measure
containing 5 or 6 palms.] A measure of
liquids among the Dutch equal to 288
English pints.
A 'TRONIC, u. Tert&ining to Aaron, the
■Jrwish High P) icst, or to the priesthood
of which he was the head. Doddridge.
AB, In Knghsh names, is an abbreviation of
Abbey or Abbot ; as Abbingdon, Abbey-
town, Abbeyhill, Abbol-town.
AB, a prefix to words of Latin origin, and a
Latin preposition, as in abscond, is the
Greek arco, and the Eng. of, Ger. ab, D. af,
Sw. Dan. af, written in ancient Latin af.
It denotes from, separating or departure.
AB, The Hebrew name of Father. See Abba.
AB, The eleventh month of the Jewish civil
year, and the fiflh of the ecclesiastical
year, answermg to a part of July, and a
part of August. In the Syriac Calendar,
ab is the name of the last summer month.
AB'ACIST, n. [from abacus.]
One that casts accoimts ; a calculator.
[JVot much ^ised.]
ABACK' adv. [a and back, Sax. on bcec ; at,
on or towards the back. See Back.]
Towards the back ; on the back part ; back-
ward. In seamen's language it signifies
tlie situation of the sails, when pressed
back against the mast by the wind.
7'aken aback, is when the sails are carried
back suddenly by the wind.
Laid aback, is when the sails are purposely
placed in that situation to give the shi|
sternway, -- . . _.
can and Doric orders. Encm.
ABACUS PYTHAGORICUS, The nmki-
plication table, invented by Pvthagoras.
ABACUS HARMONICUS, The structure
and disposition of the keys of a musical
instrument.
ABACUS MAJOR, A trough used in mines,
to wash ore in. Encyc.
AB'ADA, n. A wild animal of Africa, of the
of a steer, or half grown colt, having
to the plinth above the boultin in the Tus-f|ABAN'DONER, n. One who abandons.
two horns on its forehead and a third on ABAN'GA, n. The ady ; a species of Palm-
the nape of the neck. Its head and tail
AB'ACOT, n. The cap of State, formerly ^
used by Enghsh Kings, wrought into the
figure of two crowns.
ABACTOR, n. [Latin from abigo, ab and
ago, to drive.]
tn law, one tliat feloniously drives away or
steals a herd or numbers of cattle at once,
in distinction from one that steals a sheep
or two.
AB'ACUS n. [L. abacus, any thing flat, as a
cupboard, a bench, a slate, a table or board
for games; Gr. agot. Usually deduced
from the Oriental, n3X abak, dust, be
cause the ancients used tables covered
with dust for maldng figures and dia-
grams.]
1. Among the Romans, a cupboard or buffet
2. An instrument to facilitate operations in
arithmetic ; on this are drawn lines
counter on the lowest line, is one ; on the
next, ten ; on the third, a hundred, &c
On the spaces, counters denote half the
number of the line above. Other schemes
are called by the same name. The name
is also given to a table of numbers cast up,
as an abactts of addition ; and by analogy,
to the art of numbering, as in itnighton's
Chronicon. ^ "Encyc
3. In architecture, a table constituting the up-
per member or crowning of a column and
its capital. It is usually square, but some-
times its sides are arched inwards. The
name is also given to a concave nioldmg
on the capital of the Tuscan pedestal ; and
resemble those of an ox, but it has cloven
feet, like the stag. Cyc.
ABADDON, n. [Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. n3N,
to be lost, or destroyed, to perish.]
1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless
pit. Rev. ix.
2. The bottomless pit. Milton.
AB'AFT, adv. or prep. [Sax. eft or aft, again.
Hence efler or cefter, after, subsequent ;
Sax. (eftan, behind in place ; to which
word be is prefixed — beaiftan, behind, and
this word is corrupted into abaft.]
A sea-term signifying in or at the hinder
part of a ship, or the parts which lie to-
wards the stern ; opposed to afore. Rela-
tively it denotes /uri/ier ajl or towards the
stern ; as abaft the mainmast. Abajl the
beam, is ui that arch of the horizon which
is between a hne drawn at right angles
with the keel, and the point to which the
stern is directed. It is often contracted
into aft. Mar. Diet.
AB AGUN, n. The name of a fowl in Ethi-
o])ia, remarkable for its beauty and for a
sort of horn, growing on its head. The
wcpi-il hianifies statelv Abbot. Crabbe.
Al'.AISA.NCE, [See Obeisance.
Maiiner''s Dic't.W^ 15 V LI UN ATE v. t. [See Alienate, Aliene.
title of property from one to
another — a term of the civil law — rarely or
never used in common law proceedings.
ABALIENA'TION, n. The transferring of
title to propenv. [See Alienation.]
ABAN'DON, D. «. [Fr. abandonner; Sp. and
Port, abandonar ; It. abbandonare ; said to
be from ban, and donner, to give over to
the ban or proscription ; or from a or ab
and bandum, a flag or ensign.]
1. To forsake entirely ; as to abandon
hopeless enterprize.
Wo to that generation by which the te^itimony
of God shall be abandoned. Dr. .Mason.
2. To renounce and forsake ; to leave witl
a view never to return ; to desert as lost
or desperate ; as to abandon a country ;
to abandon a cause or party.
3. To give up or resign witliout control, as
when a person yields himself, witliout res
traint, to a propensity ; as to abandon
one's self to intemperance. Abandoned
over and abandoned of are obsolete,
4. To resign ; to yield, relinquish, or give
over entirely.
Varus abandoned the cares of empire to hi-
wiser colleague. Gibbon
ABAN'DON, n. One who totally forsake>
or deserts. Obs.
3. A relinquishment. [Xot used.] Karnes.
ABAN'DONED, pp. Wholly forsaken or
deserted.
iVBAN'DONING, ppr. Forsaking or de-
serting wholly ; renoimcing ; yielding
one's self without restraint.
ABAN'DONING, n. A forsaking ; total de-
sertion.
lie hoped his past meritorious actions might
outweigh his present abandoning the thought
of future actions. Clarendon.
ABAN'DONMENT, n. A total desertion ; a
.state of being forsaken.
3. Given up
hence, extremely
tree. [See Ady.]
ABANNI'TION; «. [Low Lat.]
A banishment for one or two years for man-
slaughter. [JVot used.] Diet.
ABAPTIS'TON, n. The perforating part of
he trephine, an instrimient used in tre-
panning. Coxe.
ABA'RE, V. t. [Sax. abarian. See Bare.]
To make bare ; to uncover. [Abi in use.]
ABARTICULA'TION, n. [See Articulate.]
In anatomy, that species of articulation or
structure of joints, which admits of mani-
fest or extensive motion ; called also diar-
tlirosis and dearticulation. Encyc. Coxe.
ABAS', n. A weight in Persia used in
weighing pearls, one eighth less than the
European carat. Encyc.
ABA'SE, V. t. [Fr. abaisser, fi-om bas, low,
or the bottom ; W. bais ; Latin and Gr.
basis ; Eng. base ; It. Abbassare ; Sp. baxo,
low. See "Aba^h.]
1. The literal sense of aba^e is to lower or
depress, to throw or cast down, as used by
Bacon, " to abase the eye." But the word
is seldom used in reference to material
tilings.
3. To cast down ; to reduce low ; to de-
press ; to humble ; to degrade ; applied to
the passions, rank, oflice, and condition in
Ufe.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dan. iv.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased.
Mat. xxiii. Job, xl. 2 Cor. xi.
ABASED, pp. Reduced to a low state,
humbled, degraded.
In heraldry, it is used of tlie wings of eagles,,
when the tops are turned downwards to-
wards the point of the shield ; or when the
wings are shut, the natural way of bear-
ing them being spread, with the top point-
ing to the cJiief of the angle.
Bailey. Chambers.
ABA'SEMENT, n. The act of humbling
or bringing low ; also a state of depres-
sion, degradation, or humiliation.
ABASH', V. t. [Heb. and Ch. lyu bosh, to
be confounded, or ashamed.]
To make the spirits to fail ; to cast down the
countenance ; to make ashamed ; to con-
fuse or confoimd, as by exciting suddenly a
consciousness of guih, error, inferiority,&c.
They heard and were abashed. Milton..
ABASH'ED, pp. Confused with shame ;
confounded ; put to silence ; followed by at.
ABASHING, ppr. Putting to shame or
ABASII'MENT, n. Confusion from shame.
[Little used.]
ABASING, ppr. Humbling, depressing,
liringing low.
ABAS'SI, or ABASSIS, ?!. A silver
wicked, or sinning without restraint; irre-i of Persia, of the v;iluc of twenty cents,
claimablv wicked. " about ten ncnce sterlins. Encic.
claimably wicked,
about ten pence sterling.
Encyc.
ABA
ABATABLE, a. That may or can be aba-
ted ; as ail abatable writ or nuisance.
ABA'TE, V. t. [Fr. abattre, to beat down ;
battre, to beat, to strike ; S|i. balir, abatir ;
Port, bater, abater; It. battere, abbattere;
Heb. CIi. £33n, to beat; Syr. .^ela< id.
Ar. tiA^i gabata, to beat, and i-Haa^s
kabatha, to beat down, to prostrate. The
Saxon has the pai'ticiple gebatod, abated.
The prefix is sunk to a in abate, and lost in
heat. See Class Bd. No. 2,3, :«.]
1. To beat down ; to pull down ; to destroy
in any manner ; as to abate a nuisance.
2. To lessen ; to diminish ; to moderate ; as
to abate zeal ; to abate pride ; to abate a
demand ; to abate courage.
3. To lessen ; to mitigate ; as to abate pain
or sorrow.
4. To overthrow ; to cause to fail ; to fru
trate by judicial sentence ; as to abate a
writ.
5. To deject ; to depress ; as to abate the
sold. Obs.
6. To deduct ;
Nothing to add and nothing to abate. Pope.
7. To cause to fail ; to annul. By the Eng-
lish law, a legacy to a charity is abated by
a deficiency of assets.
8. In Connecticut, to remit, as to abate a tax.
ABA'TE, V. i. To decrease, or become less
in strength or violence ; as pain abates ; a
storm abates.
2. To fail I to be defeated, or come to naught;
as a writ abates. By the civil law a legacy
to a charity does not abate by deficiency
of assets.
3. In laiv, to enter into a freehold after the
death of the last occupant, and before the
heir or devisee takes
4. In horsemanship, to perform well a down
ward motion. A horse is said to abate, or
take down iiis curvets, when, working
upon curvets, he puts both his hind legs
to the ground at once, and observes the
same exactness in all the times. Encyc.
ABA'TED, pp. Lessened ; decreased ;
destroyed ; mitigated ; defeated ; remit
ted ; overthrown.
- ABATEMENT, n. The act of abating ;
the state of being abated.
2. A reduction, removing, or pulling down,
as of a nuisance. Blackstone.
3. Duninution, decrease, or mitigation, as of
grief or pain.
4. Deduction, sum withdrawn, as from an
account.
3. Overthrow, failure, or defeat, as of a writ.
Blackstoiu
G. The entry of a stranger into a freeholi
after the death of the tenant, before the
heir or devisee. Blacksto
7. In heraldry, a mark of dishonor in a coat
of arms, by which its dignity is debase<
for some stain on the character of the
wearer.
•- ABATER, n. The person or thing that
abates.
ABATING, ppr. PuUing down, diminish
ing, defeating, remitting.
__ ABATOR, n. A person who enters into j
ju freehold on the death of the last possessor,
I before the heir or de\'isee. Blackstone
ABB
\TTIS, ) n. [from beating or pulling
ABATIS, ^ down. Fr. abattre.]
Rubbish. In fortification, piles of trees, or
branches of trees sharpened, and laid with
the points outward, in front of ramparts,
to prevent assailants from mounting the
walls. Encyc.
AB'ATURE, n. [from abate.] Grass beaten
or trampled down by a stag in passing.
Diet.
ABB, n. [Sax. ab or ob.] Among weavers,
yarn for the warp. Hence abb-wool is
wool for the abb. Encyc.
AB'BA, n. In the Chaldee and Syriac, a
father, and figuratively a superior. Sans.
appen.
In the Syriac, Coptic and Ethiopic churches,
it is a title given to the Bishops, and the
Bishops bestow the title, by way of dis-
tinction, on the Bishop of Alexandria.
Hence the title Baba, or Papa, Pope or
great father, which the Bishop of Alexan
dria bore, before the Bishop of Rome.
'4 AB'BAC Y, n. [trom abba, Low Lat. abba-j
tia.] The dignity, rights and privileges of|
an abbot. It comprehends the govern-
ment and revenues.
ABBAT'I€AL. ) r, , . . , ,
ABBATIAL, J "' Belongmg to an abbey
AB'BE, n. Ab'by, [from abba.]
In a monastic sense, the same as an abbot ;
but more generally, a title, in Catholic
countries, without any determinate rank,
office or rights. The abbes are numerous,
and generally have sojie literary attain-
ments ; they dress as academics or schol
ars, and act as instructors, in colleges and
private families ; or as tutors to young
gentlemen on their travels ; and many of
them become authors.
AB'BESS, n. [from abba.]
A female superior or governess of a nun
nery, or convent of nuns, having the
authority over the nuns which the abbot
have over the Monks. [See Abbey.]
AB'h^\,n.plu. abbeys, [from abba.]
A monastery or society of persons of either
sex, secluded fi-om the world and devoted
to rehgion. The males are called monks.
and governed by an abbot; the females
are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.
These institutions were suppressed in
England by Henry VIII.; but they still
exist in Catholic countries.
ABBEY-LUBBER, n. A name given t
monks, in contem])t for their idleness.
AB'BOT, n. [formerly abhat, tViuii nhh<
latinized abbas, or from Hrh. jiliiral ni3N.]
The superior or governor of an alibi y or
monastery. Originally monasteries were
founded m retired places, and the religious
had no concern with secular affairs, being
entirely subject to the prelates. But the
abbots possessing most of the learning, in
ages of ignorance, were called from their
seclusion to aid tlic rliurches in opposing
hcn-si,-s ; n„.n,-istrnrs vv,-n- W .led in
thi- vir,nit\ ..f ,-,,„-- liH- :,Mh,i. brcanie
weiiltliMii.l he. II.. I-; s.,ii„. ., I'll, , -III .-i>sumed
the miter, threw off" their depentlence on
the bishops, and obtained seats ui parha-
ment. For many centuries, princes and
noblemen bore the title of abbots. At
present, m catholic coimtries, abbots are
regular, or such as take the vow, and wear
A B D
the habit of the ordi^r ; an<\ coynmendatury,
such as are seculars, but obliged, when of
suitable age, to take orders. The title is
borne also by some persons, who have not
the govermnent of a monastery ; as bisli-
ops, whose sees were formerly abbeys.
Encyc.
AB'BOTSHIP, n. Tlie state of an abbot.
ABBREUVOIR, n. [Fr. abreuvoir, from
abreuver, to water ; Sp. abrevar, id. ; from
Gr. Bf>fx>^.]
Among masons, the joint between stones in
a wall, to be filled wth mortar. Diet.
[ I know not whether it is now used.]
ABBREVIATE, v. t. [It. abbreviare ;
Sp. abreviar ; Port, abbreviar ; fi'om L.
ahbrevio, brevio, from hrevis, short ; con-
tracted from Gr. Bpo;^j, from the root of
break, which see.]
1. To shorten ; to make shorter by contract-
ing the parts. [In this sense, not much
used, nor often applied to material sub-
sta7ices.]
2. To shorten ; to abridge by the omission
or defalcation of a part ; to reduce to
a smaller compass ; as to abbreviate a
writing.
3. In mathematics, to reduce fractions to the
lowest teniis. Wallis.
ABBREVIATED, pp. Shortened ; reduced
in length ; abridged.
2. In botany, an abbreviated perianth is
shorter than the tube of the corol.
Martyn.
ABBREVIATING, ppr. Shortening ; con-
tracting in lengtli or into a smaller com-
ABBREVIATION, n. The act of shorten-
ing or contracting.
2. A letter or a few letters used for a word :
as Gen. for Genesis ; U. S. A. for United
States of America.
3. The reduction of fractions to the lowest
terms.
ABBRE'VIATOR, n. One who abridges or
reduces to a smaller compass.
ABBRE'VIATORS, a college of seventy-
two persons in the chancery of Rome,
whose duty is to draw up the Pope'.s
briefs, and reduce petitions, when granted,
to a due fiirm for bulls.
ABBRE'VIATORY, a. Shortening, con-
tracting.
ABBRE VIATURE, n. A letter or charac-
ter for shortening ; an abridgment, a
\. H.
The tlrree first letters of the alpha-
bi-i, used lor the whole alphabet. Also a
litll.- book for teaching the elements of
reading. Shak.
AB'DALS, n. The name of certain fanatics
in Persia, who, in excess of zeal, some-
times run into the streets, and attempt to
kill all they meet who are of a different
religion ; and if they are slant for their
madness, they think it meritorious to die,
and by the vulgar are deemed martyrs.
Enajc.
AB'DERITE, n. An inhabitant of Abdera,
a maritime town in Thrace. Democritus
is so called, from being a native of the
place. As he was given to laughter, fool-
ish or incessant laughter, is called abde-
rian. Whitaker.
AB DI€ANT, a. [See Abdicate.] Abdicating :
renouncing.
A B D
ABE
ABE
ABDICATE, V. t. [L. abdico ; ah and dico,
to cieilioate, to bestow, but the literal jiri-
iiiary sense (li dico is to send or thrust.]
1. In a g-ejiemi seijse, to relinquish, renounce,
or abandon. Forster.
'J. To abandon an office or trust, without
a formal resignation to those who confer-
red it, or without their consent ; also to
abandon a throne, without a formal sur-
render of the crown.
Case of King James, Blackstone.
3. To relinquish an office before the expira-
tion of the time of service.
Case of Diocletian, Gibbon; also Case of
Paul III. Coxe's Russ.
4. To reject ; to renoiuice ; to abandon as a
right. Burke.
5. To cast away ; to renounce ; as to abdi-
cate our mental faculties. [Unusual.l
J. P. Smith.
G. In the civil law, to disclai]
expel him from the family, as a father ;
to disinJierit during the Ufe of tlie father.
Encyc
AB'DI€ATE, v. i. To renoimce ; to aban-
don ; to cast off; to relinquish, as a right,
power, or trust.
Though a ICing may abdicate for his own per
son, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
Burke
AB'DI€ATED, pp. Renounced ; rehnquish-
ed without a formal resignation; aban-
doned.
ABDICATING, ppr. Relinquishing with-
out a formal resignation ; abandoning.
ABDICA'TION, n. The act of abdicating
the abandoning of an office or trust, with
out a formal surrender, or before the usual
or stated time of expiration-
9. A casting off; rejection.
ABDICATIVE, o. Causing or implying
abdication. [LAftte used.] Diet.
AB'DITIVE, a. [L. abdo, to hide ; ab and
do.] Having the power or quality ol'
hiding. [Little used.] Diet
AB'DITORY, 71. A place for secreting or
preserving goods. Cowel.
ABDOMEN, or ABDOMEN, n. [L. per
haps abdo and omentum.]
I. Tiie lower belly, or that part of the body
which lies between the thorax and the
bottom of the pelvis. It is lined with
membrane called peritoneum, and co
tains the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas,
kidneys, bladder and guts. It is separated
from the breast internally by the dia
phragm, and externally, by the extremi
ties of the ribs. On its outer surface it ii
divided into four regions — the epigastric,
the umbilical, the hypogastric and limibar.
Quincy
'?. In insects, tlie lower part of the animal
united to the corslet by a thread. In
species, it is covered with wings, and 'H
case. It is divided into segments and
rings, on the sides of which are small
t^piracles bv which the insect respires
D. JVat. Hist.
ABDOMINAL, a. Pertaining to the lower
hellv.
ABDOM'INAL, n. phi. abdominals. liil
ichthyology the abdominals are a class of
fish whose ventral fins are placed behind
the pectoral, and which laelong to the
division of 6oni/_/5sA. The class contains
nine genera — the loche, sahnon, pike,
argentine, atherine, mullet, flying fish,
herring and carp. JEnci/c.
ABDOMINAL RING, or INGUINAL
RING, an oblong tendinous ring in both
groins, through which pass the spermatic ABERR A'TION, n. [L. abeiratio.] The
cord in men, and the round ligaments of
the uterus in women. Med. Diet.
ABiJOM'INOUS, a. Pertaining to the abdo-
men ; having a large belly. Cowper.
ABDU'CE, V. t. [L. abduco, to lead away,
of a6 and duco, to lead. See Duke.]
To draw from ; to withdraw, or draw to a
fferent part ; used chiefly in anatomy.
ABDU'CENT, a. Drawing from, pulUng
back ; used of those muscles which pidl
back certam parts of the body, for sepa-
rating, opening, or bending them. The
abducent muscles, called abductors, are
opposed to the adducent muscles or adduc-
tors. Med. Diet.
son andf|ABDU€'TION, n. In a general sense, the
act of drawing apart, or carrying aw;
2. In surgery, a species of fracture, in which
the broken parts recede from each other,
3. In logic, a kind of argimientation, called
by the Greeks apagoge, in which t"
major is evident, but the minor is not
clear, as not to require farther proof. As
in this syllogism, "all whom God absolves
are free from sin ; God absolves all who
are in Christ; therefore all who are in
Christ are free from sin." Encyc.
4. In lata, the takuig and carrying away of a
child, a ward, a wife, &c. either by fraud,
persuasion, or open violence.
Blackstone
ABDUCTOR, n. In anatomy, a muscle
which serves to withdraw, or pull back a
certain ])art of the body ; as the abductor
oculi, which pulls the eye outward
ABEA'R, V. t. ahare, [Sax. abccran.] To
bear ; to behave. Obs. Spenser.
ABE A'R ANCE, n. [from abear, now disused ;
from tear, to carry.] Behavior, demeanor.
[Little used.] Blacksto
ABECEDA'RIAN, n. [a word formed from
the first four letters of the alphabet.] O
who teaches the letters of the alphabet,
a learner of the letters.
ABECE'DARY, a. Pertaining to, or formed
by the letters of the alphabet.
ABED', adv. [See Bed.] On or in bed,
ABE'LE, or ABEL-TREE, n. An obsolete
name of the white poplar. [See Poplar.]
ABE'LIANS, ABELO NIANS or ABEL
ITES, m Church history, a sect in Africs
which arose in the reign of Arcadius
they married, but lived in continence,
after the manner, as they pretended, of
Abel, and attempted to maintain the sect
by adopting the cliildren of others.
Encyc
A'BELMOSK, n. A trivial name of a spe
cies of hibiscus, or Syrian mallow. The
plant rises on a herbaceous stalk, three or
foiu- feet, sending out two or three side
branches. The seeds have a musky odor,
(whence its name, iiouxoi,) for which rea-
son the Arabians mix them with coffee.
ABER'RANCE, > n. [L. aberrans, aberro,
ABER'RANCY, \ to wander from ; of ab
and erro, to wander.]
A wandering or deviating from the right
way, but rarely used in a literal sense. In
a figurative sense, a deviation from truth,
error, mistake ; and in morals, a fault, a
deviation from rectitude. Brown.
ABER'RANT, a. Wandermg, stray mg from
the right way. [Rarely tised.]
of wandering from the right way ; devia-
tion from truth or moral rectitude ; devia-
tion from a strait line.
2. In astronomy, a small apparent motion of
the fixed stars, occasioned by the progres-
sive motion of light and the earth's annua)
motion in its orbit. By this, they some-
times appear twenty seconds distant frozn
their true situation. Lunier.
3. In optics, a deviation in the rays of light,
when inflected by a lens or speculum,
by which they are prevented from uniting
in the same point. It is occasioned by the
figure of the glass, or by the imequa) re-
frangibility of the rays of light. Encyc.
Crown of abeiration, a luminous circle sur-
rounding the disk of the sun, depending on
the aberration of its rays, by which its
ajiparent diameter is enlarged. Cyc.
ABER'RING, part. a. Wandering; going
astray. Broken.
ABERRUN'CATE, v. t. [L. averrunco.] To
pull up by the roots ; to extkpate utterly.
[ATot used.] Did.
ABET', V. t. [Sax. betan, gebetan ; properly
to push forward, to advance ; hence to
amend, to revive, to restore, to make bet-
ter ; and applied to fire, to increase the
flame, to excite, to promote. Hence to
aid by encouraging or instigating. Hence
in Saxon, " Na bete nan man that fyr."
Let no n)an bet, [better, excite] the fire,
LL. Ina. 78.]
1. To encourage by aid or countenance, but
now used chiefly in a bad sense. " To
abet an opinion," in the sense of support,
is used by Bishop Cumberland ; but this
use is hardly allowable.
In law, to encourage, counsel, incite or
assist in a criminal act.
ABET', n. The act of aiding or encouraging
crime. [JVbt used.]
ABETMENT, n. The act of abetting.
ABETTED, pp. Incited, aided, encour-
aged to a crime.
jVBETTING, ppr. CounseUiug, aiding or
encouraging to a crime.
ABET'TOR, n. One who abets, or incites,
aids or encourages another to commit a
crime. In treason, there are no abettors;
all persons concerned being principals.
ABEVA€UA'TION, n. [ab and e-acuation.]
In medicine, a partial evacuation of mor-
bid humors of the body, either by nature
or art. Cyc.
[ABKY'ANCE, n. pron. abuyance. [Norm.
abbaiaunce, or abaizance, in expectation ;
boyance, expectation. Qu. Fr. bayer, to
gape, to look a long time with the mouth
open ; to stand looking in a silly manner ;
It. badare, to amuse one's self, to stand
trifling ; " tenere a bada," to keep at bay ;
" Star a bada," to stand trifling. If B d
are the radical letters, it seems to belong
to the root of abide. See Bay.]
In pxi)ectation or contemplatiou of law.
The fee simple or inheritance of lands and
tenements is in abeyance, when there is
no person in being in whom it can vest ;
so that it is in a state of expectancy or
waiting until a proper person shall appear.
A B 1
A B J
A B L
Tlius if land is leased to a man for life,
retiiaiiuler to another for years, the re-
mainder for years is in abeyance, till the
death of the lessee, for life. Blackstone.
ABHOR', v.t. [L.abhorreojofabandhorreo,
to set uj) bristles, shiver or shake ; to look
terrible.]
1. To hate extremely, or with contempt ; to
lothe, detest or abominate. iShak.
2. To despise or neglect. Ps. xxii. 24. Amos
vi. 8.
3. To cast off or reject. Ps. kxxix. ii8.
ABHORRED, pp. Hated extremely, de
tested.
ABHOR'RENCE, } n. Extreme hatred, de
ABHOR'RENCY, ^ testation, great aver
ABHOR'RENT, a. Hating, detesting, struck
with abhorrence.
2. Contrary, odious, inconsistent with, ex
pressive of extreme opposition, as, "Slan
der is ahhortxnt to all ideas of justice." In
this sense, it should be always followed
by to — abhorrent from is not agreeable tc
the Eixjrlish idiom.
ABHOR'RENTLY, adv. With abhorrence,
ABHOR'RER, n. One who abhors.
ABHOR'RING,;)pr. Having great aversion
detesting. As a noun, it is used in Isaiah
l.wi. for the object of hatred — "An ahhor
ring to all flesh."
A'BIB, n. [Heb. 3X, swelUng, protuberant
Ch. 33X, to produce the fu-st or early fruit
3'3N, a full grown ear of corn.]
The first month of the Jewish ccclesiastica
year, called also Nisan. It begins at the
spring equinox, and answers to the latter
part of March and beginning of April
Its name is derived fi-om the foil growtl
of wheat in Egypt, which took place an-
ciently, as it does now, at that
ABI'DE, V. i. pret. and part, abode. [Ai-. ^x j \
abada, to be, or exist, to continue ; W.
hod, to be ; Sax. bidan, abidan; Sw. bida
D. beiden ; Dan. bier ; Russ. vitayu, to
dwell, rest, continue, stand &-m, or be
stationary for any tune indefinitely. CI
Bd. No 7.]
1. To rest, or dwell. Gen. xxix. 19.
2. To tarry or stay for a short time. Gen;
x.\iv. 55.
3. To continue permanently or in the same
state ; to be firm and inunovable. Ps
CXLX. 90.
4. To remain, to continue. Acts, xxrii. 31
Eccles. viii. 15.
ABI'DE, li. t. To wait for ; to be prepared
for ; to await.
Bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts, xx. 23
[For is here understood.]
2. To endure or sustain.
To abide the indignation of the Lord. Joel x.
3. To bear or endure; to bear patiently
" I cannot abide his impertinence."
This verb when intransitive, is followed by
in or at before the j)lace, and with before
the person. " Abide icith me — at Jerusa-
lem or in this land." Sometimes by
the sword shall abide on his cities; antj
in the sense of wait, by for, abide/or jne.
Hosea, iii. 3. Sometuues by by, abide by
the crib. Job, .xxxix.
In general, abide by signifies to adhere to.
maintain, defend, or stand to, as to abide
by a promise, or by a fiiend ; or to sufter
the consequences, as to abide by the event,
that is, to be fixed or permanent in a par-
ticular condition.
ABI'DER, n. One who dwells or continues.
ABIDING, ppr. Dwelling; remaining;
Mlinuing; enduring; awaiting.
ABl DING, n. Continuance ; fixed state ;
residence ; an enduring.
.-VBI'DINGLY, adv. In a manner to con-
tinue ; permanently. Haweis.
ABIL'ITY, 71. [Vr.habilM; It. abilita; Sp.
habilidad ; L. habUitas, ableness, fitness,
from habeo, to have or hold.]
1. Physical power, whether bodily or men-
tal ; natural or acquired ; force of under-
standing ; skill in arts or science. Ability
is active power, or power to perform ; as
opposed to cfipacitjf, or power to receive.
In the jiluiul, abilities is much used in a
like sense ; and also for faculties of the
mind, and acquired qualifications.
Franklin.
2. Riches, wealth, substance, which are the
means, or which furnish the poiver, of
doing certain acts.
Tliey gave after their ability to the work.
Ez. ii.
3. Moral power, depending on the will — a
metaphysical and theological sense.
4. Civil or legal power ; the power or right
to do certain things, as an ability to trans-
fer property or disj)Ose of effects — ability
to inherit. It is opposed to disability.
Cyc.
ABINTEST'ATE, a. [L'. ah and intesla-
ttis — dying without a will, from in and
tc.<ilor, to bear witness ; W. tyst ; Arm,
test, witness. See Test and Testify.]
In tlie civil law, inheriting the estate of one
dying without a will.
ABJECT', V. t. To throw away ; to cast
out. Ohs. Spenser
ABJECT, a. [L. abjectm, &om abjicio, tc
throw away, from ab and jacio, to throw.]
1. Sunk to a low condition ; applied to per-
sons or things. Hence,
2. Worthless, mean, despicable, low in esti-
mation, without hope or regard.
AB'JEiT, )!. A person in the lowest con-
dition and despicable. Ps. xxxv.
ABJECT EDNESS, ft. A very low or des
)iicable condition. [Little used.]
ABJECTION, )i. A state of being cast
away ; hence a low state ; meanness of]
spirit ; baseness.
ABJECTLY, adv. In a contemptible man
ncr ; nieanlv : servilelv.
AB JECTNE'SS, n. The state of being
abject ; meanness ; servilit3^
ABJURATION, n. [See Abjure.]
I. The act of abjuring ;, a renunciation upon
oath ; as "an abjuration of the realm," by
which a person swears to leave the coiui
try, and never to return. It is used also
for the oath of renunciation. Formerly
in England, felons, takhig refiige in a
church, and confessing their guilt, could
not be arrested and tried, but might save
their lives by abjuring the realm ; that '
by taking an oath to qiut the kingdom for-
2. A rejection or denial with solemnit;
total abandonment; as "an abjuration of
heresv."
ABJU'RATORY, a. Containing abjura
tion. Encyc.
ABJII'RE, V. t. [L. abjuro, to deny upon
oath, from ab and juro, to swear.]
1. To renounce upon oath ; to abandon ; as
to abjure allegiance to a prince.
2. To renounce or reject with solemnity ;
to reject ; as to abjure errors ; abjure
.3. To recant or retract. Shak.
4. To banish. [J\rot used.]
ABJURED, pp. Renounced upon oath;
solemnlv recanted.
ABJU'RER, ft. One who abjures.
ABJURING, ppr. Renouncing upon oath ;
disclaiming with solenmit)^
ABLAC'TATE, t-. t. [L. ablacto ; from ab
and lac, milk.] To wean from tlie breast.
[LitUe used.]
ABLACTA'TION, n. [L. ab and lac, miUc.
Lacto, to suckle.]
1. In medical authors, the weaning of a
child from the breast.
2. Among ancient gardeners, a Siethod of
grafting in which the cion was not sepa-
ratee! (Vcjiii till' parent stock, till it wa.s
firmly uiiitid to that in which it was in-
serted. Tills is now called grafting by
approach or inarching. [See Craft.] Encyc.
ABLAQUEATION, [L. allaqucatio, fi-om
ab and laquear, a roof or covering.]
A laying bare the roots of trees to expose
them to the air and water — a practice
niiiong eardeners.
ABLATION, n. [L.o6 anAlatio, a carrj--
ing-]
A carrying away. In medicine, the taking
from the body whatever is hurtful ; evac-
uations in general. In rhimistry, the re-
moval of whatever is finished or no longer
necessarv.
AB'LATIVE, a. [F. ahlaiif; It. ablativo ;
L. ahhilirtis ; L. ablatus, from aufero, to
cany away, c^fah and /fro.]
\ word applied to the sixth case of nouns in
the Latin language, in which case are u.scd
words when the actions of carrying away,
or taking from, are signified.
Ablative absolute, is when a word in that
case, is independent, in construction, of
the rest of the sentence.
ABLE, a. a'bl. [L. habilis ; Norm, ablez.] V
1. Having physical power sirfficient ; having
competent power or strength, bodily or
mental ; as a man able to perform miUtary
service — a child is not able to reason oii
abstract subjects.
2. Having strong or imusual nowers of
mind, or intellectual qualificanons ; as an
able minister.
Provide out of all Israel able men. Ex. xviii.
3. Having large or competent property ; or
simply having property, or means.
Everj' man shall give as he is able. Dcut. xvi.
4. Having competent strength or fortitude.
He is not able to sustain such pain or affliction.
5. Having sufficient knowledge or sldll.
He is able to speak French.
She is not able to play on the piano.
G. Having competent moral power or quali-
fications.
An illesilimate son is not able to take by inher-
A'BLE-B6DIED,n. Havmg a sound, strong
body, or a body of competent strength for
service. In marine language, it deuctcs
sldll in seamanship. Mar. Diet.
ABO
-AB'LEN, or AB'LET, n. A Miiail fresh
water fish, the bleak.
A'BLENESS, n. Abihty of body or mmd ;
force ; vigor ; capabihty.
AB'LEPSY, n. [Gr. oisjif+ia.] Want of
sight ; blindness.
ABLER, and A'BLEST, Comp. and superl
of able.
AB'LOCATE, V. t. [L. abloco, ah and loco
to let out.] To let out ; to lease. Calvin
ABLOCA'TION, n. A letting to hire.
ABLU'DE, v.t.[L. abludo, ah and ludo, to play.'
To be unhlte ; to differ. [N'ol used.] Hall
AB'LUENT, a. [\.. ahluo, to wash away;
ab and luo, or lavo, to wash ; Ir. lo or liui.
water.]
Washing clean ; cleansing by water or li-
quids. [Little used except as a noun.]
AB'LUENT, n. In medicine, that which
thins, purifies or sweetens tlie blood.
(^uincy.
[See Diluent and Abstergent.]
ABLUTION, n. [L. abhitio, from ab and luo
or lavo to wash.]
1. In a general sense, the act of washing
a cleansing or purification by water.
2. Appropriately, the washing of the body as
a preparation for religious duties, enjoin:
ed by Moses and still practiced in many
countries.
3. In chimistry, the purification of bodies by
the affusion of a proper liquor, as water to
dissolve salts. Qiiincy.
4. Ill medicine, the washing of the body ex-
ternally, as by baths ; or internally, by
diluting fluids.
5. Pope has used ablution for the water used
in cleansing.
6. The cup given to the laity without conse
cration, in popish churches. Johnson
A'BLY, adv. In an able manner ; with great
abilitv.
AB'NEGATE, v. I. To deny. [JVb« used:
ABNEGATION, n. [L. abnego, to deny,
from ab and neso ; W. 7mca, nacau ; Sw.
7}eka, to deny ; W. nac, no ; Eng. nay; L.
nee, not ; Ir. nach, not.] A denial ; a re-
nunciation ; self-denial. Hammond.
AB'NEGATOR, n. One who denies, re-
nounces, or opposes any tiling. Sandys.
ABNODA'TION, n. [L. abnodo ; ab and
nodus, a knot.] The act of cutting away
the knots of trees. Diet.
ABNORM'ITY, n. [L. ainormu, in-egular ;
ah and norma, a rule.] Irregularity ; de-
formity. [Little used.] Diet.
ABNORIVrOUS, a. [L. abnormis, supra.]
Irregular ; deformed. [Little used.] Diet.
ABOARD, adv. [a and board. See Board.]
Within a ship, vessel, or boat.
Togo aboard, to enter a ship, to embark.
To fall aboard, to strike a ship's side.
Aboard main tack, an order to draw a corner
of the main-sail down to the chess-tree.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
ABO'DANCE, n. [from bode.] An omen.
[j\"ot used.] Johnson.
ABO'DE, pret. of abide.
ABO'DE, n. [See Abide.] Stay; continuance
in a place ; residence for a longer or shor-
ter time.
2. A place of continuance ; a dwelling ; a
habitiition.
3. To make abode, tn dwell or reside.
ABO'DE, v.t. [See Bode.] To foreshow.
Shak.
ABO
ABO'DE, V. i. To be an omen. Dryden
ABO'DEMENT, n. [from bode.] A secret
anticipation of something future. Shak
ABO'DING, ji. Presentiment ; prognostica
tion. Hall.
ABOL'ISH, v.t. [Fr. abolir; L. aholeo ; {rom
ah and oleo, olesco, to grow.]
1. To make void; to annul; to abrogate
applied chiefly and appropriately to estab-
fished laws, contracts, rites, customs and
institutions — as to abolish laws by a repeal,
actual or virtual.
9. To destroy, or put an end to ; as to abol-
ish idols. Isa. ii. To abolish death, 2
Tim. i. This sense is not common. To
abolish posterity, in the translation of Pau
sanias. Lib. 3. Ca. 6. is hardly allowable.
ABOL'ISHABLE, a. That may be annul
led, abrogated, or destroyed, as a law, rite,
custom, &c.
ABOL'ISHED,;;;?. AnnuUed ; repealed ; ab
rogated, or destroyed.
ABOL'ISHER, n. One who aboUshes.
ABOL'ISIIING, ppr. JIaking void ; annul
ling ; destroving.
ABOLISHMENT, n. The act of aimul
ing ; abrogation ; destruction. Hooker
ABOLI"TION, n. abolishun. The act of
abolishing ; or the state of beuig abolish
ed ; an annulfing ; abrogation ; utter des
truction ; as the abolition of laws, decrees
ordinances, rites, customs, debts, &lc.
The appUcation of this word to persons and
things, is now uimsual or obsolete. To
abolish persons, canals and senses, the Ian
guage of good writers formerly, is no Ion
ger legitimate.
ABOM'INABLE, a. [See Abomiiiate.] Very
hateful ; detestable ; lothesome.
This word is appficable to whatever
odious to the mind or offensive to the
senses. Milton.
3. Unclean. Lcvit. vii-
IaBOMTNABLENESS, n. The quality or
tate of being very odious; hatefuhiess.
ABOM'INABLY, adv. Very odiously ; de
testably ; sinfiilly. 1 Kings xxi.
2. In vulgar language, extremely, exces
sivelv.
ABOMTNATE, v. t. [L. abomino, supposed
to be formed by ab and omen ; to depre
cate as ominous ; may the Gods avert the
evil.]
To hate extremely ; to abhor ; to detest.
Southern
ABOM'INATED, pp. Hated utterly; de
tested ; abhon-ed.
ABOMINATING, ppr. Abhorring ; hating
extremely.
ABOMINA'TION, n. Extreme hatred ; de
testation. Sieijl^
2. Theobject of detestation, a common signi-
fication in scripture.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to
the Lord. Prov. xv.
3. Hence, defilement, pofiution, in a physica'
sense, or evil doctrines and practices,
which are moral defilements, idols and
idolatry, are called abominations. The
Jews were an abomination to the Egyp-
tians; and the sacred animals of the
Egj'jJtians were an abomination to the
Jews. The Roman army is called the
abomination of desolation. Mat. xxiv. 13.
In short, whatever is an object of extreme
hatred, is called an abomination.
ABO
ABO'RD, n. [Fr. See Border.] Literally, ar-
rival, but used for first a|)pearance, man-
ner of accosting, or address, but not an
Enghsh word. Chesterfield.
ABO'RD, v.t. To accost. [JVotinuse.]
ABO'REA, n. A species of duck, called by
Edwards, the black-bellied whistling duck.
This fowl is of a reddish brown color, with
a sort of crest on its head ; the belly is spot-
ted with black and white. It belongs to
the genus, anas.
ABORIG'INAL, a. [L. ab and origo, origm.
See Origin.]
First ; original ; primitive ; aboriginal people
are the first inhabitants of a country.
Aboriginal tribes of America.
President Smith
ABORIG'INAL, n. An original, or primitive
inhabitant. The first settlers in a country
are called aboriginals ; as the Celts in Eu-
rope, and Indians in America.
President Smith.
ABORIGINES, n. plur. Aborigmals— but
word.
not an Enghsh i
It may be well to let it pass into disuse. [See
Aboriginal.]
ABORSEMENT, n.abors'ment. [See Abort.]
Abortion. [jVot in use.]
ABORT', V. I. [L. aborto ; ab and ortus, orior.]
To miscarry in birth. [JVb< in use.]
Herbert.
ABORT', n. An abortion. [JSTotinuse.]
Burton.
ABORTION, n. [L. aioj-ito, a miscarriage ;
usually deduced from o6 and orior.]
1. The "act of miscarrying, or jwoducing
young before the natural time, or before
the fetus is perfectly formed.
2. In a figurative sense, any fruit or produce
that does not come to maturity, or any
thing which fails in its progress, before it
is matured or perfect, as a design or pro-
ject.
3. The fetus brought forth before it is per-
fectly formed.
ABOR'TIVE, a. Brought forth m an imma-
ture state ; failmg, or coming to naught,
before it is comj)lete.
2. Failing in its effect ; miscarrying ; pro-
ducing nothing ; as an abortive scheme.
3. Rendering abortive; as abortive gulf, in
Milton, but not legitimate.
4. Pertaining to abortion ; as abortive vellum,
made of the skin of an abortive calf
Encyc.
5. In botany, an abortive flower is one which
falls without producing fruit. Martyn.
ABOR'TIVE, n. That which is brought
forth or born prematurely. [Little used.]
ABOR'TIVELY, adv. Immaturely ; in an
untimely manner.
ABOR'TIVENESS, n. The state of being
abortive ; a failuig in the progress to per-
fection or maturity ; a failure of producing
the intended effect.
llbVBORT'MENT, n. An untimely birth.
ABOUND', v.i. [L.abundo;Fr.abonder; It.
abbondare ; Sp. abundar. If this word is
from L. unda. a wave, the latter has prob-
ably lust its first consonant. Abound may
n;it"inally be deduced from the Celtic.
Anil. /;«(», I'leiity ; fonna,lo abound; W.
fyniaw. tn prudiiie, to generate, to abound,
from fu'n, a source, the root of fynon.
L. fons, a fountain.]
A B G
1. To have or possess in great quantity; to
be copiously supplied; followed by with
or in ; as to abound tvith provisions ; to
abound in good things.
2. To be in great plenty ; to be very prevalent.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound. Rom. v.
ABOUNDING, ppr. Having in great plen-
ty ; being in great plenty ; l)eing very pre-
valent ; generally prevaiUng.
ABOUND'ING, ji. Increase. South.
ABOUT', prep. [Sax. abutan, onbutan, em-
butan, about, around ; on or emb, coincid-
ing with Or. a^$i, and butan, without, [see
but,] Uterally, around, on the outside.]
1. Around ; on the exterior part or surface.
Bind them about thy neck. Prov. iii. 3.
Isa. 1. Hence, .
2. Near to iti place, with the sense of circiUa-
rity.
Get you up from about the tabernacle. Num.
xvi.
3. Near to in lime. .
He went out a6«u( the third hour. Mat.xxi.iJ.
4. Near to, in action, or near to the perform-
ance of some act.
Paul was about to open his mouth.
They were about to flee out of the ship. Acts,
xviii. 14— xxvii. 30. , , , , ,
5. Near to the person ; appended to the clothes
Every thing about him is in order. Is
your snuffbox about you ?
From nearness on all sides, the transition
is easy to a concern with. Hence,
C. Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, re-
A B O
The weight is above a tun.
4. More in degree; in a greater degree.
Hannaniah feared God above many. Neh,
vii. 2.
The serpent is cursed above all catUe. Gen. m
5. Beyond ; in excess.
I In stripes above measure. 2 Cor. xi.
God will not suffer you to be tempted above
I what ye are able, 1. Cor. x. 13.
6. Beyond ; in a state to be unattainable ; as
things above comprehension.
7. Too proud for.
This man is above his business.
8. Too elevated in mind or raiilc ; having too
much dignity for ; as
This man is above mean actions
spectmg.
I must be about my father's busmess. Luke,
ii. 49. The painter is not to take so much pains
about the drapery as about tlie face. I>ryd(
flTiat is he about ?
7. In compass or circumference ; two yards
about the trunk.
ABOUT', ofrfi'. Near to in number or quantity
There fill tliat day about three thousand men,
Ex. xxxii.
2. Near to in quality or degree ; as about as
high, or as cold.
3. Here and there ; around ; in one place and
another.
Wandering about from house to house. 1.
Tim. v.
4. Round, or the longest way, opposed to
across, or the shortest way. A mile about,
and half a mile across.
To bring about, to bring to the end; to ef-
fect or accomplish a purpose.
To come about, to change or turn ; to come
to the desired point. In a like sense, sea-
men say go about, when a ship changes
her course and goes on the other tack
Ready about, about ship, are orders for tack-
ing.
To go aboiit, signifies to enter upon ; also
to prepare ; to seek the means.
fvhy go ye about to kill nie. John, vii.
-^ ABOVE', prep. [Sax. abufan, bufan, bufon ,
D. ftoi'cn.]
1. Literally, liigher in place.
The fowls that fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20
2. Figuratively, superior in any respect.
I saw a light above the brightness of the Sun
Acts, xxvi.
The price of a virtuous woman is above ru
bies, Prov. xxxi.
3. More in number or qnantity.
He was seen by above five hundred brethren
at once, 1. Cor. xv. 6.
3. It is often used elliptically, for IieavcU;
the celestial regions.
Let not God regard it from above. Job, iii
The powers above.
10 In a book or writing, it denotes if/on
in a former place, as what has been said
above ; supra. This mode of speakiii
originated in the ancient maimer of writ-
ing, on a strip of parchment, beginning
one end and proceeding to the other. The,
beginning was the upper end.
ABOVE', adv. Overhead ; in a higher place.
Bacon.
2. Before. Dnjden.
."?. Chief in rank or power. Deut. xxviii.
I'e all is elliptical; above all considera-
ons ; chiefly ; in preference to other things.
Above board ; above the board or table ; in
open sight ; without trick, concealment
or deception. This expression is said by
Johnson to be borrowecl from gamesters,
who, when they change their cards, put
their hands imder the table.
ABOVE-CITED, Cited before, in the pre
ceding part of a book or wi-ituig.
ABOVE-GROUND, Alive, not buried.
ABOVE-MENTIONED, Mentioned before.
A. Bp. Al)brev. for Archbishop.
ABRACADAB'RA, The name of a deity
worsliipped by the Syrians : a cabaUstic
word. The letters of his name, written on
paper, in the form of an inverted cone,
were recommended by Samonicus as an
antidote against certain diseases. Encyc.
ABRA'DE, V. t. [L. abrado, to scrape, from
rado.]
To rub or wear off; to waste by friction
used especially to express the action of
sharp, corrosive medicines, in wearing
away or removing the mucus of the mem-
branes.
ABRA'DED, pp. Rubbed or worn off; worn ;
scraped.
ABRA'DING, ppr. Rubbing off; wearing.
ABRAHAM'IC, a. Pertaining to Abraham,
the patriarch, as Abrahamic Covenant
Mason.
ABRA'SION, n. abra'zhun. The act ol
wearing or rubbing off; also substance
worn off by attrition. Quinn/.
ABREAST', adv. abresV, [from a and breast.]
1. Side by side ; with the breasts in a line
Two men rode abreast.
2. In marine language, ships are abreast
when their heads are equally advanced
and tliev are abreast of objects when the
objects "are on a line with the beam-
Hence,
3. Opposite ; against ; on a line with— as a
I ship was abreast of Montauk point. — .3|
I seaman's phrase.
ABO
.\BRID6E', V. t. abridj', [Fr. ahriger, from
Gr. 9<^xv(, short, or its root, from the root
oi break or a verb of that family.]
To make shorter ; to epitomize ; to con-
tract by using fewer words, yet retaining
the sense in substance— used of writings.
Justin abridged the history of Trogus Pom-
peius.
2. To lessen; to diminish; as to abridge
labor ; to abridge power or riglits. Smith.
3. To deprive ; to cut off from ; followed by
of; as to abridge one of his rights, or enjoy-
ments. To abridge from, is now obsolete
or improper.
4. In algebra, to reduce a compound quantity
or equation to its more simple expression.
The equation thus abridged is called a for-
mula.
ABRIDG'ED pp. IMade shorter ; epitomized;
reduced to a smaller compass ; lessened ;
deprived.
ABRID(i'ER, It. One who abridges ; one
who makes a compend.
ABRIDGING, ppr. Shortening; lessening;
depriving ; debarring.
ABRIDGMENT, n. An epitome ; a com-
pend, or sumraaiT of a book.
2. Diminution ; contraction ; reduction — as
an abridgment of expenses.
3. Deprivation ; a debarring or restraint— as
an ahridgment of pleasures.
ABROACH, adv. [See Broach.]
Broached ; letting out or yielding liquor, or
in a posture for letting out ; as a cask is
abroach. Figuratively used by Shakespeare
for setting loose, or in a state of being dif-
fused, "Set miscliief abroach;" but tliis
sense is unusual.
ABROAD, adv. abrawd'. [See Broad.]
In a general sense, at large ; widely ; not
confined to naiTow limits. Hence,
1. In the open air.
' Beyond or out of the walls of a house, as
o walk abroad.
3. Beyond the limits of a camp. Deut. xxiii.
10.
Beyond the bounds of a country ; in for-
eign countries — as to go abroad for an ed-
ucation.— We have broils at home and en-
emies abroad.
5. Extensively ; before the public at large.
He began to blaze abroad the matter. Mark
i. 45. Esther 1.
i Widely ; with expansion ; as a tree
spreads its branches abroad.
AB ROGATE, v. t. [L. abrogo, to repeal,
from ab and rog-o, to ask or propose. See
the EnffUsh reach. Class Rg.]
To repeat; to annul by an authoritative act ;
to abolish by the authority of the malter or
his successor ; applied 'to the repeal of
laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of
established customs &c.
AB'ROGATED;)?). Repealed ; annulled by
an act of authority.
AB'ROGATING,;>/)r. Repealing by author-
itv ; ni.iking void.
ABROGATION, n. The act of abrogating;
a repeal by authority of the legislative
power.
ABROOD' adv. [See Brood.] In the action
ofbroodins. [.Vo« in «.?e.] Sancrojt.
ABROOD'ING, n. A sitting abrood. [Aot
in use.] B.isset.
ABROOK', V. t. To brook, to endure. |.Vo/
in I'se. Sec Brook.] .^kak.
A B S
ABRO TANUM, n. [Gr. A§poforov.]
A species of ]ilant arranged under the Genus,
Artemisia ; called also southern wood.
ABRUPT', a. [L. abruplus, from abrumpo, to
break of, oi ah and rumpo. See Rupture.]
1. Literally, broken off, or broken sliort.
Hence,
2. Steep, craggy ; applied to rocks, precipi-
ces and the like.
3. Figurativdy, sudden ; without notice to
prejjare the mind for the event ; as an ab-
rupt entrance and address.
4. Unconnected ; having sudden transitions
from one subject to another ; as an abrupt
style. Ben Jonson
5. In botany, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one
which has neither leaflet, nor tendiil at
the end. MaHyn
ABRUPT' n. A chasm or gulf with steep
sides. " Over the vast abrupt." Milton.
[T)ds use of the word is infrequent.']
ABRUP'TION, n. A sudden breaking off;
a violent separation of bodies. IVoodward.
-VBRUPT'LY, adv. Suddenly; without giv-
ing notice, or without the usual forms ; as,
the Mmister left France abruptly.
ABRUPT'NESS, n. A state of being brok-
en ; craggediiess ; steepness.
2. Figuratively, suddenness ; unceremonious
haste or vehemence.
AB'SCESS, n. [L. abscessus, from ab and
cedo, to go from.]
An imposthume. A collection of morbid
matter, or pus in the cellular or adipose
membrane ; matter generated by the sup-
puration of an inflammatory tumor.
QuinoT/. Hooper.
ABSCIND', vt. [L. absci7ido.] To cut off.
[Little used.]
AB'SCISS, n. [L. abscissus, from ab and
scindere, to cut ; Gr. ff;ti?u. See Scissors.]
In conies, a part of the diameter, or transverse
axis of a conic section, intercepted be-
tween the vertex or some other fixed
point, and a semiordinate. Encyc.
ABSCIS"SION, n. [See Absciss.]
A cutting off, or a being cut oft". In surgery,
the separation of any corrupted or useless
part of the body, by a sharp instrimient ;
applied to the soft parts, as amputation is
to the bones and flesh of a limb. Quincy.
ABSCOND', t).t. [L.abscondo, to hide, of
abs and condo, to hide, i. e. to withdraw,
or to thrust aside or mto a corner or secret
place.]
1. To retire from public view, or from the
place in which one resides or is ordinarily
to be found ; to withdraw, or absent one's
self in a private manner ; to be concealed ;
appropriately, used of persons who secrete
themselves to avoid a legal process.
2. To hide, withdraw or be concealed ; as,
" the marmot absconds in winter. [lAttle
used.] Ray.
ABSCOND'ER, n. One who withdraws
from public notice, or conceals himself
from public view.
ABSeOND'ING, ppr. Whhdrawing pri-
vately from public view ; as, an absconding
(/eJtor, who confines himself to his apart-
ments, or absents himself to avoid the mi-
;iisters of justice. In the latter sense, it is
properly an adjective.
AB'SENCE, n. [L. absens, from ahsum,
abesse, to be away ; ab and sum.]
1. A state of being at a distance in place, or
ABS
not in company. It is used to denote any
distance indefinitely, either in the sann
town, or country, or in a foreign country
and primarily supposes a prior presence.
" Speak well of one in his absence."
2. Want ; destitution ; implying no previous
presence. " In the absence of conventiona'
law." Ch. Kent.
3. In law, non-appearance ; a not being ii
court to answer.
4. Heedlessness ; inattention to things pre
sent. Absence of mind is the attention of
the mind to a subject which does not occu
py the rest of the company, and wliicl
draws the mind from things or objects
which are present, to others distant or for-
eign.
AB'SENT, a. Not present ; not in compa-
ny ; at such a distance as to prevent com-
munication. It is used also for being in i
foreign country.
A gentleman is absent on his travels.
Absent from one another. Gen. xxxi. 49.
2. Heedless ; inattentive to persons pre-
sent, or to subjects of conversation m com
pany.
An absent man is uncivil to the company.
In familiar language, not at home ; as,
the master of the house is absent. In other
words, he does not wish to be disturbed
by company.
ABSENT', V. t. To depart to such a dis
tance as to prevent intercourse ; to retire
or withdraw ; to forbear to appear in pre-
sence ; used with the reciprocal pronoun.
Let a man absent himself from the company
ABSENTEE', n. One who withdraws iron
his coimtry, ofiiee or estate ; one who
removes to a distant place or to another
country.
ABSENt'ER, n. One who absents himself
/VBSENT'MENT, ,i. A state of being ab-
sent. Barroto.
ABSINTH'IAN, a. [from absinthium.] Of
the natuie of wormwood. Randolph
ABSINTH'IATED, a. Impregnated with
wormwood. Diet.
ABSINTH'IUM, n. [Gr. o+aS™. ; Per.
...AAAAMil afsinthin ; the same inChal-
daic. BudEBus in his commentaries on
Theophrast, supposes the word composed
of a priv. and ^itSos, dehght, so named
from its bitterness. But it may be an Ori-
ental word.]
The common wonnwood; a bitter plant, us-
ed as a tonic. A species of Artemisia.
VB'SIS, In astronomy. [See Apsis.]
AB'SOLUTE,a. [L.absolutus. See Absolve.]
1. Literally, in a general sense, free, indepen-
dent of any thing extraneous. Hence,
2. Complete in itself ; positive ; as an abso-
lute declaration.
3. Unconditional, as an absolute promise.
4. Existing independent of any other cause,
is God is absolute.
5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control,
as an absolute government or prince.
C. Not relative, a.s absolute space. StUlingfleet.
In grammar, the case absolute, is when a
word or member of a sentence is not im-
mediately dependent on the other parts of
the sentence in government.
Absolute equation, in astronomy, is the ag-
gregate of the oplic and eccentric equa-
ABS
tions. The apparent inequality of a
planet's motion in its orbit, arising from
its unequal distances from the earth at
different times, is called its optic equation :
the eccentric inequahty is caused by the
uniformity of the planet's motion, m an
elliptical orbit, which, for that reason,
appears not to be imiform.
Absolute numbers, in algebra, are such as
have no letters annexed, as 2a-|-3(j=48.
The two latter numbers are absolute or
pure. Encyc.
Absolute space, in physics, is space consid-
ered without relation to any other object.
Bailey.
Absolute gravity, in philosophy, is that prop-
erty in bodies by which they are said to
weigh so much, without regard to circum-
stances of modification, and this is always
as the quantity of matter they contain.
Bailey.
AB'SOLUTELY, adv. Completely, wholly,
as a thing is absolutely uninteUigible.
2. Without dependence or relation ; in a
state unconnected.
Absolutely we cannot discommend, we can-
not absolutely approve, either willingness to
live, or forwardness to die. Hooker.
3. Without restriction or Umitation ; as God
reigns absolutely.
4. Without condition, as God does not for-
give absolutely, but upon condition of faith
and repentance.
Positively, peremptorily, as command me
absolutely not to go. Milton.
AB'SOLUTENESS, n. Independence ; com-
pleteness in itself
2. Despotic authority, or that which is sub-
ject to no extraneous restriction, or con-
trol.
ABSOLU'TION, n. In the civil law, an
acquittal or sentence of a judge declaring
an accused person innocent. In the canon
law, a remission of sins pronounced by a
priest in favor of a penitent. Among
protestants, a sentence by which an ex-
communicated person is released from his
hability to punishment. Ayliffe. South.
AB'SOLUTORY, a. Absolving; that ab-
ABSOLV'ATORY, a. [from absolve.] Con-
taining absolution, pardon, or release ;
having power to absolve. Cotgrave.
ABSOLVE', V. t. abzolv', [L. absolvo, from ah
and solvo, to loose or release ; Ch. nblV, to
absolve, to finish ; Heb. ^\3, to loose or
loosen. See Solve.]
To set free or release from some obligation,
debt or responsibility ; or from that which
subjects a person to a burden or penalty ;
as to absolve a person from a promise ; to
absolve an offender, which amounts to an
acquittal and remission of his punishment.
Hence, in the civil law, the word was used
for acquit ; and in the canon law, for for-
give, or a sentence of remission. In ordi-
nai-y language, its sense is to set free or
release from an engagement. Formerly,
good writers used the word ui the sense of
finish, accomplish; as to absolve work, in
"Milton ; but in this sense, it seems to be
obsolete.
ABSOLVED, jjjj. Released; acquitted; re-
mitted : declared imiocent.
ABSOLV'ER, n. One who absolves; also
that pronounces sin to be remitted.
A B ?<
A B S
A B 8
ABSOLVING, ppr. Settin:; ficc from a
flebt. or fliarge ; arqiiitting; remitting.
AIVSONANT, a. [See Absonous.] Wide
from the purpose ; contrary to reason.
AB'SONOTJS, a. [L. absonus ; ah and sonus,
sound.] Unmusical, or untiiuable.
Fotherhy.
ABSORB', v- t. [L. absorbeo, ah and sorheo,
ft^n or lU^n, id. ; Rab. tjlty, to diaw or
drink in ; whence simp, sherbet, shnib.]
1. To drink in ; to suck up ; to imbibe ; as
a spunge, or as the lacteais of the body.
2. To drink in, swallow up, or overwhelm
with water, as a body in a whirlpool.
;j. To waste wholly or sink in expenses ; to
exhaust ; as, to absorb an estate in luxury.
4. To engross or engage wholly, as, absorbed
in study or the pursuit of wealtli.
ABSORBABIL'ITY, n. A state or quality
of being absorbable.
ABSORB'ABLE, a. That may be imbibed
or .swallowed. Kerr^s Lavoisier.
ABSORB' ED, or ABSORPT', pp. Im-
bibed ; swallowed ; wasted ; engaged ; lost
in study ; wholly engrossed.
ABSORB'ENT, a. Imbibing ; swallowimr.
ABSORB'ENT, n. In anatonv/, n vrs'sol
which imbibes, as the lacteal-. I\ in|ili:itir^,
and inhaling arteries. In mu/i, in,-, .i n —
taceous powder, or other substniice, « liiili
imbibes the humors of the body, as chalk
or magnesia. Encyc.
ABSORB'ING, ;)pc. Imbibing; engrossing;
wasting.
ABSORP'TION, n. The act or process ofl
imbibing or swallowing ; either by water
which overwhelms, or by substances,which
drink in and retain liquids ; as the absorp-
tion of a body in a whirlpool, or of water
by the earth, or of the humors of the body
by dry powders. It is used also to express
the swallowing up of substances by the
earth in chasms made by earthquakes, am'
the sinking of large tracts in violent com
motions of the earth.
% In chimistry, the conversion of a gaseous
fluid into a liquid or solid, by union with
another substance. Ure.
_\BSORP'TIVE, a. Having power to hn-
bibe. Darwin
ABSTA'IN, V. i. [L. abstineo, to keep from
abs and <e?ieo, to hold. See Tenant.]
In a general sense, to forbear, or refi-ain
from, voluntardy ; but used cliiefly to de-
note a restraint upon the passions or
ai)petites ; to refrain fi-om indulgence.
Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts, xv
To abstain from the use of ardent spirits ; to
abstain (com luxuries.
ABSTE'MIOUS, a. [L. abstemius ; from
abs and temetum, an ancient name of strong
wine, according to Fabius and Gellins
But Vossius supposes it to be from absti-
7ieo, by a change of n to m. It may be
from the root of timeo, to fear, that is, to
withdraw.] Sparing in diet ; refraining
from a free use of food and strong drinks.
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the
abstemious. .irbuthnot.
2. Sparing in the enjoyment of animal pleas-
ures of any kind. [TTiis sense is less com-
mon, a/id perhaps not legitimate.]
3. Sparingly used, or used with temperance ;
belonging to abstinence ; as an abstemious
diet ; an abstemious life.
ABSTE'MIOUSLY, adv. Temperately
with a spiiriiig use of meat or drink.
AHSTH'AllorsNESS, n. The quality of
liiinir tiHijii rate or sparing in the use of
Inod .mikI .-iioiigdrink.s.
This word expresses a greater degree of
abstinence than temperance.
ABSTERGE', V. t. absterj'. [L. abslergeo,
of abs and tergeo, to wipe. Tergeo may
have a common origin with the Sw. torcka,
G. trocknen, D. droogen, Sax. drygan, to
dry; for these Teutonic verbs signify to
ivipe, as well as to dry.]
To wipe or make clean by wiping ; to
cleanse by resolving obstructions in the
body. [ Used chiefly as a medical term.]
ABSTERG'ENT, a. Wiping; cleansing.
ABSTERg'ENT, n. A medicine which frees
tlie body from obstructions, as soap ; but
the use of the word is nearly superseded
by detergent, which see.
ABSTER'SION, n. [(romh.abstergeo,abster
SM«.] The act of wiping clean; or a clean-
sing by medicines which resolve obstruc-
tions. [See Deterge, Detersion.] Bacon.
ABSTER'SIVE, o. Cleansing; having the
qualit.v of removing obstructions. [See
Detersive.]
\B'STINENCE, n. [L. abstinentia. See
Abstain.] In general, the act or practice
of voluntarily refraining from, or forbear-
ing any action. ^^ Abstinence from every
thing which can be deemed labor."
Foley's Philos.
More appropriately,
2. The refraining from an indulgence of
appetite, or from customary gratificat"
of animal propensities. It denotes a total
forbearance, as in fasting, or a forbearance
of the usual quantity. In the latter se
it may comcide with temperance, but in
general, it denotes a more sparing use of
enjoyments than temperance. Besides,
abstinence implies previous free indul
gencp ; temperance does not.
AB'STINENT, a. Refiaining from indul
gence, especially in the use of food and
drink.
AB'STINENTLY, adv. With abstinence
AB'STINENTS, a sect which appeared
France and Spain in the third century,
who opposed marriage, condemned the
use of flesh meat, and placed tlie Holy
Spirit in the class of created beings.
ABSTRACT', v. t. [L. abstraho, to draw
from or separate; from abs and trako,
which is the Eng. draw. See Draw.]
1. To draw from, or to separate ; as to abstract
an action fi-om its evil effects ; to abstract
spirit from any substance by distillation :
but in this sense extract is now more gen-
erally used.
2. To separate ideas by the operation of the
mind ; to consider one part of a complex
object, or to have a partial idea of it in the
mind. Home.
3. To select or separate the substance of a
book or writing ; to epitomize or reduce
to a suimnary. Jf'atts.
4. In chimistry, to separate, as the more
volatile parts of a substance by repeated
distillaticm, or at least bv distillation.
AB'STRAGT, a. [L. absiractus.] Separate
2
distini't troni sonioil.iii!: fl>e. An abstract
idea, in iiict.-i|ili\ -ir. i :i,i idea separated
from a <-(iiii|il.-\ ohp ■,- i- iVom other ideas
wliicli natm-iilly :ii-i-i>iiniaiiy it, as the so-
lidity of marble contemplated apart fi-om
its color or figure. Encyc
Abstract terms are those which express ab-
stract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, round-
ness, without regarding any subject in
wliich they exist; or abstract terms arc
the names of orders, genera, or species of
things, in which there is a combination of
similar quahties. Stewart.
Abstract numbers are numbers used with-
out apphcation to things, as, 6, 8,10:
but when applicti to any thing, as 6 feet,
10 men, they become concrete.
Abstract or pure mathematics, is that
wliich treats of magnitude or quantity,
without restriction to any species of par-
ticular magnitude, as arithmetic and
gcomcti-y ; opposed to which is mixed
iiiailii MKitirs, w liiih trcatsof sunple prop-
erti(^. .'iikI till- relations of quantity, as
a|>|ili( .1 \n -i-ii-ililc objects, as hydi-ostat-
ics, iiuMguti'ju, optics, &c. Encyc.
2. Separate, existing in the mind only ; as
an abstract subject ; an abstract question ;
and hence difficult, abstruse.
AB'STRAeT, ?!. A simmiai-y, or epitome,
containing the substance, a general view,
or the principal heads of a treatise or
writing. ti'att.t.
2. Formerly, an extract, or a smaller quan-
tity, contaming the essence of a larger.
In the abstract, in a state of separation, as a
subject considered in the abstract, i. c.
without reference to particular persons of
things.
ABSTR A€T'ED, pp. Separated ; refined ;
exalted ; abstruse ; absent in mind.
Milton. Donne. •
ABSTRA€T'EDLY, adv. In a separate
state, or in contemplation only.
Dryden.
ABSTRA€T'EDNESS, n. The state of be-
ing abstracted. Baxter.
ABSTRAeT'ER, n. One who makes an
abstract, or summary.
ABSTRA€T'ING,/);)r. Separating ; making
a sunnnary.
ABSTRA€'TI0N, n. The act of separating,
or state of being separated.
2. The operation of the mind when occupied
by abstract ideas ; as when we contem-
plate some particular part, or property of a
complex object, as separate from the rest.
Thus, when the mind considers the branch
of a tree by itself, or the color of the
leaves, as separate from their size or
figure, the act is called abstraction. So
also, when it considers whiteness, softness,
virtue, erislence, as separate from any par-
ticuliu- objects. Encyc.
The power which the understanding has
of separating the combinations which are
presented to it, is distinguished by logi-
cians, by the name of absiraction. Steieart.
Abstraction is the ground- work of clas-
sification, by which things are an-anged in
orders, genera, and species. We separate
in idea the qualities of certain objects
which are of the same kind, from others
which are diflferent in each, and arrange
the objects having the same properties in a
class, or collected bodv.
ABU
ABU
A C A
3. A separation from woi-ldly objects ; a re-
cluse life ; as a lierinit's abstraction.
4. Absence of mind ; inattention to present
objects.
5. In the process of distillation, the term is
used to denote tlie separation of the volatile
parts, which rise, come over, and are con-
densed in a receiver, from those which
are fixed. It is chiefly used, when a
fluid is repeatedly poured upon any sub-
stance in a retort, and distilled off", to
change its state, or the nature of its com-
position. JVicholson.
ABSTRACT'IVE, a. Having the power or
qualitv of abstracting.
ABSTRACT'IVE, ? a. Abstracted, or
ABSTRA€TI"TIOUS, S drawn from other
substances, particularly from vegetables,
without fermentation. Cyc.
AB'STRA€TLY, adv. Separately ; absolute-
ly ; in a state or manner unconnected witli
any thing else ; as, matter abstractly con-
sidered.
AB'STRACTNESS, n. A separate state ; a
.state of being in contemplation only, or
not connected with any object.
ABSTRU'DE, v. t. [Infra.] To thrust or
puU away. [JVoi used.]
ABSTRU'SE, a. [L. abstrusus, from abstru-
do, to thrust away, to conceal; abs and
tnido ; Ar. j^j.Ia tarada ; Cli. Tit3, to thrust ;
Syr. Sam. id.; Eng. to thrust] Hid; con-
cealed ; hence, remote from apprehension ;
difficult to be comprehended or under-
stood ; opposed to what is obvious. [.Vbi
used of material objects.]
Metaphysics is an abstruse science. Eneyc.
ABSTRU'SELY, adv. In a concealed man-
ner ; obscurely ; in a manner not to be
easily understood.
•ABTRU'SENESS, n. Obscurity of mean-
ing ; the state or quaUty of being difficult
to be understood. Boyle.
ABSURD', a. [L. absurdus, from ab and
.nirdus, deaf, insensible.] Opposed to man-
ifest truth ; inconsistent with reason, or the
plain dictates of conmion sense. An ab-
.?urd man acts contrary to the clear dic-
tates of reason or sound judgment. An ab-
surd proposition contradicts obvious truth.
An absurd practice or opinion is repugnant
to the reason or common apprehension of
men. It is absurd to say sLx and six make
ten, or that plants will take root in stone.
VBSURD'ITY, n. The quality of being in
consistent with obvious truth, reason, or
sound judgment. Want of judgment, ap-
plied to men ; want of propriety, applied to
things. Johnson
'I. That which is absurd ; in this sense it has
a plural ; the absurdities of men.
ABSURD'LY, adv. In a maimer
tent with reason, or obvious propriety
ABSURD'NESS, n. The same as absurdity,
and less used.
\BUND'ANnE, n. [F. abondance. See
Abound.] Great plenty; an overflowing
quantity ; ami)le sufficiency ; in strictness
applicable to quantity only ; but custom-
arily used of number, as an abundance ol
peasants. Addison
In scripture, the abundance of the rich is great
wealth. Eccl. v. Mark, xii. Luke, xxi.
The abundance of the seas is great plenty of]
fish. Dcut. x^xlii.
It denotes also fullness, overflowing, as the
oftM/M/traff of the heart. Mat. xii Luke, vi.
ABUND'ANT, a. Plentiful; in great quan-
tity ; tiilly sufficient ; as an abundant sup-
])ly. in scripture, abounding; having in
great quantity ; overflowing with.
The Lord God is abundant in goodness and
tmth. Ex. xxxiv.
Abundant number, in arithmetic, is one, the
sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the
number itself Thus 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the
aliquot parts of 12, make the sum of IC.
This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14,
whose aUquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the :
of which is 10 ; and to a perfect nunilier,
which is equal to the sum of its ahqu<
parts, as 6, whose aUquot parts are 1, 2, 3.
ABUND'ANTLY, adv. Fully ; amply ; plen
tifully ; in a .sufficient degree.
[ABU'SAGE, n. Abuse. [Kot used.]
ABU'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. abuser ; Sp. abu
sar ; It. abusare ; L. abutor, abu.ms, of
ab and utor, to use ; Ir. idh ; W. gtveth,
use ; Gr. (9w, to accustom. See Use.]
1. To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use
with bad motives or to wrong purposes ; as,
to abuse rights or privileges.
They that use this world as not abusing it.
1 Cor. vii.
2. To violate ; to defile by improper sexual
intercourse. Spenser.
3. To deceive ; to impose on.
Nor be with all these tempting words abtised.
Pope.
. To treat rudely, or with reproachful lan-
guage ; to revile.
He mocked and abused them sliamcfully.
Mac.
5. To pervert the meaning of; to misapply ;
as to abuse words.
ABU'SE, n. Ill use; impro])er treatment or
employment ; application to a wrong pur-
pose ; as an abuse of our natural powers ;
an abuse of civil rights, or of rehgious pri-
vUeges ; abuse of advantages, &c.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of
Ubei-ty, as well as by the abuses of power.
Federalist, Madison
2. A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses
of government.
3. Rude speech; reproachful language ad
dressed to a person ; contumely ; reviUng
words. Milton.
. Seduction.
After the abuse he forsook me. Sidney.
5. Perversion of meaning; improper use or
appUcation ; as an abuse of words.
ABU'SED, pp. s as z. Ill-used ; used to a
bad purpose ; treated with rude language ;
misemployed ; perverted to bad or wrong
ends ; deceived ; defiled ; violated.
ABU'SEFUL, a. Using or practicing abuse;
abusive. [JVot used.] Bp. Barlotv.
ABU'SER, n. s as :. One who abuses, in
speech or behavior; one that deceives;
a ravisher ; a sodomite. 1 Cor. vi.
ABU'SING, ppr. s as z. Using ill ; employ
ing to bad purposes; deceiving; violating
the person ; perverting.
ABU'SION, n. abu'zhon. Abuse; evil or
ru])t usage ; reproach. [Idttle ttsed.]
ABU'SIVE, a. Practicing abuse; offering
harsh words, or ill treatment ; as an ahi
sive author; an abusive fellow.
2. Containing abuse, or that is the instru-
of abuse, as abusive words ; rude
reproachful. In the sense of deceitful, as
an abusive treaty. [Littk itsed.] Bacon.
ABUSIVELY, adv. In an abusive manner ;
iiidelv ; reproachfiiUy.
ABU'SIVENESS, n. lU-usage ; the quality
of being abusive ; i-udeness of language, or
violence to the person. Barlow.
ABUT', v. i. [Fr. aboutir. See About.] To
border upon ; to be contiguous to ; to meet :
in strictness, to adjoin to at the end ; but
this distinction has not always been ob-
served. The word is chiefly used in de-
scribing the bounds or situation of land,
ami ill |i(ijiular language, is contracted into
but, as hutted and bounded.
\BUT'iMENT, «. The head or end; that
which unites one end of a thing to an-
other; chiefly used to denote the soUd
pier or mound of earth, stone or timber,
which is erected on the bank of a river to
support the end of a bridge and connect it
with the land.
2. That which abuts or borders on another.
Bryant.
ABUT'TAL, n. The butting or boundary of
land at the end ; a head-land.
Spelman. Cowel.
ABY', V. t. or i. [Probably contracted from
abide.] To endure ; to pay dearly ; to re-
ain. Ohs. Spenser.
ABYSM', n. abyzm'. [Old Fr., now abime.
See Abyss.] A gulf. Shak.
ABYSS', n. [Gr. ASvaaoi, bottomless, from a
priv. and Svsio;, bottom. Ion. for 8v8os.
See Bottojn.] A bottomless gulf; used
also for a deep mass of waters, supposed
by some to have encompassed the earth
before the flood.
Darkness was upon the face of the deep, oi
abyss, as it is in the Septuagint. Gen. i. 2.
The word is also used for an immense
cavern in the earth, in which God is sup-
posed to have collected all the waters on
the third day of the creation. It is used
also for hell, Erebus.
2. That which is immeasurable; that m
which any thing is lost.
Thy throne is darkness, in the abyss of light.
Milton.
The o5!/ssoftime. Dryden.
3. In antiquity, tlie temple of Proserpine, so
called from the immense treasures it was
supposed to contain.
4. In heraldry, the center of an escutcheon.
He bears azure, a fleur de Us, in abyss.
ABYSSINIAN, a. Ar.
habashon,
Abyssinians, Ethiopians, from (_p:x2«.
habasha, to collect, or congregate. A name
denoting a mixed multitude or a black
race. Ludolf. Castle.
ABYSSIN'IANS, n. A sect of christians m
Abyssinia, who admit but one nature in
Jesus Christ, and reject the council of
Chalcedou. They are governed by a
bishop, or metropohtan, called Abuna, who
is appointed by the Coptic patriarch of
Cairo. Encyc.
A€, in Saxon, oak, the initial syllable of
names, as acton, oaktown.
A€A€'ALOT, \ n. A Mexican fowl, the
AC'ALOT, S Tantalus Mexicanus, or
Corvus aquaticus, water laven. See Acalot.
ACA'CIA, n. [L. acacia, a thorn, from Gr.
axr;, a [Kiint.]
A C A
A C C
A C C
Egyiitian thorn, a species of i>laiu ranked by
Liiine under the genus mimosa, and by
others, made a distinct genus. Of the
flowers of one species, the Chinese make a
yellow dye which bears washing in silks,
and appears with elegance on paper.
Encyc.
A€ACIA, ua medicine, is a name given to
the inspissated juice of the unripe fruit of
the Mimosa Nilotica, which is brough
from Egypt in roundish masses, in blad
ders.
Externally, it is of a deep brown color ; in
ternally, of a reddish or yellowish brown ;
of a firm consistence, but not very dry
It is a mild astringent. But most of the
drug which passes under this name, is the
inspissated juice of sloes. Encyc.
Acacia, among antiquaries, is a name
given to something like a roll or bag, seei
on medals, as in the hands of emperors and
consuls. Some take it to represent i
handkerchief rolled u)), with which sig
nals were given at the games ; others, a
roll of petitions ; and some, a purple bag
of earth, to remind them of their mortal-
ity. Encyc.
A€A'CIANS, in Church History, were cer-
tain sects, so denominated from their lead-
ers, Acacius, bishop of Cesarea, and Aca-
cius, patriarch of Constantinople. Some
of these maintained that the Son was only
a similar, not the same, substance with the
Father ; others, that he was not only
distinct but a dissimilar substance. Encyc.
A€ADE'ME ; n. An academy ; a society of
persons. [J^Tot used.]
A€ADE'MIAL, a. Pertaining to an acade-
my.
ACADE'MIAN, n. A member of an acad
emy; a student in a university or col
A€ADEM'le, > a. Belonging to ar
A€ADEM'l€AL, \ academy, or to a col
lege or university — as academic studies ;
also noting what belongs to the school or
philosophy of Plato — as the academic sect.
A€ADEM'I€, n. One who belonged to the
school or adhered to the philosophy of
Socrates and Plato. Tlie latter is consid-
ered as the founder of the academic phi-
losophy in Greece.
He taught, that matter is eternal and infinite,
but without form, refractory, and tending
to disorder ; and that there is an intelli
gent cause, the author of spiritual being,
and of the material world. Enfldd.
ACADEMICALLY, adv. In an academi
cal manner.
ACADEMI"CIAN, n. [Fr. acadimicien.]
A member of an academy, or society for
promoting arts and sciences ; particularly,
a member of the French academies.
ACAD'EMISM, n. The doctrine of the
academic pliilosophy. Baxter.
ACAD EMIST, n. A member of an Acad-
emy for promoting arts and sciences ; also
an academic philosopher.
ACAD'EMY, n. [L. academia, Gr. AxoStjum.]
Originally, it is said, a garden, grove, or villa,
near Athens, where Plato and his follow-
ers held their philosophical conferences.
1. A school, or seminary of learning, hold-
ing a rank between a university or col-
lege, and a common school; also a school,
tor teaching a particular art, or particular
sciences, as a military academy.
2. A house, in which the students or mem-
bers of an academy meet ; a place of edu
cation.
3. A society of men united for the promo
tion of arts and sciences in general, or of
some particidar art.
AC'ALOT, n. [Contracted fi-om ctcacalotl.]
A Mexican fowl, called by some the aquatic
crow. It is the ibis, or a ibwl that very
much resembles it.
ACAMAC'U, 71, A bird, the Brazilian fly
catcher, or Todus. Cyc.
AC.ANA'CEOUS, a. acana'shus. [Gr. axapof
a i)rickly shrub.]
Armed with prickles. A class of plants are
called acanacem. Milne
ACANTH'A, n. [Gr. axmOa, a spine oi
thorn.]
In botany, a prickle ; in zoology, a spine or
I)rickly fin ; an acute process of the ver-
tebers. Encyc.
ACANTHA'CEOUS, a. Armed with prick-
les, as a plant.
ACAN'THARIS, n. In entomology, a spe-
cies of Cimex, with a spinous thorax, and
a ciliated abdomen, with spines ; found in
Jamaica. Cyc.
ACANTH'INE, a. [See Acanthus.]
Pertaining to the plant, acanthus. The
acanthine garments of the ancients were
made of the down of thistles, or embroid-
ered in imitation of the acanthus. Encyc.
ACANTHOPTERYG'IOtS, a. [Gr axa^Sos,
a thorn, and rtf fpi7io!', a Uttle feather, fi-om
KTepov, a feather.]
In zoology, having back fins, which are hard,
bony and pricky, a term applied to certain
Jishes. hinne
AC.ANTH'US n. [Gr. oxar^os, L. acanthus,
from oxoffio, a prickle or thorn. See
acantha.]
The plant bear's breech or brank ursine ;
a genus of several species, receiving their
name from their prickles.
2. In architecture, an ornament resembling
the foliage or leaves of the acanthus, used
in capitals of the Corinthian and Compo-
site orders. Milton. Encyc.
ACAN'TICONE, n. See Pistacite.
ACARN'AR, n. A bright star, of the first
magnitude, in Eridamis. Bailey.
ACATALECTIC, n. [Gr. o.xa.ta%fixroi, not
defective at the end, of xaTa and 7.rjyu to
cease ; Ir. lieghim.] A verse, wliich has
the complete number of syllables without
defect or superfluity. Johnson.
ACAT'ALEPSY, n. [Gr. axata%r,-ita ; a and
xaraAa/tSaiu to comprehend.]
Impossibihty of complete discovery or com-
l)rehension ; incomprehensibility. [Little
used.] Whitaker.
ACAT'ECHILI, n. A Mexican bird, a spe-
cies of Fringilla, of the size of the siskin,
ACATER, ACATES. See Caterer and Cates.
ACAU'LINE, \ a. [L. a. priv. and caxdis, Gr.
ACAU'LOUS, S xo.v^oi, a stalk ; W. haul; D.
kool, cabbage. See Colcwort.]
In botany, without a stem, having floAvers
resting on the ground ; as the Carline
thistle.
ACCE'DE, V. i. [L. accedo, of ad and ccdo,
to yield or give place, or ratlier to move.]
I. To agree or assent, as to a proposition, or
to terms proposed by another. Hence ui
a negotiation.
2. To become a party, by agreeing to the
terms of a treaty, or convention.
ACCE'DING, ppr. Agreeing ; assenting ;
becommg a party to a treaty by agreeing
to the terms proposed.
ACCELERATE, v. t. [L. accdero, of ad
and cdero, to hasten, from cder, quick :
Gr. XE?.^; ; Heb. Ch. Syr. and Eth. S'rp,
nSp or "75, to be light, nimble ; Syr. to has-
ten. In Ch. and Ar. this root signifies
also to be small, or minute.]
1. To cause to move faster; to hasten; to
quicken motion ; to add to the velocity of
a moving body. It implies previous mo-
tion or progression.
2. To add to natural or ordinary progres-
sion ; as to accelerate the growth of a plant,
or the progress of knowledge.
3. To bring nearer in time ; to shorten the
time between the present tune and a fu-
ture event ; as to accelerate the ruin of a
govenunent ; to accelerate a battle.
Bacon.
ACCEL'ERATED, pp. Quickened in mo-
tion ; hastened in progress.
ACCELERATING, ppr. Hastening; in-
creasHig velocity or progres
ACCELERA'TION, n. The act ofincreas-
ing velocity or progress ; the state of being
quickened in motion or action. Accelera-
ted motion in mechanics and physics, is
that which continually receives accessions
of velocity ; as, a falling body moves to-
wards the earth with an acceleration of ve-
locity. It is the opposite of retardation.
.Icceleration of the moon, is the increase of the
moon's mean motion from the sun, com-
pared with the diurnal motion of the eanh ;
the moon moving with more velocity noiv
than in ancient tunes — a discovery made
by Dr. Halley.
The diurnal acceleration of tlie fixed star.?,
is the time by which they anticipate the
mean diurnal revolution of the sun, which
is nearly three minutes, fifty-six seconds.
Cyc.
ACCEL'ERATIVE, a. Adding to velocity ;
quickening progression. Reid.
A.CCEL'ERAT6RY, a. Accelerating ; quick-
ening motion.
ACCEND', V. t. [L. accendo, to kindle ; ad
and candeo, caneo, to be white, canus,
white ; W. caii, white, bright ; also a song.
Whence, can/o, to sing, to chant ; cantus, a
song; Eng. eani; W. ca»j«, to bleach or
whiten, and to sing ; cynnud, fuel. Hence,
kindle, L. candidus, candid, white. The
primary sense is, to tlu-ow, dart, or thrust ;
to shoot, as the rays of light. Hence,
to cant, to throw. See Chant and Cant.]
To kindle ; to set on fire. [The verb is not
used.]
ACCENDIBIL ITY, n. Capacity of being
kindled, or of becoming inflamed.
ACCEND'IBLE, a. Capable of bemg in-
flamed or kindled. Ure.
ACCEN'SION, n. The act of kindling or
setting on fire ; or the state of being kind-
led ; inflammation. Chimistn/.
ACCENT, n. [L. accentus, tromad and fa-
no, cantum, to sing ; AV. canu ; Corn, kann :
h: canaim. Sec ikccend.]
A C C
A C C
A C C
I . Tlie modulation of the voice in reading or
sjjealiiiig, as practiced by tlie ancient
Greeks, wliich rendered tlieir rehearsal
musical. More strictly, in English,
'.'. A particular stress or force of voice upon
certain syllables of words, wliich distin-
guishes them from the others. Accent
is of two liinds, jirimary and secondary ;
as in as'pira'tion. In uttering this word,
we observe xhejirst and third syllables are
distinguished ; the third by a full sound,
which constitutes the primary accent ; the
first, by a degree of force in the voice
which is less than that of the primary ac-
cent, but evidently greater than that which
falls on the second and fourth syllables.
When the full accent falls on a vowel,
that vowel has its long sound, as in vo'cal ;
but when it falls on an articulation or con-
.sonaiit, the preceding vowel is short, as in
hab'it. Accent alone regulates EngUsh
verse.
3. A mark or character used in writing to
direct the stress of the voice in proiumcia-
tion. Our ancestors borrowed from the
Greek language three of these characters,
the acute (',) the grave (') and the circum-
flex (' or '.) In the Greek, the first
shows when the voice is to be raised ; the
second, when it is to be depressed ; and
tlie thu-d, when the vowel is to be uttered
with an undulating sound.
4. A modulation of the voice expressive of
passions or sentiments.
The tender accents of a woman's cry. Prior
5. Manner of speaking.
A man of plain accent. Obs. Shak
G. Poetically, words, language, or expres
sions in general.
Words, on your wings, to heaven her accents
bear,
Such words as heaven alone is fit to hear.
Dryden.
7. In music, a swelling of sounds, for the
purpose of variety or expression. The
principal accent falls on the first note
the bar, but the third place in common
time requires also an accent.
8. A pecuhar tone or inflection of voice,
A€'CENT, V. t. To express accent ; to utter
a syllable with a particular stress or mod
ulation of the voice. In poetry, to utter
or pronounce in general. Also to note
accents by marks in writuig.
Locke. Wotlon
ACCENTED, pp. Uttered with accent
marked with accent.
A€'CENTING, ppr. Pronouncing or mark-
ing with accent.
ACCENT'UAL, «. Pertaining to accent.
ACCENTUATE, v. t. To mark or pro-
nounce with an accent or \vith accents.
A€CENTUA'TION, n. The act of placuig
accents in writing, or of pronouncing them
in speaking.
.\CCEPT', V. t. [L. accepto, from accipio, ad
and capio, to take; Fr. accepter; Sj).
aceptar ; Port, aceiter; It. accettare. See
Lat. capio. Class G. b.]
I. To take or receive what is offered, with
a consenting mind ; to receive with ap
probation or favor.
Bless. Lord, his substance, and accept the
work of his hands. Deut. xx.viii.
He made an oifer
eepted.
Observe the difference between receive
and acctjit.
He received an appointment or the offer of a
commission, but he did not accept it.
2. To regard with partiahty ; to value or
esteem.
It is not good to accept the person of the
wicked. Prov. xviii. 2 Cor. viii.
In theology, acceptance with God im-
])lies forgiveness of sins and reception into
his favor.
3. To consent or agree to ; to receive as
terms of a contract ; as, to accept a treaty ;
often followed by of.
Accept of the terms.
4. To understand ; to have a particular idea
of; to receive in a particular sense.
How is tliis phrase to be accepted ?
5. In commerce, to agree or iwomise to pay,
as a bill of exchange. [See Acceptance.]
ACCEPT'ABLE, a. That may be received
with pleasure ; hence pleasing to a receiv-
gratifying ; as an acceptable present.
2. Agreeable or pleasing in person ; as, a
man makes himself acceptable by his ser-
vices or civihties.
ACCEPT' ABLENESS, > n. The quahtv of
ACCEPTABILITY, I bemg agreeable
a receiver, or to a person with whom one
has mtercourse. [The latter ivord is little
used, or not at all.]
ACCEPT' ABLY, adv. In a mamier to
please, or give satisfaction.
Let us have grace whereby we may serve God
acceptably. Heb. xii.
ACCEPT' ANCE, n. A receiving with ap-
probation or satisfaction ; favorable recep-
tion ; as work done to acceptance.
They shall come up with acceptance on my
altar. Isa. Ix.
2. The receiving of a bill of exchange or or-
der, m such a manner, as to bind the
ceptor to make payment. This must
by express words ; and to charge the
drawer with costs, in case of non payment,
the acce])tance nmst be in writmg, under,
across, or on the back of the bill.
Blackstone.
3. An agreeing to terms or proposals in com-
merce, by which a bargain is concluded
and the parties bound.
4. An agreeing to the act or contract of an
other, by some act which binds the person
in law ; as, a bishop's taking rent reserved
on a lease made by liis predecessor, is an
acceptance of the terms of the lease and
binds the party. Laiv.
5. In mercantile language, a bill of exchange
accepted ; as a merchant receives anoth
er's acceptance in payment.
6. Formerly, the sense in which a woi'd is
understood. Obs. [See Mceptation.]
ACCEPTA'TION, n. Kind reception; a
receiving with favor or approbation.
This is a saying worthy of all acceptation.
1 Tim. i.
2. A state of being acceptable ; favorable re-
gard.
Some things are of great dignity and accept-
ation with God. Hooker.
But in this sense acceptableness is more
generally used.
3. The meaiung or sense in which a word or
expression is understood, or generally re-
ceived ; as, a term is to be used according
to its usual acceptation.
4. Reception in general. Obs.
ACCEPT'ED, pp. Kindly received ; re-
garded ; agreed to ; understood ; received
as a bill of exchange.
ACCEPT'ER, or ACCEPTOR, n. A per-
son who accepts; the person who receives
a bill of exchange so as to bind himself to
])ay it. [See Acceptance.]
ACCEPT'ING, ppr. Receiving favorably;
agreeing to ; understanding.
ACCEP'TION, n. The received sense of a
word. [J^ot now used.] Hammond.
ACCEPT'IVE, a. Ready to accept. [JVol
used.] B. Jonson.
ACCESS', n. [L. accessus, from accedo. See
Accede. Fr. acc^s.]
1. A coming to ; near approach ; admit-
tance ; admission ; as to gain access to a
pruice.
2. Approach, or the way by which a thing
may be approached ; as, the access is by a
neck of land. Bacon.
3. Means of approach ; liberty to approach;
mplying previous obstacles.
By whom also we have access by faith
Rom. V.
4. Admission to sexual intercourse.
During coverture, access of the husband shall
e presumed, unless the contrary be shown.
Blackstone.
5. Addition; increase by sometliing added;
as an access of territory ; but in this sense
accession is more generally used.
6. The return of a fit or paroxysm of disease,
or fever. In this sense accession is gene-
rally used.
ACCESSARILY, See ACCESSORILY.
ACCESSARINESS, See ACCESSORI-
NESS.
ACCESSARY, See ACCESSORY.
ACCESSIBIL'ITY, n. The quahty of heiiig
approachable; or of admitting access.
ACCESS'IBLE,a. That may be approached
or reached ; approachable ; applied to
things ; as an accessible town or mountain.
2. Easy of approach ; affable ; used ofpeisons.
ACCESS'ION, n. [L. accessio.] A coming to ;
an acceding to and joining ; as a king's
accession to a confederacy.
2. Increase by something added ; that which
is added ; augmentation ; as an accession of
wealth or territory.
3. Inlaw, a mode of acquiring property, by
which the owner of a corporeal substance,
which receives an addition by growth, or
by labor, has a right to the thing added or
the unprovement ; provided the tiling is
not changed into a different species. Thus
the owner of a cow becomes the owner of
her calf Blackstone.
4. The act of arriving at a throne, an ofiice,
or dignity.
5. That which is added.
The only accession which the Roman Em-
pire received, was the province of Britain.
Gibbon.
6. The invasion of a fit of a periodical dis-
ease, or fever. It difiers from exacerbation.
Accession uiiphesa total previous intermis-
sion, as of a fever ; exacerbation impUes
■ only a previous remission or abatement of
violence.
ACCESS'IONAL, a. Additional.
ACCESSO'RIAL, a. Pertaining to an acces-
sory; as accessorial agenc}', accessorial guilt.
Burr's Trial.
ACCESSORILY, arfu. [Sec Accessory.] In
the manner of an accessory ; fiy subordi-
A C C
Dale means, or in a secondary chai
not as principal, but as a subordinate agent.
A€'CESSORINESS, n. The state of being
accessory, or of being or acting in asecon
dary character.
ACCESSORY, n. [L. Accessorius, fi-om ac
cessus, accedo. See Accede. This word i
accented on the first syllable on accoinit of|
the derivatives, which require a seconda
ry accent on the third ; but the natural
accent of accessory is on the second sylla
ble, and thus it is often pronounced b)
good speakers.]
1. Acceding ; contributing ; aiding in prochic-
ing some effect, or acting in subordination
to the principal agent. Usually, in a bad
sense, as John was accessory to the felony
1. Aiding in certain acts or effects in a sec-
ondary manner, as accessory sounds in mu-
sic. Encyc,
Ae'CESSORY, n. In latv, one who is guilty
of a felony, not by committing tlie offense
in person or as principal, but by advising
or commanding another to commit the
crime, or by conceaUng the offender.
There may be accessories in all felonies,
but not in treason. An accessory before
the fact, is one who counsels or commands
another to commit a felony, and is not
present when the act is executed ; aftei
the fact, when one receives and conceals
the offender.
3. That wliich accedes or belongs to some-
thing else, as its principal.
Accessory nerves, in anatomy, a pair of nerves
wiiich arising from the medulla in the ver-
tebers of the neck, ascend and enter the
skull ; then passing out with the par va
gum, are distributed into the muscles of|
the neck and shoidders.
Accessory, among paijiters, an epithet given
to paits of a history-piece which are
ly ornamental, as vases, armor, &c.
.\€'CIDENCE, n. [See Accident] A small
book containing the rudiments of grammai'.
ACCIDENT, n. [L. accidens, faUing, fioni
ad and cado, to fall; W. codum, a fall
cicyzaw, to fall ; Ir. kudaim ; Corn, kotha .
.\rm. kueika, to fall. See Case and Ca-
dence. Class G d.]
1. A coming or falling; an event that takes
j)lace without one's foresight or cxpecta
tion ; an event which proceeds from ar
miknown cause, or is an unusual effect of
alinown cause,^ and therefore not expect
ed ; chance ; casuahy ; contingency.
2. That which takes place or begms to exist
without an efficient intelligent cause and
without design.
All of them, in his opinion, owe their being,
to fate, accident, or the blind action of stuptd
matter. Bwight.
:\ In logic, a property, or quaUty of a being
which is not essential to it, as whiteness in
paper. Also all quahties are called acci-
dents, in opposition to substance, as sweet-
ness, sojlness, and tilings not essential to a
body, as clothes. Encyc.
4. In grammar, something belonging to a
word, but not essential to it, as gender
number, inflection. Encyc.
a. In heraldry, a point or mai'k, not essential
to a coat of arms. Encyc.
ACCIDENT'AL, a. Happerung by chance,
or rather imexpectedly ; casual" ; fortui-
A C C
tons ; taking place not according to the
usual course of tilings ; opposed to that
which is constant, regular, or intended ; as
an accidental visit.
2. Non-essential ; not necessarily belonging
to ; as songs are accidental to a play.
Accidental colors, are those which depend
upon the affections of the eye, in distinc-
tion from those which belong to the light
itself. Encyc.
Accidental point, in perspective, is that point
in the horizontal line, where tlie projec-
tions of two lines parallel to each other,
meet the perspective plane.
ACCIDENT' ALLY, arfy. By chance; casu
ally ; fortuitously ; not essentially.
ACCIDENT'ALNESS, n. The quaUty of]
being casual. [Little used.]
ACCIDEN'TIARY, a. Pertaining to the ac-
cidence. [JVot used.] Morton
ACCIP'ITER, n. [L.ad and ca;)io, to seize.]
1. A name given to a fish, the milvus or hi
cerna, a species of Trigla. Cyi
9. In ornithology, t\m name of the order of
rapacious fowls.
The accipiters have a hooked bill, the su))e-
rior mandible, near the base, being exten-
ded on each side beyond the inferior. The
genera are the vultur, the falco, or hawk
and the strix, or owl.
AeCIF'ITRINE, a. [Supra.] Seizing ; ra-
pacious ; as the accipitrine order of fowls.
Ed. Encyc.
AeCI'TE, V. t. [L. ad and aft, to cite.] To
call ; to cite ; to summon. [.Vot used.]
A€€LA'IM, V. t. [L. acclamo, ad and clamo.
to cry out; Sp.clamar; Fort. clamar ; It.
clamare; W. llevain; Ir. liumham. See
Claim, Clamor.] To applaud. [Little used.]
Hall.
A€€LA'IM, n. A shout of joy ; acclama-
tion. Milton.
ACCLAMA'TION, n. [L. acclamatio. See
Acclaim.]
A shout of applause, uttered by a multitude.
Anciently, acclamation was a form of
words, uttered with vehemence, some wtat
resembUng a song, sometimes accorapan
ed with applauses which were given by
the hands. Acclamations were ecclesias-
tical, military, nuptial, senatorial, synodi
cal, theatrical, &c. ; they were musical,
anil i7thmical ; and Ijestowed for joy, re
spect, and even reproach, and oflen ac
companied with words, repeated, five
twenty, and even sixty and eighty times!
In the later ages of Rome, acclamations
were performed by a chorus of music in
structed for the pui-pose.
In modem times, acclamations are expres
sed by huzzas; by clapping of hands ; and
often by repeating vivat rex, vivaf respubll
ca, long live the king or repubhc, or other
words expressive of joy and good wishes.
ACeLAM'ATORY, a. Expressing joy or
applause by shouts, or clapping of hand
ACCLI'MAT ED, a. [Ac for ad and cli-
mate.] Habituated to a foreign climate,
or a cUmate not native ; so far accustom-
ed to a foreign chmate as not to be pecu-
liarly liable to its endemical diseases.
Med. Repository.
AeeLIV'ITY, n. [L. acclivus, acclivis, as-
cending, from ad and clivus, an ascent ;
A C C
Ir. clui; Gr. Eol. xAirtvj; Sax. clif, a
cliff, bank or shore; clifian, cleofian, to
cleave, or split. See Cliff.]
-\ slope or inclination of the earth, as the
side of a hill, considered as ascending, in
oi)position to declivity, or aside descending.
Rising groiuid ; ascent ; the talus of a
rampart.
ACCLI'VOUS, a. Rising, as a hill with a
slope.
A€€LOY', V. t. To fill ; to stuff: to fill to
satiety. [.Yot used.] [See Cloy.] Spenser.
A€€OIL'. [See Cor7.]
A€'€OLA, n. A delicate fish eaten at Maha.
ACCOLA'DE, n. [L. ad and collum, neck.]
A ceremony formerly used in conferring
knighthood ; but whether an embrace or
a blow, seems not to be settled. Cyc.
ACCOM'MODABLE, a. [Fi. accommodable.
See Accommodate.]
That may be fitted, made suitable, or made
to agree. [Little used.]
A€€OM']MODATE,i;.f. [L. accommodo, to
apply or suit, from ad and commodo, to
profit or help ; of con, with, and modus,
measure, proportion, limit, or manner. See
Mode.]
1. To fit, ada])t, or make suitable ; as, to ac-
commodate ourselves to circumstances ; to
accommodate the choice of subjects to the
occasions. Paley.
2. To supply with or furnish ; followed by
with ; as, to accommodate a man idth
apartments.
•3. To supply with conveniences, as to ac-
commodate a fi-iend.
4. To reconcile things which are at vari-
ance ; to adjust ; as to accommodate differ-
ences.
5. To show fitness or agreement ; to api)ly ;
as, to accommodate prophecy to events.
i. Toiend— a commercial sense.
In an intransitive sense, to agree, to be con-
formable to, as used by Boyle. Obs.
A€€OM'MODATE,n, Suitable; fit; adapt-
ed ; as means accommodate to the end.
Ray. TUloUon.
ACCOMMODATED, pp. Fitted ; adjust-
ed ; adapted ; apphed ; also fiimished
with conveniences.
We are well accommodated with lodgings.
ACCOM'MODATELY, adv. Suitably ; fitly.
[Little used.] More.
ACCOM MODATENESS,)). Fitness. [Lit-
tle %ised.]
ACCOMMODATING, ppr. Adapting ;
making suitable ; reconciling ; furnishing
with conveniences ; applying.
ACCOMMODATING, a. Adapting one's
self to ; obliging; yielding to the desires of
others ; disposed to comply, and to oblige
another ; as an accommodating man.
\CCOMMODA TION, n. Fitness ; adapta-
tion ; followed by to.
The organization of the body with accommo-
dation to its functions. Hale.
I. Adjustment of differences ; reconciliation;
as of parties in dispute.
3. Provision of conveniences.
In the plural ; conveniences ; things fur-
nished for use ; chieffy applied to lodgings.
In mercantile language, accommodation is
used for a loan of money ; which is often
a great convenience. An accommodation
A C C
.'o/f, in the language of bank directors,
is one drawn and offered for discount, fo
the purpose of borrowing its amount, ii
opposition to a note, which the owner has
received in payment for goods.
In England, accommodation hill, is one
given instead of a loan of money. Crabbe
6. It is also used of a note lent merely to
accommodate the borrower.
7. In theology, accoimnodation is the appli
cation of one thing to another by analogy,
as of the words of a prophecy to a future
Many of those quotations were probably in-
tended as nothing more than accommodations.
Paley
^. In marine language, an accommodation-
ladder is a hglit ladder hung over the side
of a ship at the gangway.
A€COM'MODATOR, ti. One that accom
niodates ; one that adjusts. Warburton.
A€€t)lM'PANABLE, a. [See Accompany.
Sociable. [J^Totused.]
A€€ClM'PANIED, pp. Attended; joined
with in societv.
ACeOM'PANIMENT, n. [Yr.A'-compagne.
ment. See Accompany.] Something that
attends as a circumstance, or which is ad-
ded by way of ornament to the principal
thing, or for the sake of symmetry. Thus
instruments of music attending the voice ;
small objects in pauituig ; dogs, guns and
game in a hunting piece ; warlike instru-
ments with the portrait of a military cha-
racter, are accompaniments.
A€€OM'PANIST, n. The performer in mu-
sic who takes the accompanying part.
Bushy.
ACCOM'PANY, V. t. [Fr. accompagner ; Sp,
acompahar ; Port, acompanhar. See Com-
pany.]
1. To go with or attend as a companion or
associate on a journey, walk, &c. ; as a
man accompanies his friend to church, or
on a tour.
2. To be with as connected ; to attend ; as
pain accompanies disease.
A€€OM'PANY, V. i. To attend; to be
associate ; as to accompany with others.
Obs. Bacon.
2. To cohabit. Milton.
3. In music, to perform the accontpanying
part in a composition. Busby.
A€€OM'PANYING, ppr. Attending ; going
with as a companion.
A€€OM'PLICE, n. [Fr. complice ; L. com-
plicatus, folded together, of coji, with, and
plico, to fold ; W. plegy, to plait ; Arm.
plega. See Complex and Pledge.] An asso-
ciate in a crime ; a partner or partaker in
guilt. It was formerly used in a good
.sense for a co-opei-ator, but this sense is
wholly obsolete. It is followed by loith be-
fore a person ; as, A was an accomplice
with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses
it with to before a thing.
A€eOM'PLISH, V. t. [Fr. accomplir, to fin-
ish, from ad and L. compleo, to complete.
See Complete.] To complete ; to finish
entirely.
That He would acco?nplish seventy years in
the desolation of Jerusalem. Dan. ix.
2. To execute ; as to accomplish a vow, wrath
or fury. Lev. xiii. and xx.
3. To gain ; to obtain or cfiiict by successful
A C C
exonions ; as to accomplish a purpose. Prov.
xiii.
4. To fulfil or bring to pass ; as, to accomplish
oust yet be accomplished
prophecy.
Tliis that is written
in me. Luke, xxii.
>. To fin-nish with qualities whicli serve to
render the mind or body complete, as with
valuable endowments and elegant man-
ners.
.\C€OM'PLISHED, pp. Finished ; complet
cd ; fidfiUed ; executed ; effected.
2. a. Well endowed with good qualities anc
manners ; complete in acquirements ; hav-
ing a finished education.
3. Fashionable. Swift.
ACeOM'PLISHER, n. One who accoiii
plishes.
A€€OM'PLISHING, ppr. Finishing; com
pleting ; fulfilHng ; executing ; effecting ;
furnishing with valuable qualities.
A€eOM'PLISHMENT,?i. Completion; ful-
filment ; entire performance ; as the accom-
plishment of a prophecy.
2. The act of carrying into effect, or obtain-
ing an object designed ; attainment ; as
the accomplishment of our desires or ends.
?. Acquirement ; that which constitutes ex-
cellence of mind, or elegance of manners,
acquired by education.
A€€OMPT'. Obs. [See Account.]
ACCOM PT' ANT. Obs. [See Accountayit.]
ACCORD', n. [Fr. accord, agreement, con-
sent ; accorder, to adjust, or reconcile ; Sp
acordar ; Arm. accord, accordi ; It. accordo.
accordare. The Lat. has concors, concordo.
Qu. cor and cordis, the heart, or from the
same root. In some of its apphcations, it
is naturally deduced from chorda. It.
da, the string of a musical instrument ^
Agreement ; harmony of minds ; consent
or concurrence of opinions or wills.
They all continued with one accord in prayei
Acts, i.
2. Concert ; harmony of sounds ; the union
of different sounds, which is agreeable to
the ear ; agreement in pitch and tone ;
tjie accord of notes ; but in this sense, it is
more usual to employ concord or chord.
•3. Agreement ; just correspondence of things ;
as the accord of hght and shade in painting,
4. Will ; voluntary or spontaneous motion ;
used of the will of persons, or the natural
motion of other bodies, and preceded by
oum
Cor.
;ing more forward of his own accord. 2
That which groweth of its own accord thou
shalt not reap. Lev. xxv.
. Adjustment of a difference ; reconciliation.
The mediator of an accord.
6. In law, an agreement between parties in
controversy, by which satisfaction for an
injury is stiptdated, and which, when ex-
ecuted, bars a suit. Blackstone.
7. Permission, leave.
ACCORD', J', t. To make to agree, or cor-
•espond ; to adjust one thing to another.
Her hands accorded the lute's music to the
voice. Sidney.
2. To bring to an agreement ; to settle, ad-
just or compose ; as to accord suits or con-
troversies. Hall.
\CCORD', V. i. To agree ; to be in corres-
pondence.
My heart accnrdeth with my tongue. Shak.
To agree in pitch and tone.
A C C
AecORD'ABLE, a. Agreeable; consonanf.
^ Goiver
ACCORD' ANCE, n. Agreement with a per
son ; contbrmity loifh a thing.
ACCORD'ANT, a. Corresponding; conso-
nant ; agreeable.
ACCORD'ED, pp. Made to agree ; adjusted.
Shak.
ACCORD'ER, n. One that aids, or favors
[Little used.]
ACCORD'ING, ppr. Agreeing ; harmoni-
zing.
Th' according music of a well mixt state.
2. Suitable ; agreeable ; in accordance with
In these senses, the word agrees with or
refers to a sentence.
Our zeal should be according to knowledge.
Spral.
Noble is the fame that is built on candor and
ingenuity, according to those beautiful lines ol
Sir John Denham. Spectator.
Here the whole preceding parts of the
sentence are to accord, i. e. agree with,
correspond with, or be suitable to, what
follows. According, here, has its true parti-
cipial sense, agreeing, and is always fol-
lowed by to. It is never a preposition.
ACCORD'INGLY, adv. Agreeably; suita-
bly ; in a manner conformable to.
Those who live in faith and good works, will
be rewariled accordingly.
ACCORP'ORATE, v. t. To unite ; [JVot in
use.] '" ' ■ ^ - -
ACCC
side, border, coast ; G. kiiste ; D. kust :
Dan. kyst.]
To approach ; to draw near ; to come side
by side, or face to face. [JVo< in use.]
2. To speak first to ; to address. Milton.
Dryden,
ACCOST', i;. i. To adjoin. [J^ot in use.]
Spenser.
ACCOST'ABLE, o. Easy of access ; famil-
iar. Howell.
•e.] [See Incorporate.] Milton.
DOST' V. t. [t r. accoster ; ad and cote.
ACCOST'ED, pp. Addressed ; first spoken
In heraldry, being side by side.
ACCOST'ING, ppr. Addressijig by first
speaking to.
ACCOUCHEUR, n. accooshdre. [Fr.] A
man who assists women in cliildbirth.
ACCOUNT', n. [Fr. conte ; It. conto ; Sp.
cuenta; Ann. count ; an account, reckon-
ing, computation. Formerly writers used
accompt from the Fr. compte. See Count]
1. A sum stated on paper; a registry of a
debt or credit ; of debts and credits, or
charges ; an entry in a book or on paper
of things bought o^- sold, of payments, ser-
vices &,c., including the names of the par-
ties to the transaction, date, and price or
value of the thing.
Account signifies a single entry or
charge, or a statement of a number of jjar-
ticular debts and credits, in a book or on a
separate paper ; and in the plural, is used
for the books containing such entries.
A computation of debts and credits, or a
general statement of particular sums; as,
the accou7it stands thus ; let him exliibit
his account.
A computation or mode of reckoning ;
applied to other things, than money or
trade ; as the Julian account of time.
t|4. Narrati\ e ; relation ; statement of facts :
A C C
A C C
A C C
recital of particular transactions and
events, verbal or written ; as an account
of the revolution in France. Hence,
5. An assigmnent of reasons ; explanation
by a recital of particular transactions, giv-
en by a person in an employment, or to a
sujierior, often implying responsibility.
Give axi account of thy stewardship. Luke, xvi.
Without responsibility or obligation.
He giveth not account of his matters. Job,
xxxiii.
6. Reason or consideration, as a motive ; as
on all accounts, on every account.
7. Value ; importance ; estimation ; that is,
such a state of persons or things, as rend-
ers them worthy of more or leas estima-
tion ; as men of account.
What is the son of man that thou niakest ac-
count of \ata. Ps. cxliv.
8. Profit ; advantage ; that is, a result or pro-
duction worthy of estimation. To find
our account in a pursuit ; to tuni to ac-
count. Philip. 4.
9. Regard; behalf; sake; a sense deduced
from charges on book ; as on account of
public affairs.
Put that to mine account. Philem. xviii.
To make account, that is, to have a previous
opinion or e.xpectation, is a sense now ob-
solete.
A writ of account, in law, is a writ which
the plaintiffbrings demanding that the de-
fendant should render his just account, or
show good cause to the contrary ; called
also an action of account. Cowel.
A€€OUNT', V. t. To deem, judge, consid-
er, think, or hold in opinion.
I and my son Solomon shall be accounted of-
fenders. 1. Kings, i.
2. To account of, to hold in esteem ; to value.
Let a man so account of us as of minister
of Christ. 1 Cor. iv.
Silver was not any thing accounted of in Ih
cLiys of Solomon. 1 Kings, x.
3. To reckon, or compute ; as, the motion of
the sun whereby years are accounted-
also to assign as a debt ; as, a project a
counted to his service ; but these uses are
antiquated.
A€€OUNT', V. i. To render an
or relation of particulars. An oflicer must
account with or to the Treasurer/or money
received.
t}. To give reasons; to assign the
to explain ; with for; as, idleness accounts
for poverty.
3. To render reasons ; to answer for
responsible character.
We must account for all the talents entrusted
to us.
-.A€€OUNTABIL'ITY, n. The state of being
liable to answer for one's conduct ; habil-
jty to give account, and to receive reward
or punishment for actions.
The awful idea of accountability.
R. Hall
2. Liability to the payinent of money or of
damages ; responsibility for a trust
ACCOUNT' ABLE, a. Liable to be called to
account ; answerable to a superior.
Every man is accountable to God /or his con
duct.
2. Subject to pay, or make good, in case of
loss. A sheriff is accountable, as bailiff and
receiver of goods.
.Accountable for, that may be explained. [.Vot
elegant.]
.\CCOUNT'ABLENESS, n. Liablencss to
answer or to give accoimt ; the state ofj
being answerable, or liable to the payment
of monev or damages.
ACCOUNT' ANT, n. One skilled in mercan-
tile accounts ; more generally, a person
who keeps accounts ; an oflicer in a pub-
lic oflice who has charge of the accounts.
In Great Britain, an officer in the court
of chancery, who receives money and
pays it to the bank, is called accountant-
general.
ACCOUNT'-BOOK, n. A book in which
accounts are kept. Sufijt.
ACCOUNT'ED, pp. Esteemed; deemed;
considered ; regarded ; valued.
Accounted for, ex]>lained.
A.CCOUN'T'ING, n;7r. Deeming ; esteeming ;
reckoning ; rendering an account.
Accounting for, rendering an account ; as-
signing the reasons ; unfoldmg the causes.
ACCOUNT'ING, n. The act of reckoning
or adjusting accounts.
VCCOUPLE, V. t. accup'plc. To couple ; to
join or link together. [See Couple.]
ACCOUPLEMENT, n. accup'plement. A
couphng ; a connecting in paus ; jimction.
{Ijittle used.]
ACCOUR'AGE, v. t. accur'age. [See Cour-\
age.] To encourage. [JVut tised.]
Spenser.'
ACCOURT, V. t. [See Court.] To entertain'
witli courtesy. [Ao< used.] Spenser}
ACCOUTER, tJ. f. accoot'er. [Fr. accoutrer ;'
contracted from accoustrfr, from Norm.j
costc, a coat, coster, a rich cloth or vest-
ment for festivals. I think this to be the!
true origin of the word, rather than cou-\
dre, couture, couturier.] [
In a general sense, to dress ; to equip ; but ^
appropriately, to array in a militaiy dress •^'
to put on, or to ftu'nish with a military
dress and arms ; to equip the body for
military service.
ACCOUt'ERED, pp. Dressed in arms;
Ai't'Ol T ERIXG, ppr. Equipping with
iiiilitarv haliilinients. *
ACCOUt'ERMENTS,?!. plu. Dress ; equip-
age ; furniture for the body ; appropri-
ately, miUtary dress and arms ; equijiage
for miUtary service.
3. In common usage, an old or unusual Ai
ACCOY', V. t. [old Fr. accoisir. Todd.]
To render quiet or diffident ; to soothe ; to
caress. [Obs-] Spenser.
ACCRED'IT, r. «. [Fr. accrcrfi7er; Sp. acrc-
ditar; It. accreditare; to give authority or
reputation ; from L. ad and credo, to be-!
heve, or give faith to. See Credit.] j
To give credit, authority, or reputation ; to'
accredit an envoy, is t6 receive him in his
public character, and give him credit and
rank accordinglv.
ACCREDITATION, n. That which sives
title to credit. [Ldttle used.]
ACCRED'ITED, pp. Allowed ; received
with reputation ; authorized in a public
character. Christ. Obs.
ACCRED'ITING,;>p-. Giving authority or
reputation.
ACCRES'CENT, a. [See Accretion.] In-
creasing. Shuckford.
ACCRE'TION, n. [Lat. accretio
accres'co, to increase, literally, to grow
ad .iiid cresco ; Eiig. accrue ; Fr. accroitre.
See Increase, Accrue, Grow.]
\. A growing to ; an increase by natural
growth ; applied to the increase of organic
bodies by the accession of parts.
Plants have an accretion, but no alimenta-
tion. Bacon.
2. In the civil law, the adhering of property
to sometlijng else, by which the owner of
one thing becomes possessed of a right to
anotlier ; as, when a legacy is lef\ to two
persons, and one of them dies before the
testator, the legacy devolves to the sur-
vivor by right of accretion. Encyc.
ACCRE'TIVE, a. Increasing by growth;
growing; adding to by growth; as the
accretive motion of plants.
ACCROACH, V. i. [Fr. accrocher, to fix on a
hook ; from croc, crochet, a hook, from
the same elements as crook, which see.]
1. To hook, or draw to, as with a hook ; but
in this sense not used.
2. To encroach ; to draw away from an-
other. Hence in old laws to assume the
e.vercise of royal prerogatives.
Bhckstone.
The noun accroachment, an encroachment, or
attempt to exercise royal power, is rarely
or never used. [See Encroach.]
ACCRUE, V. i. accru'. [Fr. accroitre, accru,
to increase; L. accresco, cresco; Sp. crecer
and acrectr ; It. crescere, accrescere ; Port.
crecer : Arm. crisqi.]
Literally, to grow to; hence to arise, pro-
ceed or come ; to be added, as increase,
profit or damage ; as, a profit accrues to
government from the coinage of copper ;
a loss accrues from the coinage of gold
and silver.
ACCRUE, n. accru'. Something that ac-
cedes to, or follows the property of an-
other. 04s.
ACCRU'ING, ppr. Growing to ; arising ;
coming ; being added.
.'V.CCRU'MENT, n. Addition ; increase.
[Little used.] Montagu.
(fACCUBA'TION, n. [L. accubatio, a rechn-
ing, from ad and cubo, to lie down. See
Cube.] A lying or reclining on a couch, as
the ancients at their meals. The manner
was to rechne on low beds or couches
with the head restmg on a pillow or on the
elbow. Two or three men lay on one bed,
the feet of one extended behind the back
of another. This practice was not permit-
ted among soldiers, children, and senants ;
nor was it known, until luxury had cor-
rupted manners. Encyc.
.^iCCUMB', V. i. [L. accumbo ; ad and cubo.]
recline as at table. [.Vot used.]
ACeUM'BENCY, n. State of being accum-
bent or reclining.
ACCUM'BENT, a. [L. accumbens, accumbo,
from cubo. See Accubation.] Leaning or
reclining, as the ancients at their meals.
ACCU'MULATE, v. t. [L. accumulo.ad md
cumulo, to heap; cumulus, a heap; Sp.
acuimilar ; It. accumulare ; Fr. accumu-
ler, combler.]
1. To lieap up ; to pile ; to amass ; as, to accu-
mulate earth or stones.
2. To collect or bring together; as to accu-
mulate causes of misery ; to accumulate
wealth.
ACCU'MULATE. v. i. To grow to a grea'.
A C C
.-ii/e, mmiber or quantity ; to
^'leatly ; as public evils uccumulale
ACCUMULATE, a. Collected into a mass,
orfjiiaiitity. Bacon
ACCUMULATED, ipp- Collected into i
lic,-i|i i.r ^'irat quantity.
Aid Ml LV'l'lNG, ;);))•. Heaping up
i(iM^(>-in^ : increasing greatly.
ACCLMULATION, n. Thekct ofaccunni
latiiig ; tlie state of being accumulated ; ai
amassing; a collecting together; as ai:
nccumulation of earth or of evils.
•2. In tat', the concun-ence of several titles
to the same thing, or of several circum
stances to the same proof. Encyc.
3. In Universities, an accumulation of degrees,
is tlie taking of several together, or at
.smaller intervals than usual, or than is
allowed by the rules. Encyc.
AeCU'MULATIVE, a. That accumulates;
heapuig up ; accumulating.
ACCU'MULATOR, n. One that accumu-
lates, gathers, or amasses.
ACCURACY, n. [L. accuratio, from accu-
rare, to take care of; ad and curare, to take
care ; cxira, care. See Care.]
1. Exactness ; exact conformity to truth ; or
to a rule or model ; freedom from mistake ;
nicety; correctness; precision wliich re-
sults from care. The accuracy of ideas or
ophiions is conformity to truth. The val-
ue of testimony depends on its accuracy ;
copies of legal instruments should be taken
with accuracy.
2. Closeness ; tightness ; as a tube sealed with
accuracy.
ACCURATE, a. [L. accuratus.] In exact
conformity to truth, or to a standard or
rule, or to a model ; free from failure, error,
or defect ; as an accurate account ; accurate
measure ; an accurate expression
2. Determinate ; precisely fixed ; as, one body
may not have a very accurate influence on
another. Bacon
3. Close ; perfectly tight ; as an accurate seal-
ing or luting.
ACCURATELY, adv. Exactly ; in an accu-
rate manner ; with precision ; without er-
ror or defect ; as a writing accurately copied.
9. Closely; so ' • ■ ■ ^ J-
vial
AC
ACE
2. The charge of an offense or criiiif
the declaration containing the charge.
They set over his head his accusation, ]
ACCU'SATIVE, a. A term given to a case
of noims, in Grammars, on which thi
tion of a verb terminates or falls ; called
in English Grammar the objective case.
ACCU'SATIVELY, adv. In an accusative
manner.
2. In relation to the accusative case
Grammar.
ACCU'SATORY, a. Accusing ; containing
an accusation ; as an accusatory libel.
ACCU'SE, ». <. sasz. [L. accuse, to blame.
ad and causor, to blame, or ac-
causa, blame, suit, or process.
ACE
Port
lui ui ucicci, asu n rnmg accurately copiea.
Closely ; so as to be peifectly tight ; as a
vial accurately stopped. Comstock.
3'eURATENESS, n. Accuracy; exact-
ness ; nicety ; precision.
ACCURSE, V. t. accurs', [Ac for ad and
curse.] To devote to destruction ; tounpre
cate misery or evil upon. [This verb i
rarely used. See Curse.]
ACCURS'ED, pp. or a. Doomed to destruc
tion or misery :
The city shall be accursed. John vi.
2. Separated fi-om the faithful ; cast out of
the church ; excommunicated.
I could wish myself accursed from Christ.
St. Paul,
\S. Worthy of the curse : detestable ; exe-
crable.
Keep from tlie accursed tiling. Josh. vi.
Hence,
4. Wicked ; malignant in the extreme.
ACCU'SABLE, a. That may be accused ;
chargeable with a crime ;"blamable; ha-
^ ble to censure ; followed by of.
ACCU'SANT, n. One who accuses. Hall.
ACCUSA'TION, n. The act of charging
with a crime or offense ; the act of accus-
ing of any wrong or injustice.
cause ; t v. accuser ;
accusar; It.accusare; Arm. accusi. The
sense is, to attack, to drive against, t(
charge or to fall upon. See Cause.]
1. To charge with, or declare to have com
mitted a crime, either by plaint, or com
plaint, information, indictment,or impeach-
ment ; to charge with an offense against
the laws, judicially or by a public process
as, to accuse one of a high crime or mis-
demeanor.
2. To charge with a fault ; to blame.
Their thoughts, in the meanwhile, accusing
or excusing one another. Rom. ii.
It is followed by o/ before the subject of ac-
cusation ; the use of for after this verb is
illegitimate.
ACCU'SED, pp. Charged with a crime, by
a legal process ; charged with an offense
blamed.
ACCU'SER, n. One who accuses or blames
an oflicer who prefers an accusation
against another for some offense, in the
name of the government, before a tribu
nal that has cognizance of the offense.
ACCU'SING, ppr. Charging with a crime
blaming.
ACCUS'TOM, V. t. [Fr. accoutumer, from ad
and coutume, coustume, custom. See Cus-
tom.]
Toinake familiar by use ; to form a habit I: _
practice ; to habituate or inure ; as to
accustom one's self to a spare diet.
ACCUS'TOM, V. i. To be wont, or habitu
ated to do any thing. [Little used.]
3. To cohabit. [Abi«serf.] Milton.
ACCUS'TOM, n. Custom. [JVot used.]
Milton
ACCUS'TOMABLE, a. Of long custom ;
habitual ; customary. [Little used.]
ACCUS'TOMABLY, adv. According
custom or habit. [Little used.]
ACCUS'TOMAISfCE, n. Custom ; habitual
use or practice. [JVotused.] Boyle.
ACCUS'TOMARILY, adv. AcconUng to
custom or common practice. [See Cus-
■" '; used.]
, a. Ui
[See Ciistoman/.] [Little used.
ACCUS'TOMED, pp. Being fainihar by
use ; habituated ; inured.
2. o. Usual ; often practiced ; as in their ac-
customed manner.
ACCUS'TOrMING, ppr. Making famihar
by practice ; inuring.
ACE, n. [L. as, a unit or pound ; Fr. as ;
It. asso; D. aas; G. ass; Sp. as.]
A unit ; a single point on a card or die ; or
the card or die so marked.
tomarily.] [Little used.
ACCUS'TOMARY, a. Usual; customary
2. A very small quantity; a panicle; an atonj;
a trifle ; aw a creditor will not abate an ace
of his demand.
ACEL'DAMA, n. [Ch. Spn, a field, and
KOI, Ch. Syr. and Sam., blood.]
A field said to have lain south of Jerusalem,
the same as the potters field, purchased
with the bribe which Judas took for betray-
ing his master, and therefore called the
field of blood. It was appropriated to the
interment of strangers.
ACEPH'ALOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and«t«„,
a head.]
Without a head, headless. In lustory, the
term Acephali, or AcephaUtes was given
to several sects who refused to follow
some noted leader, and to such bishops as
were exempt from the jurisdiction and dis-
cipline of their patriarch. It was also
given to certain levelers who acknowl-
edged no head in the reign of Henry 1st.
It was also applied to the Blemmvcs, a
pretended nation of Africa, and to "other
tribes in the East, whom ancient natural-
ists represented as havhig no head : their
eyes and mouth being plncnl in other
parts. Modern discoverjis li:n c ili>-i|>;it-
ed these fictions. In Kii?jli-li l.;i\\ >. men
who held lands of no paiti. iilai lonl, and
clergymen who were under no bisliop.
L. L. Hen. I. Cowel.
ACEPH'ALUS, n. An obsolete name of the
tjenia or tape worm, which was formerly
supposed to have no head ; an error now
exploded. The term is also used to ex-
press a verse defective in the begimiing.
ACERB', a. [L. acerbus ; G. herbe, harsh,
sour, tart, bitter, rough, whence herbst,
autumn, herbstzeit, harvest time ; D. herfst,
harvest. See Harvest]
Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste ; sour,
with astringency or roughness ; a quaUty
of unripe fruits. Qtiincy.
ACERB'ITY, n. A sourness, with rough-
ness, or astringency.
Figuratively, harshness or severity of
temper in man.
ACER'IC, a. [L. acer, a maple tree.]
Pertaining to the maple ; obtamed from the
na))le, as aceric acid. Ure.
AC'EROUS, a. [L. acerosus, chaflfy, from
acus, chaffer a point.] In botany, chaffy ;
resembling chaff.
2. An acerous or acerose leaf is one which
is linear and permanent, in form of a nee-
dle, as m pine. Martyru
ACES'CENCY, n. [L. acescens, turning
sour, from acesco. See Acid.] A turning
sour by spontaneous decomposition ; a
state of becoming sour, tart, or acid ; and
hence a being moderately sour.
ACES'CENT, a. Turning .sour; becoming
tait or acid by spontaneous decomposition.
Hence sliglitly sour ; but the latter sense
is usually expressed by acidulous or sub-
acid. JVicholson.
ACES'TE, n. In entomology, a species of
papUio or butterfly, with subdentated
wings, found in India. Cyc.
ACES'TIS, n. [Gr.] A factitious sort of
chi-ysocolla, made of Cyprian verdigris,
urine, and niter. Cyc.
ACETAB'ULUM, n. [L. from acetum, vin-
egar. See Acid.] Among the Romans a
A C H
A C I
A C 1
vinegar cnise or like vessel, and a meas-
ure of about one eighth of a pijit.
1. In anatomy, the cavity of a bone for receiv-
ing the protuberant end of another bone,
and therefore forming the articulation cal-
led enarthrosis. It is used especially for
the cavity of the os Innominatum, which
receives the liead of the thigh bone
ACTIE'AN, a. Pertaining to Acliaia in
Greece, and a celebrated league or con-
federacy established there. Tliis State lay
on the gulf of Corinth, within Pelopon-
nesus.
ACIIERN'ER, n. A star of the first magni-
tude m the southern extremity of the con-
stellation Eridanus.
2. In botfiny, the trivial name of a species of A€H'ER!SET, n. An ancient measure of
■■ ■ " ■ corn, supposed to be about eight bushels.
Encyc.
ACHIE'VABLE, a. [See Achieve.^ That
may be performed. Barrow.
ACHIE'VANCE, n. Performance. Ehjol.
.'VCIIIE'VE, v.t. [Fr.ac/ieucr, to finish; Ann.
acchui; old Fr. cJicver, to come to the end,
from Fr. chef, the head or end ; old Eng.
cheve ; Sp. and Port, acabar, from cabo, end,
cnpe. See Chief.]
1. To i)erform, or execute ; to accomplisli ;
to finish, or carry on to a final close. It is
apiiropriately used for the effect of efforts
made by tlie hand or bodily exertion, as
fleeds achieved by valor.
2. To gain or obtain, as the result of exertion.
Show all the spoils by valiaat Kings achieved.
Prior.
AOIIIE'VEn, pp. Performed; obtained ;
piv.izn, the cup peziza ; so called from its
reseinbliince to a cup.
3. A glandular substance found in the placen-
ta of some anunals.
4. It is sometimes used in the sense of Coty-
ledon.
5. A species of lichen. Cyc.
^AC'ETARY, n. [^ee Acid.] An acid pulpy
substance in certain fi-uits, as the pear, in-
closed in a congeries of small calculous
bodies, towards the base of the fruit.
Grew.
ACETATE, n. [See Acid.] In chimistry, a
neutral salt formed by the union of the
acetic acid, or radical vuiegar, with any
saUfiable base, as with earths, metals, and
alkalies; as the ace/aie of alumine, of lime,
or of copper. Lavoisier.
AC'ETATED, «. [See Acid.] Combined
with acetic acid, or radical vinegar.
ACE'Tle, o. [See Acid.] A term used to
denote a particular acid, acetic acid, the
concentrated acid of vinegar, or radical
vinegar. It may be obtained by exposing
common vinegar to fi-ost — the water frcez"
ing leaves the acetic acid, in a state of pu
rity.
ACETIFI€A'TION, n. The act of making
acetous or sour; or the operation of mak-
ing vinegar. Cyc.
ACE'TIFY, V. t. To convert into acid oi
vinegar. Aikin
AC'ETITE, n. [See Add.] A neutral salt
formed by the acetous acid, with a salifi
able base ; as the acelitc of copper, alumi
nous acetite. Lavoisier
ACETOM'ETER, n. [L. acetum, vinegar,
and liftfiov, measure.]
An instrument for ascertaining the strengtl
of vinegar. Ure.
ACETOUS, a. [See Acid.] Sour; hke or
having the nature of vinegar. Acetous
acid is the term used by chimists for dis
tilled vinegar. Tliis acid, in union with
different bases, forms salts called acetites.
ACETUM, n. [L. See Add.] Vmegar; a
sour liquor, obtained from vegetables dis
solved in boiUng water, and from ferment
ed and spirituous liquors, by expositig tliem
to heat and air.
This is called the acid or acetous fermenta
tion.
A€HE, V. i. ake. [Sax. ace, ece ; Gr. axtu.
to aclie or be in pain ; a;K05, pain. Tli
primary sense is to be pressed. Perhaps
the oriental pi;? "
1. To suffer pain ; to have or be in pain, or
in continued pain ; as, the head aclm.
• 2. To suffer grief, or extreme grief; to be
- ' distressed ; as, the heart aches
AGHE, 7!. ake. Pain, or continued pain, in
opposition to sudden twuiges, or spasmod
ic ])ain. It denotes a more moderate de
gree of pain than pang, anguish, suid tor-
Vol. L
VCIllK'VEMENT, n. The performance of
i-tii
2. A great or heroic deed ; something ac-
complished by valor, or boldness.
3. An obtaining by exertion.
4. An escutcheon or ensigns armorial, grant-
ed for the performance of a great or hon-
orable action. Encyc.
ACHIE'VER, n. One who accomplishes a
purpose, or obtains an object by his exer-
tions,
ACHIE'VING,p;)r. Performing; executing ;
gaining.
A'ellING, ppr. Being in pain ; suffering
distress.
A'€HING, n. Pain; continued pain or distress.
A'CHIOTE, n. The anotta, a tree, and adriig
used for dyeing red. The bark of the tree
makes good cordage, and the wood is used
to excite fire by friction. [See Anotta.]
Clavigero.
A'€HOR, n. [Gr. a;t"P, sordes capitis.]
. The scald head, a disease forming scaly
eruptions, supposed to be a critical evac-
uation of acrimonious humors ; a species
of herpes. Hooper. Quincy.
. In mythology, the God of flies, said to have
been worshipped by the Cyreneans,
avoid being vexed bv those insects. Encyc.
A€HR03IAT'I€, a. "[Gr. a priv. and ;i:p"iu<t,
color.]
Destitute of color. Achromatic telescopes
are formed of a combination of lenses
which separate the variously colored rays
of light to equal angles of divergence, ';ii
different angles of refi-action of the niuai
ray. In this case, the rays being made i.
refract towards contrary parts, the w holt
ray is caused to deviate from its course,!
without being separated into colors, and}
the o[)tical aberration arising fi-om the
rious colors of light, is prevented. This
telescope is an invention of DoUand.
JVicholson.
\CI€'ULAR, a. [L. adcula, Priseian, a
needle, froniGr. axtj, L. acies,3. point. See
Acid.]
3
Intlic shape of a needle; having sharp point*
like iieedlcs. Kirwan. Martyn.
\n ncicidar prism is when the crystals are
slender and straight. Phillips.
ACl€'ULARLY, adv. In the manner of
needles, or prickles.
ACID, a. [L. acidus ; Sax. aced, vine-
gar ; from the root of ades, edge ; Gr.
axr] ; W. oKif, an edge or point. See Edge.]
Sour, sharp or biting to the taste, having the
taste of vinegar, as addfruils or liquors.
AC'ID, n. In chimistry, acids are a class of
of substances, so denominated from their
taste, or the sensation of .sourness which
they ijnidnce on the tongue. But the
namc^ is now given to several substances,
which ha\e not this characteristic in an
eminent degree. The properties, by which
they are distinguished, are these :
1. When taken into the mouth, they occa-
sion the taste of sourness. They are cor-
rosive, unless diluted with water ; and some
of them are caustic.
2. They change certain vegetable blue colors
to red, and restore blue colors which have
been tiu-ned green, or red colors which
have been turned blue by an alkali.
3. iWost of them unite with water in all pro-
jjortions, with a condensation of volume
and evolution of heat ; and many of them
have so strong an attraction for "water, as
not to appear in the sohd state.
4. They have a stronger affinity for alka-
hes, than these have for any other sub-
stance ; and in combining with them, most
of them produce effervescence.
They unite with earths, alkaUes and me-
tallic oxyds, forming interesting com-
pounds, usually called salts.
6. With few exceptions, they are volatiUzed
or decomposed by a moderate heat.
The old chimists divided acids into ani-
mal, vegetable, and mineral — a division
now deemed inaccurate. They are also
divided into oxygen acids, hydrogen acids,
and acids destitute of these acidifiers.
Another division is into acids with simple
radicals, acids with double radicals, acids
with triple radicals, acids with imknown
radicals, compound acids, dubious acids,
and acids destitute of oxygen.
Lavoisier. Thomson. J^icholson. Aikin.
ACIDIF'EROUS, a. [Acid and L. fero.]
Containing acids, or an acid.
Acidiferous minerals are such as consist of
an earth combined with an acid; as carbo-
nate of Ume, alumuiite, &c. Phillips.
VCID'IFIABLE, a. [From Acidify.]
Capable of being converted into an acid, by
union with an acidifying principle, with-
out decomposition.
ACIDIFI€A'TION, n. The act or process
of aridifvuig or changing into an acid.
\ril) II'IKD, pp. Made acid; converted
veil* ll'IKR, n. That which by combina-
tion Ibiins an acid, as oxygen and hydro-
gen.
ACID'IFY, I', t. [Add and L.fncio.]
To make acid ; but appropriately to convert
into an acid, chimically so called, by com-
bination with any substance.
ACIDIFYING, ppr. Making acid; con-
verting into an acid ; having power to
change into an acid. Oxygen is called the
acidifying principle or element.
A C K
ACIDIM'ETER, n. [Acid and Or. nitf^ov,
measure.]
All instrument for ascertaining tlie strength
of acids. Ure.
ACID'ITY, n. [Fr. aciditi, from acid.]
The quality of being sour; sourness; tart-
ness ; sharpness to the taste.
AC'IDNESS, n. The quahty of being sour;
acidity.
ACIDULATE, v. t. [L. addulus, shghtly
sour; Fr. aarfwier, to make sour. See^a'rf."
To tuige with an acid ; to made acid in i
moderate degre. A-buthnot.
ACID'ULATED, pp. Tinged with an acid ;
made slightly sour.
ACID'ULATING,;7jur. Tinging with an acid
AC'IDUIiE, \ 11. In chimistry, a compound
ACID'ULUM, S salt, in which the alkahne
base is su])ersaturated with acid ; as, tarta
reous aciduhim ; oxalic acidulum.
ACIDULOUS, a. [L. addulus. See Add.]
Slightly sour ; sub-acid, or having an ex
cess of acid ; as, addulous sulphate.
ACINAC'IFORM, a. [L. acmaces, a cime
ter, Gr. axuaxs;?, and Tl,. forma, form.]
In botany, formed like, or resembling a cim-
eter. Marfyn.
AC'INIFORM, a. [L. annus, a grape stone
and forma, shape.]
Having the form of grapes ; being ui clusters
Uke grapes. The uvea or posterior la-
men of the iris in the eye, is called the
adniform tunic. Anatomists apply the
term to many glands of a similar forma
tion. Qtiincy. Hooper
ACINOSE, > a. [From L. acinus. Set
ACINOUS, S Adniform.]
Consisting of minute granular concretions
used in mineralogy. Kirwan
ACINUS, n. [L.] In botany, one of the
small grains, which compose the fruit of
the blackbeiTy, &c.
ACIPENSER, a. In ichthyology, a genus
of fishes, of the order of chondropterygii,
having an obtuse head ; the mouth under
the head, retractile and without teeth.
To this genus belong the sturgeon, ster-
let, huso, &c. Cyc
\CIT'LI, n. A name of the water hare, or
great crested grebe or diver.
Diet, of Nat. Hist
A€KNOWL'EDGE, v.t. Aknol'edge, [ad
and knoivledge. See Kno%p.]
J. To own, avow or admit to be true, by a
declaration of assent ; as to acknoiuh'dge
the being of a God.
'3. To own or notice with particular regard.
In all thy ways acknowledge God. Prov. iii.
Isa. xxxiii.
?i. To own or confess,
sciousness of guilt.
1 acknowledge my transgressions, and my
sin is ever before me. Ps. li. and x.\xii.
4. To own with assent ; to admit or receive
with approbation.
He tliat acknowledgeth the son, hath the
the father also. 1 John ii. 2 Tim. ii.
3. To own with gratitude ; to own as a ben-
efit ; as, to acknowledge a favor, or the re-
ceipt of a gift.
They his gifts acknowledged not. Milton.
G. To own or admit to belong to ; as, to ac-
knowledge a son.
7. To receive with respect.
AU tbat eee them shall acknowledge that
A C O
implying a con-
they are the seed which the Loid hath blessed
Isa. vi. I Cor. xvi.
8. To own, avow or assent to an act in a le-
gal foriri, to give it validity ; as, to acknowl-
edge a deed before competent authority.
A€KNOWL'EDGED, pp. Owned ; con-
fessed ; noticed with regard or gratitude ;
received with approbation ; owned before
authoritv-
A€KNOWL'ED(iING, ppr. Owning ; con
fessing ; approving ; grateful ; but the lat-
ter sense is a galUcism, not to be used.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, n. The act of
owning ; confession ; as, the acknowledg-
ment of a fault.
2. The ownuig, with approbation, or m the
true character ; as the acknowledgment of
a God, or of a pubUc mmister.
3. Concession ; admission of the truth ; as,
of a fact, position, or principle.
4. The owning of a benefit received, accom-
panied with gratitude ; and hence it com
bines the ideas of an expression of thanks.
Hence, it is used also for something given
or done ui return for a favor.
5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act
to give illegal vahdjty ; as the acknowledg-
ment of a deed before a proper officer.
icknoivledgment-money, in some parts of Eng-
land, is a stun paid by tenants, on the death
of their landlord, as an acknowledgment
of their new lords. Encyc.
A€'aiE, n. Ac'my. [Gr. axuri.]
The top or highest point. It is used to de-
note the maturity or perfection of an ani-
mal. Among physicians, the crisis of a
disease, or its utmost violence. Old med-
ical writers divided the progress of a dis-
ease into four periods, the arche, or begin-
ning, the anabasis, or increase, the acme
or utmost violence, and the paracme.
or decline. But acme can hardly be con-
sidered as a legitimate English word.
A€'NE, n. Ac'ny. [Gr.]
A small hard pimple or tubercle on the face.
Qiiincy.
ACNES'TIS, n. [Gr. a priv. and xiuu, to rub
or gnaw.]
That part of the spine in quadi'upeds which
extends from the metaphrenon, between
the shoulder blades, to the loins ; which
the animal cannot reach to scratch.
Coxe. (^uincy.
A€'0, n. A Mediterranean fish, called
sarachus.
AG'OLIN, n. A bird of the partridge kind
in Cuba. Its breast and belly are white ;
its back and tail of a dusky yellow brown
Diet. ofJVat. Hist
A€OL'OTHIST, ? ,„ , « i
A€'OLYTE, I "• [^■■- <""'^»'"-]
In the ancient church, one of the subordinate
officers, who hghted the lamps, prepared
the elements of the sacraments, attended
the bishops, &c. An oflicer of the like
character is still employed in the Romish
Church. Encyc.
A€'ONITE, n. [L. aconitum; Gr. axo^^To^"
The herb wolf's bane, or monks-hood,
poisonous plant ; and in poetry, used for
poison in general.
AeON'TIAS, n. [Gr. axovtias
dart, from axuv.]
1. A species of serpent, called dart -snake, or
jaculum, liomits maimer of dartuig on its
prey. This serjieni is about three feet iji
AGO
length ; of a hght gray color witli blaclr
spots, resembling eyes ; the belly perfectly
white. It is a native of Africa and the
Mediterranean isles; is the swiftest of its
kind, and cods itself upon a tree, from
which it darts upon its prey.
2. A comet or meteor resembUiig the serpent.
ACOP', adv. [a and cope.}
JAt the top. Obs. Jonsort.
A'€ORN, n. [Sax. eecem, from ace or ac,
oak, and com, a grain.]
1. The seed or fruit of the oak ; an oval nut
which grows in a rough permanent cup.
The first settlers of Boston were reduced to
the necessity of feeding on clams, muscles,
ground nuts, and acorns. B. Trumbull.
2. In marine language, a small ornamental
piece of wood, of a conical shape, fixed on
the point of the spindle above the vane, on
the mast head, to keep the vane from be-
ing blown off. Mar. Diet.
3. In natural history, the Lepas, a genus of
shells of several species found on the Brit-
ish coast. The shell is multivalvular, un-
equal, and fixed by a stem ; the valves are
parallel and pei-pendicular, but they do not
open, so that the animal performs its func-
tions by an aperture on the top. These
shells are always fixed to some solid body.
A'€ORNED, a. Furnished or loaded with
acorns.
A'eORUS, n. [L. from Gr. axopoi.]
1. Aromatic Calamus, sweet flag, or sweet
rush.
2. In natural history, blue coral, which grows
in the form of a tree, on a rocky bottom,
in some parts of the African seas. It is
brought from the Camarones and Benin.
Encyc.
3. In medicine, this name is sometimes given
to the great galangal. Encyc.
A€OTYL'EDON, n. [Gr. a priv. and xotv-
^yjiuv from xotvt.ij, a hollow.}
In botany, a plant whose seeds have no side
s, or cotyledons. Martim.
ACOTYLEDONOUS, a. Having no side
lobes.
ACOUS'TIC, a. [Gr. oxoisnaioj, from axovu,
to hear.]
Pertaining to the ears, to the sense of hear-
ing, or to the doctrine of sounds.
Acoustic duct, in anatomy, the meatus audito-
rius, or external passage of the ear.
Acoustic vessels, in ancient theaters, were bra-
zen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell,
used to proj)el the voice of the actors, so
as to render them audible to a great dis-
tance ; in some theaters at the distance of
400 feet. Encyc.
icoustic instrument, or auricular tube, called
in popidar language, a speaking trumpet.
Encyc.
Acoustics, or acousmalics, was a name given
to such of the disciples of Pythagoras, as
had not completed their five years proba-
tion.
A€OUS'TICS, n. The science of sounds,
teaching their cause, nature, and phenom-
ena. This science is, by some writers, di-
vided into diacoustics, which explains the
properties of sounds coming du-ectly from
the sonorous body to the ear; and catacou-
stics, which treats of reflected sounds.
But the distinction is considered of httl©
real utility.
2. lu medicine, this term is sometimes usetj
A c a
A c a
A C R
for remedies for deafness, or imperfect
hearinj^. quincij.
ACQUA'INT, V. t. [Old Fr. accointer, to
make known ; whence accointance, ac-
qnaintance. Qu. Per. \^l^s kunda,
knowing, intelligent ; Ger. kunde, knowl-
edge ; kwid, known, public ; D. kond or
kunde, knowledge ; Sw. klind, known ;
Dan. kimder, to know, to be acquainted
with. These words seem to have for their
primitive root the Goth, and Sax. kunnan,
to know, the root of cunning ; Ger. ken-
nen ; D. kunnen, kan ; Eng. can, and ken ;
which see.]
1. To make known ; to make fully or inti-
mately known ; to make famiUar.
A man of sorrows and acquainted with giicf.
Isaiah liii.
2. To inform ; to communicate notice to ; as, a
friend in the country acquaints me with hi;
success. Of before the object, as to ac-
quaint a man o/this design, has been used,
but is obsolete or improper.
3. To acquaint one^s self, is to gain an inti-
mate or particular knowledge of
JJcquaiiit now thyself with him and be at
peace. Job xxii.
A€QUAI'NTANCE, ?i. Famihar know-
edge ; a state of being acquainted, or of
having intimate or more than sUght or su-
perficial knowledge ; as, 1 knotv the man,
but have no acquaintance with him. Some-
times it denotes a more slight knowledge.
9. A person or persons well known ; usually
persons we have been accustomed to see
and converse with; sonietmies, persons
more slightly known.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me,
end mine acquaintance into darkness. Ps
bixxviii.
•Acquaintances, in the plural, is used, as ap
plied to individual persons known; but
more generally, acquaintance is used for
one or more.
Jicquaintant, in a like sense, is not used.
ACQUAINTED, pp. Known; famiharly
known ; informed ; having personal know-
ledge.
ACQUAINTING, ppr. Making known to ;
giving notice, or information to.
ACQUEST', n. [L. acquisitus, acquiro.]
1. Acquisition ; the tiling gained. Bacon.
2. Conquest ; a place acquired by force.
ACQUIESCE, V. i. acquiess'. [L. acquiesco
of ad and quiesco, to be quiet ; quies, rest
Fr. acquiescer.]
1 . To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or
to rest without opposition and discontent ;
usually implying previous opposition, m
easiness, or dislike, but ultimate compl:
ance, or submission ; as, to acquiesce in the
dispensations of providence.
2. To assent to, upon conviction ; as, to ac-
quiesce in an opmion ; that is, to rest satis-
fied of its correctness, or propriety.
Acquiesced in, in a passive sense, comphcd
with ; submitted to, without opposition
as, a measure has been acquiesced in.
ACQUIES'CENCE, n. A quiet assent ; a si-
lent submission, or submission with appa
rent content ; distinguished from avowed
consent on the one" hand, and on the other,
from opposition or open discontent ; as, an
acquiescence in the decisions of a court, or
in the allotments of providence.
ACQUIES'CENT, a. Resting satisfied;
easy; submjtthig; disposed to submit.
Johnson
ACQUIES'CING, ppr. Quietly submitting ;
resting content.
ACQUI'RABLE, a. That inay be acquired.
ACQUI'RE, V. t. [L. acquiro, ad and quwro, to
seek, that is to follow, to press, to urge ; ac-
quiro signifies to jmrsue to the end or ob-
ject; Fr.ac^uenr; Sp. arfgutnV ; Ar. Sy'i,
Heb. Ipn to seek, to make towards, to fol-
low. The L. qucesivi, unless contracted, is
jnobably from a difierent root. See class
Gr. and Gs.]
To gain, by any means, something wliich is
in a degree permanent, or which becomes
vested or inherent in the possessor ; as, to
acquire a title, estate, learning, habits,
skill, dominion, &.C. Plants acquire a green
color from the solar rays. A mere tempo-
rary possession is not expressed by acquire,
but by gain, obtain, procure ; as, to obtain
[not acquire] a book on loan.
Descent is the title whereby a man, on the
the deatli of liis ancestor, acquires liis estate, by
right of representation, as his heir at law.
Blackstone.
ACQUI'RED, pp. Gained, obtained, or re-
ceived fi-om art, labor, or other means,
in distinction from thosQ,things which are
bestowed by nature. Thus we say, abili-
ties, natural and acquired. It implies title,
or some permanence of possession.
ACQUI'REMENT, n. The act of acquiring,
or that wliich is acquired ; attainment,
is used ui opposition to natural gifts ; as,
eloquence, and skill in music and painting,
are acquirements ; genius, the gift of nature.
It denotes especially personal attainments,
in opposition to material or external thuigs
gained, whicli are more usually called ac-
quisitions ; but this distinction is not always
observed.
ACQUI'RER, n. A person who acquires.
ACQUIRING, ppr. Gaining by labor or
other means, something that has a degree
of permanence in the possessor.
ACQUI'RY, n. Acquirement. [.Vo< used.]
Barrow.
AC'QUISITE, a. s as ;. Gained. [.Vot used.]
Burton.
ACQUISI"TION, n. [L. acquisitio, fi-om ac-
quisitxts, acqucesivi, which are given as the
part, and prct. of acquiro ; but quasivi is
probably from a different root ; W. ceisiaw ;
Eth. rhUJUJ chasas, jchas ; Ar. ^i kassa,
to seek. Class Gs. ]
1. The act of acquiring ; as, a man takes
pleasure m the acquisition of property, as
well as in the possession.
2. The thing acquired, or gained ; as, learn-
ing is an acquisition. It is used for mtellec-
tual attainments, as well as for external
things, property, or dominion ; and in a
good sfiisp. (I<>niitiiig something estimable.
ACQl'lH rrn K. «. That is acquu-ed; ac-
quii-i-il : \hiit improper.] Walton.
ACQUI.-« 1TI\ ELY, adv. Noting acquirc-
meut, with to or for followuig.
Lilifs Grammar.
ACQUIST', n. See Acquest. [JVol used.]
Milton.
ACQUIT', v.t. [Fr. acquiUer; W. gadit,
gadaw ; L. cedo ; Arm. kitat, or quytaat,
to leave, or forsake ; Fr. quitter, to forsake ;
Sp. quitar; Port, quitar; It. quitare, to re-
mit, forgive, remove ; D. kttyten ; Ger. quil-
tiren.]
To set free ; to release or discharge from an
obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, sus-
picion, or whatever Ues upon a person as
a charge or duty ; as, the jury acquitted xho
prisoner ; we acquit a man of evil inten-
tions. It is followed by of before the ob-
ject ; to acquit from is obsolete. In a re-
ciprocal sense, as, the soldier acquitted
himself well in battle, the word has a like
sense, implying the discharge of a duty or
obhgation. Hence its use in expressing
excellence in performance ; as the orator ac-
quitted himself well, that is, in a manner
that his situation and public expectation
demanded.
ACQUIT'MENT, n. The act of acquitting,
or state of being acquitted. South.
S'his word is superseded by acquittal.]
IT'TAL, n. A judicial setting free, or
deliverance from the charge of an offense ;
as, by verdict of a jury, or sentence of a
court.
The acquittal of a principal operates as an
acquittal of the accessories.
ACQUITTANCE, n. A discharge or re-
lease from a debt.
2. The writing, which is evidence of a dis-
charge ; a receipt in full, which bars a
fui-thcr demand.
ACQUIT TED, pp. Set fiee, or judicially
(liscliiu-fi-cd iWiiri an accusation ; released
fri>iri H (Ic hi, iluty, obligation, charge, or
su.spi<-ioii of guilt.
ACQUIT'TING, ppr. Setting free from ac-
cusation ; releasing from a charge, obliga-
tion, or suspicion of guilt.
ACRA'SE, I V. t. To make crazy ; to in-
ACRA'ZE, S fatuate. [JYot in use.] [See
Crazy.]
2. To impair; to destroy. [JVotin use.]
AC'RASY, n. [Gr. axpaaia, from a priv. and
xpost;, constitution or temperament.]
In medical authors, an excess or predominan-
cy of one quahty above another, in mix-
tin-e, or ui the human constitution. Bailey.
ACRE, n. a'ker. [Sax. acer, acera, or acer ;
Ger. acker ; D. akker ; Sw. acker ; Dan.
ager ; W. eg- ; Ir. acra ; Gr. oypof ; Lat.
ager. In these languages, the word re-
tains its primitive sense, an open, plowed,
(II- >.i\\i',l III 111. In Eng. it retained its ori-
^■iii.il -ii;iiii;r:iiiiin, that of any open field,
iiiiiil II \\,i- liMiitod to a definite quantity
liv .i,,rin. > -il. Ed. 35. Ed. 1. 24. H. 8. '
Cowel.]
1. A quantity of land, containing 160 square
rods or jierches, or 4840 square yards.
This is the EngUsh statute acre. ' The
acre of Scotland contains 6150 2-5 square
yards. The French arpent is nearly equal
to the Scottish acre, about a fifth larger
than the English. The Roman juger was
3200 square yards.
•2. In the 3Iogul's dominions, acre is the
same as lack, or 100,000 rupees, equal to
£12,500 sterUng, or S55,.500.
Acre-fght, a sort of duel in the open field.
A C R
formerly fought by English and Scotch
combatants on their frontiers.
Acre-tax, a tax on land in England, at a cer-
tain sum for each acre, called also acre-shot.
A'€RED, a. Possessing acres or landed pro-
perty. Pope.
A€'R1D, a. [Fr. acre ; L. acer.]
Sharp; pungent; bitter; sharp or biting to
the taste ; acrimonious ; as acrid salts.
A€'RIDNESS, n. A sharp, bitter, pungent
quahty.
A€RIMO'NIOUS, a. Sharp; bitter; corro-
sive ; abounding with acrhnony.
2. Figuratively, severe ; sarcastic ; apphed to
language or temper.
A€RIMO'NIOUSLY, adv. With sharpness
or bitterness.
ACRIMONY, n. [L. (uriinonia, from acer,
sharp. The latter part of the word seems
to denote likeness, state, condition, like
head, hood, in knighthood; in which case it
may be from thesame root as maneo, Gr.
jutrco.]
1. Sharpness ; a quality of bodies, which
rodes, dissolves, or destroys others ; as, the
acrimony of the hiunors. Bacon.
2. Figuratively, sharpness or severity oftem-
per ; bitterness of expression proeeeduig
from anger, ill-nature, or petulance. South
AC'RISY, n. [Gr. o priv. and xptsi;-, judg
ment.]
A state or condition of which no right judg-
ment can be formed ; that of which no
choice is made ; matter in dispute ; inju
djciousness. [Ldttle used.] Bailey.
AC'RITUDE, n. [See Acrid.]
An acrid quahty ; bitterness to the taste
biting heat.
ACROAMAT'Ie, a. [Gr. oxpottjuof txo;, from
axpooo/iat, to hear.]
.\bstruse ; pertaining to deep learning ; an
epithet applied to the secret doctrines of
Aristotle. Enfield,
ACROAT'IC, a. [Gr. axpoartxo;.]
Abstruse ; pertaining to deep learning ; and
opposed to exoteric. Aristotle's lectures
were of two kinds, acroatic, acroamatic, or
esoteric, which were dehvered to a class of
select disciples, who had been previously
instructed in the elements of learning; and
cxotenc, which were dehvered in public.
The former respected being, God, and na-
ture ; the principal subjects of the latter
were logic, rhetoric, and policy. The ab-
struse lectures were called acroatics.
Enfield.
ACROCERAU'NIAN, a. [Gr. axpa, a sum-
mit, and xsfavvoi, thunder.]
An epithet apphed to certain mountains,
between Epirus and lUyricum, hi the 41
degree of latitude. Tliey project into the
Adriatic, and are so termed from beuig
often struck with lightning. Encyc.
ACRO'MION, n. [Gr. axpos, highest, and
u/ios, shoulder.]
In anatomy, tliat part of the spine of the
scapula, whicli receives the extreme pan
of the clavicle. Quj'ncT/.
A€RON'I€, I a. [Gr. axpos, extreme, and
A€RON'I€AL, S rul, night.]
(n astronomy, a term applied to tlie rising of
a star at sun set, or its setting at sun rise.
This rising or setting is called acronical.
The word is opposed to cosmical.
Banley. Encyc. Johnson.
A C T
A€RON'l€ALLY, adv. In an acronical
manner ; at the rising or setting of the
sun.
.\€'ROSPIRE, n. [Gr. axpos, highest, and
artcifa, a spire, or spiral line.]
A shoot, or sprout of a seed ; the plume, or
plumule, so called frotnits spu-alform.
Mortimer.
A€'ROSPIRED, a. Having a sprout, or
having sprouted at both ends. Mortimer.
ACROSS', prep, akraus'. [a and cross. See
Cross.]
1. From side to side, opposed to along, which
is in the direction of the length ; athwart ;
quite over ; as, a bridge is laid across a
river.
i. Intersecting ; passing over at any angle ;
as a line passing across another.
A€ROS'Tl€, n. [Gr. axpa, extremity or be-
ginning, and atix"!, order, or verse.]
A composition in verse, in which the first
letters of the Unes, taken in order, form the
name of a person, khigdom, city, &c.
which is the subject of the composition
or some title or motto.
A€ROS'Tle, a. That relates to, or contains
an acrostic.
ACROS'TICALLY, adv. ,In the manner of
ACT
A€T, V. t. To perform ; to represent a
character on the stage.
Act well your part, there all the honor lies.
Pope.
To feign or counterfeit. Obs. or improper.
With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
Xh-yden.
To put m motion ; to actuate ; to regulate
[In this latter sense, obsolete and superseded by
actuate, which see.]
ACT, ji. The exertion of power; the effect,
of which power exerted is the cause ; as,
the act of giving or receiving. In thia
sense, it denotes an operation of the mind.
Thus, to discern is an act of the understand-
ing ; to judge is an act of the will.
2. That which is done ; a deed, exploit, or
achievement, whether good or ill.
And his miracles and his acts wUch he did
in the midst of Egypt. Deul. xi.
3. Action ; performance ; production of ef-
fects ; as, an act of charity. But this sense
is closely allied to theforegoing.
A state of reality or real existence, as
A€ROTELEU'Tl€, li. [Gr. oxpo;, extreme
and Ti'Kivrij, end.]
\mong ecclesiastical ivriters, an appellation
given to any thing added to the end of a
psahn, or hymn ; as a doxology.
AC'ROTER, n. [Gr. oxpoyjjp, a summit.]
In architecture, a small pedestal, usually witl
out a base, anciently placed at the two
extremes, or m the middle of pediments or
frontispieces, serving to .support the statues,
&c. It also signifies the figures placed as
ornaments on the tops of churches, and the
shaip pinnacles that stand in ranges about
flat builduigs with rails and balusters.
Anciently the word signified the extremi-
ties of the body, as the head, hands, and
feet. Encyc.
ACROTHYM'ION, n. [Gr. azpos, extreme,
and Su^of, thyme.]
Among physicians, a species of wart, with a
narrow basis and broad top, having the
color of thyme. It is called Thymus.
Celsus.
ACT, V. i. [Gr. ayu, Lat. ago, to urge,
drive, lead, bring, do, perform, or in gen-
eral, to move, to exert force ; Cantabrian,
eg-, force ; W. eg'ni; Ir. cig-eon, force ; Ir.
aige, to act or carry on ; eachdmn, to do or
act ; actaim, to ordain ; eacht, acht, deed,
act, condition ; F. agir ; It. agire, to do
act.]
1. To exert power: as, the stomach acts upon
food ; the will acts upon the body in pro-
ducing motion.
2. To be in action or motion ; to move.
He hangs between in doubt to act or rest.
Pope
3. To behave, demean, or conduct, as in
morals, private duties, or public offices
as, we know not why a minister has acted
in this manner. But in this sense, it i.'
most frequent in popular language ; as
how the man acts or has acted.
To act up to, is to equal in action ; to fulfil
or perform a correspondent action ; as, he
has acted up to his engagement or hi:
advantages.
opposed to a possibility.
The seeds of plants are n
not at first in act, but
in possibility, what they afterwards grow to be.
Hooker.
5. In general, act denotes action completed ;
but preceded by in, it denotes incomplete
action.
She was taken in the very act. John viii.
In act is used also to signify incipient
action, or a state of preparation to exert
po wer ; as, " In act to strilte," a poetical use.
A part or division of a play, to be perform-
ed without interruption ; after which the
action is suspended to give respite to the
performers. Acts are divided into smaller
portions, called scenes.
7. The result of pubhc deliberation, or the
decision of a prince, legislative body,
council, court of justice, or magistrate :
a decree, edict, law, judgment, resolve,
award, determination ; as an act of par-
hament, or of congress. The term is also
transferred to the book, record, or writing,
containing the laws and determinations.
Also, any instrument in writing to verily
facts.
In the sense of agency, or power to pro-
duce effects, as in the passage cited by
Johnson, from Shakespeare, the use is im-
proper.
To tiy the vigor of them and apply
AUayments to their act.
.id, in English Universities, is a thesis
maintained in pid)lic, by a candidate for a
degree, or to show the proiSciency of a stu-
dent. At Oxford, the time when masters
and doctors complete their degrees is also
called the aci, which is held with great so-
lemnity. At Cambridge, as in the United
States," it is called commencement. Encyc.
Act of faith, auto da fe, in Cathohc countries,
is a solenm day held by the Inquisition,
for the punishment of heretics, and the
absolution of accused persons found inno-
cent ; or it is the sentence of the Inquisi-
tion.
Acts of the Apostles, the title of a book in the
New Testament, containing a history of
the transactions of the Apostles.
Acta Diiirna, among tiie Romans, a sort of
ACT
ACT
ACT
Gazette, containing an authorized account
of transactions in Rome, nearly siHiilar to
our newspapers.
^cta popuh, or atta publica, the Roman re-
gisters of assemblies, trials, executions,
biLililih'js, Iiirlii<. marriages, and deaths of
iili(-;n.'.,i-|,rr-i„,,s&c.
^di: .<. ,)(/hs-. mil, lit. 's of what passed in the
Rumaii Mjiiute, culled also conunentarii,
coniinciitaries.
A€T'ED,pp. Done; performed; represent-
ed oil the stage.
A€'TIAN, a. Relating to Actium, a town
and promontory of Epirus, as Actian
games, which were instituted by Augus-
tus, to celebrate his naval victory over
Anthony, near that town, Sep. 2, B. C. 31.
They were celebrated every five years.
Hence, Actian years, reckoned from that
era. Encyc.
ACT'ING,;>;)r. Doing; performing; behav-
ing ; representing the character of another.
A€T'ING, n. Action ; act of performing a
part of a play. Shak. Churchill.
A€'TINOLITE, n. [Gr. axnv, a ray, and
ueo;, a stone.]
A mineral, called, by Werner, strahlstcin,
ray-stone, nearly allied to hornblend. It
occurs in prismatic crjstals, which are
long, and incomplete, and sometimes ex-
tremely minute and even fibrous. Its
prevailing color is green of different
shades, or shaded with yellow or brown.
There are several varieties, as the com-
mon, the massive, the acicular, the glassy,
and the fibrous.
Werner. Kirwan. Cleaveland.
AetinoUte is crystalized, asbestiform, and
glassy. Phillips.
A€TlNOLIT'I€, a. Like or pertaining to
actinolite.
A€'T10N, n. [L. actio. See Act.]
1. Literally, a driving ; hence, the state of
acting or moving ; exertion of power or
force, as when one body acts on another ;
or action is the effect of power exerted on
one body by another ; motion produced.
Hence, action is opposed to rest. Action,
when produced by one body on another, is
mechanical ; when produced by the will of
a living being, spontaneous or voluntary.
[See Def. 3.]
2. An act or thing done ; a deed.
The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him
are actions weighed. 1. Sam. ii.
■i. In mechanics, agency ; operation ; driving
impulse ; effort of one body upon another ;
as, the action of wind upon a ship's sails.
Also the effect of such aetion.
4. In ethics, the external signs or expression
of the sentiments of a moral agent ; con-
duct ; behavior ; demeanor ; that is, mo-
tion or movement, with respect to a rule
or propriety.
5. In poetry, a series of events, called also
the subject or fable ; this is of two kinds ;
the principal action which is more strictly
the fable, and the incidental action or epi-
sode. Encyc.
6. In oratory, gesture or gesticulation ; the
external deportment of the speaker, or the
accommodation of his attitude, voice, gest-
ures, and countenance to the subject, or to
the thoughts and feelings of the mind.
Enajc.
7. In physiology, the motions or functionsof
the body, vital, animal, and natural ; vi-
tal and involuntary-, as the action of the
heart and lungs ; animal, as muscidar, and
all voluntary motions; natural, as mandu-
cation, deglutition, and digestion. Encyc.
8. In laiv, literally, an urging for right ; a
suit or process, by which a demand is
made of a right ; a claim made before a
tribunal. Actions are real, personal or
mixed ; real, or feudal, when the demand-
ant claims a title to real estate ; personal,
when a man demands a debt, jjersonal
duty, or damages in Ueu of it, or satisfac-
tion for an injury to person or property ;
and mired, when real estate is demanded,
with damages for a wrong sustained.
Actions are also civil or penal ; civil, when
instituted solely in behalf of private per-
sons, to recover debts or damages ; penal,
when instituted to recover a penalty, im-
posed by way of punishment. The w-ord
is also used for a right of action ; as, the law
gives an action for every claim.
Blackstone.
A chose in action, is a right to a thing,
in opposition to the possession. A bond
or note is a chose in action [Fr. chose, a
thing,] and gives the owner a right to prose-
cute his claim to the money, as he has an
absolute property in a light, as well as in
a thing, in possession.
In some countries of Europe, action is a
share in the capital stock of a company,
or in the pubhc funds, equivalent to oiir
term sluire ; and consequently, in a more
general sense, to stocks. The word is
also used for movable effects.
10. In painting and sculpture, the attitude or
position of the several parts of the body,
by wliich they seem to be actuated by pas-
sions ; as, the arm extended, to represent
the act of giving or receiving.
11. Battle ; fight ; engagement between
troops in war, whether on land or water,
or by a greater or smaller number of com-
batants. This and the 8th definition ex-
hibit the Uteral meaning of ac/to/i — a driv-
ing or urging.
Quantity ofaction, in physics, the product
of the mass of a body by the sjiace it
runs through and its velocity. Encyc.
In many cases action and act are synony-
mous : but some distinction between
them is observable. Action seems to
have more relation to the power that
acts, and its operation and process of
acting ; and act, more relation to the effect
or operation complete. Action is also more
generally used for ordinary transactions ;
and act, for such as are remarkable, or
dignified ; as, all our actions should be reg-
ulated by prudence ; a prince is distinguish-
ed by acts of heroism or humanity. Encyc.
Action taking, in Shakespeare, is used for hti-
gious.
A€'TIONABLE, a. That will bear a suit,
or for which an action at law may be sus-
tained ; as, to call a man a thief is actionable.
A€'TIONABLY, adv. In a manner that sub-
jects to legal process.
AC'TIONARY or AC'TIONIST, n. In
Europe, a proprietor of stock in a trading
company ; one who owns aefiois or shares
of stock.
ACT'IVE, a. [L. activus ; Fr. actif]
That has the power or quality of acting ; that
contains the principle of action, indepeii-
ilciit of any visible external force ; as,
attraction is an active power : or it may be
defined, that communicates action or mo-
tion, opposed to passive, that receives ac-
tion ; as, the active powers of the mind.
2. Having the power of quick motion, or
disposition to move with speed ; niTnble ;
hvely ; brisk ; agile ; as an active animal.
Hence,
3. Busy ; constantly engaged in action ;
pursuing business"with vigor and assidu-
ity ; op))osed to dull, slow, or indolent; as
an aetive officer. It is also opposed to
sedentary, as an active life.
4. Requiring action or exertion ; practical ;
operative ; producing real effects ; opposed
to speculative ; as, the active duties of Ufe.
a. In grammar, active verbs are those which
not only signify action, but have a noun
or name following them, denoting the
object of the action or impression ; called
also transitive, as they imply the passing
of the action expressed by the verb to the
object ; as, a professor instructs his pupils.
6. Active capital, or wealth, is money, or prop-
erty that may readily be converted into
money, and used in commerce or other
employment for profit. Hamilton,
7. Active commerce, the commerce in which
a nation carries its own productions and
foreign commodities in its own ships, or
which is prosecuted by its own citizens ;
as contradistinguishedfrom passive com-
merce, in which the productions of one
country are transported by the people of
another country.
The commerce of Great Britain and of
the United States is active ; that of China
is passive.
It maybe the interest of foreign nations
to deprive us, as far as possible, of oil
active commerce in our own bottoms.
Federalist, Hamilton.
ACTIVELY, adv. In an active manner;
by action ; nunbly ; briskly ; also in an
active signification, as a word is used
actively.
A€T'IVENESS, n. The quality of being
active; the faculty of acting; nimbleness;
quickness of motion; less used than activity.
A€T1V ITY, n. The quality of being ac-
tive; the active faculty ; nimbleness; agil-
ity ; also the habit of diligent and vigorous
pursuit of business ; as, a man of activity.
It is apphed to persons or things.
Sphere of activity, is the whole space in which,
the virtue, power, or influence of any ob-
ject, is exerted.
To put in activity, a French phrase, for put-
ting in action or employment.
A€T'OR, n. He that acts or performs ; an
active agent.
3. He that represents a character or acts a
part in a play ; a stage player.
3. Among civilians, an advocate or proctor
in civil courts or causes.
ACTRESS, n. A female who acts or per-
forms, and especially, on the stage, or in
a play.
A€T UAL, a. [Fr. actuel. See Act.]
Real or eftective, or that exists truly and
absolutely ; as, actual heat, opposed to
that, which is virtual or potential ; actual
cautery, or the burning by a red-hot iron,
opposed to a cautery- or caustic appUcation,
A C U
that may produce the same effect upon
the body by a different process.
2. Existing in act ; real ; in opposition to
sijecidative, or existing in theory only;
as an actual crime.
3. In theology, actual sin is that which is
committed by a person himself, opposed
to original sin, or the corruption of nature
supposed to be communicated from Adam.
4. That includes action.
Besides her walking and other actual per-
formances. [Hardly legitimate.} Shak.
A€TUAL'ITY, n. ReaUty. Haweis.
A€T'UALLY, adv. In fact ; really ; in truth.
ACTUARY, n. [L. aduan'its.]
A register or clerk ; a term of the civil law,
and used origmally in courts of civil law
jurisdiction ; but in Europe used for i
clerk or register generally.
ACT'UATE, a. Put in action. ILiUle used.
A€T UATE, V. t. [from act.]]
To put into action ; to move or incite to
action ; as, men are actuated by motiv
or passions. It seems to have been used
formerly in the sense of invigorate, noting
increase of action ; but the use
legitimate.
ACTUATED, pp. Put in action ; incited to
action.
ACTUATING, ppr. Putting in action ; in
citing to action.
ACTUATION, n. The state of being put in
action ; effectual o])eration. Glanville
ACT'US, n. Among the Romans, a measure
in building equal to 120 Roman feet. In
agriculture, the length of one furrow.
ACIJ ATE, V. t. [L. acuo, to sharpen. See
Acid.]
To sharpen ; to make pungent, or coiTosive.
[Little %ised.] Harvey.
ACUBE'NE, n. A star of the fourth magni-
tude in the southern clavif of Cancer.
ACUI "TION, n. [from L. acuo, to shaqien.]
The sharpening of medicines to increase
their effect.
ACU'LEATE, a. [L. aculeus, from acus.
Gr. axri, a point, and the diminutive ul.
See Acid.]
In botany, having prickles, or sharp points ;
pointed; used chiefly to denote prickles
lixed in the bark, in distinction from
thorns, which grow from the wood.
Milne.
2. In zoology, having a sting.
ACU'LEI, n. [L.] In botany and zoology,
piickles or spmes.
AC'ULON, or AC ULOS, n. [Gr. axv^oj,
probably from ac, an oak.]
The fruit or acorn of the ilex, or scarlet oak
ACU'MEN, )!. [L. acumen, from acus oi
acuo.']
A sharp point; and figm-atively, quickness
of perception, the faculty of nice discrim
ination.
ACU'MINATE, a. [L. acuminatus, from
Endins in a sharp point ; pointed.
ACU'MINATEK, a. Sliarpened to a point.
ACUMINA'TION, n. A sharpening ; termi-
nation in a sharp point.
ACUPUNCTURE, n. [L. acus, needle, and
punctura, or punctus, a pricking.]
Among the Chinese, a surgical operation,
performed by pricking the part aftected
with a needle, as in head-aches and lethar-
gieg. Encyc.
A D
AC'URU, n. The name in India of a fragrant
aloe-wood. As. Researches.
A'CUS, n. [L.] The needle-fish, or gar-fish.
3. The ammodyte or sand eel. Cyc.
3. The oblong cimex. Cyc.
ACUTE, a. [L. acutus, sharp-pointed ; Qu.
from acuo, acus, or from the Oriental m
had or chad, sharji, Heb. Ch. Ar.]
Shar]) at the end ; ending in a sharp point ;
opposed to blunt or obtuse. An acute angle
in geometry, is one which is less than a
right angle, or which subtends less than
ninety degrees. An acute angled triangle
is one whose three angles are all acute,
or less than ninety degrees each.
2. Figuratively, applied to mental powers;
penetrating ; having nice discernment ;
perceiving or using minute distinctions;
opposed to dull or stupid ; as an acute
soner.
3. Applied to the senses ; having nice or quick
sensibility ; susceptible of slight impres-
sions ; having power to feel or perceive
small objects ; as, a man of acute eye
sight, hearing, or feeling.
4. Aji acute disease, is one which is attended
with violent symptoms, and comes speedily
to a crisis, as a pleurisy ; opposed to chronic
5. An acute accent, is that wMch elevates or
sharpens the voice.
6. Ill music, acute is applied to a tone which
is sharp, or high ; opposed to grave.
. In botany, ending m an acute angle, as
leaf or perianth. Martyn.
ACUTELY, adv. Sharply ; keenly ; with
nice discrimination.
ACU'TENESS, n. Shaipness ; but seldom
used in this hteral sense, as apphed to ma-
terial things.
2. Figuratively, the faculty of nice discern-
ment or perception ; app'Ued to the senses,
or the understanding. By an acuteness of
feeUng, we perceive small objects or slight
impressions ; by an acuteness of intellect,
we discern nice distinctions.
3. Sharpness, or elevation of sound, in rhet-
oric or music. Boyle
4. Violence of a disease, which brings i)
speedily to a crisis.
ACUTIA'TOR, n. In the middle ages, a per-
son whose office was to sharpen instru-
ments. Before the invention of fire-arms,
such officers attended armies, to sharpen
their instruments. Encyc.
AD. A Latin preposition, signifying to. It
is probably from Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Eth.
nn«, Ar. 4^;;^, to come near, to approach;
from which root we may also deduce at.
In composition, the last letter is usually
changed into the first letter of the word to
which it is prefixed. Thus for addamo,
the Romans wrote acclamo ; for adgredior,
aggredior ; for adjirmo, affirmo ; for adlego,
allego ; for adpono, appono ; for adripio,
ai-npio ; for adscribo, ascribo ; for adtineo,
attineo. The reason of tliis change is found
in the ease of pronunciation, and agreea-
bleness of the sounds.
Ad hominem, to the man, m logic, an argu-
ment, adapted to touch the prejudices of
the person addressed.
Ad inquirendum, in law, a judicial writ com
manding inquiry to be made.
Ad libitum, [L.] at pleasure.
ADA
Ad valorem, according to the value, Lti' com*
merce and finance, terms used to denote
duties or charges laid upon goods, at a
certain rate per cent, upon their value, a?
stated in their mvoices ; in opposition to a
specific sum upon a given quantity or
number.
AD'AcjE, n. [L. adagium, or adagio; It.
adagio.]
A proverb ; an old saying, which has obtain-
ed credit by long use ; a wise observation
handed down from antiquity.
ADA'GIO, 71. [It. ffrfcfg-io, a compound of arf
and agio, leisure ; Sp. and Port, ocio ; L.
otium\; Fr. aise ; Eng. ease.]
In music, a slow movement. As an adverb,
slowly, leisurely, and with grace. When
repeated, adagio, adagio, it directs the
movement to be very slow.
AD'AM, n. InHeb.Ch. Syr.Eth.Ar.,jV/an;
primarily, the name of the human species,
mankind ; appropriately, the first Man,
the progenitor of the human race. The
word signifies form, shape, or suitable form :
hence, species. As a verb, the word signi-
fies, in Ethiopic, to please or be agreeable ;
in Arabic, to join, imite, or be accordant, to
agree. It is evidently connected with nm
damah, Heb. Ch. Syr., to be like or equal,
to form an image, to assimilate. Whence
the sense of likeness, image, form, shape ;
Gr. Sefms, a body, like. [See Man.]
Adam's apple, a species of citron, [see Cit-
ron ;] also the prominent part of the throat.
Ad'am's needle, the popular name of the
yucca, a plant of four species, cidtivated in
gardens. Of the roots, the Indians make
a kind of bread. [See Y^tcca.]
AD'AMANT, n. [Gr. aSa^a;; L. adamas;
a word of Celtic origin ; W. ehedvaen, a
load stone, from ehed, to fly or move, and
vaen, or maen, a stone. Chaucer uses ada-
mant for the load stone. Romaunt of the
Rose, L. 1182. Ger. diamant, is adamant
and diamond ; Sp. diamante ; Sw. damant ;
Fr. aimant, loadstone. See Diamond.]
A very hard or imiieuetrable stone ; a name
given to the diamond and other substan-
ces of extreme hardness. The name has
often been given to the load stone ; but in
modern mineralogy, it has no technical
signification.
ADAMANTE'AN, a. Hard as adamant.
Milton.
ADAMANT'INE, a. Made of adamant ; ha-
ving the quaUties of adamant ; that cannot
be broken, dissolved, or penetrated ; as
adamantine bonds, or chains.
Adamantine Spar, a genus of earths, of three
varieties. The color of the first is gra)',
with shades of brown or green ; the form
when regular, a hexangular prism, two
sides large and four small, without a
pyramid ; its surface striated, and with a
thin covering of white mica, mterspersed
with particles of red felspar ; its fracture,
foliaceous and sparry. The second variety
is whiter, and the texture more foliaceous.
Tlie third variety is of a reddish brown
color. This stone is very hard, and of
difficult fusion. Enajc.
A variety of corundum. Cleaveland.
AD'AMie, a. Pertaining to Adam. \Adamic
earth, is the term given to common red
clay, so called by means of a mistaken
opinion thai .\daiii means red earth.
ADA
ADD
ADD
AD'AMITES, in Church hislonj, a sect of
visionaries, who pretended to establish a
Btate of innocence, and like Adam, went
naked. They abhorred marriage, holding
it to be theeffect of sin. Several attempts
have been made to revive this sect ; one
as late as the 15tli century. Encyc.
ADAMIT'I€, a. Like the Adamites.
Taylor.
ADANSO'NIA, n. Ethiopian sour gourd,
monkey's bread, or African calabash-tree.
It is a tree of one species, called baobab, a
native of Africa, and the largest of the
vegetable kingdom. The stem rises not
al)ove twelve or fifteen feet, but is from
sixty-five to seventy-eight feet in circum-
ference. The branches shoot horizontally
to the length of sixty feet, the ends bend-
ing to the ground. The fruit is oblong,
pointed at both ends, ten inches in length,
and covered with a greenish down, under
whicl) is a hard ligneous rind. It hangs to
the tree by a pedicle two feet long, and
contains a white spungy substance. The
leaves and bark, dried and powdered, are
used by the negroes, as pepper, on their
food, to promote perspiration. The tree is
named from M. Adanson, who has given
a description of it.
ADAPT', «.<. [Sp.flrfaptar; It. adattare; L.
ad. and apto, to fit ; Gr. ortru.]
To make suitable ; to fit or suit ; as, to adapt
an instrument to its uses ; we have pro-
vision adapted to our wants. It is appUed
to things material or immaterial.
ADAPT' ABLE, a. That may be adapted.
ADAPTA'TION, n. The act of making
suitable, or the state of being suitable, or
fit; fitness.
ADAPT'ED, pp. Suited ; made suitable ;
fitted.
ADAPT'ER. See adopter.
ADAPTING, ;);>r. Suitint' ; making fit.
ADAPTION, n. Adaptation ; the act of
fitting. [Little used, and hardly legitimate.]
ADAPT'NESS, n. A state of being fitted.
[.Vot used.] JVewton.
A D.\R, n. A Hebrew month, answering to
the latter part of February and the begin-
ning of March, the 12th of the sacred and
6th of the civil year ; so named from "nx,
to become glorious, from the exuberance
of vegetation, in that month, in Egypt and
Palestine. Parkhurst.
ADAR'CE, n. [Gr. a«opx»;s.]
A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in
marshy grounds m Galatia. It is lax and
porous, like bastard spunge, and used to
clear the skin ui leprosy, tetters, &c.
Qufnci/. Plot.
ADAR'€ON, n. In Jeurish antiquity, a gold
coin worth about three dollars and a tliird,
or about fifteen shillings sterhng.
ADAR'ME, n. A Spanish weight, the s
teenth of an oimce ; Fr. demi-gros. The
Spanish ounce is seven per cent, lighter
than that of Paris.
Encyc. Span. Diet.
AD'ATIS, n. A muslin or species of cotton
cloth from India. It is fine and clear ; the
piece is ten French ells long, and three
quarters wide.
AD>AUNT, V. t. To subdue. [JVot used.
See Daunt.] Skelton.
ADAW, r. t. To daunt ; to subject. [.Vot
used.] Spenser.
ADA'YS, adv. On or in days ; as in tiie
phrase, now adays.
ADD, V. t. [L. addo, from ad and do, to give.]
1. To set or put together, join, or unite, as,
one thing or sum to another, in an aggre-
gate ; as, add three to four, the sum is
2. To unite in idea or consideration ; to
subjoin.
To what has been alledged, let this argument
be added.
3. To increase number.
Thou shall add tliree cities more of refuge.
Deut. xix.
4. To augment.
Rehoboam said, I will add to your yoke.
1 Kings, xii.
Ye shall not add to the word wliich I com-
mand you. Deut. iv.
As here used, the verb is intransitive, but
there may be an eUipsis.
To add to, is used in scripture, as eqtuvalent
to g^'re, or bestow upon. Gen. xxx. Matt,
vi. In Gal. ii. the word is understood to
signify instruction. " In conference they
added nothing to me." In narration, he or
they added, is elUptical ; he added words,
or what follows, or he continued his dis-
course.
In general, when used of things, add impUes
a principal thuig, to which a smaller is
to be annexed, as a part of the whole sum,
mass, or immber.
ADDEC'IMATE, v. t. [L. ad and decimus,
tenth.]
To take, or to ascertain tithes. Did.
ADD'ED, pp. Joined in place, in sum, in
mass or aggregate, in number, in idea or
consideration ; united ; put together.
ADDEE'M, V. t. [See Deem.] To award ;
to sentence. [Little used.]
AD'DER, n. [Sax. aetter or aettor, a serpent
and poison ; D. adder. Qu. Sax. naedre,
a serpent ; Goth, nadr ; G. Jintfer ; W.
neider ; Corn, naddyr ; Ir. nathair ; L.
natrix, a serpent.]
A venomous serpent or viper, of several
species.
AD'DER-FLY, n. A name of the dragon-
fly or libellula ; sometimes called adder-bolt.
ADDER'S-GRASS, ji. A plant about which
serpents lurk.
ADDER'S-TONGUE, n. A plant whose
seeds are produced on a spike resembling
a serpent's tongue.
ADDER'S- WORT, n. Snakeweed, so named
Com its supposed virtue in curing the bite
of serpents.
ADDIBIL'ITY, n. The possibihty of being
added. Locke.
AD'DIBLE, a. [See Add.] That may be
added. Locki
AD'DICE, obs. [See Jldz.]
ADDICT', a. Addicted. [JVot much used.]
ADDICT', V. t. [L. addico, to devote, from
ad and dico, to dedicate.]
To apply one's self habitually ; to devote
tune and attention by customary or con
slant practice ; sometimes in a good se7ise.
They have addicted themselves to the minis-
try of the saints. 1 Cor. xv.
More usually, in a bad sense, to follow cus
tomarily, or devote, by habitually prac-
tising that which is ill ; as, a man is addicted
to uitemperance.
To addict oyie's self to a person, a sense bor-
rowed from the Romans, who used the
word for assigning debtors in service to
their creditors, is found in Ben Jonson,
hut is not legitimate in English.
ADDICTED, pp. Devoted by customary
practice.
ADDICT'EDNESS, n. The quaUty or state
of being addicted.
ADDIcT'ING, ppr. Devoting time and at-
tention ; practicing customarily.
ADDICTION, n. The act of devoting or
givhig up in practice ; the state of being
devoted.
His ctddiclinn was to courses vain. Shak.
2. Among the Romans, a making over goods
to another by sale or legal sentence ; also
an assignment of debtors in service to their
creditors. Encyc.
ADDING, ppr. Joining ; putting together ;
increasing.
ADDIT'AMENT, n. [l..addilamentum,trom
additus and ment. See Md.]
An addition, or rather the thing added, as
furniture in a house ; any material mixed
with the principal ingredient in a com-
pound. Ancient anatomists gave the name
to an epiphy.sis, or junction of bones with-
out articulation. [Little used in either
sense.]
ADDP'TION, n. [L. additio, from addo.]
1. The act of adding, opposed to subtraction,
or diminution ; as, a sum is increased by
addition.
2. Any thing added, whether material or
immaterial.
3. In arithmetic, the uniting of two or more
numbers in one sum ; also the rule or
branch of arithmetic which treats of add-
ing numbers. Simple addition is the join-
ing of .sums of the same denomination, as
pounds to pounds, dollars to dollars.
Compound addition is the joining of sums
of different denominations, as dollars and
cents.
4. In laiv, a title annexed to a man's name,
to show his rank, occupation or place of
residence ; as, John Doe, Esq. ; Richard
Roe, Gent ; Robert Dale, Mason; Thomas
Way, of .Yeie- York.
5. In music, a dot at the side of a note, to
lengthen its sound one half.
j6. In heraldry, something added to a coat of
arms, as a mark of honor, opposed to abate-
ments, as bordure, quarter, canton, gyroii,
I pile, &.C. See these terms. Encyc.
7. In distilling, any thing added to the wash
I or Uquor in a state of fermentation.
|8. In popular language, an advantage, orna-
ment, improvement ; that is, an addition
1 bv wav of eminence.
ADDI tlONAL, a. That is added. It is
used by Bacon for addition ; but improp-
A DDL TION ALLY, adv. By way of addi-
I lion.
ADD'ITIVE, a. That may be added, or thar
is to be added.
ADD'ITORY, a. That adds, or may add.
[ADDLE, a. [W. hadyl, corrupt ; hadlu, to
decay, to putrilj' ; Heb. Snn, to fail ; Ar.
J<X=.> t° decline, and J j^^to frustrate,
to fail, to cease.]
In a morbid state ; putrid ; apphed to eggs.
Hence, barren, producing nothing.
His brains grow addle. Dryden.
ADD
AD'DLED, n. Morbid, coiriipt, putrid, or
l);areii. Broicn
AD'DLE-PATED, a. Having einptv brains
'Dryden
ADDOOM', V. t. [See Doom.] To adjudge.
Spenser
ADDORS'ED, a. [L. ad and dorsum, tlie
baclv.]
Ill heraldry, having the backs turned to each
other, as beasts.
ADDRESS', v.t. [Fr. adresser ; Sp. ende
rezar ; It. dirizzare, to direct, to make
straiglit. Thi.s is suppo.sed to be from L,
dirigo ; it also coincides with Ch. Sin,
Ai: |jo»j'j ^yr- id., to direct, to rectify
to fir. See Dress.]
1. To prepare ; to make suitable dispositions
for.
Tumus addressed his men to single fight.
IJryd,
The archangel and the evil spirit addressing
themselves/or the combat. Addison
[This sense is, I believe, obsolete or little tised.]
y. To direct vi'ords or discom-sc ; to a])ply to
by words ; a.s, to address a discourse to ai
assembly ; to atldress the judges.
3. To tlirect in writing, as a letter ; or to di-
rect and transmit ; as, he addressed a letter
to the speaker. Sometimes it is used witl
the reciprocal pronotui, as, he addressed
himself to the speaker, instead of, he ad-
dressed his discourse. The phrase is
faulty ; but less so than the followuig.
" To such I would address with tliis most af-
ectiouate petition.
Young Tumus to the beauteous maid adtlrest.
Dryden.
The latter is admissible m poetry, as an
elliptical phrase.
4. To present an address, as a letter of
thanks or congratulation, a petition, or a
testimony of resjoect ; as, the legislature
addressed the president.
5. To court or make suit as a lover.
(i. In commerce, to consign or entrust to the
care of another, as agent or factor ; as, the
ship was addressed to a merchant in Bal-
timore.
ADDRESS', Ji. A speaking to ; verbal ap-
plication; a formal manner of speech ; as,
when introduced, tlie president made a
short address.
2. A written or formal appUcation ; a mes-
sage of respect, congratulation, thanks, pe-
tition, &c.; as, an address of thanks ; an
officer is removable upon the address of
both houses of assembly.
3. Manner of speakmg to another ; as, a man
of pleasing address.
4. Com-tship ; more generally m the plural,
addresses ; as, he makes or pays his addresses
to a lady.
5i Skill ; dexterity ; skUlful management ;
as, the envoy conducted the negotiation
with address.
G. Direction of a letter, includuig the name,
title, and place of residence of the person
for whom it is intended. Hence these
liarticidars are denominated, a man'
address.
ADDRESS'ED, pp. Spoken or applied to ;
directed ; courted ; consigned.
ADDRESS'ER, n. One who addresse
petitions.
A D E
ADDRESS'ING, ppr. Spealdng or applyin:
to ; directing ; courting ; consigning.
ADDU'CE, V. t. [L. adduco, to lead or bring
to ; ad and duco, to lead. See Duke.]
1. To bring forward, present or offer; as, a
witness was adduced to prove the fact.
2. To cite, name or introduce ; as, to adduce
an authority or an argmnent.
ADDU'CED, pp. Brought forward ; cited
alledged in argument.
ADDU^CENT, a. Bringing forward, or to
gether ; a word apphed to those muscles of
the body which ])ull one part towar '
another. [See Mductor.]
ADDU'CIBLE, a. That may be adduced.
ADDU'CING, ppr. Bringing forward ; cituig
in argiunent.
ADDirt'TION, n. The act of bringuig
forward.
ADDU€'TIVE, a. That brings forward,
ADDUCTOR, n. [L.]
A muscle which draws one part of the body
towards another; as the adductor oculi.
which turns the eye towards the nose ; the
adductor pollicis manus, which draws the
thumb towards the fingers.
\DDULCE, 1-. t. adduls'. [L. ad and dul
cis, sweet.]
To sweeten. [.Ybf used.] Bacon
AD'EB, n. An Egyptian weight of 210 okes,
each of three rotolos, which is a weight of
about two drams less than the English
pound. But at Rosetta, the adeb is only
150 okes. Eneyc.
ADELANTA'DO, «. [Spanish.] A govern-
or of a province ; a heutenaut governor.
BobcHson.
AD'ELING, n. A title of honor, given by
our Saxon ancestors to the children of
princes, and to young nobles. It is com-
posed of adel, or rather eeth^l, the Teuton-
ic term for noble, illustrious, and ling.
young, posterity. Spclman. Sw. adelig ';
D. edel ; Ger. e'del and adelig, noble ; Sp.
hidalgo. We observe the term in many
Saxon names of princes, as Ethel-wolf,
noble wolf, or noble help, Ethel-bald, noble
bold, Ethel-bert, noble brightness. Ar.
\ •■( athala, to be well rooted, to be of
noble stock or birth. Class Dl.
AD'ELITE, n. AdeUtes or Almoganens, m
Spain, were conjurers, who predicted the
fortunes of individuals by the flight and
singing of birds, and other accidental cir-
cumstances. Ed. Encyc.
ADEMP'TION, 71. [L. adimo, to take
away ; of arf and emo, to take.]
In the civil law, the revocation of a grant,
donation, or the like.
ADENOGRAPHY, n. [Gr. aS,.-, a gland
and ypa^u, to describe.]
That part of anatomy wliich treats of the
glands.
AD'ENOID, a. [Gr. oSjjv, a gland, and ttSoj,
form.]
In the form of a gland ; glandiform ; glan-
dulous ; appUed to the prostate glands
ADENOLOg'ICAL, a. Pertaining to the
doctrine of the glands. Encyc.
ADENOL'OgY, n. [Gr. aS^v, a gland, and
■Kayo;, discourse.
In anatomy, the doctrine of the glands, their
nature, and then- uses.
A D H
.-VD'ENOS, n. A species of cotton, from
Aleppo, called also marine cotton.
ADEPT', n. [L. adeptus, obtained, from
adipiscor.]
One fully skilled or well versed in any art.
The term is borrowed from the Alchimists,
who applied it to one who pretended to
have found the philosopher's stone, or the
panacea. Encyc.
ADEPT', a. Well skilled ; completely vers-
ed or ac(|uainted with. Boyle.
ADEP'TION, n. [L. adeptio.]
An obtaining ; acquirement. Obs. Bacon.
AD'EQUACY, ra. [L. adcequatus, of ad amd
cequatus, made equal.]
The state or quahty of being equal to, pro-
portionate, or sufficient ; a sufficiency for
a particular purpose ; as, " the adequacy
of supply to the expenditure."
fVar in Disguise.
AD'EQUATE, a. Equal ; proportionate ;
correspondent to ; fully sufficient ; as,
means adequate to the object ; we have
no adequate ideas of infinite power.
Adequate ideas, are such as exactly represent
their object.
AD'EQUATE, v. t. To resemble exactly.
\_JVotused.] Shelford.
AD'EQUATELY, adv. In an adequate
maimer ; in exact proportion ; with just
correspondence, representation, or pro-
portion ; in a degree equal to the object.
AD'EQUATENESS.Ti. The state of being
adequate ; justness of proportion orrepre-
sentation ; sufficiency.
ADEQUA'TION, ji. Adequateness. [JVot
used.] Bp. Barlow.
ADESSENA'RIANS, n. [L. adesse, to be
present.]
In church history, a sect who hold the real
presence of Clirist's body in the euchaiist,
but not by transubstantiation. They dif-
fer however as to this presence ; some
holding the body of Christ to be in the
bread ; others, about the bread. Encyc.
ADFE€T'ED, a. In algebra, compounded :
consisting of different powers of the un-
known quantity. Bailey.
ADFIL'IATED, ff. Adopted as a son. [See
.IjffUiale.]
ADFILIA'TION,)!. [L. ad and flius, a. soa.]
A Gothic custom, by which the children of
a former marriage, are put upon the same
footing with those of a succeeding one ;
still retained in some parts of Germany.
ADHE'RE, V. i. [L. adhareo, ad and h(Ereo,
to stick ; Ir. adharadh.]
1. To stick to, as glutinous substances, or by-
natural growth ; as, the lungs sometimes
adhere to the pleura.
2. Tobejoined, or held in contact; to cleave
to.
3. Figuratively, to hold to, be attached, or
remain fixed, either by personal union or
conformity of faith, principle, or opinion ;
as, men adhere to a party, a leader, a
cliurch, or creed.
4. To be consistent ; to hold together as the
jtarts of a system.
Every thing adheres together. Shak.
.IDHE'RENCE, n. The quahty or state of
sticking or adhering.
3. Figuratively, a being fixed in attachment ;
A D I
A D J
A D J
fidelity ; steady attachment ; as, an adhe-
rence to a iiarty or opinions.
ADHE'RENCY, n. The same as adherence.
In tlie sense oi'that which adheres, not le-
gitimate. Decay of Piety
ADIIE'RENT, a. Sticking, uniting, as glue
or wax ; iniited with, as an adherent mode
in Locke, that is, a mode accidentally join
ed with an object, as wetness in a cloth.
ADIIE'RENT, n. The person who adiieres ;
one who follows a leader, party or profes
sion ; a follower, or partisan ; a behever
in a particular faith or church.
In the sense of an appendage. Obs.
ADHERENTLY, adv. In an adherent
manner.
ADHE'RER, n. One tliat adiieres ; an ad-
herent.
ADHE'SION, n. adhe'zhun. [L. adhcesio.]
1. The act or state of sticking, or being united
and attached to ; as the adhesion of glue,
or of parts united by growth, cement, and
the like. Adhesion is generally used in a
literal ; adherence, in a metaphorical sense.
2. Sometimes Jiguratively, adlierence, un-
ion or steady attachment ; firmness in
opinion ; as, an adhesion to vice : but in
this sense nearly obsolete. The union of
bodies by attraction is usually denoniuia-
ted cohesion.
ADHE'SIVE, a. Sticky ; tenacious, as glu-
tinous substances ; apt or tending to ad-
here. Thus gums are adhesive.
ADHE'SIVELY, adv. In an adhesive man-
ner.
ADHE'SIVENESS, n. The quality of stick-
ing or adhering ; stickiness ; tenacity.
ADHIB'IT, V. t. [L. adhibeo, ad andhabeo,
to have.]
To use, or apply. [Rarely used.]
ADHIBI "TION, n. AppUcation ; use.
Whitaker.
AD'HIL, n. A star of the sixth magnitude,
upon the garment of Andromeda, under
tlie last star in her foot. Encyc.
ADHORTA'TION, ?i. [L. adhortatio.]
Advice. [Seldom used.]
ADHORT'ATORY, a. [L. adhortor, to ad-
vise, ad and hx>rtor.]
Advisory ; containing coimsel or warning.
Potter's Antiq.
ADIAPH'ORISTS, n. [Gr. ae«»4.opo5, uadif-
ferent.]
Moderate Lutherans ; a name given in the
sixteenth century, to certain men that
followed Melancthon, who was more pa-
cific than Luther. Encyc.
The adiaphorists held some opinions
and ceremonies to be indifferent, which
Luther condenmed as sinful or heretical.
ADIAPH'OROUS, a. Indifferent ; neutral ;
a name given by Boyle to a spu-it distilled
from tartar, and some other vegetable sub-
stances, neither acid, nor alkaline, or not
possessing the distinct character of any
chimical body.
ADIEU', Adu'. [Fr. adieu, to God ; a com-
pound word, and an elliptical form of^
speech, for / commend you to God. It is
called an adverb, but it has none of t
properties of a modifying word.]
Farewell ; an expression of kind wishes
the parting of friends.
ADIEU', n. A farewell, or commeiidatii
Vol. I.
to the care of God ; as an everlastijig
adieu.
ADIPOC'ERATE, v. t. To convert into
adipooere.
ADIPOCERA'TION, n. The act or pro
cess of being changed into adlpocere.
AD'IPOCERE, n. [L. adeps, fat, and cera,
Fr. are, wax.]
A soft unctuous or waxy substemce, of a
light brown color, into which the muscular
fibers of dead animal bodies are convert-
ed, when protected from atmospheric air,
and under certain circumstances of tem-
perature and humidity. This substance
was first discovered by Fourcroy, in the
burying ground of the Chiu-ch des Inno-
cens, when it was removed in 1787. It is
speedily produced, when the body is im-
mersed in running water.
Lunier. Med. Repos. Ed. Encyc.
AD'IPOSE, } a. [L. adiposus, from adeps,
AD'IPOUS, S fat. Qu. Ch. tffSa, to grow fat ;
Heb. and Ch., fat, gross, stupid ; Ar.
i.il9 ) fat, bulky.]
at. The adipose membrane is the cellular
membrane, containing tlie fat in its cells,
and consisting of ductile membranes, con-
nected by a sort of net-work. The adipose
vein spreads itsell' on the coat and fat that
covers the kidneys. The adipose ducts are
the bags and ducts which contain the fat.
Quincy. Coxe.
AD'IT, n. [L. aditus, fvom'adeo, aditum, to
approach, ad and eo, to go.]
An entrance or passage ; a term in minmg.
used to denote the opening by which a
mine is entered, or by which water and
ores are carried away. It is usually made
in the side of a hill. The word is some-
times used for air-shaft, but not with strict
propriety. Encyc.
ADJA'CENCY, n. [L. adjaceo, to lie con-
tiguous, from ad andjaceo, to lie.]
The state of lying close or contiguous ; a
bordering uiion, or lying next to ; as the
adjacency of lands or buildings. In the
sense of that which is adjacent, as used by
Brown, it is not legitimate.
ADJA'CENT, a. Lying near, close, or con-
tiguous ; bordering upon ; as, a field adja-
cent to the highway.
ADJA'CENT, n. That which is next to or
contiguous. [Little itserf.] Locke.
ADJECT', v.t. [L. adjicio, of ad and jado,
to throw.]
To add or put, as one thing to another.
Macknii(hl.
ADJEC'TION, n. The act of adding" or
thing added. [Little used.] Brown.
ADJE€TI "TIOUS, a. Added.
Parkhurst, Gram.
AD'JECTIVE, n. In grarnmar, a word used
with a noun, to express a quality of the
thing named, or something attributed to
it, or to limit or define it, or to specify or
describe a thing, as distinct from some-
thing ejse. It is called also an attributive
or attribute. Thus, in the phrase, a toise
ruler, wise is the adjective or attribute, ex-
pressing a particular property of rufer.
.\D'JE€TIVELY, adv. In the manner of
an adjective ; as, a « ord is used adject
ively.
4
yVDJOIN', v.t. [Fr. adjmndre ; L. adjungo,
adnndjungo. Hee Join.]
To join or unite to ; to put to, by placing ui
contact ; to unite, by fastening together
with a joint, mortise, or knot. But in
these transitive senses, it is rarely used.
J See Join.]
JOIN', V. i. To lie or be next to, or in
contact ; to be contiguous ; as, a farm ad-
joining to the highway. This is the com-
mon use of the word, and to is often omit-
ted ; as, adjoining the highway.
ADJOIN' ANT, a. Contiguous to. [A'ol
used.] Carew.
ADJOINED, pp. Joined to ; united.
ADJOIN'ING, ppr. Joining to; adjacent;
contiguous.
ADJOURN', V. t. Adjum'. [Fr. ajoumer,
from joumie, a day, or day's work, or
journey; It. giomo. See Journal, Journey.]
Literally, to put off, or defer to another day;
but now used to denote a formal intermis-
sion of business, a putting off to any fu-
ture meeting of the same body, and appro-
priately used of public bodies or private
conmiissioners, entrusted with business;
as, the court adjourned the consideration
of the question.
ADJOURN', V. i. To suspend business for a
time ; as, from one day to another, or for a
longer period, usually pubUc business, as
of legislatures and courts, for repose or
refreshment ; as, congress adjourned at
four o'clock. It is also used for the act of
closing the session of a pubUc body ; as,
the court adjourned without day.
It was moved that parliament should adjourn
for six vpeeks. Select Speeches, Vol. v. 403.
ADJOURNED, pp. Put off, delayed, or
deferred for a hmited time.
2. As an adjective, existing or held by ad-
journment, as an adjourned session of a
court, opposed to stated or regular.
ADJOURNING, ;>pr. Deferring; suspend-
ing for a time ; closing a session.
ADJOURNMENT, n. The act of ad-
journuig ; as, in legislatures, the adjourn-
ment of one house is not an adjournment oC
the other.
2. The puttuig off till another day or time
specified, or without day ; that is, the
closmg of a session of, a pubhc or official
body.
3. The tune or intenal during which a pub-
lic body defers business ; as^ during an ad-
joumment. But a suspension of business,
between the formuig of a house and an
adjournment for refreshment, is called a
recess. In Great Britain, the close of a
session of parliament is called a proroga-
tion ; as the close of a parhament is a dis-
solution. But in Great Britain, as well as
ui the United States, adjournment is now
used for an intermission of business, for
any indefinite time ; as, an adjournment of
parliament fbr six weeks.
Select Speeches, Vol. v. 404.
ADJUDGE', V. t. [Fr. adjuger, from juge,
judge. See Judge.]
To decide, or determine, in tlie case of a con-
troverted question ; to decree by a judicial
opinion ; used appropriately of courts of
law and equity.
The case was adjudged in Hilary term.
The prize was adjudged to the victor ; a
criminal was adjudged to sufler death.
A D J
A D J
ADM
it has been used in the sense of to judge ;
as, he adjudged him unworthy of his friend-
ship. But this sense is unusual.
ADJUDGED, pp. Determined by judicial
opinion ; decreed ; sentenced.
ADJUDG'ING, ppr. Determining by judicial
opinion ; sentencing.
ADJUDGMENT, n. The act of judgini; ;
sentence. Ttinple.
ADJU'DI€ATE, v. t. [L. adjudko, to ^ive
sentence. See Judge.'\
To adjudge ; to try and determine, as a
court. It has the sense of adjudge.
'VDJU'DJeATE, V. i. To try and determine
judicially ; us, the court adjudicated upoi
the case.
ADJU'DI€ATED,;);>. Adjudged; tried and
decided.
.^DJU'DI€ATING, ppr. Adjudging; try-
ing and determining.
ADJUDICATION, n. The act of ad-
judging ; the act or process of trying and
determining judicially ; as, a ship was ta-
ken and sent into port for adjudication.
2. A judicial sentence ; judgment or deci-
sion of a court.
Whose families were parUes to some of the
former adjwlicalions. Blackstotie
3. In Scots law, an action by wliich a cred-
itor attaches the heritable estate of his
debtor, or his debtor's heir, in payment or
security of his debt ; or an action by which
the holder of an heritable right, laboring
under a defect in point of form, may sup-
ply tliat defect. Encyc
AD'Jl^MENT, n. [L. adjumentum.]
Help ; support, [.^otused.]
ADJUNCT, n. [L. adjunctus, joined, from
adjungo. See Join.]
1. Something added to another, but
sentially a part of it ; as, toater absorbed
by a cloth or spunge is its adjunct. Also
a person joined to another.
^. In metaphysics, a quality of the body or
the mind, whether natural or acquired
color, in the body ; thinking, in the mind.
3. In grammar, words added to illustrate or
aniphfy the force of other words ; as, the
History of the American revolution. The
words in Italics are the adjuncts of His-
tory.
4. In music, the word is employed to denom
inate the relation between the principal
mode and the modes of its two fifths.
Encyc
The adjunct deities, among the Romans
were inferior deities which were added as
assistants to the principal gods ; as Bello-
na, to Mars; to Vulcan, the Cabin; U
the Good Genius, the Lares ; to the Evil,
the Lemures.
In the royal academy of sciences at Paris,
the adjuncts are certain members at
tached to the study of particular scien
ces._^ They are twelve in number, created
in 1716. Encyc
Adjunct has been used for a colleague, but
rarely. Walton.
AD'JUN€T, o. Added to or united with,
as an adjunct professor.
ADJUNc'TlON, n. The act of joining ; the
tiling joined.
ADJUNCTIVE, a. Joining; having the
quality of joining.
.ADJUNCTIVE, n That which is joined
\DJUN€'TIVELY, adv. In an adjunctive
manner.
ADJUN€T'LY, adv. In comiection witli ;
consequently.
ADJURA'TION, n. The act of adjming ;
a solenm charging on oath, or under the
penalty of a curse.
2. The form of oath. Addison.
ADJU'RE, V. t. [L. adjuro, to swear solemn-
ly, or compel one to swear ; from ad and
juro, to swear.]
1. To charge, bLiid or command on oath, or
under the penalty of a curse.
Joshua adjured them at that time, saying,
cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth
up and buildeth this city of Jericho. Josh. vi.
2. To charge earnestly and solemidy, on
pain of God's wrath.
I adjure Ihce by the living God. Mat. xxvi.
Acts, xix.
3. To conjure ; to charge, lu-ge or summon
with solemnity.
The magistrates adjured by all the bonds of
civil duty. Milton.
Ye sacred stars, be all of you adjured.
Dry den.
The Commissioners adjured them not to let
pass so favorable an opportunity of securiuo,
their liberties. Marshall's Life of Washington.
\DJU'RED, pp. Charged on oath, or with
a denunciation of God's wrath ; solemnly
urged.
ADJU'RER, n. One that adjures; one that
exacts an oath.
ADJU'RING, ppr. Charging on oath, or on
the penalty of a curse ; beseeching with
solemnity.
ADJUST',' t). t. [Sp. ajuslar; Port, id; It.
aggiustare ; Fr. ajuster, to fit or frame ; of
L. ad, andjusttis, just, exact. See Just.]
1 . To make exact ; to fit ; to make corres-
pondent, or conformable ; as, to adjust e
garment to the body, an event to the pre-
diction, or things to a standard.
Swift. Locke. Addison
2. To jiut in order ; to regulate or reduce to
system ; as to mljust a scheme ; to adjust
affairs.
To make accurate ; to settle or bring to
a satisfactory state, so that parties ar
agreed in the result ; as to adjust accounts ;
the differences are adjusted.
ADJUST'ED, pp. Made exact or conforma-
ble ; reduced to a right form or standard;
settled.
ADJUST'ER, n. A person who adjusts :
hat which regulates.
ADJUSTING, ppr. Reducing to due form :
fitting ; making exact or correspondent :
settling.
ADJUST'MENT, n. The act of adjusting ;
regulation ; a reducing to just form or or-
der ; a making fit or conformable ; settle-
ment. Watts. Woodward.
AD'JUTANCY, n. [See Adjutant.] The
office of an adjutant ; skillful arrangement
Burke
AD'JUTANT, n. [L. adjutans, aiding ; fron
adjuto, to assist ; of ad and juvo, jutum, t<
In military affairs, an officer whose busines.-
is to asM.-t the ]M ijor by receiving am
coniiii;;iin or;ii': cr 'c is. Each battalion ol
fool. r -.nt of horse has ai
adjnt^,..,. - ) ,. i,\cs orders fi-om thi
BrijLi^iiii' Aiiiioj, to ciimmuniccte to tin
Colonel, and to subalterns. He places
guards, receives and distributes ammuni-
tion, assigns places ol rendezvous, &c.
Adjutant- General, in an army, is the chief
djiitant.
Adjutants General, among the Jesuits, were
a select number of lathers, who resided
with the general of the order, each of
whom had a province or country assign-
ed to his care. Their business was to
correspond with that province, by their
delegates, emissaries or visitors, and give
information of occmrences to the father
general. Encyc.
ADJU'TE, V. t. To help. [J^Tot used.]
ADJU'TOR, n. A heljier. [Little used; its
compound coadjutor is in common use.]
ADJU'VANT, a. Helping; assisting. Howell.
\DLEGA'T10N, n. [L. ad and legatio, an
embassy, from lego, to send. See Legate.]
In the public law of the German Empire, a
right claimed by the states, of joining their
own ministers with those of the Emperor,
in pubUc treaties and negotiations, relating
to the common interest of the Empire.
Encyc.
ADLOCU'TION, rf. [See Allocution.]
ADMEAS'URE, v. t. admezh'ur. [ad and
measure. See Measure.]
1. To measure or ascertain dimensions, size
or capacity ; used for measure.
2. To apportion ; to assign to each claimant
his right ; as, to admeasure dower or com-
mon of pa.sture. Blackstone.
ADMEASURED, pp. Measured ; appor-
tioned.
ADMEASUREMENT, n. The measur-
ing of dimensions by a rule, as of a ship,
cask, and the like.
2. The measure of a thing, or dimensions as-
certained.
In these uses the word is equivalent to
measurement, mensuration and measure.
3. The adjustment of proportion, or ascer-
tainment of shares, as of dower or pasture
held in common. This is done by writ of
admeasurement, directed to the sheriff.
Blackstone.
ADMEAS'URER, n. One that admeasures.
\DMEAS'URING,/)p-. Measuring; appor-
tioning.
ADMEN.-^URA'TION is equivalent to ad-
measurement, but not much used. [See
Mensuration.]
ADiMIN'ICLE, n. [L. adminiculum.']
liel|i ; snpiiort. [M)t used."]
ADMINICULAR, a. Supplying help ; help-
ful.
ADMIN'ISTER, v. i. [L. administro, of ad
and ministro, to serve or manage. See
Minister.]
1. To act as minister or chief agent, in man-
aging public affairs, under laws or a
constitution of government, as a kin^,
president, or other supreme officer. It is
used also of absolute monarchs, who rule
not in subordination ; but is more strictly
ai>plicahle to limited monarchs and other
snjjreine executive officers, and to gover-
nors, vice-roys, judges and the like, who
are imder the authority of laws. A Idng
or a president administers the government
or laws, when he executes them, or carries
rheni uito effect. A judge administers th&
laws, when he applies them to particular ca-
ses or persons. In short, to administer is t(>
direct the execution or application of lawg»
ADM
ADM
A D M
2. To dispense, as to admiyiisler justice or
the sacrament.
3. To afford, give or furnish ; as, to adminis-
ter relief, tliat is, to act as the agent. To
administer medicine is to direct and cause
it to be taken.
4. To give, as an oath ; to cause to swear
according to law.
ADMIN' ISTER, v. i. To contribute ; to
bring aid or supplies ; to add something ;
as, a shade administers to our comfort.
2. To perform the office of administrator ;
as, A administers upon the estate of B.
ADMINISTERED, pp. Executed ; mana-
ged ; governed ; afforded ; given ; dis-
pensed.
ADMINISTE'RIAL, a. Pertaining to ad-
ministration, or to the executive part of|
government.
ADMINISTERING, ppr. Executing ; car-
rying into effect; giving; dispensing.
ADMINISTRATE, in the place of admin
ister, has been used, but is not well author
ADMINISTRA'TION, n. The act of admin-
istering ; direction ; management ; gov
ermneut of public affairs ; the conducting
of any office or employment.
2. The executive part of government, con
sisting in the exercise of the constitutional
and legal powers, the general superintend
ence of national affairs, and the enforce
ment of laws.
3. The persons collectively, who are entrust
ed with the execution of laws, and the su
perintendence of public affairs ; the chief
magistrate and his council ; or the counci
alone, as in Great Britain.
4. Dispensation ; distribution ; exhibition
as the administration of justice, of the sa
cranient, or of grace. 1 Cor. xii. 2 Cor. ix.
5. The management of the estate of an ui-
testate person, under a commission from
the proper authority. This management
consists in collecting debts, payhig debts
and legacies, and distributmg the property
among the heirs.
C. The power, office or coimiiission of an
administrator.
Surrogates are authorized to grant adminis-
Iration. Laws of JVew- Vork.
It is more usual to say, letters of administra-
tion. Slackstone.
7. This name is given by the Spaniards, to
the staple magazine or warehouse, at Ca "
lao, in Peru, where foreign ships must ui
load. Enciic.
ADMINISTRATIVE, a. That administers,
or by which one admuiisters.
ADMINISTRATOR, n. A man who, by
virtue of a commission from the Ordinary,
Surrogate, Court of Probate, or other
proper authority, has the charge of the
goods and estate of one dying witliout a
will.
2. One who administers, or who directs,
manages, distributes, or dispenses laws
and rites, either in civil, judicial, political,
or ecclesiastical affairs.
3. In Scots lam, a tutor, curator or guardian
having the care of one who is incapabli_
of acting for hhnself. The term is usually
applied to a father who has power over
his children and their estate, during their
jninority. Eiicyc.
ADMINISTRATORSHIP, n. The office
of an administrator.
ADMINISTRATRIX, n. A female who
Iniinisters upon the estate of an intestate ;
so a female wlio administers govern-
AD MIRABLE, a. [L. admirabUis.]
To be admired; worthy of admiration ; hav-
ing qualities to excite wonder, with appro-
bation, esteem or reverence ; used of per-
sons or things ; as, the admirable structure
of the body, or of the universe.
AD'MIRABLENESS, n. The quality of be-
ing admirable ; the power of exciting ad-
AD'MIRABLY, adv. In a manner to excite
wonder, mingled with approbation, esteem
or veneration.
AD'MIRAL, ?!. [In the Latin of the middle
ages, Jlmira, Amiras, Admiralis, an Emir
Sp. almiranle ; Port. id. ; It. ammiraglio ;
amara, to coin
Fr. amiral ; from Ar. j.^ ?
mand, .^^J, a commander; Sans.
Ileb. Ch. Syr. Sam. ION, to speak. The
terminating syllable of admiral may be
from a?t5, the sea. This word is said to
have been introduced into Europe by tl
Turks, Genoese or Venetians, in the I2th
or 13th century.]
A marine coiiunander in chief; the com-
mander of a fleet or navy.
1. The Lord High Admiral'in Great Britain,
is an officer who superintends all mar'
time affairs, and has the government of
the navy. He has also jurisdiction over
all maritime causes, and commissions the
naval officers.
2. The Admiral of th^ fleet, the highest officer
under the admiralty. When he embarks
on an expetlition, the union flag is display-
ed at the main top gallant mast head.
3. The Vice Admiral, an officer next in
rank and coiTuuand to the Admiral, ha
command of the second squadron. H(
carries his flag at the fore top gallant mast
head. This name is given also to certain
officers who have power to hold courts of
vice-admiralty, in various parts of the
Britisli dominions.
4. The Rear Admiral, next in rank to the
Vice Admiral, has command of the third
squadron, and carries his flag at tl
top gallant mast head.
5. The commander of any single fleet, or in
general any flag officer.
The ship which carries the admiral ; also
the most considerable ship of a fleet of
merchantmen, or of fishin^
Encyc.
7. In zoology, a species of sheU-fish. [Set
Valuta.]
2. Also a butterfly, which lays her eggs or
the great sthiging nettle, and delights ii:
brambles. Encyc
AD'MIRALSHIP, n. The office or powei
of an admiral. [Little used.]
AD'lMIRALTY, ii. In Great Britain, tht
office of Lord High Admiral. This office
is discharged by one person, or by Com-
missioners, called Lords of the Admiralty .
usually seven in nmnber.
The admiralty court, or court of admiralty, is
the supreme court for the trial of maritime
causes, held before the Lord High Admi-
ral, or Lords of the admiralty.
In general, a court of admiralty is a court for
the trial of causes arising on the high seas,
as prize causes and the hke. In the Uni-
ted States, there is no admiralty court,
distinct from others ; but the district
courts, established in the several states by
Congress, are mvested with admiralty
powers.
ADMIRATION, n. Wonder mingled with
pleasing emotions, as approbation, esteem,
love or veneration ; a compoimd emotion
excited by something novel, rare, great, or
excellent ; applied to persons and their
works. It often includes a shght degree
of surprise. Thus, we view the solar sys-
tem with admiration.
Very near to admiration is the wish to ad-
mire. Anon.
It has been sometimes used in an ill sense,
denoting wonder with disapprobation.
Your boldness I with admiration see.
Dryden.
Wien I saw her I wondered with great admi-
ration. Luke xvil.
ADMI RATIVE, n. A note of admiration,
thus I [J\"ot used.] Cotgrave.
ADMI'RE, V. t. [L. admiror, ad and miror,
to wonder ; Sp. and Port, admirar ; Fr.
admirer ; It. ammirare ; Fr. mirer, to look,
to take aim ; Corn, miras, to look, see or
face ; Arm. miret, to stop, hold, keep ; W.
mir, visage ; also fair, comely ; and maer,
one that looks after, keeps or guards, a
mayor, or baihff ; Russ. zamirayu, to be as-
tonished or stupified ; za, a prefix, and mir,
peace ; miryu, to pacify ; zamiriayu, to
make peace. The primary sense is to
hold, to stop, or strain. Ch. and Syr.
IDT ; L. demiror. See Moor and Mar.]
1. To regard with wonder or surprise, ming-
led with approbation, esteem, reverence
or affection.
When he shall come to be glorified in his
saints and be admired in all them that love him.
2 Thes. i.
Tliis word has been used in an ill sense,
but seems now correctly restricted to the
sense here given, and implying something
great, rare or excellent, in the object ad-
mired.
2. To regard with affection ; a familiar term
for to love greatly.
ADMI'RE, V. i. To wonder ; to be affected
with shght surprise ; sometimes with at ;
as, to admire at his own contrivance. Ray.
To admire at sometimes implies disapproba-
ADMI'RED, pp. Regarded with wonder,
mingled with pleasurable sensations, as
esteem, love or reverence.
ADMI'RER, n. One who admires ; one
who esteems or loves greatly.
.\I)iMI'RING, ppr. Regarding with wonder
united with love or esteem.
ADMIRINGLY, adv. With admiration ; in
the manner of an admirer.
ADMISSIBILITY, n. The quality of being
admissible. Chase.
ADMISSIBLE, a. [See admit.] That may
bo admitted, allowed or conceded ; as, the
testimonv is admissible.
ADMISSION, n. [L. admissio.^
1. The act or practice of admitting, as the
ADM
admission of aliens into our country
also tlie state of being admitted.
2. Admittance ; power or permission to en
ter ; entrance ; access ; power to approach
as, our laws give to foreigners easy admis-
sion to the rights of citizens ; the admis-
sion of a clerk to a benefice.
3. Allowance ; grant of an argument or
position not fully proved.
ADMIT', V. t. [L. admitlo, from ad and init-
io, to send, Fr. meltre.]
1. To suffer to enter ; to grant entrance ;
wliether into a place, or an office, or into
the mind, or consideration ; as to admit a
student into college ; to admit a serious
thought into the mind.
2. To give right of entrance ; as, a ticket
admits one into a play house.
3. To allow; to receive as true; as, tlie ar
gument or fact is admitted.
4. To permit, grant or allow, or to be capa-
ble of; as, the words do not admit of such
a construction. In this sense, of may be
used after the verb, or omitted.
ADMIT'TABLE, a. That may be admitted
or allowed.
ADMITTANCE, n. The act of admitting
allowance. More usually,
2. Permission to enter ; the power or right
of entrance; and hence, actual entrance;
as, he gained admittance into the church.
3. Concession ; admission ; allowance ; as
the admittance of an argument. [JVot
^lsed.]
4. Skakespeare uses the word for *the cus-
tom or prerogative of being admitted ;
" Sir John, you are a gentleman of excel-
lent breetUng, of great admittance": but
the license is unwarrantable.
ADMIT'TED, pp. Permitted to enter or
ap])roach ; allowed ; gi-anted ; conceded,
ADMIT'TER, n. He that admits.
ADMIT'TING, ppr. Permitting to enter or
apin-oach ; allowing ; conceding.
ADMIX', V. t. To mingle with something
else. [See Mix.]
ADMIX'TION, n. admix'chun, [L. admixtio.
or admistio ; of ad and misceo, to mix,
See Mx.]
A mingluig of bodies ; a union by mixing
diflferent substances together. It differs
from composition or chimical combination ;
for admixtion does not alter the nature of
the substances mixed, but merely blends
them together ; whereas in composition,
the particles unite by affinity, lose then-
former properties, and form new com
pounds, with different properties.
ADMIX'TURE, n. [From admix.]
The substance mingled with another ; some
tunes the act of mixture. We say, an ad-
mixture of sulphur with alum, or the ad-
mixture of different bodies.
ADMONTSH, v.t. [L. admonco, arf and mo-
neo, to teach, warn, admonish ; Fr. admon-
eter; Norm, amonester ; Sp. amonestar ;
Port, amoestar, or admoestar ; It. ammonire ;
G. mahnen, ermahnen ; D. maanen, to dun,
vermaanen, to admonish ; Sw. mana, for-
mana ; Dan. maner, fonnaner ; Sax.
mxnan, to mean.]
I. To warn or notify of a fault ; to reprove
with mildness.
Coimt him not as an enemy, but admonish
bim as a brother. 2Thess. iii.
ADO
2. To counsel against wrong practices;
caution or advise.
3. To mstruct or direct.
Moses was admonished of God, when he was
about to make the tabernacle. Heb. ■
4. In ecclesiastical affairs, to reprove
ber of the church for a fault, either publicly
or privately ; the first step of church disci
phne. It is followed by of, or against ; as, tc
admonish of a fault committed, or against
committing a fault. It has a like use in
colleges.
\DMON'ISIIED, yjp. Reproved; advised;
warned ; instructed.
ADMON'ISHER, n. One who reproves or
counsels.
ADMON'ISHING, ppr. Reproving ; warn-
ing ; coun.seluig; dhecting.
ADMON'ISIIMENT, n. Admonition. Shak.
ADMONI"TION, n. Gentle reproof; coun-
seling agahist a fault ; instruction in du-
ties ; caution ; direction. Tit. iii. 1 Cor.
X. In church discipline, public or private
reproof to reclaim an offender ; a step
preliminary to excommunication.
ADMONI"TIONER, n. A dispenser of ad-
monitions. Hooker.
ADMON'ITIVE, a. Containing admonition
Burroiv.
ADMON'ITOR, n. An atbnonisher, a mou-
ADMON'ITORY, a. Containing admoni-
tion ; that admonishes.
ADMORTIZA'TION, n. The reducing of
lands or tenements to mortmain. [See
Mortmain.] Encyc.
ADMOVE', V. /. [L.admoveo.]
To move to ; to bring one thing to another.
[Little used.] Brown
ADNAS'CENT, o
growing.]
Growing on something else. Evelyn.
ADNA'TA, n. [L. ad and nalus, grown,
from nascor, to grow.]
in anatomy, one of the coats of the eye,
vyhich is also called albuginea, and is sonie-
times confounded with the conjunctiva.
It hes between the sclerotica, and con-
junctiva.
2. Such parts of anmial or vegetable bodies
as are usual and natural, as the hair, wool,
horns ; or accidental, as fungus, misletoe,
and excrescences.
Offsets of plants, germinating under
ground, as from the lily, narcissus, and
hyacinth. ' Quincy. Encyc.
AD'NATE, a. [L. ad and nai^s, grown.]
In botany, pressing close to the stem, or
growing to it. Martyn.
AD'NOUN, n. [ad and noun.]
In grammar, an adjective, or attribute. [Lit-
tle used.]
AD6', ti. [Qu. a and do.]
Bustle ; trouble ; labor ; difficulty ; as, to
make a great ado about trifles ; to per-
suade one with much ado.
ADOLES'CENCE, n. [L. adolescens, grow-
ing, of ad and olesco, to grow, from oleo.
[L. ad and nascens
Heb.
rhp, to ascend; Ar. )JL«, to be
high.]
[The state of growing, applied to the young
of the human race ; youth, or the period
I of life between childhood and manhood.
ADO
ADOLES'CENT, „. Growing; advandng
from clnldhood to manhood.
ADONE'AN, a. Pertaining to Adonis. j
Fair Adonean Venus. Faberk
ADO'NIA, n. Festivals celebrated anciently
in honor of Adonis, by females, who spent
two days in lamentations and infamous
pleasures. Encyc
ADO'NIC, a. Monic Verse, a short verse^
in wliich the death of Adonis was bewailed!
It consists of a dactyl and spondee or tro-
, fhee. Bailey. Cvc.
[ADO'NIC, n. An Adonic verse.
ADO'NIS, n. In mythology, the favorite of
Venus, said to be the son of Cinyras, king
of Cyprus. He w^s fond of hunting, and
received a mortal wound from lljc tusk of
a wild boar. Venus lamented his death,
and changed him into the flower, aue-
mony.
ADO'NIS, in botany, bird's eye or pheas-
ant's eye.
ADO'NISTS, n. [Heb. Ch. and Syr. |n^?
adon, Lord, a scriptural title of the Su-
preme Being.]
Among critics, a sect or party who maintain
that the Hebrew points ordinarily annexed
to the consonants of the word Jehovah, are
not the natural points belonging to that
word, anti that they do not express the
true pronunciation of it ; but that they are
vowel pomts belongmg to the words, Mo-
nai and Elohim, apphed to the ineffable
name Jehovah, which the Jews were forbid
to utter, and the true pronunciation of
which was lost ; they were therefore al-
ways to pronounce the word Adonai,
instead of Jehovah. Encyc.
ADOPT', V. t. [L. adopto, of ad and opto, to
desire or choose. See Option.]
1. To take a stranger into one's family, as
son and heir ; to take one who is not a
child, and treat him as one, giving him a
title to the privileges and rights of a child.
2. In a spiritual sense, to receive the sinful
children of men into the uivisible church,
and into God's favor and protection, by
which they become heirs of salvation by
Christ. Brown.
3. To take or receive as one's own, that
which is not naturally so ; as, to adopt the
opinions of another ; or to receive that
which is new ; as, to adopt a particular
mode of husbandry.
4. To select and take ; as, which mode will
you adopt ?
ADOPT'ED, pp. Taken as one's own ; re-
ceived as son and heir ; selected for use.
ADOPT'EDLY, adv. In the manner of
something adopted.
ADOPT'ER, n. One who adopts.
2. In chimistry, a large round receiver, with
two necks, djametrically opposite to each
other, one of which admits the neck of a
retort, and the other is joined to another
receiver. It is used in distillations, to give
more space to elastic vapors, or to increase
the lengtli of the neck of a retort.
ADOPT'ING, ppr. Taking a stranger as a
son ; taking as one's own.
ADOP'TION, n. [L. adoptio.]
1. The act of adojrting, or the state of being
adopted ; the taking and treatuig of a
stranger as one's o^vn cliild.
ADO
ADO
A D U
2. Th«
viiig as one's own, what is new
iiatiiial.
3. God's taking the sinful children of men
into his favor and protection. Eph. iv,
Adoption by arms, an ancient ceremony of
presenting arms to one for his merit or
valor, whirh laid the person under an oh-
ligation to defend the giver.
Moption by baptism is the spiritual affinity
whicli is contracted by god-fathers and
fod-children, in the ceremony of baptism,
t was introduced into the Greek church,
and afterwards among tlie ancient Frank.s.
This affinity was supposed to entitle the
god-child to a share of the god-father's
estate. Encyc.
Adoption by hair was performed by cutting
off the hairof a person and giving it to the
adoptive father. Thus Pope John VIII
adopted Boson, king of Aries.
Adoption by matrimony is the taking the chil-
dren of a wife or husband, by a former
marriage, into the condition of natural
chilihcii. Tliis is a practice pecuUar to
tlic (Iciiiiiiiis ; but is not so properly
aduiitioii ;is itiljilialion. Encyc.
Adoption by testament is the appointing of a
person to be heir, by will, on condition of
his taking the name, arms, &c. of the
adopter. Encyc.
In Europe, adoption is used for many kinds
of admission to a more intimate relation,
and is nearly equivalent to recepti
the admission of persons into hospitals, or
monasteries, or of one society into
tlier. Encyc.
ADOPT'IVE, Of. [L. adoptivus.]
That adopts, as an adoptive father ; or that
is adf>])ted, as an adoptive son.
ADOPT'IVE, n. A (lerson or thing adopted,
AUO'RABLE, o. That ought to be adored;
woitliy of divine honors. In popular use,
wiii-tliv I't'ihr utmost love or respect.
ADO I! \l{|,i;M;!?S,n. The quality of being
ador.-ililc, iir worthy of adoration.
ADO'RAliLY, adv. In a maimer worthy of
adoration.
ADORA'TION, n. The act of paying
lionnrs to a divine being ; the worship paid
to (.'od ; the ;lc I of addressing as a God.
Adm-iilion i-oii.^ists in external homage, ac-
coiiipaiiifd willi the highest reverence. It
is used for tlie act of praying, or prefer-
ring requests or thanksgiving, to the Su-
preme Being.
2. Homage paid to one in high esteem ; pro-
found reverence.
Adoration, among the Jews, was per-
formed by bowing, kneeling and prostra-
tion. Among the Romans, the devotee
with his head uncovered, applied his right
hand to his lips, bowing and turning him-
self from left to right. The Persians fell
on the face, strildng the forehead against
the earth, and kissing the ground. The
adoration paid to the Grecian and Roman
emperors, consisted in bowing and kneel-
ing at the feet of the prince, laying hold of
his robe, then withdrawing the hand and
clapping it to the lips. In modern times,
adoration is paid to the pope by kissing
his feet, and to princes, by kneeling and
kissing the hand. This word was used by
the Romans for acclamation or great ap-
plause, given to public performers ; and the
election of a pope is sometimes by adora-
tion, that is, by sudden acclamation with-
out scrutiny. Encyc.
ADO'RE, V. t. [L. adoro. In Ch. and Heb.
^^n, to honor, reverence or glorify, to
adorn; Heb. T1X, to be magnificent or
glorious, to magnify, to glorify. Thi^
word is usually referred to the Latin ad
orare, to carry to one's mouth; ad auil
OS, oris ; as, in order to kiss one's hand, the
hand is earned to one's mouth. See Cal-
met, ad verbum, who cites, in confirmation
of this opinion, the ancient practice of kiss-
ing the hand. See Job. xxxi. 1 Kings,
xix. Ps. ii. Gen. xli. Ainsworth sup!
poses the word to be a compound of ad
and oro, to pray; and if the word is com-
pound, as I suspect, this opinion is most
probably correct.]
To worship with profound reverence ; to
address with exalted thoughts, by prayer
and thanksgiving ; to pay divine honors
to ; to honor as a god or as divuie.
Ih-yden.
2. To love in the highest degree ; to regard
with the utmost esteem, affection and
respect ; as, the people adore their prince.
Tatler.
ADO'RED, pp. Worshipped as divine ; high-
ly reverenced ; greatly beloved.
AUO'RER, n. One who worships, or hon-
ors as divine ; in popular language, an ad-
miring lover.
ADO'RING, ppr. or a. Honoring or ad-
dressing as divine ; regaijling with great
love or reverence.
ADORN', V. t. [L. adorno, ad and omo, to
deck, or beautify", to dress, set off, extol,
furnish; Fr. omer ; Sp. Port, omar; It.
ornare ; Arm. aouma. Omo is probably
the Saxon hrinan, gerenian, gerinan, ge-
hiinan, to touch, to strike, to adorn, that
is, to put on.]
To deck or decorate ; to make beautiful ;
to add to beauty by dress ; to deck with
external ornaments.
Abiide adorneth herself with jewels. Isa. vi.
2. To set off to advantage ; to add orna-
ments to ; to embellish by any tiling ex-
ternal or adventitious ; as, to adorn a speech
by appropriate action, sentiments with
elegance of language, or a gallery with
pictures.
•3. To make pleasing, or more pleasing ; as,
great abiUties adorned by vutue or affabil-
4. To display the beauty or excellence of ; as,
to adorn the doctrine of God. Titus ii.
ADORN', 71. Ornament. Obs. Spenser.
ADORN', a. Adorned ; decorated. Obs.
Milton.
ADORN'ED, jojj. Decked ; decorated ; em-
bellished.
ADORN'ING, ppr. Ornamenting ; decora-
tiiiff ; disi)laying beauty.
ADORN'ING, n. Ornament; decoration.
1 Pet. iii.
ADOS€ULA'TION, n. [L. ad and osculatio,
a kissing, from osculum, a kiss, or mouth.]
The impregnation of plants by the falling of
tlie farina on the pistils. Encyc.
Adosculation is also defined to be the insi
mg of one part of a plant into another,
Crabbe.
ADOS'SED, a. [Fr. adossie, part, ofadosser,
to set back to back ; dos, the back '
In heraldry, denoting two figures or bear-
ings placed back to back. Encyr.
ADOWN', prep, [a and down.] From a
liigher to a lower situation ; downwards ;
iniplying descent.
ADOWN , adv. Down; on the ground ; at
\l)ltlv\l), a. Adred'. [See Dread.] Af-
ffctcl by dread. Obs.
ADRIATIC, a. [L. Adria, or Hadria, the
gulf of Venice.]
Pertaining to the Gulf, called, from Venice,
the Venetian Gulf
ADKIVTIC, n. The Venetian Gulf; a
(/iill'ilial washes tlie eastern side of Italy.
ADRIFT, a. or adv. [Sax. adrifan, gedri-
fan, antl drifan, to drive. See Drive. Adrift
is the participle of the verb.]
Literally, driven ; floatmg ; floating at ran-
dom ; inqielled or moving without direc-
tion. As an adjective, it always follows its
noun ; as, the boat was adrift.
ADROGA'TION, n. [L. arf and rogo, to ask.
See Interrogate and Rogation.]
A species of' adoption in ancient Rome, by
wliieli a person, capable of choosing for
himself, was admitted into the relation of
a son. So called from the questions put
to the parties. Encyc.
ADROIT', a. [Fr. from droit, right, straiglit,
direct ; whence droite, the right hand ; It.
diritto, right, straight, contracted from the
L. directus, dingo ; Arm. dret. See Right.]
Dextrous ; skilful ; active in the use of the
hands, and figuratively, in the exercise of
the mental faculties ; ingenious ; ready in
invention or execution.
ADROIT' LY, adv. With dexterity ; in a
ready skilful manner. Chesterfield.
ADRdlT'NESS, n. Dexterity ; readiness in
the use of the limbs, or of the mental fac-
ulties. Home.
ADRV, a. [Sax. adrigan, to dry.]
Thirsty, in want of drink. [This adjective
always follows the noun.] Spectator.
ADSCITI'TIOUS, a. [h. ascititius, &oin
adscisco, ascisco, to add or join.]
Added ; taken as supplemental ; additional ;
not requisite. Warlon.
ADSTRle'TION, n. [L. adstridio, astrictio,
of ad and stringo, to strain or bind fast.
See Strict.]
A binding fast. Among physicians, the ri-
gidity of a part of the body, occasioning a
retention of usual evacuations ; costive--
ness ; a closeness of the emunctories ; al-
so the styptic effects of medicines.
Encyc. Quincy.
ADSTRleTORY, ADSTRING'ENT. [See
Astringent.]
ADULA'RIA, 71. [From Adula, the summit
of a Swiss mountain.]
A mineral deemed the most perfect variety
of felspar; its color white, or with a tinge
of green, yellow, or red. Cleaveland.
ADULA'TION, n. [L. adulatio.]
Servile flattery ; praise in excess, or beyond
what is merited ; high coni])liment. Shak.
IaD'ULATOR, n. A flatterer ; one who of-
fers praise servilely.
ADULATORY, a. Flattering ; containing
excessive praise or compUments ; servilely
praising ; as, an adulatory address.
AD'ULATRESS, n. A female that flatter?
with servility.
A D U
-VDULT', n. [L. adultus, grown to maturity,
from oleo, to grow ; Heb. rhp, to ascend
Having arrived at mature years, or to full
size and strength ; as an adult person or
plant.
ADULT', n. A person grown to full size and
strength, or to the years of manhood. It
is also applied to full grown plants.
Among civilians, a person between four-
teen and twenty-five years of age. Enaic.
ADl'LTERANT, n. The person or thing
tliat adulterates.
ADUL'TERATE, v. t. [L. adultero, from
adulter, mixed, or an adulterer ; ad and
alter, other.]
To corrupt, debase, or make impure by ar
admixture of baser materials; as, to adul
terale hquorb-, or the coin of a country.
ADUL'TERATE, v. i. To" commit adultery.
Obs.
ADUL'TERATE, a. Tainted with adidte
rv ; debased by foreign mixture.
ADUL'TERATED, pp. Corrupted ; debased
by a mixture with something of less value.
ADUL'TERATENESS, n. The quahty or
state of beuig debased or counterfeit.
ADUL'TERATING, ppr. Debasing; cor-
rupting ; counterfeituig.
ADULTER A'TION, n. Theact of aduher-
ating, or the state of being adulterated,
corrupted or debased by foreign mixture.
The adulteration of liquors, of diaigs, and
even of bread and beer, is common, but a
scandalous crime.
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery ; a man who has
sexual commerce with any maiTied wo-
man, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
9. In scripture, an idolater. Ezek. xxiii.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one
who violates his covenant engagements ;
a very wicked person. Jer. ix. and xxiii.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James, iv.
ADULTERESS, n. A married woman
guilty of incontinence.
ADUL'TERINE, a. Proceeding fiom adul-
terous commerce ; spurious. Hall.
ADUL'TERINE, n. In the cm7 foif, achild
issumg from an adulterous connection.
ADUL'TEROUS, a. Guilty of adultery;
pertainuig to adultery.
2. In scripture, idolatrous, very wicked. Mat.
xii. and xvi. Mark, viii.
ADUL'TERY, J,. [L. adultcrium. SeeMul-
terate.]
1. Violation of the marriage bed ; a crime,
or a civil injury, which introduces, or may
introduce, into a family, a spurious off-
spring.
By the laws of Connecticut, the sexual
intercourse of any man, with a married
woman, is the crime of adulteiy in both :
such intercourse of a married man, with
an unmarried woman, is fornication m
liotli, and adultery of the man, within the
meaning of the law respecting divorce ;
but not a felonious adultery in either, or
the crime of adultery at common law, or
by statiue. This latter offense is, in Eng-
land, proceeded with only in the ecclesi-
astical courts.
In common usage, adidtery means the
unfaithfulness of any married person to
the marriage bed. In England, I'arlia-
A D V
ment grant absolute divorces, for Lnfideli
ty to the marriage bed in either party ; ane
the spiritual courts divorce a me?isa el
thoro.
'2. In a scriptural sense, all manner of lewd
ness or unchastity, as in the seventh com
mandment.
3. In senpture, idolatrj', or apostasy fj'oin the
true God. Jer. iii.
4. In old laws, the fine and penalty imposed
for the offense of adultery.
5. In ecclesiastical affairs, the intrusion of a
person into a bishopric, during the life of
the bishop. Encyc.
6. Among ancient naturalists, the grafting of
trees was called adultery, being consider-
ed as an unnatural uuion. Pliny.
ADULT'NESS, n. The state of being aduh.
ADUM'BRANT, a. [See Adumbrate.] Giv-
ing a faint shadow, or shght resemblance.
ADUM'BRATE, v. t. [L. adumbro, to shade,
from umbra, a shade ; Fr. ombre ; Sp. som-
bra ; It. ombra.]
To give a faint shadow, or slight likeness ;
to exhibit a faint resemblance, hke
shadow.
ADUMBRA'TION, n. The act of maldng
a shadow or faint resemblance.
2. A faint sketch ; an imperfect represeiua-
tion of a thing. Bacon.
3. In heraldry, the shadow only of a figure,
outhned, and painted of a color darker
than the field. Diet.
ADUNA'TION, n. [L. ad and mius, tinio.]
The state of being united ; union. [ATot
used.] Cranmer.
ADUN'CITY, n. [L. aduncitas, hookedness,
of ad and uncus, a hook.]
Hookedness ; a bending in form of a hook.
Arbulhnoi
ADUN'COUS, a. [L. aduncxis.]
Hooked ; bent or made in the form of a hook,
Bacon.
ADUNQUE, o. Adunk'. Hooked. [JVol
used.] Bacon.
ADU'RE, V. I. [L. aduro, ad and uro, to
burn.]
To burn up. [JVb< used.] Bacon.
ADUST', a. [L. adustus, burnt, the partici-
ple of aduro, to burn.]
Burnt ; scorched ; become dry by heat ; hot
and fiery.
ADUST'ED, a. Become hot and dry ; burnt ;
scorched.
ADUS'TION, n. The act of burning, scorch-
ing, or heating to dryness ; a state of being
thus heated or dried.
ADV'ANCE, V. t. adv'ans. [Fr. avancer; Sp.
avanzar, to move forward ; It. avanzare,
to get or increase ; Ai-m. avans, to advance.
This word is formed on van, the front,
which seems to be the Ch. and Heb. ms,
D'J3, surface, face ; whence, Fr. avant, It.
avanti, before.]
1. To bring forward ; to move further in
front. Hence,
2. To promote ; to rawo-^o a higher rank ;
as, to advance one from the bar to the
bench.
3. To improve or make better, which is con-
sidered as a progression or moving for-
ward ; as, to advance one's true int^
4. To forward ; to accelerate growth
advance the growth of plants.
5. To offer or propose ; to bring to v
A D V
notice ; as, to advance an opinion or an
argument.
(3. In commerce, to supply beforehand ; to
furnish on credit, or before goods are
delivered, or work done ; or to furnish as
a part of a stock or fund ; as, to advance
money on loan or contract, or towards a
purcliase or estabhshment.
7. To furnish for others; to supply or pay
for others, in expectation of reimburse-
ment.
They advanced the money out of their own
funds, and took the sheriffs deeds in their own
name. lient, Johnson's Rep.
8. To raise ; to enhance ; as, to advance the
price of goods.
ADVANCE, v. i. To move or go forward ;
to proceed ; as, the troops advanced.
2. To improve, or make progress ; to gi-ow
better, greater, wiser or older ; as, to ad-
vance m knowledge, in stature, in wisdom,
or in years.
3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence :
to be preferred, or promoted ; as, to advance
in political standing.
.\DV>ANCE, n. A moving forward, or to-
wards the fl-ont. Clarendon.
2. Gi-adual progres.sion ; improvement ; as,
an advance in rehgion or Itnowledge.
Atterbury.
3. Advancement ; promotion ; preferment :
as, an advance in rank or office.
4. First hint by way of invitation ; first step
towards an agreement ; as, A made an
advance towards a reconciliation with B.
In this sense, it is very frequently used in
the plural.
The amours of an empress require the plainest
advances. Gibbon.
5. In trade, additional price ; profit ; as, an
advance on the prime cost of goods.
6. A giving beforehand ; a furnishing of some-
thing, on contract, before an equivalent is
received, as money or goods, towards a
capital or stock, or on loan ; or the money
or goods thus furnished ; as, A made large
advances to B.
7. A furnishing of money or goods for oth-
ers, in expectation of reimbursement ; or
the property so furnished.
I shall, with great pleasure, make the neces-
sary advances. Jay.
The account was made up witli intent to show
what advances had been made. ITent.
In advance, in front ; before ; also before-
hand ; before an equivalent is received, or
when one partner in trade has furnished
more than his ]>roportion ; as, A is in
advance to S a thousand dollars or pounds.
ADV>ANCED, pp. Moved forward ; pro-
moted ; improved ; furnished beforehand ;
situated in front, or before the rest ; also
old, having reaclied the decline of life ; as,
advanced in years ; an advanced age.
ADV>ANCEMENT, n. The act of moving
forward or proceeding.
2. The state of being advanced ; preferment ;
promotion, in rank or excellence ; the act
of ]ironioting.
3. Settlement on a wife, or jointure.
4. Provision made by a parent for a child,
by gift; of property, during his, the parent's
life, to which the child would be entitled
as heir, after his parent's death.
R. M. Sherman.
A D V
A D V
A D V
ADVANCER, n. One who advances; a
promoter.
Among sportsmen, a start or branch of a
biirk's attire, between the back antler and
tlie pahii. Encyc.
ADV' ANCING, ppr. Moving forward ; pro-
ceeding ; promoting ; raising to higher
rank or excellence ; improving ; supply-
ing beforehand, as on loan, or as stock in
trade.
ADV'ANCIVE, a. Tending to advance, or
promote.
ADV>ANTA6E, n. [Pr. avantage, from
avaiit, before ; It. vantaggio ; Sp. ventaja.]
1. Any state, condition, or circumstance,
favorable to success, prosperity, ijiterest,
or reputation.
TTie enemy had tlie advantage of elevated
ground.
2. Benefit ; gain ; profit.
\\ hat advantage will it be to thee .' Job xxxv.
There exists, In the economy and comse of
nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and
happiness; between duty and advantage.
Washington.
3. Means to an end ; opportunity ; conven-
ience for obtaining benefit ; as, students
enjoy great advantages for improvement.
The General took advantage of his enemy'
negligence.
4. Favorable state or circumstances ; as
jewels set to advantage.
5. Superiority, or prevalence over ; with of
or over.
Lest Satan should get an advantage o/ us, (
over us.) 2 Cor. ii.
G. Superiority, or that which gives it ; as, the
advantage of a good constitution.
7. Interest ; increase ; overplus.
And with advantage means to pay thy love.
Obs. Slmk
8. Additional circumstance to give prepou
deration.
ADVANTAGE, v. t. To benefit ; to j-ield
profit or gain.
What is a man advantaged, if he gain th(
whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away
Luke Lx.
'2. To promote ; to advance the interest of.
ADV>ANTAGEABLE, a. Profitable ; con
veiiient ; gainfid. [Little used.]
ADV>ANTAGED,;);j. Benefitted ; promoted.
ADVANTAGE-GROUND, n. Ground that
gives advantage or superiority ; a state
that gives superior advantages for annoy-
ance or resistance. Clarendon
ADVANTAGEOUS, a. Being of advan-
tage ; furnishing convenience, or opportu-
nity to gain benefit ; gainful ; profitable ;
useful ; beneficial ; as, an advantageous
position of the troops ; trade is advanfa
geous to a nation.
ADVANTAGEOUSLY, adv. In an advan
tageous manner ; profitably ; usefully ;
conveniently. Arbuthiiol.
ADVANTA'GEOUSNESS, n. The qualitj-
or state of being advantageous; profita-
bleness ; usefulness ; convenience.
Boyle.
ADV'ANTAGING, ppr. Profiting ; bene-
fiting.
.\DVE'NE. V. i. [L. advenio, to come to, ad
and venio.]
To accede, or come to ; to be added to,
become a part of, though not essential.
{Little used.]
ADVE'NIENT, a. Advening ; coming fromi
outward causes.
AD'VENT, n. [L. adventus, from advenio, of,
ad and venio, to come. See Find.] |
A coming ; appropriately the coming of our
Savior, and in the calendar, it includes
four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning
on St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath
next before or after it. It is intended as
a season of devotion, with reference to the
coming of Christ in the flesh, and bis sec-
ond coming to judge the world. Encyc.
ADVENT'INE, a. Adventitious. [ATot used.]
Bacon.]
ADVENTI"TIOUS, a. [L. adventitius, from\
advenio. See Advent.]
Added extrinsically ; accidental ; not essen-
tially iidierent ; casual ; foreign.
Diseases of continuance get an adventitious
strength from custom. Bacon.
ADVENTL'TIOUSLY, adv. Accidentally.
ADVENT'IVE, a. Accidental ; adventitious.
[Little used.] Bacon.
ADVENT'IVE, n. The thing or person that
comes from without. [Little used.] j
Bacon.'
.ADVENT'UAL, o. Relating to the season of
advent. Saunderson.i
ADVENTURE, n. [Fr. aventure, from
advenio. See Advent.] |
L Hazard ; risk ; chance ; that of which one|
has no direction ; as, at all adventures, that,
is, at all hazards. [See Venture.] \
2. An enterprize of hazard; a bold under-;
taking, in which hazards ajre to be encoun-!
tered, and the issue is staked upon imfore-
seen events. Drydenl
3. That which is put to hazard ; a sense in'
popular use with seamen, and usually!
pronounced venture. Something which a!
seaman is permitted to carry abroad, with
a view to sell for profit.
A hill of adventure, is a writing signed by a[
person, who takes goods on board of his
ship, wholly at the risk of the owner.
Encyc}
ADVENT'URE, v. t. To risk, or hazard ; to
put in the power of unforeseen events; as,l
to adventure one's life. [See Venture.]
ADVENT'URE, v. i. To dare ; to try the
chance ; as, to adventure on " the tempes-
tuous sea of hbertj'." '
ADVENT'URED, pp. Put to hazard ; ven-j
tured ; risked.
ADVENTURER, n. One who hazards,
or puts something at risk, as merehant-
advatturers.
2. One who seeks occasions of chance, or
attempts bold, novel, or extraordinary en-
terprizes.
ADVENTURESOME, a. Bold ; daring ;
incurring hazard. [See Vejituresome.]
ADVENT URESOMENESS, n. The qual
ity of being bold and venturesome.
ADVENTURING, ppr. Putting to risk
hazarding.
ADVENT' UROUS, a. [Fr. aventttreux.]
1. Inchned or wilhng to incur hazard ; bold
to encoumer danger; daring; courageous ;
enterprizing : applied to persons.
2. Full of ha'zai-d ; attended with risk ; ex-
posing to danger ; requiring courage :
applied to things ; as, an adventurous un-
dertaking.
Ajid followed freedom on the adventurous tide,
Trumbull.
ADVENTUROUSLY, adv. Boldly ; dar-
ingly ; in a manner to incur hazard.
ADVENT UROUSNESS, n. The act or
quality of being adventurous.
AD' VERB, n. [L. adverbium, of ad and ver-
bum, to a verb.]
In grammar, a word used to modify the
sense of a verb, participle, adjective or
attribute, and usually placed near it ; as,
he writes well ; paper extremely wliite.
This part of speech might be more signi-
ficantly named a modifier, as its use is to
modify, that is, to vary or quaUfy the
sense of another word, by enlarging or
restraining it, or by expressing form, qual-
ity or manner, which the word itself does
not express. The term adverb, denoting
position merely, is often improper.
ADVERB lAL, a. Pertaining to an adverb.
ADVERB'IALLY, adv. In the manner of an
adverb.
ADVERSA'RIA, n. [L. from adversus. See
Adverse.]
Among the ancients, a book of accounts, so
named from the placing of debt and credit
in opposition to each other. A common-
I>lace book. Encyc.
AD'VERSARY, n. [See Adverse.]
1. An enemy or foe ; one who has enmity at
heart.
In scripture, Satan is called THE .\d vef.-
4RT, by way of eminence. 1 Pet. v.
2. An opponent or antagonist, as in a suit at
law, or in smgle combat ; an opposing
litigant.
AD'VERSARY, a. Opposed; opposite to;
adverse. In law, having an opposing par-
ty, as an adversaiy suit; in distinction
from an appUcation, in law or equity, to
which no opposition is made.
ADVERS'ATIVE, a. Noting some differ-
ence, contrariety, or opposition ; as, John
is an honest man, but a fanatic. Here but
is called an adversative conjunction. This
denomination however is not always cor-
rect ; for but does not always denote
opposition, but somethins additional.
ADVERS ATIVE, n. A word denoting con-
trariety or opposition.
ADVERSE, a. [L. adversus, opposite ; of arf
and versus, turned ; from verto, to turn.
See Advert. This word was formerly ac-
cented, by some authors, on the last sylla-
ble ; but the accent is now settled on the
first.]
L Opposite ; opposing ; acting in a contrarj-
direction ; conflicting ; counteracting ; as,
adverse wmds ; an adverse party.
2. Figuratively, opposing desire ; contrary tQ
the wishes, or to supposed good ; hence,
unfortunate ; calamitous ; afflictive ; per-
nicious ; unprosperous ; as, adverse fate or
circumstances.
ADVERSE, v. t. advers'. To oppose. [JVot
itsed.] Gower.
AD'VERSELY, adv. In an adverse man-
ner ; oppositely ; unfortunately ; unpros-
jierously ; in a manner contrary to desire
or success.
.AD'VERSENESS, j^ Opposition ; impros-
perousness.
ADVERSITY, n. An event, or series of
events, wliich oppose success or desire :
A D V
luiilDiluui; ; calamity ; affliction ; distress ;
state of unliappiness.
In the day of adversity, consider. Eccl. vii.
Ye have rejected God, who saved you out of
all your adversities. 1 Sam. x.
\DVERT', V. i. [L. adverto, oi ad and verto
to turn.]
To turn tlie mind or attention to ; to regard,
observe, or notice ; with to ; as, he adverted
to what was said, or to a cu-cumstance
that occurred.
ADVERT'ED, pp. Attended to ; regarded ;
with to.
■VDVERT'ENCE, ) n. A cUrection of the
\DVERT'ENCY, ^ mind to ; attention ;
notice ; regard ; consideration ; heedful-
ness.
ADVERT'ENT, a. Attentive ; heedful.
ADVERTING, ppr. Attending to ; regard-
ing; observing.
ADVERTI'SE, v. t. s as z. [Fr. avertir ;
Arm. avertisza, to inform ; fi-om ud and
verto, to turn. See Advert.]
1. To inform ; to give notice, advice or intel-
ligence to, whether of a past or present
event, or of something future.
I will advertise thee what this people will
to thy people in the latter day. Num. xsiv.
I thought to advertise thee, saying ; buy it
before the inhabitants and elders of my people
Ruth iv.
In this sense, it has o/" before the subject
of information ; as, to advertise a man of
his losses.
% To publish a notice of; to publish a writ-
ten or printed account of; as, to adveyiise
goods or a farm.
ADVERTI'SED, pp. Informed ; notified ;
warned ; icsed of persons : pubUslied ; made
known ; used of things.
ADVER'TISEMENT, n. Information ; ad-
monition ; notice given. More generally,
a publication intended to give notice ; this
may be, by a short account printed in s
newspaper, or by a written account posted,
or otherwise made pubUc.
ADVERTI'SER, n. One who advertises.
This title is often given to pubhc prints.
ADVERTI'SING, ppr. Infonning; givuig
notice ; pubhshing notice.
2. a. Furnishing advertisements ; as, adver-
tising customers.
3. In the sense of monitory, or active in giv-
ing intelUgence, as used by Shakespeare
\jYot now used.]
fFr.
A D V
!2. Open to advice. South.
ADVI'SABLENESS,n. The quality of being
advisable or expedient.
ADVI'SE, V. f. s. as z. [Fr. aviser; Arm.
avisa ; Sp. avisar ; It. avvisare. See Advice.]
To give counsel to ; to offer an opinion, as
worthy or expedient to be followed ; as, I
advise you to be cautious of speculation,
2. To give information ; to communicate n
tice ; to make acquainted with ; followed
by of, before the thing communicated ;
the merchants were advised of the risk.
3. To deUberate, consider, or consult.
.Advise thyself of what word I shall bring
again to him that sent me. 1 Ch. xxi.
in this sense, it is usually intransitive.
\DVrSE, v. i. To deUberate, weigh well.
or consider.
Advise and see what answer I shall return to
him that sent me. 2 Sam. xx
To advise with is to consult for the puq)Ose
of taking the opinions of others.
ADVrSED, pp. Informed ; counseled ; alsc
cautious; prudent; acting with deUbera-
tion.
Let him be advised In his answers. Bacon
With the well advised is wisdom. Prov. xiii.
2. Done, formed, or taken with advice or
deUberation ; intended ; as, an advised act
or scheme.
ADVI'SEDLY, adv. With deliberation oi
advice ; heedfuUy ; purposely ; by design
as, an enterprize advisedly undertaken.
VDVI'SEDNESS, n. Dehberate considera
tion ; prudent procedure.
ADVrSEMENT, n. Counsel; informa-
tion ; circumspection.
2. Consultation.
The action standing continued nisi for advise.
ment. Mass. Reports
ADVI'SER, n. One who gives advice or
admonition ; also, in a bad sense, one who
instigates or persuades.
ADVrSING, j)pr. Giving counsel.
ADVI'SING, n. Advice ; coimsel. Shak.
ADVI'SORY, a. Having power to advise.
The general association has a general adviso-
ry superintendence over all the ministers and
churches.
VDVI'CE, n. [
Arm. avis. This and the verb aviser, to
avis, opuuon, notice ;
A D V
grants of land, with power to lead the vas-
sals of the church to war.
Fiscal advocates, in ancient Rome, defended
causes in which the pubhc revenue was
concerned.
Juridical advocates became judges, in conse-
quence of their attending causes in the
earl's court.
Matricular advocates defended the cathedral
churches.
Militaiy advocates were employed by the
church to defend it by arms, when force
gave law to Europe.
Some advocates were called nominative, from
their beuig nominated by the pope or king;
some regular, from their being qualified by
a proper course of study. Some were
supreme ; others, subordinate.
Advocate, in the German pohty, is a magis-
trate, appointed in the emperor's name, to
administer justice.
Faculty of advocates, \n Scotland, is a society
of emuient lawyers, who practice in the
highest courts, and who are admitted
members only upon the severest examina-
tion, at three different times. It consists
of about two hundred members, and fi'om
this body are vacancies on the bench
usually supplied.
Lord advocate, in Scotland, the principal
crown lawyer, or prosecutor of crimes.
Judge advocate, in courts martial, a person
who manages the prosecution.
In Enghsh and American courts, advo-
cates are the same as counsel, or counsel-
ors. In England, they are of two degrees,
barristers and Serjeants ; the former, being
apprentices or learners, cannot, by ancient
custom, be admitted Serjeants, till of six-
teen years standing. Blackslonc. Encyc.
3. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses
a cause, by argument ; one who is friendly
to ; as, an advocate for peace, or for the
oppressed.
In scripture, Christ is called an advocate for
ad^^se, seem to be formed of ad and the
L. viso, to see, to visit.]
1. Counsel ; an opuiion recommended, or of-
fered, as worthy to be followed.
What advice give ye ? 2 Ch. x.
With good advice make wai-. Prov. xx.
We may give advice, but we cannot give
conduct. Franklin.
2. Prudence ; dehberate consideration.
Shak.
3. Information ; notice ; intelligence ; as, we
liave late advices from France.
To take advice, is to consult with others.
ADVI'CE BOAT, n. A vessel employed to
carry dispatches or information.
ADVI'SABLE, a. [See Advise.]
1. Proper to be advised ; prudent ; expedient :
proper to be done or practiced.
It is not advisable to proceed, at this time, to
0 i.-lioirt> of officers.
TruinbulVs Hist. Conn.
Madison. Ramsay, Hist. Car.
2. Containing advice ; as, their opinion is
merely advisory.
AD'VO€ACY, n. The act of pleading for ;
intercession. Brown
2. J udicial pleading ; law-suit. Chaucer.
AD'VO€ATE, n. [L. advocatus, fi-om advoco.
to call for, to plead for ; of ad and voco,
to call. See Vocal.]
Advocate, in its primary sense, signifies,
one who pleads the cause of another in a
court of civil law. Hence,
2. One who pleads the cause of another be-
fore any tribunal or judicial court, as e
ban-ister in the Enghsh courts. We say,
a man is a learned lawyer and an able
advocate.
In Europe, advocates have different titles,
according to their particular duties.
Consistoricd advocates, in Rome, appear be
fore the Consistory, in opposition to tin
disposal of benefices.
Elective advocates are chosen by a bishop
abbot, or chapter, with hcense from the
prince.
Feudal advocates were of a military kind
and to attach them to the church, had
We have an advocate with the father.
1 John, ii.
,AD'VO€ATE, v. t. To plead in favor of; to
defend by argument, before a tribiuial ; to
support or vindicate.
Tliose who advocate a discrimination.
Hamilton's Report on public debt.
The Duke of York advocated the amendment.
Debates on the Regency in the House of
Lordt, Dec. 27, 1810.
The Earl of Buckingham advocated the ori-
ginal resolution. Ibid.
The idea of a legislature, consisting of a single
branch, though advocated by some, was gene-
rally reprobated. Ramsay, Hist. Carolina.
How little claim persons, who advocate this
sentiment, really possess to be considered cal-
vinists, will appear from the following quotation.
Mackenzie's Life of Calvin.
The most eminent orators were engaged to
advocate his cause. Mitford.
A part only of the body, whose cause he ad-
vocates, coincide with him in judgment.
Chris. Obs. xi. 434. Scott.
AD'VOeATED,;;;). Defended by argument ;
vindicated.
AD'VOCATESS, n. A female advocate.
Taylor.
AD'VO€ATING, ppr. Supportuig by rea-
sons; defending; nuiintaining.
ADVOCA'TION, n. A pleading for: plea;
apology.
A E D
A E R
A F F
•.iliU of advocation, in Scotland, is a written
Application to a superior court, to call an
action before them from an inferior court.
The order of the superior court for this
purpose is called a letter of advocation.
ADVOU'TRESS, n. An adulteress. Bacon.
ADVOU'TRY, )i. Adultery. [Utile used.'\
Bacon.
ADVOWEE', n. He that has the right of|
advowson. Cowel.
2. The advocate of a church or religious
house. Cyc.
ADVOWSON, ». sas z. [Fr. awwene.from
avouer, to avow ; Norm, avoerie, aravoeson.
But the word was latinized, advocatio, from
advoco, and avoio is from advnco.]
In English law, a right of presentation to a
vacant benefice ; or in other words, a right
of nominating a person to officiate in a va-
cant church. The name is derived from
advocatio, because the right was first ob-
tained by such as were founders, benefac-
tors or strenuous defenders, advocates, of
the church. Those who have this right
are styled patrons. Advowsons are of
three kinds, presentative, collntirt, and
donative i presentative, when the patron
presents his clerk to the bishop of the
diocese to be instituted ; collative, when the
bishop is the patron, and institutes, or col-
lates his clerk, by a single act ; dourilive,
when a church is founded by tlic kiri^,
and assigned to the patron, willjiHii licing
subject to the ordinary, so that the patron
confers the benefice on his clerk, without
presentation, institution, or induction.
Advowsons are also appendant, that is, an-
nexed to a manor ; or, in gross, that is,
annexed to the person of the patron.
Blacksto)ie.
ADVOY'ER, or ^voy'er, [Old Fr. advoes.]
A chief magistrate of a town or canton in
Switzerland.
A'DY, n. The abanga, or Thernel's restora-
tive ; a species of Pahn tree, in the West
Indies, tall, upright, without branches,
with a thick branching head, which fiir-
nishes a juice, of which the natives make
a drink by fermentation. Encyc. Coxe.
ADZ, n. [Sax. adese ; Sp. azuela ; formerly
written in Eng. addice.]
An iron instrument with an arching edge,
across the line of the handle, and ground
from a base on its inside to the outer edge ;
used for chipping a horizontal surface of
tuuber. Encyc.
JE, a diphthong in the Latin language ; used
also by the Saxon writers. It answers to
the Gr. ai. The Sax. os has been changed
into e or ea. In derivatives fi-om the learn-
ed languages, it is jnostly superseded l)y e,
and convenience seems to require it to be
wholly rejected in anglicized words. For
such words as may be found with this
initial combination, the reader will there-
fore search mider the letter E.
JED, erf, corf, syllables found in names from
the Saxon, signify happy ; as, Eadric,
happy kingdom ; Eadrig, liappy victory ;
Edward, prosperous watch ; Edgar, suc-
cessful weapon. Gibson. Lye.
JE'DJLE, n. [Lat.] In ancient Rome, an
officer or magistrate, who had the care of
the public buildings, [ades,] streets, high-
ways, pubUc spectacles. &c.
Vol. I.
iE'GlI.OPS, n. [Gr. aiyiXu^; ai?, a goat, and
w^, the ej'e.]
A tumor in the corner of the eye, and a plant
so called. Quincy.
.(E'(iIS, n. [Gr. aiyi;, a goat skin, and
shield ; from a(4, a goat.]
AshieUl, or defensive atmor.
jEt^al, alh or eal, in Saxon, Eng. all, arc seen
in many names ; as, in JElfrcd, Alfred, all
peace ; JEhdn, all conqueror. Gibson
^LF, seems to be one form ofhelp, but more
generally written elph or utph ; as, in
JElftmn, victorious aid ; .^thehmdph, illus-
trious help. Gibson
AE'OLIST, n. [L. .Eohis.]
A pretender to inspiration. Sivifl.
A'ERATE, V. t. [See Air.] To combine
with carbonic acid, formerly called fixed
air. [The word has been discarded from
modem chijnistry.]
A'ERATED, pp. Combined with carbonic
acid.
A'ERATING, ppr. Combining with car
bonic acid.
AERA'TION, n. The act or operation of
combining with carbonic acid.
AERIAL, o. [L.aerius. See Air.]
\. Belonging to the air, or atmosphere ; as,
aerial regions.
^. Consisting of air; partakingof the nature
of air; as, aerial particles.
:?. Produced by air ; as, aerial honey. Pope.
4. Inhabiting or frequenting the air ; as,
aerial songsters.
5. Placed in the air ; high ; lofty ; elevated ;
as, aeiial spii-es ; aeiial flight.
AE'RIANS, n. In church history, a branch of]
Arians, so called from Aerius, who
tained, that there is no difference between
bishops and priests.
A'ERIE, n. [W. eryr. Corn, er, an eagle.]
The nest of a fowl, as of an eagle or hawk ;
a covey of birds. Shak.
AERIFICA'TION, n. Theact of combining
air with ; the state of being filled with air,
Fourcroy.
3. The act of becoming air or of changing
into an aeriform state, as substances wliicl
are converted fi-om a liquid or solid form
into gas or an elastic vapor ; the state of
being aeriform. Fourcroy.
AERIFIED, pp. Having air infused, or
combined with.
A'ERIFORM, a. [L. aer, air, and forma,
form.]
Having the fonn or nature of air, or of an
elastic, invisible fluid. The gases are aeri
form fluids.
AERIFY, V. t. To infuse air into ; to fill
with air, or to combine air with.
AEROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. a^, air, and
ypoijjw, to describe.]
A description of the air or atmosphere ; but
aerolog}/ is chiefly used.
A'EROLITE, n. [Gr. ojjp, air, and udos,
a stone.]
A stone falling from the air, or atmospheric
regions ; a meteoric stone.
Guidotte. Med. Rep.
AEROLOg l€AL, a. Pertaining to aero-
AEROL'OgIST, )i. One who is versed in
aerology.
AEROL'OgY, n. [Gr. o.:p, air, an.l ?.o-/o5,
description.]
ascertaining the i
A'ERONAUT, n.
sailor, from rouj,
Adescri|)tion of the air-; that branch of phi
^ losophy which treats of the air, its con-
1 stituent parts, properties, and phenomena.
I Encyc.
jA'EROMANCY, n. [Gr. arp, and fiautua,
\ divination.]
jDivination by means of the air and winds.
[lAttle used.]
AEROM'ETER, n. [Gr.ai^p, air, and /Kffpoi,
I measure.]
An instrument for weighing air, or for ascer-
taining the mean bidk of gases.
Journ. of Science.
AEROM'ETRY,n. [as above.] The science
of measuring the air, including the doc-
trme of its pressure, elasticity, rarefaction,
and condensation. Encyc.
Rather, aeronietry is the art or science of
lean bulk of the gases.
Encyc. Ure.
[Gr. ai;p, and vourjjj, a
ship.]
One who sails or floats in the air ; an aerial
navigator ; applied to persons who ascend in
air balloons. Burke.
AERONAUT IC, a. Sailing or floating in
the air ; pertaining to aerial sailing.
AERONAUT'leS, n. The doctrine, science,
or art of sailing in the air, by means of a
balloon.
A'ERONAUTISM.n. The practice of ascen-
ding and floating in the atmosphere, in
balloons. Journ. of Science.
AEROS'€OPY, n. [Gr. atjp, and axotro^a,.
to sec]
The observation of the air. [Little used.l
A'EROSTAT, n. [Gr.a,p, and Bfaro;, sus-
taining, from tarr,/ii, to stand.]
A machine or vessel sustaining weights in
the air ; a name given to air balloons.
Encyc.
AEROSTAT'Ie, a. Suspending in air ; per-
taining to the art of aerial navigation.
AEROSTATION, n. Aerial navigation :
the science of raising, suspending, and
guiding machines in the air, or of ascend-
ing in air balloons. Mams.
2. The science of weighing air.
A'ERYLIGHT, in Milton, light as air :
used for airy light.
AF'AR, adv. [a and far. See Far.]
1. At a distance in place ; to or from a dis-
tance ; used wth from preceding, or off
following ; as, he was seen from afar ; 1
saw him afar off.
2. In scripture, figuratively, estranged in af-
fection ; alienated.
My kinsmen stand afar off. Ps. xxxviii.
3. Absent ; not assisting.
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord ? Ps. x.
4. Not of the visible church. Eph. ii.
AFE'.\RD, a. [Sax. aferan, to make afraid.
Afeard is the participle passive. See
Fear.]
Afraid ; affected with fear or apprehension,
in a more moderate degree than is express-
ed by terrified. It is followed by of, but
no longer irsed in books, and even in pop-
ular use, is deemed vulgar.
AF'FA, n. A weight used on the Guinea
coast, equal to an ounce. The half of it
is called eggeha. Encyc.
.\FFABIL ITY, n. [See Affable.] The qual-
ity of being affable ; readiness to con-
verse ; ciWlity and courteousness, in re-
ceiving others, and in conversation : con-
A F F
A F I
A F F
our attairs.
desceiisioii in niaiiners. Affahilily of coun-
tenance is that mikhiess of aspect, which
invites to free social intercourse.
AF'FABLE, a. [L. affabiUs, of ad ani fab-
ulor. See Fable.]
1. Easy of conversation; admitting others to
free conversation without reserve ; cour-
teous ; complaisant ; of easy manners ;
condescending ; usually applied to superi
ors ; as, an affable prince.
3. Applied to external appearance, affable
denotes that combination of features,
which invites to conversation, and ren
ders a person accessible, opposed to a for-
bidding aspect ; mild ; benign ; as, an affa-
ble countenance.
AF'FABLENESS, n. Affability.
AF'FABLY, adv. In an affable manner:
courteously ; iuvituigly.
AFFA'IR, n. [Fr. affaire, from /aire, to
make or do; L. facere ; Sp. hacer ; It.
fare. The prunary sense of facio is to
urge, drive, impel.]
1. Business of any kind ; that which is done,
or is to be done ; a loord of very indefinite
and undefnabk signification. In the plural,
it denotes transactions in general ; as hu-
man affairs ; pohtical or ecclesiastical af-
fairs : also the business or concerns of an
uidividual ; as, liis affairs are embarrassed.
9. Matters ; state ; condition of business or
concerns.
I have sent that ye may
Eph. vi.
3. In the singular, it is used for a private dis
pute, or duel ; as, an affair of honor ; and
sometimes a partial engagement of troops.
In the phrase, at the head of affairs, the
word means, the pubhc concerns of ex-
ecuting the laws, and administering the
government. Junius.
AFFECT' V. t. [L. officio, affectum, of ad and
facio, to make ; L. affecto, to desire, from
the same root. Jtffecl is to make to, or
upon, to press upon.]
1. To act upon ; to produce an effect or
change upon ; as, cold affects the body ;
loss affects our interests.
2. To act upon, or move the passions ; as,
affected with grief
.3. To aim at ; aspire to ; desire or entertain
pretension to ; as, to affect imperial sway.
[See the etymology of ^^air.]
4. To tend to by natural affinity or disposi-
tion ; as, the drops of a fluid affect a spher-
ical form.
5. To love, or regard with fondness.
Think not that wars we love and strife affect.
Fairfax.
{This sense is closely allied to the third.]
0. To make a show of ; to attempt to imi-
tate, in a manner not natural ; to study
the appearance of what is not natural, or
real ; as, to affect to be grave ; affected
friendship.
It seems to have been used formerly for
mnvict or attaint, as in Aylifie's Parergon ;
but this sen.se is not now in use.
AFFECTA'TION, n. [L. affectatio.]
J. An attemjit to assume or exhibit what is
not natural or real ; false pretense ; artifi-
cial appearance, or show ; as, an affectation
of wit, or of virtue.
2. Fondness ; affection. [jYot used.]
Hooker. Hall.
AFFECT'ED, pp. Impressed; moved, or
touclied, either in person or in interest
having suffered some change by external
force, loss,, danger, and the like ; as, we
are more or less affected by the failure of
the banJc.
3. Touched in tlie feelings ; having the feel
ings excited ; as, affected with cold or heat.
■i. Having the passions moved; as, affected
with sorrow or joy.
4. a. Inclined, or disposed ; followed by to
as, well affected to government.
5. a. Given to false show ; assuming, or
pretending to possess what is not natural
or real ; as, an affected lady.
I), a. Assumed artificially ; not natural ; as,
affected airs.
AFFECT'EDLY, adv. In an affected man-
ner ; hypocritically ; vrith more show than
reahty ; formally ; studiously ; unnatural-
ly ; as, to walk affectedly ; affectedly civil.
AFFE€T'EDNESS, n. The quaUty of
being affected ; affectation.
AFFE€T'ING, ppr. Impressing ; havin,
an effect on ; touching the feehngs
moving the passions ; attempting a false
show ; greatly desiring ; aspiring to pos
2. a. Having power to excite, or move the
passions ; tenduig to move the affections
pathetic ; as, an affecting address.
The most affecting music is generally the
most simple. Milford.
AFFECT'INGLY, adv. In an affecting
manner ; in a manner to excite emotions.
AFFE€'TION, n. The state of being af-
fected. {Little used.]
2. Passion ; but more generally,
3. A bent of mind towards a particular ob-
ject, holding a middle place between dis-
position, which is natural, and passion,
which is excited by the presence of its ex-
citing object. Affection is a permanent
bent of the mind, formed by the ])resence
of an object, or by some act of another
person, and existing without the presence
of its object. Encyc.
4. In a more particular sense, a settled good
will, love or zealous attachment ; as, the
affection of a parent for his child. It was
formerly followed by to or towards, but is
now more generally followed hy for.
5. Desire ; inchnation ; propensity, good or
evil ; as, virtuous or vile affections. Rom. i.
Gal. 5.
6. In a general sense, an attribute, quality
or ])roperty, wliich is inseparable from its
object ; as, love, fear and hope are affec-
tions of the mind ; figure, weight, &c., are
affections of bodies.
7. Among physicians, a disease, or any par-
ticular morbid state of the body; as, c
gouty affection ; hysteric affection.
'. In painting, a Uvely representation of
passion.
Shakespeare uses the word for affectation;
but this use is not legitimate.
AFFE€'T10NATE, a. [Fr. affictionn/.]
1. Having great love, or affection ; fond ; as,
an affectionate brother.
2. Warm in affection ; zealous.
Man, in )iis love to God, and desire to please
him, can never be too affectionate. Sprat.
3. Proceeding from affection ; indicating
love ; benevolent ; tender ; as, the affec-
tionate care of a parent ; an affectionate
countenance.
4. Inchned to ; warndy attaclied. {LittU
used.] Bacon.
AFFE€'TIONATELY, adv. With affec-
tion ; fondly ; tenderly ; kindly. 1. Thes. ii.
AFFE€'TIONATENfcSS, )(. Fondness:
goodwill ; affection.
AFFEC'TIONED, a. Disposed ; having an
affection of heart.
Be ye kindly affectioned one to another.
Rom. xii
2. Affected; conceited. Obs. Shak.
AFFE€T'IVE, a. That affects, or excite^
emotion ; suited to affect. {Little used.]
AFFE€T'IVELY, adv. In an affective or
impressive nmimer.
AFFE€T'OR, ? n. One that affects; one
AFFE€T'ER, S that practices affectation.
AFFE€T'UOUS, a. FuU of passion. [JSTot
Mserf.] Leland.
AFFEE'R, V. t. [Fr. affier, to set.]
To confirni. [jYot used.]
AFFEE'R, v.t. {Fr. afferer, aff'eurer, or affo-
rer, to assess or value.]
Ill law, to assess or reduce an arbitrary
penalty or amercement to a precise sum ;
to reduce a general amercement to a sum
certain, accorduig to the circumstances
of the case. Blacksfone.
AFFEE'RED, pp. Moderated in sum ; as-
sessed ; reduced to a certainty.
AFFEE'RMENT, n. The act of affeering,
or assessing an amercement, according to
the circumstances of the case.
AFFEE'ROR, n. One who affeers ; a per-
son sworn to assess a penalty, or reduce
an uncertain penalty to a certainty. Cowel.
AFFETTUO'SO, or conaffetto, [It., from L.
affectus.']
In music, a direction to render notes soft and
affecting.
AFFI'ANCE, n, [Norm, affiaunce, confi-
dence ; Fr. fancer, to betroth ; Sp. fanza,
security in bail, afianzar, to give security
or bail, from far, to trust, to bail, to confide
in ; Port, id ; Fv.fier, to trust ; It. fidare,
qffidare, to trust, fidanza, coniidence,fidan-
zare, to betroth, from L. fdo, fdes.]
1. The marriage contract or promise ; faith-
pledged.
2. Trust in general ; confidence ; rehance.
The Christian looks to God with implicit affi-
ance. Hammond.
AFFI'ANCE, V. t. To betroth ; to pledge
one's faith or fidehty in marriage, or to
promise marriage.
To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.
2. To give confidence.
Affianced in my faith. Pope.
AFFI'ANCED, pp. Pledged in marriage ;
betrothed ; bound in (kith.
AFFI'ANCER, n. One who makes a con-
tract of marriage between parties.
AFFI'ANCING, ppr. Pledging in marriage ;
promising fidelity.
AFFIDA'VIT, n. [An old law verb in the
perfect tense ; he made oath ; from ad and
fdes, faith.]
A declaration upon oath. In the United
States, more generally, a declaration in
writing, signed by the party, and sworn to,
iiefore an authorized magistrate.
AFFI'ED, a. or part. Joined by contract ;
affianced. [.Voi %t.ied.] Shak.
AFFI'LE, 1!. i. [Fr. affiler.]
To polish. [JVot used.] Chaucer.
AFFIL'IATE, v. t. [Fr. affdier, to adopt,
A F F
A F F
A F F
to initiate into the mysteries of a reDgious
order ; L. ad a.nd Jilius, a son.]
1. To adopt ; to receive into a family as a
son.
2. To receive into a society as a member,
and initiate in its mysteries, plans, or in
trigues — a sense in which the word was muih
used by the Jacobins in France, during the
revolution.
AFFILIATION, n. Adoption ; association
in the same family or society.
AFFIN'ITY, n. [L. affinilas, from nffinis,
adjacent, related by marriage ; ad and
Jiriis, end.]
1. The relation contracted by marriage, be-
tween a husband and his wife's kindred,
and between a wife and her husband's
kindred ; in contradistinction from consan-
guinity or relation by blood.
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh.
I Kings iii.
2. Agreement ; relation ; conformity ; resem-
blance ; connection ; as, the affinity of
sounds, of colors, or of languages.
3. In chimistry, attraction ; elective attrac-
tion, or that tendency which different spe-
cies of matter have to unite, and combine
with certain other bodies, and the power
that disposes them to continue iti combi-
nation. There are two kinds of affinity.
1. Affinity of aggregation, which is tlic
power that causes two homogeneous bod-
ies to tend towards each other, unite and
cohere, as tHodrups (if watii, whicli iiiiiro
in one. -'. .■Iffinilii i.f roinjiosiihin, u hid]
is the tciiilciicy '"l'" ludics of dilh-ii-iit
kinds to ujiitc and fmiu new coiiihiiiii-
tions of bodies witli different projierties.
Such is the affinity which unites acids and
alkaUes, the results of which combination
are neutral salts.
The operations of this princii)le
rious. When heterogeneous bodies have
mutually an equal attraction, it is called
compound affinity. When one substance
decomposes a combination of otliers,
imites with one of them and precipitates
the other, the power is called the affinity
of decomposition. When bodies will not
unite, but by means of a third, which ena
bles them to combine, this is affinity by
means of a medium.
Double affinity is when by means of four
bodies, two decompositions and two new
combinations are effected.
Fourcroy. Hooper
AFFIRM, V. t. afferm'. [L. affirmo ; ad and
firmo, to make rtrm. See Firm.']
I. To assert positively ; to tell witli confi
dence ; to aver ; to declare the existence
of soniethmg ; to maintain as true; oppo-
sed to deny.
Of one Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be alive,
Acts 25.
9. To make firm ; to establish, confirm or
ratify ; as, the Supreme court affirmed the
judgment.
\FFIRM' V, i. To declare solemnly before
a court or magistrate, for confirming a
fact, or to have an affirmation administer
ed to, by way of confirmation, or as a sub
stitute for an oath ; as, the witness affirm
ed to the fact, or he was affirmed to the
fact.
AFFIRM'ABLE. a. That may be asserted
or declared ; followed by of; as, an atlri
bute affirmable of every just man.
AFFIRM'ANCE, n. Confirmation; ratifi
cation ; as, the affirmance of a judgment ;
a statute in affirmance of common law.
2. Declaration ; affirmation. [Little used.]
Selden. Cowper.
AFFIRM'ANT, n. One who affirms.
AFFIRMA'TION, n. The act of affirming
or asserting as true ; opposed to negation
or denial. Shak.
3. That which is asserted ; position declared
as true ; averment. Hammond.
3. Confirmation ; ratification ; an establish-
ing of what had been before done or de-
creed. Hooker.
4. 'A solemn declaration made under the
penalties of perjury, by persons who con-
scientiously decline taking an oath ; whicli
affirmation is in law equivalent to testimo-
ny given imder oath.
AFFIRM'ATIVE, a. That affirms, or as-
serts; declaratory of what exists ; ojjposed
to negative ; as, an affirmative proposition.
2. Confirmative ; ratifying ; as, an act affii
alive of common law.
3. In tibj-rhrn, pc>siti\c : a term .Tppliod to
mnnlici- wIhcIi li.nr tlir si-ii -f /,/».s-, de
4. Positive ; dogmatic. Obs. Taylor
AFFIRM'ATIVE, n. That side of a ques
tioii which affirms or maintains ; opposed
to negative ; as, there wftre seventy votes
in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the ne-
gative.
AFFIRM'ATIVELY, adv. In an affirma-
tive manner ; positively ; on the affirma-
tive side of a question ; opposecl to nega-
tively.
\¥FiYiM''E.D,pp. Declared ; asserted ; aver-
red ; confirmed ; ratified.
AFFIRM'ER, n. One who affirms.
AFFIRM'ING, ppr. Assertuig; declaring
positively ; eonfirmuig.
AFFIX', V. t. [L. affigo, affirum, of arf and fgo,
to fix ; Gr. rtriyu, nrp/mu, rf^?M ; Eng. peg
See Fii.]
1. To unite at the end ; to subjohi, annex, or
add at the close ; as, to affix a syllable
word ; to affix a seal to an instrument.
2. To attach, unite, or connect with, as
names affixed to ideas, or ideas affixed to
things.
3. To fix or fasten in any manner. In this
sense,/j; is more generally used.
AF'FIX, n. A syllable or letter added to the
end of a word.
AFFIX'ED, pp. United at the end ; annex-
ed ; attachetl.
AFFIX'ING, ppr. Uniting at the end ; sub-
joining; attaching.
AFFIX'ION, n. The act of uniting at the
end, or state of being so united. [lAltle
used.']
AFFIX'TURE, n. That which is affixed,
Drake.
AFFLA'TION, n. [L. afflo, affiatum, of
and/o; Eng. 6/oic. See Blow.]
A blowing or breathing on.
AFFLATUS, n. [L.]
1. A breath or blast of wind.
2. Inspiration ; coiraniniication of divine
knowledge, or the power of prophesy.
Sim
AFFLICT', v.t. \h.affligo,affiieto,ol'ad anCi
Jligo, to strike ; Eng. flog ; Gr. Eol. ^xtyu,
to strike ; Gr. tXjjyjj, L. phiga, a stroke ;
Onth.flekan, to strike. Hence, Ger.flegel;
D. vlegel ; Eug.flaU, g being suppressed ; L.
flagellum. See Flog.]
I . To give to the body or mind i)ain which
is continued or of some permanence ; to
grieve, or distress ; as, one is afflicted with
the gout, or with melancholy, or with loss-
es and misfortunes.
They afflict thy heritage, O Lord. Ps. xcv.
3. To trouble ; to harass ; to distress.
AFFLICT'ED, pp. Affected with continued
or often repeated pain, either of body or
mind ; suffering grief or distress, of any
liiud ; followed by at, by or tirith ; as,
afflicted at the loss of a cmld, by the rheu-
matism, or vnth losses.
AFFLI€T'EDNESS, n. The state of being
afflicted ; but superseded by affliction.
AFFLI€T'ER, n. One who afflicts, or
causes pain of body or of mind.
AFFLI€T'ING, ppr. Causing continued or
durable pain of body or mind ; grieving :
distressing.
AFFLICT'ING, a. Grievous; distressing:
as, an (Riding event.
AFFLl€'TION, n. The state of being af-
flicted ; a state of pain, distress, or grief.
Some virtues are seen only in affliction.
3. The cause of continued pain of body or
mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, ad-
versity, persecution.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Ps. xxxiv.
AFFLICTIVE, a. Giving pain; causing
continued or repeated pain or grief; pain-
fid ; distres.sing. Hall.
AFFLICT'IVELY, adv. In a manner to
give pain or grief. Brown.
AF'FLUENCE, n. [L. affiuentia, of ad and
ffvo, toflow. See Flow.]
1. Literally, a flowing to, or concourse. In
this sense it is rarely used. It is sometimes
written affiuency.
2. Figuratively, abundance of riches ; great
|)leiity of worldly goods; wealth. Rogers.
AF'FLUENT, o. "Flowing to ; more general-
ly, wealthy ; abomiding in goods or riches ;
abundant." Prior.
AF'FLUENTLY, adv. In abundance ; abim-
dantly.
AF'FLUX, n. [L. affiuxum, from affiuo.
See Flow.]
The act of flowing to ; a flowing to, or tliat
which flows to ; as, an afflux of blood to
the head.
AFFLUX'ION, n. The act of flowing to ;
that whicli flows to. [Sec Afflux.]
AF'FORAGE, n. [Fr. afforer, to value. See
Affeer.]
In France, a duty paid to the lord of a dis-
trict, lor pci-niission to sell wine or other
li(|M(>is. within liis seignorv. Encyc.
AFl'O UC1:M1:NT, n. [ad and force.]
In old charters, a fortress ; a fortification for
defense. Obs. Cyc.
AFFO'RD, V.t. [ad and the root of forth,
further ; G.fordem, to further or promote ;
D. voorderen ; Dan. befordrer, to further.
The sense is to send forth. But I have
not found this precise word in the exact
sense of the English, in any other lan-
guage.]
1. To yield or produce as fruit, profit, issuei=.
A F 1
or result. Tims, the eanli affords grain
u well affords water ; trade affords profit
distilled liquors afford spirit.
a. To yield, grant or confer ; as, a good life
affords con.«olation in old age.
'J. To be able to grant or sell with profit or
without loss ; as, .4 can afford wine at
less price than B.
4. To be able to expend without injury
one's estate ; as, a man can afford a sinn
yearly in charity ; or be able to bear ex-
penses, or the price of the thing purchased ;
as, one man can afford to buy a farm, which
another cannot.
5. To be able without loss or with profit.
The merchant can afford to trade for smalle
profits. Hamilton
AFFO'RDED, pp. Yielded as fruit, pro-
duce or result ; sold without loss or with
profit.
AFFO'RDING, /);>r. Yielding; producing
selling without loss ; bearing expenses.
AFFOR'EST, v. t. [ad and forest]
To convert ground into forest, as was done
by the first Norman kings in England, for
the purpose of affording them the pleas-
ures of the chase.
AFFORESTA'TION, n. The act of turn-
ing ground into forest or wood land.
Black stone.
AFFOR'ESTED, pp. Converted into forest.
AFFOR'ESTING, ppr. Converting into
forest.
AFFRANCHISEMENT, n. [See Fran-
chise and Disfranchise.]
The act of making free, or liberating from
dependence or servitude. [Little used.]
AFFRAP', v.t. [Fr. /rapper, to striliejEng.
rap.]
To strike. Ohs. Spenser.
\FFR A' Y, I n. [Fr. effrayer, to fright-
VFFRA' YMENT, S en ; effroi. terror ; Arm.
effreyza, effrey.]
I. In law, the fighting of two or more per-
sons, in a pubUc place, to the terror of
others. A fighting in private is not, in a
legal sense, an affray. Blackstone.
■2. la popular language, fray is used to ex-
press any fighting of two or more persons ;
but the word is now deemed inelegant.
3. Tumult ; disturbance. Spenser.
\FFREIGHT', V. t. affra'te. [See Freight.]
To liire a ship for the transportation of goods
or freight. Commerce
AFFREIGIIT'ED, pp. Hired for transport-
ing goods.
\FFREIGHT'ER, n. The person who hires
or charters a ship or other vessel to con
vev goods. Walsh, Am. Rev
.\FFREIGHT'MENT, n. The act of hiruig
a ship for the transportation of goods.
American Review, J)pp.
AFFRET', n. [It. affrettare, to hasten.]
A furious onset, or attack. [jYot used.]
Spenser.
AFFRIC'TION, n. The act of rubbing
[JVot used.] [See Friction.] Boyle
A.FFRIENDED, a. affrend'ed. Made friends
reooncilfid. Ohs. Spenser
AFFRI'GHT. v.t. affri'te. [Sax. frihtan
See Fright.]
To impress with sudden fear ; to frighten
to terrify or alarm. It expresses a strong-
er impression than fear or apprehend, and
perhaps less than terror.
AFFRI'GHT, n. Sudden or great fear : ter
A F 1
ror ; also, the cause of terror ; a frightfid
object.
AFFRI'GHTED, pp. Suddenly alarmed
with fear ; teriified ; followed by at or
ivith, more generally by at ; as, affrighted a
the cry of fire.
AFFRI'GHTER, n. One who frightens.
AFFRi GIITFUL, a. Terrifying'; terrible
tiiat niav excite great fear ; dreadful.
AFl'RI'GIITING, ppr. Impressmg sudden
fear ; terrifying.
AFFRl'GHTMENT, n. Affiight ; terror ; the
state of being frightened. [Rarelv used.]
[In common discourse, the use ofthu word, in
all its forms, is superseded by fright, fright-
ed,frightful.]
AFFRONT', V. t. [Fr. affronter, to encounter
face to face, oi' ad and L.frons, front, face.]
1. Literally, to meet or encounter face to
face, in a good or bad sense ; as.
The seditious affronted the king's forces.
Hayward. Milton. Shak.
[TVie foregoing sense is obsolete.]
2. To offer abuse to the face ; to insidt, dare
or brave openly ; to offer abuse or insult
in any manner, by words or actions ; as, to
affront one by giving liim the he.
3. To abuse, or give cause of offense to,
without being present with the person ; to
make shghtly angry ; a popular use of the
word.
AFFRONT', n. Opposition to the face;
open defiance ; encounter. Oi*.
2. Ill treatment ; abuse ; any thmg reproach-
ful or contemptuous, that excites or justi-
fies resentment, as foul language, or per-
sonal abuse. It usually expresses a less
degree of abuse than insult.
3. Shame ; disgrace. [Not tisual.]
Arbuthnot.
4. In popular language, shght resentment ;
displeasure.
AFFRONT'ED, pp. Opposed face to face;
dared ; defied ; abused.
2. In popidar language, offended ; shghtly an-
gry at ill treatment, by words or actions ;
displeased.
AFFRONTEE', a. In heraldry, front to
front; an epithet given to animals that
face each other. Ash.
AFFRONT'ER, n. One that affi-onts.
AFFRONT'ING,;j/)r. Opposing face to face ;
defying ; abusing ; ofteruig abuse, or any
cause of displeasure.
AFFRONT'ING, a. Contumelious; abusive.
AFFRONT'IVE, a. Giving offense ; tend-
ing to offend ; abusive.
AFFRONT'IVENESS, n. The quahty that
gives offense. [Little used.]
AFFU'SE, V. t. s as z. [L. affundo, affusum,
ad and fundo, to pour out. See Fu^e.]
To pour upon ; to sprinkle, as with a liquid.
AFFU'SED, pp. Sprinkled with a liquid ;
sprinkled on ; having a liquid poured upon.
AFFU'SING,p;7r. Pouring upon, or sprink-
ling.
AFFU'SION, n. affu'zhnn. The act of pour-
ing iqjon, or sprmkling with a hquid sub-
stance, as water upon a diseased body, or
upon a child in baptism.
AFFV', V. t. [Fr. affier.] To betroth;
bind or join. [JVbt xised.]
AFFY', v.t. To trust or confide in. [Not
u.^ed.]
AFlE'hT), adv. [a ami f eld.]
To the field. Mlton
A F R
AFI'RE, adv. On fire. Cower.
AFLAT', adv. [a and fat.] Level with the
ground. Bacon.
AFLO'AT, orfti. or o. [a and float.]
1. Borne on the water ; floating ; swim-
ming ; as, the ship is afloat.
2. Figuratively, moving; passing from place
to place ; as, a rumor is afloat.
3. Unfixed ; moving without guide or con-
trol ; as, our affairs are all afloat. [As ati
adjective, this icord ahoays foilotvs the noun.]
AFOOT', adv. [a or on and foot.] On foot ;
borne by the feet ; opposed to riding.
2. In action ; in a state of being planned for
execution ; as, a design is afoot, or on foot.
AFO'RE, adv. or prep, [a and fore.] In
front.
2. Between one object and another, so as to
intercept a direct view or intercourse ; as,
to stand between a person and the light of
a candle — a popular use of the word.
3. Prior in time ; before ; anterior ; prior
time being considered as in front of sub-
sequent time.
The grass which withereth afore it growetli
up. Ps. cxxix.
In all these senses it is now inelegant,
and superseded by before.
4. In seaman's language, toward the head
of the ship ; further forward, or nearer the
stem ; as, afore the windlas. Afore the mast,
is a plu-ase which is applied to a common
sailor, one who does duty on the main
deck, or has no office on board the ship.
Mar. Diet.
AFOREGOING, a. Gomg before. [See
Foregoing, which is chiefly used.]
AFO'REHAND, adv. [afore and hand.]
In time previous ; by previous provision ; as,
he is ready aforehand.
She is come aforehand to anoint my body.
Mark xiv.
a. Prepared ; previously provided ; as,
to be aforehand in business. Hence in
popular language, amply provided ; well
supphed with the means of livu)g ; having
means beyond the requirements of neces-
sity ; moderately wealtliy. This word is
popularly changed into aforehanded, before-
handed, or rather forehanded ; as, a fore-
handed farmer.
AFO'REMENTIONED, a. [afore and men-
tion.]
Mentioned before in the same writing or
discourse. Addison.
AFO'RENAMED, a. [afore and name.]
Named before. Peacham,
AFO'RESAID, a. [afore and say.]
Said or recited before, or in a preceding
part.
AFO'RETIME, adv. [afore and time.] _
In time past ; in a former time. Bible.
AFOUL', adv. or a. [a and foul.]
Not free; entangled. Columbiad
AFRA'ID, a. [The participle of a^ay.]
mpressed wth fear or apprehension ; fear-
ful. This word expresses a less degree of
fear than terrified or frightened. It is fol-
lowed by of before the object of fear; as,
to be afraid o/" death.
Joseph was afraid to sin against God.
AFRESH', adv. [a and fresh.]
Anew ; again ; recently ; after intermission.
They cracify tfie son of God afresh. Heb. vi.
AF'RieA, n. [Qu. L. a neg. and frigus,
cold.]
AFT
AFT
A G A
One of the four quarters or largest divisions
of the globe ; a continent separated from
Europe by the Mediterranean sea.
AF'RI€AN ( "■ P6'"tai"'"S to Africa.
AF'RI€An1 n. A native of Africa.
This*name is given also to the African mary-
gold. Tate's Cowley.
AFRONT', adv. In front. Shak.
'AFT, a. or adv. [Sax. wfl, eft, after, behind.]
Li seaman's language, a word used to denote
the stern or what pertains to the stern of a
ship ; as, the aft part of the ship ; haul aft
the main sheet, that is, further towards
the stern. Fore and aft is the whole length
of a ship. Right aft is in a direct line with
the stern. Mar. Diet.
'AFTER, a. [The comparative degree ofl
aft. But in some Teutonic dialects it is
written with g ; D. ag^er ; Dan. agters.
The Eng. corresponds with the Sax. after,
Sw. efter, Goth, ftaro, Dan. efter.]
1. In marine language, more aft, or towards
the steru of the ship ; as, the after sails ;
after hatchway.
2. In common language, later in tune ; as, an
after period of Ufe. Marshall.
In this sense, the word is often combi-
ned with the following noun ; as In after-
noon.
AFTER, prep. Behind in place ; as, men
placed in a line one after another.
"2. Later in tune ; as, after supper. This
word often precedes a sentence, as a
governing preposition.
4/ter 1 have arisen, 1 will go before you into
Galilee. Math. xxvi.
8. In pursuit of, that is, moving behind,
following ; in search of.
.Mfter whom is the king of Israel come out ?
1 Sam. xxiv.
Ye shall not go afier other Gods. Deut. vi.
4. In imitation of ; as, to make a thing aftei
a model.
5. According to ; as, consider a thing after
its intrmsic value. Bacon.
6. Accoriling to the direction and influence
of.
To walk after the flesh ; to live after the flesh
Rom. viii
To judge after the sight of the eye. Is. xi
To inquh-e after is to seek by asking ; to
ask concerning.
To follow after, in scriptiu-e, is to pursue,
or imitate ; to serve, or worship.
'AFTER, adv. Posterior ; later in time ; as.
it was about the space of three hours after.
In this sense, the word, however, is really
a preposition, the object being imderstood ;
about three hours after the time or fact
before specified.
-ifter is prefixed to many words, formuig
compounds, but retaining hs genuine sig
nification. Some of the following words
are of this kind, but in some of them aftei
seems rather to be a separate word.
'AFTER- ACCOUNT, n. A subsequent reck-
oning. KiUingbeck
'AFTER-A€T, n. A subsequent act.
'AFTER-AgES, n. Later ages ; succeedmg
times. After-age, in the singular, is not
improper. Addison.
'AFTER ALL is a phrase, signifying, when
all has been considered, said or done
last : in the final result. Pope.
'AFTER-BAND, n. A future band. Milton.
AFTER-BIRTH, n. The appendages of the
fetus, called also secundines. Wiseman.
.\FTER-€LAP, n. An unexpected, subse-
quent event ; something happening after
an aflair is supposed to be at an end.
Hubbard.
AFTER-COMER, n. A successor.
AFTER-COMFORT, n. Future comfort.
Jonson.
AFTER-€ONDUCT, n. Subsequent be-
havior. Sherlock.
AFTER-CONVl€'TION, ?;. Future con-
viction. South.
AFTER-COST, n. Later cost ; expense after
the execution of the main design.
Mortimer.
AFTER-COURSE, n. Future course.
Brotcn.
AFTER-CROP, n. The second crop in the
same year. Mortimer.
AFTER-DAYS, n. Future days. Congreve.
AFTER-EATAGE, n. Part of the increase
of the same year. [Local.] Burn
AFTER-ENDEAV'OR, n. An endeavor
after the first or former effort. Locke.
AFTER-GAME, «. A subsequent scheme,
or expedient. Wotton.
AFTER-GUARD, n. The seaman stationed
on the poop or after part of the sliip, to
attend the after sails. Mar. Diet.
AFTER-HOPE, n. Future hope. Jonson.
-AFTER-HOURS, n. Hours tliat follow ;
time following. Shak.
'AFTER-IGNORANCE, n. Subsequent ig-
norance. • Stafford.
'AFTER-KING, n. A succeeding khig.
Skuckftird.
'AFTER-LIFE, n. Future Ufe or the life
after this. Dryden. Butler.
3. A later period of life ; subsequent life.
'AFTER- LIVER, n. One who lives in suc-
ceeding times. Sidney.
'AFTER-LOVE, n. The second or later
love. Shak.
'AFTER-MALICE, n. Succeeding mahce,
Dryden.
'AFTER-MATH, n. [after and math. See
Moio.]
A second crop of grass, in the same season ;
roweii. Holland.
'AFTER-MOST, a. Superl. In marine lan-
guage, nearest the stern, opposed to fore-
most ; also hindmost.
'AFTER-NOON', n. The part of the day
which follows noon, between noon anil
evening. Dryden.
'AFTER-PAINS, n. The pains which suc-
ceed child birth.
AFTER-PART, n. The latter part. In
marine language,xbe part of a ship towards
the stern. Mar. Die.
'AFTER-PIECE, n. A piece performed
after a play ; a farce or other 'entertain-
ment. Cumberland.
'AFTER-PROOF, n. Subsequent proof or
evidence ; quahties known by subsequent
experience. ff'otton.
AFTER-REPENTANCE, n. Subsequent
repentance. South.
'AFTER-REPORT, n. Subsequent report,
or information. South.
'AFTER-SAILS, n. The sails on the mizen-
mast and stays, between the main and
mizen-masts. Mar. Diet.
'AFTER-STATE, n. The future state.
Clanvilte.
AFTER-STING, n. Subsequent sting.
Herbert.
AFTER-STORM, n. A succeeding or fu-
ture storm. Dryden.
AFTER-SUPPER, n. The time between
supiicr ;ii]il fioiiiir to bed. Shak.
AFTKK-SW AKAI, n. A swarm of bees
whic h Iravcs tl)i' hive after the first.
AFTER-TASTE, n. A taste which suc-
ceeds eatuig and drinking.
AFTER-THOUGHT, n. [See Thought.]
Reflections after an act ; later thought, or
e.\|i<iliiiit (iccurring too late. Dryden.
AFTl'.K-'l'lMi:.-;. (I, Succeeding times. It
may In' iimiI in tiie singular. Dryden.
'AFTF.K-'l'OSSIXG, n. The sweU or agita-
tion of the sea after a storm.
AFTERWARD, or AFTERWARDS, adv.
[See Hard.] In later or subsequent time.
Hooker.
'AFTER- WISE, a. Wise afterwards or too
late. Addison.
'AFTER-WIT, n. Subsequent wit ; wisdom
that comes too late. L Estrange.
AFTER- WRATH, n. Later wrath ; anger
after the provocation has ceased. Shak.
AFTER-WRITER, n. A succeeding wri-
ter. Shuckfttrd.
AG A, n. [Per. o \ and IX I ak and aka,
lord, dominus, herus ; also sir, a title of
respect ; Tart. aha. Qu. the och in Beloch,
and ak in Balak.]
In the Turkish dominions, a commander or
chief officer. The title is given to various
chief oflicers, whether civil or military. It
is also given to great land holders, and to
the eunuchs of the Sultan's seragho.
En eye.
AGAIN, adv. agen'. [Sax. gean, agen,
agean, ongean ; D. with a different prefix,
tegen; G. dagegen,gegen; Sw. igen ; Dan.
igien ; qu. L. con, whence contra ; It. coinne,
opposite, a meetmg. Hence Sax. togeanes,
togegnes, against ; but placed after its ob-
ject; as, " hi comen heom togeanes,"
they come them against. D. tegens,
against; jegens, towards; G. entgegen,
dagegen, against ; begegnen, to meet or
encoimter. The primary sense is to turn,
or to meet in fi-ont ; or the name of the
face, front or forepart. So in Dan. and
Sw. mod, imod, emot, against, is our word
meet.]
1. A second time ; once more.
I will not again curse the ground. Gen. viii.
2. It notes sometlimg further, or additional
to one or more particulars.
For to which of the angels said he at any
lime, thou art my son, this day have I begotten
thee .' and again, I will be to him a father, and
he sliall be to me a son .' and again, let all the
angels of God worship him. Heb. i.
All the uses of this word carry in them the
ideas of return or repetition ; as in these
phrases ; give it back again ; give huii as
much again, that is, the same
once more or repeated.
There is not, in the world again, such a com-
merce as in London.
Who art thou that answerest again .'
Brini; us word again.
Again and again, often ; with frequent repe-
tition.
quantity
A G yV
AGAINST, p-e/). agenst'. [Sax. logermes.
See Jlgain.]
1. In opposition ; noting enmity or ilisappro-
bation.
His hand will be against every man.
Gen. xvi.
I am against your pillows. Ez. xiii.
2. In opposition, noting contrariety, contra-
diction, or repugnance ; as, a decree
against law, reason or public opinion.
3. In opposition, noting competition, or dif-
ferent sides or parties ; as, tliere
twenty votes in the affirmative against
ten in the negative.
4. In an opposite direction; as, to ride against
the wind.
5. Opposite in place ; abreast; as, a ship
against the mouth of a river. In th
sense it is often preceded by over.
Aaron lighted the lamps over against the
candlesticks. Num. viii.
6. In opposition, noting adversity, injury, or
contrariety to wishes ; as, this change of
measures is against us.
7. Bearuig upon ; as, one leans against
wall.
8. In provision for ; in preparation for.
Urijah made it against king Ahaz came from
Damascus. 2 Kings, xvi.
In this sense against is a preposition,
with the following part of the sentence for
an object. See 3/ier, prep. def. 2.
In short, the .sense of this word is oppo-
sition, variously modified according to its
application to different objects.
AG'ALLOCH, > r«/- • / 7 •■
AGAL'LO€HUM, T" [Of oriental ongm
Aloes-wood, the product of a tree growing
in China, and some of the Indian isles
There are three varieties, the calambac,
the common hgnuni aloes, and the calam-
bour. The first variety is light and porous,
and so filled with a fragrant resin, that it
may be molded by the fingers ; the sec-
ond is denser and less resinous ; and the
third is the aloes-wood used by cabinet
makers and inlayers. Encyc.
AGALMAT'OLITE, n. [Gr. oyaTi^a, im-
age, and TLtBof, stone.]
A name given by Klaproth to two varieties
of the pierre de lard, lard stone, of China.
It contams no magnesia, but otherwise has
the characters of talck. It is called in Ger-
man, bildstein, figure-stone, and by Brong-
niart, steatite pagodite. Cyc. Ure.
AG^APE, adv. or a. [a and gape. See
Gape.]
Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or
eager attention ; having the mouth wide
open. Milton.
■\G'APE, n. ag'apy. [Gr. ayartt;, love.]
Among the primitive christians, a love feast
or feast of charity, held before or after the
communion, when contributions were
made for the poor. This feast was held
at first without scandal, but afterwards
being abused, it was condemned at the
council of Carthage, A. D. 397. Encyc.
AG'ARI€, n. [Gr. ayafiixov. Qu. from Aga-
ria, in Sarniatia. Dioscorides.]
h\ botany, mushroom, a gfinus of fiuiguses,
containing numerous species. Mushrooms
grow on trees, or spring from the earth ;
of the latter species some are valued as
A G A
articles of food ; others are poisonous,
The name was originally given to a fun-
gus growing on the larch. This species ii
now frequent in the shops, and distin
guished by the name of female agaric.
From this fungus is extracted a tui-pen-
tine, of which three fourths of its weight
is a resinous substance ; the rest, a sli-
my, mucilaginous, earthy matter, tena-
cious and almost insoluble in water. It is
used in dyeing, but is little esteemed in
medicine. Theoph. Macquer. Quincy.
fie Agaric of the oak is called towh-wood,
from its readiness to take fire. Boletus
Igniarius, lAnne.
Agaric mineral, a calcarious earth, or (
bonate of lime, resembling a fungus
color and texture; found in fissures of
rocks, and on the roofs of caverns. It
sometimes used as an astringent in fluxes,
and a styptic in hemorrhages. It occurs
in a loose semi-indurated form, white
or whitish red, or yellow, light and friable.
Kinvan mentions three varieties.
AG' AST or AGH AST, a. [Qu., a contrac-
tion of agazed, or Goth, agis, Sax. egesa,
horror. See Aghast and Gaze.]
.Struck with terror, or astonislunent ; ama-
zed ; struck silent with horror.
With shuddering horror pale and eyes agasf.
Milton.
AGA'TE, adv. [a and gate.]
On the way ; going. Obs. Gotver.
AG' ATE, n. [Fr. agate ; L. achates, gagates ;
Gr. ytvyatTjf ; so called, saj's Pliny, 37, 10,
because found near a river of that name in
Sicily. So also SoUnus and Isidore. But
Bochart, with more probability, deduces it
from the Pimic and Hebrew ipy, and with
a different prefix npj, spotted. The word
is used. Gen. xsx. and xxxi., to describe
the speckled and spotted cattle of Laban
and Jacob.]
A class of siliceous, semi-pellucid gems of
many varieties, consisting of quartz-crjs-
tal, flint, horn-stone, chalcedony, amethyst,,
jasper, comehan, heUotrope, and jade, in
various combinations, variegated witl
dots, zones, filaments, ramifications, ar-
borizations, and various figures. Agates
seem to have been formed by successive lay-
ers of siliceous earth, on the sides of cavi-
ties which they now fill entirely or in part
They are esteemed the least valuable of the
precious stones. Even in Phny'stime, they
were in Uttle estimation. They are found
in rocks, in the form of fragments, in nod
ules, in small rounded lumps, rarely in
stalactites. Their colors are various.
They are used for rings, seals, cups,
beads, boxes and handles of small uten-
sils. Kinmn. Encyc. Cleaveland.
AG'ATE, n. An instrument used by gold
wire drawers, so called from the agate ii
the middle of it.
AG'ATINE, a. Pertaining to agate.
AG'ATINE, 71. A genus of shells, oval or
oblong.
AG'ATIZED, a. Having the colored lines
and figures of agate. Fourcroy.
Agatized wood, a substance apparently pro-
duced by the petrifiiction of wood ; a spe-
cies of hornstone. U'erner.
AGE
AG'ATY, a. Of the nature of agate.
4 r' A i\TV rfi ^Voodward.
AtiA VJ;,, n. [Gr. ayauo?, admirable.]
1. The American aloe. The great aloe rises
twenty feet, and its branches form a sort
of pyramid at the top. Encyc.
2. A genus of univalvular shells.
AGA'ZE, V. t. [from gaze.] To strike with
, a"iazeniient. Obs. Spenser.
AGA'ZED, pp. Struck with amazement.
[JVot m use.] shak.
AGE, n. [Fr. age; Arm. oage ; deduced by
Lunier from Lat. alas, or a;vum. But these
are undoubtedly contracted words, Goth.
aim ; D. eemv ; Gr. aiur ; from the Celtic,
W. haug, fullness, completeness, an age, a
space of time ; plu. hogix)n ; the g being
sunk in the Latin words ; in the Sanscrit,
yuga.]
The whole duration of a being, whether
animal, vegetable, or other kind ; as, the
usual age of man is seventy years ; the
age of a horse may be twenty or tliirty
years ; the age of a tree may be four hun-
dred years.
3. That part of the duration of a being, which
is between its beginning and any given
time ; as, what is the present age of a
man, or of the earth ?
. The latter part of life, or long continued
duration ; oldness.
TTie eyes of Israel were dim for age. Gen.
4. A certain period of human life, marked
by a difference of state ; as, life is divided
into four stages or ages, infancy, youth,
manhood, and old age ; the age of youth ;
the age of manhood.
5. The period when a person is enabled by
law to do certain acts for himself, or when
he ceases to be controlled by parents or
guardians ; as, in our country, both males
and females are of ag-e at twenty-one years
old.
6. Mature years ; ripeness of strength or
discretion.
He is of age, ask him. John ix.
7. The time of hfe for conceiving children,
or perhaps the usual time of such an event.
Sarah was delivered of a son when she was
past age. Heb. xi.
8. A particular period of time, as distin-
guished from others ; as, the golden age,
the age of iron, the age of heroes or of
chivalry.
The people who live at a particular peri-
od ; hence, a generation and a succession
of generations ; as, ages yet unborn.
The mysteiy hid from ages. Col. i.
10. A century ; the period of one hundred
years.
A'GED, a. Old ; having lived long ; having
lived almost the usual time allotted to that
species of being ; applied to animals or
plants ; as, an aged man, or an aged oak.
2. Having a certain age ; having lived ; as,
a man aged forty years.
A'GED, n. Old persons.
And the aged arose and stood up. Job xxix.
AGEN', for again. Obs.
A'GENCY, «. [h.agens. See Act]
1. The quality of moving or of exerting
power ; tlic state of being in action ; ac-
A G G
A G G
A G G
ijon ; operation ; instrumentality ; as, the
agency ot'provitlence in thf; natural world.
U. The office of an agent, or factor ; busi-
ness of an agent entrusted witli the con-
cerns of another ; as, the principal pays
the charges of agency.
A6END'A, re. [L. things to be done.]
A nieraoranduiii-book ; the service or office
of a church ; a ritual or liturgy. Encyc.
A'6ENT, a. Acting ; opposed to patient,
sustainuig action ; as, the body agent.
ilAltle used.] Bacon.
A'GENT, >i. An actor; one that e.xerts pow-
er, or has the power to act ; as, a moral
agent.
2. An active power or cause; tliat which
has the power to produce an effect ; as,
heat is a powerful ag'cn^.
3. A substitute, deputy, or factor ; one en-
trusted with the business of another ; an
attorney ; a minister.
A'GENTSHIP, «. The office of an agent
[JVot used.] We now use agency.
AGGELA'TION, Ji. [L. gelu!] Concretion
of a fluid. Uyht used.] Brmon
AGgENERA'TION, n. [L. ad and genera-
tio.] The state of growing to another
Wot used.] Broum
AG'GER, 71. [L.] A fortress, or inoundt
[JVot used.] Heame
AG'6ERATE, v. t. [L. aggero.] To heap
[jVbt iwcrf.]
AGGERA'TION, n. A heaping ; accumula-
tion ; as, " aggerations of sand." Ray.
AGGLOM'ERATE, v. t. [L. agglomero, ad
and glomero, to wind into a ball, from
glomus, a ball of yarn ; from the Hob. d'7J;
to involve; Qu. Ar. J to go round m a
circle, to be round, to collect, or con
dense.]
To wind, or collect mto a ball ; to gather
into a mass. Young.
AGGLOM'ERATE, v. i. To gather, giow
or collect into a baU or mass. Thomson.
AGGLOM'ERATED, pp. Wound or col-
lected into a ball.
AGGLOM'ERATING, pp: Winding into
a ball ; gathering uito a lump.
AGGLOMERA'TION, n. Tlie act of wind
ing into a ball ; the state of being gathered
into a ball or mass.
AGGLU'TINANT, n. Any viscous sub-
stance which unites other substances, by
causing an adhesion ; any application
which tends to unite parts which have too
little adhesion. Coxe
AGGLU'TINANT, a. Uniting as glue ; tend-
ing to cause adhesion.
AGGLU'TINATE, v. t. [Lat. agglutino, ad
and glutino, from gluten ; Eng. glue ; Fr.
glu ; Arm. glud ; W. gbjd. See Glue.]
To unite, or cause to adhere, as with glue
or other viscous substance; to unite by
causing an adhesion of substances.
AGGLUTINATED, pp. Glued together;
united bv a viscous substance.
AGGLU'T INATING,;3pr. Gluing together ;
uniting bv causing adhesion.
AGGLUTI'NA'TION, n. The actofimiting
by glue or other tenacious substance ; the
state of being thus united.
AGGLU'TINATIVE, a. That tends to unite,
or has power to cause adhesion.
AGGRA'CE, V. t. To favor. [Mt used.]
Spenser. H"
AGGRA'CE, n. Kindness ; favor. [Xol
iised.] Spenser.
AGGRANDIZA'TION, n. The act of ag-
grandizing. IJVot used.] fVaterhouse.
AG'GRANDIZE, v. t. [Fr. agrandir, oi
L. ad and grandis. See Grand.]
1. To make great or greater in power, rank
or honor ; to exalt ; as, to aggrandize a
family.
2. To enlarge, applied to things ; as, to ag-
grandize our conceptions. It seems to be
never appUed to the bulk or dimensions of
material bodies.
AG'GRANDIZED,/p;>. Made great or great
er ; exalted ; enlarged.
AGGRAND'IZEMENT, n. The act of
aggrandizing ; the state of being exalted
in power, rank or honor ; exaltation
enlargement.
The Emperor seeks only the aggrandizement
of his own family.
AG'GRANDIZER, n. One that aggrandizes
or exalts in power, rank or honor.
AG'GRANDIZING, ppr. Makhig great :
exalting ; enlarging.
AGGRA'TE, v. t. [It.] To please. [JVot
used.] Spenser.
AG'GRAVATE, v. t. [L. aggrajvo,oi' ad and
gravis, heavy. See Grave, Gravity.]
1. To make heavy, but not used in this literal
sense. Figuratively, to make worse, more
severe, or less tolerable ; as, to aggravate
the evils of Ufe ; to aggravate pain or pun
ishment.
2. To make more enoi-mous, or less excusa-
ble ; as, to aggravate a crime.
3. To exaggerate.
4. To give coloring in description ; to giv(
an exaggerated representation ; as, to ag-
gravate a charge against an offender ; to
aggravate circumstances.
Guthrie, Quint. Paley.
.Vctions and motives maliciously aggravated.
Washington's Life.
The propriety of the word in the latter
passage is questionable. Aggravate is gen-
erally used In reference to evils, or some-
thing improper or unnatui-al.
AGGRAVATED, pp. Increased in severity
or enormity ; made worse ; exaggerated.
AGGRAVATING, ppr. Increasmg m se-
verity, enormity, or degree, as evils, mis-
fortunes, pam, punishment, crimes, guilt,
&c. ; exaggerating.
AGGRAVATION, n. The act of making
worse, used of evils, -natural or moral ;
the act of increasing severity or
ness ; addition to that which is evil or
improper ; as, an aggravation of pain or
grief
2. Exaggerated representation, or height-
ened description of any thing wrong,
improper, or unnatural; as, an aggrava-
tion of features in a caricature.
Paley. Addison.
AG'GREGATE, v. t. [L. aggrego, to collect
in troops ; of ad and grex, a herd or band.
See Gregarious.]
To bring together ; to collect particulars into
a sum, mass or body.
AGGREGATE, a. Formed by a collection
of particulars into a \\ hole mass or sum ;
as, the aggregate amount of charges.
Aggregate Jlowers, in botany, are such as are
composed of florets united by means of
the receptacle or calyx. Milne.
f Aggregate corporation, in laiv, is one which
consists of two or more persons united,
whose existence is preserved by a suc-
cession of new member*. Blackstone.
AG'GREGATE, n. A sum, tnass or assem-
blage of particidars ; as, a house is an
aggregate of stones, bricks, timber, &c.
It chffers from a compound in this, that
the particulars of an aggregate are less
intimately mixed than in a compound.
AGGREGATED,;)/). Collected mto a sum,
mass or system.
AGGREGATELY, adv. Collectively ; taken
in a sum or mass.
AGGREGATING, ppr. Collecting into a
AGGREGATION, n. The act of aggre-
gating ; the state of being collected into a
sum or mass ; a collection of particulars ;
an aggregate.
2. In chimistry, the affinity of aggregation, is
the power which causes homogeneous
bodies to tend towards each other, and to
cohere, when united. The aggregate, in
this case, differs from a heap, w'hose parts
do not cohere ; and from a mixture, which
consists of pans dissimilar in their nature.
The word is used of soUd, fluid, or aeri-
form bodies.
3. The imion and coherence of bodies of the
same nature.
AG'GREGATIVE, a. Taken together ; col-
lective.
.AGGREGATOR, n. He that collects mto
a whole or mass. Burton.
AGGRESS', V. {. [L. aggredior, aggressus,
of ad and gradior, to go. See Grade.]
To make a first attack ; to commit the first
act of hostihty or offense ; to begin a
(juanel or controversy ; to assault first or
invade. Prior.
AGGllESSlJiG, ppr. Commencing hostility
first ; making the first attack.
AGGRESSION, n. The first attack, or act
of hostility; the first act of injury, or first
act leading to war or controversy.
L'Estrange.
AGGRESS'IVE, a. Tending to aggress ;
making the first attack. Ctarkson.
AGGRESS'OR, ^^. The person who fii-st
attacks ; he who first commences hostihty
or a quarrel ; an assaulter ; an invader.
Dn/den.
The insolence of the aggressor is usually
proportioned to the tameness of the sufferer.
.^mes.
AGGRIE'VANCE, n. [See Aggrieve.]
Oppression ; hardship ; injury. But griev-
ance is more generally used.
AGGRIE'VE, V. t. [of ad and grieve, from
grief. Perhaps tlie word is borrowed
directly from the Sp. agraviar, to injure ;
Fr. grever. See Grief and Grave.]
To give pain or son-ow ; to afflict. In this
sejtse, it is nearly superseded by grieve.
2. To bear hard upon ; to oppress or injure,
in one's rights ; to vex or harass by civil
or political injustice.
AGGRIE VE, V. i. To mourn ; to lament.
[JVot used. See Grieve.]
A G
A G N
AGO
AGGRIEVED, pp. Pained ; afflicted ; civ
illy or politically oppressed.
AGGRIE'VING,;);jr. Afflicting; imposing
hardships on ; oppressing.
AGGRoUP', > V. t. [Sp. agrvpar ; It. ag
AGGROOP', I gruppare, aggroppare, u
knot or bring together. See Group.']
To bring together ; to group ; to collect
many persons in a crowd, or many figures
into a whole, either in statuary, painting
or description. Encyc.
AGGROUP'ED, I pp. Collected into a group
AGGROOP'ED, $ or assemblage.
AGH'AST, or more correctly agast, a or
adv. [Perhaps the participle of agaze ; oth-
erwise from the root of ghastly and ghost.]
Struck with amazement ; stupified with siid
den fright or horror.
AGILE, a. [Fr. agile; L. agilis, from ae-o.
See Act.]
Nimble ; having the faculty of quick motion
in the limbs ; apt or ready to move ; brisk ;
active.
Ati'ILENESS, 91. Nimbleness ; activity ; the
faculty of moving the limbs quickly ;
agility.
AGlL'lTY, n. [L. agilitns.]
The power of moving the limbs quickly ;
nimbleness ; briskness ; activity ; quick-
ness of motion. Watts.
A'GIO, n. [Ital. aggio, surplus, difference.]
1. In commerce, the difference between bank
notes and current coin. In Holland, the
agio is three or fovn- per cent. ; in Rome,
from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. ; in
Venice, twenty ))er cent. : but the agio is
subject to variation. Encyc.
2. Premium ; sum given above the nominal
value. Lunier.
AGIST', V. t. [If the primary sense is to lie,
or to rest, this is from Fr. gesir ; Norm.
agiser, to be levant and couchant, from
giser, to lay or throw down ; whence gist,
cast ; gistance, a casting. Class Gs. No. 18.
If the primary signification is to feed, see
Nos. 5, 6, 10, 12, and 5G. Ch. Class Gs.]
In law, to take the cattle of others to graze,
at a certain simi ; to feed or pasture the
cattle of others ; used originally for the
feeding of cattle in the king's forest.
Coivel. Blackstone.
AGISTMENT, n. The taking and feeding
other men's cattle in the king's forest, or
on one's own land ; also, the price paid
for such feeding. It denotes also a bur-
den, charge or tax. [In canon lam, a
modus, orcomposition. Johnson, Qu.]
Cotvel. Blackstone. Encyc.
AGISTOR, or AGIST A'TOR, n. An officer
of the king's forest, who has the car
cattle agisted, and collects the money for
the same ; hence called gist-taker, which
ill England is cori-upted into guest-taker.
Encyc.
AG'ITABLE, a. [See Agitate.] That may
be agitated, shaken or discussed.
AG'ITATE, v. t. [L. agito, from ago. See
Act.]
I. To stir violently ; to move back and forth
with a quick motion ; to shake or mc
briskly ; as, to agitate water in a vessel
a. To move or force into violent irregular
action : as, the wind agitates the sea.
3. To disturb, or excite into tumult ; as, to
agitate the mind or passions.
4. To fliscuss ; to debate ; to controvert ;
to agitate a question.
5. To consider on all sides ; to revolve
the mind, or view in all its aspects ; to
contrive by mental deliberation ; as, poli-
ticians agitate desperate designs.
King Charles
G. To move or actuate. [jVb< used.]
Blackmore.
Agitated, pp. Tossed from side to side ;
shaken ; moved violently and irregularly
disturbed; discussed; considered.
AGlTATING,;>pr. Shaldng ; moving with
violence ; disturbing ; disputing ; (
tiiving.
AGITATION, n. The act of shaking ; the
state of being moved with violence, or
with irregular action ; commotion ; as, the
sea after a storm is in agitation. Bacon
2. Disturbance of tranquility in the mind
perturbation ; excitement of passion.
'. Discussion ; examination of a subject in
controversy. L'Estrange.
4. A state of being deliberated upon, with a
view to contrivance, or plan to be adopted ;
as, a scheme is in agitation.
AGITA'TO, in music, denotes a broken style
of performance, adapted to awaken sur-
prise or perturbation. Diet, of Music,
AG'ITATOR, n. One who agitates ; also, an
insurgent ; one who excites sedition or re-
volt. In antiquity, a chariotteer, that is, a
driver. In Cromwell's time, certain offi-
cers appointed by the army to manage
their concerns, were called agitators.
Hume.
AG'LET, > n. [Fr. aiguillette, a point, from
ATGLET, \ aiguille, a needle, from aigu
sharp. See Acid.]
A tag of a point curved into the represen-
tation of an animal, generally of a man ;
a small plate of metal.
2. In botany, a pendant at the ends of the
chives of flowers, as in the rose and tuUp.
AG'LET-BABY, n. A small image on the
top of a lace. Shak.
AG'MINAL, a. [L. agmen, a troop or body
of men arrayed, fiom ago.]
Pertaining to an army or troop. [Little used.]
AG'NAIL, n. {ad and nail, or Sax. ange,
pain, and nail. See J^ail.]
A disease of the nail ; a whitlow ; an inflani
mation round the nail. Bailey.
AG'NATE, a. [L. agnatus.] Related or akin
by the father's side.
\G"'NATE, n. [L. agnatus, adnascor, of ad
and nascor, to be born. See JSTature.]
Any male relation by the father's side.
Encyc.
AGNAT'Ie, a. Pertaining to descent by
the male line of ancestors. Blackstone
AGNA'TION, n. Relation by the fatlier's
side only, or descent in the male hue, dis
tinet from cognation, which includes des-
cent in the male and female lines.
AG'NEL, n. [From agnus, a lamb, the figure
struck on the coin.]
An ancient French coin, value twelve sols,
six deniers. It was called also mouton
d'or and agnel rf' or. Encyc.
AGNI"TION, n. [L. agnitio, agnosco.]
Acknowledgment. [Little used.] Pearson.
AGNI'ZE, V. t. To acknowledge. [Wo/ /„
««f-] Shak.
AGNOMINATE, v. t. [L. agnomina ; ad
and nomino, nomen, namc.J
To name. [Little used.]
AGNOMINA'TION, n. [L. agnomen, a sur-
name, of ad and nomen. See JVame.]
1. An additional name, or title; a name ad-
ded to another, as expressive of some act,
achievement, &c. ; a surname.
Camden. Encyc.
2. Allusion of one word to another by
sound.
AGNUS CASTUS. A species of vitex, so
called from the Gr. o^toj, chaste, or
from a negative, and ymos, seed, from
its imagined virtue of preserving chastity.
The Athenian ladies reposed on the leaves
of this plant at the feast of Ceres. The
Latin Castus, chaste, now added to the
name, forms a dupUcation of the sense.
Encyc.
AGNUS DEI. [Lamb of God.]
In the Romish Church, a cake of wax stamp-
ed with the figure of a lamb, supporting
the banner of the cross. It is supposed to
possess great virtues in preserving those
who carry it, in faith and from accidents,
• &c. Also a part of the mass in which
these words are repeated by the priest.
Encyc.
AGNUS SCYTHICUS. [Scythian Lamb.]
A name appUed to the roots of a species of
fern, Aspidium Baromez, covered with
brown wooly scales, and, in shape, resem-
bling a lamb ; found in Russia and Tartaiy.
AGO', adv. or a. [Sax. agan, or geond, the
participle of gan, to go ; contracted from
agone. See Go.]
Past ; gone ; as, a year ago.
AGOG' adv. [Fr.' agogo ; vivre it gogo, to
live in clover.]
In a state of desire ; highly excited by eager-
ness after an object.
The gaudy gossip when she's set agog.
Diyden.
AGO'ING. [The participle of go, with the
prefix a.]
In motion, as to set a mill agoing ; or
about to go ; ready to go ; as, he is agoing
immediately. The latter use is vulgar.
A'GON, n. [Gr.]
The contest for the prize. [JVot used.]
Sancroft.
AGONE, pp. agaivn', [See Ago and Gone.]
Ago ; past ; since. [JVearly Obs.]
AGONISM, n. [Gr. ayund^oj,]
Contention for a prize. Diet.
AGONIST, n. One who contends for the
prize in public games. Milton has used
Agonistes in this sense, and so called his
tragedy, from the similitude of Sampson's
exertions, in slaying the Philistines, to
prize fighting. In church history, the dis-
ciples of Donatus are called agonistics.
AGONIST'I€, \ Pertaining to prize-
AGONIST'l€AL, \ "' fighting, contests of
strength, or athletic cpmbats. Enfield.
AGONIST'I€ALLY, adv. In
manner ; like prize-fighting.
AG'ONIZE, v.t. [Gr. ayu«fio,t
Agony.]
To writhe with extreme pain ;
lent anguish.
To Finart ami agonize at every pore. Pnpe
n agomstic
strive. See
3 suffer vio-
A G R
A G R
A G R
AG'ONIZE, V. t. To distress with extreme
pain ; to torture. Pope.
AG'ONIZING, ppr. Suffering severe pain
writhing witli torture.
AG'ONIZINGLY, adv. With extreme an
guish.
AG'ONY, n. [Gr. a^uv, a contest with bod
ily exertion ; a word used to denote the
atliletic games, in Greece ; whence (vyuvia,
angiiisi), solicitude ; from (vyw, L. ago. In
Ir. ag-A, is a battle, conflict; Gr.ayunfw, to
strive. See Act."]
1. In strictness, pain so extreme as to cause
writhing or contortions of the body, sim
lar to those made in the athletic contests
in Greece. Hence,
'3. Extreme pain of body or mind ; anguish ;
appropriately, the pangs of death, and the
sufferings of our Savior in the garden of
Gethsemane. Luke xxii.
3. Violent contest or striving. More.
AGQQD', adv. In earnest. [JVo< used.] Slutk.
AGoUTY, n. [Qu. Sp. agudo, sliarp ; L. acu-
tus.]
A quadruped of the order Rodcntia ; arran-
ged by naturalists in the genus Cama. It is
of the size of a rabbit. The upper part of
the body is brownish, with a mixture oi"|
red and black ; the belly yellowish. Three
varieties are mentioned, all peculiar to
South America and the West Indies. It
burrows in the ground, or in hollow trees
lives on vegetables ; is voracious like a pig,
and makes a similar grunting noise. It
holds its meat in its fore paws, like a squir-
rel. When scared or angry, its hair is
erect, and it strikes the ground with it«
hind feet. Its flesh is white and well tast-
ed. Emyc.
AGRA'RIAN, a. [L. agrarius, from ager,
a field.]
Relating to lands. Appropriately, denoting
or pertaining to an equal division of lands ;
as, the agrarian laws of Rome, which dis-
tributed the conquered and other public
lands equally among all the citizens, limit-
ing the quantity which each might enjoy.
Authors sometimes use the word i
noun ; an agranan, {or agrarian laic.
Burke.
An agrarian distribution of land or property
would make the rich, poor, but would not make
the poor, rich.
AGREE', V. i. [Fr. agrhr, from gre', will,
accord. This is contracted from Sp. agra-
dar, Port, id, to please, to gratify, whence
agradable, agreeable ; from the root of L
gratia, W. rhad, grace, favor, that comes
treely. The primary sense is advancing,
from the same root as L. gradior ; W. rkaz.
[rliath]; Syr. j ,; radah, to go.]
1. To be of one mind ; to harmonize in opin-
In the expediency of the law, all the partiei
agree.
2. To hve in concord, or without contention
as, parents and children agree well to-
gether.
3. To yield assent; to approve or admit
followed by to ; as, to agi-ee to an offer, or
to an opinion.
4. To settle by stipulation, the minds of par-
ties being agreed, as to the terms ; as.
Didst thou not agree with me for a penny a
day ? Mat. xx.
To agree on articles of partnership.
Vol. I.
5. To come to a compromise of differences ;
to be reconciled.
Jlgree with thy adversaiy quickly. Mat. v.
G. To come to one opinion or muid ; to con-
cur ; as, to agree on a place of meeting.
This sense differs not essentially from the
fourth, and it often unplies a resolving to
do an act. John ix.
7. To be consistent ; to harmonize ; not to
contradict, or be repugnant.
Their wiuiess agreed not together. Mark
xiv.
This story agrees with what has been
related by others.
8. To resemble ; to be similar ; as, the pic-
ture does not agree with the original.
9. To suit ; to be acconunodated or adapted
to ; as, the same food does not agree with
every constitution.
AGREE', V. t. To admit, or come to one
mind concerning ; as, to agree tlie fact.
Also, to reconcile or malte friends ; to i>ut
an end to variance; but these senses are
unusual and hardly legitimate. Let the
parties agree the fact, is really eUiptical ;
let them agree on the fact.
AGREEABIL'ITY, n. Easiness of disposi-
tion. [JVot used.] Chaucer
AGREE' ABLE, a. Suitable ; conformable ;
correspondent ; consistent with ; a.s, the
practice of virtue is agreeable to the law of
God and our own nature.
2. In pursuance of; in conformity with ; as,
agreeable to the order of the day, the house
took up the report of the committee. It
is not correctly followed By with. In this
sense, some writers use agreeably, for agree-
able, but in violation of the true principles
of construction ; for the word is an adjec-
tive or attribute, in agreement with the
last clause of the sentence. The house
took up the report of a committee, (which
taking up was) agreeable to the order of
the day. The use of agreeably in this sen-
tence would pervert the sense.
•3. Pleasing, either to the mind or senses ; as,
agreeable manners ; fruit agreeable to the
taste.
AGREE'ABLENESS, n. Suitableness ; con-
formity ; consistency ; as, the agreeable-
ness of virtue to the laws of God.
2. The quality of pleasing ; that quality
which gives satisfaction or moderate
pleasure to the mind or senses ; as, an
agreeableness of manners ; there is an
agreeableness in the taste of certain fruits.
This is the usual sense of the word.
.3. Resemblance ; Ukeness ; with to or be-
tween ; as.
The agreeableness between man and' other
parts of creation. Obs. Grew.
AGREE'ABLY, adv. Pleasingly ; in an
agreeable manner; in' a maimer to give
pleasure ; as, to be agreeably entertained
with a discourse.
2. Suitably ; consistently ; conformably ;
The eifect of wliich is, that marriages grow
less frequent, agreeably to the maxim above
laid down. Paley.
This is a gross error, proceeding from
mistake. Agreeably signifies, in an agree-
able manner ; but tliis is not the sense, nor
does the word modify the verb grow. The
sense is, marriages grow less frequent,
which [fact, or whole member of the sen-
tence, or proposition] is agreeable to the
6
maxim above laid down. This use ol'
agreeably is common, but grossly erro-
.3. Alike ; in the same manner.
Both armed agreeably. Obs. Spenser.
AGREE'D, pp. Being in concord or har-
mony of opinion ; of one mind.
Can two walk together except they be agreed ■
.■Vmos. iil.
2. .'Assented to ; admitted ; as, a proposition is
agreed to.
3. Settled by consent ; implying bargain or
contract ; as, the terms were agreed to, or
agreed upon.
AGREE'ING, ppr. Living in concord ; con-
curring ; assenting ; settling by consent.
AGREE'INGLY, adv. In conformity to.
[Little used.]
AGREE'Mfc^NT, n. Concord ; harmony :
conformity.
What agreement hath the temple of God with
idols. ? 2 Cor. vi.
2. Union of opinions or sentiments ; as, a
good agreement subsists among the mem-
bers of the council.
3. Resemblance ; conformity ; similitude.
Ex|iansion and duration have this farther
agreement. Locke.
4. Union of minds in regard to a transfer of
interest ; bargain ; compact ; contract ;
stipulation.
Make an agreement with me by a present.
2 Kings xviii.
He made an agreement for the purchase
of a house.
AGRES'TIe, I [L. agrestis; Fr. a-
AGRES'TI€AL, J "' greste ; from L. ager, a
field, or the same root.]
Rural ; rustic ; pertainmg to fields or the
coimtry, in opposition to the city ; unpol-
ished. Gregory.
AG'RIeULTOR, n. [L. ager, afield, and
cultor, a cultivator.]
One whose occupation is to till the ground ;
B farmer ; a husbandman ; one skilled in
husbandrv.
AGRIeUL'TURAL, a. Pertaining to hus-
bandry, tillage, or the cidture of the earth.
AGRICULTURE, n. [L. ager, a field, and
cultura, cultivation. See Acre and Culture.]
In o general sense, the cultivation of the
ground, for the purpose of producing veg-
etables, and fruits, for the use of man and
beast ; or the art of preparing the soil,
sowing and planting seeds, dressing the
plants, and removing the crops. In this
sense, the word includes gardening, or
horticulture, and also the raising and feed-
ing of cattle, or stock. But in a more
common and appropriate sense, it is used to
signify that species of cultivation which is
intended to raise grain and other crops for
man and beast. It is equivalent to husbandry.
Agriculture is the most general occupation
AGRICUL'TURISM, n. The art or science
of agriculture. [Little used.]
AGRICULTURIST, n. One skilled in the
art of cultivating the ground ; a skUful
husbandman.
AG'RIJIONY, n. [L. argemonia, from the
Gr. Thus it is written by Pliny. But in
lower Latin it is written agrinionia. Said
to be from Gr. apyt^a, the web or pearl of
the eye, from opyof, white, which this plant
was supposed to cure. See Theojih. 887.]
.\ genus of pkints, of several specie?. Of
A G U
A I A
A I H
these, the eupatoria or common agrimony,
and the odorata or sweet scented, are tlie
most useful. Encyc.
AGRIPPJX 1 WS. ». In Church history, the
follower-- (if \i;ii|.|MnMs, bishop of Car-
thage, in tilt- iliuil ri-iitury, who first taught
and defended 1 he doctrine of rebaptization.
Encyc.
AGRiSE, V. i. [Sax. agnsan.]
To shiver. [J^Tot in use.] Chaucer.
AGRiSE, V. t. To terrify ; also, to make
frightful. [.Voi in use.'] Spenser.
A'GROM, n. A disease frequent in Bengal,
and other parts of the E. Indies, in which
the tongue chaps and cleaves, becomes
rough and sometimes covered with white
spots. The remedy is some chalybeate
liquor, or the juice of mint. 'Encyc.
AGROSTEM'MA, n. A genus of plants of
several species, containing the common
corn cockle, wild lychnis or cantijion, &c.
AGROS'TIS, n. [Gr. aypuf^.]
Bent grass; a genus of many species.
AGROUND', adv. [Of a, at or on, and
ground.]
J. On the ground ; a marine terra, signifying
that the bottom of a ship rests on the
ground, for want of sufficient depth of
water. When the groimd is near the
shore, the ship is said to be ashore or
stranded.
Q. Figuratively, stopped; impeded by insu-
perable obstacles.
AGUAPE€A'€A, n. The Jacana, a Brazil-
ian bird, about the size of a pigeon. In
the extremity of each whig, it has a sharp
prickle which is used for defense.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
A'GUE, n. a'gti, [Sax. a:ge, oga, or hoga,
fear, horror ; Arm. hegea, to shake ; Goth.
agis, fear, agyan or ogan, to fear ; Ir. agh,
fear, ag}ia or aghaim, to fear. The radical
idea is a shaking or shivering similar to
that occasioned by terror.]
1. The cold fit which precedes a fever, or a
paroxysm of fever in intermittents. It is
acconqianied with shivering.
2. Chilliness ; a chill, or state of shaking
with cold, though in heahh.
3. It is used tor a periodical fever, an inter-
mittent, whether quotidian, tertian, or
quartan. In this case, the word, which
signifies the preceding cold fit, is used for
the disease.
A'GUE, 17. t. To cause a shivering in; to
strike with a cold fit. Haywood.
A'GUE-CAKE, n. A hard tumor on the
left side of the belly, lower than the false
ribs ; supposed to be the efiect of inter-
mitting fevers. Encyc.
A'GUED, a. Chilly ; having a fit of ague ;
.shivering with cold or fi;ar. Shak.
A'GUE-FIT, n. A paroxysm of cold, or
shivering ; chilliness.
A'GUE-PROOF, n. Able to resist agues;
proof against agues.
AGUER'RY, i)./.''[Fr. aguerrir; from gtierre,
war.]
To inure to the hardships of war ; to in-
struct in the art of war. [Not in use.]
Lyttleton.
A'GUE-SPELL, n. A charm or spell to
ciu-e or prevent ague. Gay
A'GUE-STRUCK, a. Struck with ague.
Henu/t
A'GUE-TRKK, n. A name sometimes ap-
plied to sassafras, on account of its febri
fuge quaUties. Encyc
AGUI'SE, V. t. [See Guise.] to dress ; to
adorn. [JVbt in use.] Spenser.
AGUI'SE, n. Dress. [JVot in use.] More.
A'GUISII, a. Chilly ; somewhat cold or
shivering; also, having the quaUties of an
ague.
Her aguish love now glows and bums.
Graywille.
A'GUISHNESS, n. Cliilliness ; the quahty
of being aguish.
AGUILLANEUF', n. [From a, to, gui, mis-
leto, and Van neuf, the new year.]
A form of rejoicing among the ancient
Franks, on the first day of the year ; de-
rived from the drnidical custom of cutting
misleto, which was held sacred by the
druids, and on the first day of the year,
consecrating it by cryuig, aguillaneuf, the
year to the misleto. This cry is said to
be still observed in some parts of France;
and the term came to signify also a beg-
ging of New Year's gifts. Encyc.
A'GUL, n. A species of the hedysarum.
AH, An exclamation, expressive of surprise,
pity, complaint, contempt, disUke, joy, ex-
ultation, &c., according to the manner of
iitterance.
^\irA. An exclamation expressing triumph,
contempt, or simple surprise ; but the
senses are distinguished by very differ-
ent modes of utterance, and different mod-
ifications of features.
2. A sunk fence, not visible, without near
approach. Mason.
AHAN'IGER, n. A name of the gar-fish.
AHEAD, adv. Med', [a and head, or at head.]
Further forward than another thing ; in
fi-ont ; originally a sea term, denoting fur-
ther forward than another ship, or on the
point to which the stem is directed, in op-
jiosition to astern. Mar. Diet.
2. Onward ; forward ; towards the point be-
fore the stem or head ; as, move ahead.
3. Headlong ; without restrauit ; precipitant-
ly ; as, children suffered to run ahead.
[.Yot used.] L'Estrangc.
\1IEI'GHT, adv. [a and height.]
Aloft ; on high. [J\'ot used.] Shak.
AHI€CYAT'LI, n. A poisonous serpent of
Mexico, somewhat resembling the rattle-
snake, but destitute of rattles. Its poison
is as fatal as that of any known species of]
serpent. Encyc.
AHI'GH, arfv. On high. [JVofused.]
AIIO'LD, adv. Near the wind; as, to lay a
ship ahold. [jYot in use.] Shak.
AHOVAI, n. A trivial name synonymous
with Cerhera, a very poisonous species of
plum.
AHOY', Exclam. A sea term used in hail
ing.
AHRIMAN. [See ^riman.]
AHUIT'LA, n. A worm found in the lake of
Mexico, four inches in lengtli, as thick as
a goose-quill ; the tail, which is hard and
poisonous, contains a sting. Clavigero.
AHUIT'ZOTE, n. An amphibious quadru-
ped of the tropical climate of America,
whose body is a foot long, its snout long
and sharp, its skin of a mixed black and
brown color. Clavigero
A'lA, n. A Brazilian fowl of the spoon-bill
kind, and resendiling that bird in form and
size. Diet. ofJVat. Hist
AICU'RUS, n. A large and beautiful species'
of parrot, foundm Brazil ; its head beauti-
fully variegated with yellow, red and vio-
let colors ; its body green ; the tips of its
wings red, and its tail long and yellow.
Diet, of Nat. Hist.
AID, v.t.. [Fr. aider, to help ; It. aiutare,
which seems to be contracted from L. ad-
-£
juto. In Ar. ^ U or ^j\ signifies to assist
or strengthen, and | ^ \ and j i 1 to help.
In Welsh, ced is a benefit, and the word
was used to denote the aids of feudal ten-
ants.]
To help ; to assist ; to support, either by
furnishing strength or means to effect a
jjurpose, or to prevent or remove evil.
AID, n. Help ; succor ; support ; assistance.
ff'atts.
2. The person who aids or yields support ;
a helper ; an auxihary ; also the thing that
aids or yields succor.
3. In English law, a subsidy or tax granted
by parliament, and making a part of the
king's revenue.
In France, aids are equivalent to customs,
or duties on imj)orts and exports. Encyc.
4. In England, a tax paid by a tenant to his
lord ; originally a mere gift, which afVer-
wards became a right deniandable by the
lord. The aids of this kind were chiefly
three. 1. To ransom the lord when a
prisoner. 2. To make the lord's eldest
son a knight. 3. To marry the lord's eld-
est daughter. Bladcslonc.
5. An aiddecamp, so called by alilin-Matiou.
(i. To pray in aid, in law, is to call in a ])er-
son interested in a title, to assist in defend-
ing it. Thus a tenant for life may pray
in the aid of him in remauider or rever-
sion ; that is, he may pray or petition that
he may be joined in the suit to aid or help
maintain the title. This act or petition is
called aid-prayer. Cowel. Blackstone.
Court of aids, in France, is a court which has
cognizance of causes respecting duties or
customs. Encyc.
A'IDANCE, n. Aid ; help ; assistance. [Lit-
tle used.] Shak.
A'IDANT, a. Helping ; helpfid ; supplying
aid. [Not used.]
A'IDDE€AMP, n. plur. Aiddecamps. [Fr.,
but naturalized, and here angUcized.]
In military affairs, an officer whose duty is to
receive and communicate the orders of a
general officer. [The pronunciation should
be English, according to the orthography,
not aid de cong.]
A'IDED, pp. Assisted; supported; furnish-
ed with succor.
A'IDER, n. One who helps ; an assistant,
or auxiliary.
A'IDING, iqir. Helping; assisting.
A'lDM'.SS, (/. Helpless; without aid; un-
siippoited ; undefended. Shak.
A'I(ii;i:T, AIGRETTE, n. In zoologxj, a
name of the small white heron.
Diet, of Nat. Hist.
2. In botany. [See Egret.]
A'lGULET, n. [Fr. Usually contracted in-
to aiglet, which see.]
A point or tag, as at the ends of fringes.
A'IKRAW, n. A popular name of a species
of hchen, or moss. Fam. of Plants.
AIR
AIR
A I R
AIL, V. I. [Sax. eglian, to be troubled, to be
irksome ; egle, trouble, grief. In the Sax-
on, it is impersonal.]
To trouble ; to affect with imeasiness, either
of body or mind ; used to express some un-
easiness or affection, whose cause is un-
known ; as, what ails the msui .' I know
not what ails him.
What aileth thee, Hagar .' Gen. xxi.
It is never used to express a specific dis
case. We never say, he ails a pleurisy
but it is usual to say, he ails something
he ails notliing ; nothing ails him.
AIL, n. Indisposition, or morbid affection.
A'lLING, ppr. Diseased ; indisposed ; full
of complaints.
A'lLMENT, n. Disease ; indisposition
morbid affection of the body ; but the
word is not appUed ordinarily to acute
diseases.
AIM, V. i. [Qu. Ir. oigham, to eye. Skin-
ner refers this word to the old Pr. esmer.
If this was the orthography, I know not its
afiinities.]
To point at, Avith a missive weapon ; to d
rect the intention or purpose ; to attempt
to reach, or accomplish ; to tend towards ;
to endeavor ; followed by at before the
object ; as, a man aims at distinction ; o
aims to be rich.
-AIM, V. t. To direct or point as a weapon
to direct to a partieidar object ; as, to aivi
a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow ;
to aim WKitire or a reflection at some per-
son or Wee.
AIM, n. The pointmg or direction of a mis-
sile weapon ; the direction of any thing to
a particular point or object, with a view
to strike or affect it ; as a spear, a blow, a
discourse or remark.
9. The point intended to be hit, or object
tended to be affected ; as, a man missed
his aim.
3. Figuratively, a purpose ; uitention ; d'
sign ; scheme ; as, men are often disap-
pointed of their aim.
4. Conjecture; guess.
It is impossible, by aim , to tell it. [A'ot useJ.]
Spenser on Ireland.
AIMED, p/j. Pointed; directed; intended
to strike or affect.
AIMER, n. One that aims.
A'IMING, ppr. Pointing a weapon
object ; directing any thing to an object ;
intending ; purposing.
A'IMLESS, a. Without aim. May.
\IR, n. [Fr mV; L. acr; Gr. aj?p; It. ana ;
S[). ayre; Port, ar ; Arm. tar, eer; Ir. aer
W. atcyr; Ch. TIN ; Syr. ; ] ] ; Eth. ^ _£ /J
Ar. lj<. This word, in the Shemitic
languages, falls under the root iix Heb.
and Ch., to sliine. The radical sense
to open, expand ; whence clear ; or to
flow, to shoot, to radiate.]
1. The fluid which we breathe. Air is ino-
dorous, invisible, insipid, colorless, elastic
possessed of gravity, easily moved, rarefi
ed, and condensed.
.llmospheric air is a compound fluid, con
sisting of oxygen gas, and nitrogen or azo-
te ; the proportion of each is stated by
chimists differently ; some exjieriments
making the oxygen a twenty-eighth part
of a hundred ; others, not more than a!
twenty-third, or something less. The lat-
ter is probably the true proportion.
Oxrjgen gas is called vital air. The body
of air surrounding the earth is called the
atmosphere. The specific gravity of air is
to that of water, nearly as 1 to 828. Air
is necessary to life ; being inhaled into the
lungs, the oxygenous part is separated
from the azotic, and it is supposed to fur-
nish the body with heat and animation.
It is the medium of sounds and necessary
to combustion.
Air in motion ; a Ught breeze.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play.
Pope.
3. Vent ; utterance abroad ; publication ;
pubhcity ; as, a story has taken air.
You gave it air before me. Drydtii.
Wind is used in like mamier.
4. A tune ; a short song or piece of music
adapted to words; also, the pecuUar mod-
ulation of the notes, which gives music its
character ; as, a soft air. A song or piece
of poetry for singing ; also, the leading
part of a tune, or that wliich is intended
to exhibit the greatest variety of melody.
5. The peculiar look, appearance, manner or
mien of a person ; as, a heavy air ; the air
of youth ; a graceful air ; a lofty air. It
is applied to manners or gestures, as well
as to features.
6. Mrs, in the plural, is used to denote an af-
fected manner, show of j)ride, haughti-
ness ; as, when it is said of a person, he
puts on airs. The word'is used also to
express the artificial motions or carriage
of a horse.
In painting, that which expresses the life
of action; manner; gesture; attitude.
8. Any thing hght or luicertain ; that is hght
as air.
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks
Qu. Obs. Shah-
!). Advice ; mtelligence ; information. Obs.
Bacon
10. Different states of air are characterized
by different epithets ; as, good air, foul air
morning air, evening air ; and sometimes
airs may have been used for ill-scent
vapor, but the use is not legitimate.
To take the air, is to go abroad ; to walk or
ride a little distance.
To take air, is to be divulged ; to be made
public.
AIR, V. t. To expose to the air ; to give ac
cess to the open air ; to ventilate ; as, t<
air clothes ; to air a room.
2. To expose to heat ; to warm ; as, to air
liquors.
:?. To dry by a fire ; to expel dampness; as
to air iinen.
A'IRA, n. Hair grass, a genus of plants.
A'IR-BALLOON. [See Balloon.]
A'IR-BLADDER, n. A vesicle or cutifk
filled with air ; also, the bladder of a fish
Arbuthnot
A'IR-RORN, a. Bornof the air. Congreve
AIR-BRAVING, a. Braving the winds.
Shak
A'IR-BUILT, a. Erected in the air; hav-
ing no solid foundation ; chimerical ; as,
an air-built castle ; air-built hopeti.
A'IR-DRAWN, a. Drawn in air ; imagina-
I ry. Shak.
' A'IRED, pp. E.xposed to air ; cleansed by
air ; heated or dried by exposure to a fire ;
ventilated.
;\'IRER, 7[. One who exposes to the air.
A'IR-GUN, n. A pneumatic engine, resem-
bling a musket, to discharge bullets by
means of the elastic force of compressed
air. Encyc.
V'IR-HOLDER, n. [Air and hold.]
An instrument for holding air, for the pur-
pose of counteracting the pressure of a
decreasing coliunn of mercury.
Clayfield. Davy.
A'lR-HOIiE, n. An opening to admit or
dLscharge air.
.\'IRINESS, n. Exposure to a free current
of air ; openne.=s to the air; as, the airi-
ness of a country seat.
2. Gayety ; levity ; as, the airiness of young
persons.
A'IRING, ppr. Exposing to the air ; warm-
ing ; drying.
A'IRING, n. An exposiu-e to the air, or to
a fire, for warming or drying ; also, a walk
or ride in the open air ; a short excursion.
The exercise of horses in the open air.
A'IR-JACKET, n. A leather jacket, to
which are fastened bags or bladders filled
with air, to render persons buoyant in
swimming. Encyc.
A'IRLESS, a. Not open to a free current
of air; wanting fi-esh air, or commmiica-
tion with open air.
A'IRLING, a. A thoughtless, gay person.
Jonson.
A'IR-PIPE, n. A pipe used to draw foul air
from a ship's hold, by means of a commu-
nication with the furnace, and the rare-
faction of the air by fire. This pipe is in-
tended to supply the combustion with the
air of the hold, by preventing the access of
other air to the fire. Encyc.
AIR-POISE, n. [Air and poise.]
An instrument to measure the weight of the
air.
A'IR-PUMP, n. A macliine for exhausting
the air of a vessel. The machines for this
purpose are of different constructions.
A'IR-SACS, n. Air bags in birds, which are
certain receptacles of air, or vesicles lodg-
ed in the fleshy parts, in the hollow bones
and in the abdomen, wldch all communi-
cate with the lungs. These are supposed
to render the body specifically lighter, and
to supply tlie place of a muscular dia-
phragm. Encyc.
AIR-SHAFT, n. A passage for air into a
mine, usually opened in a perpendicular
direction, and meeting the adits or hori-
zontal passages, to cause a free circuJa-^
tion of fresh air through the mine. Encyc.
AIR-STIRRING, a. Puttmgthe air in mo.
tion. May.
A'lR-TIIREAD, n. A name given to die
siiiiler's webs, which are often seen float-<
log in the air. These filaments are at-
tached to the tops or ends of branches of
shrubs or trees, and serve to support llie
spider when in quest of prey. Encyc.
A'IR-THREATENING, a. Threatenine the
air ; lofty. Todd.
,-V IR-VES.*«EL, n. A spiral duct in plants
containbig air, and supposed to be analo-
gous to the lungs in animals. Encyc.
A'IRY, a. Consisting of air ; as, an airy
substance.
A K 1
a. Relating or belonging to air ; high in air ;
as, an airy flight ; airy region.
3. Open to a free current of air ; as, an airy
situation.
4. Light as air; resembling air; thin; un-
substantial ; without soBcUty ; as, airy
ghosts. An airy dress is one which ad-
mits air, and is cool.
5. Without reality ; having no sohd founda
tion ; vain ; trifling ; as, an airy scheme ;
airy notions.
6. Gay; sprightly; full of vivacity and Ic^n-
ty ; light of heart ; Uvely ; as, an airy girl,
A'IRY, or A'ery, n. [See Aery.]
Among sportsinen, the nest of the hawk or
eagle.
A'IRY-FLYING, a. Flying like air.
Thomson.
AISLE, or AILE, n. Pronounced Re. [Fi
aite, a wing ; L. ala.]
The wing of a quire ; a walk in a church.
AIZO'ON, n. [Sax. aizon, from L. aizoon
It seems to be composed of Or. au, always.
Sax. aa, Eng. aye, and |uor, livuig.]
A genus of plants, called by Miller semper
vine. Tlie name has, by some writers, been
applied to the house leek and to the aloes,
Encyc.
AJA'VA, n. The seed of a plant brought
from Malabar, said to be an excellent car
minative, and very useful in the colic.
Quincy.
AJU'GA, n. Bugle, a genus of plants.
Encyr
AJU'RU-CATINGA, n. A species of Amer
ican parrot, of a green color, with eyes of
a fiery red, encircled with white.
AJU'RU-€URAU, n. An American parrot,
of a Uvely green color, with a blue crown ;
the throat, and sides of the head, of a fine
yellow.
AJU'RU-PARA, n. A small parrot of Amer-
ica, of a beautiful green, with the beak,
legs and circlets of the eyes white.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
VJ'UTAGE, or AD'JUTAgE, n. [Fr. from
ajouter, to join.]
\ tube fitted to the mouth of a vessel
through which the water of a fountain is
to be played.
AKE, V. i., less properly written acAe. [Sax,
ace, pronounced ake. See .^che.]
1. To be in pain ; usually, in pain of some con-
tinuance.
2. To feel distress of mind ; to be grieved ;
as, the heart akes.
AKE, n. Continued pain, less severe than
is expressed by pang, agony, and torment ;
as, the tooth-aie ; head-afte. It is com
monly used in composition with the name
of the jjart aflfected, as head-ake.
A'KER, n. [Gr. (vypoj; L. ager; Sax. acer,
pronounced aker ; Germ, acker. The most
correct orthography is aker.]
Origuially an open field. But in G. Britain,
the quantity of land in the aker is fixed by
statute at four thousand eight hundred and
forty square yards, n]aking one hundred
and sixty square rods, perches or poles ;
and this is the quantity of land it contauis
in the United States of America. [See
Acre.]
AKIN', a. [a or of and kin. See Kin.]
i. Related by blood, used of persons ; as,
the two lamilies are near akin.
% Allied by nature ; partaking of the same
ALA
properties; as, envy and jealousy at
akin. [This adjective is used only after the
noun.]
A'KING, ppr. Having continued pain ; suf-
fering distress of mind, or grief.
A'KING, n. Continued pain, or distress of
mind.
AL, in Arabic, an adjective or inseparable
prefix, answering to the ItaUan il, and Sp
el and la. Its use is to render nouns defi
nite, Uke the Enghsh tlit ; as, alkoran, the
koran or the book by eminence ; alcove
alchimy, alembic, almanac, &c.
AL, in Enghsh, is sometimes a contraction
of the Saxon ccthel, noble or illustrious.
More generally al, in composition, is a con
traction of aid or alt, old, and it is prefix-
ed to many names, as Alburg. Sax. eald
Germ, alt, old.
Al, m the composition of Latin words, is
written before I for ad, for the ease of pro
nunciation ; as, in allevo, alludo, for ad levc
ad tudo.
AL'ABASTER, n. [L. from Gr. axoffafpor
A sub-variety of carbonate of lime, found in
large masses, formed by the deposition of
calcarious particles in caverns of lime
stone rocks. These concretions have i
foliated, fibrous or granular structure,
and are of a pure white color, or more
generally they present shades of yellow
red or brown, in undulating or concentric
stripes, or in spots. Cleaveland.
Among the ancients, alabaster was also the
name of a vessel in which odoriferous li
quors were kept ; so called from the stone
of which it was made. Also, the name of
a measure, containing ten ounces of wine
or nine of oil. Encyc. Macquer. Pliny.
AL'ABASTER, a. Made of alabaster,
resemhhng it.
Alabastrum dendroide, a kind of laminated
alabaster, variegated with figures of shrubs
and trees, found in the province of Hohen
stein. Encyc.
ALACK', exclam. [Per. jsTiViil'alaka, per-
dition, destruction, and alaksadan, to per-
ish.]
An exclamation expressive of sorrow.
ALACK' ADA Y. An exclamation uttered to
express regret or sorrow.
ALAC'RIOUSNESS, n. Briskness. [jVof
used.]
ALA€'RITY, «. [L. alacritas, from alacer,
alacris.']
Cheerfulness ; gayety ; sprightliness ; more
usually, a cheerful readiness or prompt'
tude to do some act ; cheerful willingness
as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to
meet the enemy.
ALAD'INISTS. Free thinkers among the
Moliammedans. Encyc.
AL'ALITE, ». A crystalized mineral; diop-
side ; a semi-transparent pyroxene. A
variety with twelve sided prisms, was
found by Bonvoisin, near the village of
Ala in Piedmont, and by him called Ala-
lite. Cleaveland.
ALAMJRE', n. The lowest note but one, in
Guidci Aretine's scale of music. Johnson.
ALAMODAL'ITY, n. Conformity to ihr
prevailing ijjode, or fashion of the times
[Little used.] Encyt
ALB
ALAMO'DE adv. [Fr. a la mode, after the
fashion.]
According to the fashion or prevailing mode
fVhittock.
ALAMO'DE, n. A thin glossy silk for hoods,
scarfs, &,c.
ALAND', adv. At or on land. Sidney.
AL'ARM, «. [Dan. larm, noise, bustle,
alarm; larmer, to make a noise or bustle,
to alarm; G. larm, laitnen, \d ; Sw. larm,
larma, id ; Fr. alarme, alarmer ; Sp. alarma,
alarmar ; It. aUarme, allarmare ; W. alarm,
a great shout, compounded of al, very,
most, and garm, an outciy. The Welsh
gives the true origin and primary signifi-
cation.]
1. Any sound, outcry or information, intend-
ed to give notice of approaching danger
as, to sound an alarm.
8. A summon to arms. Dryden.
3. Sudden surprise with fear or terror ; as,
the fire or the enemy excited an alarm.
4. Terror ; a sensation excited by an appre-
hension of danger, from whatever cause ;
as, we felt an alann at the cry of fire.
5. In/eraawg-, an appeal or challenge. Encyc.
AL^ARM, V. t. To give notice of danger ;
to rouse to vigilance, and exertions for
safety.
2. To call to arms for defense.
3. To surprise with apprehension of danger ;
to disturb with terror ; to fill with anxiety
by the prospect of evil.
AL' ARM-BELL, ji. A beU that gives no-
tice of danger.
AL' ARMED, pp. Notified of sudden danger ;
surprised with fear ; roused to vigilance
or activity by apprehension of approach-
ing danger ; solicitous at the prospect or
expectation of evil. Thus, we are alarmed
at the approach of danger, or alarmed for
the safety of friends at sea.
AL' ARMING, ppr. Givijig notice of ap-
proaching danger ; rousing to vigilance ;
exciting sohcitude by a prospect of evil.
AL' ARMING, a. Exciting apprehension ;
terrifying ; awakening a sense of danger;
as, an alarming message.
ALARMINGLY, adv. Whh alarm ; in a
manner to excite apprehension.
AL'ARMIST, n. One that excites alarm.
AL' ARM-POST, n. A place to which troops
are to repair in cases of an alarm.
AL' ARM-WATCH, n. A watch that strikes
the hour by regulated movement. Herbert.
RUM, foi ■
i be used.
ALARUM, for alarm, is a corruption, and
ALAS' ex. [Dutch helaas ; Fr. helas.]
An exclamation expressive of sorrow, grief,
pity, concern, or apprehension of evil ;
sometimes followed by day or while ; alas
the day, like alack a day ; or alas the while,
(Obs. Spenser.) expressing an unhappy
time.
ALA'TE, adv. Lately. [M>t used.]
ALA'TED, a. [L. a/a, a wing; ate/«s, wing-
ed.]
Winged ; having dilatations like wings.
Botany.
AL'ATERN, n. A trivial name of a species
of rhamnus or buckthorn.
ALB, n. [L. albus, Gr. cA^os, white.]
A surplice or vestment of white linen, reach-
hig to the feet, worn by the Romish cler-
gy. Also a Turkish coin, called also an
asper, value one hundred and twelve mills
ALB
AL'BATROS, n. An aquatic fowl, belong'
ing to the order of ansers. Tlie bill ii
strait ; the upper mandible crooked at the
point, and the lower one truncated ; the
nostrils are oval, open and Uttle promi
nent, and placed on the sides ; the wings
are pennated, and there are three webbed
toes on each foot. The upper part of the
body is of a spotted brown, and the belly
white. It is of the size of a pelican or
larger, very voracious, preying on fish and
small water fowls. These fowls are seen,
in great numbers, about the capes of the
two continents, and on the northern shores
of Asia. They are sometimes called the
great gull. Encyc.
ALBE'IT, [This is supposed to be a com-
pound of aH, fceand it, and is equivalent to
admit, or grant it all.]
Be it so ; admit all that ; althougli ; notwith-
standing.
Whereas ye say, the Lord saith it, albeit I
have not spoken. Ez. xiii.
[This word ts now antiquated.]
AL'BELEN, n. A fish of the truttaceous or
trout kind, found in the German lakes,
weighing five or six pounds.
Did. o/Nat. Hist.
ALBES'CENT, a. [L. albesco, to grow white.]
Becoming white, or rather, whitish ; mod-
erately wliite. Encyc.
AL'BleORE, -II. [Port, albacor; at and
bacoro, a little pig.]
A marine fish, like a tunny, noted for follow-
ing ships.
ALBIGEN'SES, ALBEgEOIS, n. A party
of Reformers, who sejjarated from the
church of Rome, in tlie 12th century ; so
called from the Albegeois, asmallterritoiy
in France, where they resided. They are
sometimes confounded with the fValdenses ;
but they were prior to them in time, differ-
ed from them in some of their tenets, and
resided in a different part of France. The
catholics made war ujion them, and they
gradually dwindled, till the reformation,
when the remains of them fell in with the
followers of ZuingUus and the Genevan
Protestants. Encyc.
AL'BIN, n. [L. albus, wliite.]
A mineral, of an opake white color, consist-
ing of aggregated crj'staline lamins, found
in Bohemia.
This is regarded as a variety of apophyllite.
Werner. Cleaveland.
ALBI'NO, n. [L. albus, white.]
A white descendant of black parents, or a
white person belonging to a race of blacks.
A person unnaturally white.
ALBI'NOS, n. A name signifying white
men, given by the Portuguese to the white
negroes of Africa. The color of this race
appears like that of persons affected with
leprosy ; and the negroes look upon them
as monsters. Encyc.
AL'BION, n. An ancient name of England,
still used in poetry. It is supposed this
name was given to it on account of its
white cliffs.
ALBO'RA, n. A sort of itch or rather lep
rosy, terminating without ulceration, but
with fetid evacuations in the mouth and
nostrils. Qutnei/.
ALBO'RO, n. The erythrinus, a small red
fisb of the Mediterranean.
Diet. of. Vat. Hist.
A L C
ALBUgIN'EOUS, a. [L. albugo, the white
spot in the eye, from albus white.]
Pertaijiing to or resembling the wliite of the
eye, or of an egg. Encyc.
Mbugineous humor, the aqueous humor ofthe
eye. Encyc. ^uincy.
ALBU'GO, n. The white speck in the eye,
called the fihn, haw, dragon, pearl or
cicatrice. Also a disease ofthe eye, occa-
sioned by a white opake spot growing on
the cornea and obstructing vision. It is
called also leucoma, nebula, pannus oculi,
onyx, unguis, &c. Quincy. Encyc.
ALBU'LA, n. A species of truttaceous fish,
destitute of teeth. The Albula Indica is
called by the Dutch wit-fish, and is ofthe
size of a herring. The Albula nobilis is a
fish caught in the lakes of Germany.
Did. o/JVdf. Hist.
AL'BUM, n. [L. albus, white.]
1. Among the Romans, a white table, board
or register, on which the names of public
officers and pubUc transactions were en-
tered. Lat. Did.
2. A book, originally blank, in which for-
eigners or strangers insert autographs of
celebrated persons, or in which friends in-
sert pieces as memorials for each other.
ALBU'MEN, n. [L. from albus, white.]
The white of an egg. A like substance is a
hief con.stituent in all animal solids. Ure.
ALBU'MINOUS, a. Pertaining to, or hav-
ing tlie properties of albumen.
AL'BURN, ? 71. [L. alburnum, from albus,
ALBURNUM, S white.] .
The white and softer part of wood, between
the inner bark and the wood. In Amer-
ica, it is popularly called the sap. This is
annually acquiring hardness, and becom-
ing wood. Milne.
AL'BURN, n. [L. albumus, from albus,
white.]
A fish called the bleak. It belongs to the
order of abdominals, and the genus Cypri-
nus. It is five or six inches in length, and
esteemed delicious food. Artificial pearls
are made of its scales. Encyc.
AL'€AHEST, or AL'KAHEST, n. [Arabic]
A pretended universal dissolvent, or men-
struum. [See Alkahest.]
AL€A'le, a. Pertaining to Alcaeus, a Lyric
poet of Mitylene, in Lesbos, who flourished
about the forty-fourth Olym|)iad ; or to
other poets of the same name, of which
three are mentioned ; one an Athenian
tragic poet, and anotlier a Messenian.
AL€A'ICS, n. plu. Several kinds of verse,
so called from Alcfeus, their inventor. One
kind consists of five feet, a spondee or
iambic, an iambic, a long syllable and two
dactyls. Encyc.
AL€A'ID, n. [Sp. alcayde-; Port. alcaide; Ar.
Jv J li' kaidon, with the prefix al, from j I. ji
to lead, rule, govern. Hence the Cadi of
the Turks.]
Among the Moors, Spaniards and Portu-
guese, a governor. In Portugal, the chief
civil magistrate of a town or city ; also the
jurisdiction of certain judges of appeal.
In Spain, the governor of a castle or fort :
also a jailer. Span, and Port. Diet.
AL€AN'NA, n. [Arabic] A plant ; and a
powder, prepared from the leaves of the
A L C
Egyptian privet, used by the Turkish fe-
males to give a golden color to tlie nails
and hair. Infused in water, it forms a
yellow color ; with vinegar, it forms a red.
From the hemes is extracted an oil, used
in medicine. In Cairo, it forms an article
ofconmierce. Encyc. Theophrast.
AL'CATRAZ, n. The Spanish name of tlie
Pelecanus Onocrotalus of Linne ; a peU-
can ; also a fish taken on the coast of
India. Span. Did.
ALCAV'ALA, n. In Spain, a tax on every
transfer of property, real or personal.
Encyc.
ALCE'DO, n. [L.]
The king fisher ; a genus of birds, of the
order of Picae. The species are numerous.
They usually live about rivers, feeding on
fish, which they take by darting into the
water with surprising velocity. [See Hal-
cyon.
ALCHIM'le, \ a. Relating to alchimy,
AL€lIIM'l€AL, i or produced by it.
ALeHIM'l€ALLY, adv. In the manner of
alchimv.
AL'CHIMIST, n. One who practices al-
chimy.
ALCHIMIST'Ie, la. Practicing alchi-
ALCHIMIST'ICAL, S my, or relating to
it. Bxirke, Rev.
AL'€HIMY, n. [It. alchimia; Ar. al, the,
and Ia.«.a.S5 kimia, secret, hidden, or
the occult art, from ^ ^^^^^kamai. to
hide. See Chimistry.]
1. The more sublime and difficult parts of
chimistry, and chiefly such as relate to the
transmutation ofmetals into gold, the find-
ing a universal remedy for diseases, and an
alkahest or universal solvent, and other
things now treated as ridiculous. This
pretended science was much cultivated in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
but is now held in contempt.
2. Formerly, a mixed metal used for uten-
sils.
.4L€MA'NIAN, a. Pertaining to Alcman, a
lyric poet of the twenty-seventh Olym-
piad, celebrated for his amorous verses.
The Alcmanian verse consisted of two dac-
tyls and two trochees. Encyc.
AL'CO, n. A quadruped of America, nearly
resembhng a dog, but mute and melan-
choly ; and this circumstance seems to
have given rise to the fable that dogs, trans-
ported to America, become mute. The
animal was used for food by the native
Americans, and the first Spanish settlers ;
but it is said to be now extinct. It is
known also by the name of Techichi.
Clavigero.
ALCOHOL, «. [Ar. J..=:v^5 kahala; Heb.
Syr. and Eth. Snj, to paint with a prepa-
ration of powder of antimony. The oi-i-
ental females still practice the painting of
the eye brows with this material. The
name was appHed to this substance, and
afterwards to other fine powders, and to
highly rectified spirits.]
Pure or highly rectified spirit, obtained from
fermented liquors by distillation. It con-
A L D
sisis of liydrogen, carbon and n\yj;ei
it is extremely light and inflammable, an
a powerlul stimulant and antiseptic. This
is the usual sense of the word ; but ori-
ginally, in Arabic, it signified a fine impal-
pable powder, in which sense it is still
used. Enajc.
»\LCOHOL'I€, o. Pertaining to alcohol, or
partaking of its qualities. Med. Rep.
ALCOHOLIZATION, n. The act of
fying spirit, till it is wholly dephlegniated?;
or of reducuig a substance to an impalpa-
ble powder.
AL'€OHOLIZE, V. t. To convert into alco-
hol; to rectify spirit till it is wholly de-
plilegmated ; also, to reduce a substance
to an impalpable powder.
.\L'€OR, 11. [Ar.] A small star adjoining
to the large bright one in the middle of the
tail of Ursa Major. Encyc.
ALCORAN. [See Korun and Alkoran.]
\L'€OVE or ALCO'VE, n. [Sp. alcoba,
composed of o/, with the Ar. t^S kabba,
to arch, to construct with an arch, and its
derivatives, an arch, a round Jfcuse ; Eng.
cubby.]
I. A recess, or part of a room, separated by
an estrade, or partition of columns, or by
other corresponding ornaments ; in which
is placed a bed of state, and sometimes
seats for company. The bed is sometime
raised two or three steps, with a rail at the
foot. These are frequent in Spain.
Encyc.
ii. A recess in a library, or small lateral
apartment for books.
AL'CYON, n. A trivia' name of the king-
fisher. [See Halcyon.]
AL'CYONITE, n. [Supra.]
A fossil zoophite, somewhat resembling a
fungus. J. of Science
ALCYO'NIUM, n. The name of a subma
ruie plant, or bastard spunge. Also a kind
ALE
tioii. In general, aldermen have the pow-
ers of a justice of the peace, and, with the
mayor, they constitute the court of the
corporation. In most of our cities, they
are annually elected by the citizens.
\L'DERMANLY, o. Pertaining to or like
an alderman. . Simft.
AL'DERN, a. Made of Alder.
ALE, n. [Sax. eala, tale, or aloth ; G. al ;
Sw. Ol ; Dan. til ; Ir. ol. Q,u. Ir. olam, to
drink.]
1. A liquor made from an infusion of malt by
fermentation. It ditters from beer, in
having a smaller proportion of hops. It
is of different sorts, chiefly pale and broimi ;
the first made from malt slightly dried :
the second, from malt more considerably
dried or roasted. Ale was the common
drink of the ancient inhabitants of Evn-ope.
It is usually made with barley ; but some-
times with"wheat, rye, millet, oats, &c.
a fo!
sil foimd in Eng-
Encyc.
Fr. aune, aulne ;
of astroit or
land.
\L'DER, n. [L.alnus;
■ Sax. «?)■.]
\ tree, usually growing in moist land, and
belonging to the genus Alnus. The name
is applied also to some species of other
genera.
ALD'ERMAN, n. phi. Aldermen. [Sax. aid
or eald, old, comp, aider, older, and man ;
G. alt ; D. oud.]
I . Among our Saxon Ancestors, a senior or
superior. The title was applied to princes,
dukes, earls, senators and presiduig magis-
trates ; also to archbishops and bishops,
implying superior wisdom or authority.
Thus, Ethelstan, duke of the East-Angh-
ans, was called alderman of all England ;
and there were aldeniien of cities, coun
ties, and castles, who had jurisdiction
within their respective districts,
i>. In present usage, a magistrate or oflicer ofl
a town coi-porate, next in rank?below the
mayor. The number of aldermen is differ
ent in different cities. In London the
niunber is twenty-six, one in each ward,
and the office is held for life.
Spelman. Cowel. Encyc.
In the United Slates, the number of alder
men depends on the charters of iucorpnra
Q. A merry meeting in EngUsh coimtry ]>\a
ces, so called from the liquor drank.
Ben Jonson
Medicated Ales are those which are preparecll
for medicinal purposes, by an infusion of
herbs during fermentation. Encyc.
.\'LE-BENCH, n. A bench in or before an
ale house. Homilies.
A'LE-BERRY, n. A beverage, made by
boiling ale with spice, sugar and sops of
bread. Jolmson.
A'LE-BREWER, n. One whose occupation
is to brew ale.
A'LE-€ONNER, n. [ale and con, to kiiow
see.]
An officer in London, whose busuiess
inspect the measures used in public houses,
to j)revent frauds hi selluig liquors. Four
of these are chosen annually by the livery
men, in common hall, on midsummer's
day. Ad of Pari.
A'LE-€OST, n. Costmary, a plant, a spe-
cies of Tanacetum.
A'LE-FED, a. Fed with ale. Stafford.
A'LE-GAR, )i. [ale, and Fr. aigre, sour.]
Sour ale ; the acid of ale.
A'LE-HOOF, n. [D. eiloof, a plant used
brewing.]
Ground-ivy, the glechoma hederacea, of
Linne. "The leaves of this plant are used
to clarify and give flavor to ale.
Lee. Encyc.
A'LE-HOUSE, n. A house where ale is re-
tailed ; and hence a tijiling house.
A'LE-HOUSE-KEEPER, n. One who
keeps an ale-house.
A'LE-KNIGHT, n. A pot coinpani(
Chaucer.
A'LE-SHOT, (1. A reckoning to be paid lor
ale.
A'LE-SILVER, n. A duty paid to the Lord
Mayor of London, by the sellers of ale
within the city.
A'LE-STAKE, n. A stake set as a sign be-
fore an ale-house. Chaucer.
A'LE-TASTER, n. An officer apiwinted in
every court leet, and sworn, to inspect ale,
beer and bread, and examine the quality
and quantity within the precincts of the
lordship. Cowel.
A'LE-VAT, n. A vat in which ale is fer-
mented.
ALE
V'LE-WASHED, a. Steeped or soaked in
ale. Shak.
A'LE-WIFE, )i. A woman who keeps an
ale house.
A'LEWIFE, or A'LOOF, n. [This word is
properly aloof, the Indian name of a fish.
See Winthrop on the culture of maiz iu
America, Phil. Trans. No. 142. p. 1065.
and Baddam's Memoirs, vol. 2. 131.]
An American fish, belonging to the genus
Clupea, and called Clupea Serrata. It
resembles the herring. The estabhshed
pronunciation is alewifc, plu. alewives.
ALE€TRYOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. ax^xifvuv, a
cock, and fiavreta, divination.]
An ancient practice of foretelling events by
means of a cock. The twenty four letters
were laid on the ground, and a grain of
corn on each ; a cock was then permitted
to pick up the grains, and the letters under
the grains selected, being formed into
words, were supposed to foretel the event
desired. Encyc.
ALEE', adv. [a or at and lee. See Lee.]
In seaman's language, on the side opposite
to the wind, that is, opposite to the side on
which it strikes. The helm of a ship is
alee, when pressed close to the lee side.
Hard alee or luff alee, is an order to put the
helm to the lee side.
Helm's alee, that is, the helm is alee, a notice
given as an order to the seamen to cause
the head-sails to shake in the wind, with
a view to bring the ship about. Mar. Diet.
A'LEgER, a. [Fr., Sp. aUgre ; L. alacer.]
Gay ; chcerfid ; sprightly. [JVot used.]
Bacon.
ALEGGE, v. t. To lighten ; to lessen ; lo
assuage. [JVot used.]
ALEMB'DAR, n. In Turkey, an officer who
bears the green standard of Mohammed,
when the Sultan appears in public.
Encyc.
rVLEM'BIC, ji. [Ar. ul and^xil or
so? " ..
XX j< a chimical vessel.]
A chimical vessel used in distillation ; usually
made of glass or copper. The bottom
part containing the liquor to be distilled, is
called the cucurbit ; the upper part which
receives and condenses the steam, is called
the head, the beak of which is fitted to the
neck of a receiver. The head is more
properly the alembic. This vessel is not.
so generally used now, as the worm still
and retort.
ALENGTH', adv. [a and length.]
At full length ; along ; stretched at fidl length.
Chaucer.
ALEP'IDOTE, n. [Gr. a priv. and Afrtis,
a scale]
Any fish whose skin is not covered with
scales.
ALERT', a. [Fr. alerte ; Sp. oleHo, vigilant,
watchful, estar aleria, to be on the watch.]
1. Watchful ; vigilant ; active in vigilance.
Hence the miUtary phrase, upon the alert,
upon the watch, guarding against siu--
prise or danger.
2. Brisk ; nimble ; moving with celerity.
S})ectator-
ALERT'NESS, n. Briskness; nhnbleness;
sprightUncss ; levity. Addison-
A L G
A L I
A L
ALEUROiAI'ANCY, n. [Gr. a^vpor, meal,
and liavriia, divination.]
A kind of divination by meal, used by the
ancients. Encyc.
ALEU'TIAN, or ALEU'TI€, a. Designating
certain isles in tlie Pacific ocean, eastward
of Kamtschatka, extending northeastward
towards America. The word is formed
from aleui, which, in Russian, is a bald
rock. Tooke. Pinkerton.
ALEX^ANDERS, n. The name of a plant
of the genus Smyrniuin. Muhlenberg.
ALEX' ANDER'S" FOOT, n. The name of a
plant.
ALEX' ANDRIAN, n. Pertaining to Ale.xan-
dria. There are many cities of this name,
in various parts of the earth. The term
is often applied as an attribute, or used as
a noun, for one who professed or taught
the sciences in the school of Alexatidria,
in Egypt ; a place highly celebrated for its
literature and magnificence, and whose
library, it is said, consisted of 700,000
volumes. The Persians and Turks write
for Alexander, Scander, or Sconder ; and
for Alexandria, Scanderona ; hence Scan-
deroon, a sea port in Syria.
ALEX ANDRINE, or ALEXANDRLVN,
n. A kind of verse, consisting of tweh t
syllables, or of twelve and thirteen alter
nately ; so called from a poem written ii
French on the Ufe of Alexander. Thi;
species of verse is pecuhar to modern
poeti7, but well adapted to epic poems.
The Alexandrine in English consists of
twelve syllables, and is less used than this
kind of verse is among the French, whose
tragedies are generally composed of Alex-
andruies. Pope. Dryden.
ALEXIPH'ARMI€, a. [Gr. o.'Ki%^, to expel,
and ^Kip/jaxof, poison.]
Expelling poison ; antidotal ; sudorific ; that
has the quality of expelling poison or uifec
tion bv sweat.
ALEXi'PH'ARMie, n. A medicine that i:
intended to obviate the effects of poison ;
an antidote to poison or infection. By tli
Greeks, the word was used for an amulet.
Quincy. Encyc.
ALEXITER'le, ? a. [Gr. aXf|J, to expel,
ALEXITE'RLAL, \ and brp.r,iv,i,iov, po
son.]
Resisting poison ; obviating the efllects of
venom. Qiiincy. Encyc.
ALEXlTER'Ie, \ n. A medicine to re-
ALEXITER'I€AL, \ sist the effects of
poison, or the bite of venomous animals ;
nearly synonymous with akxtpham
Used also by the Greeks for an amulet,
AL'GAROT, or AL'GAROTH, n. The
name of an emetic powder, prepared
from the regulus of antimony, dissolved
in acids, and separated by repeated lotion;
in waim water. It is either an Arabic
term, or the name of the inventor, a phy-
sician of Verona. Qittnci/. Encyc.
AL'GEBRA, n. [Ar. al and
the re
duction of parts to a whole, or fractions to
whole numbers, from the verb, which sig-
nifies to consolidate ; Heb. Ch. Syr. aiid
Eth.l2J, to be strong.]
The science of quantity in general, or imi
versal arithmetic. Algebra is a general
ijiethod of computation, in which signs and
sjniibuls, which are commonly tiic letters
of the al])habet, are made to represent
numbers and quantities. It takes an un-
known quantity souglit, as if granted ;
and, by means of one or more quantities
given, proceeds till the quantity supposed
is discovered, by some other known quan-
tity to which it is equal.
This science was of Oriental discovery ; but
vhether among the Arabians or Indians,
s uncertain.
ALgEBRA'I€, }a. Pertaining to alge-
ALgEBRA'I€AL, I bra ; containing an
operation of Algebra, or deduced from
such operation.
Algebraic curve, a figure whose intercepted
diameters bear always the same propor-
tion to their respective ordinates. Bailey.
ALgEBRA'IST, n. One who is versed in
tlie science of algebra.
AL'gENEB, n. A fixed star of the second
magnitude, in the right side of Perseus
Long. 27° 40' 12" of Taurus ; Lat. 30° 05'
28" North. Encyc.
AL6ERiNE', n. [from Algiers.] A native of]
Algiers, a city and a govermnent on the
coast of Africa.
ALgER'iNE', a. Belonging to Algiers.
AL'GID, a. [\.. algidus.] Cold. [.Votused.^
AL'GOL, n. A fixed star of the third mag-
nitude, called Medusa's head, in Perseus ;
Long. 21° 50' 42" of Taurus ; Lat. 23° 23'
47" North. Encyc.
AL'GOR, n. [Lat.] Among physicians, an
luiusual coldness in any p^rt of the body.
ALGORITHM, or AL'GORISM, n. An
Arabic term, signifying numerical com-
putation, or the six operations of arith-
metic. Johnson. Encyc.
AL'GOUS, a. [L. alga, sea weed.]
Pertaining to sea weed ; aboimding with, or
like sea weed.
ALHEN'NA, n. [See Alkenna.]
A'LIAS, [L.] Otherwise ; as in this exam-
ple, Simson alias Smith ; a word used in
judicial proceedings to connect the diffc
ent names by which a person is called,
who attempts to conceal his true name
and pass under a fictitious one.
A'LIAS, 7!. A .second writ, or execution,
issued when the first has failed to enforce
the judgment.
AL'IBI, n. [L.] Elsewhere; in another
place ; a law term. When a person is
charged with an offense, and lie proves
that he could not have committed it, be
cause he was, at the time, in another place
he is said to prove an alibi. The part of
a plea or allegation, which avers the party
to have been in another place, is als(
called an alibi.
A'LIEN, a. dlyen, [L. alienns, from al!ii.i
another ; Ir. aile, eile, oile, another ; W
all, other, and ail, second ; Arm. eel, all,
eguile ; Corn, gele ; Gr. aJ-Ao;. Hence, L.
alieno, to alienate ; cdter, another ; whence
Fr. alterer, to alter ; L. altemo, to alter, to
alternate, and alterco, altercor, to altercate
Eth. t\Cih kalea, to alter, to change
whence alius, another, the second ; the
first letter being lost, except in the Cor
nish and Armoric, as it is in all. See
Class Gl. No. 36, and Ludolf, 387.]
. Foreign ; not belonging to the same coun-
try, land or government.
2. Belonging to one who is not a citizen.
3. Estranged ; foreign ; not allied ; adverse
to ; as, principles alien from our rehgion,
A'LIEN, n.d/7/c»i. A foreigner; one born in,
or belonging to, another country ; one
who is not a denizen, or entitled" to the
privileges of a citizen.
2. In scripture, one who is a stranger to the
church of Christ, or to the covenant of
grace.
At that time, ye were without Christ, be-
ing aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.
Eph. ii.
In France, a child born of residents who are
not citizens, is an alien. In Great Britain,
the children of aliens born in that coun-
try, are mostly natural bom subjects ; and
the childi'en of British subjects, owing al-
legiance to the crown of England, though
born in other countries, are natural sub-
jects, and entitled to the privileges of resi-
dent citizens. Blackstone.
Alien-duty, a tax upon goods imported by
aliens, beyond the duty on the liice goods
imported by citizens ; a discruninating
duty on the tonnage of ships belonging to
aUens, or any extra duties imposed by laws
or edicts on ahens.
A'LIEN, I . r, ,. T
ALIE'NE, \ "■ '• fL- "heno.]
1. To transfer title or property to another :
to sell.
Nor could he aliene the estate, even willi
the consent of the Lord. Blackstone.
2. To estrange ; to make averse or indiffer-
ent ; to turn the affections from.
The prhice was aliened from all thoughts of
the marriage. Clarendon.
In this sense, it is more common to use
ilienate. '
ALIENABIL'ITY,n. The capacity of beuig
alienated or transferred.
The alienability of the domain. Burke.
A'LIENABLE, a. That may be sold, or
transferred to another ; as, land is alien-
able according to the laws of the State.
A'LIENAgE, n. The state of being an aUen.
Why restore e.states, forfeitable on account of
alienage ? Stori/.
A'LIENATE, v. i. [L. alieno.]
1. To transfer title, property or right to
another ; as, to alienate lands, or sove-
reignty.
2. To estrange; to withdraw, as the affec-
tions ; to make indifferent or averse, where
love or friendship before subsisted ; with
from ; as, to alienate the heart or afiec-
tions ; to alienate a man from the friends
of his youth.
3. To apply to a WTong use.
niey shall not alienate the fir.st fruits of the
land. Ezek. xlviii.
A'LIENATE, a. [L. alienatus.]
Estranged ; withdrawn from ; stranger to ;
with/rmn.
O alienate from God, O spirit accurst.
Milton.
The whigs were alienate from truth. Swijt.
ALIENA'TION, n. [L. alienatio.^
1. A transfer of title ; or a legal conveyance
of property to another.
2. The state of being alienated.
3. A withdiawing or estrangement, as of
the heart or affections.
4. Delirium ; derangement of mental facul-
ties ; insgnitv. Hooker,
A L
A L K
A L K
Alienation-office, in Great-Britain, is an of-
fice to which all writs of covenant and en-
try, on wliich fines are levied and recove-
ries suffered, are carried, to have fines for
alienation set and paid thereon. Encyc.
A'LIENATOR, n. One that ahenates or
transfers property. JVarton.
ALIENEE', n. One to whom the title to
property is transferred.
If the aVuncc enters and keeps possession.
Blackstone.
ALI'FE, adv. {a or on and lift.']
On my life. Shak.
ALIF'EROUS, a. [L. ala, whig, and fero,
to bear.]
Having wings.
AL'IFORM, a. [L. ala, ^ving, and forma,
sliapc.]
Having the shape of a wing ; a term applied
to a certain process and muscles of the
body, as the pterygoid process, and the
muscles arismg from that pi-ocess.
ALIG'EROUS, a. [L. ala wing, and gero, to
carry.]
Having wings.
ALI'GHT, V. i. [Sax. alihtan, gelihtan. Uh-
lan. See Light]
1. To get down or descend, as from on
horseback or from a carriage.
2. To descend and settle ; as, a flying bird
alights on a tree.
3. To fall or descend and lodge ; as, snow
alights on a roof.
ALI'KE, a. [Sax. gelic. See Like.]
Having resemblance or similitude ; similar.
The darkness and the light are both alike to
thee. Ps. xiii.
[This adjective never precedes the noun which
it qualifes.]
ALI'KE, adv. In the same manner, form or
degree.
We are all alike concerned in religion.
He fashioneth their hearts alike. Ps. xxxiii
ALI'KE-MINDED, a. Having the same
mind ; but like-minded is more generally
used.
AL'IMENT, n. [L. alimentum, from alo, to
feed ; Ir. alaim, ailim, olaim, to feed or
That which nourishes ; food ; nutriment ;
any thmg which feeds or adds to a sub
stance, animal or vegetable, in natural
srowth.
ALFMENT'AL, a. Supplying food ; that
has the quaUty of nourishing ; that fur-
nishes the materials for natural growth
as, chyle is alimental ; alimental sap.
ALIMENT'ALLY, adv. So as to serve for
nourishment or food.
ALIMENT' ARINESS, n. The quality of|
supi)lying nutrmient.
ALIMENT' ARY, a. Pertaining to aliment
or food ; having the quahty of nourishing
as, alimentary particles.
The alimentary canal, in animal bodies, is
the great duct or intestuie, by which ah
ments are conveyed through the body, and
the useless parts evacuated.
Alimentary law, among the Romans, was
law which obliged children to support
their parents. Encyc.
Ohligation of aliment, in Scots law, is the
natural obligation of parents to ])rovide
for their children. Encyi
ALIMENTA'TION, n. The act or power
of affording nutriment.
2. The state of being nourished.
Johnson. Bacon.
ALIMO'NIOUS, a. [See Alimony.]
Nourishing ; affording food. [lAttle used.]
AL'IMONY, n. [L. alimonia, of alo, to feed.
See Aliment.]
An allowance made for the support of a
woman, legally separated from her hus-
band. The sum is fixed by the proper
judge, and granted out of the husband's
estate. Blackstone.
AL'IPED, «. [L. ala, wing, and pes, foot.]
Wing-footed ; having the toes connected by
a membrane, which serves as a wing.
AL'IPED, n. [Supra.]
An animal whose toes are connected by a
membrane, and which thus sei-ve for
wings ; a cheiropter ; as, the bat.
Dumeril.
AL'IQUANT, a. [L. aliquantum, a little.]
In arithmetic, an ahquant number or part
that which does not measure another
number without a remainder. Thus 5
an aliquant part of 16, for 3 times 5 is 15,
leaving a remainder 1.
ALIQUOT, a. [L.]
An aliquot part of a number or quantity
one which will measure it without a r
mainder. Thus 5 is the aliquot part of 15.
\'LISH, a. [From ale.]
Like ale; having the quaUties of ale.
Mortimer.
ALI'VE, a. [Sax. gelifian, to Uve, from li
fan, to live. See Life.]
1. Having Ufe, in opposition to dead ; living ;
being in a state in which the organs per
form their functions, and the fluids move
whether in animals or vegetables ; as, the
man or plant is alive.
2. In a state of action ; unextinguished ; uii
destroyed ; unexpu-ed ; in force or opera
tion ; as, keep the process alive.
3. Cheerfld ; sprightly ; Hvely ; full of alac
ity ; as, the company were aU alive.
4. Susceptible ; easily impressed ; having
lively feeUngs, as when the mind is solici
tons about some event ; as, one is alive to
whatever is mterestlng to a friend.
Exhibiting motion or moving bodies ir
great numbers.
The city was all alive, when the General en
tered.
6. In o scriptural sense, regenerated ; born
again.
For this my sou was dead and is alive. J
[TViis adjective always follows the noun which
it qualifies.]
AL'KAHEST, n. [Arab.]
A universal dissolvent ; a menstruum capa-
ble of dissolving every body, which Para-
celsus and Van Helmont pretended they
possessed. This pretense no longer '
poses on the creduUty of any man.
The word is sometimes used for fixed salts
volatilized. Encyc.
ALKALES'CENCY, n. [See Alkali.]
A tendency to become alkahne ; or a ten
dency to the properties of an alkah ; oi
the state of a substance in which alkahne
properties begin to he developed, or to be
inedominant. Ure.
ALKALES'CENT, a. Tending to the pro-
perties of an alkali ; slightly alkaline.
AL'KALI, n. plu. Alkahes. [Ar. ^jXi" ka-
li, with the common prefix, tlie plant call-
ed glass wort, from its use in the manu-
facture of glass ; or the ashes of the plant,
which seems to be its prunitive sense, for
the verb signifies to fry.]
In chimistry, a term applied to all bodies
which possess the following properties :
1. a caustic taste ; 2. volatiUzable by
heat ; 3. capability of combining with
acids, and of destroying their acidity ; 4.
solubility in water, even when combined
vnth carbonic acid ; 5. capability of con-
verting vegetable blues to green.
Thomson.
The term was formerly confined to three
substances : 1. potash or vegetable fixed
alkah, generally obtained from the ashes
of wood ; 2. soda or mineral fixed alka-
h, wliich is found in the earth and procu-
red from marine plants ; and 3. ammo-
nia or volatile alkali, an animal product.
Modern chimistry has discovered many new
substances to which the term is now ex-
tended.
The alkahes were formerly considered as
elementary substances; but it is now as-
certainetl that they are all compounds.
The alkahes are used in the manufacture of
glass and soap, in bleaching and in medi-
AL'KALIFY, v. t. To form, or to convert
into an alkali.
AL'KALIFY, v. i. To become an alkali.
ALKALIG'ENOUS, a. [Alkali, and yivvau,,
to generate.]
Producing or generating alkali.
ALKALIM'ETER, n. [Alkali and Gr. ^£-
■fpoi/, measure.]
An instrument for ascertaining the strength
of alkalies, or the quantity of alkah in pot-
ash and soda. Ure.
AL'KALINE, a. Having the properties of
alkali.
The quahty which coii-
Thomson.
Alkaline ; impregnated
Boyle. JVewton.
n. The act of render-
ing alkahne by impregnating with an al-
kali.
AL'KALIZE, V. t. [and formerly Alkali-
zate.]
To make alkaline ; to conununicate the pro-
perties of an alkali to, by mixture.
AL'KANET, n. The plant bugloss. The
root is used to unpart a deep red color to
oily substances, ointments, plasters, &c.
Encyc.
ALKEKEN'GI, n. The winter cherry,' a
species of physalis. The plant bears a
near resemblance to solanuiii, or night-
shade. The berry is medicinal.
Chambers.
ALKEN'NA, or ALHEN'NA, n. Egyptian
privet, a species of Lawsonia. The pulveri-
zed leaves of this plant are much used by
the eastern nations for staining their nails
yellow. The powder, being wet, forms a
paste, which is bound on the nails for a
night, and the color thus given will last
several weeks. Enq/c.
ALKALINITY, n.
stitutes an alkali.
AL'KALIZATE, a.
with alkah. Obs.
ALKALIZA'TION,
ALL
ALL
A L L
ALKERM'ES, n. [Arab. See Kennes.]
In pharmacy, a compound cordial, in the
form of a confection, derived from the
kermes berries. Its other ingredients are
said to be pippin-cider, rose water, sugar,
ambergris, nmsk, cinnamon, aloes-wood,
pearls, and leaf-gold.
Quincy. Chambers. Enajc.
ALKER'VA, n. An Arabic name of tlie
Palma Cbristi. Quincy.
AL'KORAN, n. [Arab, al, the, and koran,
book. The book by way of eminence, as
we say the Bible. See Koran. It is pro-
nounced, I beUeve, by orientalists, alko-
raivn.]
The book wliich contains the Mohammedan
doctrines of faith and practice. It was
written by Mohammed, in the dialect of
the Korcish, whicli is the purest Arabic ;
but the Arabian language has suffered
such changes, since it was written, that
the language of the Alkoran is not now in-
telligible to the Arabians themselves, with-
out being learnt like other dead languages.
JViebukr. Encyc.
AL'KORANIST, n. One who adheres
strictly to the letter of the Alkoran, re-
jecting all comments. The Persians are
generally AUtoranists ; the Turks, Arabs,
and Tartars admit a multitude of tradi-
tions.
ALKUS'SA, n. A fish of the Silurus kind,
with one beard only under the chin.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
ALL, a. awl. [Sax. eal ; Dan. al; G. all;
Sw. all.; W. oil or hall ; Ann. oil ; h:
■uile ; Gr. oXo; ; Shemitic Sj, from rhj
ealah, to be ended or completed, to pc
feet. The Welsh retains the first radic
letter. This is radically the same word as
heal ; for in Sw. hel, and in Dan. hele, signi-
fy all, and these words are from the root of
heal. See Call, Heal and Whole.]
1. Eveiy one, or the whole number of par-
tictilars.
'■I. The whole quantity, extent, duration,
amount, quality, or degree ; as, all the
wheat ; all the land ; all the year ; all the
strength. This word signifies then, the
whole or entire thing, or all the parts or
)iarticulars which compose it. It alway;
precedes the definitive adjectives, the, my,
Ihy, hi.f, our, your, their ; as, all the cattle ;
all my liibor ; all thy goods ; all his wealth ;
nil oiii- families ; all your citizens ; all their
prn,.(.rty.
This word, not only in popular language,
but in the scriptures, often signifies, indef-
initely, a large portion or number, or a
great part. Thus, all the cattle in Egypt
died ; all Judea and all the region round
about Jordan ; all men held John as a
prophet ; are not to be understood in a
literal sense, but as including a large part
or very great numbers.
This word is prefixed to many oth
words, to enlarge their signification ; as
already, always, all-prevailing.
ALL, adv. Wholly ; completely ; entirely ;
as all along ; aU bedewed ; all over ; my
friend is all for amusement ; I love my
father all. In the ancient phrases, all too
dear, all so long, this word retains its ap-
pro])riate sense ; as, " he thought them six-
pence all too dear," that is, he thought
Vol. I.
them too dear by the sum of sixpence,
In tlie sense a( although, as "all were it as
the rest," and in the sense ot just, or at tht
moment, as "oH as his straying flock he
fed," it is obsolete, or restricted to poetry,
It is all one is a phrase equivalent to the same
thing in effect ; that is, it is wholly the same
thing.
All the better is equivalent to wholly the bet-
ter; that is, better by the whole difierence.
ALL, n. The whole number; as, aH hav
not the .same disposition ; that is, all men.
2. The whole ; the entire thing ; the aggre-
gate amount ; as, our all is at stake.
And Laban said, all tliat thou seest is mine.
Gen. xxxi.
This adjective is much used as a noun, and
applied to persons or things. ]
Ml in all is a phrase which signifies, alii
tlrings to a person, or every thuig desked.j
Thou shall be all in all, and I in thee, |
Forever. Milton:
When the words, and all, close an enumera-j
tion of particulars, the word all is either
intensive, or is added as a general term to
express what is not enumerated ; as, a tree
fell, nest, eagles and all. L'Estrange]
At all is a phrase much used by way of en-
forcement or emphasis, usually in negative!
or interrogative sentences. He has no]
ambition at all ; that is, not in the least de-'
gree. Has he any property a< a/i? j
fill and some, in Spenser, Mason interprets,!
one and all. But from Lye's Saxon Die-,
tionary, it appears that the phrase is a|
corruption of the Sax. emlle cet somne, all
together, all at once, from somne, togeth-j
er, at once. See Lye under Somne. |
All in the wind, in seamen's language, is ai
phrase denoting that the sails are parallel^
with the course of the wind, so as to|
shake. Mar. Dict.i
All is well is a watchman's phrase, express-
ing a state of safety. |
I, in composition, enlarges the meaning, or
adds force to a word ; and it is generally
more emphatical than most. In some in-
stances, all is incorporated into words, as
in almighty, already, ahvays ; but in most'
instances, it is an adjective prefixed to
other words, but separated by a hyphen.
ALL-ABAN'DONED, a. Abandoned bv all.
Sk'elton.
ALL-ABHORRED, a. Detested by all.
Shah.
ALL-A€€OM'PLISHED, a. Fully accom-
plished ; whose education is highly finish-
ed or complete.
ALL-ADMI'RING, a. WTioUy admiring.
Shak.
ALL-ADVI'SED, a. Advised by all.
Tf'arburton.
ALL-APPROVED, a. Approved by all.
More.
ALL-ATO'NING, a. Atoning for all ; ma-
king complete atonement. Dryden.
ALL-BEA'RING, a. Producing every thing :
omniparous. Marston.
ALL-BEAU'TEOUS, a. Perfectly beautiful.
Pope.
ALL-BEHOLDING, a. Beholding or see-
ing all things. Drayton.
ALL-BLASTING, a. Blasting all ; defam-
I ing or destroying all. Marston.
7
ALL-BOUN'TEOUS, ? Perfectly bouuu
ALL-BOUN'TIFUL, i; "• ful ; of infinite
boimty.
ALL-CHA'NuING, a. Perpetually chang-
ing- Shak.
ALL-CHEE'RING, a. That cheers all ; that
gives gavetv or cheerfulness to all. Shak.
ALL-€0MM"ANDING, a. Having com-
mand or sovereignty over all. Raleigh.
ALL-COMPLYING, a. Complying in ev-
ery respect. More.
ALL-eOMPO'SING, a. That makes all
tranquil or peaceful. Crashaw.
ALL-€OMPREHEN'SIVE, a. Compre-
hending all things. GlanvUte.
ALL-€ONCE'ALING, a. Hiding or conceal-
ing all. Spenser.
ALL-CONQUERING, a. That subdues
all. Milton.
ALL-CONSCIOUS, a. Conscious of all ;
all-knowing.
ALL-CONSTRAINING, a. Constraining
all. Drayton.
ALL-CONSU'MING, a. That consumes or
vours all. Pope.
ALL-DA'RING, a. Daring to attempt evei-y
thing. Jonson.
ALL-DESTROYING, a. Destroying every
thing. Fanshaw.
ALL-DEVASTATING, a. Wasting every
thing.
ALL-DEVOUR ING, a. Eating or consum-
ing all. Pope.
ALL-DIMMING, a. Obscuring every thing.
Marston.
ALL-DISCOV'ERING, a. Discovering or
disclosing every thmg. More.
ALL-DISGRACED, a. Completely disgra-
ced. Shak.
ALL-DISPENSING, a. Dispensing all
things ; affording dispensation or permis-
sion. Milton. Dryden.
ALL-DIVI'NE, a. Supremely excellent.
Hoicdl.
ALL-DIVI'NING, a. ForeteUing all thijigs.
Fanshaw.
ALL-DREADED, a. Dreaded by all.
Shak.
ALL-EFFI' CIENT, a. Of perfect or un-
limited efficacy or efficiency.
ALL-EL'OQUENT, a. Eloquent in the
highest degree. Pope.
ALL-EMBRA'CING, a. Embracing all
things. Crashaw.
ALL-ENDING, or. Puttiiic an end to all
things. " Shak.
ALL-ENLI'GHTENING, a. Enlightening
all things. Cotton.
ALL-ENRA'GED, a. Highly enraged. Hall.
ALL-FLA'MING, a. Flaming in all direc-
tions. Beaumont.
ALL-FOOL'S-DA\% n. The first of April.
ALL-FORGIVING, a. Forgiving or par-
doning all. Dniden.
ALL-FOURS, n. [all and/our.]
A game at cards, played by two or four per-
sons ; so called from the possession of^the
four honors, by one person, who is then
said to have all fours.
To go on all fours is to move or walk on
foin- legs, or on the two legs and two arms.
ALL-GIV'ER, n. The giver of all things.
Milton.
ALL-GOOD', a. Completely good. Dryden.
ALL-GQOD'. n. The popular name of thr
ALL
ALL
ALL
plant Good-Henry, or Englisli Mercury,
Chcnopodium bonus Henricus.
ALL-GRA'CIOUS, a. Perfectly gracious.
ALL-GUI'DING, a. Guiding or conducting
all things. Sandys.
ALL-HA'IL, ex. [all and Sax. heel, health.]
All health ; a phrase of salutation, express-
ing a wish of all health or safety to the
person addressed.
ALL-HALLOW, or ALL-HALLOWS, n.
All Saints day, the first of November ; a
feast dedicated to all the saints in general.
ALL-HALLOW-TIDE, n. [lid, in Sax., is
time.]
The time near All Saints, or November first.
ALL-HAP'Py, a. Completely happy.
ALL-HE'AL, 72. The popular name of sev-
eral plants.
ALL-HE'ALING, a. Healing all things.
Selden.
ALL-HELP'ING, a. Assisting all. Selden.
ALL-HI'DING, a. Concealing all things.
Shak.
ALL-HON'ORED, a. Honored by all.
Shak.
ALL-HURTING, a. Hurting all things
Shak.
ALL-I'DOLIZING, a. Worshiping any thing.
Crashnw.
ALL-IM'ITATING, a. Imitating every
thing. More.
ALL-INFORM'ING, a. Actuating all by
vital powers. Sandys.
ALL-IN'TERESTING, a. Interesting in
the lushest degree.
ALL-INTER'PRETING, a. Explaining all
things. Milton.
ALL-JUDG'ING, a. Judging all ; possessing
the sovereign right of judging. Roive.
ALL-JUST', a. Perfectly just.
ALL-KI'ND, a. Perfectly Icind or benevo-
lent.
ALL-KNO'WING, a. Having all knowl-
edge ; omniscient. Mlerbury.
ALL-LI'CENSED, a. Licensed to every
thing. Shak.
ALL-LOVING, a. Of infinite love. More.
ALL-MA'KING, a. Maldng or creating all
oninitic. Dn/den.
ALL-MATU'RING, a. Maturing all things.
Dryden.
ALL-MERCIFUL, a Of perfect mercy or
compassion.
ALL-MURDERING, a. Killing or destroy-
ing every thing. Fanshatv,
ALL-OBEDIENT, a. Entirely obedient.
Crashaw.
ALL-OBEYTNG, a. [See Obey.] Receiving
obedience from all. Shak.
ALL-OBLIV'IOUS, a. Causing total obliv-
ion. Shak.
ALL-OBSeU'RING, a. Obscuring every
thing. King.
ALL-PA'TIENT, a. Enduring every thing
witiiout nuiriuurs. Mitford.
ALL-PEN'ETRATING, a. Penetrating ev-
ery thing. Stafford.
,VLL-PER'FECT, a. Completely perfect;
having all perfection.
ALL-PER'FE€TNESS, n. The perfection
of the whole ; entire perfection. More
\LL-PIER'CING, a. Piercing every thing.
Marston.
ALL-POW'ERFUL, rt. Almighty ; omniiio
tent, Swijl.
ALL-PRAISED, a. Praised by all. Shak
ALL-RULING, a. Governing all things.
Milton.
ALL-SAGA'CIOUS, a. Having all sagacity ;
of perfect discei-nment.
ALL-SAINTS-DAY, n. The first day of
November, called also all hallows ; a feast
in honor of all the saints.
\LL-SAN€'TIFYING, a. Sanctifying the
whole. ff^est.
ALL-SA'VING, a. Saving all. Selden.
ALL-SEARCH'ING, a. Pervading and
seacbing every thing. South.
ALL-SEE'ING, a. Seeing every thing.
Dryden.
ALL-SEE'R, n. One that sees every thing.
Shak.
ALL-SHA'KING, fi. Shaking all things.
Shak.
ALL-SHUN'NED, a. Shmmed by all. Shak.
ALL-SOULS-DAY, »i. The second day of
November ; a feast or solenmity held by
the church of Rome, to supplicate for the
soids of the faithfijl deceased.
ALL'-SPICE, n. The berry of the pimento,
a tree of the West Indies ; a spice of a
mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aro-
matic.
ALL-SUFFI"CIENCY, 7i. Complete or in-
finite aliilitv. Hall.
ALL-SUFFI''CIENT, a. Sufiicient to every
thing ; inflnitelv able. Hooker.
ALL-SUFFI"CIENT, n. The all-sufficient
Being; God. Whitlock.
ALL-SURROUND'ING, a. Encompassing
the whole.
ALL-SURVEY'ING, n. [See Survey.] Sur-
veying every thing. Sandys.
ALL-SUSTA'INING, a. Upholding all
things. Beaumont.
ALL-TELL'ING, a. TelUng or divulging
every thing. Shak.
\LL-tRI'UMPHING, a. Triumphant eve-
ry where or over all. Jonson.
\LL-WaTCH'ED, a. Watched throughout,
Shak
ALL-WI'SE, a. Possessed of infinite wis-
dom. South.
ALL-WIT'TED, a. Having all kinds of wit
Jonson
ALL-WOR'SHIPED, a. Worshiped oi
adored by all. Milton
ALL-WOR'THY, a. Of infinite worth ; of
the highest worth.
AL'LAGITE, n. A mineral, of a brown or
green color, massive, with a flat conchoi-
dal fracture, and nearly opake, found in
the Ilartz near Elbingerode. Phillips.
AL'LANITE, n. A mineral named from
Mr. Allan, of Edinburgh, who first recog-
nized it as a distinct species. It is massive-
of a brownish black color, and conchoidal
fracture. A sUiceous oxyd of cerium.
Cleaveland. Jameson. Ure.
ALLANTOIS' or ALLANTOID', n. [Gr.
ax>.as, a sausage, and fiSo;, form.]
A thin membrane, situated between the cho-
rion and amnios in quadrupeds, and form-
ing one of the membranes which invest
the fetus in those animals. Ed. Encyc.
AL'LATRATE, v. t. [L. allatro.]
To bark, as a dog. [J^oi used.] Stubbes.
ALLA'Y, V. t. [Sax. alecgan, alegan, to lay.
to set, to depress, lecgan, to lay, to cast or
strike down ; G. legen, D. kggen, to lay
Gr. ^»;yu. The Fr. allier, to alloy, Sp.
ligar, seems to be directly from the L. ligo,
to bind ; but this may be the same word
difiereiuly applied, that is, to set, to fix,
to make fast, to unite. Allay and alloy
were formerly used indifierently ; but!
have recognized an entire distinction be-
tween them, applying alloy to metals.]
1. To make quiet; to pacify, or appease ;
as, to allay the tumult of the passions, or
to allay civil commotions.
2. To abate, mitigate, subdue or destroy ;
as, to allay grief or pain.
Females, who soften and allay the bitterness
of adversity. Rawle.
3. To obtund or repress as acrimony ; as, to'
allay the acrid qualities of a substance.
4. Formerly, to reduce the purity of ; as, to
allay metals. Birt, in this sense, alloy is
now exclusively used. [See Alloy.]
ALLA'Y, n. Formerly, a baser metal mixed
with a finer ; but in this sense it is now
written alloy, which see.
2. That which allays, or abates the predom-
inant qualities ; as, the allay of colors.
JVeictoit.
Also, abatement ; diminution by means
of some mixture ; as, joy without allay.
But alloy is now more generally used.
ALLA'YED, pp. Layed at rest ; quieted ;
tranqiulized ; abated ; [reduced by mixture.
Obs.]
ALLA'YER, n. He, or that, which allays.
ALLA'YING, ppr. Quieting ; reducing to
tranquilUty ; abating ; [reducing by mixt-
ure. Obs.]
ALLA'YMENT, n. The act of quieting, or
a state of tranquillity ; a state of rest after
disturbance ; abatement ; ease ; as, the
allayment of grief. Shak.
AL'LE, n. ally. The little auk, or black and
white diver.
ALLEC'TIVE, a. Alluring. [JYot used.]
Chaucer.
ALLEC'TIVE, n. Allurement. [.Vol u.^ed.]
Eliot.
ALLEDgE' 1'. t. [L. allego, ad and lego, to
send ; Fr. alleguer ; Sp. alegar ; Port, aile-
gar ; It. allegare. This is only a modified
application of the Eng. lay ; Ij. loco, to
set, or throw. See Class L g.]
1. To declare ; to affirm ; to assert ; to pro-
nounce with positiveness ; as, to alledge a
fact.
2. To produce as an argument, plea or ex-
cuse ; to cite or quote ; as, to alledge the
authority of a judge.
ALLEDG'ED, pp. Affirmed ; asserted,
whether as a charge or a plea.
ALLEDg'ER, n. One who affirms or de-
clares.
ALLED(i'ING, ppr. Asserting; averring;
declaring.
ALLEGA'TION, n. Aflii-mation ; positive
assertion or declaration.
2. That which is affirmed or asserted ; that
which is offered as a plea, excuse or justifi-
cation.
3. In ecclesiastical courts, a formal complaint,
or declaration of charges.
ALLEGE. [See M^dge.]
ALLEG'EABLE, a. That maybe alledged.
[JVot used.] Brown.
ALLE'GEAS, or A LLE'GIAS, n. A slutf
manufactured in the East Indies, of twt
ALL
ALL
ALL
kinds, one of cotton, the other of variou
plants which are spun like flax. Encyc.
ALLEG'EMENT, 7!. Allegation. [A^o^intt^e.]
ALLEGHA'NEAN, a. Pertaining to the
mountains called Alleghany, or Alle-
ghenny.
ALLEGHA'NY, n. The chief ridge of the
great chains of mountains which run from
N. East to S. West through the middle
and southern states of North America ;
but, more appropriately, the main or un
broken ridge, which casts all the waters
on one side to the east, and on the other
side to the west. This ridge runs from
Pennsylvania to Georgia, and chains e.x-
tend through the U. States.
This name is given also to the river
Ohio, above its confluence with the Mo-
nongahela ; but improperly, as the Indian
name of the river to its source is Ohio.
ALLE'GIANCE, n. [Old Fr. from L. alligo,
of arf and ligo, to bind. See Liege and
Leagiie.]
The tie or obligation of a subject to his
Prince or government ; the duty of fidelity
to a king, government or state. Every
native or citizen owes allegiance to the
government under which he is born.
This is called natural or implied allegiance,
which arises from the connection of a per
son with the society in which ho is born,
and his duty to be ii t'liilil'iil sulijcct, inde-
pendent of any expic-- |ii uinisc. Express
allegiance, is that iililii;ati(iii which pro-
ceeds from an express promise, or oath of
fideUty.
Local or temporary allegiance is due from an
alien to the government or state in which
he resides. Blackstone.
ALLE'(iIANT, a. Loyal. [ATot used.] Shak.
ALLEGOR'I€, > a. In the manner of al-
ALLEGOR'IeAL, ^ legory ; figurative ;
describing by resemblances.
ALLEGOR'IeALLY, adv. In a figurative
manner ; bv way of allegory.
ALLEGOR'i€ALNESS, n. ^lie quaUty of
being allegorical.
AL'LEGORIZE, v. t. To form an allegory;
to turn into allegory ; as, to allegorize the
history of a people. Campbell.
2. To understand in an allegorical sense ; as,
when a passage in a writer may be under-
stood literally or figuratively, he who gives
it a figurative sense is said to allegorize it.
AL'LEGORIZE, v.i. To use allegory; as,
a man may allegorize, to please his fancy.
AL'LEGORIZED, pp. Tm-ned into allegory,
or understood allegorically.
AL'LEGORiZING,;)j9r. Turning into alle-
gory, or understanding in an allegorical
sense.
AL'LEGORY, n. [Gr. aitx^yopia, of a%%0!,
other, and ayopfvu, to speak, from oyopa, a
forum, an oration.]
A figurative sentence or discourse, in which
the principal subject is described by an-
otlier subject resembling it in its properties
and circumstances. The jirincipal subject
is thus kept out of view, and we are left to
collect the intentions of the writer or
speaker, by the resemblance of the secon
dary to the primary subject. Allegory ii
in words what hieroglyphics are in'paint
ing. We have a fine example of an alle
gory in the eightieth psalm, in which God'i
chosen people are represented by a vine-
yard. The distinction in scripture betw
a parable and an allegory, is said to be that
a parable is a supposed history, and an
allegory, a figurative description of real
facts. An allegory is called a continued
metaphor. The following Une in Virgil '
an example of an allegory.
Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberuiit.
Stop the currents, young men, the mead-
ows have drank suSiciently ; that is, let
your music cease, our ears have been suf-
ficiently delighted. Encyc.
ALLEGRET'TO, [from allegro,] dcn(
in music, a movement or time quicker than
andante, but not so quick as allegro.
Rousseait. Busby.
ALLE'GRO. [It. merry, cheerful ; It. leg-
flere ; Sp. ligero ; Fr. leger, light, nimble,
ee Light.]
In music, a word denoting a brisk movement ;
a sprightly part or strain ; the quickest
except presto. Piu allegro is a still quicker
movement. Roit-sseau. Encyc.
IaLLELU'IAH, n. [Heb. H'-lSSn, praise to
1 Jah.]
[Praise to Jehovah ; a word used to denote
pious joy and exultation, chiefly in hymns
and anthems. The Greeks retained the
word in their E»,f7.fti Irj, praise to lo ;
probably a corruption of Jah. The Ro
mans retained the latter word in their
lo triumphe.
ALLEMAND', n. A slow air in common
time, or grave, solemn music, with a slow
movement. Also a brisk Sauce, or a figure
in dancing. Diet, of Music.
ALLEMAN'Nl€,a. Belonging to the Ale
anni, ancient Germans, and to Alemannia,
their country. The word is generally sup-
posed lo be composed of all and manni, all
men. Cluver, p. G8. This is probably an
error. The word is more probably com-
posed of the Celtic all, other, the root of
Latin alius and man, place ; one of ano-
ther place, a stranger. The Welsh all-
man is thus rendered, and this seems to be
the original word. Owen, ii'elsh Did
The name, Alemanni, seems to have been first
given to the Germans who invaded Gaul
in the reign of Augustus.
Cluver, Germ. Antiq.
ALLER'ION, n. In heraldry, an eagle with-
out beak or feet, with expanded wings
denoting Imperialists vanquished and dis-
armed. Encyc.
.■VLLEVEU'R, n. A small Swedish coin,
value about a cent. Encyc.
ALLE'VIATE, v. t. [Low L. Mevio ; ad and
levo, to raise, lexfis, light ; Fr. lever ; It,
levare, to raise ; Sp. llevar, to carry, le-
vantar, to raise, and leyante, a rising, and
the eastern coasts of' the Mediterranean
the east, so called from the rising of the
sun, hke oriental, fi-om orior, to rise ; Sax
Mifian, to be eminent. See Lift.]
1. To make light ; but always in a figurative
sense, as it is not applied to material ob-
jects. To remove in part ; to lessen, miti-
gate, or make easier to be endured ; ap-
plied to evils ; as, to a//cw"a<e sorrow, pain,
care, punishment, a burden, &c.; opposed
to aggravate.
|2. To make less by representation ; to lessen
the magnitude or criminality ; to extenu-
I ate ; applied to mora] conduct ; as, to alle-
viate an offense. [This sense of the word is
ALLEVIATED,;);?. Made lighter ; mitiga-
ted ; eased ; extenuated.
ALLE'VIATING, ppr. Making lighter, or
more tolerable ; extenuating.
ALLEVIA'TION, n. The act of lightening,
allaying, or extenuating ; a lessening or
mitigation.
2. That which lessens, mitigates or makes
more tolerable ; as, the sympathy of a
friend is an alleviation of grief.
I have not wanted such alleviations of life, as
friendship could supply. Dr. Johnson's letter
to Mr. Hector. Boawell.
This use of alleviation is hardly legiti-
mate without supplying some word ex-
pressing evil, as trouble, sorrow, &c.
Without such alleviations of the cares oi
troubles of life.
ALLE'VIATIVE, n. That which mitigates.
[M)t in use.]
AL'LEY, n. al'ly. [Fr. aHee, a passage, from
alter to go ; Ir. alladh. Literally, a passing
or going.]
L A walk in a garden ; a narrow passage.
2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as
distinct from a public street.
3. A place in London where stocks are
bought and sold. Ash.
ALLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. allium, garUc]
Pertaining to allium, or garlic ; having the
properties of garhc. Barton.
ALLI'ANCE, n. [Fr. alliance, from allier,
Her, to tie or unite, from L. ligo, Gr. Xvyow;
Sp. alianza ; Port, alianca ; It. alleanza ;
from the same root as liege, league, alle-
giance ; class L. g.]
1. The relation or union between families,
contracted by marriage. Dryden.
2. The union between nations, contracted by
compact, treaty or league.
•3. The treaty, league, or compact, which is
the instrument of confederacy ; some-
times perhaps the act of confederating.
4. Any union or connection of interests be-
tween persons, famihes, states or corpora-
tions ; as, an alliance between church and
state.
5. The persons or parties allied ; as, men or
states may secure any alliances in their
power. Addison.
ALLI'ANT, n. An ally. [.Yot used.]
Wotton.
ALLI"CIENCY, n. [Lat. aUicio, ad and
lacio ; G. locken ; D. lokken ; Sw. locka ;
Dan. lokker ; L. allecto, elicio. Class
Lg-]
The power of attracting any thing ; attrac-
tion ; magnetism. [Little t<-serf.] Glanville.
ALLI"CIENT, n. That which attracts.
[JVot rised.] Robinson.
ALLI'ED, pp. Connected by marriage,
treatv or similitude. [See All'i/.]
AL'LIGATE, v. t. [L. alligo, a^ and ligo, to
bind. See Allegiance, Liege, League.]
To tie together ; to imite by some tie.
ALLIGA'TION, n. The act of tying to-
gether; the state of being tied. [Little
used.]
2. A rule of arithmetic, for finding the price
or value of compounds consisting of ingre-
dients of different values. Thus if a quan-
tity of sugar, worth eight cents the pound,
and another quantity worth ten cents, are
mixed, tlie question to be solved by alliga-
ALL
Hon is, vrhat is the value of the mixture by
the pound. Alligation is of two kinds,
medial and alternate ; medial, when the
rate of a mixture is sought from the
and quantities of tlie simples
when the quantities of the simpl
sought from the rates of the simple
the rate of the mixture.
ALLIGA'TOR, n. [Properly allagarto, from
the Spanish and Portuguese lagarto,
lizard ; L. lacerta. The Latin word seems
to be connected with lacertus, the arm ;
and the animal may be named from the
resemblance of his legs to arms.]
The American crocodile. This animal is of
the Uzard genus, having a long naked
body, four feet, with five toes on thej
fore feet, and four on the hind, arm-
ed with claws, and a serrated tail. The'
mouth is very large, and furnished with
sharp teeth ; the skin is brown, tough,
and, on the sides, covered with tubercles.
The largest of these animals grow to the
length of seventeen or eighteen feet. They
live in and about the rivers in warm cli-
mates, eat fish, and sometimes catch hogs,
on the shore, or dogs wliich are swimming.
In winter, they burrow in the earth, which
they enter under water and work upwards,
lying torpid till spring. The female lays a
great number of eggs, which are deposited
in the sand, and left to be hatched by the
heat of the sun. Encyc.
ALLIGATOR-PEAR, n. A West India
fruit, resembling a pear in shape, from one
to two pounds in weight, (Lawus Persea,
Linne.) It contains within its rind a
yellow butyraceous substance, which,
when the fruit is perfectly ripe, constitutes
an agreeable food. Encyc.
ALLIG'ATURE, n. See Ligature, which is
the word in use.
ALLI'NEMENT, n. [Fr. alignement, a row,
a squaring, from ligne, line ; L. linea.]
A reducing to a hne or to a square ; a state
of being in squares, in a hne, or on a level ;
a line ; a row. Asiat. Res. Columhiad.
•\L'LIOTH, n. A star in the tail of the great
bear, much used for finding the latitude at
sea. Encyc.
ALLISION, n. atlizh'un. [h.allido, to dash
or strike against, of ad and Icedo, to hurt
by striking ; Ir. leas, a sore ; D. leed, a
hurt ; D. beleedigen ; Ger. beleidigen, to hurt ;
Fr. blesser, to hurt. Lcedo forms its par-
ticiple Iwsus. Class. L d. L s.]
A striking against; as, the allision of the sea
against the shore. Woodward.
ALUTERA'TION, n. [L. ad and Ultra, a
letter.
The repetition of the same letter at the be-
ginning of two or more words immediately
succeeding each other, or at short inter-
vals ; as/and g in the tbllowing line :
Fields ever fresh, and groves forever green.
ALLITERATIVE, a. Pertaming to, or
consisting in, alliteration.
ALLO€A'TION, n. [L. ad and locatio, a
placing, from locus, place. See Local.]
The act of putting one tiling to another ;
hence its usual sense is the admission of an
article of account, or an allowance made
upon an account ; a term used in the En
lish Exchequer. [See Allow.]
Chambers. Johnson.
AL'LOCHROITE, n. An amorphous, mass-
ALL
ive, opake mineral, of a grayish, yellowish
or reddish color, found in Norway ; con
sidered as a variety of garnet. Its name
is said to be given to it, as expressive of its
changes of color before the blowpipe ; Gr,
ayJKo;, other, and ;tpo'», color. Cleaveland.
ALLO€U'TION, n. [L. allocutio, of ad amX
loquor, to speak. See Eloquence.'
1. The act or manner of speaking to, or of
addressing in words.
2. An address ; a formal address ; as, of a
General to his troops; a Roman term
rarely used in Enghsh. Addison. Encyc
ALLO'DIAL, a. Pertaining to allodium ;
freehold ; free of rent or service ; held
independent of a lord paramount ; oppo-
sed to feudal. Blackstone
ALLODIAN is sometimes used, but is not
well authorized. Cowel
ALLO'DIUM, n. [Fr. alleu, contr. word,
According to O'Brien, in his Focaloir, or
Dictionaiy of the Irish, this word is the
Celtic allod, ancient. According to Pont
oppidan, it is composed of all and odh.
all-property, or whole estate.]
Freehold estate ; land which is the absolute
property of the owner ; real estate held ii
absolute independence, without being sub-
ject to any rent, service, or acknowledg
ment to a superior. It is thus opposed to
feud. In England, there is no allodial
land, all land being held of the king
but in the United States, most lands are
allodial.
ALLONGE', n. allunj'. [Fr. allonger, to
lengthen, to thrust, allonge, lengthened, of
ad and long.]
1. A pass with a sword ; a thrust made by
steppuig forward and extending the arm ;
a term used in fencing, often contracted
into lunge.
2. A long rein, when a horse is trotted m the
hand. Johnson
ALLOO', V. t. or i. To incite dogs by a call.
Phillips
ee the correct word. Halloo.]
AL'LOPHANE, n. [Gr. auoj, other, and
ivu, to appear.]
A mineral of a blue, and sometunes of e
green or brown color, which occurs mas
sive, or in imitative shapes. It gelatini
zes in acids. Ure
AUophane is a variety of clay, occurring
amorphous, botryoidal or reniform
isses. Cleaveland.
^LhOT',v.t. [of ad and lot; Sax. Mot. See
Lot.]
1. To divide or distribute by lot.
2. To distribute, or parcel out in parts orpor
tions ; or to distribute a share to each in
dividual concerned.
3. To grant, as a portion ; to give, assign oi
appoint in general.
Let every man be contented with that
which providence allots to him.
ALLOT'MENT, n. That which is allotted
a share, part, or portion granted or dis
tributed ; that which is assigned by lot, or
by the act of God.
2. A part, portion or place appropriated.
In a field, there is an allotment for olives.
Sroome
ALLOT'TED, pp. Distributed by lot ; grant
ed ; assigned.
ALLOT'TERY is used by Shakespeare for
allotment ; but is not authorized by usage.
ALL
ALLOT'TING, ppr. Distributing by lot ;
£iving as portions; assigning.
LOW, V. t. [Fr. allouer, from louer; L.
loco, to lay, set, place ; W. llogi ; Norm.
allutr. See Lay. Class. L g.]
1. To grant, give or yield ; as, to allow a
servant his liberty ; to allow a pension.
2. To admit ; as, to allow the truth of a
])ropositioM ; to allotv a claim.
•3. To admit ; to own or acknowledge ; as,
to allow the right of the President to dis-
place officers.
4. To approve, justify or sanction.
Ye allow the deeds of your fathers.
Luke xi. Rom. vii.
.5. To afford, or grant as a compensation ;
as, to allow a dollar a day for wages.
G. To abate or deduct ; as, to allow a sum
for tare or leakage.
7. To permit ; to grant hcense to ; as, to
allow a son to be absent.
ALLOWABLE, a. That may be pennitted
as lawful, or admitted as true and proper ;
not forbid ; not unlawful or miproper ; as,
a certain degree of freedom is allowable
among friends.
ALLOW'ABLENESS, 7i. The quality of
being allowable ; lawliilness ; e.xemption
from prohibition, or impropriety. South.
ALLOWABLY, adv. In an allowable man-
ner ; with propriety. Lowth.
ALLOWANCE, n. the act of allowing or
admitting.
2. Permission ; license ; approbation ; sanc-
tion ; usually slight approbation.
Locke. Shak.
3. Admission ; assent to a fact or state of
things ; a grantmg. Hooker.
4. Freedom from restraint ; indulgence.
5. That which is allowed ; a portion appoint-
ed ; a stated quantity, as of food or drink :
hence, in seamen''s language, a limited
quantity of meat and drink, when provis-
ions fall short.
6. Abatement ; deduction ; as, to make an
allowance for the inexperience of youth.
7. Established character ; reputation ; as, a
pilot of approved oHOTflajice. Obs. Shak.
ALLOWANCE, v. t. To put upon allow-
ance ; to restrain or limit to a certain
quantity of provisions or drink.
Distress compelled the captain of the ship to
allowance his crew.
ALLOAV'ED, pp. Granted ; permitted ; as-
sented to ; admitted ; apjiroved ; indulged ;
appointed ; abated.
ALLOWING, ppr. Granting ; permitting ;
admitting ; approving ; indulging ; de-
ducting.
ALLOY', V. t. [Fr. allier, to unite or mix ;
L. alligo, ad and ligo, to bind ; Gr. 7.V70W ;
Sp. ligar, to tie or bind, to alloy or mix
base metals with gold or silver, to league
or confederate ; Port. id. ; It. legare. We
observe that aUoy and league, alliance, ally,
are from the same root. Class L g.]
1. To reduce the piu-ity of a metal, by mixing
^vith it a portion of one less valuable ; as,
to alloy gold with silver, or silver with
copper.
2. To mix metals. Lavoisier.
3. To reduce or abate by mixture ; as, to
alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
ALL6Y', n. A baser metal mixed with a
finer.
2. The mixture of different metals ; any me-
ALL
A L M
A L M
fallic compound ; this is its common sig-
nification in cliimistry.
3. Evil mixed with good ; as, no happiness
is witliout alloy.
ALLOY' A6E, n. [Ft. alliage, from oilier.]
1. The act of alloying metals, or the mixture
of a baser metal with a finer, to reduce its
purity ; the act of mixing metals.
2. The mixture of different metals.
Lavoisier.
ALLOY'ED, pp. 3Iixed ; reduced in purity ;
debased ; abated by foreign mixture.
ALLOY'ING, ppr. JMixing a baser metal
with a finer, to reduce its purity ; abating
by foreign mixture.
ALL'SPICE. [See under the compomids
of all.]
ALLU'DE, V. i. [L. alludo, to smile upon or
make sport with, of ad and ludo, to play ;
Sp. Port, aliulir ; It. alludere. Class L d.]
To refer to something not directly mention-
tioned ; to have reference ; to hint at by
remote suggestions ; as, that story alludes
to a recent transaction.
ALLU'DING, ppr. Having reference ; hint-
ing at.
ALLU'MINOR, n. [Fr. allumer, to hght.
See i/imner.]
One who colors or paints upon paper or
parchment, giving light and ornament to
letters and figures. Cowel. Encye.
This is now written limner.
ALLU'RE, V. t. [Fr. leurrer, to decoy, from
leurre, a lure.]
To attempt to draw to; to tempt by the
oflTerofsome good, real or apparent; tc
invite by something flattering or accepta-
ble ; as, rewards allure men to brave dan
ger. Sometimes used in a bad sense, to
allure to evil ; but in this sense entice is
more common. In Hosea, ii. 14, allure is
used in its genuine sense ; in 2 Peter, ii. 18,
in the sense of entice.
ALLU'RED, pp. Tempted ; di-awn, or in-
vited, by something that appears desira-
ble.
ALLU'REMENT, n. That which allures ;
any real or apparent good held forth, or
operating, as a motive to action ; tempt
lion ; enticement ; as, the allurements of|
pleasure, or of honor.
ALLU'RER, ?i. He, or that, wliich allures.
ALLU'RING, /)/>»•. Dravvmg; tempting; in
viting by some real or apparent good.
2. a. Inviting ; having the quality of attract
ing or tempting.
ALLU'RINGLY, adv. In an alluring man-
ner ; enticingly.
ALLU'RINGNESS, n. The quality of allur-
ing or tempting by the prospect of some
good. [Rarely used.]
ALLU'SION, n. allitzhun. [Fr. from allusio
Low L. See Allude.]
A reference to something not explicitly men-
tioned ; a hint ; a suggestion, by which
something is applied or understood to be-
long to that which is not mentioned, by
means of some similitude which is per-
ceived between them. Burnet.
ALLU'SIVE, a. Having reference to some-
thing not fully expressed. South.
ALLU'SIVELY, adv. By way of allusion :
by implication, remote suggestion or insin-
uation. Hammonds
ALLU'SIVENESS, n. The quality of being
allusive. [Rarely used.]
ALLU'VIAL, a. [See Muvion.]
1. Pertaining to alluvion ; added to land by
the wash of water.
3. Washed ashore or down a stream ; formed
by a current of water ; as, alluvial ores ;
alluvial soil. Kiruian.
ALLU'VION, I n. [L. alluvia, of ad and
ALLU VIUM, i lavo or luo, alluo, to wash.
See iMve.]
1. The msensible increase of earth on a
shore, or bank of a river, by the force of
water, as by a current or by waves. The
owner of the land thus augmented has a
right to the alhnial earth.
2. A gradual washuig or carrying of earth
or other substances to a shore or bank ;
the earth thus added.
.3. The mass of substances collected by
means of the action of water.
In this alluvium was found the entire skele-
ton of a whale. Buckland.
ALLU'VIOUS, a. The same as alluvial, and
less frequently used.
ALLY', V. t. [Fr. allier ; reciprocal verb, s^al-
lier, to match or confederate ; from ad and
Her, to tie or unite. L. ligo.]
1. To unite, or form a relation, as between
famihes by marriage, or between princes
and states by treaty, league or confede-
racy.
2. To form a relation by simiUtude, resem-
blance or friendship. Note. This word is
more generally used in the passive form,
as families are allied by blood ; or recip-
rocally, as princes ally theijiselves to pow-
erful states.
ALLY' n. A prince or state united by treaty
or league ; a confederate.
The allies of Rome were slaves. -imes.
2. One related by marriage or other tie ; but
seldom apphed to individuals, except to
princes in their public capacity.
ALLY'ING, ppr. Uniting by mamage or
treaty.
AL'MACANTAR, n. [See .mmucantar.]
ALMADIE, n. A bark canoe used by the
Africans ; also a long boat used at CaU-
cut, in India, eighty feet long, and six or
seven broad ; called also cathuri. Encyc.
AL'MAgEST, 11. [al and ncytsi, greatest.]
A book or collection of problems in astron
omy and geometry, dravni up by Ptolemy
The same title has been given to othe
works of the like kind. Encyc.
ALMA'GRA, n. A fine deep red ocher, with
an admixture of purple, ver^ heavy, dense
but friable, with a rough dusty surface.
It is the sil atticum of the ancients. It is
austere to the taste, astringent, melting
the mouth and staitiing the skin. It is
used as a paint and as a medicine. Encyc.
aL'MANACK, 71. [Ar. al and ^i^ manacli,
manack, a calendar, or diary.]
A small book or table, containing a calen-
dar of days, weeks and months, with the
times of the rising of the sun and moon,
changes of the moon, ecUpses, hours of
full tide, stated festivals of churches, stated
terms of courts, observations on the weath
er, &c. for the year ensuing. This calen-
dar is sometimes published on one side of
a single sheet, and called a sheet-almanack.
The Baltic nations formerly engraved their
calendars on pieces of wood, on swords,
helves of axes, and various other utensils,
and especially on walking sticks. Many
of these are jjreserved in the cabinets of
the curious. They are called by difterent
nations, rimstocks, primstaries, runstocks,
runslaffs, clogs, &c.
The characters used are generally the Runic
or Gothic.
Junius. Encyc. Tooke''s Russia.
ALMANACK-MAKER, n. A maker of al-
manacks.
AL'MANDINE, n. [Fr. and It.] In mine-
ralogy, precious garnet, a beautiful mineral
of a red color, of various shades, some-
times tinged with yellow or blue. It is
commonly translucent, sometimes trans-
parent. It occurs crystalized in the rhom-
bic dodecahedron. Phillips.
AL'ME, or AL'MA, n. Gnls in Egjpt, whose
occupation is to amuse company with
singing and dancing. Encyc. Savary.
.\LME'NA, 91. A weight of two pounds,
used to weigh saffron in several parts of
Asia. Sp. Diet.
ALMI'GIITINESS, n. Omnipotence ; infi-
nite or boundless power ; an attribute of
God only.
ALMIGHTY,
Mght.]
Possessing all power ; oimiipotent ; being of
unlimited might ; being of boundless suf-
ficiency ; appropriately applied to the Su-
preme Being.
ALMIGHTY, 11. The Omnipotent God.
,\L'MOND, n. [Fr. amande ; It. mandola ;
Sp. almendra ; Germ, mandel.]
1. The fi-uit of the almond tree ; an ovate,
compressed nut, perforated in the pores.
It is either sweet or bitter. [It is popu-
[all and mighty. See
larly pronounced ammond.]
JVicholson. Encyc.
2. The tonsils, two glands near the basis of
the tongue, are called almonds, fi-om their
resemblance to that nut; ^iilgularly, but
improperly, called the almonds of the ears,
as they belong to the throat.
Qiiincy. Johnson.
3. In Portugal, a measure by which wine is
sold, twenty-six of which make a pipe.
Encyc.
[But in Portuguese it is written almude.]
I. Among lapidaries, almonds signify pieces
of rock crystal, used in adorning branch
candlesticks, so called from then- resem-
blance to this fruit. Encyc.
ALMOND-FURNACE, among refners, is a
fiu-nace in which the slags of Utharge, left
in refining sUver, are reduced to lead, by
the help of charcoal ; that is, according to
modern chimistrj', in which the oxyd of
lead is deoxydized, and the metal revived.
ALMOND-TREE, n. The tree which pro-
duces the almond. The leaves and flow-
ers resemble those of the peach, but the
fruit is longer and more compressed, the
green coat is thinner and drier when ripe,
and the shell is not so rugged. Miller.
ALMOND-WILLOW, n. A tree ^vith leaves
of a hght green on both sides.
Mason from Shenstone.
AL'IMONER, 71. [See M,ns.]
An officer whose duty is to distribute charity
or ahns. By the ancient canons, every
monastery was to dispose of a tenth of its
A L M
income in alms to the poor, and all bish-
ops were obliged to keep an almoner.
This title is sometimes given to a chap-
lain ; as, the almoner of a ship or regi-
ment.
The Lord Almoner, or Lord High Almoner
in England, is an ecclesiastical officer,
generally a bishop, who has the forfeiture
of all deodands, and the goods of self-
nmrderers, which he is to distribute to the
poor.
The Grand Almoner, in France, is the first
ecclesiastical dignitary, and has the super-
intendence of hospitals. Encyc.
ALMONRY, n. [Corrupted into ambry, aum-
bry, or aumery.]
The place where the almoner resides, or
where the alms are distributed.
ALMOST, adv. [all and most. The Saxon or-
der of writing was thus : " all most who
were present." Sax. Chron. p. 225. Wc
now use a duplication, almost all who
were present.]
IS'early ; well nigh ; for the greatest part.
Almost thou peisuadest me to be a christiaii.
Acts xxvi.
"ALMS, n. kmz. [Sax. almes ; old Eng.
almesse ; Norm, almoignes ; Fr. aumunes
D. aalmoes ; Sw. almosa ; Dan. almisse ;
G. almosen ; L. cleemosyna ; Gr. Aii^ixoavrr;.
The first syllables appear to be from Aitu,
top'ty-] . , ,. ,
Any tliitig given gratuitously to relieve the
poor, as money, food, or clothmg, other-
wise called charity.
A lame man was" laid daily to ask an alms
Acts iii.
Cornelius gave much alms to the people.
Acts
Tenure by free alms, or frank-almoign
England, is that by which the possessor is
bound to pray for the soul of the donor,
whether dead or alive ; a tenure by which
most of the ancient monasteries and reli-
gious houses in England held their lauds,
as do the parochial clergy, and many
ecclesiastical and eleemosynary establish-
ments at this day. Land thus held was
free from all rent or other service.
Blackstone.
ALMS-BASKET; ALMS-BOX; ALMS-
CHEST ; vessels appropriated to receive
alms.
'ALMS-DEED, n. An act of charity ; a char-
itable gift.
'ALMS-FOLK, n. Persons supporting oth-
ers by alms. [JVot used.]
'ALMS-GIVER, n. One who gives to the
poor. Bacon.
'ALMS-GIVING, n. The bestowinent of
charitv.
'ALMS-HOUSE, n. A house appropriated
for the use of the poor, who are sui)ported
by the public.
•\LMS-MEN, I n. Persons supported
ALMS-PEOPLE, I by charity or by pubhc
provision.
AL'MU€ANTAR, n. [Arabic] A series of|
circles of the sphere passing through th
center of the sun, or of a star, parallel t
the horizon. It is synonymous with a
parallel of altitude, whose common zenith
is the vertical point.
Bailey. Encyc. Johnson,
ALMU€ANTAR'S STAFF. An instrument
of box or pear-tree, having an arch of fif-
A L O
teen degrees, used to take observations of
the sun, about the time of its rising or set-
ting, to find the amplitude and the varia-
tions of the compass. Encyc. Chambers.
ALMU'DE, n. A wine measure in Portugal,
of which twenty-six make a pipe.
Port. Did.
AL'MUG, }n. In scripture, a tree or wood
AL'GUM, S about which the learned are
not agreed. The most probable conjee
ture is that the word denotes gummy or
resinous wood in general.
The Vulgate translates it ligna thyina, and
the Septuagmt, ivrought-wood ; others, eb
ony, bravil or pine, and the Rabbins ren
der it coral. It was used for musical
instruments, stair cases, &c.
The thyinum is the citron tree, from Maur
tania, much esteemed by the ancients for
its fragrance and beauty. The almug.
almugim, or algumim, or simply gummim,
is most probably a gummy wood, and
perhaps may be the Shittim, often men
tioned in Scripture. See 1 Kings, x. 11.
Calmet. Encyc.
AL'NAGE, n. [Fr. aulnage, now softened
into aunage ; L. ulna ; Gr. u'Kct'tj, an arm.
a cubit ; W. elin ; Ir. uelen, uUe, or iiilean.
an elbow, a nook, or corner. See Ell.]
A measuring by the ell.
AL'NAGER, or AL'NAGAR, n. A meas-
urer by the eU ; a sworn officer, whose
duty was to inspect and measure woolen
cloth, and fix upon it a seal. This office
was abolished by Statute, 11. and 12. Will
3. No duty or office of this kind exists in
the United States.
AL'NIGHT, n. A calie of wax with the
wick in the midst. Bacon.
AL'OE, n. al'o, plu. aloes, pronounced aloze
and popularly al'oez, in three syllables, ac-
cording to the Latin. [L. aloe ; Gr. a>.o)j
Sp. Port. It. Fr. aloe ; Ileb. plu. D'^HN aloe
trees.]
In botany, a genus of monogynian hexanders,
of many species ; all natives of warm cli-
mates, and most of them, of the southern
part of Africa.
Among the Mohammedans, the aloe is a sym-
bohc plant, especially in Egypt ; and every
one who returns from a pilgrimage to
Mecca, hangs it over his street door, as
token that he has performed the journey.
In Africa, the leaves of the Guinea aloe are
made into durable ropes. Of one species
are made fishing Unes, bow strings, stock-
ings and hammocs. The leaves of another
species hold rain water.
ALOES, in medicine, is the inspissated juice
of the aloe. The juice is collected from
the leaves, which are cut and put in a tub,
and when a large quantity is procured
is boiled to a suitable consistence ; or it is
exposed to the sun, till all the fluid par
exhaled. There are several kinds sold in
the shops ; as the socotrine aloes from So-
cotora, an isle in the Indian ocean ; the
hepatic or conunon Barbadoes aloes ; and
the fetid or caballine aloes.
Aloes is a stimulating stomachic purgati
when taken m small doses, it is useful for
people of a lax habit and sedentary hfe.
Encyc.
A L O
AL'OES-WOOD, n. [See Agallochum.]
ALOET'I€, > Pertaming to aloe or
ALOET'l€AL, ^ "' aloes ; partakmg of the
quahties of aloes.
ALOET'Ie, n. A medicine consisting chiefly
of aloes. Qut'ncy.
ALOFT', adv. [a and lofl. See Loft and
Luff-]
On high ; in the air ; high above the
ground ; as, the eagle soars aloft.
In seamen's language, in the top ; at the
mast head ; or on the higher yards or rig-
ging. Hence on the upper part, as of a
building.
ALO'GIANS, 71. [a neg. and >.oyo5, word.]
In chxirch history, a sect of ancient heretics,
who denied Jesus Christ to be the Logos,^
and consequently rejected the gospel of
St. John. Buck. Encyc.
AL'OGOTROPHY, n. [Gr. oOoyos, uiyeason-
able, and rpoijjJ?, nutrition.]
A disproportionate nutrition of the parts of
the body, as when one part receives more
or less nourishment and growth than an-
other. Bailey.
AL'OGY, n. [Gr. a and >,oyo5.]
Unreasonableness; absurdity. Obs. Brown.
ALO'NE, a. [all and one ; Germ, allein ; D.
alleen ; Sw. allena ; Dan. allene.']
1. Single ; soUtary ; without the presence of
another ; applied to a person or thing.
It is not good that man should be alone.
Gen. ii.
[This adjective follows its noun.]
2. It is applied to two or more persons or
tlungs, when separate fi-om others, in a
place or condition by themselves ; with-
out company.
And when they were alone, he expounded
all things to his disciples. Mark, iv.
.3. Only.
Thou whose name alone is Jehovah. Ps.
Ixxxiii.
This sense at first appears to be adver-
bial, but really is not ; whose name single,
solitary, without another, is Jehovah.
To let alone is to suflTer to rest ; to forbear
molesting or meddling with ; to suffer to
remain in its present state. Alone, in this
])lirase, is an adjective, the word to which
it refers being omitted ; let me alone ; let
them alone ; let it alone ; that is, suffer it
to be unmolested, or to remain as it is, or
let it remain by itself
ALO'NE, adv. Separately ; by itself
ALO'NELY, a. or adv. Only; merely;
singly. [JVot used.] Gower.
ALO'NENESS, n. That state which be-
longs to no other. [JVot used.] Montague.
ALONG', adv. [Sax. and-lang or ond-lang ;
Fr. au long, le long. See Long. The Sax-
ons always prefixed and or ond, and the
sense seems to be, by the length, or oppo-
site the length, or in the direction of the
length.]
1. By the length ; lengthwise ; in a line with
the length ; as, the troops marched along
the bank of the river, or along the high-
way. 1 Sam. vi.
2. Onward ; in a line, or with a progressive
motion ; as, a meteor glides along the sky ;
let us walk along.
I along signifies the whole length ; through
the whole distance ; in the whole way or
length.
ALP
ALT
A L T
■Ahv)^, tvith signifies in company ; joined
witi) ; as, Go along with us. Sometimes
mth is omitted ;
Come then, my friend, my genius, come along.
Pope.
Along side, in seamen's language, that is, by
the length or in a line with the side, signi-
fies side by side, as by another ship or by
the side of a wharf.
^long shore is by the shore or coast, length-
wise, and near the shore.
Lying along is lying on the side, or pressed
down by the weight of sail. Mar. Did.
ALONGST', adv. Along ; through or by the
length. Ol)S. Knolles.
ALOOF', adv. [Probably from the root of
leave, to depart.]
1. At a distance, but within view, or at a
small distance, in a literal sense ; as, to
stand aloof.
2. In a figurative sense, not concerned in a
design ; decUning to take any share, im-
plying clrcum.spection ; keeping at a dis-
tance from the point, or matter in debate.
AL'OPECY, n. [Gr. aX«rtj;|, a fox, whose
urine is said to occasion baldness.]
A disease, called the fox-evil or scurf, which
is a falling oft' of the hau-, from any part
of the body. Qiiincy. Encyc. Bailey.
ALO'SA,M. A fish of passage, called the shad,
or mother of herrings, a species of Clu-
pea. It is an abdominal) and some natur-
alists allege it to be a different species
from the shad. Encyc. Diet, of Mit. Hist.
ALOUD', adv. [a and loud ; Sax. gehJyd,
clamor. See Loud.]
Loudly ; with a loud voice, or great noise.
Ciy aloud, spare not. Isa. Iviii.
ALP, ALPS, n. [Qu. Gr. ax^o;, white ; L.
albus. The Celts called all high moun-
tains alpes or olbe. Cluver. Thucydides
mentions a castle, In the territory of Argos,
situated on a hill and called Olpas or Olp.
Lib. 3. Ca. 105. Pelloutier, Hist, des Gel-
tes, Liv. 1. 15. The derivation of th<
word fi-om 0^05, wliite, is therefore doubt
ful. In Ir. or Gaelic, ailp is a huge mass 01
lump.]
A high mountain. The name, it is supposed,
was originally given to mountains whose
tops were covered with snow, and bene
appropriately a])plied to the mountains of
Swisserland ; so that by Alps is generally
understood tlie latter mountains. But ge-
ographers apply the name to any high
mountains. Pinkerton.
.\LPAG'NA, n. An animal of Peru, used
as a beast of burden ; the Camelus Paco
of Linne, and the Paces of Pennant. .'
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AL'PHA, n. [Ileb. t^iSx an ox, a leader.]
The first letter in the Greek alphabet, an-
swering to A, and used to denote first or
beginning.
I am Alpha and Omega. Rev. i.
As a numeral, it stands for one. It was
merly used also to denote chief ; as, Plato
was the Alpha of the wits.
AL'PHABET, n. [Gr. aXij>a and Bijro, A
and B.]
The letters of a language arranged in the
customary order ; the series of letters
which form the elements of speech.
AL'PHABET, v. t. To arrange in the order
of an alphabet ; to form an alphabet in a
hook, or designate the leaves by the letters
of the alphabet.
ALPHABETA'RIAN, n. A learner while
in the A. B. C.
ALPHABETIC, ) In the order of an
ALPHABETICAL, J alphabet, or in the
order of the letters as customarily ar-
ranged.
ALPHABET'ICALLY,(H/i>. In an alphabet-
ical manner ; in the customary order of
the letters.
ALPHE'NIX, n. [al and phmnix.]
White barley sugar, used for colds. It
common sugar boiled till it will easily
crack ; then poured u])on an oiled marble
table, and molded into various figures.
Encyc.
AL'PHEST, n. A small fi.sh, having a pur-
ple back and belly, with yellow sides, a
smooth mouth, and thick fleshy lips ;
always caught near the shore or amon,
rocks. Lahrus Cinwdus, lAnne.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
.\LPHON'SIN, n. A surgical instrument
for extracting bullets from wounds, so
called fi'om its inventor, Alphonsus Fer-
rier of Naples. It consists of three
branches, which close by a ring, and open
when it is drawn hack. Encyc.
.'VLPHON'SIN TABLES. Astronomical
bles made by Alphonsus king of Anag^
Bailey.
AL'PHUS, n. [Gr. a\^o,, white.]
That species of leprosy called vitiligo, in
hich the skin is rough, with white spots.
Quincy.
AL'PINE, a. [L. alpinus, fi-om Alpes.]
Pertaining to the Alps, or to any lofty
mountain ; very high ; elevated.
2. Growing on liigh mountains ; as, alpine
plants. Milton. Thomson.
AL'PINE, n. A kind of strawberry grow-
ing on lofty hills.
AL'PIST, or AL'PIA, 71. The seed of the
fox-tail ; a small seed, used for feeding
birds. Encyc.
AL'QUIER, )i. A measure in Portugal for
dry tilings, as well as liquids, containing
half an alniude or about two gallons. It
is called also Cantar. Port. Diet.
AL'QUIFOU, n. A sort of lead ore, which,
when bi'oke, looks like antimony. It is
found in Cornwall, England ; used by
potters to give a green varnish to their
wares, and called potters ore. A small
nii.xture of manganese gives it a blackish
hue. Encyc.
ALREAD'Y, adv. alred'dy. [all and ready.
See Ready.]
Literally, a state of complete preparation ;
but, by an easy deflection, the sense is, at
tliis time, or at a specified time.
Elias is come already. Mat. xvii.
Joseph was in Egypt already. Ex. i.
It has reference to past tune, but may be
used for a future past ; as, when you shall
arrive, the business will be already com-
pleted, or will have been completed al-
readij.
^L'SO, adv. [all and so. Sax. eal and swa ;
eal, all, the whole, and swa, so.]
Likewise ; in lil<e manner.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart
lie uho. Mat. xvi.
ALT or AL'TO, a. [It. from L. alius, higli ;
Ct'k, all, nilt, a high place ; Heb. rf^'
upper, hy, high.]
In music, a term applied to high notes in the
scale. In sculpture, alto-relievo, high re-
lief, is when the figures project lialf or
more, without behig entirely detached
from the groimd. Enaic. Cue.
ALTAIC, or ALTA'IAN, a. [tart, a'la-
tau, perhaps aZ-ta^, high mountain. Tookc
Pertaining to the Altai, a vast ridge of moim-
tains extending, in an easterly direction,
through a considerable pan of Asia, and
forming a boundary between the Russian
and Chinese dominions.
Pinkerton. Encyc.
jJiL'TAR, n. [L. allure, probably from the
same rootasaftws, higli ; Celtic, alt, a high
place.]
1. A mount ; a table or elevated place, on
which sacrifices were anciently offered to
some deity. Altars were originally made
of turf, afterwards of stone, wood or horn ;
some were round, others square, others
triangular. They differed also in liighth,
but all faced the east. The principal
altars of the Jews were, the altar of in-
cense, of burnt-ofterings, and of show-
bread ; all of shittim wood, and covered
with gold or brass. Encyc.
3. In modem churches, the communion table ;
and, figuratively, a chiu-cli ; a place of
worship.
3. In scripture, Christ is called the altar of
Christians, he being the atoning sacrifice
for sin.
We have an altar, whereof they have no
right to eat, who serve tabernacles. Heb. xiii.
AL'TAR-CLOTH, n. A cloth to lay upon
an altar in churches.
.\L'TAR-PIECE, n. A painting placed
over the altar in a church. IVarton.
.^.L'TAR-WISE, adv. Placed in the man-
ner of an altar. Howell.
AL'TARAgE, n. The profits arising to
priests from oblations, or on account of
the altar. Also, in law, altars erected in
virtue of donations, before the reforma-
tion, within a parochial church, for the
purpose of singing a mass for deceased
friends. Encyc.
AL'TARIST, or ALTAR-THANE, n. In
old laws, an appellation given to the priest
to whom the altarage belonged ; also a
chaplain. Cue.
AL'TER, v. t. [Fr. alterer ; Sp. alterar ; It.
alterare ; from L. alter, another. See
Alien. Alter is supposed to be a contrac-
tion of ox^ofcppot, alienus, of 0^.05 and
ITipOi.]
1. To make some change in ; to make differ-
ent in some particular ; to vary in some
degree, without an entire change.
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the
thing that has gone out of my lips. Ps. Ixxxix.
2. To change entirely or materially ; as, to
cdier an opinion. In general, to alter is to
change partially ; to change is more gene-
rally to substitute one thing for another,
or to make a material difference in a thing.
AL'TER, V. i. To become, m some respects,
different ; to vary ; as, the weather alters
ahiiost daily.
The law which alterelh not. Dan. vi.
AL'TERABILITY, 71. The quaUty of being
susceptible of alteration.
ALT
ALT
ALT
AL'TERABLE, a. That may become dit"
feieiit ; tliat may vary.
AL'TERABLENESS, n. The quaUty of
admitting alteration ; variableness.
/kL'TERABLY, adv- In a manner that may
be altered, or varied.
AL'TERAGE, n. [From ah, to feed.]
The breeding-, nourishing or fostering of a
child. Sir J. Davits. But this is not an
English word.
AL'TERANT, a. Altering ; gradually chang-
uig.
Ai'TERANT, n. A medicine whicli, with-
out a sensible operation, gradually eonects
the state of the body and changes it from
a diseased to a healthy condition. An al
terative. Enmic. Q\dncy.
ALTERA'TION, n. [L. alteratio.]
The act of making different, or of varying
in some particular ; an altering or partial
change ; also the change made, or the loss
or acquisition of quaUties not essential to
the form or nature of a tiling. Thus a
cold substance suffers an alteration when
it becomes hot.
AL'TERATIVE, a. Causmg alteration ;
having the jiower to alter.
AL'TERATIVE, n. A medicuie wliich,
without sensible operation, gradually in-
duces a change in the habit or constitu-
tion and restores healthy functions. This
word is more generally used than alterant.
AL'TERCATE, I., i. [L. altercor, alterco,
from alter, another.]
To contend in words ; to dispute with zeal,
heat or anger ; to wrangle.
ALTER€A'TI0N, n. [h. altercatio.]
Warm contention in words ; dispute can-ied
on with heat or anger ; controversy ;
wrangle.
AL'TERN, a. [h. alternus, of alter, another,^
1. Acting by turns ; one succeeding another";
alternate, which is the word generally
used.
2. In chry.Halography, exhibiting, on two
parts, an upper and a lower part, feces
which alternate among themselves, but
which, when the two parts are compared,
correspond with each other. Cleaveland.
Altem-hase, in trigonometry, is a term used
in distinction from the true base. Thus
in oblique triangles, the true base is the
sum of the sides, and then the difference
of the sides is the altern-base ; or the true
base is the difference of the sides, and then
the sum of the sides is the altern-base.
Encyc.
AL'TERNACY, n. Performance or actions
by turns. [Little used.]
ALTERN'AL, a. Alternative. [Liille used.]
ALTERN'ALLY, adv. By turns. [Little
used.] May.
ALTERN'ATE, a. [L. alttmaius.]
1. Beuigby turns ; one following the other in
succession of time or place ; hence recip-
rocal.
Ana bij alternate passions fall and rise.
Pope.
2. In botany, branches and leaves are alter-
nate, when they rise higher on opposite
sides alternately, come out singly, and
follow in gradual order. Encyc. Lee.
Mternate alligation. [See Migation.]
Mternate angles, in geometry, the internal
angles made by a line cutting two paral-
lels, and lying on opposite sides of the
cutting line ; the one below the first paral-
lel, and the other above the second.
Johnson
In heraldry, the first and fourth quarters
and the second and third, are usually ol
the same nature, and are called alternate
quarters.
ALTERN'ATE, n. That which happens by
tiu-ns with something else; vicissitude,
Prior.
AL'TERNATE, v. t. [L. alterno. See Alter.
With the accent on the second syllable
the participle alternating can liardly be
pronounced.]
To perform by turns, or in succession ; to
cause to succeed by turns ; to change
thing for another reciprocally ; as, God
alternates good and evil.
AL'TERNATE, v. i. To happen or to acl
by turns; as, the flood and ebb tides o/«er-
note with each other.
2. To follow reciprocally in place.
Difl'erent species alternating with each oth-
er. Kirwan
ALTERN'ATELY, adv. In reciprocal suc-
cession ; by turns, so that each is succeed-
ed by that which it succeeds, as night fol-
lows" day and day follows night.
ALTERN'ATENESS, n. The quality ol
being alternate, or of following m sucees
AL'TERNATING, ppr. Performing or fol-
lowing by turns.
ALTERNA'TION, n. The reciprocal suc-
cession of things, in time or place ; the
act of following and being followed in
succession ; as, we observe the alternation
of day and night, cold and heat, summer
and winter.
2. The different changes or alterations o
orders, in numbers. Thus, if it is required
to know how many changes can be rung
on six bells, multiply the numbers 1, 2, .3,
4, 5, 6, continually into one another, and
the last product is the number required,
This is called permutation.
.3. The answer of the congregation speaking
alternately with the minister.
4. Alternate performance, in the choral
sense. Mc
ALTERN'ATIVE, a. [Fr. allematif.]
Offering a choice of -two tilings.
ALTERN'ATIVE, n. That which may be
chosen or omitted ; a choice of two things,
so that if one is taken, the other must be
left. Thus, when two things oflTer a choice
of one only, the two things are called alter-
natives. In strictness, then, the word can
not be appUed to more than two thingi
and when one thing only is offered for
choice, it is said there is no alternative.
Between these alternatives there is no mid-
dle ffiound. Crunch
ALTERN'ATIVELY, adv. In the manner
of alternatives ; in a manner that admits
the choice of one out of two things.
ALTERN'ATIVENESS, n. The quality or
state of being alternative.
ALTERN'ITY, n. Succession by turns;
alternation.
ALTHE'A, 71. [Or. aJ.9oia, from a%9a, or
a7.6at.vu, to heal.]
In botany, a genus of polyandrian mona-
delphs, of several species ; called in Eng-
lish marsh-malloiD.
Tlie common species has a perennial root.
and an annual stalk rising four or five feet.
It abounds with mucilage, and is used as
an emolhent. Encyc.
ALTHO'UGH, altho', obs. verb, or used
only in the Imperative, [all and though ;
from Sax. thah, or theah ; Ir. daighim, to
give ; Ger. doch ; D. dog ; Sw. doch, and
endoch ; Dan. dog, though. See Though.]
Grant all this ; be it so ; allow all ; suppose
that; admit all that; as, '^although the
fig-tree shall not blossom." Hab. iii. That
is, grant, admit or suppose what follows —
" the fig-tree shall not blossom." It is a
transitive verb, and admits after it the
definitive that — although that the fig-tree
shall not blossom ; but this use of the verb,
has been long obsolete. The word may
be defined by notwithstanding, non obstan-
te ; as not opposing may be equivalent to
admitting or supposing.
ALTIL'OQUENCE, n. [L. alius, high, and
loquor, loquens, speiddng.]
Lofty speech ; pomiious language.
ALTIM'ETER, n. [L. altus, high, and Gr.
fiitfov, measure. See Measure and Mode.]
An mstruraent for taking altitudes by geo-
metrical principles, as a geometrical quad-
rant.
ALTIM'ETRY, n. The art of ascertaining
altitudes by tneans of a proper instrument,
and by trigonometrical principles without
actual mensuration.
AL'TIN, ?i. A money of account in Russia,
value three kopecks, or about three cents ;
also a lake in Siberia, ninety miles in
length. Tooke. Encyc.
ALTIN'€AR, n. A species of factitious salt
or powder, used in the ftision and purifi-
cation of metals, prepared in various ways.
[See Tincal.] Encyc.
ALTIS'ONANT, ? a. [L. altus, high, and
ALTIS'ONOUS, ^ sonans, sounding; sonus,
sound.]
High soundmg, lofty or pompous, as lan-
£uage. Evelyn.
'TITUDE, n. [h. altitudo, of altus, high,
and a common termination, denoting state,
condition or manner.]
1. Space extended upward; highth; the
elevation of an object above its founda-
tion ; as, the altitude of a mountain, or
column ; or the elevation of an object or
place above the surface on which we
stand, or above the earth ; as, the attitude
of a cloud or a meteor ; or the elevation of
one object above another ; as, of a bird
above the top of a tree.
2. The elevation of a point, a star, or other
object above the horizon. This is true or
apparent altitude ; true, when taken from
the rational or real horizon ; apparent,
when taken from the sensible, or apparent
horizon.
3. Figuratively, high degree ; superior ex-
cellence; highest point of excellence.
He is proud to the altitude of his virtue.
Shak.
The altitude of the eye, in perspective, is a
right Hue let fall fi-om the eye, perpendic-
ular to the geometrical plane. Encyc.
Meridian altitude is an arch of the merid-
ian between the horizon and any star or
point on the meridian.
ALTIV'OLANT, a. [L. altus, lugh, and ro-
Inns, flying.]
Flying high.
A L U
A M
A M A
Al.'TO. [It. fioni L. alius.] High.
.Ilto and Basso, high and low, in old
terms used to signify a suhiiiissioii of all
differences of every kind to arbitration.
AJVTO-0€TA'VO. [It.]
An octave higher.
ALTO-RELIEVO. [It.]
High relief, iii sculpture, is the projection of
a figure half or more, without being en
tirely detached. Cyc.
AL'TO-RIPIE'NO. [It.]
The tenor of the great chorus, whicli
and plays only in particular places. Encyc.
AL'TO-VIOLA. [It.]
A small tenor viol.
AL'TO-VIOLINO. [It.]
A small tenor violin.
ALTOGETH'ER, adv. [all and togethe
See Together.]
Wholly ; entirely ; completely ; without ex-
ception.
Every man at his best estate is altogether
vanity. Ps. xxxix.
AL'UDEL, n. [a and lutum, without lute.
Lunier.]
In chimistry, aludcls are earthern pots with-
out bottoms, tliat they may be e.\actly fit-
ted into each other, and used in subfima-
tioiis. At the bottom of the furnace is a
pot containing the matter to be sublimed,
and at the top a head to receive the vola-
tile matter. Quincy. Encyc.
AL'UM, n. [L.alumen.]
A triple sulphate of alumina and pota.ssa.
This substance is white, transparent and
very astringent ; but seldom found pure
or crystalized. This salt is usually pre-
pared by roasting and lixiviating certain
clays containing pyrites, and to the lye
adding a certain quantity of potassa ; the
salt is then obtained by crystalization.
Alum is of great use in medicine and the
arts. In medicine, it is used as an astrin-
gent ; internally, in henioptoe, diarrhea,
and dysentery ; externally, as a styptic
applied to bleeding vessels, and as an es-
oharotic. In the arts, it is used in dyeing
to fix colors ; in making candles, for hard-
ening the tallow ; in tanning, for restoring
the cohesion of skins.
Encyc. Fourcroy. Webster^s Manual.
ALUM-EARTH, n. A massive mineral, of
a blackish brown color, a dull luster, and
soft consistence. Ure.
AL'UMIN, ) n. An earth, or earthy sub-
VLU'MINA, ^ stance, which has been con-
sidered to be elementary, and called pure
clay ; but recently, chimical experiments
have given reason to beUeve it to be a
metallic oxyd, to the base of which has
been given the name aluminum. This
metallic base however has not been ob-
tained in such a state as to make its pro-
perties susceptible of examination. Alum-
ina is destitute of taste aud smell. When
moistened with water, it forms a cohesive
and ductile mass, susceptible of being
kneaded into regular forms.
Dam/. Cyc. Webster's Manual.
ALU'MINIFOliM, a. Having the form of
alumina. Chnptal.
AL'UMINITE, n. Subsulphate of alumina;
a mineral that occurs in small roundish or
reniform masses. Its color is snow white
or yellowish white.
Aikin. Jameson. Cleaveland.l
Vol. I.
ALU'MINOUS, a. Pertaining to alum oi
alumina, or partaking of the same proper-
ties.
ALU'MINUM, n. The name given to the
supposed metallic base of alumina.
Davij
AL'UMISH, a. Having the nature of alum ;
somewhat resembling ahun.
ALUM-SLATE, n. A mineral of two spe
cies, conunon and glossy.
ALUM-STONE, n. The siliceous subsul
phatc of alumina and potash. Cleaveland.
ALU'TA, n. [L.] A species of leather-
stone, soft, pliable atid not laminated.
Quincy.
ALUTA'TION, n. [L. alula, tanned leath-
er.]
The tanning of leather.
AL'VEARY, n. [L. alvearium, alveare, a bee
hive, from alvus, the belly.]
The hollow of the external ear, or bottom
of the concha. Qidncy.
AL'VEOLAR, ? a. [L. alveolus, a socket.
\L'VEOLARY, S from alveus, a hollow ves
ael.]
Containing sockets, hollow cells or pits ; per-
taining to sockets. Anatomy.
AL'VEOLATE, a. [L. alveolatus, from al-
eus, a hollow vessel.]
Deeply pitted, so as to resemble a honej-
comb. Martyn
AL'VEOLE, ? ri 1- e 1 i
AL'VEOLUS, \ "■ [L- ''™- of '^»'^»«-]
1. A cell in a bee hive, or in a fossil.
2. The socket in the jaw, m which a tooth is
fixed.
3. A sea fossil of a conic figure, composed of]
a tunnlier of cells, like bee-hives, joined
by a pipe of communication. Encyc.
AL'VEOLITE, n. [L. alveolus, and Gr.
■KlOoi.]
Ill natural history, a kind of stony polypiers,
of a globular or hemi.spherical shape
formed by umnerous concentric beds, each
composed of a union of httle cells.
Diet, of JSi'at. Hist.
AL'VINE, a. [from alvus, the belly.]
Belonging to the belly or intestines.
Darwin.
ALAVAR'GRIM, n. The spotted plover,
Charadrius Apricarius. Pennant.
AL'WAY or AL'WAYS, adv. [all and loay ;
Sax. eal, and toeg, way ; properly, a going,
at all goings ; hence, at all times.]
1. Perpetually ; throughout all time ; as, God
is always the same.
2. Continually ; without variation.
3. Continually or constantly during a certain
period, or regularly at stated intervals.
Mephiboshelh shall eat bread alway at my ta-
ble. 2 Sam. ix.
4. At all convenient times ; regularly.
Cornelius prayed to God alway. Acts x.
Luke xviii. Eph. vi.
Alway is now seldom used. The applica-
tion of this compound to time proceeds
from the primary sense of way, which is
a going or passing ; hence, contuiuation
A. M. stand for Artium Magister, master of
arts, the second degree given by universi-
ties and colleges ; called in some conn
tries, doctor of philosophy. In America
this degree is conferred without examina-
tion, on bachelors of three years standing
8 "
A. M. stand also for Anno Mundi, in tJn
i year of the world.
AM, the first person of the verb to be, in tlif
indicative mode, present tense. Sax. com :
Gr. it/xt ; Goth, im ; Pers. am.
I AM that 1 AM. Ex. iii.
A'MA, or H.VMA, n. [D. aam, a vessel.]
In church affairs, a vessel to contain wine ibi-
the eucharist ; also, a wine measure, as ii
cask, a pipe, &c. Enaic.
AMABIL'ITY, 71. [h. amaUlis, from amo.
to love.]
Loveliness ; the power of pleasing, or rather
the combination of agreeable qualities
which win the aflfections. Taylor.
AMAD'AVAD, n. A small curious bird ot
the size of the crested wren ; the upper
part of the body is brown, the prime feath-
ers of the wings black.
Diet. ofJ\rat. Hist.
AMADET'TO, n. A sort of pear, so called,
it is said, from a person who cultivated it.
Skinner.
AMAD'OGADE, n. A small beautiful bird
in Peru ; the upper part of its body and
wings are of a lively green, its breast red,
and its belly white. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AM'ADOT, J^. A sort of pear. Johnson.
AM'ADOU, n. A variety ofthe boletus ignia-
rius, found on old ash and other trees.
Urc.
This is written also amadow, and called black
match, and pyrotechnical spunge, on accoimt
of its inflammability. Cyc.
AMA'IN, adv. [Sax. a and mcegn, force,
strengtli. See May, Might.]
With force, strength or violence ; violently ;
furiously ; suddenly ; at once.
WTiat, when we fled amain. Milton.
Let go aviain, in seamen's language, or strike
amain, is to let fall or lower at once.
Mar. Diet.
A3IAL'GAM, 71. [Gr. na^aiyfta, from fuiAaasu,
soften. Its usual derivation is certainly
•oneous.]
1. A mixture of mercui-y or quicksilver with
another metal ; any metallic alloy, of which
mercury forms an essential constituent
part. Cyc.
2. A mixture or compoimd of different
things. Burke.
AMALGAMATE, v. t. To mix quicksilver
with another metal. Gregory uses amal-
gamize.
2. To mix different things, to make a com-
pound ; to unite.
ABIAL'GAMATE, v. i. To mix or unite in
an amalgam ; to blend.
AMALGAMATED,/!;). Mixed with quick-
silver; blended.
AMAL'GAMATING, ;>;»•. Mixing quicksil-
ver with another metal ; compounding.
AMALGAMA'TION, n. The act or opera-
tion of mixing mercury with another
metal. Encyc.
2. The mixing or blending of different
things.
AM'ALOZK, n. A large aquatic fowl of
Mexico. Did. of J^'at. Hist.
AMAN'DOL.\, n. A green marble, having
the ajipearance of honey comb, and con-
taining white spots ; of 100 parts, 76 are
mild calcarious earth, 20 shist and 2 iron.
The cellular appearance proceeds from
the shist. Kirwmi. .Vicholson.
A M A
A M B
A M B
AMANUEN'SIS, n. [L. fyommmnis, band.]
A person whose employment is to write what
another dictates.
AM'ARANTH, ) n. [Gr. a>.aporro5, of o
AMARANTH'lIS, \ neg. and fiopoii-w, to
decay ; so called, it is said, because, when
croj)ped, it does not soon wither.]
Flower-gentle; a genus of plants, of many
species. Of these the tricolored has long
been cidtivated in gardens, on account of
the beauty of its variegated leaves.
£j!C)/C.
/VjM'ARANTH, n. A color inclinijig to pur-
ple. Cyc.
AMARANTH'INE, a. Belonging to ama-
ranth ; consisting of, containing, or resem-
bling amaranth.
AMAR'ITUDE, n. [L. amaiitudo, from ama-
rus, bitter ; from Heb. ID bitter.]
Bitterness. [JVot much used.^
AMARYL'LIS, n. [The name of a country
girl in Theocritus and Virgil.]
\nhotany, lily-daffodil, a genus of lihaceoiis
plants of several species, which are cidti-
vated ill gardens for the beauty of their
flowers. Encyc
AM'ASS, V. t. [Fr. amasser ; It. anunassare
L. massa, a heap or lump ; Gr. ^uofo. See
Mass.]
1. To collect into a heap; to gather a great
quantity ; to accumulate ; as, to amass a
treasure.
2. To collect in great numbers ; to add many
things together ; as, to amass words or
phrases.
AlVrASS, re. An assemblage, heap or accu-
mulation. [Tliis is superseded by Mass.]
AM'ASSED, pp. Collected in a heap, or in
a great quantity or number ; accumulated
AM'ASSING, ppr. Collecting in a heap, or
in a large quantity or number.
AlVrASSMENT, n. A heap collected
large quantity or number brought togeth-
er ; an accumulation.
AMA'TE, V. i. [See Mate.] To accompany
also to terrify, to perplex. [.Yot used.]
AMATEU'R, 11. [Fr., from L. amator, i
lover, from amo, to love.]
A person attached to a ])articular pursuit
study or science, as to music or pamting
one who has a taste for the arts. Burke.
AMATO'RIAL, ? a. [L. amatorius, from amo,
AMATORY, <, to love.]
I. Relating to love ; as, anialonal verses ; cau-
sing love ; as, amatory potions ; produced
by sexual intercourse ; as, amatorial pro-
geny. Darwin.
•2. In anatomy, a term applied to the oblique
muscles of the eye, from their use
oghng.
.\MAT0'RIALLY, adv. In an amatorial
manner ; by way of love. Danoin.
AMAURO'SIS, n. [Gr. a^avpof, obscure
A loss or decay of sight, without any visible
defect in the eye, except an immovable
pupil ; called also gutta serena. Some
times the disease is periodical, coming on
suddenly, continuing for hours or days,
and then disappearing. It has sometimes
been cured by electricity. Encyc. Coxe
AMA'ZE,v.t. [Qu. Ar. ^e to perplex
or confuse ; or from maze.]
To confound with fear, sudden surprise, or
wonder ; to astonish.
Theyi
Tliey shall be afraid ; they shall be amaztil
one another. Is. xiii.
ere all amazed and glorified God.
Mark ii. Luke v.
Tills word implies astonishment or perplex-
ity, arising from something extraordinary,
unexpected, unaccountable, or frightfuh"
AMA'ZE, re. Astonishment ; confusion ; per-
plexity, arising from fear, surprise or won-
der. It is chiefly used in poetry, and is
nearly synonymous with amazement.
AMA'ZED, pp. Astonished ; confoiuided
with fear, sui-jirise or wonder.
AM A'ZEDLY, adv. With amazement ; in a
to confound. [Little used.]
AMA'ZEDNESS,re. The state of being con-
foimded with fear, surprise or wonder ;
astonishment ; great wonder.
AMA'ZEMENT, n. Astonishment; confu-
sion or perplexity, from a sudden impress-
ion of fear, surprise or wonder. It is some-
times accompanied with fear or terror ;
sometimes merely extreme wonder or ad-
miration at some great, sudden or unex-
|)ected event, at an unusual sight, or a'
the narration of extraordinary events.
AMA'ZING, ppr. Confoundmg with fear,
surprise or wonder.
2. a. Very wonderful ; exciting astonish
ment, or perplexity.
- "'NGLY, adv.
gree ; in a manner to excite astonishment,
or to perplex, confound or terrify.
AM'AZON, n. [This is said to be formed of
a neg. and f«i?05, breast. History inform;
us, that the Amazons cut off their right
breast, that it might not incommode them
in shooting and hurling the javelin. This
is doubtless a fable.]
1 . The Amazons are said by historians, to have
been a race of female warriors, who foun-
ded an empire on the river Thermodon, in
Asia Minor, on the coast of the Eux
They are said to have excluded men from
their society ; and by their warlike enter
prises, to have conquered and alanned
surrounding nations. Some writers treat
these accounts as fables.
Herodian. Justin
2. By analogy, a warlike or masculine wo
man ; a virago.
3. This name has been given to some Anieri
can females, on the banks of the largest
river in the world, who joined their hus-
bands in attacking the Spaniards that first
visited the country. This trivial occur
rence gave the name Amazon to that river,
whose real name is Maranon,
Garcilasso, p. 606.
AMAZO'NIAN, a. Pertaining to or resem-
bling an Amazon. Applied to females.
bold ; of mascuhne manners ; warlik
2. Belonging to the river Maranon in South
America, or to Amazonia, the country-
lying on that river.
AMB, AM. About ; around ; used in compo
sition. Sax. enib, ymb ; W. am ; Ir. im
um ; G. um ; D. om ; Dan. om ; Sw. om
Gr. a/i$i ; Lat. am or amb.
AMBA'gES, re. [L. amb and ago, to drive.]
. A circumlocution ; a circuit of words to
express ideas which may be expressed in
fewer words.
2. A winding or turning.
AMBAS'SADOR, 71. [This is the more com-
mon orthography ; but good authors write
also embassador ; and as the orlhography
of embassy is established, it would he bet-
ter to write embassador. See Embassador.]
AM'BE or AMBI, n. [Gr. a^S^, a brim ;
from amb, about.]
Literally, a brim ; but in surgery, an instru-
ment for reducing dislocated shoulders, so
called from the jutting of its extremity.
Also the mango tree.
Qidncy. Encyc. Core.
AM'BER, re. [Fr.ambre; Sp. ambar; Port.
id; It. ambra; an oriental word ; Pers.
j^ic anbar or anabar; Ar. j^is anba-
ron. In 1 ICings x. 2. 10, the Arabic is ren-
dered spices. Tlie Arabic word is render-
ed by Castle, amber, a marine fish, a shield
made of skuis, crocus and finius. In Eth.
OtII^ anbar is rendered a whale, and
the word is used in Jonah, ii. 1. and Math,
xii. 40. This word is placed by Castle under
i-*.A£ to produce grapes, and ^^ic
signifies grapes, Ch. and Heb. 33^. The
Chaldee verb signifies to joui or connect,
and the sense of this word, apphed to
grapes, is a cluster, hke grape in Enghsh.
It signifies also in Ch. a tumor, a pustle,
a mountain, the sense of which is'a lump
or mass collected ; and this may be the
sense of amber. In German, Dutch, Swe-
dish and Danish, it has the name of burn-
stone.]
A hard semi-pellucid substance, tasteless and
without smell, except when pounded or
heated, when it emits a fragrant odor. It
is found in alluvial soils, or on the sea
shore, in many places ; particularly on the
shores of the Baltic, in Europe, and at
Cape Sable, in Maryland, in the V. States.
The ancient opinion of its vegetable origin
seems now to be estabhshed, and it is be-
lieved or known to be a fossil resin. It
yields by distillation an empyreumatic oil,
and the succinic acid, which sublimes in
small white needles. Its color usually pre-
sents some tinge of yellow. It is highly
electrical, and is the basis of a varnish.
Journal of Science. Encyc. Chambers.
AM'BER, a. Consisting of; or resembUng
amber.
AM'BER, Ji. t. To scent with amber.
AM'BER-DRINK, n. A drink resembUng
amber in color.
AM'BER-DROPPING, a. Dropping amber.
Milton.
AM'BER-SEED, n. Musk-seed, resembUng
millet. It is of a bitterish taste, and brought
from Egypt and the Vl^. Indies.
Chambers.
AMBER-TREE, n. The EhgUsh name of
a species of Anthospermum, a shrub, with
evergreen leaves, which, when bruised,
emit a fragrant odor. Miller.
AM'BERGRIS, n. [amber and Fr. gris,
gray ; gray amber.]
A solid, opake, ash-colored inflammable sub-
stance, variegated like marble, remarkably
light, rugged on its surface, and when
heated, it has a fragrant odor. It does not
effervesce with acids ; it melts easily into
a kind of yellow resin, and is highly solu-
ble in spirit of wine. Various opinions
A M B
A M B
A M B
have been entertained respecting its ori-
gin ; but it is well ascertained, that it is
indurated fecal matter, discharged by the
spermaceti whale, a species of physeter.
It has been found in that species of whale,
but usually is found floating on the surface
of the ocean, in regions frequented by
whales ; sometimes in masses of from CO
to 225 lbs. weight. In this substance are
found the beaks of the cuttle fish, on which
that whale is known to feed. It is highly
valued as a material in perfumery.
Encyc.
AM'BIDEXTER, n. [L. ambo, both, and
dexter, the right hand.]
1. A person who uses both hands with equal
facihty.
2. A double dealer ; one equally ready to
act on either side in party disputes. [This
sense is used in ludicrous luTiguage.]
3. Inlaw, a juror who takes money of both
parties, for giving his verdict ; an embra-
cer. Cowel.
AMBIDEXTERITY, > n. The faculty
AMBIDEX'TROUSNESS, \ of using both
hands with equal facility ; double dealing ;
the taking of money from both parties for
a verdict.
AMBIDEXTROUS, a. Having the faculty
of using both hands with equal ease ; prac-
ticing or siding with both parties.
AM'BIENT, a. [L. ambiens, from ambio, to
go round, from amb, about, and eo, to go.]
Surrounding ; encompassing on all sides ;
investing ; appUed to fluids or diffusible
substances ; as, the ambient air. Milton.
AMBKi'ENAL, a. [L. ambo, both, and genu,
a knee.]
An ambigenal hyperbola is one of the triple
hyperbolas of the second order, having
one of its infinite legs falling within an
angle formed by the asymptotes, and the
other without. Enaic.
AM'BIGU,n. [Fr. See Jlmbiguity.]
An entertainment or feast, consisting of a
medley of dislies. King.
AMBIGU'ITY, 71. [L. ambiguitas, fi-om
ambigo.]
Doubthdness or uncertainty of signification,
from a word's being susceptible of differ-
ent meanings ; double meaning.
Words should be used which admit of no am-
Mfe
AMBIG'UOUS, a. [L. ambiguus.]
Having two or more meanings; doubtful;
being of uncertain signification ; suscep-
tible of different interpretations ; hence,
obscure. It is applied to words and ex-
pressions; not to a dubious state of mind,
though it may be to a person using words
of doubtful signification.
The ancient oracles were ambiguous, as were
their answers.
AMBIG'UOUSLY, adv. In an ambiguous
mamier ; with doubtful meaning.
AMBIG'UOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being ambiguous ; uncertainty of mean-
ing ; ambiguity ; and hence, obscurity
AMBIL'06Y, n. [ambo, both, and xo
speech.]
Talk or language of doubtful meaning.
AMBILOQUOUS, a. [ambo, both, and
loquor, to speak.]
Using ambiguous expressions.
AM'BIT, n. [L. ambitus, a circuit, from
ambio, to go about. See ^jnbient.]
Xoyos,
The line that encompasses a thing ; in geom
etry, the perimeter of a figure, or the sur
face of a body. The periphery or circum
feronce of a circular body.
Johnson. Encyc.
AMBI"TION, n. [L. ambitio, from ambio, tol
go about, or to .seek by making interest, of|
amb, about, and eo, to go. See Amhagt
This word had its origin in the practice of
Roman candidates for office, who went
about the city to solicit votes.]
A desire of preferment, or of honor ; a desire
of excellence or superiority. It is used '
a good sense ; as, emulation may spring
from a laudable ambition. It denotes also
an inordinate desire of power, or emi
nence, often accompanied with illegal
means to obtain the object. It is .some-
times followed by of ; as, a man has
ambition of wit. Blilton has used the word
in the Latin sense of going about, or at
tempting ; but this sense is hardly legiti-
mate.
AMBI'TION, V. t. [Fr. ambitionner.]
Ambitiously to seek after. [Little used.]
King.
AMBI"TIOUS, a. Desirous of power, honor,
office, superiority or excellence ; aspiring
eager for fame ; followed by of before a
noun ; as, ambitious o/ glory.
2. Showy ; adapted to command notice o
praise ; as, ambitious ornaments.
3. Figuratively, eager to swell or rise higher
as, the ambitioUrS ocean. ' Shak.
AMBI"TIOUSLY, adv. In an ambitious
manner ; with an eager desire after pre-
ferment, or superiority.
AMBI"TIOUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing ambitious ; ambition. Being nearly
synonymous with ambition, it is not often
u.sed.
AM'BLE, V. i. [Fr. ambler, from L. ambulo,
to walk ; Qu. amb, about, and the root of
Fr. aller.]
1. To move with a certain peculiar pace
as a horse, first lifting his two legs on one
side, and then changing to the other.
Edin. Encyc.
2. To move easy, without hard shocks.
Him time ambles withal. Shak
3. In a ludicrous sense, to move with sub-
mission, or by direction, or to move af-
fectedly. Johnson.
AM'BLE, n. A peculiar pace of a horse.
AMBLER, n. A horse which ambles ; a
pacer.
AM'BLIGON, or AM'BLYGON, n. [Gr.
a^SXiif, obtuse, and yavta, an angle.]
An obtuse angled triangle ; a triangle with
one angle of more thau ninety degrees.
Bailey. Encyc.
AMBLIG'ONAL, a. Containing an obtuse
anffle. jlsh
AM'BLIGONITE, n. [Gr. au8t.vyuvios, hav
ing an obtuse angle.]
A greenish colored mineral, of different pak
shades, marked on the surface with red
dish and yellowish brown spots. It occur:
massive or crystahzed in oblique four
sided prisms, in granite, with topaz and
tounnaUn, in Saxony. t're,
AJI'BLING, ppr. or a. Lifting the two legs
on the same side at first going oft', and
then changing.
AM'BLINGLY, adv. With an ambUng gait.
AM'BLYOPY, n. [Gr. a^S?^-?, dull, and ^.
eye.]
Incipient amaurosis ; dulness or obscurity of
sight, without any apparent defect of tlie
organs ; sig'ht so depraved that objects
can be seen only in a certain light, dis-
tance, or position. Encyc. Coir.
AM'BO, n. [Gr. afiSui, a pulpit ; L. umbo, a
boss.]
A reading desk, or pulpit. Ifhekr.
AMBREA DA, n. [from amber.] A kind of
factitious amber, which the Europeans sell
to the Africans. Encyc.
AMBRO'SIA, n. ambro'zha, [Gr. a neg. and
eporoj, mortal, because it was supposed to
confer immortality on them that fed on it.]
1. In heathen antiquity, the imaginary food
of the gods. Hence,
2. Whatever is very pleasing to the taste or
smell. The name has also been given to
certain alexipharmic compositions.
AJIBRO'SIAL, a. amhro'zhal. Partaking of
the nature or qualities of ambrosia ; fra-
grant ; dehghting the taste or smell ; as,
ambrosial dews. Ben Jonson uses ambro-
siac in a hke sense, and Bailey has am-
brosian, but these seem not to be war-
ranted by usage.
AMBRO'SIAN, a. Pertaining to St. Am-
brose. The Jlmbrosian office, or ritual, is
a formula of worship in the church of
Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose, in the
fourth century. Encyc.
AM'BROSIN, n. In the middle ages, a coin
.struck by the dukes of Milan, on which
St. Ambrose was represented on horse-
back, with a whip in his right hand.
Encyc.
AM'BRY, n. [contracted from Fr. aumo-
nerie, ahuonry, from old Fr. almoigne,
alms.]
1. An abnonry; a place where alms are
deposited for distribution to the poor. In
ancient abbeys and priories tliere was an
office of this name, in which the almoner
Uved.
2. A place in which are deposited the uten-
sils for house keeping ; also a cupboard :
a place for cold victuals.
AMI5S'-AC'E, n. [L. ambo, both, and ace.]
A double ace, as when two dice turn up the
ace. Johnson.
AM'BULANT, a. [L. ambulans, from am-
bulo.]
Walking ; moving from place to place.
Encyc.
Ambulant brokers, in Amsterdam, are ex-
change-brokers, or agents, who are not
sworn, and whose testimony is not re-
ceived in courts of justice. Encyc
AMBULATION, n. [L. ambulatio.] A wag-
ing about ; the act of walking.
AM'BULATOR, ji. In entomology, a species
of Lamia, whose thorax is armed on each
side with two spines ; a Cerambyx of
Lmne. Cuc.
AMBULATORY, a. That has the power
or faculty of walking ; as, an animal is
ambulatory.
2. Pertaining to a walk ; as, an ambulatoiy
view.
3. Moving from place to place ; not station-
arj- ; as, an ambuUitory court, which exer-
cises its jurisdiction in different places.
Johnson.
AMBULATORY, n. A species of ichneu-
A M E
A M E
A M E
moil, with a yellowish sciitellum ami spot-
ted thorax. Ci/c.
AM'BURY, 01- .\N'BURY, n. [Qu. L.
umbo, the navel ; Gr. a/iS^v.]
Among farriers, a tumor, wart or swelling
on a horse, full of blood and soft to the
toucli. Encyc.
AM'BUS€ADE,n. [Fr. emhiscade ; Sp.Port.
emboscada ; It. imboscata ; from It. imbos-
eare, Sp. emboscar, to lie in bushes, or
concealed ; in and bosco, bosque, a. wood ;
Eng. biish.]
1. LiUrnlly, a lying in a wood, concealed,
for the purpose of attacking an enemy by
surprise : hence, a lying in wait, and con-
cealed in any situation, for a like puiTiose.
2. A private station in which troo()S lie
concealed with a view to attack their ene-
my by sui-prise ; ambush.
AM'BUS€ADE, v. t. To lie in wait for, or
to attack from a concealed position.
AM'BUS€ADED, pp. Having an ambush
laid against, or attacked from a private
station ; as, his troops were ambuscaded.
AM'BUS€ADING, ppr. Lying in wait for ;
attacking from a secret station.
AM'BUSH, n. [Fr. embikhe, of in and bush ;
Dan. busk ; D. bosch ; Germ, busch ; Fr.
bosquet, boscage, bocage, bois. See Bush.]
1. A private or concealed station, where
troops lie in wait to attack their enemy by
surjjrise.
2. The state of lying concealed, for the pur-
pose of attacking by surprise ; a lying in
wait.
3. The troops posted in a concealed place
for attacking by surprise.
Lay thee an ambush for the city. Josli. viii.
AM'BUSH, V. t. To lie in wait for ; to sur-
prise, by assailing unexpectedly from a
concealed place.
AM'BUSH, V. i. To lie in wait, for the pur-
pose of attacking by surprise.
Nor saw the snake, that ambush'd for his prey.
Trumbull
AM'BUSHED, pp. Lain in wait for ; sud-
denly attacked from a concealed station.
AM'BUSHING, ppr. Lying in wait for ; at-
tacking from a concealed station.
AM'BUSHMENT, n. An ambush ; which
see.
AMBUS'TION, )!. [L. ambustio, from am
buro, to burn or scorch, o{amb, about, and
ttro, to burn.]
Among physiciatis, a burning ; a burn or
scald.
AMEl'VA, n. A species of lizard, found in
Brazil. Bid. of JVai. Hist.
AM'EL, n. [Fr. email.'] The matter with
which metallic bodies are overlaid ; but its
use is superseded by enamel ; which see.
Boyle.
AME'LIORATE, v. t. [Fr. ameliorer, from
L. melior, better.]
To make better ; to improve ; to meUorate,
S. S. Smith. Christ. Obs. Buchanan.
AME'LIORATE, v. i. To grow better ; to
meliorate.
AMELIORA'TION,n. A making or becom-
ing better ; improvement ; melioration.
AMEN'. This word, with slight differences
of orthography, is in all the dialects of the
Assyrian stock. As a verb, it signifi
confirm, estabhsh, verify ; to trust, or give
confidence ; as a noun, truth, f
trust, confidence ; as an adjective, firm,
stable. In English, after the oriental
manner, it is used at the beginning, but
more generally at the end of declarations
and prayers, in the sense of, be it firm, be
it established.
And let all the people say amen. Fs. cvi.
The word is used also as a noun.
" All (he promises of God are amen in
Christ ;" that is, firmness, stability, constancy.
;VME'NABLE, a. [It. menare ; Fr. mener,
amener ; Norm, amesner, to lead, to brhig ;
Fr. amener. It. ammainare, in marine lan-
guage, to strike sail.]
1. In old law, easy to be led ; governable,
as a woman by her husband. [This sense
is obsolete.}
2. Liable to answer ; responsible ; answera-
ble ; liable to be called to account ; as, ev-
ery man is amenable to the laws.
We retain thi.s idiom in the popular
phrase, to Irring in, to make answerable ;
as, a man is brought in to pay the debt of
another.
AM' ENAGE,r.<. To manage. Obs.,
AM'ENANCE, n. Conduct, behavior. Obs.
Spenser.
AMEND', D.i. [Fr. amender ; h. emendo, of
e neg, and menda, mendum, a fault ; W.
mann, a spot or blemish ; Sp. Port, emen-
dnr ; It. ammendare. See Mend.]
1. To correct ; to rectify by expunging a
listake ; as, to amend a law.
3. To reform, by quitting bad habits ; to
make better in a moral sense ; as, to amend
our ways or our conduct.
3. To correct ; to sup])ly a defect ; to im-
prove or make better, by some addition of
what is wanted, as well as by expunging
what is wrong, as to amend a bill before a
legislature. Hence it is applied to the
correction of authors, by restoring passa-
ges which had been omitted, or restoring
the true reading.
AMEND', V. i. To grow or become better,
by reformation, or rectifying something
wrong in maimers or morals. It differs
from improve, in this, that to amend im
plies something previously wrong ; t(
improve, does not.
.\MEND', n. [Fr.] A pecuniary punishment,
or fine. The amende honorable, in France,
is an infamous punishment inflicted on
traitors, parricides and sacrilegious per-
sons. The offender, being led into court
with a rope about his neck, begs pardon
of his God, the court, &c. These words
denote also a recantation in open court,
or in presence of the injured person.
Encyc.
AMEND' ABLE, a. That may be amended ;
capable of correction ; as, an amendable
writ or error.
AMEND'ATORY, a. That amends ; sup
plying amendment ; corrective.
AMEND'ED,^;). Corrected; rectified; re
formed ; improved, or altered for the
better.
AMEND'ER, n. The person that amends.
AMEND'ING, jop\ Correcting; reforming
altering for the better.
AMEND'MENT, n. An alteration or change
for the better ; correction of a fault or
faults ; reformation of life, by quitting vices.
2. A word, clause or paragraph, added or
proposed to be added to a bill before a
legislature.
3. In laie, the correction of an error in a writ
or process.
Shakespeare uses it for the recovei-y of
health, but this sense is unusual.
AMENDS', n. plu. [Fr. amende.]
Compensation for an injury; recompense;
satisfaction ; equivalent ; as, the happiness
of a future life will more than make amends
for the miseries of this.
AME'NITY, n. [L. ammnitas ; Fr. aminiti ;
L. amamis ; W. mwyn, good, kind.]
Pleasantness ; agreeableuess of situation ;
that which delights the eye ; used of pla-
ces and prospects. Brown.
AM'ENT, n. [L. amentum, a thong, or
strap.]
In botany, a species of inflorescence, from a
common, chafiy receptacle ; or consisting
of many scales, ranged along a stalk or
slender axis, which is the common recep-
tacle ; as in birch, oak, chesnut. Martyn.
AMENTA'CEOUS,a. Growing in an ament ;
resembling a thong ; as, the chesnut has
an amentaceous inflorescence. Martyn.
AMERCE, V. t. amers'. [A verb formed from
a for on or at, and Fr. merci, mercy, or
from L. merces, reward.]
1. To inflict a penalty at mercy ; to punish by
a pecuniary penalty, the amoimt of which
is not fixed by law, but left: to the discre-
tion or mercy of the coin-t ; as, the court
amerced the criminal in the sum of one
hundred dollars.
2. To inflict a pecuniary penalty ; to punish
in general. Milton uses of afler amerce .-
" Millions of spirits amerced of heaven ;"
but this use seems to be a poetic license.
A3IER'CED, pp. Fined at the discretion of
a court.
AMERCEMENT, n. amers'ment. A pecun-
iary penalty inflicted on an offender at the
discretion of the court. It differs from a
fine, in that the latter is, or was originally,
a fixed and certain sum prescribed by stat-
ute for an offense ; but an amercement is
arbitrary. Hence the practice of affeering.
[See Affeer.] But in America, the word fine
is now used for a pecuniary penalty which
is uncertain ; and it is common in stat-
utes, to enact that an offender shall be
fined, at the discretion of the court. In
England also, fines are now usually dis-
cretionary. Thus the word fine has, in a
measure, superseded the use of amerce-
ment. This word, in old books, is written
amerciament.
Amercement royal is a penalty imposed on an
officer for a misdemeanor in his office.
AMER'CER, n. One who sets a fine at dis-
cretion, upon an offender.
AMER'l€A, n. [from Amerigo Vespucci,
a Florentine, who pretended to have first
discovered the we.-^tern continent.]
One of the great comments, first discovered
by Sebastian Cabot, June 11, O. S. 1498,
and by Columbus, or Christoval Colon,
Aug. 1, the same year. It extends from
the eightieth degree of North, to the fifty-
fourth degree of South Latitude ; and
from the thirty-fifth to the one hundred
and fifty-sixth" degree of Longitude West
from Greenwich, being about nine thou-
sand miles in length. Its breadtli at
Darien is narrowed to about forty-five
miles, hut at the northern extremity is
nearly four the iisand miles. From Darien
A M I
to the JVorth, tlie continent is called ^Torth
America, and to the South, it is called South
Ancrica.
AMER'1€AN, a. Pertaining to America.
AMER'ICAN, n. A native of America
originally ai)plied to the aboriginals, or
copper-colored races, found here by the
Europeans; but now applied to the des-
cendants of Europeans born in America.
The name American must always exalt thi
pride of patriotism. • Washington
AMER'I€ANISM, n. The love which Amer-
ican citizens have to their own country, or
the preference of its interests. Analogi-
cally, an American idiom.
AMERICANIZE, v. t. To render Amer-
ican ; to naturalize in America.
AMER'ICIM, n. A species of lizard in
South America, not more than two inches
in length, and the third of an inch in diam-
eter. Its legs are of the size of a hog's
bristle. Did. o/JVat. Hist.
AMETH'ODIST, n. A quack. [M,t used.]
AM'ETHYST, n. [L. amethystus ; Gr.
afiiBvioi, which the Greeks supposed to
be formed from a nag. and /ufSnu, to ine-
briate, from some supposed quality in the
stone of resisting intoxication. Phn. xxxvii.
9, mentions an opinion that it takes its
name from its color approachuig that of
wine, but not reaching it.]
A sub-species of quartz, of a violet blue
color, of different degrees of mtensity. I
generally occurs crystalized in hexahedral
prisms or pyramids ; also in rolled frag-
ments, composed of imperfect prismatic
crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal oi
splintery. It is wrought into various arti-
cles of jewelry. Cleaveland. Encyc
AM'ETHYST, in heraldry, signifies a pur-
ple color. It is the same, in a nobleman's
escutcheon, as purpure, iji a gentleman's
• and mercury, in that of a prince. Encyc.
AMETHYST'INE, a. Pertaining to or re-
sembling amethyst ; anciently apjilied to a
garment of the color of amethyst, as dis-
tinguished from the Tyrian and hyacuith-
ine purple.
AM'IA, n. A genus offish, of the abdomin-
eJ order, foimd in the rivers of Carolina.
Pennant
A'MIABLE, a. [Fr. amiable ; L. amabilis ;
from amo, to love.]
1. Lovely ; worthy of love ; deserving of af-
fection ; applied usually to persons. But in
Ps.lxxxiv. 1, there is an exception, " How
amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord."
3. Pretending or showing love.
Lay amiable siege to the honesty of this
Ford's wife. Shak
But this use is not legitimate.
A'MIABLENESS.n.The quahty of deserv-
ing love ; loveliness.
A'MIABLY, adv. In an amiable manner
in a manner to excite or attract love.
AM'IANTH, } „ [Gr. af.iar.ro;, of a neg.
AMIANTH'US, S and a"*'-"-, to pollute,
or vitiate ; so called from its incombusti-
bility. Plin. 3(3. lit.]
Earth-flax, or mountain flax ; a mineral sub-
stance somewhat resembling flax ; usually
grayish, or of a greenish white ; sc
times of a yellowish or silvery wliite, ohve
or mountain green, of a pale flesh red or
ocher color. It is composed of delicate
filaments, very flexible and somewhat
A M I
elastic, often long and resembling threads
of silk. It is incombustible, and has
sometimes been wrought into cloth
paper. Kirwan. Encyc. Cleaveland.
AMIANTH'IFORM, a. [Amianth a.nd form.]
Having die form or Ukeness of amianth.
Amianthiform arseiiiate of copper. Phillips.
AMIANTH'INITE, n. A species of amor-
phous mineral, a variety of actinolite ; its
color ash, greenish or yellowish gray,
olicn mixed with yellow or red ; its f " -
ture confusedly fohated and fibrous.
Kirwan.
AMIANTH'OID, n. [Amianth and Gr.
fi6of, form.]
A mineral which occurs in tufts, composed
of long capillary filaments, flexible and
very elastic ; more flexible than the fibers
of asbestus, but stiffer and more elastic
than those of amianth. The color is olive
green, or greenish white. HaiXy. Cleaveland.
AMIANTH'OID, a. Resembhng amianth
in form.
AM'ICABLE, a. [L. amicabilis, from ami
a friend, from amo, to love.]
1. Friendly ; peaceable ; harmonious in social
or mutual transactions ; usually apphed
to the dispositions of men who have busi
ness with each other, or to their inter
course and transactions ; as, nations oi
men have come to an amicable adjustment
of their diflerences.
2. Disposed to peace and friejidship ; as, an
amicable temper. [But rarely applied '
single person.]
AM'IeABLENESS, n. The quahty of being
peaceable, friendly, or disposed to peace";
friendliness ; a disposition to preserve
peace and fi^iendship.
AM'I€ABLY, adv. In a friendly manner;
with harmony or good will ; without con
troversy ; as, the dispute was amicably ad
usted.
jusl
.M'l
ICE, n. [L. amictus from amicior, to
clothe ; Fr. amid ; Sp. amito ; Port, amicto.]
A square hnen cloth that a Cathohc priest
ties about his neck, hanging down behind
under the alb, when he officiates at mass.
Sp. and Port. Did.
AMID', > ,.„„ [of a and Sax. midd,
AMIDST', (iP'^P- the middle, L. medius.
Amidst is the superlative degree middest.
a contraction of Sax. mid-mesta, mid-most.
See Middle and Midst.]
In the midst or middle.
2. Among ; mingled with ; as, a sheplierd
amidst his flock.
.3. Sun-ounded, encompassed, or envelop
ed with ; as, amidst the shade ; amid the
waves. Amid is used mostly in poetry.
AMID'-SHIPS, in marine language, the
middle of a ship, with regard to her
lengtli and breadth.
AM'ILOT, n. A white fish in the Mexican
lakes, more than a foot in length, and
much esteemed at the table. Clavigero.
AMISS', a. [a and miss. See Miss.]
1. Wrong ; fauhy ; out of order ; impi'oper ;
as, it may not be amiss to ask advice. [This
adjective always follows its noun.]
2. adv. In a faulty manner ; contrary to
propriety, truth, law or morality.
Ve ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss.
James, iv.
Applied to the body, it signifies indisposed ;
as, I am somewhat amiss to day.
A M 31
AM'ITY, n. [Fr. amilie ; It. amistct, aviitt-
dde ; Sp. amistad, from amistar, to recon-
cile ; Port, amizade ; Norm, amistee, ti'iend-
ship, amez, friends, ameis, amdz, beloved.
Qu. L. amo, amicitia.]
Friendship, in a general sense, between in-
dividuals, societies or nations ; harmony ;
good understanding ; as, our nation is in
amity with all the world ; a treaty of
amity anil conmierce.
AM'MA, n. [Heb. DK mother.]
1. An abbess or spiritual mother.
2. A girdle or truss used in ruptures. [Gr.
a/ifna.] Coie.
AM'MAN, n. [G. amimann ; D. amptman ;
Da.n. amtmand ; a compound ofampt, Sas.
ambahl or embeht, office, duty, charge, and
man. See Embassador.]
In some European nations, a judge who
has cognizance of civil cau.ses. In Prance,
a notary or ofiicer who di-aws deeds and
other writings. Encyc.
AM'IMITE or HAM'MITE, n. [Gr. .v^oj,
sand.]
A sand-stone or free-stone, of a pale brown
color, very heavy, of a lax texture, com-
posed of smaU round granides, cemented
by an earthy spaiTy matter. The grit or
granules are small stalagmites, composed
of crusts or coats including one another.
It is the roe-stone or oohte of recent au-
thors. Da Costa. Plin. 37. 10.
AM'MOCETE, n. An obsolete name of the
ammodyte. In Cuvier, the name of a genus
of fish, including the lampern, Petroniy-
zon hranchialis, Linne.
AM'MOeURYSE, n. am'mokris, [Gr. au-
Hos, sand, and jfpvffoj, gold.]
A yellow soft stone, found in Germany, con-
sisting of glossy yellow particles. When
rubbed or ground, it is used to strew over
writing, Uke black sand with us. tin. yel-
low mica. Plin. 37. 11. Encyc.
AMMODYTE, n. [Gr. a^^oj, sand, and
Svu, to enter.]
The sand eel, a genus of fish, of the apodal
order, about a foot iti length, with a com-
pressed head, a long slender body, and
scales hardly perceptible. There is but
one species, the tobianus or lance. It bu-
ries itself in the sand, and is found also in
the stomach of the porpess, which indi-
cates that the latter fish roots up the sand
like a hog. Encyc.
This name is also given to a serpent of the
size of a viper, and of a yellowish color,
found in Africa ; also to a large serpent of
Ceylon, of a whitish ash color, and very
venomous. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
AMMO'NIA, I [The real origin of this
AM'MONY, ^ "■ word is not ascertained.
Some authors suppose it to be from Am-
nion, a title of Jupiter, near whose temple
in upper Egypt, it was generated. Others
suppose it to be fi-om Ammonia, a Cyre-
naic territory ; and others deduce it fi-om
an/ios, sand, as it was found in sandy
ground. Anghcized, this forms an elegant
word, ammony.]
Volatile alkali ; a substance, which, in its
purest form, exists in a state of gas. It is
composed of hydrogen and nitrogen.
Combined with the muriatic acid, it fijrma
the muriate of ammonia, called also sal
ammoniac at(,d hydro-chlorate of ammo-
A M N
A M O
A M O
Ilia. Native muriate of ammony is found
in Egypt, where it is said to be generated
in large inns and caravanseras, from the
excrements of camels and other beasts,
It occurs also massive and crystalized in
the vicinity of volcanoes. Ammony, pop-
ularly called hartshorn, is extremely pun-
gent and acrid, but when diluted, is an
agreeable stimulant. It extinguishes flame,
and is fatal to animal life. It combines
with acids, and produces a class of salts,
which, with few exceptions, are soluble
water. Nicholson. Thompson. JVehstcr's
Manual.
AMMONIAC, ) Pertaining to am
AMftlONI'AeAL, S "• nia, or possessing its
properties.
AMMONIAC, or AMMONIAC GUM, n
[See Ammonia.'^
A gam resin, from Africa and the East
brought in large masses, composed of
tears, internally white and externally yel-
low ; supposed to be an exudation from ar
umbelhferous plant. It has a fetid smell,
and a nauseous sweet taste, followed by a
bitter one. It is inflammable, soluble in
water and spirit of wine, and is used in
medicine, as a deobstruent, and resolvent.
Encyc.
AMMO'NIAN, a. Relating to Ammonius,
surnamed Saccas, of Alexandria, who
flourished at the end of the second (
tury, and was the founder of the eclectic
system of Philosophy ; or rather, he com
pleted the estabhshment of the sect, whicl
originated with Potamo. Enfield.
AM'MONITE, n. [Cornu amnwms, from
Jupiter Amman, whose statues were rep
resented with rani's horns.]
Serpent-stone, or cornu ammonis, a fossil
shell, curved into a spiral, hke a ram's
horn ; of various sizes, from the smallest
grains to three feet in diameter. This fos
sil is found in stratums of limestone and
clay, and in argillaceous iron ore. It is
smooth or ridged ; the ridges strait, crook-
ed or undulated. Cyc. Encyc. Plin. 37. 10,
AMMO'NIUM, n. A name given to the sup-
posed metallic basis of ammonia. If mer-
cury, at the negative pole of a galvanic bat-
tery, is placed in contact with a solution
of ammonia, and the circuit is completed
an amalgam is formed, which, at the tern
perature of 70° or 80" of Fahrenheit, is of
the consistence of butter, but at the freez-
ing point is a firm and crystalized mass.
This amalgam is supposed to be formed
by the metallic basis, ammonium.
Davy. Thomson.
AMMONI'URET, n. The solution of a sub-
stance ill ammonia. Ed. Encyc
AMMUNI"TION, n. [L. ad and munitio,
from munio, to fortify.]
Military stores, or provisions for attack or
defense. In modern usage, the significa-
tion is confined to the articles which are
used in the discharge of fire-arms and
ordnance of all kinds ; as powder, balls,
bombs, various kinds of shot, &c.
Ammunilion-bread, bread or other provisions
to supply troops.
AM'NESTY, n. [Gr. ani'Tjatta, of aneg. and
nvrjats, memory, from the root of mens.
mmd. See Mind.]
An act of oblivion ; a general pardon of the
offenses of subjects against the govern-
ment, or the proclamation of such pardon.
AM'NIOS or AM'NION, n. [Gr. aftvM,', a
vessel or membrane.]
The innermost membrane surrotmding the
fetus in the womb. It is thin, transparent,
soft and smooth on the inside, but rougl
on the outside. Encyc.
AMNIOT'IC, o. Obtained from the liquor
of the amnios, as the amniotic acid.
Ure.
AMOBE'AN, a. Alternately answering.
Warton.
AMOBE'UM, n. [Gr. a^otffaioj, alternate;
afioiSri, change.]
A poem in which persons are represented
as speaking alternately, as the third and
seventh eclogues of Virgil. Encyc.
AMO'MUM, n. [Gr. auu.f.o..; Ar. UL.,^
hamauma, from ^ ~. lianinia, to warm
or heat ; the heating plant.]
A genus of plants ; all natives of warm cli-
mates, and remarkable for their pungen-
cy and aromatic properties. It includes
the common ginger or zingiber, the ze
rumbet, zedoary, cardamom, and granun
paradisi or grains of paradise. The roots
of the three former, and the seeds of the
two latter, are used in medicine as cai
natives and stunulants, and in cookeiy as
condiments. They are important articles
of commerce. Cyc.
True amomum is a round fruit, from the East,
of the size of a grape, containing, under
membranous cover, a number of angular
seeds of a dark brown color, in three
cells. Of this fruit, ten or twelve grow in
a cluster, adhering, without a pedicle, to
a woody stalk. It is of a pungent taste
and aromatic smell, and was formerly
much used in medicine, but is now a stran-
ger to the shops. Plin. 12. 13. Encyc.
AMONG', I Amung', ) [Sax. on-
AMONGST', \P''''P- Amungst',lmang,on-
gemang, among ; gemangan, to niuigle ;
D. and Ger. mengen ; Sw. mangia ; Dan.
mmnger, to mingle ; Gr. /iiyvvu. See
Mingle.]
1. In a general or primitive sense, mixed or
mingled with ; as tares among wheat.
2. Conjoined or associated with, or niak:
part of the number.
Blessed art thou among women. Luke, i.
3. Of tlie number ; as, there is not one among
a thousand, possessing the hke qualities.
AMO'NIAN, a. [from Anion or Hamon, a
title of Jupiter, or rather of the sun ; Ar.
Heb. and Ch. an, rron. Ham or Camah,
which, as a verb, signifies to heat or warm,
and as a noun, heat or the sun ; and in
Arabic, the supreme God.]
Pertaining to Jupiter Amon, or to his temple
and worship in upper Egypt. Bryant.
AMOR.\'DO, n. [L. amor, love, amo, to love.
But the word is ill formed.]
A lover. See Inamorato, which is chiefly
used. Ch. Rel. Appeal.
AMO'RE, n. A name given by Marcgrave,
to a tribe offish, of three species, the pix-
unia, guacu, and tinga. They are found
about the shores of South America, and
are used for food. Cyc. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AMORE'ANS, n. A sect of Gemaric doc-
tors or commentators on the Jerusalem
Tahnud. The Amoreans were followed
by the Mishnic doctors, and these by the
Sebureans.
.\MORET', n. [L. amor, love ; Fr. amour-
ette.]
A lover ; an amorous woman ; also a love
knot or a trifling love affair.
Good's Sacred Idyls. Chaucer.
AM'ORIST, n. [L. atnor, love.]
A lover ; a gallant ; an inamorato. Boyh.
AMORO'SO, n. [It. fi-om amor, love.]
A lover ; a man enamored.
AM'OROUS, a. [Fr. amoreux ; It. amoroso ;
from L. amor, love.]
1. Inclined to love ; having a propensity to
love, or to sexual enjoyment ; loving ;
fond.
'2. In love ; enamored. Shak.
3. Pertaining or relating to love ; produced
by love ; indicating love ; as, amorous de-
light ; amorous airs. Milton. Walter.
AM'OROUSLY, adv. In an amorous man-
ner ; fondly ; lovingly.
AM'OROUSNESS, n. The quahty of being
inclined to love, or to sexual pleasure ;
fondne.ss ; lovingness. Sidney.
AMORPH'A, n. [Gr. a neg. and /top^r;, form.]
False or bastard uidigo. The plant is a na-
tive of Carolina, constituting a genus. It
rises, with many irregular stems, to the
highth of twelve or fourteen feet ; the
leaves, beautifully pinnated, are of an ad-
mired green color, and its purple flowers
grow in spikes of seven or eight inches
long. Of this plant has been made a
coarse kind of uidigo. Encyc.
AMORPHOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and aop*?,
form.]
Having no determinate form ; of iiTegular
shape ; not of any regular figure. Kirwan.
AMORPH'Y, n. Irregularity of form ; de-
viation from a determinate shape. Swifl.
AMORT', adv. [L. mors, mortuus.]
In the state of the dead. Shak.
AM ORTIZ ATI ON or AMORTIZE-
MENT, n. The act or right of ahena-
ting lands or tenements to a corporation,
which was considered formerly as trans-
ferring them to dead hands, as such alien-
ations were mostly made to religious hous-
es for superstitious uses. Btackstone.
AMORT'IZE, V. t. [Norm, amortizer, amor-
tir ; Sp. amortizar, to sell in mortmain ; It-
ammortire, to extinguish, from morte, L.
mors, death. See Mortmain.]
In English law, to alienate in mortmain, that
is, to sell to a corporation, sole or aggre-
gate, ecclesiastical or temporal, and their
successors. This was considered as sell-
ing to dead hands. This cannot be done
without the king's hcense. [See Mort-
main.] Blackstone. Cotvel.
AMOTION, n. [h. amotio ; a7iioveo.]
Removal. fVarton.
AMOUNT', V. i. [Fr. monter, to ascend ;
Norm, amont, upwards ; Sp. Port, montar ;
It. montare ; from L. mons, a mountain, or
its root ; W. mynyz.]
1. To rise to or reach, by an accumulation of
particulars, into an aggregate whole ; to
compose in the whole ; as, the interest on
the several sums amounts to fifty dollars.
•2. To rise, reach, or extend to, in eflfect, or
substance ; to result in, by consequence,
when all things are considered ; as, the
A 31 P
AMP
A M P
testimony of these witnesses amounts to
very little. Bacon.
AMOUNT', n. The sum total of two or
more particular sums or quantities ; as.
the amount of 7 and 9 is 16.
2. The effect, substance or result ; the simi
as, the amount of the testimony is this.
AMOUNT'ING, ppr. Rising to, by accumu-
lation or addition ; coming or increasing
to ; resulting in effect or substance.
AM6UR', n. [Fr., from L. amor, love.]
An unlawful connection in love ; a lov
trigue; an affair of gallantry. South.
AMoV'AL, n. [L. amoveo.]
Total removal. [M)t used.] Evelyn.
AMOVE', V. t. [L. amoveo, a and moveo, to
move.]
To remove. [JVotused.] Hall. Spenser.
AM'PELITE, Ji. [Gr. a^rttXoj, a vine. The
name of an earth used to kill worms on
vines. Phny says it is like bitumen. Lib.
35, 16.]
Cannel coal, or candle coal ; an inflammable
sub.stance of a black color, compact tex
ture, and resinous luster, and sufficiently
hard to be cut and polished. It burns
with a bright flame, of a short duration
and gives but a moderate heat. It is used
Uke jet for making toys. It is found
France and England, where husbandmen
smear vines with it to kill vermin.
Encyc. Cleaveland.
AMPHIB'IAL, AMPHIB'IA, n. [Gr.<iA<4>.,
both or about, and (Jio{, life.]
In zoology, amphibials are a class of animals,
so formed as to live on land, and for a
long time under water. Their heart has
but one ventricle ; their blood is red and
cold ; and they have such command of
the lungs, as for a considerable time, to
suspend f espu'ation. This class of anunals
is divided into two orders, the Reptiles
and the Serpents. To the first belong the
testudo, or tortoise, the draco or dragon,
the lacerta or hzard, and the rana or frog ;
to the second, the crotalus, boa, coluber,
anguis, amphisbena, and cecilia. Linne.
The term has also been appUed to such
quadrupeds, as frequent the water, par-
ticularly the marine quadrupeds, such as
the seal, walrus and laniantin. Encyc.
AMPHIB'IOLITE, n. [Gr. a.utiSwj, am-
phibious, and %Woi, stone.]
A fragment of a petrified amphibious ani-
mal. Diet, of JVat. Hist
AMPHIBIOLOG'I€AL, a. [Infra.]
Pertaining to amjihibiology.
AMPHIBIOL'OGY, n. [Gr. aixft, on both
sides, (Jioj, life, and >.oyo{, discourse.]
A discourse or treatise on amphibious
mals, or the history and description of such
animals.
AMPHIBIOUS, a. [See AmpUhial]
1. Having the i>ower of living in two ele-
ments, air and water, as frogs, crocodiles,
beavers, and the like.
2. Of a mi.xed nature ; partaking of two
tures; as, an amphibious breed.
AMPHIB'IOUSNESS, n. The quahty oil
being able to live in two elements, or of
partaking of two natures.
AMPHIB'IUM, n. That which lives in two
elements, as in air and water.
AM'PHIBOLE, n. [Gr. a/iijn«o?.05, equivocal
an^i and )3a?.J.u.]
A name given by Haoy to a species of min
erals, including the Tremohte, Hornblend,
and Aclinohte. Its primitive form is an
oblique rhombic prism. Cleaveland.
AMPHIBOLIC, «. Pertaining to anqjhi-
bole ; resembling amphibole, or partaking
of its nature and characters. Cooper.
AMPHIBOLOGICAL, a. Doubtful ; of
doubtful meaning.
AMPHIBOLOG'ICALLY, adv. With
doubtful meaning.
AMPHIBOL'OgY, n. [Gr. afi^i, (Saxxu and
Xoyos, speech, ajifiSo^oym.]
A phrase or discourse, susceptible of two in
terpretations ; and hence, a phrase of un
certain meaning. Amphibology arises
from the order of the phrase, rather than
from the ambiguous meaning of a word,
which is called equivocation. We have
an example in the answer of the oracle to
Pyrrhus. "Aio te Romanes vincere pos
se." Here te and Romanos, may either of
them precede or follow vincere posse, and
the sense may be either, you may conquer
the Romans, or the Romans may conquer
you. The English language seldom ad-
mits of amphibology. Encyc. Johnson
AMPHIB'OLOUS, a. [Gr. afi^iSoxos, 0^4,,
and (3OW.C0, to strike.]
Tossed from one to another ; striking each
way, with mutual blows. [lAttle used.]
AMp'hIB'OLY, ji. [Gr. a;/$iffo?.to, 0^.4.', both
ways, and liaMM, to strike.^
Ambiguity of meaning. [Rarely used.
Spclman.
AMPHIBRACH, n. [Gr. a^f, and |3pa;tis,
short.]
In poetry, a foot of three syllables, the middle
one long, the first and last short ; as ha
here, in Latin. In English verse, it is used
as the last foot, when a syllable is added
to the usual number forming a double
rhyme ; as.
The piece, you think, is incorrect, why take it ?
Pope. Trumbull
AM'PHICOME, n. [Gr.aw^t andxo,.,, hair.]
A Idnd of figured stone, of a round shape,
but rugged and beset with
called Erotylos, on account of its
power of exciting- love. Anciently, it was
used in divination ; but it is Uttle known
to the moderns. Encyc.
AMPHICTYON'IC, a. Pertammg to the
august council of Aniphictyons.
AMPHIC'TY'ONS, n. In Grecian history,
an assembly or council of deputies from
the different states of Greece, supposed to
be so called from Ampliictyon, tlie son of
Deucahon, but this opinion is probably
a fable. Ten or twelve states were re
presented in this assembly, which sat a
Thermopylse, but ordinarily at Delphi
Each city sent two deputies, one called
Hieromnemon and the other Pylagoras.
The former mspected the sacrifices and
ceremonies of rehgion ; the latter, had the
charge of deciding causes and differences
betweeti private persons. The former
was elected by lot ; the latter by a plural
ity of voices. They had an equal right to
dehberate and vote in all matters relatuig
to the common interests of Greece.
Pans. Plin. Strabo. Encyc.
AM'PHIgENE, n. [Gr. oa<}>t and yeros.]
In mineralogy, another uatne of the leucite
or Vesuviau.
AMPHIHEXAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. auft, and
hexahedral.]
In cryslalugraphy, when the faces of the crys-
tal, counted in two different directions,
give two hexahedral outlines, or are found
to be six in number. Cleaveland.
AMPHIM'AGER, n. [Gr. o^t'faxpos, long
1 both sides.]
In ancient poetry, a foot of three syllables, the
iniddle one short and the others long, as
in castitas.
AMPHIS'BEN, > »i. [Gr.o;«$i«e<u.u,ofout»5
AMPlllSBE'NA, 5 and ffoim, to go ; indi-
cating that the animal moves with either
end foremost.]
A genus of serpents, with the head small,
smooth and blunt ; the nostrils small, the
eyes minute and blackish, and the mouth
furnished with small teeth. The body is
cylindrical, destitute of scales, and divided
into numerous annular segments ; the tail
obtuse, and scarcely to be distinguished
from the head, whence the beUef that it
moved equally well with either end fore-
most. There are two species ; the fuli-
ginosa, black with white spots, found in
Africa and America ; and the alba, or
white species, found in both the Indies,
and generally in ant-hillocks. They feed
on ants and earth-worms, and were for-
merly deemed poisonous ; but this opinion
is exploded. Plin. 8. 23. Encyc. Cyc.
The aquatic amphisben, Gordius aquaticue,
Linne, is an animal resembling a horse
hair, found in water, and moving with ei-
ther end foremost. The vulgar opinion
that this is an animated horse-hair is
found to be an error. This hair Avorra is
generated in the connnon black beetle, in
which the parent worm lays its eggs ; and
is sometimes found in the earth and on
the leaves of trees.
Lister, Phil. Trans. jVo. 8.3.
AMPHIS'CII, I [Gr. o;.$i, on both
AMPHIS'CIANS, ^"- sides, and (Tx«., shad-
ow.]
In geography, the inhabitants of the tropics,
whose shadows, in one part of the year,
are cast to the north, and in the other, to the
south, according as tlie sun is in the south-
ern or northern signs.
AM'PHITANE, n. A name given by an-
cient naturahsts to a fossil, called by Dr.
Hill pyricubium. Pliny describes it as of
a square figure and a gold color. Qu.
Cubic pyntcs. Pliny, 37. 10. Encyc.
AMPHITHE'ATER, n. [iSr. af,^i9iaTpo,; of
afL^i, about, and fiforpoi', theater, from
eeoMfiai, to .see or look.]
1. An edifice in an oval or circular form, hav-
ing its area encompassed with rows of
seats, rising higher as they recede from
the area, on which people used to sit to
view the combats of gladiators and of wild
beasts, and other sports. The ancient
theater was a semicircle, but exceeding it
by a fourth part of its diameter ; the am-
phitheater was a double theater, and its
longest diameter was to its shortest as
1 1-2 to 1. It was at first of wood, but in
the reign of Augustus one was erected of
stone. The area or cavea being covered
with sand was called arena. Kennel.
2. In gardening, a disposition of shrubs and
trees in the form of an amphitheater, on a
slope, or forming a slope, by placing the
AMP
AMU
A M 1
lowest in front. An ampliitheater may
also be formed of turf only. Encyc.
AMPHITHE'ATRAL, a. Resembliiif; at
amphitheater. Tooke
AMPHITHEAT'RICAL, a. Pertaining to
or exhibited in an amphitheater. H'arton.
AM'PHITRITE, n. [Gr. oit^crp.t,,, a
dess of the sea.]
A genus of marine animals, of the Linnean
order, Mollusca.
AM'PHOR, or AM'PHORA, n. [L. ampho-
ra ; Gr. oi/t^iopfvs, or a^ifii^opfvs ; a^f and
$opfu.]
Among the Greeks and Romans, a liquid
measure. The amphora of the Romans
contained about forty-eight sextaries, equal
to seven gallons and a pint, English wine
measure. The Grecian or Attic amphor
contained about a third more. This was
also, among the Romans, a dry measure
of about three bushels. Among the Ve-
netians, it is a hquid measure of sixteen
quarts.
This name was formerly used in England ;
hut t)ie capacity of the Sax. ambra is not
certainly known.
LL. In<E. Cap. 70. WiUins, Pre/. LL.
JEfhetstan. Spelman. Encyc.
AM'PLE, a. [Fr. ampk ; L. amplus.]
1. Large ; wide ; spacious ; extended ; as
ample room. This word carries with it
the sense of room or space fully sufficient
for the use intended.
2. Great in bulk, or size ; as an ample tear
Shak.
3. Liberal ; unrestrained ; without parsimo-
ny ; fully sufficient ; as, ample provision
for the table ; ample justice.
4. Liberal ; magnificent ; as ample promises.
5. Diffiisive ; not briefer contracted ; as an
ample narrative.
AM'PLENESS, n. Largeness; spacious
ness ; sufficiency ; abundance.
A3IPLEX'I€AUL, a. [L. amplexor, to em-
brace, of amh about, and plico, plexus, to
fold, and caulis, xavXo;, a stem.]
In botany, suiTounding or embracing the
stem, as the base of a leaf.
AM'PLIATE, V. t. [L. amplio. See Ampk
To enlarge ; to make greater ; to extend.
[Little used.]
AMPLIA'TION, n. Enlargement ; ampl
fication ; diffuseness. [lAttle used.]
3. In Roman antiquity, a deferring to pass
sentence ; a postponement of a decision,
to obtain further evidence. Encyc.
AMPLIFl€A'TION, n. [L. amplificatio.]
1. Enlargement ; extension.
2. In rhetoric, diffusive description or dis-
cussion ; exaggerated representation ; co-
pious argument, intended to present the
subject in every view or in the strongest
light ; diffuse nai-rative, or a dilating
upon all the particulars of a subject ; a
description given in more words tlian are
necessary, or an illustration by various ex-
atnples and proofs.
AM'PLIFIED, pp. Enlarged; extended
diffusively treated.
AM'PLIFIER, n. One who amplifies or en-
larges ; one who treats a subject diffusive-
ly, to exhibit it in the strongest light.
Sidney.
AM'PLIFY, V. t. [Fr. amplifier ; L. amplijfi-
CO ; of amplus and facto, to make large.]
1. To enlarge; to augment ; to increase or
extend, in a general sense ; applied to
te.rial or immaterial things.
2. In rhetoric, to enlarge in discussion or by
representation ; to treat copiously, so as
to present the subject in every view and
in the strongest fights.
•3. To enlarge by addition ; to improve or
extend ; as, to amplify the sense of ai
thor by a paraphrase.
AM'PLIFY, V. i. To speak largely or co-
piously ; to be diffuse in argument or de
scription ; to dilate upon ; often followed
by on ; as, to amplify on the several topics
of discourse. JFatts.
2. To exaggerate ; to enlarge by representa-
tion or description ; as.
Homer amplifies — not invents. Pope
AM'PLIFYING, ppr. Enlarging; exag-
gerating ; diffusively treating.
AM'PLITUDE, n. [L. amplitudo, from am-
plus, large.]
1. Largeness ; extent, appUed to bodies ; as,
the amplitude of the earth.
2. Largeness; extent of capacity or intellec-
tual powers ; as, amplitude of mind.
3. Extent of means or power ; abiuidance
ifficiency. ^'iite.
Amplitude, in astronoiny, is an arch of tlie
horizon intercepted between the east and
west point, and the center of the sun or
star at its rising or setting. At the rising
of a star, the amplitude is eastern or ortive ;
at the setting, it is western, occiduous, oi
occasive. It is also northern or southern,
when north or south of the equator.
Johnson. Encyc.
Amplitude of the range, in projectiles, is the
horizontal fine subtending the path of a
body thrown, or the line which measures
the distance it has moved.
Johnson. Chambers
Magnetical amplitude is the arch of the hori-
zon between the sun or a star, at rising or
setting, and the east or west point of the
horizon, by the compass. The difference
between this and the true amplitude is the
variation of the compass. Entye.
AM'PLY, adv. Largely; Uberally ; fully;
sufficiently ; copiously ; in a diffusive
manner.
AM'PUTATE, V. t. [L. amputo, of amb.
about, and puto, to prune.]
1. To prune branches of trees or vines ; to
cut off.
2. To cut off a limb or other part of an ani
mal body ; a term of surgery.
AM'PUTATED,;7p. Cutoff; separated from
tlie bodv.
AM'PUTATING,jtii;)r. Cutting offafimb or
part of tlie body.
AMPUTA'TION, n. [L. amputatio.] .
The act or operation of cutting off a limb or
some part of the body.
AM'ULET, n. [L. amitletum; Fr. amnlette ;
Sp. amuleto ; from Lat. amolior, amolitus,
to remove.]
Something worn as a remedy or preserva
live against evils or mischief, such as dis
eases and witchcraft. Amulets, in dayi
of ignorance, were common. They con
sisted of certain stones, metals or plants ;
sometimes of words, characters or senten-
ces, arranged in a particular order. They
were appended to the neck or body.
Among some nations, they are stiU in use.
Enaji
AMU'SE, I), t. s as z. [Fr. am%iser,to stop or
keep at bay, to detain ; from muser, to
loiter, or trifle ; It. musare, to gaze or stand
idle ; Ger. miissig, idle. Qu. Gr. ^i^« ;
Lat. musso.]
To entertain the mind agreeably ; to occu-
py or detain attention with agreeable ob-
jects, whether by singing, conversation, or
a show of curiosities. Dr. Johnson re-
marks, that amuse implies something less
Uvely than divert, and less important than
please. Hence it is often said, we are amu-
sed with trifles.
2. To detain ; to engage the attention by
hope or expectation ; as, to amuse one by
flattering promises.
AMU'SED, pp. s as z. Agreeably entertain-
ed ; having the mind engaged by soine-
thing pleasing.
AMU'SEMENT, n. sasz. That which
amuses, detains or engages the mind ; en-
tertainment of the mind ; pastime ; a pleas-
urable occupation of the senses, or that
which furnishes it, as dancing, sports or
music.
AMU'SER, n. s as z. One who amuses, or
affords an agreeable entertainment to tlic
mind.
AMU'SING, ppr. or a. s as -. Entertaining ;
giving moderate pleasure to the mind, so
as to engage it ; pleasing.
AMU'SINGLY, adv. s as :. In an amusing
manner.
AMU'SIVE, a. That has the power to
amuse or entertain the mind.
AMYG'DALATE, a. [L. amygdalus, an
almond.] Made of almonds.
AMYG'DALATE, n. An emulsion made of
almonds ; milk of almonds.
Bailey. Core.
AMYG'DALINE, a. Pertaining to or resem-
bfing the almond.
AMYG'DALITE, n. A plant ; a species of
spurge, with leaves I'esembling those of
the almond. Ash.
AMYG'DALOID, n. [Gr. a.^lvySa^fa, an al-
mond, and fi6o{, form ; G. mandel-stein,
almond-stone.]
Toad-stone ; a compound rock, consisting of
a basis of basalt, greenstone or some other
variety of trap, imbedduig nodules of
various minerals, particularly calcarious
spar, quartz, agate, zeofite, chlorite, &c.
When the imbedded minerals are detach-
ed, it is porous, like lava. Cleaveland.
(VMYG'DALOIDAL, a. Pertaining to amyg-
daloid.
.^MYLA'CEOUS, a. [L. amylum, starch, of
o priv. and nVKiq, a miU, being formerly
made without grmding. Plin. 18. vii.]
Pertaining to starch, or the farinaceous part
of grain ; resembling starch.
AM' YLINE, n. [L. amyhim ; Gr. afivXov ;
o^vXoj, imground, a and fivTtti, null.]
A farinaceous substance between gum and
starch. IVebster's Mantud.
A3I'YRALDISM, n. In church history, the
doctrine of universal grace, as explained
by Amyraldus, or Amyrault, of France, in
the seventeenth century. He taught that
God desires the happiness of all men, and
that none are excluded by a divine decree,
but that none can obtain salvation without
faith in Christ ; that God refuses to nono
the power of believing, though he does not
ANA
ANA
ANA
grant to all his assistance to improve tlii.-
poucr. Encijc
\MVZ'TLI, n. A Mexican name of the sea-
lion, an amphibious quadruped, inhabiting
the shores and rivers of America, on the
Pacific ocean. Its body is three feet in
length, and its tail, two feet. It has a long
snout, short legs and crooked nails. Its
skin is valued for the length and softness
of its hair. Clavigero.
AN, a. [Sax. an, ane, one ; D. een ; Ger. ein .
Sw. and Dan. era ; Fr. on, un, une ; Sp
un, uno ; It. uno, ima ; L. unus, una, unum ;
Gr.er; Ir. em,ertn, oon ; W. un, yn ; Corn
uynyn ; Arm. yunan.]
One ; noting an individual, either definitely,
known, certain, specified, or understood ;
or indefinitely, not certaui, known, or spe-
cified. Definitely, as "Noah built an ark of
Gopher wood." " Paul was an eminent
apostle." Indefinitely, as " Bring me an
orange." Before a consonant the letter
is dropped, as a man ; but our ancestors
wrote an man, an king. This letter repre-
sents an definitely, or indefinitely. Definite
ly, as " I will take you to me for a people,
and I will be to you a God." Ex. vi. In-
definitely, as " the province of a judge is to
decide controversies." An being the sam
word as one, should not be used with it
" such an one" is tautology ; the true
phrase is such one. Although an, a and
one, are the same word, and always have
the same sense, yet by custom, an and a
are used exclusively as a definitive adjec-
tive, and one is used in numbering. Where
our ancestors wrote an, tuia, thry, we now
use one, two, three. So an and a are never
used except with a noun ; but one like
other adjectives, is sometimes used with-
out its noun, and as a substitute for it ;
" one is at a loss to assign a reason for
such conduct."
AN, in old English authors, signifies if; as,
" an it please your honor." So in Gr,
cai', Ar. • 1, Sam. and L.
if or
whether ; Ir. an, Ch. ]X or yn, if, whether,
It is probably an imperative, like if, gif,
give. Qu. Sax. annan, or anan, to give
A'NA, (id, or a. [Gr. ara.]
tn medical prescriptions, it signifies an equal
quantity of the several ingredients;
wine and honey, ana, da or a ^ ii. that is, of
wine and honey each two ounces.
.\'NA, as a termination, is annexed to the
names of authors to denote a collection of
their memorable sayings. Thus, Scalige-
rana, is a book containing the sayings of
Scaliger. It was used by the Romans, as
in Collectaneus, collected, gathered.
ANABAP'TISM, n. [See Anabaptist.]
The doctrine of tlie Anabaptists.
ANABAP'TIST, n. [Gr. otu, again, and
ia7tri;t;i, a hajitist.]
One who holds the doctrine of the baptism
of adults, or of the invalidity of infant bap
tism, and the necessity of rebaptization ii
an adult age. One who maintains that
baptism ought always to be performed by
immersion. Encyc
ANABAPTIST'IC, ) Relating to the
ANABAPTIST'ICAL, ^ "" Anabaptists
to their doctrines. Milton, j
Vol. I.
ANABAP'TISTRY, n. The sect of Ana-
baptists.
ANABAPTI'ZE, v. t. To rebaptize. [^rut
used.] Whitl
ANA€A, n. A speciesofparokeet, about the
size of a lark ; the crown of the head is a
dark red, the upper part of the neck, sides,
back and wings are green.
Did. of J^nt. Hist.
ANA€AMP'TI€, a. [Gr. aro and xo/xrtru, to
bend.]
1. Reflecting or reflected ; a word formerly
appUed to that partof optics, which treats
of reflection; the same as what is now
called catoptric. [See Catoptrics.]
2. Anacamptic sounds, among the Greeks,
were sounds produced by reflection, a
echoes ; or such as proceeded downwards
from acute to grave. Rousseau. Busby.
ANACAMP'TleS, n. The doctrine of re-
flected light. [See Catoptrics.]
ANA€AR'DIUM, n. The cashew-nut, or
marking nut, which produces a thickish,
red, caustic, hiflammable Hquor, which,
when used in marking, turns black, and is
very durable. Ure.
ANA€ATHAR'TI€, a. [Gr. a.u, upward,
and xaOapnts, a purging. See Cathartic]
Throwing upwards ; cleansing by exciting
vomiting, expectoration, &c. Quincy.
ANA€ATHAR'TI€, n. A medicine whicl
excites discharges by the mouth, or nose
as expectorants, emetics, sternutatories
and masticatories. Quincy.
ANA€HORET. [See Anchffret.]
ANA€H'RONlSM, n. [Gr. am, and ;tpoM5
time.]
An error in computing time ; any error in
chronology, by which events are mis-
placed.
ANA€HRONIS'TIe, a. Erroneous in date
containing an anachronism. Warton
.'VNACLAS'Tle, a. [Gr. ava and x^oaif, a
breaking, from x\au>, to break.]
Refracting ; breaking the rectilinear course
of fight.
Anaplastic glasses, sonorous glasses or phials,
which are flexible, and emit a vehement
noise by means of the human breath ;
called also vexing glasses, from the fright
which their resilience occasions. They
are low phials with flat bellies, like inver-
ted timnels, and with very thin convex
bottoms. By dravring out a little air, the
bottom springs into a concave form with
a smart crack ; and by breathing or blow-
ing into them, the bottom, with a like noise
springs into its former convex form.
Encyc.
ANA€LAS'TI€S, n. That part of optics
which treats of the refraction of light,
commonly called dioptrics, which see.
Encyc.
ANA€OENO'SIS, n. [Gr. waxoivwuif ; ava
and xoii-Of, common.] j
A figure of rhetoric, by which a .speaker
applies to his opponents for their opinion
on the point in debate. Walker..
ANAeOND'A, n. A name given in Ceylon
to a large snake, a species of Boa, which
is said to devour travelers. Its flesh is
excellent food. Encyc.
ANACREON'Tle, a. Pertaining to Anac-
reon, a Greek poet, whose odes and epi-
grams are celebrated for their dehcate,
easy and graceful air, and for their exact
9
imitation of nature. His verse consists oT
three feet and a half, usually spondees
and iambuses, sometimes anapests ; as in
this line of Horace.
" Lvdia, die per omnes." Encyc.
ANACREON'TIe, n. A poem composed in
the manner of Anacreon.
AN'ADEME, n. [Gr. woiijfta.] A chaplet or
crown of flowers. W. Broume.
ANADIPLO'SIS, n. [Gr. avo, again, and
iirtXoo;, double.]
Duplication, a figure in rhetoric and poetry,
consisting in the repetition of the last word
or words in a line or clause of a sentence,
in the beginning of the next ; as, " he re-
tained his virtues amidst all his misfor-
tunes, misfortunes which no prudence
could foresee or prevent. Encyc.
ANAD'R03I0US, o. [Gr. ava, upward, and
Spo/iof, course.]
Ascending ; a word applied to such fish as
pass from the sea into fresh waters, at sta-
ted seasons. Encyc.
AN'AGLYPH, n. [Gr. oro, and y^vfu, to
engrave.]
An ornament made by sculpture.
ANAGLYP'TIC, a. Relating to the art of
carving, engraving, enchasing or emboss-
ing plate. Evelyn.
AN'AGOciE, ) [Gr. ot'oyuyjj, of oiu, up-
AN'AGOGY, I "■ ward, and oywyj?, a
leading, from oyu.]
An elevation of mind to things celestial ; the
spiritual meaning or application of words ;
also the ap[)lication of the types and alle-
gories of the old testament to subjects of
the new. Encyc.
ANAGOG'ICAL, a. Mysterious ; elevated ;
spiritual ; as, the rest of the sabbath, in an
anagogical sense, signifies the repose of
the saints in heaven.
ANAGOG'I€ALLY, adv. In a mysterious
sense ; with religious elevation.
ANAGOg'ICS, n. Mysterious considera-
tions. Addison.
AN'AGRAM, n. [Gr. aio, and ypo^/ao, a
letter.]
A transposition of the letters of a name, by
which a new word is formed. Thus Ga-
lenus becomes angelus ; William JVoy,
(attorney general to Charles I., a laborious
man,) may be tunied into Imoyl in law.
ANAGR.AJ«MAT'I€, ? Making an
ANAGRAMMAT'I€AL, l"' anagram.
Camden''s Remains.
ANAGRAMMAT'I€ALLY, adv. In the
manner of an anagram.
ANAGRAM'MATISM, n. The act or prac-
tice of making anagrams. Camden.
ANAGRAM'MATIST, n. A maker of ana-
grams.
ANAGRASI'MATIZE, v. i. To make ana-
grams. Herbert.
AN'AGROS, n. A measure of grain in
Spain, containing something less than two
bushels. Encyc.
A'NAL, a. [L. anus.] Pertaining to the anus ;
as, the anal fin. Encyc. Pennant.
ANAL'CIM, ) Cubic zeolite, found in
ANAL'CIME, I "■ aggregated or cubic crys-
tals. Ure.
This mineral is generally crystalized, but is
also found amorphous, and in reniform,
maminillary, laminated or radiated mass-
ANA
ANA
ANA
es. By friction, it acquires a weak electri-
city ; hence its name, Gr. araxxif, weak.
Cleaveland.
AN' ALE€TS, n. [Gr. aiw and^eya, to collect.]
A collection of short essays, or remarks.
Encyc.
AN'ALEMMA, n. [Gr. woxij^^a, altitude.]
1. In geometiy, a projection of the sphere on
the plane of the meridian, orthographical
ly made by straight hues, circles and ellip
ses, the eye being supposed at an infinite!
distance, and in the east or west points of
the horizon. Also,
2. An instrument of wood or brass on which
tliis kind of projection is drawn, with a
horizon and cursor fitted to it, ui which the
solstitial colure, and all circles parallel
it, will be concentric circles ; all circles
oblique to the eye will be elhpses ; and all
circles whose planes pass through the eye,
will be right hues. Encyc. ,dsh.
ANaLEP'SISj n. [Gr. avoa.r;^ti, from amrafi-
eavu, to receive again.]
The augmentation or nutrition of an emacia-
ted body ; recovery ol' strength after a
disease. Quinci/,
ANALEP'TI€, a. Corroborating ; invigora-
ting ; giving strength after disease.
ANALEP'TIe, n. A medicine wliich gives
strength, and aids in restoring a body to
health after sickness ; a restorative.
ANAL'OGAL, a. Analogous. [A^o< used.]
Hale.
ANALOci'IeAL, o. Having analogy ; used
by way of analogy ; bearing some rela-
tion. Thus analogicnl reasoning is reas-
onuig fi-oin some similitude which things
known bear to tilings unknown. An ana-
logical word is one which carries with it
some relation to the original idea. Thus
the word_^rni primarily denotes solidity or
compactness in a material body ; and by
analogy, when used of the mind, it con-
veys the idea of qualities having a simili-
tude to the soUdity of bodies, that is, fixed-
ness or immovability. IVatts.
ANALOG'IeALLY, adv. In an analogical
manner; by way of similitude, relation or
agreement. Thus to reason analogically
is to deduce inferences from some agree-
ment or relation which things bear to eacl:
other.
ANAL06'I€ALNESS, n. The quality of
being analogical ; fitness to be applie<l for
the illustration of some analogy. Johnson.
ANAL'OgISM, n. [Gr. a>.o?ioyia^o5.]
An argument from the cause to the eflTect.
Johnson.
Investigation of things by tlie analogy they
bear to each other. Crahb'e.
ANAL'OgIST, n. One who adheres to
analogy.
ANAL'OGIZE, v. t. To explain by analogy ;
to form some resemblance between diftt'r-
ent things ; to consider a thing with regard
to its analogy to something else. Cheyne.
ANAL'OGOUS, a. Having analogy ; bear-
ing some resemblance or proportion ; fol
lowed by to; as, there is something in tlit
exercise of the mind analogous to that of
the body.
ANAL'OgY, »i. [Gr. a^aXoyio, of a™, and
Xoyo;, ratio, proportion.]
1. An agreement or likeness between things
in some circumstances or effects, when tin
things are otherwise entirely ditlerent
Thus a plant is said to have life, because
its growth resembles in some degree, that
of an animal. In life and growth, then,
there is an analogy between a plant and
an animal. Learning enlightens the mind
because it is to the mind, what light is to
the eye, enabling it to discover tilings be-
fore hidden. When the things which have
an analogy follow a preposition, that prep-
osition must be between or betwixt ; as there
is an analogy between plants and animals,
or between customs. When one of the
things precedes a verb, and the other fol-
lows, the prej)osition used must be to oi
loiih ; as, a plant has some analogy to or
ivith an animal.
3. With grammarians, analogy is a confor-
mity of words to the genius, structure or
general rules of a language. Thus th
general rule in Enghsh is that the plural
of a noun ends in es ; therefore all nouns
which have that plural termination have
an analogy, or are formed in analogy with
other words of a like kind.
Johnsoit. Encyc.
ANAL'YSIS, n. [Gr. (u«>ju(Jk, of ava and
Xvffis, a loosing, or resolving, from f.vu, to
loosen. See Loose.]
1. The separation of a compound body into
its constituent parts ; a resolving ; as, an
analysis of water, air or oil, to discover its
elements.
2. A consideration of any thing in its sepa-
rate pai-ts ; an examination of the difttjr-
ent parts of a subject, each separately ; as
the words which compose a sentence, the
notes of a tune, or the simple propositions
which enter into an argument. It is op-
posed to synthesis.
In mathematics, analysis is the resolving
of problems by algebraic equations. The
analysis of finite quantities is otherwise
called algebra, or specious arithmetic.
The analysis of infinites is the method of
fluxions, or the differential calculus.
Encyc.
In logic, analysis is the tracing of things to
their soiu-ce, and the resolving of knowl
edge into its original principles.
3. A syllabus, or table of the principal head;
of a continued discourse, disposed in their
natural order.
4. A brief, methodical illustration of the
principles of a science. In this sense, it is
nearly synonymous with synopsis.
AN'ALYST, }i. One who analyzes, or is
versed in analysis. Kirwan.
ANALYT'I€, } Pertaining to analy
ANALYTICAL, S "• sis ; that resolves uito
first j)rinci|)les ; that separates into parts
or original principles ; that resolves a com-
pound body or subject ; as, an analytical
experiment in chiniistry, or an analytical
investigation. It is opposed to synthetic.
ANALYTICALLY, adv. In the maimer of]
analysis ; by way of separating a body
into its constituent parts, or a subject, uito
its principles.
ANALYTICS, n. The science of analys
[See Analysis.]
AN'ALVZE, V. t. [Gr. araTivw. See Jlnal-
^ysis.]
To resolve a body into its elements ; to sep-
arate a compound subject into its parts or
pro])ositions, for the jmrpose of an cxanii
nation of each separately ; as, to anntyz
a fossil substance ; to analyze an action to
ascertain its morality.
AN'ALYZED, pp. Resolved into its con-
stituent parts or principles, for examina-
tion.
AN'ALYZER, n. One who analyzes ; that
which analyzes or has the power to ana-
lyze.
AN'ALYZING, ppr. Resolving into ele-
ments, constituent parts, or first princi-
ples.
ANAMORPHOSIS, n. [Gr. ava, and /m..-
$uffi;, formation.]
In perspective draidngs, a deformed or dis-
torted portrait or figure, which, in onir
point of view, is confused or unintelligible,
and in another, is an exact and regulai
representation ; or confused to the naked
eye, but reflected from a plain or curved
mirror, appearing regular, and in right
proportion. Johnson. Encyc.
ANA'NAS, n. The name of a species of
Bromelia, the pine-apple. Encyc.
AN'APEST, n. [Gr. am, and rtaiu, to strike.
Bailey.]
In poetry, a foot, consisting of three sylla-
bles, the two first short, the last long ; the
reverse of the dactyl; as.
Can ft bosom so gentle remain
Uiunoved when her Corydon sighs ?
Shenstone.
ANAPEST'IC, n. The anapestic measure.
Bentley.
ANAPEST'IC, a. Pertaining to an anapest :
consisting of anapestic feet.
ANAPH'ORA, n. [Gr. from ow-a^tpu.]
1. A figui'e in rhetoric, when the same word
or words are repeated at the beguming of
two or more succeeding verses or clauses
of a sentence ; as, " iPhere is the wise ?
IVhere is the scribe ? H'here is the dis-
puter of this world ?" Johnson.
2. Amoi^g physicians, the discharge of blood
or purulent matter by the mouth.
Encyc. Coxe.
ANAPLEROT'IC, a. [Gr. a.'artx^po«, to fill.]
Filling up ; supplying or renovating flesh.
ANAPLEROT'IC,/!. A medicuie wliich re-
news flesh or wasted parts. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'ARCH, n. [See Anarchy.] The author
of confusion ; one who excites revolt.
Milton.
ANARCH'IC, ) Without rule or gov-
ANARCH'ICAL, S ernment ; in a state
of confusion ; apphed to a state or society.
Fielding uses anarchial, a word of less dif-
ficult pronunciation.
AN'ARCHIST, n. An anarch ; one who
excites revolt, or promotes disorder in a
fitate. Stephens.
AN'ARCHY, 7t. [Gr. ompzm, of a priv. and
apxn, rule.]
Want of government ; a state of society,
when there is no law or supreme power,
or when the laws are not efficient, and
individuals do what they please with im-
punitv ; i)olitical confusion.
ANAR'HICHAS, n. The sea wolf; a genus
of ravenous fish, of the order of Apodals,
found in the northern seas.
A'NAS, 71. [L.] A genus of water fowl of
the order Anseres ; incliuling the swans,
geese, and ducks. The species are very
numerous.
ANAS' ARCA, ?!. [Gr. wo, in or between,
and (JO|)?, flesli.1
ANA
A species of dropsy, from a serous humor
spread between the skin and flesh ; or
an accumulation of lymph in the cellular
membrane, occasioning a soft, pale, ine-
lastic swelling of the skin, ^uincy. Coxe.
ANAS'AReOUS, a. Belonging to anasarca,
or dropsy ; dropsical. |
ANAS'TOMOSE, v. i. s as z. [Gr. ava, and,
aro^o, mouth.]
To inosculate ; to unite the mouth of onej
vessel with another, as the arteries with
the veins. Darwin. Encyc.
ANASTOM'OSY, } The inosculation of
ANASTOMO'SIS, S vessels, or the open-
ing of one vessel into another, as an artery
into a vein ; a relaxation or dilatation of
the mouths of vessels ; also the communi-
cation of two vessels, as a vein with a vein.
Qiiincy. Encyc. Coxe.
ANASTOMOT'IC, o. Opening the mouths
of vessels, or removing obstructions.
ANASTOiMOT'Ie, n. A medicine sup-
posed to have the power of opening tlie
mouths of vessels, and promoting circula-
tion, such as cathartics, deobstruents and
sudorifics. Encyc
ANAS'TROPIIE, > „ [Gr. a.ufpot.?, a con-
ANAS'TROPHY, \ "' version or inversion.:
In rhetoric and grammar, an inversion of the
natural order of words ; as saxa per et
acopulos, for per saxa et scopulos. Encyc.
AN'ATASE, n. [Gr. avataai!, extension, so
named from the length of its crystals.^
Octahedrite ; octahedral oxyd of titanium ;
a mineral that shows a variety of colors
by reflected hght, from indigo blue to red
dish brown. It is usually crystaUzed it
acute, elongated, pyramidical octahedrons.
Ure. Cleaveland.
ANATII'EMA, n. [Gr. ava9ifia., from
fifljfitti, to place behind, backward or at a
distance, to separate.]
X. Excommunication with curses. Hence,
a curse or denunciation by ecclesiastical
authority, accompanying excommunica
tion. This species of excommunication
was practiced in the ancient churches,
against notorious oflenders ; all churches
were warned not to receive them ; all
magistrates and private persons were
admonished not to harbor or maintain
them, and priests were enjoined not to
converse with them, or attend tlieir fu
neral.
There are two kinds of anathemas, Jurft
ciary and abjuratory. The former i
pronounced by a council, pope or hisliop
the latter is the act of a convert who
anathematizes the heresy which he ab
jures.
•J. In heathen mythology, an ofiering, or pres
ent made to some deity and hung up in a
temple. Whenever a person quitted hi;
employment, he set apart, or dedicated hi;
tools to his patron-deity. Persons who
had escaped danger remarkably, or been
otherwise very fortunate, testified their
gratitude by some ofiering to their deity.
Encyc.
ANATIIEMAT'I€AL, a. Pertaining
anathema.
ANATHEMAT'ICALLY, adv. In the man
ner of anathema.
ANATHEMATIZATION, n. The act of|
anathematizing. Encyc.
ANATH'EMATIZE, v. t. To e.xcominuni-
A N C
cate with a denmiciation of curses ; to pro-j
nouncc an anathema against. Hamynond.l
ANATH'EMATIZED, pp. Excommunica-j
ted with curses. i
ANATHEMATIZING, ppr. Pronoimcing
an anathema.
ANATIF'EROUS, a. [L. anas, a duck, and
/era, to produce.] Producing ducks. Brown.
ANAT'OCISM, 71. [L. anatocismus, fromGr.
gain, and roxos, usury.]
Interest upon interest ; the taking of com-
pound interest ; or the contract by which
such interest is secured. [Rarely used.]
Johnson. Cicero.
ANATOMT€AL, a. Belonguig to anatomy
or dissection ; produced by or according
to the principles of anatomy, or natural
structure of the body ; relating to the parts
of the body when dissected or separated.
ANATOM'leALLY, adv. In an anatomical
manner; by means of dissection ; accord-
ing to the doctrine of anatomy.
ANATOMIST, n. One who dissects bodies ;
more generally, one who is skilled in the
art of dissection, or versed in the doctruie
and principles of anatomy.
ANAT'OMIZE, v. t. To dissect an animal ;
to divide into the constituent parts, for the
purpose of examining each by itself; to
lay open the interior structure of the parts
of a body or subject ; as, to anatomize an
animal or plant ; to anatomize an argu
ANAT'OMIZED, pp. Dissected, as au ani
mal body.
ANAT'OMIZING, ppr. Dissecting.
ANAT'OM Y, n. [Gr. a.aroftij, of a.u, through
and tf/ivu, to cut.]
1. The art of dissecting, or artificially sepa-
rating the different parts of an animal
body, to discover their situation, structure
and economy.
"3. The doctrine of the structure of the body
learned by dissection ; as, a physician
understands anatomy.
The act of dividing any thing, corporeal
or intellectual, for the purpose of examm-
ing its parts ; as, the anatomy of a plant
or of a discourse.
4. The body stripped of its integuments ; c
skeleton, or the corporeal frame of bone*
entire, without the skin, flesh and vessels
an improper use of the ivord, and vulgar
5. Ironically, a meager person.
ANATREP'Tle, a. [Gr. amrpfrtu, to over
turn.]
Overthrowing ; defeating ; prostrating ; c
word applied to the dialogues of Plato, which
represent a complete defeat in the gymnastic
exercises. Enfield.
AN'ATRON, n. [from Gr. .xrpo^, niter.]
1. Soda or mineral fixed alkali.
2. Spume or glass gall, a scmn which r
upon melted glass, in the furnace, and
when taken off, dissolves in the air, and
then coagulates into common salt.
3. The salt which collects on the walls of
vaults. Johnson. Core.
AN'BURY, n. A disease in turneps, or an
injury occasioned by a fly.
AN'CESTOR, n. [Fr. ancestres, ancetres ; L.
antecessor, of ante, before, and cedo, to go.]
One from whom a person descends, either
by the father or mother, at any distance
of time, in the tenth or hundredth gene-
ration. Au ancestor precedes in the order
A N C
of nature or blood ; a predecessor, m the
order of office.
iVNCES'TRAL, a. Relating or belonging to
ancestors ; claimed or descendhig from
ancestors ; as, an ancestral estate.
AN'CESTRY, n. A series of ancestors, or
progenitors ; lineage, or those who com-
])ose the line of natural descent. Hence,
l)irth or honorable descent. Addison.
\N'€HILOPS, n. [Gr. atyi?L«+, from o.|, a
goat, and u+, an eye. Qu.]
The goat's eye ; an abscess in the inner
angle of the eye ; an incipient fistula lach-
rymalis. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'CIIOR, n. [L. anchora ; Gr. oyxvpa ; It.
and Port, ancora ; Sp. ancla ; D. G. Dan.
anker ; Sw. anchare ; Ir. ankaire, ancoir
or ingir ; Corn, ankar; Ar. ankar; Pers. an-
ghar ; Russ. iacor ; Fr. ancre ; Arm. ancor.]
1. An iron instrument for holding a ship
or other vessel at rest in water. It is a
strong shank, with a ring at one end, to
which a cable may be fastened ; and with
two arms and flukes at the other end,
forming a suitable angle with the shank
to enter the ground.
In seamen's language, the anchor comes home,
when it is dislodged from its bed, so as to
drag by the violence of the wind, sea or
cm-rent.
Foul anchor is when the anchor hooks or is
entangled with another anchor, or with a
wreck or cable, or when the slack cable
is entangled.
The anchor a cock bill, is when it is sus-
pended perpendicularly from the cat
iiead, ready to be let go.
The anchor a peek, is when it is drawn in
so tight as to bring the ship directly over it.
The anchor is a trip, or a weigh, when it is
just drawn out of the ground, in a perpen-
dicular direction, eitlier by the cable or the
buoy-rope.
To back an anclior is to lay down a small
anchor ahead of that by which the sliip
rides, with the cable fastened to the crowu
of the latter to prevent its coming home.
At anchor is when a ship rides by her an-
chor. Hence, to lie or ride at anchor.
To cast anchor, or to anchor, is to let go
an ajichor, to keep a ship at rest.
To weigh anchor is to heave or raise the
anchor out of the ground.
Anchors are of diflerent sizes. The princi-
pal, and that on which most dependence
is jilaced, is the sheet anchor. Then come
the best bower, the small botcer, the spare
anchor, the stream anchor, and the hedge
anchor, which is the smallest. Mar. Diet.
l2. In a figurative sense, that which gives sta-
bility or security ; that on wliich we place
dependence lor safety.
Which hope we have as an anchor of the
soul, both sure and stedfast. Heb. vi.
3. In architecture, anchors are carved work,
somewhat resembling an anchor. It is
coimnonly a part of the ornaments of the
botdtins of capitals in the Tuscan, Doric
and Ionic orders, and on the moldings of
cornices.
In heraldry, anchors are emblems of hope.
Encyc.
AN'CHOR, V. t. To place at anchor ; to
moor ; as to anchor a ship.
2. To fix or fasten on ; to fix in a stable con-
dition.
A N C
A N C
AND
AN'CHOR, r. i. To cast anchor ; to come
to anchor ; as, our ship anchored off the isle
of Wiglit.
2. To stop ; to fix or rest on.
AN'ellORABLE, o. Fit for anchorage.
[.Yo< used.] Herbert.
AN'€HORAgE, n. Anchor-ground ; a place
where a ship can anchor, where the
ground is not too rocky, nor the water too
deep nor too shallow.
2. The hold of a ship at anchor, or rather
t)ie anchor and all the necessary tackle
for anchorhig.
3. A duty imposed on ships for anchoring in
a harbor.
AN'€HORED, ;>jB. Lying or riding at an-
chor ; held by an anchor ; moored ; fixed
in safety.
AN'€HORESS, n. A female anchoret.
Fairfax.
AN'€HORET, or ANCHORITE, n. [Gr.
avax^fnjtTj^j from ai'a;twp£w, to retire, ol ara
and ;t"pf"> to go. Written by some au
thors, anachoret.]
A hermit ; a recluse ; one who retires from
society into a desart or soUtary place
avoid the temptations of the world and
devote himself to religious duties. Also a
monk, who, with the leave of the abbot,
retires to a cave or cell, with an allowance
from the monastery, to five in solitude.
Encyc.
AN'CHOR-GROUND, n. Ground suitable
for anchoring.
AN'€HOR-MdLD, );. The hold or fastness
of an anchor ; security.
AN'eHORING, ppr. Mooring ; coming tc
anchor ; casting anchor.
AN'€HOR-SMITH, n. The maker or for
ger of anchors, or one whose occupation
is to make anchors.
ANCHO'VY, > [Port, and Sp. anchova
AN'CHOVY, I "• Fr. anchois ; It. acciuga
G. anschove.]
A small fish, about three inches in lengtli, of
the genus Chipea, found and caught, in
vast numbers, in the Mediterranean, and
pickled for exportation. It is used as a
sauce or seasoning.
ANCHO'VY-PEAR, n. A fi-uit of Jamaica,
constituting the genus Grias. It is large,
contains a stone, and is escident.
AN'CIENT, a. Usually pronounced most
anomalously, ancient. The pronunciation
of the first vowel ought to accord with
that in antiquity, anger, anchor, &c. [Fr.
uncien ; It. anzmno, anzi; from L. ante,
tiquus.]
t. Old ; that happened or existed in former
times, usually at a great di.stance of time
as, ancient authors, ancient days. Old,
says Johnson, relates to the duration of
the tiling itself, as an old coat ; and ancient,
to time in general, as an ancient dress.
But this distinction is not always observed.
We say, in old times, as well as ancient
times ; old customs, &c. In general
however, ancieiit is opposed to modern,
and old to new, fresh or recent. When
speak of a thing that existed formerly,
whicli has ceased to exist, we commonly
use ancient, as ancient repubUcs, ancient
heroes, and not old republics, old heroes.
But when the thing which began or existed
in former times, is still m existence, we
use cMier ancient or old; as, ancient statues
or paintings, or old statues or paintings ;
ancient authors, or old authors, meaning
books. But in these examples ancient
seems tlie most correct, or best author-
ized. Some persons apply ancient to men
advanced in years still living ; but this
use is not common in modern practice,
though foimd in scripture.
With the ancient is wisdom. Job.
3. Old ; that has been of long duration ; as,
cient forest; an ancient city.
.3. Known from ancient times; as the ancient
continent, opposed to the new continent.
Robertson.
AN'CIENT, n. [Supra.] Generally used in
the plural, ancients. Those who lived in
former ages, opposed to modems.
In scripture, very old men. Also, governors,
rulers, political and ecclesiastical.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the
ancients of his people. Isa. iii. Jer. xix.
God is called the Ancient of days from his
eternal existence. Dan. vii.
Hooker uses the word for seniors, "They
were his ancients," but the use is not au-
thorized.
2. Ancient is also used for a flag or streamer,
in a ship of war ; and for an ensign or the
bearer of a flag, as in Shakespeare. Cov/el
supposes the word, when used for a flag,
to be a corruption of end-sheet, a flag at
the stern. It is probably the Fr. enseigne
Johnson. Cowel. Encyc.
Ancient demain, in Enghsh Law, is a tenure
by which all manors belonging to the
crown, in the reign of William the Con-
queror, were held. The numbers, names
&c. of these were all entered in a book
called Domes-day Book. Cowel. Blackstone,
AN'CIENTLY, adv. In old tunes; in times
long since past ; as Rome was anciently
more ])o])ulous than at present
.AN'CIENTNESS, n. The state of being
ancient; antiquity; existence from old time:
AN'CIENTRY, n. Dignity of birth; the
honor of ancient Uneage.
Spenser on Ireland. Shak
AN'CIENTY, n. Age ; antiquity. [JVo< in
Martin
AN'CIENTY, n. In some old English stat-
utes and authors, eldership or seniority
14. Hen. III.
AN'CILLARY, a. [L. ancilla, a female ser-
vant.]
Pertaining to a maid servant, or female ser-
vice ; subservient as a maid servant.
Blackstone.
ANCIP'ITAL, a. [L. anceps.]
Doubtful, or double ; double-faced or double-
formed; apphed to the stem of a plant, it
signifies a two edged stem, con
and forming two opposite angles.
Barton's Elem. of Botany. Lee,
AN'€OME, n. A small ulcerous swelling
coming suddenly. Boucher.
\N'€ON, n. [L. ancon ; Gr. ayxut-, the el
bow.]
The olecranon, the upper end of the uhia, or
elbow. Coxe.
AN'€ONE, n. [Lat. ancon, Gr. oyxui'.] In
architecture, the corner of a wall, cross-
beam or rafter. Encyc.
AN'€ONY, n. [Probably from oyxur, the
cubit, from its resemblance to the arm.]
In iron works, a ])iece of half wrouglit iron,
111 the shape of a bar in the middle, but
rude and unwrought at the ends. A piece
of cast iron is melted off and hammered
at a forge, into a mass of two feet long
and square, which is called a bloom ; then,
carried to a finery, and worked into an an-
cony ; it is then sent to a chafery, where
the ends are wrought into the shape of the
middle, and the whole is made into a bar.
Encyc.
AND, conj. [Sax. and ; Ger. und ; D. endt
; and.]
And is a conjunction, connective or conjom-
ing word. It signifies that a word or part
of a sentence is to be added to what pre-
cedes. Thus, give me an apple and an
orange ; that is, give me an apple, add or
give in addition to that, an orange. John
and Peter and James rode to New- York,
that is, John rode to New- York ; add or
fuHher, Peter rode to New- York ; add
James rode to New-York.
AN'DALUSITE, n. A massive mineral, of
a flesh or rose red color ; sometime?
found crystalized in imperfect four-si-
ded prisms, nearly or quite rectangular.
Its hardness is nearly equal to that of
Corundum, and it is infusible by the blow
pipe. It has its name from Andalusia, in
Spain, where it was first discovered.
Werner. Brongniart.
ANDAN'TE, [It. from andare, to go ; Eng-
to luend, to wander.]
In music, a word used to direct to a move-
ment moderately slow, between largo and
allegro. Encyc.
AN'DARAC, n. Red orpiment. Coxe.
AN'DEAN, a. Pertaming to the Andes,
the great chain of raountams extending
through S. America. Cobimbiad, 3, 138.
ANDi'RA, n. A species of bat in Brazil,
nearly as large as a pigeon. jE>ic<. JVat. Hist.
AND'IRON, n. [Teutonic, andena, or andc-
la. In Sax. the corresponding word is
brand-isen, brand or fire iron ; D. brand-
yzer. The Fr. landier. Arm. lander, Junius
thinks, is our and-iron, with the French I
prefixed.]
An iron utensil used, in Great Britam, where
coal is the common fuel, to support the
ends of a spit ; but in America, used to
sujiport the wood in fire places.
ANDORlN'HA, n. The Brazihan swallow.
Did ofJSTat. Hist.
ANDRANAT'OMY, n. [Gr. a*,jp, wSpos, a
man, and avatojirj, dissection.]
The dissection of a human body, especially
of a male. Coxe. Quincy.
AN'DREOLITE, n. A mineral, the harmo-
tome, or cross-stone. Ure.
ANDROG'YNAL, > [Gr. w^, a man,
iANDROG'YNOUS, S and yr«j, woman.]
Having two sexes ; being male and female ;
hermaphroditical.
In botany, the word is applied to plants
which bear both male and female flowers^
from the same root, as birch, walnut, oak,
chesnut, mulberry, &c. These plants con-
stitute the monecian class in Linne's sys-
tem, and frequently have an amentum,
thong or catkin, for a calyx. Milne.
,\NDR0G'YNALLY, adv. With the parts
of both sexes.
^VJNDROG'YNUS. ?i. A hermaphrodite.
Johnson.
ANDROID, n. [Gr. aii;p, man, and «6os,
form.]
A N E
A N G
A i\ (J
A maeliine, in the human form, which, by
certain springs, performs some of the nat-
ural niotions of a Uving man. One of
these machines, invented by M. Vaucan-
son, appeared at Paris in 1738, represent-
ing a time player. Encyc.
ANliROM'EDA, n. A northern constella-
tion, behind Pegasus, Cassiopeia and Per-
seus, representing the figure of a woman
chained. The stars in this constellation,
in Ptolemy's catalogue, are 23 ; in Tycho's,
22 ; in Bayer's, 27 ; in Flamsted's, 84.
2. The name of a celebrated tragedy of Eu-
ripides, now lost. Encyc.
ANDROPH'AGi, n. [Gr. an^p, man, and
^(v/u>, to eat.]
Blaii-eaters ; but the word is httle used, being
superseded by anthropophagi, which see.
Herodotus mentions people of this charac-
ter. Melpoin, lOti.
ANE'AR, prep. Near. Atterburtj.
AN'E€DOTE, n. [Gr. o priv. and fxSiSuj^ui,
to publish, part. fxSoTo;, given out.]
In its original sense, secret history, or facts
not generally known. But in more com
mon usage, a particular or detached inci
dent or fact of an interesting nature ; a
biographical incident ; a single passage of
private life. Procopius gave the title of
anecdotes to a book he pubhslied agains
Justinian and his wife Tlieodora ; and
similar collections of incidents in the lives
of eminent men are now common. Ena/c.
ANE€DOT'IeAL, a. Pertaining to anec-
dotes. Bolingbroke.
ANE'LE, t>. t. [Sax. odl, oil.]
To give extreme unction. [jVo/ used.] Shak.
ANEMOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. aw^oj, wind,
and ypa^i?, description.]
A description of the winds. Johnson
ANEMOL'OgY, n. [Gr. att^o;, wind, and
Xoyos, discourse.]
The doctrine of winds, or a treatise on the
subject.
ANEMOM'ETER, n. [Gr. aviftoi, wuad, and
(utrpEu, to measure.]
An instnunent or machine for measuring the
force and velocity of the wind. Encyc.
ANEM'ONE, \ [Gr. avi/iavt;, from 015^405,
ANEM'ONY, S "■ wind. It was by the an
cient Greeks written arf|U«M<i. Theoph.
Lib. 6. Ca. 7. Plin. 31, 2-3. Venus is said
to have changed her Adonis into an ane-
mone. Ovid. Metam. Lib. 10, 735.]
Wind-flower ; a genus of plants of numer-
ous species. Some of the species are cul-
tivated in gardens, of which their double
flowers are among the most elegant oma
ments.
Sea Anemone. See Animal Flower.
ANEM'OSCOPE, n. [Gr. o»^5, wind, and
exorciu, to view.]
A machine whieli shows the course or velo-
city of the wind. Encyc.
ANENT', prep. About ; concerning ; over
against : a Scottish word. Qu. Gr. niavri
AN'EURISM, n. [Gr. ova, and (vpwa, to di
late, from tvpu;, broad.]
A preternatural dilatation or rupture of the
coats of an artery. This is encysted or
diflused. The encysted atiewism is when
the coats of the artery being only dilated,
the blood is confined to its proper coat.
Of this kind is the varicose. The diffused
aneurism includes all those in which, from
an aperture in the artery, the blood is
spread about in the cellular membrane-,
out of its proper course. Quincy. Coxe.
ANEURIS'MAL, a. Pertaining to an aneu-
ANEVV' adv. [a and neio.]
Over again ; another time ; in a new form ;
as, to arm anew ; to create anew.
ANFRA€'TUOUS, a. [L. anfractus, of amb,
about, and fractus, broken. See Break.]
Winding ; full of windings and turnings ;
written less correctly, anfractuose. Roy-
ANFRAC'TUOUSNESS, n. A state of be-
ing full of windings and turnings.
ANGARIA'TION, n. [L. angaria ; Gr.
ouyyopfuu, to compel ; a word of Persian
origin.]
Compulsion ; exertion. [Not xtsed.]
AN6EIOT'03IY, n. See Angiotomy.
AN'CtEL, n. Usually pronounced dngcl, but
most anomalously. [L. angelus, Gr.
oy-yfXo;, a messenger, from oyyirKu, to tell
or aimounce ; fr. agalla, agallaim, to
speak or tell ; from the root of call, or of Ar.
J1.S to say, to tell. Sax. angel ; Ir. ain-
geal, or aingiol ; D. G. Sw. • Dan. engel ;
Sp. angel ; It. angelo ; Port, anjo ; Fr.
ange ; Russ. angel.]
1. Literally, a messenger ; one employed to
communicate news or information from
one person to another at a distance. But
appropriately,
2. A spirit, or a spiritual intelhgent being
employed by God to commimicate his will
to man. Hence angels are ministers of
God, and ministring spirits. Heb. 1.
3. In a bad sense, an evil spirit ; as, the angel
of the bottomless pit. Math. xxv. 1 Cor.
vi. Rev. ix.
4. Christ, the mediator and head of the
church. Rev. x.
5. A minister of the gospel, who is an em-
issador of God. Rev. ii. and iii.
6. Any being whom God employs to execute
liis judgments. Rev. xvi. Crudcn.
7. In the style of love, a very beautiful per-
son. Shak.
AN'GEL, n. A fish found on the coast of
CaroHna, of the thoracic order and genus
Chajtodon. It has a small projecting
mouth ; the lamens above the gills are
armed with cerulean spines ; the body, a
foot in length, ai)pears as if cut ofl^, and
waved, and covered with large green
scales. Pennant from Catesby.
AN'GEL, ji. a gold coin formerly current
in England, bearing the figure of an angel.
Skimier says, this de^^ce was impressed
upon it in allusion to an observation of
Pope Gregory the Great, who, seeing
some beautiful English youths, in tlie
market at Rome, asked who they were ;
being told they were Angli, English, he
replied, they ought rather to be called an-
geli, angels. This coin had different val-
ues under different princes : but is now
an imagmary sum or money of account,
implying ten shillings sterling. Encyc.
AN'GEL, a. Resembling angels ; angehc ;
as, angel whiteness. Shak.
AN6EL-AGE, n. The existence or state of
angels. Beaumont, &c.
AN'gEL-FISH, n. A species of shark, the
squalus squatina. It is from six to eight feet
long, with a large head, teeth broad at the
ba.-e, but slender and sharp above, disposeil
in five rows, all round the jaws. The fish
takes its name from its pectoral fins, wliicli
are very large and extend horizontally,
hkc wings when spread. This fish con-
nects the genus of rays, with that ot'
sharks, partaking of the characters of
both ; but it differs from both in this, thai
its mouth is placed at the extremity of the
head. Encyc.
ANgEL'I€, } „ [L. angelicus.-] Resem-
ANgEL'I€AL, ^ "• bling angels ; belong-
ing to angels, or partaking of tlieir nature :
suiting the nature and dignity of angels.
ANgEL'I€A, n. A genus of digynian ])en-
tanders, containing several species. The
sort is cultivated for medicinal
uses. It grows naturally in northern cli-
mates, and has large umbels of a globose
figure. The roots have a fragant aromatic
smell, and are used in the aromatic tinct-
m-e. The stalks make an agreeable sweet-
meat. Encyr.
AN6EL'I€ALLY, adv. Lil;e an angel.
AN6EL'I€ALNESS, n. The quaUty of be-
ing angehc; excellence more than hu-
AN'GELITES, in Church history, so
called from Angelicum in Alexandria,
where they held their first meetings, h
sect of heretics near the close of the 5th
century, who held the persons of the trin-
ity not to be the same, nor to e.vist by
their own nature ; but each to be a God,
existing by participating of a deity com-
mon to them all. They are called also
Severites, from Sevenis, their head ; and
Theodosians, from one Theodosius, whom
they made their Pope. Encyc.
x\N'GEL-LIKE, a. ResembUng or having
the manners of angels.
ANGELOL'OgY, 71. [Angel and ^oyo;.]
A discourse on angels ; or the doctrine of
angelic beings. Ch. Spectator.
AN'gELOT, n. [Fr. anche, the reed of a
hautboy or other instrument of music]
1. An instrument of music, somewhat re-
sembUng a lute. Johnson.
2. An ancient English coin struck at Paris
while under the dominion Of England; so
called from the figure of an angel sup-
porting the escutcheon of the arms of
England and France. Also, a small rich
sort of cheese made in Normandy. Encyc.
AN'GEL-SHOT, n. [Fr. ange, a chain-shot.]
Chain-shot, being two halves of a cannon
ball fastened to the ends of a chain.
AN' GEL- WINGED, a. Winged Uke angels.
Thomson.
AN'gEL-WORSHIP, n. The worshiping
of angels. Trapp.
AN'GER, »i. ang'ger. [L. ango, to choke,
strangle, vex ; whence angor, vexation,
anguish, the quinsy, angina. Gr. (vy;);", to
strangle, to strain or draw together, to
vex. The primary sense is to press,
squeeze, make narrow ; Gr. 07;^, near ;
Sax. enge ; G. enge ; D. Dan. eng, nar-
row, strait ; W. ing. This word may
be connected in origin with the Ar.
vJtA2> hanika, to be angry, and (Jiiji
chanaka, to strangle ; Ileb. Ch. Sjt. Eth.
pin, to strangle. In SaK. ange signifies
A i\ G
vuxoil ; iingmod, sad, anxious ; ang-set, a
carbuncle ; angsum, pressed close ; anxsu-^.
mian, to vex, to make anxious ; Eng. an-\
guish, anxious ; L. angustus, angina, &c.
See Anguish.]
1. A violent passion of the mind excited by a]
real or supposed injury ; usually accom-
panied with a propensity to take ven-
geance, or to obtain satisfaction from the
offending party. This passion however
varies in degrees of violence, and in ingen
uous minds, may be attended only with a
desire to reprove or cliide the offender.
Anger is also excited by an injury offer
ed to a relation, friend or party to whici
one is attached; and some degrees ofii
may be excited by cruelt}', injustice or
oppression offered to those with whon
one has no immediate connection, or evenj
to the community of which one is a mem-[
ber. Nor is it unusual to see sometliingj
of this passion roused by gross absurditiesi
in others, especially in controversy or dis-|
cussion. Anger may be inflamed till it'
rises to rage and a temporary delirium.
2. Pain ; smart of a sore or swelling ; the'
literal sense of the word, but little used.
VN'GER, V. t. ang'ger. To excite anger; to^
provoke ; to rouse resentment. [
:i. To make painful ; to cause to smart ; tO:
inflame ; as, to anger an ulcer. Bacon!
AN'GERLY, adv. [anger and like.] \
In an angry manner ; more generally writ
ten angrily.
.\NgI'NA, n. [L. from ango, to choke. Sec
Anger.]
\ quinsy ; an inflammation of the throat ; f
tumor impeding respiration. It is a gen-
eral name of the diseases called sore-
throat, as quinsy, scarlet fever, croup,
mumps, &c. • Coxe.
Angina pectoris, an anomalous or spasmodic
affection of the chest and organs of res-
piration ; or a disease of the heart. Coxe.
ANOIOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. (vyyaiov, a vessel,
and yfa^rj, description.]
A description of the vessels in the human
body. Ash.
ANUIOL'OgY, n. [Gr. oyytioi', a vessel, and
j.»yo5, discourse.]
A treatise or discourse on the vessels of the
hiunan body, as the arteries, veins, ly:
phatics, &c. Qfiincy.
VNGIOMONOSPERM'OUS, n. [Gr.ayynov
a vessel, fioroc, alone, and jrtfp^ia, seed.]
Producing one seed only in a pod.
Bailey. Johnson
AN'cilOSPERM, n. [Gr. ayyiiov, a vessel,
and ortfpfta, seed.]
In botany, a plant which has its seeds inclo-
sed in a pericarp.
ANGIOSPERM'OUS a. Having seeds in-
closed in a pod or other pericarp. Ii
Liime's system, the second order of plantsl
in the didynamian class are called angio-\
spermia. This word is opposed to gv/m-j
nosj)ermous, or naked-seeded.
ANGIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. oyyaor, a vessel, and
•ff/ivu, to cut.]
The opening of a vessel, whether a vein or
an artery, as in bleeding. It includes^
both arteriotomy and phlebotomy.
AN'GLE, n. [Fr. angle ; L. angulus, a cor-
ner ; Gr.aryxvf.or,W. ongle ; G. and B.angeU
a hook, an ang/e ; Dan. angel, ahook, ojig^/f,
a sting ; S*ax. iingel, a hook ; f^p. Port.l
A N G
angulo ; It. angolo. The German has an-
geln, for angling with a hook ; but in D.
hengel is the rod, and hengelen, to angle.
Qu. hinge and hang.]
In popular language, tlie point where two
lines meet, or tlie meeting of two lines '
point ; a corner.
In geometry, the space comprised between
two straight lines that meet in a point, or
between two straight converging lines
which, if extended, woiUd meet ; or the
quantity by which two straight lines, depar-
ting fiom a point, diverge from each other.
The point of meeting is the vertex of tlie
angle, and the lines, coiitahiing the angle,
are its sides or legs.
In optics, the angle of incidence is the angle
which a ray of light makes with a perpen
dicidar to the surface, or to that poi nt of the
surface on which it falls.
The angle of refraction is the angle which a
ray of hght refi-acted makes with the sur-
face of the refracting medium ; or rather
with a perpendicular to that pomt of the
sijrface on wiiich it falls. Encyc.
A right angle, is one formed by a right Une
falling on another perpendicularly, or
angle of 90 degrees, making the quarter
of a circle.
An obtuse angle is greater than aright angle,
or more than 90 degrees.
An acute angle is less than a right angle or
less than 90 degrees.
A rectilineal or right-Uned angle, is formed
by two right lines.
A curvitineal angle, is formed by two curved
lines.
A mixed angle is fonned by a right line with
a curved line.
Adjacent or contiguous angles are such as
have one leg common to both angles, and
both together are equal to two right an-
gles.
External angles are angles of any right-Uned
figure without it, when the sides are pro-
duced or lengthened.
Internal angles are those which are within
any right-hned figure.
Oblique angles are either acute or obtuse, in
opposition to right angles.
A solid angle is the meeting of three or more
plain angles at one point.
A spheiical angle is one made by the meeting
of two arches of great circles, which mu
tually cut one another on the surface of
the globe or sphere. Bailey.
AN'GLE, n. A hook ; an instriunent to take
fisli, consisting of a rod, a line and a hook,
or a line and hook.
AN'GLE, V. i. To fish with an angle, or
with hne and hook.
'2. V. t. or i. To fish for ; to try to gain by
some bait or insinuation, as men angle
for fish ; as, to angle for the hearts of peo-
ple, or to angle hearts. Shak. Sidney.
AN'GLED, a. Having angles — tised only in
compounds.
AN'GLER, n. One that fishes with an an-
gle ; also a fish, a species of lophius.
ANGLE-ROD, n. The rod or pole to which
a line and hook are fastened.
AN'GLIe, ) [From Ajigles, Sax. ing,
AN'GLICAN, S "' « plain or meadow, and
lie, like, or kzo;, like, which is the rool
of the L. icus, in publicus, and all similar
adje<.-tives. From ing, was formed Angles,
A N G
the English, to which is added this con>-
niou affix, ic. The Angles, were the In-
gtevones, of Tacitus, ing-ivoners, dwellera
on the plain or level land, near the Elbe
and Weser. [See English and fFont.]
Ing is annexed to many English names, as
Reading, Basing, Kittering, towns situated
on flat land.]
English ; pertaining to England or the Eng-
lish nation ; as the Anglican church.
Pinkerton.
ANGLICISM, n. An English Idiom;a forni
of language pecuhar to the EngUsh.
Milton.
AN'GLICIZE, V. t. To make EngUsh ; to
render conformable to the EngUsh idiom,
or to English analogies.
AN'GLING, ppr. Fishing with an angle.
AN'GLING, n. A fishing with a rod and
line.
ANGLO-DA NISH, a. Pertaining to the
English Danes, or the Danes who set-
tled in England. fVotton.
ANGLO-NORM'AN, a. Pertaining to the
EngUsh Normans. ff'otton.
.\NGLO-SAX'ON, a. Pertaining to the
Saxons, who settled in England, or Eng-
lish Saxons.
ANGLO-SAX' ON, n. A kind of pear; also
the language of the EngUsh Saxons.
ANGOLA-PEA or PIGEON-PEA. A spe-
cies of Cytisus.
AN'GOR, n. [L. See Anger.]
. Paul ; intense bodily pain.
2. The retiring of the native bodily heat to
the center, occasioning head-ache, palpi-
tation and sadness. Encyc. Coxe,
\N GRED or ANG'ERED, pp. Made an-
gry ; provoked.
VN'GRILY, adv. In an angry manner ;
peevishly ; witli indications of resentment.
AN'GRY, a. [See Anger.]
1. Feeling resentment ; provoked; followed
generally by with before a person.
God is angry with tlie wicked evei-y day.
Pa. vii.
But it is usually followed by at before a
thing.
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice ?
Eccles. v.
2. Showing anger ; wearing the marks of
anger ; caused by anger ; as, an a/ngry
countenance; angry words.
Inflamed, as a sore ; red ; manifesting in-
flammation.
4. Raging ; furious ; tumultuous.
Or chain the angry vengeance of the waves.
Trumbull.
ANGSA'NA or ANGSA'VA, n. A red gum
of the East Indies, like that of dragon's
blood. Coxe.
AN'GU, ?i. Bread made of the Cassada, a
plant of the W. Indies.
AN'GUIFER, n. [L. anguis, a serpent, and
fero, to bear ; Sans, agui.]
In astronomy, a cluster of stars in the form
of a man holding a serpent ; Serpentarius,
one of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
Ash.
ANGUIL'LA, 71. [L. an eel.]
In zoology, an eel ; also the name of a Med-
iterranean fisli used for food, called also
lii.^)iitiis and atherhia. Qu. Atherina
flips.li,.^. l/iiuu. Diet. J^at. Hist.
ANGI IL l.iroKM, a. [L. ang-ui/to, an eel,
and forma, shajic]
A N H
lu Ihe form of an eel, or of a sei-pent ; re
sembling an eel or serpent.
AN'GUISH, n. [Fr. angoisse ; It. angoscia
Sp. ansia ; Port, angustia, showing tlie
direct derivation of this word from L.
gustia, narrowness, from pressure ; D. and
G. angst ; Dan. angest. This and a nu-
merous class of words are from the root
ang, eng, denoting narrow, from pressure.
See Anger.]
Extreme pain, either of body or mind. As
bodily pain, it may dift'"' from agony,
which is such distress of the whole body
as to cause contortion, whereas avgidsh
may be a local pain as of an ulcer, or gout,
But anguish and agony are nearly synony-
mous. As pain of the mind, it signi-
fies any keen distress from sorro\y, re-
morse, "despair and the kindred passions.
And they hearkened not to Moses, for an-
guish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Ex. vi.
AN'GUISH, V. t. To distress with extreme
pain or grief Temple
AN'GUISHED, pp. Extremely pained ; tor-
tured ; deeply distressed.
AN'GULAR, a. Having an angle, angles or
corners ; pointed ; as an angular fig
2. Consisting of an angle ; forming a
gle ; as an angular point.
ANGULAR'ITY, n. The quality of having
an angle or corner.
AN'GULARLY, adv. With angles, or cor
ners ; in tlie direction of the angles.
AN'GULARNESS, n. Tlic quality of being
angular.
AN'GULATED, a. Formed with angles or
corners. If'oodward.
AN'GULOUS, a. Angular ; having corners
hooked. Glanville.
ANGUST', a. [L. anffustus.]
Narrow ; straight. [JVb< used.] Burton
ANGUSTA'TION, n. [L. anguslus, narrow.
See Anger.]
The act ot making narrow ; a straightening,
or being made narrow. Wiseman.
ANGUST'I€LAVE, n. [L. anguslus, nar-
row, and clavus, a knob or stud.]
A robe or timic embroidered with purple
studs or knobs, or by purple stripes, worn
by Roman knights." The laticlave, with
broader studs, was worn by,senators.
Quijidilian. Kennet.
ANHELA'TION, n. [L. anhelo, to pant oi
breathe with difiiculty ; from halo, U.
breathe.]
Shortness of breath ; a panting ; difficult
respiration, without fever, or with a sense
of suffocation. Encyc. Coxe
ANHELO'SE, a. Out of breath ; panting
breathing witli difficulty. [Litlk used.]
Did.
AN'HIMA, n. A Brazihan aquatic fowl,
larger than a swan, somewhat like
crane. Its head is small, its bill black,
the toes armed with long claws. But
what is remarkable, is a horn growing
from its forehead ; and the second joint
of the wing is armed with two straight tri-
angular spurs, an inch in length. The
fidelity between the male and female is sc
great, that when one dies, the other re
mains by the carcase, till it exi)irps.
Did. oJWat. Hist.
AN'HYDRITE, n. [See Anhydrous.]
A species of sulphate of Ume, anhydrous
sypsiun, of which there are several varie
A N I
ties ; compact, granular, fibrous, radiated,!
sparry, siliciferous or vulpinite, and con-
voluted. Jameson. Urc}
ANHY'DROUS, a. [Gr. awhfoi, dry ; apriv.!
and uJup, water.] I
Destitute of water. Anhydrite is so called, j
because it is destitute of the water of crys-
talization. Cleavetand.l
ANIENT'ED, a. [It. niente, nothing ; Norm
neant ; Fr. aneantir, to annihilate.]
Frustrated ; brought to naught. 06s.
Chaucer.
ANI'GHT, adv. [a or at, and night.]
In the night time ; anights, in the plural, is
used of frequent and customary acts.
You must come in earlier anights. Shah.
AN'IL, ?!. [Sp. am7, indigo; Port. antV; D.
anyl; Ar. j.^; nilon, slender, nila, blue.]
A shrub from whose leaves and stalks indi-
is made ; Indigo/era, or the indigo plant.
Encyc.
ANIL'ITY, ?!. [L. anilis, anilitas, from anus,
an old woman ; Celtic, hen, old.]
The state of being an old woman ; the old
age of a woman; dotage.
ANIMADVER'SION, n. [L. animadversio.]
Remarks by way of censure or criticism ;
reproof; blame. It may sometimes be'
used for punishment, or punishment may
be implied in the word, but this is not
common. In an ecclesiastical sense, it
differs from censure, says Aylifie ; censure,
respecting spiritual j)uuishment, and ani-
madversion, a temporal one. Glanville
uses the word in the sense of perception
but this use is not authorized.
AMMADVER'SIVE, a. That has the pow
]ierceiving. Obs. Glanville.]
ANIMADVERT', v. i. [L. animadverto, of
animus, mind, and adverfo, to turn to.] I
1. To turn the mind to ; to consider. |
2. To consider or remark upon by way of
criticism or censure. Dry'den.
i. To inflict punishment ; followed by upon.
Grew.
ANIMADVERT'ER, n. One who animad-
verts or makes remarks by way of cen-
ANIMADVERT'ING,p;)r. Considering; re-
marking by way of criticism or censure.
AN'IMAL, n. [L. animal, from anima, air,
breath, soul ; Gaelic anam, breath. The
W. has envU, en, a being, soul, spirit, and
mil, a beast ; Arm. aneval. Qu. Dan. aan-
de, Sw. anda, breath.]
An organized body, endowed with life and
the power of voluntary motion ; a living,
sensitive, locomotive body ; as, man is an
intelligent animal. Animals are essential-
ly distinguished from plants by the pro-
perty of sensation. The contractile jtrop-
erty of some plants, as the mimosa, has
the appearance of the effect of sensation,
but it may be merely tlie effect of irrita-
bility.
The distinction here made between animals
and vegetables, may not be philosophical-
ly accurate ; for we cannot perhaps as-
certain the precise limit between the two
kinds of beings, but this is sufficiently cor-
rect for common practical purposes.
The history of animals is called zoology.
By way of contempt, a dull person is called,
a stupid animal. '
A N 1
VN lAlAL, a. That belongs or reJuies to
animals ; as animal functions.
Animal is distinguished from intellcdual ; m
animal appetites, the apjietites of the body.
as hunger and thirst.
The animal functions, are touch, taste, mo-
,&c.
j Animal life is opposed to vegetable life.
Animal is opposed also to spiritual or ration-
al, which respects the soid and reasoning
Jaculties ; as animal nature, spiritual na
turc, rational nature.
Aninud food may signify that food which
nourishes animals ; but it usually denotes
food consisting of animal flesh.
Animal economy is the system of laws bi
which the bodies of animals are governed
and depending on their organic structure.
Animal spirit is a name given to the nervous
fluid.
^njma^ spirits in the plural, life, vigor, en-
ergy.
Animal system, or animal kingdom denotes
the whole class of beings endowed with
animal life. Encyc. Johnson.
ANIMAL'€ULE, n. [L. animaiculum, ani-
malcula.]
A little animal ; but appropriately, an animal
whose figure cannot be discerned without
the aid of a magnifying glass ; such as an-
invisible to the naked eye. Encyc.
ANIMAL-FLOWER, n. In zoology, sea-
anemone, sea-nettle or urtica marina, the
name of several species of animals belong-
ing to the genus actinia. They are called
sea-nettle from their supposed property of
stinging, and sea-anemone from the re-
semblance of their claws or tentacles, to
the petals of some flowers. These are
disposed in regular circles, and tinged
with various bright colors. Some of these
animals are hemispherical, others cylin-
drical ; others are shaped hke a fig. Some
are stiff and gelatinous ; others, fleshy and
muscular ; but all can aher their figure
by extending their claws in search of food.
These animals can move slowly, but are
generally fixed by one end to rocks or
stones in the sand. On the other extrem-
ity, is the mouth in the center, which is
surrounded by rows of fleshy claws
and capable of great dilatation. They
are very voracious, and will swallow a
muscle, or crab, as large as a hen's egg.
Encyc.
The term, Animal Flower, is also extended
to many other marine animals, from their
resemblance to flowers. They belong to
the Holothurias, which with the Actinias,
were ranged under tlie Molluscas, by
Linne ; and to the Tubularias and Hydras,
which were classed with the Zoophytes.
They are all arranged imder the Zoophytes,
by Cuvier. Cue.
ANIMALIZA'TION, n. The act of giving
animal Ufe, or endowuig with the proper-
ties of an animal. Ure. Med. Repos.
AN'IMALIZE, V. t. To give animal life to ;
to endow with the properties of animals.
-\N'IMALIZED, pp. Endowed with animal
Ufe.
AN'IMALIZING,;);ir. Giving animal hfe to.
AN'IMATE, V. t. [L. animo. See Aninud.]
1. To give natural life to ; to quicken ; to
make aUve ; as, the soul animates the body.
9. To give powers to, or to heighten tlji^
A iN 1
A N N
ANN
I'owers or eflect of n thing ; as, to animak
ii lyre.
3. To give sjiiiit or vigor ; to infuse cour-
age, joy, or other enlivening passion ; to
stiinulate or incite ; as, to animate ilispii-it-
cd troops.
W'IMATE, <t. Alive ; possessing animal
life. Milton.
[This word is used chiefly in poetry for
nnimated.]
AN'IMATED, pp. Being endovired with an-
imal life, as the various classes of anima-
ted beings.
)1. a. Lively ; vigorous ; full of spirit ; indi-
cating animation ; as anonima<erf discourse.
AN'IMATING, pjtr. Giving life ; infusing
spirit ; enlivening.
ANIMA'TION, n. The act of infusing life ;
the state of being animated.
•i. The state of being lively, brisk or full of
spirit and vigor ; as, he recited the story
Avith great animation.
AN'IMATIVE, a. That has the power of
giving life or spirit. Johnson.
ANIMATOR, n. One that gives Ufe ; that
which infuses hfe or spirit.
AN'IJIE, n. [Fr.] In heraldry, a term de
noting that the eyes of a rapacious ani
inal are borne of a different tincture fron
the animal himself.
AN'IJME, n. [Sp.] A resin exuding fi-oni
the stem of a large American tree called
by the natives courbarU ; by Piso, jetaiba.
It is of a transparent amber color, a light
agreeable smell, and of little or no taste,
It dissolves entirely, but not readily, in
rectified spirit of wine, and is used by the
BraziUans in fumigations, for pains pro-
ceeding from cold. Encyc.
ANIMET'TA, n. Among ecclesiastical ic
ters, the cloth which covers the cup of the
eiicharist. Encyc.
ANIMOS'ITY, n. [L. animositas ; Fr. anl
mositi ; from L. animosiis, animated, cour-
ageous, enraged ; from animus, spirit,
mind, passion. So in Teutonic, mod,
mind, signifies also pride, passion, angei
Jlnimus, spirit, Gr. avifios, wind, breath, is
from flowing, swelling, rushing, which
gives the sense of violent action and pas
sion. See Animal.]
Violent hatred accompanied with active op-
position ; active enmity. Animosity dif
fers from enmity which may be secret and
inactive ; and it expresses a less criminal
passion than malice. Animosity seeks to
gain a cause or destroy an enemy or rival,
from hatred or private interest; malice
seeks revenge for the sake of giving pain.
ANIN'GA, n. A root growing in the VVest-
Indies, like the Cliina plant, used in re-
fining sugar. Encyc.
AN'ISE, n. an'nis. [L. anisitm ; Gr. avijov ;
Ar. ianison. Cast. 1C19.]
An annual plant, placed by Linne under the
genus Pimpinella. It grows naturally ir
Egypt, and is cultivated in Spain and Mai
ta, whence the seeds are imported. The
stalk rises a foot and a half high, dividing
into slender branches, garnished with nar-
row leaves, cut into tlree or four naiTow
segments. The branches terminate
large loose umbels, composed of smaller
umbels or rays, on long footstalks. The
flowers are small and of a yellowish white
(he seeds oblong and swelling. Anise
seeds iiave an aromatic smell, and a pleas-
ant warm taste ; they are useful in warm-
ing the stomach and expelling wind.
Enci/c. Theoph. Lib. 7. 3. Plin. 20. 17
AN'ISE SEED, n. The seed of anise.
ANK'ER, n. [Dutch.]
A measure of Uquids used in Holland, con-
taining about 33 gallons, English measure.
Encyc.
Chambers says it contains two stekans ; each
stekan, 16 mengles ; each mcngle, 2 wine
quarts. Chambers. Encyc.
\NK'LE, n. a7ik'l. [Sax. ancleow; D. enkel.]
The joint which connects the foot with the
leg.
ANK'LE-BONE, n. Theboneof the ankle.
AN'NALIST, n. [See Annals.]
A writer of annals.
AN'NALlZE, V. t. To record ; to write an-
nals. [N'ot much used.] Encyc,
AN'NALS, n. plu. [L. annates, annalis,
from annus, a year, the root of which may
be the Celtic an, ain, a great circle. Varro
says the word annus signifies a great cii--
cle.]
1. A species of histoiy digested in order of
time, or a relation of events in chronolog
ical order, each event being recorded un
der the year in which it happened. An
nals differ from history, in merely relating
events, without observations on the mo-
tives, causes and consequences, which,
in history, are more diffusively illustrated,
2. The books containing annals, as the an-
nals of Tacitus.
AN'NATS, )i. [L. annus.-]
A year's income of a spiritual living ; the
first fruits, originally given to the Pope,
upon the decease of a bishop, abbot or
parish clerk, and paid by his successor
In England, they were, at the reforma-
tion, vested in tlie king, and in the reign
of Queen Anne, restored to the church,
and appropriated to the augmentation of
poor livings. Encyc.
ANNE'AL, V. t. [Sax. anmlan, on-wlan, to
kindle or inflame, to heat ; firom (elan, to
Idndle, to heat or bake, and to anoint with
oil. Sax. Oil, oil. Hence it may be infer
red that oil is named from inflaming o
burning.]
1. To heat ; to heat, as glass andiron for the
purpose of rendering them less brittle, or
to fix colors ; vulgarly called nealing. This
is done by heating the metal nearly to
fluidity, in an oven or furnace, and suffer-
ing it to cool gradually. Metals made
hard and brittle by hammering, by this
process recover their malleability. Tht
word is applied also to the bakhig of tiles
Encyc. Bailey. Ash
2. To temper by heat ; and Shenstone uses
it for tempering by cold.
ANNE'ALED,jo;j. Heated ; temjiered ; made
malleable and less brittle by heat.
ANNE'ALING, pjfr. Heating ; tempering
bv heat.
ANNEX', V. t. [L. annedo, annexum ; Fr
annexer ; of ad and necto, to tie, or con
nect.]
1. To unite at the end ; as to annex a codi
ril to a will. To subjoin, to aflix.
2. To unite, as a smaller thing to a greater ;
as to annex a province to a kingdom.
3. To luiite to something preceding, as the
main object ; to comicct with ; as to
nex a penahy to a prohibition, or ptinish-
ment to guilt.
ANNEX', V. i. To jom ; to be united.
Tooke.
ANNEX A'TION, n.The act of anne.xing, or
umtiiig at the end ; conjunction ; addition ;
the act of connecting; union. In English
law, the uniting of lands or rents to the
crown.
ANNEX'ED, pp. Joined at the end; con-
nected with ; aflixed.
ANNEX'ING, ppr. Unidng at the end,
affixing.
ANNEX'ION, n. The act of annexing; an-
nexation ; addition. [Little used.]
ANNEX'MENT, n. The act of annexing :
the thing annexed. Shak.
ANNI'HILABLE, a. That may be amiihi
lated.
ANNI'HILATE, v. t. [L. ad and nihilum,
nothing, of Me, not, and hilum, a trifle.]
1. To reduce to nothing ; to destroy the ex-
istence of.
No human power can annihilate matter.
2. To destroy the form or peculiar distinct-
ive properties, so that the specific thing no
longer exists ; as, to annihilate a forest by
cutting and carrying away the trees,
though the tunber may still exist ; to
annihilate a house by demolishing the
structure.
ANNIHILATED, pp. Reduced to nothing ;
destroyed.
ANNI'HlLATING.ppr. Reducing to noth-
ing ; destroving the specific form of.
ANNIHlLA'tlON, n. The act of reducing
to nothing or non-existence ; or the act of
destroying the form or combination of
parts under which a thing exists, .so that
tlie name can no longer be applied to it,
as the annihilation of a corporation.
2. The state of being reduced to nothiiis.
ANNIVERS'ARILY, adv. Annually. Hall.
ANNIVERS'.ARY, a. [L. anniversarius, of
a7inus, year, and tierto, to turn.]
Returning with the year, at a stated time ;
annual ; yearly ; as an anniversary feast.
ANNIVERS'ARY, n. A stated day return-
ing with the revolution of the year. The
term is apphed to a day on which some
remarkable event is annually celebrated,
or a day on which an interesting event is
commemorated by solemnities of religion,
or exhibitions of respect. In the Romish
church, a day in which an ofiice is yearly
performed for the souls of the deceased.
2. The act of celebration ; performance in
honor of an event. Dryden.
ANNO DOMINI. [L.] In the year of om-
Lord, noting the time from our Savior's in-
carnation ; as. Anno Domini, or A. D. 1800.
This was written Anno Domini, 1S09, and
revised A. D. 1.82.5 and 1827. W.
ANNOMINA'TION, n. [L. ad and nomina-
tio, from nomino, to name, from nomtn.]
1. A piui ; the use of words nearly alike in
sound, but of different meanings ; a paro-
nomasy. Encyc.
2. Alliteration, or the use of two or more
woi-ds successively beginnuig with the
same letter. Tyrwhitt.
ANNO'NA, n. [L. annona, from annus, a
year, and signifying a year's production
or increase ; hence provisions.]
The custard apple, a genus of several spe-
cies, one ol' which, the papaw, is common
ANN
ANN
A N O
ill the southern and westera parts of the
United States. [See Papaw.]
AN'NOTATE, v. l [L. annoto.]
To comment ; to make remarks on a writing.
Taikr.
ANNOTA'TION, n. [L. annotatio, of arfand
notatio, a marking, from nolo, to mark, or
nota, a mark.]
J . A remark, note or commentary on some
passage of a book, intended to illustrate
its meaning ; generally used in the plural,
as annotations on the scriptures.
3. The first symptoms of a fever, or attack
of a
Core
commentator ; a scholiast ; one who \vrites
notes to illustrate the composition of an
author,
ANNOT'TA, n. Orlean, or roucou ; a hard,
dry paste, consisting of the pelUclesof the
seeds of the bixa orellana, a shrub grow
ing in S. America and the W. Indies. It
is moderately hard, of a brown color i
the outside, and a didl red within. It
used in dyeing to give an orange cast to a
simple yellow. It is used also in coloring
cheese. [See Anotta.] Ure,
ANNOUNCE, v.t. annoims'. [Fr. anno7i.
cer ; It. annunziare ; L. annuncio, to deliv-
er a message, of ad and nuncio, to tell,
from nuncius, a messenger.]
1. To publish ; to proclaim ; to give notice,
or first notice ; as, the biith of Christ was
announced by an angel.
2. To pronounce; to declare by judicial sen-
tence. Prior.
ANNOUN'CED, pp. Proclaimed ; first pub
lished.
ANNOUNCEMENT, n. announs'ment. The
act of giving notice ; proclamation ; pul
lication. Month. Mai
ANNOUN'CER, n. One that announces, or
first gives notice ; a proclaimer.
ANNOUN'CING, ppr. Introducing notice ;
first publishuig ; proclaiming.
ANNOY', t;. t. [Norm, annoyer, from neure^
nuire, to hurt ; Fr. nuire ; It. nuocere ; fi-om
L. 7ioceo, to hurt, that is, to strike ; Syr.
Jiij.Ar. {^j to strike, to hurt; Heb.
and Ch. r\D3 to strike. Hence probably
L. neco, to kill. See JVuisance and Aox-
ious.]
To incommode ; to injure or distiu-b by con-
tinued or repeated acts; to tease, vex or
jiiolest ; as, to annoy an army by hnpeding
tlieir march, or by a continued cannonade.
ANNOY', n. Injury or molestation from con-
tinued acts or inconvenience.
Shak. Beatiie.
ANNOY'ANCE, n. That which annoys, or
injures; the act of annoying ; the state of
being annoyed. It includes something
more than inconvenience.
ANNOY'ED, pp. Incommoded, injured or
molested by something that is continued
or repeated.
ANNOY'ER, n. One tliat annovs.
ANNOY'FUL, a. Giving trouble; incom-
moding ; molesting. [JVotused.] Chaucer.
ANNOY'ING, ^jjr. Incommoding; hurtuig;
molesting.
ANNOY'OUS, a. Troublesome. [Xotu^ed.]
Chaucer.
AN'NUAL, a. [Fr. amine?; Sp. a»n,«/; It.
Vol. 1.
annuale; L. annalis, from annus, a year;
Gr. ff05, (vvoi • Sans, anda.]
. Yearly ; that returns every year ; coming
yearly ; as an annual feast.
2. Lasting or continuing only one year or
season ; that requires to be renewed every
year ; as an annual plant. Leaves that
grow in the spring, and perish ill the au
tumn, are called annual, in opposition t<
evergreens.
3. Performed in a year ; as the annual motion
of the earth.
AN'NUAL, n. A plant that lives but one
year, or rather but one suinmer. Martyn.
AN'NUALLY, adv. Yearly; returning every
year ; vear by year.
ANNU'ITANT, n. [See Annvily.]
One who receives oris entitled to receive a
amiuitv.
ANNU'ITY, n. [Fr. annuite, from antiits,
year. See Annual.]
A sum of money, payable yearly, to continue
for a given number of years, for hfe or for
ever ; an annual income, charged on the
person of the grantor ; or an annual al-
lowance. Governments often borrow
money upon annuities, that is, for a cer-
tain sum advanced on loan, the govern-
ment contracts to pay the lender a specific
sum, for life, or for a term of years. The
stock created by such loans is transfer-
able.
ANNUL', V. t. [Fr. annuller, of L. ad nullum,
to nothing.]
1. To make void; to nulhfy ; to abrogate
to abolish ; used appropriately of laws,
decrees, edicts, decisions of courts,
other estabhshed rules, permanent
and the like, which are made void by coin
petent authority.
3. To reduce to nothing ; to obliterate. [Ao<
in muck une.] Milton.
AN'NULAR, a. [L. annulus, a ring, fi-om
Celtic ain, a circle, and ul, young, small ;
annulus, a little circle.]
Having the form of a ring ; pertainuig to
ring.
Annular crystal is when a hexahedral prism
has six, or an octahedral prism eight mar
ginal faces, disposed in a ring about eacl
base ; or when these prisms are truncated
on all their terminal edges. Cleaveland.
AN'NULARY, a. Having the form of a ring,
Ray,
AN'NULATED, a. Furnished with rings,
' circles, like rings ; having belts.
AN'NULET, n. [L. anmdus, a ring.]
In architecture, a small square member in the
Doric capital, under the quarter roimd;
also a narrow flat molding, which "
mon to many places, as in the bases or
capitals ; called also a. fillet, or hstil, or
cincture, or a list, tunea, eye brow or
square rabbit. Encyc.
In heraldry, a Uttle circle, borne as a charge
in coats of arms ; formerly reputed a mark
of nobihty and jurisdiction ; it being the
custom of prelates to receive their investi-
ture per hacidum et annidum, by stafi'and
ring. It denotes also strength and eter-
nity, by its circular form. Among the Ro-
mans, it represented liberty and distinc-
tion of rank. It denotes also difference,
or mark of distinction, which the fifth
brother of a family ought to bear on liis
coat of arms. Encyc. Johnson.
10
ANNUL'LED, pp. Made void ; abrogated.
ANNUL'LING, ppr. Abrogating ; abolish-
ing.
ANNUL'MENT, n. The act of annulling.
ANNU'MERATE, v. t. [L. annumero, of aj
and numiro, to number, from numerus.
number ; VV. niver ; Ir. nuiver or nuimhe,.
See JVumter.]
To add to a former number ; to unite t>i
.something before mentioned. Johnson.
ANNUMERA'TION, n. Addition to a for
iner number.
ANNUN'CIATE, v. t. [See Announce.]
To brine tidings ; to announce. Chaucer.
ANNUNCIA'TION, n. An announcing ; the
tidings brought by the angel to Mary, of
the incarnation of Christ. Also the day
celebrated by the church, in memory oV
the angel's salutation of the blessed vir-
gin, which is the 25th of March. The
Jews give the title to a part of the cere-
mony of the passover. Encyc.
2. Proclamation ; promulgation.
ANNUNCIA'TOR, n. One who announ-
ces ; an officer in the church of Constan-
tinople, whose busuiess was to inform the
Iieople of the festivals which were to be
celebrated. Encyc.
.VN'ODYNE, n. [Gr. o or a., priv. and oSnr.
pain.]
Any medicine which allays pain, or causes
sleep, as an opiate, paregoric, narcotic.
&c. Coit .
AN'OD^NE, a. Assuaging pain ; causinjr
sleep, or insensibUity.
jVT', v.t. [Fr. omare, d. ouU ; Sp.
p. ungir; It.
ANOLNT',
oindre, p. oint ;
un tar, to anoint; 1^. ungo ;
ungere, or ugnere.]
1. To pour oil upon ; to smear or rub over
with oil or unctuous substances ; also to
spread over, as oil. We say, the man
anoints another, or the oil anoints him.
3. To consecrate by unction, or the use of
oil.
Thou shalt anoint the altar, and sanctify it.
Ex.xxii
3. To smear or daub.
He anointed the eyes of the blind man witli
clay. John ix.
, To prepare, in allusion to the consecra
ting use of oil.
Anoint tlie shield. Isaiah xxi.
To anoint the head with oil, Ps. xxiii. seems
pify to CO
oly Spirit.
The use of oil in consecrations, was of higli
antiquity. Kings, prophets and priests
were set apart or consecrated to their ofii-
ces by the use of oil. Hence the pecuhar
apphcation of the term anointed to Jesus
Christ.
ANOINT'ED, pp. Smeared or rubbed with
" ; set apart ; consecrated with oil.
.ANOINT'ED, n. The Messiah, or Son of
God, consecrated to the great office of
Redeemer ; called the lord's anointed.
Cyrus is also called the Lord's anointed.
Isaiah xlv.
ANOINT'ER, Ji. One who anoints.
ANOINT'ING, ppr. Smearing with oil ;
pouring on oil, or other oleaginous sub-
stance ; consecrating.
ANOINT'ING, n. The actof smearmgwith
oil ; a consecrating.
ANOINTMENT, 71. The act of anouiting.
or state of being anointed.
A N O
ANO'LE, 71. A species of lizard in the W.;
Indies, of a yellowish color, having several
blue and green strii)es running down it;
back. Did. ofJVat Hist.
ANOftl'ALIPED, a. [Gr. aru^aTtta, inequal-
ity, and rtot's, L. pes, foot.]
An epithet given to fowls, wliose middle toe
is united to the exterior by three phalan-
ges, and to the interior by one only.
ANOM'ALIPED, n. An anomalous footed
fowl. [Sec the adjective.] Diet. J^Tat. Hist.
ANOM'ALISM, n. An anomaly ; a deviation
from rule.
AN03IALI.S'TI€, } Irregular; de
ANOMALIS'TI€AL, I "' parting from com
mon or established rules.
In astronomy, the anotfialistic year is the time
in whicli the earth passes through her or-
bit, which is longer than the tropical year,
on account of the precession of the equi-
noxes.
ANOM'ALOUS, a. Irregular ; deviating from
a general rule, method or analogy ; appli-
ed, in grammar, to words which deviate
from the connnon rules of inflection ; and
in astronomy, to the seemingly irregular
motions of the planets ; but applied also
generally to whatever is irregular; as, an
(tnomalous character ; anomalous pronun-
ciation.
ANOM'ALOUSLY, adv. Irregularly ; in a
manner different from conmion ride, meth-
od or analogy.
ANOM'ALY, n. [Fr. anomalie ; Sp. anomxt-
lia; Gr.avu/iaUa, inequality, ofapriv. and
oftaTjii, equal, similar ; Celtic, W. hamal, or
haval ; Ir. amhail, similar.]
1. IiTegularity ; deviation from the common
rule ; thus oxen, the plural of ox, is an
anomaly,m grammar, as the regular plural
would be axes.
2. In astronomy, an irregularity in the motion
of a planet, whereby it deviates from the
aphelion or apogee. Encyc.
3. In music, a false scale or interval. Busby.
ANO'MEANS, n. [Gr. a^ofioio;, cUssimilar.]
In church history, the pure Arians, as distin-
guished from the Semi-Arians. Encyc.
ANO'MIA, n. [Gr. avofna ; a priv. and I'Ofjos,
rule.]
A genus of bivalve shells, so called from their
unequal valves ; the beaked cockle.
AN'OMITE, n. A fossil shell of the genus
anomia. Jameson.
ANOMORHOM'BOID, j!. [Gr. avofio^o;, ir-
regular, and foneoiilirii, of a rliomboidal
figure.]
\ genus of spars, pellucid, and crystaUne, of]
no determinate form externally," but break-
ing into regular rhomboidal masses. The
species are five, mostly of a white color.
Encyc.
AN'OMY, n. [Gr. avo^ca.j A violation of|
law. [Rarely used.] Bramhall.
ANON', adv. [Sax. on an, in one ; not, as
Junius supposes, in one minute, but in con-
tinuation, without intermission ; appUed
originally to extension in measure, and
then to time by analogy. " And sfedon
that hi ssegon on north-east fir micel and
brad with thone earthe, and weax on
lengthe up on an to tham wolcne." Sax.
Chron. A. D. 1022. And they said they
saw in the north-east a great fire anil
broad, near the eartli, and it increased in
A N S
length in r-ontimwiion to the clouds. S'
also An. Dom. 1127.]
. Quickly; without intermission; sooi
immediately.
The same is he that heareth the word, and
anon Avith joy receivetli it. Matt. xiii.
2. Sometimes; now and then ; at other times
accompanied with ever, ever and ation.
ANON'YMOUS, a. [Fr. anonjrme ; U anon
ymus ; Gr. arwi'v^uoj, ot' a priv. and opofia,
name. See Mime.]
Nameless ; wanting a name ; without the
real name of the author ; as, an anonymous
jiamjjhlet.
ANON'YMOUSLY, adv. Without
AN'OPLOTHER, ( [Gr. ap neg.,
ANOPLOTHE'RIUM, \ "• o^ao^, arms, and
Sjjpior, a beast.]
This is the name which Cuvier has given to
a genus of anunals, whose bones are found
in the gypsiun quarries near Paris ; a genus
now extinct.
ANOP'SY, n. [Gr. m neg. and a^, sight.]
Want of sight ; mvision. [Little used.]
Broum.
AN'OREXY, n. [Gr. a priv. and optlij, appe-
tite.
Want of appetite, without a lothing of food,
Co.re,
ANOTH'ER, a. [an, or one and- otter.]
1. Not the same ; different ; as, we have one
form of government ; France, another.
2. One more, in adilition to a former num-
ber, indefinitely ; as, grant one request,
they will ask another favor, another and
another.
3. Any other; any different person, indefi-
nitely ; as, " Let another praise thee and not
thy own mouth." This word is often used
without a noun, becoming a substitute for
the name of the person or thing; as in the
last example. It is also much used in op-
position to one, as in the first and second
passages cited. It is also frequently used
with one, in a reciprocal sense ; as, " love
one another ;" " bear one another's burdens ;"
that is, love one, or let one love another.
ANOTH'ER-GAINES, adv. Of another kind.
Obs. Sidney.
ANOTH'ER-GATES, adv. Of another sort.
Obs. Sanderson.
ANOTH'ER-GUISE, a. [anofJier and guise,
Fr. way, manner ; Sax. (me. The Saxon
manner of writuig this word would be
another-wise.]
Ol'a different kind ; different. This is a vid-
gar word, and usually contracted uito other
guess.
ANOT'TA, n. An elegant red color, fonned
from the pelhcles or pulp of the seeds of
the bixa, a tree conmion in South America.
This is called also Terra Orleana and
Roco. The annotta is made by steeping
the seeds for seven or eight days, pounding
them to separate the red sldns, then strain-
ing the liquor, boiling it, taking off" the
scum which is the coloring matter, then
boiling it to a due consistence, and making
it into balls. Ejtcyc.
AN'SATED, a. [L. ansatus, from ansa, a
handle.]
Having a handle or handles, or something in
the form of handles. Johnson.
AN'SER, 71. [L. a goose.]
In zoology, the iinnic of the goose, whether
A N S
me or wild. The domestic goose is the
gray-lag or wild goose, domesticated.
2. In astronomy, a small star, in the milky
way, between the swan and eagle. Encyc -
.•VN'SERINE, a. [L. anserinus, from anser.
a goose.]
1. Resembling the skin of a goose ; imeven ;
as, an anserine skin. Encyc.
2. Pertaining to the ansers.
AN'SERS, n. In Lume's system, the third
order of avea or fowls, whose character-
istics are a smooth bill, broadest at the
point, covered with a smooth skin, and
furnished with teeth. The tongue is fleshy,
and the toes are webbed or palmated. It
includes all the web-footed water fowls,
with legs and feet adapted to swmmiinff.
AN'SLAIGHT, n. [See Slay.] An attack ;
an affiay. [JVot in use.]
ANSWER, V. t. dnsvr. [Sax. andswarian,
ofanti, against, and Sax. swaran, or sioe-
rian or swerigan, Goth, srvaran, to swear.
The primitive sense of swear was merely
to speak or affirm, and hence, originally,
oath was used after it, to steear an oath :
which is not a pleonasm, as Lye supposes,
biit the primitive fonn of expression re-
tained. The sense of answer is an oppo-
site, a returned word or speech. Hence
we observe the Saxon has andwyrd, anti-
word, an answer; Goth, andawaurd; D.
aniicoord; Ger. antwort.]
1. To speak in return to a call or question,
or to a speech, declaration or ai-gument of
another person ; as, " I have called and ye
have not answered." " lie answered the
question or the argument." This may be
in agreement and confij-mation of what
was said, or in opposition to it.
2. To be equivalent to; to be adequate to,
or sufficient to accomphsh the object.
" Money answerelh all things," noting,
primarily, return.
3. To comply with, fidfiU, pay or satisfy ; as,
he anstvered my order ; to answer a debt.
4. To act ui return, or opposition ; as, the ene-
my answered our fire by a shower of grape
shot.
5. To bear a due projiortion to ; to be equal
or adequate ; to suit ; as, a weapon does
not aTiswer the size and strength of the
man using it ; the success does not answer
our expectation.
6. To perform what was intended ; to ac-
complish ; as, the measure does not ansiver
its end ; it does not ansiver the purpose.
7. To be opposite to ; to face ; as, fire an-
swers fii-e. Shak.
1. To write in reply ; to reply to another
writing, by way of explanation, reftitation
or justification ; as, to answer a pamphlet.
9. To solve, as a proposition or problem in
mathematics.
This word may be apphed to a great
variety of objects, expressing the idea of a
return ; as the notes, or sounds of birds, and
other animals ; an echo, &c.
'ANSWER, v. i. To reply ; to speak by way
of return ; a.*, there is none to answer.
1 Kings xviii.
2. To be accountable, liable or responsible ;
followed by to before the person, and for
before the thing for which one is hable ; as,
the man must answer to his employer /or
the money rntrustcd to his care ; we cajo
to Godybc our offenses.
A N S
ANT
A N T
rj. To vindicate, or give a justificatoi-y aC'
coiuit of; followed by for; as, a man can
not answer for liis friend.
4. To correspond with ; to suit with ; follow-
ed by to.
In water face answereth to face, so the heart
of man to man. Prov. 27.
.'5. To act reciprocally, as the .strings of an
instrument to the hand. Dryden
{». To stand as opposite or correlative ; as, al
legiance in the subject answers to {irotec-
tion on the part of the prince or govern-
ment.
7. To rettu-n, as sound reverberated ; to echo.
The noise seems to fly away, and answer at
agreat distance. Encyc. Jlrt. Echo.
8. To succeed ; to efiect the object intended ;
to have a good effect ; as, gypsum aTiswers
as a manure on a dry soil.
*ANS WER, n. A reply ; that which is said, in
return to a call, a question, an argument,
or an allegation.
A soft answer turaeth away wrath. Prov.
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
Cant. v.
'Jt. An account to be rendered to justice.
He will call you to so hot an answer for it.
Shah:
3. In law, a counter-statement of facts, in a
course of pleadings ; a confutation of what
the other ijaity has alledged.
4. A writing, pamphlet or book, in reply to
another.
.'>. A reverberated sound ; an echo.
6. A return ; that wliich is sent in conse-
quence of some petition, as a blessing is
sent in answer to ju-ayer.
7. A solution, the result of a mathematical
operation.
'ANSWERABLE, a. That may be answer-
ed ; that to which a reply may be made,
usually implying that the answer may be
satisfactory ; as, an answerable argument.
il. Obliged to give an accoimt, or Uable to
be called to account ; amenable ; respon-
sible ; as, an agent is answerable to his prin-
cipal.
3. Obliged or Uable to pay, indeimiify or
make good ; as, to be answerable for a debt
or for damages.
4. Correspondent ; agreeing with ; in con-
formity with ; as, the featm-es expressed in
a picture are answei-able to the original.
5. Suitable ; suited ; proportionate ; as, an
achievement answerable to the preparation
for it.
C. Equal ; correspondent ; proportionate ; as,
the success is answerable to my desires.
"ANSWERABLENESS, n. The quality of
being answerable, liable, responsible, or
correspondent.
'ANSWERABLY, adv. In due proportion,
' correspondence or conformity ; suitably ;
as, continents have rivere answerably lar
ger than isles.
ANSWERED, pp. Replied to; fulfilled
paid ; complied with ; accompUshed ; solv-
' ed ; confuted.
' '.VNSWERER, n. One who an.swers ; he or
'' tliat which makes a return to what anoth-
er has spoken ; he who writes an answer.
; ANSWERING, ppr. Repljang ; correspond-
1 ing to ; fidfiUing ; solving ; succeeding ; re-
(verberating ; confutuig.
ANSWER-JOBBER, n. One who makes
a business of WTitmg answers. Sirifl.
AN'T, in okl authors, is a contraction of an
it, that is, if it. [See An.]
ANT, in our vulgar dialect, as in the phrases,
I mt, you dvi, he ant, we dnt, &c., is un-
doubtedly a contraction of the Danish er.
tre, the substantive verb, in the present
tense of the Indicative iVIode, and not, I
er-not, we ere-not, he er-not, or of the Swe
dish ar, the same verb. Infinitive vara, U
be. These phrases are doulrtless legiti-
mate remains of the Gothic dialect.
*ANT, n. [Sax. cemet, emmet, contracted into
ant ; Germ, ameise.]
An enunet ; a pismire. Ants constitute a ge-
nus of insects of the hymenopteral order,
of which the characteristics are; a small
scale between the breast and belly, with a
joint so deep that the animal appears as if
almost cut in two. The females, and the
neuter or working ants, which have no
se.xua! characteristics, are furnished with
a hidden sting ; and both males and fe
males have wings, but the neuters hav<
none. These uisects meet together in
companies, and maintain a sort of repub
lie. They raise hillocks of earth, in which
they Uve. In these there are paths, lead-
ing to the repositories of their provisions,
The large black ants, in the warm climates
of America, to avoid the eflfects of gr
rauis, build large nests on trees, of Ught
eanh, roundish and plastered smooth.
Encyc,
ANT-BEAR or ANT-EATER, n. A quad-
ruped that feeds upon ants. This animal
has no teeth, but a snout or muzzle, with a
long cyUndi-ical tongue. The body is i
ered with long hair. There are several
species, constituting the genus, myrmeco-
pkaga, ant eaters. Encyc.
'ANT-EGGS, n. Little white balls found in
the hillocks of ants, usually supposed to be
their eggs, but foimd on e.xamination to be
the yomig brood, in their first state. They
are verniicules, vvTapped in a fiLn, compo-
sed of a silky substance spun Uke a spi-
der's webb. " Encyc.
'ANT-HILL, n. A little tunmlus or hillock,
formed by ants, for their habitation.
AN'TA, n. In ancient architecture, a square
coliinm, at the corner of a building ; a pil-
aster ; written also ante.
ANTACID, 71. [ajiti and acid.]
In pharmacy, an alkaU, or a remedy for sour-
ness or acidity ; better written anti-acid.
ANTAC'RID, n. [anti and aciid.]
That which corrects acrimony ; better
written anti-acrid.
ANTAG'ONISM, n. Opposition of action ;
counteraction of things or principles.
Good, B. ofJVature.
ANTAGONIST, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
oyuMf);;, a champion. See Jlct and Agony.]
1. One who contends with another in com
bat ; used primarily in the Grecian games.
An adversaiy.
2. An opponent in controversy. Campbell.
3. In anatomy, a muscle which acts in opjio-
sition to another ; as a flexor, which bends
a pail, is the antagonist of an extensor,
which extends it.
ANTAG'ONIST, a. Counteracting ; oppo-
sinc ; combatins ; as, an ajitagonist muscle.
ANTAGONIS'TIC, a. Opposing in combat;
contending agamst.
ANTAGONIZE, v.i. To contend against ;
to act in o]>position ; to oppose in argu-
ANTAG'ONY, n. Contest ; opposition. [j\ol
used.] MUloit.
ANTAL'tilC, n. [Gr. om, against, and oOyo;.
pain.]
Alleviating pain ; anodyne. [Little used.
ANTANA€LA'SIS, n. [Gr. o.roiax>.o!»;, a
driving back.]
1. In rhetoric, a figure, whicli consists in re-
peatino^ the same word in a different sense ;
as, winlst we live, let us live. Learn sonic
crnfl when young, that « hen old you ma.\
live without craft.
2. It is also a repetition of words, beginnint
a sentence, after a long j)arenthesis ; ai^,
shall that lieai-t, (which not only feeU
them, hut which has all motions of lile
placed in them,) shall that heart. Sec.
Smith's Rhtl.
ANTANAGO'gE, n. antanago'gy. [Gr.a^r..
against, and avar/i^rj, a taking uj).]
In rhetoric, a figure which consists in replying
to an adversary, by way of recrimination :
as, when the accusation of one party is un-
answerable, the accused person charges
him with the same or other crime. BaUey.
ANTAPHRODIS'IAC, a. [Gr. wr,, again^,
and a^poSioiof, venereal, from tKjjpoStri;.
Venus.]
Antivenereal ; having the quality of extin-
guishmg or lessening venereal desire.
ANTAFHRODIS'IAe, n. A medicine tha;
lessens or extinguishes tlie venereal appe-
tite. Encyc. Coxe.
ANTAPHRODIT l€, a. [Gr. See the pre-
ceding words.] Antivenereal, abating the
venereal appetite, or eflicacious against
the venereal disease.
ANTAFHRODIT'IC, n. A medicine which
abates the venereal appetite, or is good,
agauist the venereal disease.
Coxe. Quinc}/.
ANTAPOPLEC'TIC, a. Good against apo-
plexy.
ANTARCTIC, a. [Gr. ain, against, and
apxros, the bear, a northern constellation.]
Opposite to the northern or arctic pole ; rela-
ting to the southern pole or to llie region
near it, and applied especially to a lesser
circle, distant from the pole 23° 28'. Thus
we say the antarctic pole, antarctic circle,
or antarctic region. Encyc.
ANTA'RES, n. The nameofastai- of the
first magnitude, called also the scorpion's
heart. Its longitude is 60° 13' 14 " of Sag-
ittarius ; and its latitude 4° 31' 2G" Soutli.
Encyc.
ANT.VRTHRIT IC, a. [Gr. aiu, against,
and opSpiTij, gout.]
Counteracting the gout.
ANTARTHRIT'Ie, n. A remedy wliicb
cures or alleviates the gout.
.ANTASTHMAT'Ie, a. [Gr. aiu, agamst,
' aoSfia, asthma.]
Opposing the asthma.
ANTA^
A.STHMAT'I€, n. A remedy for the
asthma.
AN'TE. A Latin preposition, the Gr. avfi,
Sax. and Goth, and; much used in the
composition of English words, especially
in words from the Latin and Greek lan-
guages. It signifies before in place, in
front ; hence opposite, contrary ; and figu-
ratively, before in time. The Latin antf
is generally used in the sense of before, and
A N T
the Greek am, in that of opposite, or in
the place of.
AN'TE or AN'TA, n. A pilaster. In her-
aldry, ante denotes that the pieces are let
into one another, in the manner there ex-
pressed, as by dove tails, rounds, swallow
fails, &c. Encyc.
AN'TEA€T, n. [_ante and act.] A preceduig
ANTECEDA'NEOUS, a. [Infra.] Ante-
cedent ; preceding in time. Oiven.
\NTECE'DE, V. t. {ante and cedo, to go.
See Cede.]
To so before in time ; to precede. /ia'f
ANTECE'DENCE, n. The act or state of
going before in time ; precedence. In
tronomy, an apparent motion of a planet
towards the west, or contrary to the order
of the signs. Encyc
ANTECE'DENT, a. Going before m tmie
prior ; anterior ; preceding ; as, an event
antecedent to the deluge.
ANTECE'DENT, n. That which goes be
fore in tune ; hence in writings, that which
precedes in place. In grammar, the noun
to which a relative or other substitute re-
fers ; as, Solomon was the pnnce, who]
built the Temple. la logic, the first of
two propositions in an enthymeme, or
gument of two propositions; as, if the
is fixed, the earth must move. Here the
first and conditional proposition is the an-
tecedent ; the second, the consequent. JVatts.
Til mathematics, the first of two terras of a
ratio, or that which is compared with the
other. Encyc.
ANTECE'DENTLY, adv. Previously ; at
a time preceding.
.VNTECES'SOR, n. [L. whence ancestor.
See Antecede.]
\. One who goes before ; a leader ; a princi-
pal. It was formerly a title given to those
who excelled in any science ; to professors
of civil law ; and* in the Universities of
France, the teachers of law talie the title
in their theses.
•i. One that possessed land before the pres-
ent possessor. Brady.
AN'TECHAMBER, n. {Ante, before, and
chamher.']
A chamber or apartment before the chiel
apartment to which it leads, and in whicl
persons wait for audience. Dryden
ANTECHAP'EL, n. The part of the chapel
through which is the passage to the choir
or body of it. WaHon.
ANTE'CIAN, n. [Gr. ai-ft, opposite, and
orxeu, to dwell ; L. antiEci.]
Ih geography, the antecians are those inhab
itants of the earth, under the same merid
jan, and at the same distance from the
equator, but, on opposite sides, one party
north, the other soutli. They have the
same hours of day and night, but difier-
ent seasons; it being winter with one,
when it is summer with the other. Encyc.
ANTE€URS'OR, n. [L. ante, before, and
cursor, a runner, from curro, to run. See
Course.]
One who runs before ; a forerunner. In tlie
Roman armies, the antecursors were a
body of horse detached to obtain intelli
gence, get provisions, &c., for the main
body. Encyc
AN'TEDATE, n. [Infra.] Prior date ; a
<late antecedent to another. Good
A N T
AN'TEDATE, v. I. [L. ante, and datum,
given. See Date.}
1 To date before the true time ; thus, to
antedate a deed or a bond is to express a
date anterior to the true time of its execu-
tion. „ ,
3. To anticipate ; to take before the true
time.
And antedate the bliss above. ^ope.
ANTEDILU'VIAL, ) , [L. ante, and dilu-
ANTEDILU'VIAN, S vium, a flood. See
Lave.] »T . , ■
Before the flood, or deluge, in Noah s time ;
existing, happening, or relating to what
happened before the deluge,
ANTEDILU'VIAN, n. One who lived be-
fore the deluge.
AN'TELOPE, n. [Qu. Gr. avti and rto^oj,
resembling a deer.]
In zoology, the gazelle ; a genus of ruminant
quadrupeds, intermediate between the
deer and goat. Their horns are solid and
permanent, straight or curved; in some
species annulated ; in others, suiTounded
by a spiral ; and in others, smooth. They
resemble the deer in the lightness and ele-
gance of tlieir forms, and m their agility.
They inhabit open plains or mountains,
and some species in herds of two or three
thousand. Their eyes are large, black,
and of exquisite beauty and vivacity; and
are therefore a favorite image with the
eastern poets. Encyc. Cyc.
ANTELU'CAN, a. [L. antelucanus, of ante,
before, and lux, light.]
Being before light ; a word apphed to as-
semblies of christians, in ancient times of
persecution, held before Ught in the morn-
ing. ^ Encyc^
ANTEMERID'L\N, a. {ante, before, and
meridian.]
Being before noon ; pertaining to the lore
noon.
ANTEMET'I€, a. {avn, against, and emetic,
from tfi£", to vomit.]
Restraining or allaying vomiting. Qmncy.
ANTEMET'ie,n. A medicine which checks
vomiting. Quincij. Coxe.
ANTEMUND'ANE, a. {ante, belore, and
m,undus, the world.] Being before the
creation of the world.
ANTENI'CENE, a. {ante, before, and
Mcene, from JVice.]
Anterior to the first council of Nice
fcmcene faith. ,^"Ti
ANTEN'NiE, n.plu. [L. nji/enna, asail yard.]
In zoology, the horns or feelers of insects,
projecting from the head.
ANT'ENUM'BER, n. A number that pre-
cedes another. Bacon.
ANTENUP'TIAL, a. [ante and nuptial]
Being before marriage ; as, an antenuptial
agreement ; antenuptial children. Kent.
ANTEPAS€H'AL, a. Pertaining to the
time before Easter. JVelson.
AN'TEPAST, n. {ante, before, and pastum,
A foretaste ; something taken before the
proper time.
ANTEPENULT', n. [L. ante, before, pene.
ahnost, and ultimus, last.]
The last syllable of a word, except two ; as
syl in syllable.
ANTEPENULT'IMATE, a. Pertaining tc
the last syllable but two.
ANTEPILEP'TI€, a. [a>rt, against, and
ANT
iTttXyinrixoi, epileptic, from imfjiuSaiu, to
Resisting or curing epilepsy.
ANTEPILEP'Tl€, n. A remedy for the
epilepsy. Encyc. Coxe.
ANTEPOSP'TION, n. s as z. [L. ante, before.
and position, from pono, to place.]
In grammar, the placing of a word before
another, which, by ordinary rules, ought to
follow it.
ANTEPREDI€'AMENT, n. {ante and pre-
dicament.]
A preliminary question in logic to illustrate
the doctrine of predicaments and categor-
ies ; a question which is to be first known.
Encyc.
ANTE'RIOR, a. [h.] Before in time or
place ; prior ; antecedent ; preceding in
time.
2. Before or in front in place.
ANTERIOR' IT Y, n. The state of being
anterior, preceding or in front ; a state ol
being before in tune, or situation.
AN'TEROOM, n. {ante and room.] A room
liefore or in front of another. Darwin.
AN'TES, n.plu. [L.] PiUars of large dmien-
sions that support the front of a building.
ANTESTAT'URE, n. [ante and stature.]
In fortification, a small retrenchment or work
formed of pahsades, or sacks of earth.
Encyc.
ANTESTOM'A€H, n. [ante and stomach.]
A cavity which leads into the stomach, as
the crop in birds. [M'ot in use.] Ray.
ANTEVERT', v. t. [L anteverto.] To pre-
vent. [J^ot in »J5C.] Hall.
ANTEVIRGIL'IAN, a. [avti and Virgil]
A term given to Tull's new husbandry, or
method of horse hoeing. Encyc.
ANTHELMIN'Tle, a. [<wtt, against, and
XfA-wf, a worm.] Good against wonns.
ANTHELMIN'Tle, n. A remedy for worms
in the intestines. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'THEM, n. [Gr. avti, against, and vfivog,
a hymn, from vfiviu, to sing. See Hymn.}
A hymn sung in aUernate parts ; but in mod-
ern usage, a sacred tune or piece of music
set to words, taken from the psahns or
other parts of the scriptures, first intro-
duced into church service in Elizabeth's
reign. Encyc.^
AN'THEM-WISE, adv. In the manner ot
an anthem ; alternately. Bacon.
AN'THEMIS, n. Camomile. Tate.
AN'THER, n. [L. anthera, a flowery plant,
from the Greek avSr^fo^, flowery, from a.v9oi,
a flower.]
In botany, the summit or top of the stamen,
connected with the flower, and elevated
by means of the filament or thread, within
the corol. It contains the pollen, or fer-
tilizing dust, which, when mature, is emit-
ted for the impregnation of the stigma.
It is called by Ray, the afex, and by Mal-
i)i<fhi, the capsxda' ataminxs.
* " Milne. Martyn.
\N'THERAL, a. Pertaining to anthers.
Asiat. Res. 4, 404.
ANTHERIF'EROUS, a. [anther and fero,
to bear.] Producing anthers. Barton, 162.
ANTHESTE'RION, «. The sixth month of
the Athenian year, consisting of 29 days,
and answering to a part of November and
a part of December. It is supposed to be
so cafled from the Anthesteria, feasts in
honor of Bacchus, celebrated m that
ANT
ANT
ANT
inonth, and so called from or^oj, a flower ;
garlands of flowers being oftered to Bac-
chus at those feasts.
ANTHOLOG'l€AL,o. Pertaining to anthol
ogy.
ANTHOL'OgY, n. [Gr. avOos, a flower, and
^oyof, a discourse, or tioyia, a collection.]
1. A discourse on flowers.
2. A collection of beautiful passages from
authors ; a collection of poems or epi-
grams. In the Greek church, a collection
of devotional pieces. Encyc.
AN'THONY'S FIRE. A popular name of|
the erysipelas, supposed to have been so
named from the saint in Italy, to whom
those, who were affected, applied for a
cure. Encyc.
ANTHOPH' YLLITE, n. [Gr. 0^805, a flower,
and fiiMMP, a leaf]
A mineral in masses composed of interlaced
plates, or crystalized in reed-shaped crys
tals, which appear to be four sided prisms
longitudinally streaked. The color is be-
tween dark yellowish gray Eind olive
brown ; the luster shining and pearly.
Diet. JVat. Hut. Cleaveland.
AN'THORISM, n. [Gr. avti, opposite, and
ofne/Mf, definition.]
In rhetoric, a description or definition 1
trary to that which is given by the advei'se
party. Ash.
ANTHRACITE, n. [Gr. (wSpol, a burning
coal ; infra.']
Slaty glance-coal, or columnar glance coal
that species of coal wliich has a shining
luster, approaching to metallic, and which
burns without smoke, and with intense
heat. It consists essentially of carbon
AN'THRA€OLITE. [See Anthracite.]
ANTHRAX, n. [Gr. ; supra.]
A carbuncle ; a malignant ulcer, with intense
burning. The ancients gave this name to
a gem, and it is sometunes u.sed for lithan-
thrax or pit-coal. Encyc.
ANTHROP'OGLOT, n. [Gr. orSpurtof, man.
and yXwffo, the tongue.]
.^n animal which has a tongue resembling
that of man, of which kind are parrots.
Enajc.
ANTHROPOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. a^Spurto;,
man, and ypa^ij, descrijition.]
A description of man or the human race,
or of the parts of the human body. Encyc.
ANTHROP'OLITE, n. [Gr. oi'Spurto;, man,
and ».ifloj, a stone.]
A petrifaction of the human body, or skel-
eton. Some naturalists have asserted that
skeletons of the animal frame have been
found petrified in old mines ; but the fact
is not credited, and the existence of such
petrifactions is denied. Encyc.
Capt. Wilford informs us, that in digging a
well near the Ganga, some persons found,
at the depth of 90 feet, on an old bed ot
that river, the bones of men and quadru-
peds, supposed to be petrifactions.
Asiat. Res. 8. 294.
The skeleton of a man has been foimd
in a limestone rock, of recent formation, in
(iiiadaloupe. Ed. Encyc.
Tlunian bones have also been found, by Prof
IJuckland, in the open cave of Paviland,
Glamorganshire. He considers them post-
diluvian. Quart. Rev. v. 29. p. 148.
ANTHROPOLOg'ICAL, a. Pertaining to
anthropology; according to human man-
ner of speaking. Kirwan
ANTHROPOL'OtlST, n. One who de
scribes, or is versed in the physical history
of the human body.
ANTHROPOL'OOY, n. [Gr. a^Spwrtoj, man,
and Xoyo;, discourse.]
1. A discourse upon human nature. Encyc.
2. The doctrine of the structure of the hu
man body ; the natural histoi-y or physiol-
ogy of the human species.
.3. The word denotes that manner of expres-
sion by which the inspired writers attribute
himian parts and passions to God. Encyc.
ANTHROPOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. a^Spurtoj,
man, and navctia, divination.]
Divination by inspecting the entrail:
liiuiian being. Encyc.
ANTHROPOMORPH'ISM, n. The heresy
of the anthropomorphites. Encyc.
ANTHROPOMORPH'ITE, «. [Gr.
rtof, man, and «op^, form.]
One who believes a himian form in the
^iipiciiio IJcjug. A sect of ancient here-
tiis nn- cnllcd (inthropomorphites. Encyc.
ANTIIUOI'OMORPH'OUS, a. Belonging
to that uliicli has the form of man ; hav
ing tlie figure of resemblance to a man.
Ash. Encyc.
ANTHROPOP'ATHY, n. [avSpuno;, mkn
and !<a9o5, passion.]
The affections of man, or the application of
human passions to the Supreme Being
Owen. Encyc. Ash.
ANTHROPOPH'AGl, n. plu. [Gr. a.9piorto?,
man, and $oyu, to cat.]
Maneaters ; cannibals ; men that eat human
flesh. Johnson. Encyc.
ANTHRGPOPH'AGOUS, o. Feeding on
human flesli.
ANTHROPOPHAGY, n. The eating of|
human flesh, or the practice of eating it.
Johnson. Encyc.
ANTHROPOS'€OPY,ji. [Gr.<w9pco?to;,man,
and (jxortfio, to view.]
The art of discovering or judging of a man's
character, passions and inclinations from
the lineaments of his body. Encyc.
ANTHROPOS'OPHY, »». [Gr. avSp^no;,
man, and oo(j)ta, wisdom.]
Knowledge of the nature of man ; acquain-
tance with man's structure and functions,
comprehending anatomy and physiology
Encyc.
AXTHYPNOT'l€, a. corrupt orthography.
[See Antihypnotic]
ANTHYPO€HOND'RIAC. [See Antihy-
pochondriac]
ANTHYPOPH'ORA. [See Antihypophora.]
ANTHYSTER'le. [See Antihysteric]
AN'TI, [Gr. See Ante.] A preposition sig-
nifying against, opposite, contrary, or m
place of; used in many EngUsh words.
ANTIAC'ID, a. Opposing or removing
acidity. Often written antacid.
ANTIAC'ID, n. An alkali ; a medicine
proper to correct sourness, or acidity ; an
absorbent, as chalk, magnesia, coral, sea-
shells, hematite, steelfilings ; or an obtun-
dent, as oil or fat ; or an inunutant, as
lixivious salts, and soaps. Cyc.
ANTIAMER'I€AN, a. Opposed to Amer-
ica, or to the true interests or government
of the United States ; opposed to the rev-
olution in America. Marshall.
ANTIARTHRIT'IC, a. [Sec Anlarlhritic]
Good against the gout.
ANTIARTHRIT'IC, n. A remedy for the
gout.
ANTIASTHMAT'IC, a. [See Antasthmatic]
Good against asthma.
ANTIASTHMAT'IC, n. A remedy for the
asthma.
ANTIBAC'CHIUS, n. [Gr. arri, and (3ax-
A;«o{, a foot of one short and two long syl-
lables.]
In poetry, a foot of three syllables, the two
first kmg and the last short, as ambire;
opposed to the bacchius, in which the first
syllable is short and the two last long.
This foot is supposed to be so named from
its use in hymns to Bacchus.
Trumbull. Encyc. Gr. Lex.
ANTIBASIL'ICAN, a. s as z. [Gr. avu,
and Bauatxr;, a palace ; L. basilicus, royal,
basilica, a hall of justice.]
Opposed to rojal state and magnificence.
Plowden, Brit. Empire.
AN'TIC, a. [from Fr. antique ; L. antiquus ;
It. antico ; a sense derived from the gro-
tesque figures of antiques.] Odd ; fanci-
ful ; as, antic tricks.
AN'TIC, n. A buflbon or merry Andrew ;
one that practices odd gesticulations.
Shak.
2. Odd appearance ; fanciful figures.
Spenser.
3. In architecture, sculpture and painting,
such pieces as were made by the ancients ;
usually written antique, and pronoimced
anteek, but without any good reason.
AN'TIC, V. t. To make antic. Shak.
rVNTICACHEC'TIC, a. [Gr. wrt, and xa-x-
exttj;, of an ill habit of body.]
Curing or tending to cure an" ill habit of the
constitution. Johnson.
VNTICACHEC'TIC, 71. A medicine that
tends to correct an ill habit of body. Coxe.
ANTICAT'ARRHAL, a. [am, against, and
xorappoo;, a catarrh.] Good against catarrh.
ANTICAT'ARRHAL, n. A remedy for
catarrh. Coxe.
ANTICAUSOT'IC, a. [mu, against, and xm-
5o{, a burning fever.] Good against a
burning fever.
ANTICAUSOT'IC, n. A remedy for a burn-
ing fever. Coxe.
AN'TI-CHAMBER, n. Dr. Johnson prefers
ante-chamber, whicli see. But ante and
anti are the same word in different dia-
lects ; and have the same radical signifi-
cation. [See Ante.]
.'VN'TI-CHRIST, n. [Gr. arri, against, and
Christ.]
A great adversary of Christ ; the man of sin ;
described 1 John, ii. 18. 2 Thess. ii. Rev.
ix. Protestants generally suppose this ad-
versary to be the Papal power ; and some
divines believe that, in a more general
sense, the word extends to any persons
who deny Christ or oppose the fundamen-
tal doctrines of Christianity.
Encyc. Brown. Buck.
ANTICHRIS'TI.\N, a. "Pertaining to anti-
christ ; opposite to or opposing 3ie chris-
tian religion.
ANTICHRIS'TIAN, n. A foUower of anti-
christ ; one opposed to the christian reU-
gion.
ANTICHRIS'TIANISM, n. Opposition or
contrariety to the cliristian reUgion.
A N T
ANTI€HRISTIAN'ITY, n. Opposition
rontrarietv to eliristianity.
ANTI€II'RONIS3I,?i. [Gr. avti, and xpov
time.] Deviation fronx the true order of
time. Selden.
ANTICIPATE, V. t. [L. anllcipo, of ante,
before, and capio, to take]
1. To take or act, before another, so as to
jirevent liim ; to take first possession.
3. To take before the pro|)er time ; as, tlie
advocate has anticipated that part of his
argument.
3. To foretaste or foresee ; to have a pre
ous view or impression of something
future; as, to anticipate the pleasm-es o"
an eutertaunnent ; to anticipate tlie evil
ofhfe.
4. To prevent by crowduig in before ; t(
prechide. Johnson
[This sense is essentially included in the first.]
ANTICIPATED, ;jp. Taken before; fore-
tasted ; foreseen ; prechided ; prevented.
ANTICIPATING, ;)p. Taking before :
foretasting ; preckiiling ; preventing.
ANTICIPA'TION, n. The act of taldngiip,
placing, or considering something before
the proper time, in natural order ; pre
vention.
2. Foretaste ; previous view or impression of
what is to liappen afterward ; as, the unfi-
cipalion of the joys of heaven.
The happy anticipation of a renewed exis-
tence in company with the spirits of the just.
Thoilei/
8. Previous notion ; preconceived opinion,
produced in the mind, before the truth is
known ; shght previous impression.
4. Tlie attack of a fever before the usual
time. Core.
.5. In music, the obtrusion of a chord upon a
syncopated note, to wliich it forms a dis-
cord. Busby.
ANTIC IP ATOR, n. One who anticipates.
ANTICIPATORY, a. Taking before the
time. M(
ANTl€Lr3IAX, n. [Gr. apti, opposite, and
xXi/xa^, climax. See Climate.]
A sentence in wliich the ideas fall or become
less important and strildng at the close ;
opposed to climax. For example
Next comes Dalhousie, the great God of war,
Lieutenant Col'nel to the Eail of Mar.
AN'TI€LY, adv. In an antic manner; with
odd postures and gesticidations; witli fan-
ciful appearance. Shak.
AN'Tl€MASK,orAN'TIMASK,Ji. Aiuask
of antics. Bacon. B. Jonson.
ANTI€ONSTITU'TIONAL, a. Opposed to
or against the constitution. Bolingbroke.
ANTICONSTITU'TIONALIST, n. One
opposed to the constitution.
ANTI€ONTA'(iIONIST, n. One w
poses the doctrine of contagion.
ANTI€ONTA'GlOUS, a. [wr.., and conta-
gious.] Opposing or destroying contagion
ANTI€ONVUL'SIVE, a. [avti, and convul-
sive.] Good against convulsions. Floyer.
AN'TI€0R, n. [anti, and Fr. caur, or L,
cor, the heart.]
Among farriers, an inflammation in a horse's
throat, answering to the quinsy in man.
Encyc
ANTl€OSMET'l€, a. [anti and cosmetic
See Cosmetic.^ Destructive or injurious
to beauty.
ANT
\NTI€OSMET'I€, n. Any preparation
wliich injures beauty.
AN'TICOt'RT, a. In opposition to the court.
[JVot used.] Reresby.
ANTleOURTIER, n. anticortyur. [auH and
courtier.]
One who opposes the court, or the measures
of administration. Ash.
ANTICREA'TOR, «. One that opposes the
creator.
ANTIDEJIOCRAT'le, \ Opposing
ANTIDEHIO€RAT'ICAL, \ "■ democra-
cy ; contrary to government by the people.
Milford.
\N'TIDOTAL, a. That has the quality of
preventing the ill effects of poison, or of
any thing noxious or mischievous.
.'VN'TTIDOTE, n. [a^riSoro;, of ai-fi, against;
and iiSu/ii, to give ; W. dodi, to give.]
1. A medicuie to counteract the effects of
poison, or of any tiling noxious taken into
the stomacli
2. Whatever tends to prevent mischievous
effects, or to counteract the evil whicli
something else miglit produce.
ANTIDO'Tl€AL, a. Serving as an anti-
dote.
ANTIDO'TIeALLY, adv. By way of anti
dote. Brown
ANTIDYSENTER'I€, a. [Gr. a.ri, against
and ^t'fffiTfpixo;, dysenteric] Good against
the dvseiitery, or bloody flux.
VNTIDYSENTER'I€, n. A remedy for
dvsfiitorv. Coxe
VNTIEMET'le, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
tfiitixo;, emetic, from ifnu, to vomit.]
Having the quality of allaying vomiting.
A remedy to check or
, op
ANTIE3IET'I€,
allay voiuitimr
ANTIENNEAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr.
posite, trvia, nine, and lijia, side.]
In crystalography, having nuie faces on two
opposite parts of the crystal. Cteaveland.
ANTIENTHUSIAS'TI€, a. [anti and
thusiastic] Ojjposing enthusiasm.
Shaftsbtm/.
AN'TIENTRY, n. [More
cientry.] Cast of antiquity
ancient.
ANTIEPIS€'OPAL, a. Ad\
pacy.
ANTIEVANgEL'I€AL,
orthodoxy, or
gospel.
op-
■ectly,
that which is
Gray
rse to episco-
K. Charles.
Contrary to
he genuine sense of the
Milner.
AN'TIFACE, n. Opposite face. Jonson.
ANTIFANAT'le, n. An opposer of fanati-
cism. Milton
ANTIFE'BRILE, a. [avti, against, and fe-
brile.]
That has the quality of abating fever ; oppos-
ing or tending to cure fever.
ANTIFE'BRILE, n. A medicine that cures,
abates, or tends to allay fever.
ANTIFLAT'TERING, a. Opposite to flat-
tery. Delany.
ANTIGUG'LER, n. [anti and guggk.]
A crooked tube of metal, so bent as to In
introduced into the neck of a bottle, I'm
drawing out the liquor, without disturhiiii:
the sediment. Encyc
ANTIHE€'TI€, a. [Gr. avti, against, and
fxrixos, hectic]
That has the quality of opposing or curiii:
hectical disorders.
A N T
ANTIHEC'Tle, n. A medicine that is good
in the cure of hectic disorders.
Encyc. Coxe.
ANTIHYPNOT'Ie, a. [Gr. avti, and vnpoj,
leep.]
Counteracting sleep ; tending to prevent
AiN rill Vl'.\( >'l' \c,n. A medicine that pre-
vent-; i<y teii.U to prevent sleep. Coxe.
\N'rillVl'()CllONDRIA€, a. [Gr. am,
and vrtoxoibfiiaxos, liypochondriac]
That counteracts or tends to cure hypoclion-
driac affections, and depression of spirits.
\NTIIIYPOCHOND'RIA€, n. A remedy
for hypochondiiac affections and low
ANTIHYPOPirORA, n. [Gr. avu, and
vTfo^ofM, an inference.]
In rhetoric, a figure which consists in refu-
tuig an objection by the opposition of a
contrary sentence.
Smith. Johnson. Ash .
ANTIHYSTERTC, a. [Gr.avn, and vsti^,
uterus.]
Counteracting hysterics.
ANTIHYSTER'Ie, n. A medicine that
cures or counteracts hysterical affections.
Coxe.
ANTILOG'ARITHM, n. [anti and loga-
Ihm.]
The complement of the logarithm of any
tangent or secant, to 90 degrees.
Bailey.
ANTIL'OgY, n. [Gr. a> rt, against, and xoyof,
speech.]
A contradiction between any words or pas-
sages in an author.
\NTIMA(iIS'TRI€AL, a. Opposed to the
office of magistrates. [JVot used.[ South.
lOT{MiNri€AL,h-C-'-nd«>a,uW.]
Counteracting or curing madness or frenzy.
Beattie.
AN'TIMASK, n. A lesser mask. Bacon.
ANTIMETAB'OLE, n. antimetah'oly. [Gr.
ai'ri, against, and turaSoXtj, mutation.]
In rhetoric, a setting of two things in oppo-
sition to each other ; as, an honorable ac-
tion may be attended with labor, but the
labor is soon past, and the honor is iimnor-
tij. Encyc.
ANTIMETATII'ESIS, n. [Gr. am, against,
and fiiTaSioii, a transposition.]
In rhetoric, an inversion of the parts or mem-
bers of an antithesis ; as, " Compare the
arrival of this governor, with the victory
of that general." " Compare this peace
with that war."
Cicero in Verrem. Encyc.
ANTIM'ETER, n. [Gr. am and fijrpo^,
An optical instrument for measuring angles,
with greater accuracy than can be done
bv the usual quadrants or sextants. Ree.i.
ANTIMET'RIeAL, a. Contrary to the
rules of meter or verse. Bailey.
ANTIMINISTE'RIAL, a. [anti and minis-
terial.]
Ojipnsed to the ministry, or administration
of government.
ANTIMINISTE'RIALIST, n. One thai
opposes the ministry.
ANTIMONAR€H'ICAL, a. [anti, against,
and monarchical.]
Opposed to monarchy ; that opposes a king-
ly government. Addison.
ANT
A N T
A i\ T
Ax\TIMONARCH'l€ALNESS, n. The
quality of bniiig opposed to nioiiarcliy.
ANTIMO'NIAL, a. [ivom antimony.]
Pertaining to antimony ; relating to antimo
nv, or partaking of its qualities.
ANTIMO'NIAL, n. A preparation of anti
niony ; a medicine in which antimony is a
principal ingredient. Encyc
ANTIMO'NIATE, n. A compomid or salt
composed of antiinonic acid and a base.
Henry.
ANTIMO'NIATED, a. Partaking of anti-
mony ; mi.\r<l nr jjrepared with antimo-
ny ; "as iinlimnniuled tartar. JVicholson,
ANT1M()'NI€, a. IVrtaining to antimony ;
the antiinonic acid is a pcro.xyd of anti-
mony. Henry,
ANTIMO'NIOUS, a. Pertaining to antimo-
ny. The aniimonious acid is a deutoxyd
of antimony. Henry.
AN'TIMONITE, n. A compound of anti-
monious acid and a base. Henry.
AN'TIMONY, Ji. [Fr. antimoine ; Low L.
anlimonium ; It. antimonio ; Sp. id. This
by some writers is supposed to be com-
posed of anti and Fr. moine, monk, from
the fact that certain monks were poison
ed by it. This story, reported by Pure-
tiere, is treated by Morin, as fabulous, and
liy him it is said to be composed of G:
ufti, against, and juoro;, alone, and s
named because it is not found alone. The
real trutli is not ascertained.]
Primarily, a metallic ore consisting of sul
pliur combined with a metal ; the sulphu
ret of Antimony, the stibium of the Ro
mans and the ri/«f»t, of the Greeks. It i:
a blackish mineral, which stains the hands,
hard, brittle, full of long, shining, needle-
like strife. It is found in the mines of Bo-
hemia, and Hungary; in France and Eng-
land, and in America. This word is also
used for the pure metal or regultis of anti-
mony, a metal of a grayish or silvery white,
very brittle, and of a plated or scaly tex-
ture, and of moderate specific gravity. By
exposure to air, its surface becomes tar-
nished, but docs not rust. It is used as
an ingredient in concave mirrors, giving
them a liner te.xture. In bells, it renders
the soimd more clear ; it renders tin more
hard, white and sonorous, and gives to
printing types more firmness and smooth-
ness. It is also useful in promoting the
fusion of metals, and especially in casting
cannon balls. In its crude state, it is harm-
Ii's.s to the human constitution ; but many
of its preparations act violently as emetics
and cathartics. It has also a pecuUar ef-
tii-acy in promoting the secretions, partic-
ularly as a sudorific.
Chambers. Encyc. jYicholson.
ANTIiMOR'ALIST, n. An opposer of mo-
ralitv. Warhurton.
ANTIMU'SI€AL, a. Opposed to music;
having no ear for music. Amer. Review.
ANTINEPHRITIC, a. {anti,Mui.nephHtic,
which see.]
f^'ounteracting diseases of the kidneys.
Coxe.
ANTINEPHRITIC, n. A medicine that
tends to remove diseases of the kidneys.
ANTINO'MIAN, a. [Gr. avri, against, "and
i'0/<ot, law.]
Apainst law ; pertaining to the Antinomians.
ANTINO'MIAN, n. One of a sect who
maintain, that, imder the gospel dispensa-
tion, the law is of no use or obligation ;
or who hold doctrines which supersede
the necessity of good works and a virtu-
ous life. This sect originated with John
Agricola about the year 1538. Encyc.
ANTINO'MIANISM, 71. The tenets of An-
tinomians. Hall.
AN'TINOMIST, n. One who pays no re-
gard to the law, or to good works.
Sanderson
AN'TINOMY, n. A contradiction between
two laws, or between two parts of the
same law. Baker.
ANTIO'€HIAN, a. Pertaining to Antioehus,
the founder of a sect of philosophers, co
temporary with Cicero. This sect was t
branch of the academics, though Antio
elms was a stoic. He attempted to recon
cilc the doctrines of the different schools,
and was the last preceptor of the Platonic
school. Enfield. Encyc.
The Antiochian epoch was a method of com-
puting time, from the proclamation of lib-
erty granted to the city of Antioch, about
the tune of the battle of Pharsalia.
Encyc.
ANTIPA'PAL, a. Opposing popery.
ANTIPAPIS'TIC, } Opposed to pope-
ANTIPAPIS'TI€AL, <, "' ry or papacy.
Joriin.
ANTIPAR'ALLEL, a. Running in a con-
trary direction. Hammond.
ANTIPARALYT'IC, a. [ain, and paralytic,
which see.]
Good against the palsy.
ANTIPARALYT'IC," n. A remedy for the
palsy.
.NTIP
ATHET'IC,
Coxe.
VNTIPATHET'ICAL, ^ "• [See .4nh>a%.]
Having a natural coiurariety, or constitu-
tional aversion to a thing.
ANTIPATHET'I€ALNESS, n. The qual-
ity or state of having an aversion or con-
trariety to a tiling. Johnson.
ANTIP'ATHY, n. [Gr. avtt, against, and
«a9o{, feeUng.]
Natural aversion ; instinctive contrariety or
opposition in feeling ; an aversion felt a
the iiresence, real or ideal, of a particulai
object. This word literally denotes a nat-
ural avereion, which may be of different
degrees, and in some cases may excite ter-
ror or horror at the presence of an object.
Such is the aversion of animals for their
natural enemies, as the antipathy of a
mouse to a cat, or a weasel. Sometimes
persons have an insuperable constitutional
antipathy to certain kinds of food.
The word is appUed also to aversion con-
tracted by experience or habit ; as when
a person has suffered an injury from some
food, or from an animal, which before was
not an object of hatred ; or when a par-
ticular kind of food or medicine is taken
into a sickly stomach, and which nauseates
it ; the effect is antipathy, which is often of
long continuance.
Antipathy however is often affected, as when
persons pretend a great aversion to things
from false delicacy.
2. In ethics, antipathy is hatred, aversion or
repugnancy ; haired to persons ; aversion
to persons or things ; repugnancy to ac-,
tions. Of these hatred is most voluntary.;
Aversion, and antipathy, in its true sense,
il>l>riKl more on the constitution ; repujr-
nancy may depend on reason or education.
Encyc.
Inveterate antipathies against particular na-
tions, and passionate attachments to others, are
to be avoided. Washington.
3. In physics, a contrariety in the properties
or affcctiojis of matter, as of oil and water,
which will not mix.
.•Vntipathy is regularly followed by to, some-
times by against ; and is opposed to sym-
pathy.
ANTIPATRIOT'Ie, a. Not patriotic ; op-
posing the interests of one's country.
Jlntipalriotic prejudices. Johnson.
ANTIPEDOBAP'TIST, n. [Gr. om, against,
rtoi5, nai&oi, a child, and /iortriju, to bap-
tize.]
One who is opposed to the baptism of infants.
Buck.
\NTIPERISTAL'TIC, a. [See Peristaltic.]
Opposed to peristaltic ; rctroverted, as in
vomiting ; as, the antiperistaltic motion of
the intestines. Cyc.
ANTIPERIS'TASIS, ;i. [Gr. am, against,
and rttpij-astf, a standing around.]
The opposition of a contrary quality, by
which the quality opposed acquires
strength ; or the action by wliich a body
attacked collects force by opposition ; or
the intension of the activity of one quali-
ty by the opposition of another. Thus
quick-lime is set on fire, or sensible heat is
excited in it, by mixture with water ; and
cold ap])lied to the human body may in-
crease its heat. Johnson. Dryden. Quincy.
ANTIPERISTAT'IC, a. Pertaining to aii-
tiperistasis. Ash.
ANTIPESTILEN'TIAL, a. [aiiti ami pes-
tilential, which see.]
Counteracting contagion or infection ; hav-
ing the quality of ojiposing or destroying
pestilential diseases.
ANTIPHLOgIS'TIAN, n. [anti and phlo-
giston, which see.]
\n opposer of the theory of phlogiston.
ANTIPHLOGISTIC, a. Counteracting heat
or inflaimnation ; tending to reduce arteri-
al action ; opposed to the doctrine of phlo-
giston. JSTichotson.
ANTIPHLOgIS'TIC, n. Any medicme or
diet which tends to reduce inflammation
or the activity of the vital power.
Hooper. Coxe.
AN'TIPHON, n. [See Antiphony.]
The chant or alternate singing in choirs of
cathedrals.
ANTIPH'ONAL, }
ANTIPHON'le, }a. [Sec Antiphony.]
ANTIPHON'ICAL, S
Pertauiing to antiphony or alternate singing.
Encyc.
ANTIPH'ONARY, n. [wu, contrary, and
^uvri, sound, voice.]
A service book, in the catliolic church, con-
taining all the iuvitatories, responsories,
collects, and whatever is said or sung in
tlie choir, except tlie lessons ; called also
a responsary ; compiled by Gregory the
Great. Encyc.
ANTIPH'ONER, n. A book of anthems or
tiphons. ^ Chaucer.
.ANTIPH'ONY, n. [avu, contrary, and tuvij,
oice.]
1. The ansAver of one choir to another, when
ANT
ANT
ANT
ail anthem or psalm is sung by two choirs
aheniate singuig.
2. A species of psahnody, wlien a coiigrega
tioii is divided iiito two parts, and eacli
sings the verses alternately. Encyc.
3. The words given out at the beginning of
a psahn, to which both the choirs are tt
accommodate their singing. Encyc.
4. A musical composition of several verses,
extracted from different psahns. Encyc.
ANTIPH'RASIS, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
(j>pa«5, a form of speech.]
The use of words in a sense opposite to their
proper meaning ; as when a court of jus
tice is called a court of vengeance.
Johnson. «3s/i
ANTIPHRAS'TI€, > „ Pertabiing to an-
ANTIPHRAS'TI€AL, ^ '*• tiphrasis. Ash.
ANTIP'ODAL, a. Pertaining to the anti
podes ; having the feet directly opposite.
AN'TIPODE, n. [Gr. avtc, opposite, and
Tim;, rtoSos, foot.]
One who Uves on the opposite side of the
globe, and of course, whose feet are direct-
ly opposite.
ANTIPOrSON, n. s as :. An antidote for
poison. Brown.
AN'TIPOPE, n. [anti and j'opc]
One who usurps the papal power, in opposi-
tion to the pope. Addison.
AN'TIPORT, n. An outward gate or door.
Smith.
ANTIPRELAT'I€AL, a. Adverse to pre-
lacv. Motion.
AN TIPRIEST, n. An opposer or enemy
oi" priests. Walerland.
ANTIPRIE'STCRAFT, n. Opposition to
priestcraft. Bxirke.
ANTIPRIN'CIPLE, n. An opposite princi-
])le. Spenser.
ANTIPROPH'ET, n. An enemy or oppo-
ser of prophets. Mede.
ANTIP'TOSIS, n. [Gr. avti and rtfust;,
case.]
In grammar, the putting of one case for an-
other. Johnson.
ANTIPU'RITAJV, n. An opposer of puri-
tans. Warton.
ANTIQUARIAN, a. Pertaining to antiqua-
ries, or to antiquit)'. As a noim, this is
used for antiquary.
ANTIQUA'RIANISM, n. Love of antiqui-
ties. WarhuHon.
AN'TIQUARY, n. [L. anliquarius.]
One who studies into the history of ancient
things, as statues, coins, medals, paintings,
inscriptions, books and manuscripts, or
searches for them, and explains their ori-
gin and purport ; one versed in antiquity.
AN'TIQUATE, v. t. [L. antiquo. See An-
tiquary.]
To m.ake old, or obsolete ; to make old in
such a degree as to put out of use. Hence,
when appUed to laws or customs, it
amoiuits to make void or abrogate.
Christianity might reasonably introduce new
laws and antiquate or abrogate old ones.
Hale
AN'TIQUATED, pp. Grown old ; obso-
lete ; out of use ; having lost its bindinji
force by non-observance ; as an antiquated
law.
AN'TIQUATEDNESS, n. The state of be
iiig old or obsolete.
ANTIQUA'TION, n. The state of being
antiquated.
ANTIQUE, a. antee'k. [Fr. from L. anil
qmis, probably from ante.]
1. Old ; ancient ; of genuine antiquity ; ii:
this sense it usually refers to the flourish-
ishing ages of Greece and Rome ; as an
antique statue.
2. Old, as it respects the present age, or a
modern period of time ; of old fashion, as
an antique robe.
3. Odd ; wild ; fanciful ; more generally writ
fen antic.
ANTIQUE, n. antee'k. In general, any
thing very old ; but in a more iunited
sense, the remains of ancient artists, as
busts, statues, paintings and vases, the
works of Grecian and Roman antiqiuty.
ANTlQUENESS, n. antee'kness. The qual-
ity of being ancient ; an appearance of an-
cient origin and workmansliip. Addison
ANTIQ'UITY, n. [L. antiquitas.]
1. Ancient times ; former ages ; times long
since past ; a very indefinite term ; as,
Cicero was the most eloquent orator of
antiquity.
2. The ancients ; the people of ancient
times ; as, the fact is admitted by all an-
tiquity.
Meaning that mankind are inclined to verify
the predictions of antiquity. T. Dawes.
3. Ancientness ; great age ; the quality of
being ancient ; as, a statue of remarkable
antiquity ; a family of great antiquity.
4. Old age ; a ludicrous sense used by Shak
5. The remains of ancient times. Li this
sense it is usually or always plm-al. An-
tiquities comprehend all theremains of an-
cient times ; all the moniunents, corns,
inscriptions, edifices, liistory and frag-
ments of literature, oiBces, habiUments,
weapons, manners, ceremonies ; in short,
whatever respects any of the ancient na-
tions of the earth.
ANTIREVOLU'TIONARY, a. [See Revo-
lution.]
Opposed to a revolution ; opposed to an en-
tire change in the form of government.
Burke.
ANTIREVOLU'TIONIST, n. One who is
ojiposed to a revolution in government.
ANTISABBATA'RIAN, n. [anti and sab-
bath.)
One of a sect who oppose the observance of
the Christian sabbath ; maintaining that
the Jewish sabbath was only of ceremo-
nial, not of moral obhgation, and was con-
sequently abohshed by Christ. Encyc.
ANTISA'BIAN, a. [See Sabiati.]
Opposed or contrary to Sabianism, or the
worship of the celestial orbs. Faher.
ANTISACERDO'TAL, a. Adverse to
priests. Waterland.
ANTIS"CIAN, ANTIS"CIANS, n. [L. an-
tiscii, of Gr. owfi, opposite, and exm,
shadow.]
In geography, the inhabitants of the earth,
Uving on difl'erent sides of the equator,
whose shadows at noon are cast in con-
trary directions. Those who hve north of
the equator are antiscians to those on the
soutli, and vice versa ; the shadows on one
side being cast towards the north ; those
on the other, towards the south. Ena/c.
ANTIS€ORBU'TI€, a. [anti and scorbutic,
which see.]
Coimteracting the scurn-.
:ANTISC0RBU'TI€, n. A remedy for the
I scurvy.
^i\TIS€RIP'TURISM, n. Opposition to
the Holy Scriptures. Boyle.
ANTISeRIPTURIST, n. One that detues
revelation. Boyle.
ANTISEP'TIC, a. [Gr. ovriand sijrtrof, pu-
I trid, from oijTtui, to jjutrify.]
Opposing or counteracting putrefaction.
Ash.
ANTISEP'TI€, n. A medicine which re-
sists or corrects putrefaction, as acids,
stimulants, saUne substances, astringents,
&c. Enciic.
ANTISO'CIAL, a. [See Social.}
Averse to society ; that tends to interrupt or
I destroy social intercourse.
Pascalis, Med. Rep.
ANTIS'PASIS, n. [Gr. cwn, against, and
anau, to draw.]
A revulsion of fluids, from one part of the
body to another. Qiiincy.
ANTISPASMODIC, a. [Gr. avu, against,
and anaafios, from anau, to diaw.]
Opposing spasm ; resisting convulsions ; a?
anodynes. Coxe.
ANTISPASMODIC, n. A remedy for
spasm or convidsions, as opium, balsam of
Peru, and the essential oils of vegetables.
Coxe.
ANTISPAS'TIC, a. [SeeAntispasis.]
Causing a revulsion of fluids or humors.
Johnson.
ANTISPLENET'IC, a. [See Spleen.]
Good as a remedy in diseases of the spleen.
Johnson.
ANTIS'TASIS, n. [Gr. avu, opposite, and
arams, station.]
In oratory, the defense of an action from the
consideration that if it had been omitted,
something worse woidd have happened.
Encyc.
ANTIS'TES, n. [L.]
The chief priest or prelate. Milton.
ANTIS'TROPHE, ) [Gr. avu, opposite.
ANTIS'TROPIIY, ^ "" and fpo^jj, a turn-
uig-]
In g)-ammar, tlie changing of things mutually
tiepending on each otlier ; reciprocal con-
version ; as, the master of the servant, the
servant of the master.
2. Among the ancients, that part of a song or
dance, before the altar, which was per-
formed by turning from west to east, in
opposition to the strophy. The ancient
odes consisted of stanzas called strophies
and antistrophies, to which was often ad-
ded the epode. These were sung by a
choir, which turned or changed places
when they repeated the different parts of
the ode. The epode was sung, as the cho-
rus stood stUl. [See Ode.]
IVesfs pre/, to his Pindar.
ANTIS'TROPIION, n. A figure which re-
peats a word often. Milton.
ANTISTRUM AT'le, a. [anti and struma, a
scrophulous swelluig.]
Good against scrophulous disorders.
Johnson. fViseman.
ANTITH'ESIS, n. [Gr. avXiBwi, of o^r.
and Stati, from tiStmi, to place.]
In rhetoric, an opposition of' words or senti-
ments ; contrast ; as, " When our vices
leave us, we flatter ourselves we leave
them." " The prodigal robs his heir, the
miser robs himself." " Excess of ceremony
A N V
sliows want of breeding." " Liberty with
laws, and government without oppression."
2. Opposition of opinions ; controversy.
Encj/c.
ANTITHET'IC, } Pertaining to ariti-
ANTITHET'I€AL, \ "■ iIjcsIs, or opposition
of words and si-ntinients ; containing or
abounding with antithesis.
Enfielil. Encyc.
ANTITRINITA'RIAN, n. [anti and trini-
tnrian, whicli see.]
One wlio denies the trinity or the existence
of three persons in the Godhead. Ena/c.
ANTITRINITA'RIAN, a. Opposing tlie
trinity. .
ANTITRINITA'RIANISM, n. A denial of
the trinity.
AN'TITYPE, n. [Gr. avtirvTtov, of Mtt,
against, and Trrtoj, a type, or pattern.]
A figure corresponding to another figure ;
that of w)iich the type is the pattern or
representation. Thus the paschal lanib '
scriptm-e, is the type, of which Christ is the
antitype. An antitype then, is something
which is formed according to a model or
pattern, and bearing strong features of
semblance to it.
In the Greek litur^i, the sacramental bread
and wine are called antitypes, that is, fig-
ures, similitudes ; and llie Greek fathers
used the word in a like sense. Encyc.
ANTITYP'I€AL, a. Pertaining to an anti-
type ; explaining the type. Johnson.
ANTIVARIO'LOUS, a. [anti and variolous,
which see.]
Opposing the small pox. Med. Rep.
ANTIVENE'REAL, a. [anti and venereal,
which see.]
Resisting venereal poison.
ANT'LER, n. [From the root of ante, before;
Fr. andouUler. See Jlnte.]
A start or branch of a horn, especially of the
horns of the cervine animals, as of the stag
or moose. The branch next to the head
called the brmo-antler, and tlie branch next
above, the bes-antkr. Encyc
ANT'LERED, a. Furnislied with antlers.
Encyc
ANTO'NIAN, a. Noting certain medicinal
%vaters in Germany, at or near Tonstein,
Encyc.
ANTONOiMA'SIA, ? „ [Gr. avti, and oiofia,
ANTONOM'ASY, S name.]
The use of the name of some office, dignity,
profession, science or trade, instead of the
true name of the person ; as when his ma-
jesty is used for a king, lordship for a noble-
man. Thus instead of Aristotle, we say,
the philosopher ; a grave man is called a
Cato ; an eminent orator, a Cicero ; a wise
man, a Solomon. In the latter examples,
u proper name is used for an appellative ;
the appUcation being sui)ported by a re-
sembl.Tnce in cliaracter. Encyc.
ANTOSl AN KKIAN, n. One of a sect" of
rigid Lutliir:ni>, sDilenominated from their
opposing the doctrines of O.siander. Thi
sect deny that man is made just, but is only
imputatively just, that is, pronoiuiced so.
Encyc.
AN'VIL, n. [Sax. anfiU, mnfiU; D. aanbeeld;
Old Eng. anvelt. The firet syllable seems
to be the preposition on, from the Belgic
dialect aan. The last syllable is from the
verb build; in Germ. bUden, to form
shape, and bild, an image or form, whicli
Vol. I.
ANY
Dutch is beeld. To build is to shape, to
form, and anvil, that is, on build, is that on
which things are shaped. The Latin ^. ord
incus, ineudis, is formed by a like analogy
from in and cudo, to hammer, or shape ;
and the same ideas are connected in the
Celtic ; W. eingion ; It. inneon, anvil,
inneonam, to strike.]
An iron block with a smooth face, on which
smiths haimner and .shape their work
Figuratively, any tiling on which blows are
laid. Shak
To be on tlie anvil, is to be in a state of dis
cussion, formation or prejjaration ; as when
a scheme or measure is forming, but not
matured. This figure bears an analogy to
that of discussion, a shaking or beating.
ANXI'ETY, n. angzi'ety. [L. anxietas, from
onrtus, solicitous; \.. ango. See Anger.
. Concern or solicitude respecting some
event, future or uncertain, whicli disturbs
the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful
uneasiness. It expresses more than unea
siness or disturbance, and even more than
trouble or solicitjuie. It usually springs
from fear or serious apprehension of evil
and involves a suspense respecting an
event, and often, a perplexity of mind, tt
know how to shape our conduct.
2. In medical language, uneasiness ; unceas
ing restlessness in sickness.
ANX'IOUS, a. ank'shus. Greatly concerned
or solicitous, respecting something future
or unknown ; being in painful suspense ;
applied to persons ; as, to be anrious for the
issue of a battle.
2. Full of soUcitude ; unquiet ; applied to
things ; as anxious thoughts or labor.
3. Very careful ; solicitous ; as, anxious to
please ; anxious to commit no mistake.
It is followed by for or about, before the
object.
ANXIOUSLY, adv. In an anxious manner
solicitously ; with painful uncertainty
carefully ; unquietly.
ANX'IOUSNESS, n. The quality of being
anxious ; great soUcitude. Johnson.
AN'Y, a. en'ny. [Sax. anig, cenig ; D. eenig ;
Ger. einig. This word is a compound of
an, one, and ig, which, in the Teutonic
dialects, is the ic of the Latins, mus-ic
Any is unic-xxs, one-like.]
\. One indefinitely.
Nor knoweth any man the Father, save the
Son. Math xi.
If a soul shall sin against any of the com
inandments. Lev. iv.
2. Some ; an indefinite number, plurally ;
for though the word is formed from one, it
often refers to mamj. Are there any wit
nesses present ? I'lie sense seems to be a
small, uncertain number.
3. Some ; an indefinite quantity ; a small
portion.
Who will show us any good ? Ps. iv.
4. It is otlen used as a substitute, the person
or thmg being understood.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye
have aught against any. Mark xi.
If any lack msdoui, let liim ask it of God
James i.
It is used in opposition to none. Have you
any wheat to sell? I have none.
ANY- WISE is sometimes used adverbially,
but the two words may be separated, and
used witli a preposition, in any wise.
11
A P A
AO'NIAN, a. [From Aonia, a part of I3a'(
tia, in G:
Pertaining to the
nr to Aonia, in Bo'
otia. The Aonian fount was Aganippe.
at the foot of mount Helicon, not tar from
Thebes, and sacred to the muses. Hence
the muses were called Aonides. Dryden
Virg. Eclogue. 10. 12. But in trutli.
Aonia itself is formed from the Celtic aon.
a spring or fountain, [the fabled son oi
Neptune,] and thi.-i word g.ave name tiv
Aonia. As tlie muses were fond of springs,
the word was applied to the muses, and
to mountains which were their favorite
residence, as to Parnassus. Milton.
A'ORIST, n. [Gr. oopij-oj, indefinite, of a
priv. and opo5, limit.]
The name of certain tenses in the grammar
of the Greek language, which express
time indeterminate, that is, either past,
present or future.
AORIST'le, a. Indefinite ; pertaining to an
aorist, or indefinite tense.
AORT'A, n. [Gr. aoptti, the great artery ;
also an ark or chest.]
The great artery, or trunk of the arterial
system ; proceeding from the left ventricle
of the heart, and giving origin to all the
arteries, except the pulmonarj' arteries. It
first rises, when it is called the ascending
aorta ; then makes a great curve, when it
gives off branches to the head, and upper
extremities ; then proceeds downwards,
called the descending aorta, when it gives
off branches to the trunk ; and finally di-
vides into the two iliacs, which supply the
pelvis and lower extremities. Vyc. 'Parr.
AORT'AL, o. Pertaining to the aorta, or
great artery. Dancin.
AOU'TA, n. The paper-mulberry tree in
Otaheite, from whose bark is manufactur-
ed a cloth worn by the inhabitants.
Encyc.
APA'CE, adv. [a andpace.]
With a quick pace ; quick ; fast ; speedily :
with haste ; hastily ; applied to things iu
motion or progression ; as, birds fly apace ;
weeds grow apace.
AP'AGOgE, I [Gr. from artoyu, to draw
AP'AGOgY, I aside, of a/to, from, and
oyw, to drive.]
1. In logic, abduction ; a kind of argument,
wherein the greater extreme is evidently
contained in the medium, but tlie medium
not so e\'idently in the lesser extreme, as
not to require further proof. Thus, " All
whom God absolves are free from sui ; but
God absolves all who are in Christ ; there-
fore all who are in Christ are free from
sin." The first proposition is evident ; but
the second may require further proof, as
that God received full satisfaction for sin,
by the suffering of Christ.
2. In mathematics, a progress or passage from
one proposition to another, when the first,
having been demonstrated, is employed in
proving others.
3. In the Athenian law, the carrying a crimi-
nal, taken in the fact, to a magistrate.
Encyc.
APAGOg'I€AL, a. An apagogical demon-
stration is an indirect way of proof, by
showing the absurdity or impossibiUty of
the contrarj'.
APALACH'IAN, a. Pertaining to the Apa-
A P E
APE
A P ir
Jafhcs, a tribe of Indians, in the wc>tern
part of Goorifia. Hence the word is ap-
plied to lIU' inoiintaiiis in or near their
country, ^vhiili arc in fact the southern
extreniitv of ilic Alltj,'hanean ridges.
APAN'THROI'V, n. [Gr. arto, fiom, and
avdfUTioi, man.]
An aversion to the company of men ; a love
of solitude. i'lin/c.
APARITIl'MESIS, n. [Or.] In rliHoric,
enumeration.
AP'ART, arfv. [aa.nApaH; Fr. apartt. See
Part.]
1. Separately ; at a distance ; in a si
separation, as to place.
Jesu3 departed thence into a desert place
apart. Math. xiv.
2. In a stateofdistinction,as to purpose, use
or character.
The Lord hatli set apart him that is godly fo
himself. Ps. iv.
3. Distinctly ; .separately ; as, consider the
two propositions apart.
4. Aside ; in exclusion of; as, apart from all
regard to his morals, he is not qualified, in
other respects, for the office he holds.
AP^ARTMENT, )!. [Fr. apartement, or ap
partement, of ab or a, from, and partir, to
depart. See Part.]
A room in a building ; a division in a house,
separated from others by partitions; a
place separated by inclosure.
APATHET'Ie, o. Void of feeling ; free froin
passion ; insensible. Harris
AP'ATHY, n. [Gr. a priv. and rtoSoj, pas-
sion.]
Want of feeling ; an utter privation of pas-
sion, or insensibility to pain ; applied either
to the body or the mind. As applied to the
mind, it is stoicism, a calmness of mind in
capable of being rufRed by pleasure, pain
or passion. In the first ages of the church,
the christians adopted the term to express
a contempt of earthly concerns.
Quietism is apathy disguised under the ap-
pearance of devotion. Encye
AP'ATITE, n. [from Gr. arfafcuo, to deceive ;
it having been often mistaken for oth
V variety of phosphate of lime ; generally
crystalized in low, flat, hexahedral prisms,
sometimes even tabular. Its powder phos-
phoresces on burning coals.
The phosporite of Werner includes the mas-
sive and earthy varieties of the phosphate,
which are distinguished from tlie apatite,
by their containing a small portion of flu-
oric acid. Cleaoeland.
APE, n. [D. aap ; Dan. abe ; Sax. Sw. and
Ir. apa ; Ice. ape ; Germ, affe ; W. ab, or
epa, so natned from the celerity of its
motions.]
1. A genus of quadrupeds, found in the tor-
rid zone of both continents, of a great
variety of species. In common i
word extends to all the tribe of monkeys
and baboons ; but in zoology, ape is limited
to such of these animals as have no tails
while those with short tails are called bab
oons, and those with long ones, monkeys
Tliese animals have four cutting teeth in
each jaw, and two canine teeth, with ob-
tuse grinders. The feet are formed like
hands, with four fingers and a thumb, and
flat nails. Apes are lively, full of frohc
and chatter, generally untamable, thiev-
ing and mischievous. They inhabit the
forests, and hve on fruits, leaves and
insects. Encyc.
i. One who imitates servilely, ui allusion to
the manners of the ape ; a silly fellow.
APE, V. t. To imitate servilely ; to mimic,
as an ape unitates human actions. Weak
persons are always prone to ape foreigners.
APE'AK, adv. [a and peak, a point. See
Peak.]
1. On the point ; in a posture to pierce.
Joh7ison.
2. In seameii's language, yterpentWculai: The
anchor is apeak, when the cable is drawn
so as to bring the ship directly over it.
Mar. Diet.
AP'ENNINE, a. [L. ape7minus ; ad and
penninus, an epithet applied to a peak or
ridge of the Alps. ikvy. Celtic pen or
ben, the peak of a mountain, or in general,
a mountain.]
Pertainiiin to or designating a chain of moun-
tains, which extend from the plains of
Piedmont, round the gtdf of Genoa, to
center of Italy, and thence south east to
the extremity.
AP'ENNINE, ) The monntauis above
AP'ENNINES, S "■ described.
APEP'SY, n. [Gr. a priv. and nttttu, to
digest.]
Defective digestion; indigestion. [LAtth
■used.] Coxe. Encyc.
A'PER, n. One who apes. In zoology, the
wild boar.
APERIENT, a. [h. aperiens, aperio ; Sp.
Port, abrir ; It. aprire ; Fr. ouvrir.]
Opening ; that has tlie quality of opening ;
deolistruent ; laxative.
x\PE'R1EjVT, n. A medicine which pro-
motes the circulation of the fluids, by re-
moving obstructions ; a laxative ; a de-
obstruent ; as, smallage, fennel, asparagus,
parsley, and butcher's broom. Encyc,
APER'ITIVE, a. Opening; deobstruent ;
aperient. Harvey. Fotherby.
APERT', a. [h. aptrtus.] Open ; evident ;
undisguised. [JVot vsed.]
APER'TION, n. The act of opening; the
state of being opened ; an opening ; a gap,
aperture, or passage. [Little used.}
kViseman. Wollon.
APERT'LY, adv. Openly. [Uitle used.]
Bale.
APERT'NESS, n. [L. apeiius.] Openness.
[Rarely used.] Holder.
APERT'OR, «. A muscle that raises the
upper eye lid. Quincy.
AP'ERTURE, n. The act of opening ; more
generally, an opening ; a gap, cleft or
chasm ; a passage perforated ; a hole
through any solid substance.
Holder. JVewton
An opening of meaning ; explanation.
[JVot used.] Tayl,
.3. In geomttry, the space between two right
lines, forming an angle. Encyi
APET'ALOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and netaxov,
a flower-leaf or petal.]
In botany, having no petals, or flower-leaves ;
having no corol. Martyn
APET'ALOUSNESS, n. A state of being
without jjetals.
A'PEX, J!, plu. apexes. [L.apex, \>U\. apices.]
The tip, point or summit of any thing. I
anlitjuiiy, the ca)) of a flamen or priest
the crest of a hehnet. In grammar, the
mark of a long syllable, in botany, thff
anther of flowers, or tops of the stamens,
like knobs. Martyn.
APH'ANITE, n. [Gr. a priv. and fawu, to
a|>]>ear.]
In mineralogy, compact ainphibole in a par-
ticular state. Diet, of JVat. Hist.
APHE'LION, n. [Gr. arto, from, and rino;,
sun.]
That point of a planet's orbit which is most
distant from the sun ; opjjosed to perihe-
lion.
APHERE'SIS, n. [Gr. ojto, from, and atptu,
to take.]
The taking of a letter or syllable from the
beginning of a word. Thus by an aphe-
resis, omMere is written, mitlere. Encyc.
2. In the healing art, the removal of any thing
noxious. In surgery, amputation.
Quincu.
APHIDIV'OROUS, a. [of a;)Ws, the puce-
ron or vine fretter, and loro, to eat.]
Eating, devouring, or subsisting on the aphis,
or plant-louse. Dancin.
APHILAN'THROPY, n. [of a neg. and ^t,-
Xoi'Spurtio, of ^aeu, to love, and aidfuno;.
Want of love to mankind. In medicine, the
first stage of melancholy, when soHtude is
preferred to soeiet}'. Coxe.
A'PHIS, n. In zoology, the puceron, vine
fretter, or plant-louse ; a genus of insects,
belonging to the order of hemipters. The
aphis is furnished with an inflected beak,
and with feelers longer than the thorax.
In tlie same species, some individuals have
four erect wings, and others are entirely
without wings. The feet are of the ambu-
latory kind, and the belly usually ends ia
two horns, from which is ejected the sub-
stance called honey-dew. The species
are very numerous. Encyc.
APHLOdlS'Tle, ct. [Gr. a priv. and t?-o-
yifo;, inflammable.]
Flaraeless ; as an aphlogistic lamp, in which
a coil of wire is kept in a state of continued
ignition by alcohol, witliout flame.
ComstDck.
APII'ONY, n. [Gr. a priv. and ijiu;nj, voice.J
A loss of voice ; a palsy of the tongue j
dumbness; catalepsy. Johnson. Coxe.
APH'ORISM, n. [Gr. a^opts^os, determina-
tion, distinction ; from a^opt^u, to sepa-
rate.]
A maxim ; a precept, or principle expressed
in few words ; a detached sentence con-
taining some important truth ; as, the
aphorisms of Hippocrates, or of the civil
law. Encyc.
APHORISM'ER, n. A dealer in aphorisms.
Milton.
APHORISTIC, I In the form of an
APHORIS'TI€AL, I °" aphorism ; in the
form of short unconnected sentences ; as
an aphoristic style.
APH0RIS'TI€ALLY, adv. In the form or
manner of aphorisms.
APH'RITE, n. [Gr. 0^05, froth ; the schaum
erde, or earth scum, of Werner ; the sil-
very chalk of Kirwan.]
A subvariety of carbonate of lime, occurring
in small masses, solid or tender and friable.
It is composed of lamels or scales, of a
])early luster. It is connected by insensi-
ble shades with argentine.
Jameson. Cleavdand.
API.
A P O
A P O
APII'RIZITE, n. A variety of black tour-
malin. Phillips.
APllRODIS'IAC, } [Gr. a^i^oii'n.o,, ve-
APHRODISI'ACAL, i; "■ iiereal, A^pobitr,,
Venus, from o^poj, froth.]
Exciting venereal de-siro ; increasing the ap-
petite for sexual connection.
APIIRODIS'IA€, n. A provocative to ve-
iiery. Encyc. Quincy.
APU'RODiTE, n. [Gr. Afpo&it^.] A follovt-er
of Venus. Cleaveland.
APU'RODITE, } In zoology, a genus ofl
APHRODI'TA, S "■ tlie order of MoUuscas,
called also sea-movse. The body i,s oval,
with many small protuberances or tenta-
cles on each side, which serve as feet.
The mouth is cj'hndrical, at one end of the
body, with two bristly tentacles, and capa-
ble of being retracted. Encyc.
2. A name of Venus, so called from 6r.
atpof, froth, from which the goddess was
supposed to have been jiroduced. [See
Venus.]
APH'THONG, n. [Gr. arto, without, and
4i8oyyof, sound.]
A letter or combination of letters, which, in
the customai-y pronimciation of a word,
have no sound. Focaloir, or Diet, of the
Hibemo- Celtic Lanmiase.
APIl'THOUS, a. [Gr. a$e«, ulcers in the
mouth.]
Pertaining to thrush ; of the nature of thrush
or ulcerous affections of the mouth.
Bigelow.
APII'VLLOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and ifvXKov.
folium, a leaf.]
In botany, destitute of leaves, as the rush,
mushrooms, garlic, some sea- weeds, &,c.
Milne.
APIARY, n. [L. apiarium, of apis, a bee.]
Tlie place where bees are kept ; a stand or
shed for bees.
A'PIASTER, n. [From apis, a bee.]
The bird called a bee-cater, a species of
rops. The apiaster has an iron colored
back, and a belly of bluish green.
Encyc.
A'l'ICES, A'PEXES. [See ^pei, and
.Inther.]
APIE'CE, adv. [a and piece.]
To each; noting the share of each; as here
is an orange apiece.
A'PIS, n. In mythology, an ox, worshiped in
ancient Egypt, or a di\ inity or idol in the
figure of an ox.
A'PIS, n. [L.] In zoolofcy, the bee, a genu;
of insects, of the order of hymenopters.
The mouth lias two jaws, and a proboscis
infolded in a double sheath ; the wings
are four, the two foremost covering the
hinder ones when at rest. The females
and working bees have a sting. Encyc.
A PISH, a. [See Ape.] Having the quali-
ties of an ajie ; inclined to imitate in a ser-
vile manmr; licnce, foolish, foppish, af-
li'ctcd, trilling, insigniticant ; as, an apish
fellow ; apish manners.
A'PISHLY, adv. In an apish manner ; with
sei-vile imitation ; foppishly.
A'PISHNESS, n. The quaUty of being
apish ; mimicry ; foppery.
APIT'PAT, With quick beating or palpita-
tion ; a word formed from the sound, ;n<
and pat, or from heat.
APLANAT'IC, a. [Gr. a ucg. and .t?.araco,to
wander.]
An aplanatic telescope is one which entirely
corrects the aberration of the rays of light.
It is thus distinguished from the achromatic,
whicli only partially corrects the alierra-
tion. Ed. Encyc.
APLO'ME, 71. [Gr. arCKoo;, simple.]
A mineral closely allied to garnet. It is con-
sidered by Jameson, as crystalized com-
mon garnet. It is a rare mineral, found
in dodecahedrons, with rhombic face.s,
supposed to be derived from the cube, by
one of the most simple laws of decrement,
that of a single range of particles, parallel
to all the edges of a cube.
Haiiy. Cleaveland.
APLUS'TER, I [L. from Gr. af7^;m; the
APLUS'TRE, S "' summit of the poop of a
ship.]
.An ensign, or ornament carried by ancient
ships. It was shaped Uke a plume of]
feather.s, fastened on the neck of a goose
or swan, and to this was attached a party-
colored ribin, to indicate the course of the
wind. Addison. Encyc.
APO€'ALYPSE, n. apoc'alyps. [Gr. from
a7toxa\v7fti^, to disclose ; orto and xiAvrtru.
to cover.]
Revelation ; discovery ; disclosure. The
name of a book of the New Testament,
containing many discoveries or predictions
respecting the future state of Christianity
written by St. John, in Patmos, near the
close of the first century.
APO€ALYP'Tl€, \ Containing
APOCALYPTICAL, \ "" pertaining to
revelation ; disclosing.
APOCALYPTICALLY, adv. By revela
tion ; in the mamier of disclosure.
APOCOPATE, v.t. [^ee apocope.]
To cut off, or drop the last letter or syllable
of a word.
APOCOPATED, pp. Shortened by the
omission of the last letter or syllable.
M. Stuart
APOCOPATING, ppr. Cutting off, or omit-
ting the last letter or syllable.
APOCOPE, ? [Gr. anoxortrj, abscission,
APOCOPY, ^ "■ of arto, -And xottTu to CM.]
The cutting off, or omission of the last letter
or svllable of a word ; as di for dii.
APOC'RISARY, n. [Gr. from ortoxpKKj, an
swer ; ajtoxptvofiac, to answer.]
-Anciently a resident in an imperial city, in
the name of a foreign church or bishop,
answering to the modern nuncio. He was
a proctor, in tlie emperor's court, to ne-
gotiate, and transact business for liis con
stituent. Encyc. Spelman
APOCRUST'Ie a. [Gr. artoxpwrixa, from
oTto and xpoDu, to drive froni.[
Astringent ; repelling.
APOCRUST'Ie, n. A medicine wliich con-
stringes, and repels the humors ; a repel-
lent, (^uincy. Coxe.
APOCRYPHA, n. [Gr. from anoxfvTttw,
xpvTtru, to conceal.]
Literally such things as are not pubhshed ;
but in an appropriate sense, books who&
authors are not known ; whose autlienti
city, as inspired writings, is not admitted,
and which are therefore not considered a
part of the sacred canon of the scripture.
When the Jews published their sacred
books, they called them canonical and di-
vine ; such as they did not publish, were
called apocryphal. The apocryphal books
arc received by the Romi.sh Church as ca-
nonical, l)ut not by Protestants. Encyc.
APOCRYPHAL, a. Pertaining to the apoc-
ryjiha ; not canonical ; of uncertain au-
thority or credit ; false ; fictitious.
Congreve. Hooker.
APOC/RYPHALLY, adv. Uncertainly ; not
indisputably.
APOCRYPIIALNESS, n. Uncertainty, a^
to authenticity ; doubtfulness of credit, oi
genuineness.
AP'ODAL, a. [See Apode.]
Without feet ; in zoology, destitute of ventral
fins.
AP'ODE, n. [Gr.apriv.andrtoi.s,«o«o5,fool.
An animal that has no feet, applied to cer-
tain fabulous fowls, wliich are said to have
no legs, and also to some birds that have
very short legs.
In zoology, the apodes are an order of fishes,
which have no ventral fins ; the first order
in Linne's system. Encyc.
APODICTIC, I [Gr. artoii^n, evi-
APODICTICAL, S "■ dence, of o«o, and
Ssixivni, to show.]
Demonstrative ; evident beyond contradir
tion ; clearly proving. [lAltle used.]
Brovm. GlanvUk.
APODICTICALLY, adv. So as to be evi
dent beyond contradiction.
APOD'OSIS, n. [Gr.] The appUcation or
latter part of a similitude. Mede.
AP'OciEE, n. [apogeon, apogeum ; Gr. o«o,
from, and yij, the earth.]
That point in the orbit of a planet, which is
at the greatest distance from the earth.
The ancients regarded the earth as fixed
in the center of the system, and therefore
assigned to the sun, with the planets, an
apogee ; but the moderns, considering the
sun as the center, use the terms perilielion
and aphelion, to denote the least and
greatest distance of the planets from that
orb. The sun's apogee therefore is in
strictness, the earth's aphelion. Apogee
is properly appUcable to the moon.
Encyc. Johnson.
AP'OGON, n. A fish of the Mediterranean,
the summit of whose head is elevated.
AP'OGRAPH, n. [Gr. ortoypntw ; artaypa^^]
An exemplar; a copy or transcript. Ash.
APOLLINA'RIAN, a. [From Apollo.]
The ApoUinarian games, in Roman antiquity,
were celebrated in honor of Apollo ; insti-
tuted A. R. 542. after the battle of CanniE.
They were merely scenical, with exliibi-
tions of music, dances and various moun-
tebank tricks. Encyc.
APOLLINA'RIANS, in Church history, a
sect, deriving theirname (rom Apollinaris,
bishop of Laodicea, in the 4tli Century,
who denied the proper humanity of Christ;
maintaining that his body was endowed
with a sensitive, and not with a rational
soul ; and that the divine nature supplied
the place of the intellectual principle in
man. Encyc. Hooker.
ApoUo-Belvidere, an ancient statue of the
first class in excellence.
APOL'LYON, )i. [Gr. ortoxxiw, destroying.]
The destroyer; a name used Rev. ix. 11, for
the angel of the bottomless pit, answering
to the Hebrew Abaddon.
APOLOGET'IC, I [Gr. aWoXoyfOfw,, to
APOLOGET'ICAL, I "■ speak in defense of:
o«o and ^»yo5, speech.]
A P O
A P O
A P O
Dcleiiding by worils or argunieiits ; excus-
ing ; said or written in defense, or by way
of apology; as an opo/og-ef ic essay. Boyle.
APOLOgET'I€ALLY, adv. By way of
apology or excuse.
APOI.'OGIST, n. [See Apology.]
One who makes an apology ; one who
speaks or writes in defense of another.
APOL'OgIZE, v. i. To make an apology ;
to write or speak in favor of, or to make
excuse for ; followed l)y for ; as, my cor-
respondent apologized for not answering
my letter.
AP'OLOGUE, n. ap'olog. [Gr. ortoxoyoj, i
long speech, a fable.]
A moral fable ; a story or relation of ficti
tious events, intended to convey usefid
truths. An apologue differs from a para-
ble in this; the parable is drawn from
events which pass among mankind, and is
therefore supported by probability ; an
apologue may be founded on supposed
actions of brutes or inanimate things, and
therefore does not require to be supported
by probability. Esop's fables are good
examples of apologues. Encyc.
APOL'OGY, n. [Gr. ajto-Koyca, of a?to and
^oj, discourse.]
All excuse ; something said or written ui de-
fense or extenuation of what appears to
others wrong, or unjustifiable ; or of what
may be liable to disapprobation. It may
be an extenuation of what is not perfectly
justifiable, or a vindication of what is or
may be disai)proved, but wliich the apolo-
gist deems to be right. A man makes
iia apology for not fulfilhng an engage-
ment, or for publishing a pamplilet. An
apology then is a reason or reasons assign-
ed for what is wrong or may appear to be
wrong, and it may be either an extenua-
tion or a justification of something that is
or may be censured, by those who are not
acquainted with the reasons.
APONEURO'SIS, I [Gr. orto, from, and
APONEU'ROSY, I "' vivpov, a nerve ; W.
nerth ; Arm. nerz. See JVerve.]
An expansion of a tendon in the manner of a
membrane ; the tendinous expansion or
fascia of muscles ; the tendon or tail of a
muscle. Encyc. Coxe.
APOPEMP'TIe, a. [Gr. arco, from, and
rttfinu, to send.]
Denoting a song or hymn among the an-
cients, sung or addressed to a stranger, on
his departure from a ])lace to his own
country. It may be used as a noun for
the hymn. Encyc.
APOPH'ASIS, n. [Gr. orto, from, and *o(«5,
form of speech.]
In rhetoric, a waving or omission of what one,
speaking ironically, would plainly insinu-
ate ; as, " I will not mention another argu-
ment, which, however, if I should, you
could not refute." Smith. Johnson.
APOPHLEGMAT'IC a. [Gr. arto, from, and
t>.f7fia, phlegm.]
Masticatory ; having the quahty of exciting
discharges of phlegm from the mouth or
nostrils.
APOPHLEGMAT'IC, n. A masticatory;
a medicine which excites discharges of
phlegm from the mouth or nostrils. Coxe
APOPHLEG'MATISM, n. An apophleg-
inatic. JSacon.
APOPHLEGMAT'IZANT, n. An apo-
phlegmatic. Qiiincy- Coxe
APOPHTHEGM, \ [Gr. arto, from, ant
AP'OTHEM, S"' te^wa, vvord. It
would be eligible to reduce this harsh
word to apothem.]
A remarkable saying ; a short, sententious,
instructive remark, uttered on a particular
occasion, or by a distinguished character ;
as that of Cyrus, " He is unworthy to be
a magistrate, who is not better than hi;
subjects ;" or that of Cato, " Homines ni
hil agendo, discunt male agere ;" men by
doing notliing, soon learn to do mischief.
APOPH'YgE, ( [Gr. o«o, from, and 4>vy^,
APOPH'Y(iY, \ "■ flight.]
1. In architecture, the part of a column, where
it springs out of its base ; originally a ring
or ferrel to bind the extremities of col
umns, and keep them from sphtting ; af-
terwards imitated in stone iiillars. It is
sometimes called the spring of the column.
Chambers.
2. A concave part or ruig of a coliunn, lying
above or below the flat member, called by
the French le conge d'en has, or dV» haut
by the Itahans, cavo di basso, or di sopra
also, il vivo di basso. Encyc.
APOPH'YLLITE, n. [Gr. arto, from, and
qivM.ov, a leaf; so called because of its ten-
dency to exfoliate.]
A mineral occurring in laminated masses
or in regular prismatic crystals, having a
strong and pecuhar pearly luster. Its
structure is foliated, and when a fragment
is forcibly rubbed against a hard body, it
separates into thin lamens, like selenite.
It exfohates also before the flame of a
lamp. From its pecidiar luster, it is some-
times called by the harsh name, ichthyoph-
thalmite, fish-eye stone. Cteaveland.
APOPH' YSIS, ^ [Gr. arto, from, and fven;,
APOPH'YSY, $"• growth.]
The projecthig soft end or protuberance of a
bone ; a process of a bone.
Quincy. Encyc. Coxe
APOPLE€'TI€, ) [See apoplexy.]
APOPLEC'Tl€AL, ^ Pertaining to or
consisting in apoplexy, as an apoplectic
fit ; or predisposed to apoplexy, as an apo-
plectic habit of body.
APOPLE€'TIC, n. A person affected by
apoplexy. Knatchbull.
AP'OPLEXED, a. Affected with apoplexy,
Shak.
AP'OPLEXY, )^.'[Gr. aMxyr^io., of orto, from,
and rt>.)jmio, to strike.]
\ sudden deprivation of all sense and vol-
untary motion, occasioned by repletion or
whatever interrupts the action of the nerves
upon the muscles. Cidlcn.
Dryden, for the sake of measure, uses apo
plex, for apoplexy.
AP'ORON, \ [See Jlpory.] A problem
AP'ORIME, S "■ difiicult to be resolved.
Encyc.
AP'ORY, I [Gr. artopio, from a.topo;,
APO'RIA, \ ' inops coucilii, of a and
rtopos, way or passage.]
1. In rhetoric, a doubting or being at a loss
where to begin, or what to say, on account
of the variety of matter. Smith.
2. In (/(£ medical art, febrile anxiety ; utiea
siness ; restlessness, from obstructed per
spiration, or the stoppage of any natura
secretion. Coxe.
[APOSIOPE'SIS, > . [Gr. ortoscurt,9<f, of
APOSIO'PESY, I"- a«o, andauortocw.tobe
silent.]
Reticency or suppression ; as when a speak-
er for some cause, as fear, sorrow, or an-
ger, suddenly breaks off his discourse, be-
fore it is ended ; or speaks of a tiling, when
he makes a show as if he would say noth-
ing on the subject ; or aggravates what he
pretends to conceal, by uttering a part and
leaving the remainder to be understood.
Smith. Johnson. Encyc.
APOS'TASY, n. [Gr. artoraa.5, a defection.
ofa^i;r;tii, to depart, arte and irij/uc]
1. All abandonment of what one has profes-
sed ; a total desertion, or departure from
one's faith or religion.
2. The desertion from a party to which one
has adhered.
3. Among physicians, the throwing off of
exfohated or fractured boue, or the various
solution of disease. Coxe.
4. An abscess. Encyc.
APOS'TATE, n. [Gr. artoyor,;.]
One who has forsaken the church, sect or
profession to which he before adliered.
In its original sense, apphed to one who
has abandoned his rehgion ; but correctly
applied also to one who abandons a po-
litical or other party.
APOS'TATE, a. False ; traitorous.
Spenser.
APOSTAT'IeAL, a. After the manner of
Sandys.
To abandon one's
profession or church ; to forsake principles
or faith which one has professed ; or the
party to which one has been attached.
IVorthington.
APOS'TATIZING, ppr. Abandonuig a
chtirch, profession, sect or party.
APOS'TEMATE, v. i. To form into an ab-
scess ; to swell and fill with pus.
APOSTEMA'TION, n. The formation of
an aposteme ; the process of gathering
into an abscess ; written corruptly impost-
humation.
APOSTEM'ATOUS, a. Pertaining to an
abscess ; partaking of the nature of an
aposteme. Journ. of Science.
AP'OSTEME, n. [Gr. ano^^f^a, from
cuftf^ftt, to go off, to recede ; arto and
i.;riiu, to stand.]
An abscess ; a swelling filled with purulent
matter ; written also corruptly imposthume.
A-POSTERIORI, [L. posterior, after.]
Arguments a posteriori, are drawn from
effects, consequences or facts ; in opposi-
tion to reasoning a priori, or from causes
previously known.
APOS'TLE, n. apos'l. [L. apostolus ; Gr.
ajtoc;o7^oc, from artoftXXu, to send away, of
arto, and ;iX>M, to send ; G. stellen, to set.]
\ person deputed to execute some important
business ; but appropriately, a disciple of
Christ commissioned to preach the gospel.
Twelve persons were selected by Christ
for this purpose ; and Judas, one of the
number, proving an apostate, his place was
supphed by Matthias. Acts i.
The title of apostle is applied to Christ him-
self, Heb. 3. In the primitive ages of the
church, other ministers were called apos-
tles, Rom. xvi ; a.s were persons sent to
curry aluis from one church to anottier.
A P O
Philip, ii. Tliis title was also given to per-
sons who first planted the Christian faith.
Thus Dionysius of Corinth is called the
apostle of France ; and the Jesuit Mission-
aries are called apostles.
Among the Jews, the title was given to ofK
cers who were sent into distant provinces,
as visitors or commissioners, to see the
laws observed.
Apostle, in the Greek liturgy, is a book con-
taining the epistles of St. Paul, printed ni
the order in which they are to be read ni
churches, through the year. Encyc.
APOS'TLE-SHIP, n. The office or dignity
of an apostle.
APOS'TOLATE, n. A mission ; the dignity
or office of an apostle. Ancient writers
use it for the office of a bishop ; but it
now restricted to the dignity of the pope,
whose see is called the Apostolic See.
Encyc.
APOSTOLIC, I Pertamuig or re-
APOSTOL'I€AL, ) lathig to the apos
ties, as the apostolic age.
2. According to the doctrines of the apos-
tles ; delivered or taught by the apostles
as apostolic faith or practice.
Apostolic constitutions, a collection of regula
tions attributed to the apostles, but gen
erally supposed to be spurious. They
appeared in the 4tli century ; are divided
into eight books, and consist of rules and
pi-ecepts relating to the duties of christ-
ians, and particularly, to the ceremonies
and discipline of the church.
Apostolic Fathers, an appellation given to the
christian writers of the first century.
APOSTOL'I€ALLY, adv. In the manner
of the apostles.
APOSTOL'ICALNESS, n. The quality of
being apostolical, or according to the doc
trinesofthe apostles.
APOSTOL'leS, n. Certain sects so called
from their pretending to imitate the prac-
tice of the apostles, abstaining from mar
riage, from wine, flesh, pecuniary reward
&c., and wandering about clotlied in
white, with long beards, and bare heads.
Sagarelli, the founder of one of these sects,
was burnt at Parma ui 1300. Ency(
APOSTROPHE, ( [Gr. a?to, from, and
APOS'TROPHY, I "• ifio^, a turning.]
In rhetoric, a diversion of speech ; a digre
sive address ; a changing the course of a
speech, and addressing a person who is
dead or absent, as if present ; or a short
address introduced into a discourse, direct
ed to some person, diflerent from the par
ty to which the main discourse is directed
as when an advocate, in an argument to
the jury, turns and addresses a few
marks "to the court. Encyc. Smith.
2. In grammar, the contraction of a word by
the omission of a letter or letters, which
omission is marked by a comma, as call'd
for called. The comma used for this pur-
pose niav also be called an apostrophe.
APOS'TR'OPHIC, a. Pertaining to an apo:
trophe; noting the contraction of a word
Murray.
APOS'TROPIIIZE, V. i. or /. To make
apostrophe, or short detached address
speaking ; to address by apostrophv.
2. V. t. To contract a word by omitting a
letter or letters.
APO
3. To mark with a comma, ijidicating the
omission of a letter.
APOSTROPHIZED, pp. Addressed by
way of digression ; contracted by the
omission of a letter or letters ; marked by
an apostropliy.
APOSTROPHIZING, ppr. Addressing in
a digression ; contracting or markmg by
apostrophy.
AP'OSTUME, Ti. An aposteme, which see.
APOTAC'TITE, n. [Gr. anotaxro;, from
artotatta, to renounce ; ano and faf ru, to
ordain.]
One of a sect of ancient christians, who, in
imitation of the first believers, renounced
all their effects and possessions. Encyc.
APOTH'E€ARY, n. [L. and Gr. apotheca,
a repository, from a,noii9rifi.i, to deposit or
lay aside, or from Sijatij, a chest.]
. One who practices pharmacy ; one who
prepares drugs for medicinal uses, and
keeps them for sale. In England, apothe
caries are obliged to prepare medicines ac-
cording to the formulas prescribed by the
college of physicians, and are liable to
have their shops visited by the censors of
the college, who have ))ower to destroy
medicines which are not good.
2. In the middle ages, an apothecary was the
keeper of any shop or warehouse ; and an
officer appointed to take charge of a maga-
zine. Encyc.
A remarkable saying ; a short, instructive re-
mark.
APOTHEGMAT'IC ) „ In the manner
APOTHEGMAT'leAL, i "' of an apothem.
IVarton.
APOTHEG'MATIST, n. A collector or
maker of apothems. Pope.
APOTHEG'MATIZE, v. t. To utter apo-
thems or short instructive sentences.
AP'OTHEME, n. [See Apothecary.^
In Russia, an apothecary's shop, or a shop
for tlie preparation and sale of medicines.
Tooke.
APOTHE'OSIS, n. [Gr. artoSsujis, of arto,
and 9f05, God.]
Deification ; consecration ; the act of placing
a prince or other distinguished person
among the heathen deities. This honor
was often bestowed on illustrious men in
Rome, and followed by the erection of
temples, and the institution of sacrifices
to the new deity. Encyc.
APOTH'ESIS, n. [Gr. <«to, and ri8^M','to
put back.]
1. The reduction of a dislocated bone.
Coie.
2. A place on the south side of the chancel
in the primitive churches, furnished with
shelves, for books, vestirients, &c. fVheler.
APOT'OME, } rn .. . . <ri
APOT'OMY, < "• ^ o^notiiipu, to cut ott.J
1. In mathematics, the difference between
two incommensurable quantities. Cyc.
2. In music, that portion of a tone major
which remains after deducting from it an
interval, less by a comma, than a semitone
major. Busby.
The difference between a greater and
lesser semitone, expressed by the ratio
128 ; 125. The Greeks supposing the
greater tone could not be divided into two
A P P
jual parts, called the diflorcncc, or.sniall-
• part, npotomc ; the other, limma.
Chambers. Encyc.
APOTREP'SIS, n. [Gr. o«o, and rpiTtu, to
turn.]
The resolution of a sup])urating tumor.
Coie.
AP'OTROPY, »!. [Gr. axo, and tpi>tu, to
turn.]
In ancient poetry, a verse or hymn composed
for averting the wrath of incensed denies.
The deities invoked were called apotrop-
eans. Encyc.
AP'OZEM, n. [Gr. a^o, and ?f«, to boil.J
A decoction, in which the medicinal sub-
stances of plants are extracted by boiling.
Encyc. Wiseman.
APOZEM'ICAL, a. Like a decoction.
Whitaker.
APPA'IR, V. t. To impair. [jVot in use.]
APPA'IR, V. i. To degenerate. [jVo< in use.l
APPALL', V. t. [Yr.palir; L. palleo, to be-
pale. See Pale.]
1. To depress or discourage with fear; to
impress with fear, in such a manner that
the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness ; as,
the sight appalled the stoutest heart.
2. To reduce, allay or desti-oy ; as, to appall
thirst. [Unusual.] Thomson.
APPALL', V. i. To grow faint ; to be dis-
mayed. Lidgaie.
APPALL'ED, pp. Depressed or dishearten-
ed with fear ; reduced.
APPALL'ING, ppr. Depressing witlifear;
educing.
APPALL'MENT, n. Depression occasion-
ed by fear ; discouragement.
AP'PANAgE, n. [Fr. apanage, an estate
assigned to a yoimger son for his mainte-
nance ; an appendix, dependence, appur-
tenance ; It. appannaggio, an appendage.
If this word is from the panage, panagi-
um of the middle ages, it is from panis,
food, provision ; It. panaggio, provision.
This is probably the true origin of the
word.]
1. Lands appropriated by a prince to the
maintenance of his younger sons, as their
patrimony ; but on condition of the fail-
ure of male offspring, they were to revert
to the donor or his heir. From the ap-
panage it was customary for the sons to
take their surnames. Spelman.
2. Sustenance; means of nourishing.
Wealth — the appanage of wit. Swift.
\PP.-VR.\'TUS, n. plu. apparatuses. [L.
from apparo, to prepare, oi' ad and paro.]
1. Things provided as means to some end ;
as the tools of an artisan ; the furniture of
a house ; instruments of war. In more
technical language, a complete set of in-
struments or utensils, for performing any
operation. Cavallo. EnofC.
i. In surgery, the operation of cutting for
the stone, of three kinds, the small, the
great, and tlie high. Encyc. Coie.
Apparatus is also used as the title of several
books, in the form of catalogues, biblio-
thecas, glossaries, dictionaries, &c.
Encyc.
APPAREL, )!. [Fr. appareil, from parer, to
dress or set off; Sp. aparejar ; L. paro,
apparo, to prepare ; Arm. para ; Port, ap-
arelho, Sp. aparejo, tackle, whence parrel
A P P
A P P
A P P
ill seamen's language ; Cli. Heb. x^3, bara ;
Ar. {^j . Class Br. No. 8. 10. 19.]
1. Clothing; vesture; garments; dress.
2. External habiliments or decorations ; ap-
pearance ; as, religion appears In the natu-
ral apparel of simplicity.
Glorious in apparel. Isa. Ixiii.
3. The furniture of a ship, as sails, rigging;
anchors, &c.
APPAR'EL, V. t. To dress or clothe.
They who are gorgeously appareled are in
kings courts. Luke vii.
2. To adorn with dress.
She did apparel her apparel. S/iak
3. To dress with external ornaments ; tc
cover with something ornamental ; to cov-
er, as with garments ; as, trees appareled
with flowers ; or a garden with verdure.
4. To furnish with external apparatus ; as
.ships appareled for sea.
APPARELED, pp. Dressed ; clothed ;
covered as with dress ; furnished.
APPAR'ELING, ppr. Dressing; clotliing;
covering as with dress ; furnishing.
APPA'RENCE, I Appearance. [ATot in
APPA'RENCY, I "• use.]
Chaucer. Gower.
APPA'RENT, a. [See Appear.]
1. That may be seen, or easily seen ; visible
to the eye ; within sight or view.
Merbury.
2. Obvious ; plain ; evident ; indubitable ; as,
the wisdom of the creator is apparent in
his works.
3. Visible, in opposition to hid or secret ; as, a
man's apparent conduct is good.
4. Visible ; appearing to the eye ; seeming,
ill distinction from true or i-eal, as the ap-
parent motion or diameter of tlie sun.
Heirs apparent are those whose rig-ht to
an estate is indefeasible, if they survive
the ancestor; in distinctidu t'viMw presump-
tive heirs, who, if the aiicistur >liiiiilil ilir
immediately, would inhtiit, Imt wIjosi'
right is liable to be deli'atcd by lln' biith
of other children. Blackstone.
APPA'RENTLY, adv. Openly ; evidently ;
as, the goodness of God is apparently man-
ifest in his works of providence.
2. Seemingly ; in appearance ; as, a man
may be apparently friendly, yet malicious
in heart.
APPARP'TION, 71. [See Appear.]
1. In a general sense, an appearance ; visi-
bihty. [lAttle tised.] Milton.
2. The tiling appearing ; a visible object ; a
form. Milton. Shak.
3. A ghost; a specter; a visible spirit. [This
is now the usual sense of the word.]
4. Mere appearance, opposed to reality.
Denham.
APPAR'ITOR, 71, [L. apparo, to prepare,
or appareo, to attend.]
Among the Romans, any officer who attend-
ed magistrates and judges to execute their
orders. In England, a messenger or otfi-
cer who serves the process of a spiritual
court, or a beadle in the university '
carries the mace. Encyc.
APPA'Y, V. t. [Sj). and Port, apagar.]
To satisfy. Obs. [See Pay.] Sidney.
APPE'ACH, r.t. To accuse; to censure, or
rf iiroach. Ob.t. [See Impeach.] Shall.
APl'E'ACHlMENT, ;;. Accusation; char
e.Yliibitcd. Obs. n'otton.
APPEAL, v.i. [Fr.appeler; It. appellor
Sp. apelar ; Port, appellar ; L. appello ; ad
and pello, to drive or send ; Gr. fiaVKu. We
do not see the sense of call in pello, but to
drive or press out, is the radical sense of
calling, naming. This word coincides in
elements with L. bcdo, Eng. bawl, and peal.
Class Bl.]
1. To refer to a superior judge or court, for
the decision of a cause depending, or the
revision of a cause decided in a lower
court.
I appeal to Cesar. Acts sxi.
2. To refer to another for the decision of a
question controverted, or the counterac
tion of testimony or facts ; as, I appeal to
all mankind for the truth of what is al
ledged.
APPE'AL, I', t. To call or remove a cause
from an inferior to a superior judge or
court. This may be done after trial and
judgment in the lower court ; or by S|iecial
statute or agi-eement, a party may appe
before trial, upon a fictitious issue and
judgment. We say the cause was appeal
ed before or after trial.
iVPPE'AL, V. t. In criminal law, to charge
with a crime; to accuse; to institute a
criminal prosecution, for some hainous of-
fense ; as, to appeal a person of felony.
This process was anciently given to a
private person to recover the weregild, or
private pecuniary satisfaction for an inju-
ry he had received by the murder of a re-
lation, or by some personal injury.
Blackstone.
;\PPE'AL, n. The removal of a cause or
suit from an inferior to a superior tribu-
nal, as from a common pleas court to a
superior or supreme court. Also the right
of appeal.
9. An accusation ; a process Instituted by a
private person against a man for some
liainous crime by which he has been in-
jured, as for murder, larciny, mayhem.
Blackstone
3. A summons to answer to a charge.
Dryden.
4. A call upon a person ; a reference to an-
other for proof or decision.
In an oath, a person makes an appeal to
the Deity for the truth of his declaration.
5. Resort ; rccoin-se.
Every milder method is to be tried, before a
ition makes an appeal to arms. Kent.
.\PPE'ALABLE, a. That may be appealed :
that may be removed to a higher tribunal
for decision ; as, the cause is appealable
2. That may be accused or called to answer
by ajipeal ; applied to persons ; as, a crimi-
nal is appealable for manslaughter.
APPE'ALANT, n. One who appeals. [JVot
used.] Shak.
APPE'ALED, pp. Removed to a higher
court, as a cause ; prosecuted for a crime
by a private person, as a criminal.
APPE'ALER, n. One who appeals ; an ap
pellor.
.\PPE'ALING, ppr. Removing a cause to a
higher tribunal ; prosecuting as a private
person for an offense ; referring to anoth-
er for a decision.
APPE'AR, V. i. [L. appareo, of ad and pa
reo, to appear, or be manifest ; It. appa-
rirc ; Sp. parecer, aparecer ; Fr. apparoi
apparoilre. Class Br.]
1. To come or be insight; to be in view; t(?
be visible.
Tlie leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh
Lev. xiii.
And God said. Let the dry land appear
Gen. i.
2. To become visible to the eye, as a spirit,
or to the apjirehension of the mind ; a
sense frequent in scripture.
The Laid appeared to Abram, and said.
Gen. xii.
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
flame of fire out of the midst of the bush. Ex.
iii.
3. To stand in presence of, as parties or ad-
j vocates before a court, or as persons to be
1 tried. The defendant, being called, did
I not appear.
I We must all appear before the judgment seat
I of Christ. 2 Cor. v.
J4. To be obvious ; to be known, as a subject
j of observation or comprehension.
t Let thy work appear to thy sei-vant. Ps. xc.
1 It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1
I John iii.
i5. To be clear or made clear by evidence ;
as, this fact appears by ancient records.
I But sin that it might appear sin. Rom. vii.
'6. To seem, in opposition to reahty.
They disfigure their faces, that they may ap-
I pear to men to fast. Mat. vi.
17. To be discovered, or laid open.
I That thy shame may apj)ear. Jer. xiii.
,APPE'AR, n. Appearance. Obs.
APPE'ARANCE, n. The act of coming in-
to sight ; the act of becoming visible to
the eye; as, his sudden appearance sur-
I prised me.
2. The thing seen ; a phenomenon ; as an
appearance in the sky.
3. Semblance ; apparent likeness.
There was upon the tabernacle as it were the
appearance of fire. Num. ix.
4. External show ; semblance assumed, in
opposition to reality or substance ; as, we
are often deceived by appearances ; he
has the appearance of virtue.
For man looketh on the outward appearance .
1 Sam. xvi.
5. Personal presence ; exhibition of the per-
son ; as, he made his first appearance at
court or on the stage.
6. E.\hibition of the character ; introduction
of a person to the public in a particular
character, as a person makes his appear-
ance in the world, as a historian, an artist,
or an orator.
7. Probability ; likelihood. Bacon. This
sense is rather an hiference from the third
or foin-th ; as probability is inferred from
external semblance or show.
8. Presence ; mien ; figure ; as presented by
the person, dress or manners ; as, the lady
made a noble appearance.
0. A being present in court ; a defendant's
filing common or special bail to a process.
10. All a])parition. Addison.
APPE'ARER, n. The person that appears.
Brown.
APPE'ARING, ppr. Coming in sight ; be-
coming evident ; making an external
show ; seemuig ; having the semblance.
APPE'ARING, n. The act of becoming vis-
I ible ; appearance.
APPE'ASABLE, a. That may be appeas-
ed, quieted, calmed, or pacified.
APPE'ASABLENESS, n. The quahty of
being appeasable.
A P P
A P P
A P P
APPE'ASE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. npaiser, of ad
anil paix, peace ; L. pax. Sue Pence.]
1. To make quiet ; to calm ; to reduce to i
state of peace ; to still ; to pacify ; as, t(
appease the tumult of tlie ocean, or of tin
passions ; to appease hunger or thirst.
[This word is of a general application to ev-
ery thing in a disturbed, ruffled or agitated
state.]
AI'PK'ASED, pp. Quietfil ; cahneil ; still
ed ; pacified.
APPE'ASEMENT, n. The act of appeas
ing ; the state of being in peace.
APPE'ASER, n. One who appeases, or
pacifies.
APPE'ASIVE, a. Having the power to ap
I)ease ; mitigating ; quieting.
APPEL'LANT, n. [See Appeal.']
1. One who appeals, or removes a cause
from a lower to a higher tribunal.
2. One who prosecutes another for a crime.
3. One who challenges, or summons anoth-
er to single combat.
4. In church history, one who appeals from
the Constitution Unigenitus to a general
council. Blackstone. Encyc. Milton.
APPEL'LATE, n. A person appealed, or
prosecuted for a crime. [J^ot now used.
See Appellee.] Ayltffe.
APPEL'LATE, a. Pertaining to appeals ;
having cognizance of appeals; as "appel-
late'}ur\ediction." Const of the U. States.
Appellate judges. Burke, Rev. in Prance.
APPELLA'TION, n. [L. appellatio. Sec
Appeal.]
Name ; the word by which a thing is called
and known. Spenser uses it for appeal.
APPEL'LATIVE, a. Pertaining to a com-
mon name ; noting the connnon name of
APPEL'LATIVE, n. A common name in
distinction from a proper name. A com-
mon name or appellative stands for a whole
class, genus or species of beings, or for
universal ideas. Thus man is the name
of the whole human race, and fowl of all
winged animals. Tree is the name of
all plants of a particular class ; plant and
vegetable are names of things that grow
out of the earth. A proper name, on the
other hand, stands for a single thing, as,
London, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston.
APPEL'LATIVELY, adv. According to the
manner of nouns appellative ; in a man-
ner to express whole classes or species ; as,
Hercules is sometimes used appellative-
ly, that is, as a common name to signify
a strong man. Johnson.
APPEL'LATORY, a. Containing an appeal.
APPELLEE', n. The defendant in an ap-
peal.
2. The person who is appealed, or prosec
ted by a private man for a crime.
Blackstone.
APPELLOR', n. The person who institutes
an appeal, or prosecutes another for i
crime. Blackstone
This word is rarely or never used for
the plaintiff in appeal from a lower court,
who is called the appellant. Appellee is
opposed both to appellant and appellor.
APPEND', V. t. [L. appendo, of ad and pen-
deo, to hang.]
1. To hang or attach to, as by a strmg, sc
that the thing is suspended ; as, a sea
appended to a record.
2. To add, as an accessory to the principal
■ ing. Johnson
APPEi\D'A6E, n. Something added to a
princi])al or greater thing, though not ne-
cessary to it, as a portico to a house.
Modesty is the appendage of sobriety.
Taylor
APPEND'ANCE, / Something annexed.
-VPPEND'ENCE, ( "• LYot tised.]
Bp. Hall.
APPEND'ANT, a. Hanging to ; annexed ;
belonging to something ; attached ; a.«, i
seal appendant to a pa|)er.
2. In law, common appendant, is a right, be
longing to the owners or occupiers of
lanil, to put commonable beasts iqion the
lord's waste, and upon the lands of other
persons within the same manor. An ad-
vowson appendant, is the right of patron-
age or presentation, annexed to the pos-
session of a manor. So also a commoi!
of fishing may be appendant to a freehold
Blackstone. Cowcl.
APPEND'ANT, n. That which belongs t(
another thing, as incidental or subordinate
to it.
APPEND'ED,»p. Annexed; attached.
APPEND'ICATE, v. t. To append ; to ad.l
to. Obs. Hale
APPENDICA'TION, n. An appen.lage or
adjunct. Obs. Hale
APPEND'ICLE, n. A small appendage.
APPEND'ING, n. That which is by right
annexed. Spelman
APPEND'IX, n. plu. appendixes, [L. The
Latin plural is appendices. See Append.]
1. Something appended or added.
Normandy became an appendix to England.
Hale.
2. An adjunct, concomitant, or appendage.
Watts.
3. More generally, a supplement or short
treatise added to a book.
APPERCE'IVE, «. <. [Fr. apercevoir.] To
comprehend. Obs. Cha\
APPERCEP'TION, n. [ad a.nA perception.]
Perception that reflects upon itself; con-
sciousness. Leibnitz. Reid.
APPER'IL, n. Peril ; danger. [.Yot in use.]
Shak.
APPERTA'IN, v.i. [Fr. apparienir ; It.
appartenere ; L. ad and pertineo, to per-
tain, otper and teneo, to hold. Pertineo is
to reach to, to extend to, hence to belong.
See Tenant.]
To belong, whether by right, nature or ap-
pointment.
Give it to him to whom it appertaineth.
Lev. vi.
[See Pertain.]
APPERTAINING,™. Belonging.
A.PPERTA'INMENT, n. That which be-
longs. ■ Shak.
'VPPER'TENENCE,n. [fiee Appurtenance.]
APPER'TINENT, a. Belonging ; now writ-
ten appurtenant. Shak.
APPER'TINENT, n. That which belongs
to something else. 06s. Shak.
[See Appurtenance.]
AP'PETENCE, I [L. appetentia, appetens,
AP'PETENCY, S from appeto, to desire
of ad and peto, to ask, supplicate or seek
Ch.B"3; Eth. <t1"(D to desire, to iiitreat ;
Dan. beder ; D. bidden ; Ger. Mtten ; Arm.
pidi ; Eng. bid ; Sax. bidan ; Sw. bedja ;
L. invito, compound. Tlie primary sense
is to sti-ain, to urge or press, or to advance.
See Bid. Class Bd.]
1. In a general sense, desire ; but especially,
2. The ,li>|MrirM/n ''-l''n,i''!',',','/'.'riM,,lies to
select ,-111.1 mil. ill.' -n.h |...rii..iis of matter
as sorM- In >ii|i|Hirt ,111.1 II -ish them, or
such partiilcs us are designed, through
their agency, to carry on the animal or
vegetable economy.
These lactcals have mouth.s, and by animal
selection or appetency, they absorb such part of
the fluid a-s is agreeable to their palate.
Darwin.
3. An inclination or propensity in animals to
perform certain actions, as in the young
to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into wa-
ter and to swim.
4. According to Darwin, animal appetency
is synonymous with irritabihty or seii.si-
bility ; as the appetency of tlie eye for
light, of the paps to secrete milk, &(r.
.5. Attraction, or the tendency in bodies to
move toward each other and unite.
Copernicus^
AP'PETENT, a. Desiring ; very desirous.
Buck.
APPETIBIL'ITY, n. The .^tiality of bemg
desirable for gratification.
AP'PETIBLE, a. [Low L. appetibilis, from
appeto.] Desirable ; that may be the object
of sensual desire.
AP'PETITE, n. [L. appelitus, from appeto.
See Appetence.]
1. The natural desire of pleasure or good ;
the desire of gratification, either of the
body or of the mind. Appetites are pas-
sions directed to general objects, as the
appetite for fame, glory or riches ; in dis-
tinction from passions directed to some
particular objects, which retain their
proper name, as the passion of love, envy
or gratitude. Passion does not exist with-
out an object ; natural appetites exist first,
and are then directed to objects. Encyc.
2. A desire of food or drink ; a painful sen-
sation occasioned by hunger or thirst.
3. Strong desire ; eagerness or longing.
Clarendon.
4. The thing desired.
Power being the natural appetite of princes.
Swift.
Appetites are natural or artificial. Hun-
ger and thirst are natural appetites ; the
appetites for olives, tobacco, snuff, &c.
are artificial.
In old authors, appetite is followed by to,
but regularly it should be followed by
for before the object, as an appetite for
pleasure.
To be given to appetite, is to be voracious
or gluttonous. Prov. xxiii. 2.
APPETI'TION, n. [L. appetilio.] Desire.
[Rarebj used.]
AP'PE'flTIVE, a. That desires ; that has
the quality of desiring gratification ; as ap-
petitive power or faculty. Hale.
AP'PIAN, a. Designating something that
belongs to Appius, partictdarly a way from
Rome through Capua to Brimdusiuni, now
Brindisi, constructed by Appius Claudius,
A. R. 44L It is more than 3.30 miles in
length, formed of hard stone squared, and
so wide as to admit two carriages abreast.
Livy. Lemprierc,
A P P
APPLAUD', t).<. [L.applaudo; adanAplau
do, to make a noise by clapping the hands
Sp. aplaudir ; It. applaudire ; Fr. applau
dir. This word is formed on the root of
laus, laudo ; Eng. loud ; W. clod, praise, from
Hod, what is forcibly uttered ; llodi, to readi
out ; from llaiod, that shoots out. It coin-
cides also with W. Woez, a shout, or out-
cry ; bloeziaw, to shout ; blozest, applause,
acclamation. Ir. blaodh, a shout ; btath,
praise. These may all be of one family
Class L d. See Loud.]
1. To praise by clapping the hands, accla-
mation, or other significant sign.
2. To praise by words, actions or other
means ; to express approbation of ; to
commend ; used in a general sense. Pope.
APPLAUD'ED,p/». Praised by acclamation,
or other means ; commended.
APPLAUD'ER, n. One who praises or com-
mends.
APPLAUDING, ppr. Praising by acclama-
tion ; commending.
APPLAUSE', n. s as z. [L. applausus.]
A shout of approbation ; ai)probation and
praise, expressed by clapping tlie hands,
acclamation or huzzas; approbation ex-
pressed. In antiquity, applause differed
fi-om acdanialion ; applause was expressed
by the hands, and acclamation by the
voice. There were three species of ap-
plause, the bombus, a confused din made
by the hands or mouth ; the imbrices and
festce, made by beating a sort of soundin"
vessels in the theaters. Persons were ap-
pointed for the purpose of applauding, and
masters were emiiloyed to teach the art.
The applauders were divided into choru,ses,
and placed opposite to each other, like the
choristers in a cathedral. Encyc.
APPLAU'SIVE, a. Applauding ; containing
applause. Jonson.
AP'PLE, n. [Sax. appl, appil ; D. appel
Ger. apfel ; Dan. (^ble ; Sw. aple ; W. aval
Ir. abhal or ubhal ; Arm. aval ; Russ
iabloko, or yabloko. This word primarily
.signifies fruit in general, especially of
round form. In Pers. tlie same word
J>fl. J ], pronounced ubhul, signifies the fruit
or berries of the savin or jimiper. Castle.
In Welsh, it signifies not only the apple,
but the plum and other fruits. Lhiiyd.
Aval melynhir, a lemon ; aval euraid, an
orange. Owen.]
1. The fruit of the apple tree, [pyrus nialus,]
from which cider is made.
2. The (wple of the eye is the pupil.
,/}pple of love, or love apple, tlie tomato,
or lycopei'sicuni, a species of Solanum.
The stalk is herbaceous, with oval, pin
nated leaves, and small yellow flowers
The berry is smooth, soft, of a yellow or
reddish color, of the size of a plum. It is
used in soups and broths. Encyc.
AP'PLE, V. t. To form like an apple.
Marshal.
AP'PLE-GRAFT, n. A scion of the apple-
tree engrafted.
AP'PLE-HARVEST, n. The gathering of
ajiples, or the time of gathering.
AP'PLE-PIE, n. A pie made of apples
stewed or baked, inclosed in paste, or cov
ered with paste, as in England.
A P P
AP'PLE-SAUCE, n. A sauce made of stew-
ed apples.
AP'PLE-TART, n. A tart made of apples
baked on paste.
AP'PLE-TREE, n. A tree arranged by Linnc
under the genus pyrus. Tlie fruit of this
tree is indefinitely various. TJie crab ai>ple
is supposed to be the original kind, from
which all others have sprung. New va-
rieties are springing annually froin the
seeds.
AP'PLE- WOMAN, n. A woman who sells
apples and other fruit.
AP'PLE-YARD, n. An orchard ; an inci-
sure for apples.
APPLI'ABLE, a. [See Apply.] That may
be applied. This word is superseded by
applicable.
APPLI'ANCE, n. The act of applymg, or
thing applied. Obs. Shak.
APPLI€ABIL'ITY, n. [See Apply.] The
quaUty of being applicable, or fit to be
applied.
AP'PLI€ABLE, a. That may be apphed,
fit to be applied, as related to a thing ; that
may have relation to something else ; as,
this observation is applicable to the case
under consideration.
\P'PLI€ABLENESS, n. Fitness to be ap
plied; the quahty of being applicable.
AP'PLI€ABLY, adv. In such a manner that
it may be applied.
AP'PLicANT, n. One who applies; one
who makes request ; a petitioner.
The applicant for a cup of water declares
himself to be the Messias. Plumtree.
The court require the applicant to appear in
person. Z. Swift
AP'PLl€ATE,n. A right line drawn across
a curve, so as to be bisected by the diam-
eter ; an ordinate. Cyc.
AP'PLI€ATE-ORDINATE. A right hne
at right angles appUed to the axis of any
conic section, and bounded by the curve.
Bailey.
APPLI€A'TI0N, n. [L. applicatio. See
1. The act of laying on ; as the application
of emollients to a diseased limb,
2. The tiling applied ; as, the pain was
abated by the application.
3. The act of making request or soliciting
as, he made application to a court of clian-
cery.
4. The act of applymg as means ; the em
ployment of means ; as, children may be
governed by a suitable application of re-
wards and punislunents. This is the first
signification directed to moral objects.
5. The act of fixing the mind ; intenseness
oftliouiiht; cliisc study; attention; as, to
injuri' till- licMJih by application to study.
' H;ul Ills iiiiiili<idi(i)i been equal to his talents,
his pio<;rcss luiglit liave been greater.
/. Jay
6. The act of directing or referring some-
thing to a particular case, to discover oi
illustrate the agreement or disagreement
as, I make the remark and leave you to
make the application.
7. In theology, the act by which the merits of
Christ are transferretl to man, for h
tification.
a In geometry, a division for applying one
quantity to another, whose areas, but not
figin-es, shall be tlie same ; or the transfer-
A P P
ring a given line into a circle or other
figure, so that its ends shall be in the peri-
meter of the figure. Encyc.
9. In sermons, that part of the discourse, in
which the principles before laid down and
illustrated, are applied to practical uses.
APPLICATIVE, a. That apphes.
Bramhall.
AP'PLIeATORY, a. That includes the act of
applyins. Edwards^ Hist, of Redemption^
AP'PLIeATORY, n. That which appUes.
Taylor.
APPLIED, pp. Put on; put to : directed:
employed.
APPLI'JEDLY, adv. In a manner which
niav be applied. [Ao< in use.] Montagu.
APPLI'ER, n. One that appUes.
APPLI'MENT,n. Application. [J^otinuse.]
Marslon.
APPLY', V. t. [L. applico, of ad and plico, to
fold or knit together ; Fr. avpliquer ; Sp.
aplicar ; It. applicare ; W. plegy, to bend
or fold ; Arm. plega, to fold or plait ; pleca,
a fold ; Gr. rfKixu, to knit, or twist ; Sax.
plegan, plegian, pleggan, to play, to bend
to or apply, incumbere ; Dan. Jliig, a fold ;
D. plooi, a fold ; ploojen, to plait ; Eng.
ply, display, and employ. The word plegy,
plico, is formed from the root of lay. Sax.
lecgan. The sense then is to lay to ; and
it is worthy of remark, that we use lay to
in the precise sense of ply and apply. It
is certain from the Welsh that the first
consonant is a prefix.]
1. To lay on ; to put one thing to another ;
as, to apply the hand to the breast ; to
apply medicaments to a diseased part of
the body.
2. To use or employ for a particular pur-
3se, or in a particular case ; as, to apply
sum of money to the payment of a debt.
3. To put, refer or use, as suitable or rela-
tive to something ; as, to apply the testi-
mony to the case.
4. To fix the mind ; to engage and employ
with attention ; as, apply thy heart to in-
struction. Proverbs.
5. To address or direct ; as, " Sacred vows
applied to Pluto." Pope.
G. To betake ; to give the chief part of time
and attention ; as, to apply one's self to
the study of botany. This is essentially
the fourth sense.
7. To make application ; to have recourse
by request ; as, to apply one's self to a
counsellor for advice. This is generally
used intransitively ; as, to apply to a coun-
sellor.
8. To busy ; to keep at work ; to ply. Obs.
Sidney. Spenser.
[Superseded by ply, wliich see.]
APPLY', V. i. To suit ; to agree ; to have
some connection, agreement or analogy ;
as, this argument applies well to the case.
2. To make request ; to solicit ; to have re-
course, with a view to gain something ; as,
to apply to the president for an office ; I
applied' to a friend for information.
APPLY'ING, ppr. Laying on ; nialdng ap-
plication.
APPOINT', V. t. [Fr. appointer, to refer, to
give an allowamr ; Hp. npimlar, to point
or aim, to shai|irii, to faslcii as with
points or nails: \{. nppnnldn, to fix, ap-
point or sharpni. Sn- I'oinl.]
1. To fix ; to settle ; to establish ; to make fast.
A P P
A P P
A P P
When he appointed the foundation') of tlic
earth. Prov. viii.
% To constitute, ordain, or fix by decree,
order or decision.
Let Pharaoh appoint officers over the land
Gen. xli.
He hath appoinied a day in which he will
judge the world. Acts xvii.
'!. To allot, assign or designate.
Aaron and liis sons shall appoint every one|
to his service. Num. iv.
These cities were appointed for all the chil-
dren of Israel. Josh. xx.
4. To purpose or resolve ; to fix the inten-
tion.
For so he had appointed. Actsxx.
.1. To ordain, command or order.
Thy servants are ready to do whatever my
Lord the King shall appoint. 2 Sam. xv.
G. To settle ; to fix, name or determine by
agreement; as, tlicy appointed a time and
place for the meeting.
APPOINT' ABLE, a. That maybe appointed
or constituted ; as, officers are nppoinlahU
by the Executive. Federalist, Madison.
APPOINT'ED, pp. Fixed ; set ; established :
decreed ; ordained ; constituted ; allotted.
2. Furnished ; equipped with things neces-
sary ; as, a ship or an army is well ap-
pointed.
APPOINTEE', 71. A person appointed,
"The commission authorizes them to make
appointments, and pay the appointees."
Circular of Mass. Representatives, 1768; )
also, ffheaton's Reports. ^
"J. A foot soldier in the French army, who,
for long service and bravery, receives more
pay than other privates. JEncyc. Bailey.
APPOINT'ER, Ji. Ono who ajjpoints.
APPOINT'ING, ppr. Settmg ; fixing ; or-
daining ; constituting ; assigning.
APPOINT'MENT, ji. The act of" appoint-
ing ; designation to office ; as, he erred by
tlie appointment of unsuitable men.
9. Stipulation ; assignation ; the act of fixing
by mutual agreement ; as, they made an
appointment to meet at six o'clock,
rt. Decree ; established order or constitution ;
as, it is our duty to submit to the divine
appointments.
4. Direction ; order; command.
Wheat, salt, wine and oil, let it be givec
according to tlie appointment of tlie priests,
Ez. vi.
."). Equipment, furniture, as for a ship, or an
army ; whatever is appointed lor use and
management.
0. An allowance to a person ; a salary or
pension, as to a pubhc officer.
An appointment differs from wages, in
being a special grant, or gratification, not
iixed, whereas wages are fixed and ordi-
nary. Encyc.
7. A devise or grant to a charitahle use.
Blackstone.
APPO'RTER, n. [Fr. apporfer ; h. porta.]
A bniigeriii ; one that brings into the coun-
trv. [JVot in use..] Hale.
.\l>PO'RTION, V. t. [L. ad and portio, por
tiun. See Portion and Part.]
Til divide and assign in just proportion; to
ilistribute among two or more, a just part
cir share to each; as, to apportion undivided
riixhts; to apportion time among various
employments.
APPO'RTIONED, pp. Divided ; set out
assigned in suitable parts or shares.
Vol. I.
APPO'RTIONER, n. One that apportion;
.APPO'RTIONING, ppr. Setting out in just
proportions or shares.
.M'PO'RTIONMENT, n. The act of appor
tioinng ; a dividing into just proportions or
shares ; a diviiUng and assigning to each
jiroprietor liis just portion of an undivided
right or property.
Hamilton, Rep. Feb. M, 179.3.
.XPPO'SE, I', t. s as 2. [Fr. apposer, to set
to ; L. appono. See Jlpposile.]
. To put questions ; to examuie. [See Pose.]
Bacon.
2. To apply. Harvey.
APPO'SER, n. An examiner ; ono whose
business is to put questions. In the En-
glish Court of Exchequer there is an offi-
cer called the Ibreign apposer. This is
ordinarily pronounced Boser. Encyc.
.•VP'POSITE, a. s as z. [L. appositus, set or
put to, from appono, of ad and pono, U
put or place.]
Suitable ; fit ; very applicable ; well adapt
ed ; followed by to ; as, this argument is
verv apposite to the case.
.\P'POSITELY, adv. Suitably ; fitly ; prop-
erlv. Harvey.
AP'POSITENESS, n. Fitness ; propriety
suitableness. Hale
,\PPOSl"TION, n. The act of adding to
addition ; a setting to.
By the apposition of new matter. Arbuthnot
2. In Grammar, the placing of two nouns, in
the same case, without a connecting word
between them ; as, I admire Cicero, t
orator. In this ease, the second noun c
plains or characterizes the first.
•\PPRA'ISE, V. t. [Fr. appreder ; Sp. op
ciar ; It. apprezzare, to set a value ; fi-om
L. ad and pretium, price. See Price and
Appreciate.]
This word is written and often pronounced
after the French and Italian manner. But
generally it is pronounced more correctly
apprize, directly from the D.prys
Eng. price or prize. [See Appri:
W.pris;
To set a value ; to estimate the worth, par-
ticularly by persons appointed for the
purpose.
,\PPRA'ISEMENT, n. The act of setting
the value ; a valuation. [See Apprize
ment.]
APPRA'ISER, ?i. One who values; appro
priately a person appointed and sworn to
estimate and fix the value of goods and
estate. [See Apprizer.]
PPRE'CIABLE, a. ,
APPRE'CIABLE, a. apprhhable. {See Ap-
preciate.]
. That may be appreciated ; valuable.
Encyc
3. That may be estimated ; capable of being
duly estimated.
APPRE'CIATE, r. f. appreshate. [Fr.ap
precier, to set a value ; L. ad and pretium,
value, price ; D. prys ; W. pris ; Ger. preis.
See Pncf.]
To value ; to set a price or value on ; to
estimate ; as, we seldom sufficiently appre-
ciate the advantages we enjoy.
2. To raise the value of.
Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the
Dney. Sainsay.
APPRE'CIATE, V. i. To rise in value ; to
become of more value ; as, the coin of the
country appreciates ; public securities ap-
preciated, w-lien the debt was funded.
12
APPRE'CIATED,p;j. Valued; prized; cs-
tiniainl ; ;i(lv;iiic((| in value.
.\Pl'Ki; y'\ wise, ppr. Setting a value on ;
esiiin.-itiii;: ; n>u\'j. in value.
APPRKCI.A TION, n. A setting a value on;
a jiL'it valuation or estimate of merit,
weight, or any moral consideration.
lVa.Mngton's Inaug. Speech, Apr. .30, 1789.
2. A risuig in value; increase of worth or
value. Marshal, L. of Washington.
Hamilton's Report. Feb. 13, 1793.
APPREHEND', v. t. [L. apprehendo, of ad
and prehendo, to take or seize ; Sax. hen-
dan or lienlun.]
1. To take or seize ; to take hold of. In this
hteral sense, it is apj>lied chiefly to taking
or arresting persons by legal process, or
with a view to trial ; as to apprehend a
thief.
2. To take with the understanding, that is,
to conceive in the mind ; to understand,
without passing a judgment, or making
an inference.
I apprehend not why so many and various
laws are given. Milton.
3. To think ; to believe or be of opinion, but
without positive certainty ; as, all this is
true, but we apprehend it is not to the
purpose.
Notwithstanding this declaration, we do not
apprehend that we are guilty of presumption.
Encyc. Art. Metaphysics.
4. To fear ; to entertain suspicion or fear of
future evil ; as, we apprehend calamities
from a feeble or wicked administration.
VPPREHEND'ED, pp. Taken ; seized ;
arrested; conceivecl; understood; feared.
APPREHEND ER, «. One who takes; one
who conceives in his mind ; one who
fears.
APPREHENDING, ppr. Seizing ; taking ;
conceiving; understanding; fearing.
APPREHEN'SIBLE, a. f hat may be ap-
prehended or conceived.
APPREHENSION, n. The act of taking or
an-esting ; as, the felon, after his appre-
hension, escaped.
2. The mere contemplation of things with-
out affirming, denying, or passing any
judgment ; the operation of the mind in
contemplating ideas, without comparing
them with others, or referring them to ex-
ternal objects ; simple intellection.
If'atts. Glanville. Encyc.
An inadequate or imperfect idea, as when
the word is applied to our knowledge of
God. Encyc.
Opinion ; conception ; sentiments. In
this sense, the word often denotes a beUef,
founded on sufficient evidence to give pre-
ponderation to the mind, but insuiScient
to induce certainty.
To be false, and to be thought false, is all one,
in respect of men, who act not according to
truth, but apprehension. South.
In our apprehension, the facts prove the
issue.
5. The faculty by which new ideas are con-
ceived ; as, a man of dull apprehension.
6. Fear ; suspicion ; the prospect of future
evil, accompanied with imeasiness of
mind.
Claudius was in no small apprehension for
his own life. Addison.
APPREHEN'SIVE, a. Quick to under-
stand : as, an apprehensive scholar.
Holder. South.
A P P
A P P
A P P
2. Fearful ; in expectation of evil ; as, we
were apprehensive of fatal consequences,
[This IS the usual sense of the word.^
3. Suspicious ; inclined to believe ; as, I am
apprehensive he does not understand me
4. Sensible; feeling; perceptive. [Rnrdy
used.] Milton
APPREHEN'SIVELY, adv. In an appre
liensive manner.
APPREHEN'SIVENESS, n. The quality
of being apprehensive ; readiness to under
stand; fearfulness.
APPREN'TICE, n. [Fr. apprenti, an aj)
prentice, from apprendre, to learn ; L. ap
prehendo. See Apprehend.}
\. One who is bound by covoiant to serve a
mechanic, or other person, for a certain
time, with a view to learn his art, mystery
or occupation, in which his master is
bound to instruct him. Apprentices are
regularly bound by indentures.
Blackstone.
2. In old law books, a barrister ; a learner of
law. Blackstone.
APPREN'TICE, V. t. To bind to, or put
under the care of a master, for the purpos(
of instruction in the luiowledge of a trade
or business.
APPREN'TICEHOOD, n. Apprenticeship
[J\rot used.] Skat
APPRENTICESHIP, n. The term for
which an apprentice is bound to serve hii
master. This term in England is by stat
nte seven years. In Paris, the term is five
years ; after which, the person, before he
is quaUfied to exercise the trade as a mas-
ter, must serve five years as a journeyman
during which tenn, he is called the com
panion of his master, and the term is called
his companionship. Enci/c.
3. The service, state or condition of an ap-
prentice ; a state in which a person is gain-
ing instruction under a master.
APPREN'TISAGE, n. Apprenticeship. [.Wot
in use.] Bacon.
APPREST', a. [ad and pressed.]
In botany, pressed close ; lying near the stem ;
or applying its upper sin-fuce to the stem,
Maiiyn. Ed. Encyc
APPRI'SE, v. t. s as z. [Fr. appris, partici-
ple ot apprendre, to learn, or inform. See
Jlpprehend.]
To inform ; to give notice, verbal or written
followed by of; as, we will apprise the
general of an intended attack ; he ap-
prised the connnander of what he had
done.
APPRI'SED,;);?. Informed; having notic(
or knowledge communicated.
APPRI'SING, ppr. Informing; communi
eating notice to.
APPRI'ZE, V. t. [This word is usually writ
ten appraise, as if deduced from the Italian
apprezzare. There is no other word, from
which it can regularly be formed ; the
French apprecier, being recognized in ap-
preciate. But apprize, the word generally
used, is regularly formed, with ad, from
price, prize; D.prys; Ger.preis; W.^ri«;|
or from the Fr. priser, to prize, and this is
the more correct orthography.]
To value ; to set a value, in pursuance ol
authority. It is generally used for the act
of valuing by men appointed for the pur-
pose, inider direction of law, or by agree-
ment of ])arties ; as, to apprize the goods
and estate of a deceased person. The pri-
vate act of valuing is ordinarily expressed
bv prize.
APPRI'ZED, pp. Valued ; having the worth
fixed by authorized persons.
APPRI'ZEMENT, n. Tlie act of setting a
value under some authority or appoint-
ment ; a valuation.
Statutes of Conn. Blackstone.
2. The rate at which a thing is valued ; the
value fixed, or valuation ; as, he purchas-
ed the article at the apprizement
APPRI'ZER, n. A person appointed to rate,
or set a value on articles. When appri;
act under the authority of law, they must
be sworn.
APPRI'ZING, ppr. Ratuig ; setting a value
under authority
APPRI'ZING, n. The act of valuing under
authority.
APPROACH, V. i. [Fr. approcher, from
proche, near. The Latin proximus con-
tains the root, but the word, in the positive
degree, is not found ui the Latin. It '
from a root in class Brg, signifying to
drive, move, or press toward.]
1. To come or go near, in place ; to draw
near ; to advance nearer.
Wherefore approached ye so nigh the city ?
2 Sam. xi
2. To draw near in time.
And so much the more as ye see the day ap
proach. Heb. x.
3. To draw near, in a figurative sense ; tf
advance near to a point aimed at, in sci-
ence, literature, government, morals, &c.
to approximate ; as, he approaches to the
character of the ablest statesman.
4. To draw near in duty, as in prayer or
worship.
They take deliglit in approaching to God.
Isaiali.
APPROACH, V. f. To come near to ;
Pope approaches Virgil in smoothness of]
versification. This use of the word
elhptical, to being omitted, so that the
verb can hardly be said to be transitiv
The old use of the word, as " approach the
hand to the handle," is not legitimate,
2. To have access carnally. Lev. xviii.
3. In gardening, to ingraft a sprig or shoot
of one tree into another, without cutting
it from the parent stock. Encyc.
APPROACH, n. The act of drawing near
a coming or advancing near ; as, he was
apprised of the enemy's approach.
2. Access ; as, the approach to kings.
Bacon
3. In fortification, not only the advances of
an army are called approaches, but the
works thrown up by the besiegers, to pro-
tect them in their advances towards a
fortress.
APPROACHABLE, a. That may be ap
proached ; accessible.
APPROACHER, n. One who approaches
or draws near
APPROACHMENT, n. The act of coming
[Little used.] Brown
AP'PROBATE, a. [L. approbatus.] Appro-
ved. Elyot.
AP'PROBATE, V. t. [L. approbo, to approve,
of ad and probo, to prove or approve
probate is a modern word, but
use in America. It differs from approve.
denoting not only the act of the mind, bin
an expression of the act. See Proof, Ap-
prove and Prove.]
To express api)robation of ; to manifest a
liking, or degree of satisfaction ; to express
approbation oflicially, as of one's fitness
for a pubUc trust.
Mr. Hutchinson approbated the choice.
/. Eliot.
APPROBATED, pp. Approved ; com-
mended.
APPROBATING, ppr. Expressing appro-
bation of.
APPROBATION, n. [L. approbatio. See
Proof and Prove.]
The act of approving ; a liking ; that state
or disposition of the mind, in which we
assent to the j)ropriety of a thing, with
some degree of pleasure or satisfaction ;
as, the laws of God require our approba-
tion.
2. Attestation ; support ; that is, active ap-
probation, or action, in favor of what is
approved. Shak.
The commendation of a book licensed or
permitted to be published by authority, as
was formerly the case in England.
AP'PROBATiVE, a. Approving ; implying
approbation. MUner.
AP'PROBATORY, a. Containing approba-
tion ; expressing approbation.
Jlsh. Scoti.
APPROMPT', for Pro)npt. [Mt used.]
Bacon.
APPROOF', n. Approval. [ATot used.]
Shak.
APPRO'PERATE, r. <. [h. appropero.] To
hasten. [.\"ot used.]
APPROPIN'QUATE, v. i. [L. appropinquo.]
To draw near. [Mot tised.]
APPROPINQUA'TION,n. A drawing nigh.
[JVot used.[ HaU.
APPROPINQUE, V. i. To approach. [JVW
used.] Hudibras.
APPRO'PRIABLE, a. [From appropriate.]
That may be appropriated ; that may be set
apart, "sequestered, or assigned exclusively
to a particular use. Brown.
APPROPRIATE, V. t. [Fr. approprier, of L.
ad and proprius, private, pecuUar. See
Proper.]
To set apart for, or assign to a particular
use, in exclusion of all other uses ; as, a
spot of ground is appropriated for a
garden.
2. To take to one's self in exclusion of oth-
ers ; to claim or use as by an exclusive
right.
Let no man appropriate the use of a common
benefit.
3. To make peculiar ; as, to appropriate
names to ideas. Locke.
1. To sever an ecclesiastical benefice, and
annex it to a spiritual corporation, sole or
aggregate, being the patron of the living.
Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIATE, a. Belonging peculiarly ;
peculiar ; set apart for a particular use or
person ; as, rehgious worship is an appro-
priate duty to the Creator.
2. Most suitable, fit or proper ; as, to use
appropriate words in pleading.
APPROPRIATED, pp. Assigned to a par-
ticular use ; claimed or used exclusively ;
annexed to an ecclesiastical corporation.
APPRO'PRI.\TENESS, n. PecuUar fit-
A P P
A P P
APT
iiess ; the quality of being appropriate, or
pcriiliarlv suitiible. Med. Ii<p.
APPRO' PRIATING, ppr. Assigning to a
particular person or use ; claiming or using
exclusively ; severing to the perpetual use
of an ecclesiastical corporation.
APPROPRIA'TION, n. The act of seques-
tering, or assigrung to a particular use or
person, in exclusion of all others ; appli-
cation to a special use or purpose ; as, of
a piece of ground, for a park ; of a right,
to one's self; or of words, to ideas.
9. In law, the severing or sequestering of a
benetiie to the perpetual use of a spiritual
corjjoration, sole or aggregate, being the
patron of the living. For this purpose
must be obtained the king's license, the
consent of the bishop and of the patron.
When the appropriation is tlius made, the
appropriator smd his successors become
perpetual parsons of the church, and must
sue and be sued in that name.
Eng. Law. Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIATOR, n. One who appro-
of an appropriated
benefice. " Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIETARY, n. A lay possessor of
the profits of a benefice. Spelman.
APPRbV'ABLE, a. [See Approve.]
That may be approved ; that merits appro-
bation. Temple.
APPROVAL, n. Approbation. [See Ap-
prove.]
APPRoV'ANCE, n. Approbation. [See Ap-
prove.] Tliomson.
.\PPR0VE', V. t. [Fr. approuver ; L. appro-
bo ; of ad and probo, to prove or approve.
See Approbate, Prove and Proof.]
1. To Uke ; to be pleased with ; to admit tlie
propriety of; as, we approve the measures
of administration. This word may in-
clude, with the assent of the mind to the
propriety, a commendation to others.
"J. To prove ; to show to be true ; to justify.
WouWst thou approve thy constancy ? Jip-
prove first thy wisdom. Milton.
[This sense, though common a century or
two ago, is now rare.]
3. To experience ; to prove by trial. [JVbl
tised. See Prove.] Shak.
4. To make or show to be worthy of appro-
bation ; to commend.
Jesus, a man approved of God. Acts ii.
This word seems to include the idea of
Christ's real office, as the Messiah, and of]
God's love and approbation of him in that
_ character. Brown's Did.
5. To like and sustain as right ; to commend.
Yet their posterity approve their sayings.
Ps. xlix.
This word, when it signifies to be pleased,
is often followed by of, in which use, it is
intransitive ; as, I approve of the measure.
But the tendency of modern usage is to
omit of. " I approve the measure."
6. To improve. Blackstone.
APPROV'ED, pp. Liked ; commended :
shown or proved to be worthy of appro-
bation ; ha\-ing the approbation and sup-
port of
God. 2
APPRoVE'MENT, n. Approbation ; liking.l
Haytmrd.'
2. In law, when a person indicted for felony!
or treason, and arraigned, confesses the
fact before plea pleaded, and appeals or]
accuses his accomplices of the same crime,
to obtain his p-ardon, this confession ami
accusation are called approvement, and tin-
person an approver. Blackslom.
•3. Improvement of common lands, by in-
closing and converting them to the uses
of husbandry. Blackstone.^
APPROVER, n. One who approves. For-
merly one who proves or makes trial.
'i. In laiv, one who confesses a crime and
accuses another. [See Approvement.] Al-
so, formerly, one who had the letting ofi
the king's demain.s, in small manors. In]
Stat. 1. Edw. 3. C. 8, sheriffs are called
approvers. A baihff or steward of a manor.
Encyc.
APPRoV'ING, ppr. Liking ; commending ;
giving or expressing approbation.
APPRoV'ING, a. Yielding approbation ;
us an approving conscience.
APPROX'IMANT, a. Approaching. [.Vol
used.] Bering.
APPROXIMATE, a. [h. ad a.m\ prorimus,
next. See Approach.]
Nearest to; next; near to. [This icord is
superseded by proximate.]
APPROX'IMATE, v. t. To carry or ad-
vance near ; to cause to approach.
To approximate the inequality of riches to
the level of nature.
Burke. Aikin. Shenslone
APPROX'IMATE, v. i. To come near; tc
approach. Burke.
APPROXIMATION, n. Approach ; a draw-
ing, moving or advancing near. Hale.
2. In arithmetic and algebra, a continual ap-|
proach or coming nearer and nearer to &■
root or other quantity, without being able
perhaps ever to arrive at it.
Encyc. Johnson.
3. In medicine, communication of disease by
contact. Coxe-
4. A mode of cure by transplanting a dis-
ease into an animal or vegetable by im-
mediate contact. Coxe-
APPROX'IMATIVE, a. Approaching ; that
approaches. Ed. Encyc.
APPULSE, 7^. appuls'. [L. appulsus, of ad
and pello, to drive.]
1. The act of striking against; as, in all con-
sonants there is an appulse of the organs.
Holder.
2. In astronomy, the approach of any planet
to a conjunction with the sun, or a star.
3. Arrival ; landing. Bryant.
APPUL'SION, n. The act of striking against
bv a moving body.
APPUL'SIVE, a. Striking against ; driving
towards ; as, the a/>/>«/*iDe influence of the!
planets. Mtd. Rep.l
APPUR'TENANCE, n. So written for ap-\
peiienence. [Fr. appartenance. See Ap-'
pertain.]
That which belongs to sometliing else ; an
adjimct ; an appendage. Appropriate-!
ly, such buildings, rights and improve-l
ments, as belong to land, are called the ap-\
purtenances ; as small buildings are
ow»Hrten<ince« of a mansion. " I
APPL'R'TENANT, a. Belonging to ; per-i
taining to of right. '
2. In law, common appurtenant is that which
is annexed to land, and can be claimed
only by prescription or immemorial usage,
on a legal presumption of a special grant.
Blackstone.
\ PRICATE, v.i. [Uapricor.]
I'l'ii lia-k in liu! sun. [Little used.] Ray.
L\I'R1C ITV, n. Sunshine. [LUtle used.]'
.V PR HOT, n. Old orthography, apricock.
[W. bricyllen ; Arm. hrigesen ; Fr. abricot,
whence the present orthography. Junius
and Skinner alledge that the Itahans for-
merly wrote the word bericoco, berricoccoti.
At present they write it albicocca, and the
Spaniards albaricoque, which indicate the
word to be Ibrmed of albus and coccus,
white berry ; Sp. albar, white. But apri-
cot seems to be formed from the old or-
thography.]
A fruit belonging to the genus Prunus, of
the plum kind, of an oval figure, and de-
licious taste.
A'PRIL,n. [L. aprUis; Fr. arnZ; Sp. ahril;
Ir. abrail ; Corn. ebrU ; W. eiri«.]
The fnnrth month of the year.
V PRON, n. [h. aprun ; a or ag-, and Celtic
bron, the breast.]
1. A cloth or piece of leather worn on the
forepart of the body, to keep the clothes
clean, or defend them from injury.
2. The fat skin covering the belly of a goose.
Johnson.
3. In gunnery, a flat piece of lead that cov-
ers the vent of a cannon.
4. In ships, a piece of curved timber, just
above the foremost end of the keeL
Mar. Diet.
5. A platform, or flooring of plank, at the
entrance of a dock, on which the dock
gates are shut. Encyc.
A'PRONED, a. Wearing an apron. Pope.
A'PRON-MAN, n. A man who wears an
apron ; a laboring man ; a mechanic.
AP'ROPOS, adv. ap'ropo. [Fr. a and pro-
pos, purpose.]
1. Opportunely; seasonably. Jfarburton.
2. By the way ; to the purpose ; a word
used to introduce an incidental observa-
tion, suited to the occasion, though not
strictly belonging to the narration.
AP'SIS, n. phi. apsides. [Gr. o+i;, comiec-
tion, Iron o«tu, to connect.]
1. Inastronomy, the apsides are the two points
of a planet's orbit, wliich are at the great-
est and least distance from the sim or
earth ; the most distant point is the
aphehon, or apogee ; the least distant, tlie
perihelion or perigee. The line connect-
ing these is called the line of the apsides.
Encyc.
2. Apsis or absis is the arched roof of a
house, room or oven; also the ring or
compass of a wheel.
3. In ecclesiastical writers, an irmer part of a
church, where the altar was placed, and
where the clergy sat, answering to the
choir and standing opposite to the nave.
Also, the bishop's seat or throne in an-
cient churches ; called also eiedra and tri-
bune. This same name was given to a
reliquary or case in which the relics of
saints were kept. Encyc.
\PT, a. [L. aptus, from apto, to fit ; Gr.
orfro, to tie ; Sax. ho'p.]
1. Fit ; suitable ; as, he used very apt meta-
phors.
A a u
A a u
A R A
'i. Having a tendency ; liable ; used of things;]
as, wheat on moist laud is apt to blast or
be winter-ldlled. |
3. Inclined ; disposed customarily ; ustd q/i
persons; as, men are too apt to slander oth-
ers. I
J. Ready; r)uick; used of the mental powers ;\
as, a pujiil apt to learn ; an apt wit.
5. Qualified ; fit. [
All the men of might, strong and apt for.
war. 2Khigsxxiv.
APT, I), t. To fit ; to suit or adapt. Obs. 1
APT' ABLE, a. That may be adapted. [Xot\
used.] Shencood.\
AP'TATE, )'. t. To make fit. [Xot jised.]
pnv
and
Bailey.'
riooi; a
AFTER, in. [G
AP'TERA. ^whig.j I
An insect withuiit wings. The aptera, con-j
.stitiiling tlie seventh order of insects in;
Ijiniii 's" system, comprehend many gene-
ra. But later zoologists have made a very,
different distribution of tliese animals. I
,\P'TERAL, a. [Supra.] Destitute of wings.l
APTITUDE, n. [otaptus, apt.] |
J. A natural or acquired disposition for a
particular piu-pose, or tendency to a par-
ticidar action or effect ; as, oil has an ap-
titude to burn ; men acquire an aptitude toi
particular vices. i
9. Fitness ; suitableness.
8. Aptness ; readiness in learning ; docility.
APT'LY, adv. In an apt or suitable man-:
ner ; with just correspondence of parts 5
fillv ; properly ; justly ; pertinently.
APT'NESS, n. Fitness; suitableness; asj
the aptness of things to their end. I
1. Disposhion of the mind; propensity; as,l
the aptness of men to follow example. [
3. Quickness of apprehension ; readiness in
learning ; docility ; as, an aptness to learnl
is more observable in some children than
in others.
4. Tendency, in things; as, the aptness of
iron to rust.
AP'TOTE, n. [Gr. a priv. and rtfuatj, case.]
In grammar, a noiui which has no variation!
of termination, or distinction of cases; ani
indeclinable noun. |
AP'YREXY, 71. [Gr. a priv. and rtupEOiio, to
be feverish, from rtvp, fire.]
The absence or intermission of fever.
A.P'YROUS, a. [Gr. artupoj, a priv. and Tfiv,
fire.]
Incombustible, or that sustains a strong heat
without alteration of form or properties.
Apijrous bodies differ from those simply re-
tractory. Refractory bodies cannot be fu-
sed by heat, but may be altered. Encye.
A'QUA, n. [L. aqua ; Sp. agua ; Port
ag'oa ; It. acqua, water ; Arm. cagul, U
water, or steep ; Goth, ahwa, water, which
in Saxon is reduced to ea ; G. and D. ei,
in eiland ; Fr. eatt ,• W. gwy or aw ; Ir.
oig or oiche ; Amli. oge.]
Water ; a word much used in pharmacy
and the old chimistry.
Aquafortis, in the old chimistry, is now call-
ed nitric acid.
Aqua marina, a name which jewelers give to
the beryl, on account of its color
Aqua regia, in the old rhunistry, is now call-
ed nitro-muriatic acid.
Aqua vita, brandy, or spirit of wine.
AQUA'RIAN, n'. One of a sect of chris
tians. iu the )irhmtive church, who consc
crated water in the eucharisl instead of
wine ; either under a pretense of absti-
nence, or because it was unlawfiil to drink
wine. Encyc.
AQUA'RIUS, n. [L.] The water bearer ; a
sign in the zodiac wliich the sun enters
aliout the 21st of January ; so called from
the rains which prevail at that season, in It-
aly and the East. The stars in this constel-
lation, according to Ptolemy, are 45 ; ac-
cording to Tycho Brahe, 41 ; according to
Ilevelius, 47 ; and according to Flamstead,
108.
VQUATT€, a. [L. aquaticus. See Aqua.]
Pertaining to water ; apphed to animals
which live ui water, as fishes ; or to such
as frequent it, as aquatic fowls ; applied to
plants, it denotes such as grow in water.
Aquatical is rarely used.
AQUAT'Ie, n. A plant which grows in wa-
ter, as the flag.
AQ'UATILE, a. That iidiabits the water.
[Rarely used.] Brown.
AQUA'TINT'A, n. [aqua, water, and It.
tiiita, dye. See Tincture.]
.\. method of etchuig on copper, by wliich a
beautiful eflect is produced, resembling a
fine drawuig in water colors or Indian ink.
This is performed with a powder of as-
phalt and fine transparent rosin sifted on
the plate, which is a httle greased ; the
loose powder being shaken off, the plate
is heated over a chafing dish ; and when
cool, the light places on the plate are cov-
ered with a hair pencil, dipped in tuqien-
tine varnish mixed with ivory black. A
rim is then raised with bees wax, and re-
duced mtrous acid is poured on, and suf-
fered to stand five minutes ; then poured
oft', and the plate dried. This process
with the pencil and the aqua fortis is to be
repeated till the darkest shades are pro-
duced. Encyc.
AQ'UEDUeT, 71. [L. aqua, water, and duc-
tus, a pipe or canal, from duco, to lead.
See Duke.]
A structure made for conveying water from
one place to another over uneven ground ;
either above or under the surface. It
may be either a pipe or a channel. It may
be constructed above ground of stone or
wood ; carried through hills by piercing
them, and over valleys, by a structure sup-
ported by props or arches. Some have
been formed with three conduits on the
same hue, elevated one above another.
En/yc.
rV'QUEOUS, a. Watery; partaking of the
nature of water, or abounding with it.
A'QUEOUSNESS, n. The quahty of being
watery ; waterishness ; wateriness.
AQ'UILA, 71. [L., whence aquilinus ; from
the Oriental Spy, to be crooked. This
fowl is probably named from its curving
beak.]
In ornithology, the eagle. Also, a nonhern
constellation containing, according to the
British catalogue, 71 stars. Encyc.
AQ'UILINE, a. [L. aquilinus. See Aqu'
la.]
1. Belonging to the eagle.
'2. C'urving ; hooked ; prominent, like the
lnak of an eagle.
AQTILON, 71. [h.aqu!lo.]
The norlh wind. Shak.
AQUITA'NIAN, a. Pertaining to Aquita-
nia, one of the great divisions of Gaul,
which, according to Cesar, lay between
the Garonne, the Pyrenees and the Ocean.
In modern days, it has been called Gas-
cony. The inhabitants, in Cesar's time,
spoke a different dialect fi-om that of the
proper Celts, between the Garonne and
Seine. This dialect bore an affinity to
the Basque, in Biscay, to which they were
contiguous; and some remains of it still
exist in the Gascon. Aquitania is the
country of the Aqui; from the name of the
people, with tan, a Celtic word, signify mg
region or country. The Romans, either
fi'om their general usage, or from not un-
derstanding the Celtic tan, amiexed an-
other termination signifying coinitry, ia,
the Ir. ai or aoi, Heb. 'x ai, a settlement
or habitation ; Gr. ata, land, comitry ;
Hindu, eya, the same.
Cesar, Com. Lib. i. 1. D'AnvUle.
A. R. stand for a/i)io regni, the year of the
king's reign ; as A. R. G. R. 20, in thf
20th year of the reign of kmg George.
ARABESQUE,? .« o t.- ^
ARABESK'Y, I "■ ^S^^ Arabian.]
1. In the manner of the Arabians ; applied
to ornaments consisting of imaginary fo-
liage, stalks, plants, &c., in which there
are no figures of animals. Encyc.
2. The Arabic language. [JVot in ztse.]
Guthrie^
ARA'BIAN, a. [See the noun.] Pertauiing
to Arabia.
ARA'BIAN, n. [Arab denotes a wanderer,
or a dweller in a desert.]
A native of Arabia ; an Arab.
AR'ABI€, a. Belonging to Arabia, or the
language of its inhabitants.
\R'ABI€, 71. The language of the Arabi-
ans.
ARAB'ICALLY, adv. In the Arabian man-
ner.
AR'ABISM, n. An Arabic idiom or pecul-
iarity of language. Encyc. Stuart.
AR'ABIST, n. One well versed in Arabic
literature. Encyc.
AR'ABLE, a. [L. aro, Gr. opoo, to plow ;
Ir. araiyn.]
Fit for plowing or tillage ; hence often ap-
plied to land which has been plowed.
AR'ABY, 71. Arabia. Milton.
ARA€H'NOID, a. [Gr. apa;i:i'77, a spider, and
f 1805, form ; Heb. jns, to weave, that is, to
stretch, to draw out ; Eng. reach.]
In anatomy, the arachnoid tunic, or arach-
noid, is a seinitransparent thin membrane
which is spread over the brain and pia-
mater, and for the most part closely con-
nected with the latter. The term has also
been apphed to that capsule of the crysta-
liue lens, which is a continuation of the
hyaloid membrane. Cyc.
ARA€H'N01D, n. A species of madrepore
found fossil. Cyc.
ARA€HO'SIAN, a. Designating a chain of
mountains which divide Persia fi-om In-
dia. As. Researches.
ARAIGNEE'orARRA'IGN,7i. ardin. [Fr.
a spider.]
In fortification, the branch, return or gallery
of a mine. Bailey.
ARA'ISE, V. t. To raise. [Mt used.]
A R D
A R B
ARC
ARAME'AN, a. Pertaining to Aram, a i
of Sheni, or to the Clialdeans.
VR'AMISM, n. An idiom of the Aramean
or Chaldee language ; a Chaldaism.
ARA'NEOUS, o. [L. aranea, a spider, or
cobweb.]
Resembling a cobweb.
ARAU€A'NIAN, a. Pertaining to the Arau
cauians, a tribe of aboriginals, inhabiting
Arauco, in Chili. Molina.
.VRBALIST, n. [From arcus, a bow, and
balista, L., an engine to throw stones ;
Gr. lia^u), to throw.]
A cross-bow. This consists of a steel bow
set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a
string and a trigger ; and is bent with a
piece of iron. It serves to throw bullets,
darts, arrows, &.c. Encyc.
ARBALISTER, n. A cross-bowman.
Speed.
ARBITER, n. [L.] A person appointed, or
chosen by parties in controversy, to de-
cide their differences. This is its sense in
the civil law. In modern usage, arbitra-
tor is the techjiical Avord.
a. In a general sense, notv most common, a
person who has the power of judg'ing and
determining, without control ; one whose
power of deciding and governing is not
limited.
3. One that commands the destiny, or holds
the empire of a nation or slate. Mitford.
'ARBITRABLE, a. Arbitrary ; depending
on the will. Spelman.
ARBITRAMENT, n. Will ; determuiation ;
Milton.
2. The award of arbitrators. Coivel. In
this sense award is more generally used.
^ARBITRARILY, adv. By will only ; des-
potically ; absolutely.
'ARBITRARINESS, n. The quality of be-
ing arbitrary ; despoticalness ; tyranny.
Temple.
ARBITRA'RIOUS, a. Arbitrary ; despotic.
[J^/ot used.] Mirris. More.
ARBITRA'RIOUSLY, adv. Arbitiarily.
rjVo< used.] Glanville.
ARBITRARY, a. [L. arbitrarius.]
1. Depending on will or discretion ; not gov
erned by any fixed rules ; as, an arbitrary
decision ; an arbitrary punishment.
.Arbitrary power is most easily established on
the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
Washington.
a. Despotic ; absolute in power ; having no
external control ; as, an arbitrary prince
or government.
'ARBITRATE, v. i. [L. arbitror.]
'J'o hear and decide, as arbitrators ; as, to
choose men to arbitrate between us.
'ARBITRATE, v. t. To decide; to deter-
mine ; to judge of. MUton. Shak.
ARBITRA'TION, 71. The heaiuig and de-
termination of a cause between parties in
controversy, by a person or persons cho-
sen by the parties. This may be done by
one person ; but it is usual to chuse two
or three ; or for each party to chuse one,
and these to name a third, who is called
the umpire. Their determination is caUed
an award.
2. A hearing before arbitrators, though tliey
make no award. [This is a common use of
the icord in the United States.]
'ARBITRATOR, n. A person cliosen by
party, or by the parties who have a con-
troversy, to determine their differences.
The act of the parties in giving power to
the arbitrators is called the submission, and
this may be verbal or written. The person
chosen as umpire, by two arbitrators,
when the parties do not agree, is also cal-
led an arbitrator.
2. An arbiter, governor, or president.
Milton.
3. In a more extensive sense, an arbiter ; one
who has the power of deciding or prescri-
bing without control. Addison. Shak.
ARBITRESS, n. A female arbiter.
ARBOR, n. [The French express the sense
by berceau, a cradle, an arbor, or bower ;
Sp. emparrado, from parra, a vine raised
on stakes, and nailed to a wall. Q.u. L.
arbor, a tree, and the primary sense.]
1. A frame of lattice work, covered witl
vines, brandies of trees or other plants,
for shade ; a bower.
2. In botany, a tree, as distinguished from
a shrub. The distinction which Linne
makes, that a tree springs up with a bud
on the stem, and a shrub not, is found not
to hold universally ; and the tree, in pop-
ular understanding, differs from tlie shrul:
only in size. .4r6or forms the seventh
family of vegetables in Linne's system,
[See Tree.]
3. In mechanics, the principal part of a ma-
chine, sustaining the rest. Also the axit
or spindle of a machme, as of a crane, ot
win<lmill. Encyc.
This in America is called the shaft.
'ARBORATOR, n. One who plants or who
prunes trees. Evelyn.
ARBO'REOUS, a. [L. arboreus, from arbor.]
Belonging to a tree ; resembling a tree ; con-
stituting a tree ; growing on trees, as
moss is arboreous.
ARBORES'CENCE, n. [L. arboresco, to
grow to a tree.]
The figure of a tree ; the resemblance of
tree in minerals, or crystalizations or
groups of crystals in that form.
ARBORES'CENT, a. Resemhhug a tree ;
having the figure of a tree; dendj-itical
E^icyc.
2. From herbaceous becoming woody.
Marty n.
ARBORES'CENT STAR-FISH, ji. A spe
cies of asterias, called also caput Medu-
sce. [See Starfish.]
'ARBORET, n. [It. arboreto, from «r6or, a
tree.]
A small tree or shrub ; a place planted or
overgrown with trees. Milton.
'ARBORIST, n. One who makes trees his
study, or who is versed in the knowledge
of trees. Howell.
ARBORIZATION, n. The appearance or
figure of a tree or plant in minerals, or
fossils. [See Herborization.]
'ARBORIZE, V. t. To form the appearajice
of a tree or plant in minerals.
'ARBUSCLE, 71. [L. arbusculus, a little tree.]
A dwarf tree, in size between a shrub and
a tree. Bradley.
ARBUSeULAR, a. Resembhng a shrub ;
having the figure of small trees.
Da Costa.
ARBUST'IVE, a. [From arbustum.]
Containing copses of trees or shrubs ; cover-
ed with shrubs. Bartram.
ARBUST'UM, 71. [L. See Arbor.] A copse
of shrubs or trees ; an orchard.
'ARBUTE, 71. [L. arbutus.] The strawberry
tree.
ARBU'TE.'VN, a. Pertaining to the straw-
berry tree. Encyc. Evelyn.
'ARC, n. [L. arcus, a bow, vault or arch ;
arcuo, to bend ; Gr. af>xVt beginning, origin :
apxu, to begin, to be the author or chief;
Fr. arc, arche ; Sp. arco, a bow and an
arch; Pori. id; ll. id; .\rm. goarec. The
(Jrcek word has a different application,
but is probably from the same root as
arcus, from the sense of springing or
stretching, shooting up, rising, which
gives the sense of a vault, or bow, as well
as of chief or head. Heb. jix, to weave;
Syr. ; j to desire or long for ; Ar.
_ \ to emit odor, to diffuse fragrance :
and Ileb. i-y to desire, or long for, to as-
cend; Eth. 0<iT to ascend, to mount ;
Ar. id. The radical sense of all these
roots is, to stretch, strain, reach ; Gr.
opfyu; li.fragro ; and the sense of arch is
from stretching upwards, ascending. From
ore or arch comes the sense of bending,
deviating and cunning.]
In geometry, any part of the circumference
of a circle, or curved line, lying from one
])oint to another ; a segment, or part of a
circle, not more than a semicircle.
Encyc. Johnson.
ARCA'DE, 71. [Fr. from arcus ; Sp. arcada.]
A long or continued arch ; a walk arched
above. Johnson.
-■VReA'DIAN, ) Pertainuig to Arcadia, a
ARCA'DI€, l"' mountainous district in
the heart of the Peloponnesus.
Trans, of Pausanias.
ARCA'DICS, 71. The title of a book m Pau-
sanias, which treats of Arcadia.
Trans. B. 8.
AR€A'NE, a. [L. arcanus.] Hidden, secret.
[N'ot much %tsed.]
Trans, of Pausanias.
AR€A'NUM, 71. [L.] A secret ; generally
used in the plural, arcana, secret things,
mysteries.
ARCBOUTANT, 71. [Fr. arc, and bcnit. See
About, Abutment.] In building, an arched
buttress. Encyc.
ARCH, 71. [See Arc."] A segment or part
of a circle. A concave or hollow struct-
ure of stone or brick, supjiorted by its
own curve. It may be constructed of
wood, and supported by the mechanism
of the work. This species of structure is
much used in britlges.
A vault is ])roperly a broad ai-ch. Encyc.
!. The space between two piers of a bridge,
when arched ; or any place covered with
on arch.
t. Any cur\'aturc, in form of an arch.
4. The vault of heaven, or sky. Sliak.
Triumphal arches are magnificent struc-
tures at the entrance of cities, erected to
adorn a triiunph and perpetuate the mem-
ory of the event.
ARCH, V. t. To cover with an arch ; to
fonn with a curve ; as to arch a gate.
ARCH, V. i. To make an arch or arches;
as, to arch beneath the sand. Pope.
ARC
ARC
ARC
ARCH', a. [It. arcare, to bend, to arch, to
cheat, or deceive, from arco, L. arcus, a
bow ; G. org, cunning, arch, bad ; D. arg,
crafty, roguish ; Sw. Dan. arg, id. The
Teutonic arg, appears to be allied to arch,
and to be the Eiig. rogue. Tliis circum-
stance, and tlie Arm. goarec, [see arc,] in-
dicate that tlie radical letters in arc, arch,
<H>XV> are Rg. The radical sense of bend
is, to strain.]
Cunning ; sly ; shrewd ; waggish ; mischiev-
ous for sport ; mirthful ; as we say in
popular language, roguish ; as an arch
'"ARCH, a. used also in composition. [Gr.
apz°!, chief; Ir. arg, noble, famous.]
Chief ; of the first class ; principal ; as, an
arch deed. Shak.
Shakspeare uses this word as a noun ; " IMy
worthy arch and patrons ;" but the use ih
not authorized.
•ARCHAISM, n. [Gr. opzoto;, ancient, from
<*POT, beginning.]
An ancient or obsolete phrase or expression.
H'atts.
AR€lIAN'(iEL, n. An angel of the liigh-
est order ; an angel occupying the eighth
rank in the celestial hierarchy. Encyc.
2. The name of several plants, as the dead-
nettle, or lamium ; a species of melittis ;
and the galeopsis or hedge-nettle.
AR€HANgELT€, a. Belonging to archan-
ARCHAPOS'TATE, n. A chief apostate.
ARCHAPOS'TLE, n. The chief apostle.
Trapp.
ARCirARCHITECT, n. The supreme ar-
chitect. Sylvester.
ARCHBE'ACON, n. The chief beacon,
place of prospect or signal.
ARCHBISH'OP, n. A chief bishop ; a
church dignitary df the tirst class; a me-
tropolitan bishop, who superintends the
conduct of the suffragan bishops, in his
province, and also exercises episcopal au-
thority in his own diocese. Clarendon.
ARCHBISH'OPRIe, n. [Archbishop and
ric, or rick, territory or jurisdiction.]
The jurisdiction or place of an archbishop ;
the province over which an archbishop
exercises authority. Clarendon
ARCHBOTCH'ER, n. The chief botcher,
or mender, ironically. Corbet.
ARCHBUILD'ER, > Chief builder.
ARCHBILD'ER \ "• Harmar.
ARCHBUT'LER, n. A chief butler ; an of-
ficer of the German empire, who presents
the cup to the emperor, on solemti occa-
sions. This office belongs to the king of
Bohemia. Encyc.
ARCHCHAMBERLAIN, n. A chief cham
berlain ; an officer of the German empire
whose office is similar to that of the great
chamberlain in England. This office be
longs to the elector of Brandenburg.
Encyc.
ARCHCH ANCELLOR, n. A chief chan
cellor ; an officer in the German empire,
who presides over the secretaries of the
court. Under the first races of French
kings, when Germany and Italy belonged
to them, three archchancellors were
pointed ; and this institution gave rise to
the three archchancellors now subsisting
in Germany, who are the archbishops of|
Mentz, of Cologne, and of Treves. Encyc.
ARCHCH^ANTER, n. The chief chanter,
or president of the chanters of a church.
ARCH€HIM'I€, a. Of supreme chimical
powers. Milton.
ARCHCONSPIR'ATOR, n. Principal con-
spirator. Maundrell.
ARCH€OUNT', n. A chief count ; a title
formerly given to the earl of Flanders, on
account of his great riches and power,
Encyc.
ARCH€RIT'Ie, M. A chief critic.
lARCHDAP'IFER, 71. [Arch, chief, and L
daplfer, a iood-bearer, from daps, meat 01
a feast, and /era, to carry.]
An officer in the German empire, whose of
fice is, at the coronation of the emperor,
to carry the first dish of meat to table on
liorscliack. Encyc.
ARIMlDi: ACON, n. [See Deacon.]
Ill KngUtnil, an ecclesiastical dignitary, Jiext
in rank below a bishop, who has jurisdic
tion either over a part or over the whole
diocese. He is usually appointed by the
bishop, and has an authority originally
derived from the bishop, but now inde
pendent of him. He has a court, the mosi
inferior of ecclesiastical courts, for hear-
ing ecclesiastical causes, and the punish-
ment of offenders by spiritual censures.
Blackstone.
ARCHDE'A€ONRY, n. The office, juris
diction or residence of an archdeacon. In
England, evei^y tliocese is divided into
archdeaconries, of which there are sixty
and each archdeaconry into rural dean-
eries, and each deanery into parishes.
Blackstone
ARCHDE'A€ONSHIP, n. The office of an
archdeacon.
JARCIIDIVI'NE, n. A principal theologi;
ARCHDRU'ID, n. [See Druid.] A chiefl
druid, or pontiff of the ancient druids.
Henry, Hist. Eng. Roivtand's
Mona Antiqua.
ARCHDU'€AL, a. [See Archduke.] P
taining to an archduke.
ARCHDUCH'ESS, n. [See Duchess.] AJ
title given to the females of the house of
Austria.
ARCHDUCH'Y, n. The territory of an arch
duke or archduchess. Ash.
•VRCHDU'KE, [See Duke.] A title given to
princes of the House of Austria; all the
sons being archdukes, and the daughters
archduchesses. Encyc.
ARCHDUKEDOM, n. The territory or ju
risdiction of an archduke or archduchess.
VAJICHED, pp. Made with an arch or curve
covered with an arch.
ARCHEN'EMY.n. A principal enemy.
Milton
ARCHE0L06'IeAL, o. Pertaining to a trea-
tise on antiquity, or to the knowledge of
ancient things.
ARCHEOL'OgY, n. [Gr. ap;taio;, ancient^
and Xoyoj, discourse.]
A discourse on antiquity ; learning or knowl
edge which respects ancient times.
Panoplist, Dec. 1808.
'ARCHER, n. [Sp. archero ; It. arcih-o ; Fr.
archer ; from arcus, a bow. See Arch anil
Arc]
A bowman ; one who uses a bow in battle ;
one who is skilled in the use of the bow
and arrow.
ARCHERESS, n. A female archer.
MarkhaDt.
ARCHERY, n. The use of the bow and
arrow ; the practice, art or skill of arch-
ers ; the act of shooting with a bow and
arrow.
ARCHES-€OURT, in England, so called
from the church of St. Mary le bow {de
arcubus,) whose top is raised of stone pil-
lars built archwise, where it was anciently
held, is a court of appeal, in the ecclesias-
tical pohty, the judge of which is called
the dean of the arches. This court had
jurisdiction over thirteen peculiar parishes
in London, belonging to the archbishop of
Canterbury ; but the office of dean of the
arches being united with that of the arch-
bishop's principal office, the dean now
receives and determines appeals from the
sentence of aU inferior courts within the
province ; and from him lies an appeal to
the king in chancery. This and all the
principal spiritual courts are now held at
Doctors' Commons. Blackstone.
'ARCHETYPAL, a. Original ; constituting
a model or pattern.
ARCHETYPE, n. [Gr. apxitvrtov; ap;t'7,
beginning, and tvxos, form.]
1. The original pattern or model of a work ;
or the model from which a thing is made ;
as, a tree is the archetype or pattern of
our idea of that tree. fVatts.
2. Among minters, the standard weight, by
which others are adjusted.
Among Platonists, the archetypal world is
the world as it existed in the idea of God,
before the creation. Encyc.
ARCHE'US, n. [Gr. apxvt beginning, or
apxof, a chief; VV. erchi.]
A term used by the ancient chimists, to de-
note the internal efficient cause of all
things ; the anuna mundi or plastic power
of the old philosophers ; the power that
presides over the animal economy, or the
vis medicatrix ; the active principle of the
material world. In medicine, good health,
or ancient practice. Johnson. Encyc. Coxe.
ARCHFEL'ON, n. [See Felon.] A chief
felon. Milton.
ARCHFIE'ND, n. [See Fiend.] A chief
fiend or foe. Milton.
ARCHFLAM'EN, n. A chief flmnen or
priest Herbert.
ARCHFLAT'TERER,n. [See Flatter.] A
chiefflatterer. Bacon.
ARCHFO'E, n. [See Foe.] A grand or
chief enemy. Milton.
ARCHFOl'ND'ER, n. A chief founder.
MUton.
ARCHGOV'ERNOR, n. The chief gov-
ernor. Brewer.
ARCHHER'ESY, n. [See Heresy.] The
greatest heresy. Butler.
ARCHHER'EtiC, n. A chief heretic.
Shak.
ARCHHI'EREY, n. [Gr. apxos, chief, and
(fpo5, priest.] A chief priest in Russia.
Tooke, i. 530.
ARCHHYP'OCRITE, 71. A great or chief
hypocrite. Fuller.
ARCH'IATER, ji. [Gr. op;to5, chief, and
Mif po5, physician.] Chief physician ; a word
used in Russia. Tooke, i. 557.
ARCH'ICAL, a. Chief: primary.
Hallywell.
ARCHIDIAC'ONAL, a. [See Deacon.]
ARC
ARC
A R D
Pertaining to an archdeacon ; as an archidi-
aconal visitation.
AR€HIEPI.S'€OPAL, a. [See Episcopal]
Belonging to an arclihishop ; as, Canterbury
is an archiepiscopal see. ff'eever.
ARCHIL, n. A lichen, which grows on
rocks, in the Canary and Cape de Verd
islos, which yields a rich jiurple color, not
durable, but very beautiful. It is bruised
between stones, and moistened with strong
spirit of urine mixed with quick lime. It
first takes a purplish red color, and then
turns to blue. In the first state it is called
archil ; and in the second, lacmas or lit-
mase, litmiis. Encyc.
AR€llILO'€HIAN, a. Pertaining to Archil-
oclius, the poet, who invented a verse of
seven feet, the first four dactyls or spon-
dees, the last three, trochees.
-ARCHIMAGUS, ji. tSee Ma^cian.] The
high priest of the Persian Magi, or wor-
shipers of fii-e. Encyc.
ARCHIMAND'RITE, n. [from mandrite, a
Syriac word for monk.]
In church history, a chief of the mandrites or
monks, answering to abbot in Europe.
Encyc. Tooke, Russ.
'ARCHING, jti/jr. Forming an arch; cover-
ing with an arch.
ARCHING, a. Curving hke an arch.
ARCHIPEL'AGO, n. [Authors are not
agreed as to the origin of this word.
Some suppose it to be compounded of
apx°i, chief, and Wf^oyoj, sea ; others, of
Atyoioj, and rttXayos, the Egean sea. See
Gibbon, Mitford and Ed. Encyc]
In a general sense, a sea interspersed with
many isles ; but particularly the sea which
separates Europe from Asia, otherwise
called the Egean Sea. It contains the
Grecian isles, called Cyclades and Spo-
rades.
'AR€HITE€T, n. [Gr. apx^s, chief, and
ttxtuv, a workman. See Tech^ical.]
1. A person skilled in the art of building ;
one who under.stands architecture, or
makes it his occupation- to form plans and
designs of buildings, and superintend the
artificers employed.
2. A contriver ; a former or maker. Ray.
ARCHITECT'IVE, a. Used in building;
proper for building. Derham.
AR€HITE€TON'IC, a. That has power or
skill to build. Smcllie, Ch. 13.
AReHITE€TON'I€S, n. The science of
architecture. Jish.
AK€HITE€T'RESS, n. A female architect.
rVotton.
AR€HITE€T'URAL, a. Pertaining to the
art of building ; that is according to the
rules of architecture. Mason
'AR€HITE€TURE, n. [L. architectura.]
1. The art of building ; but in a more Um-
ited and appropriate sense, the art ofj
constructing houses, bridges and other
buildings for the purposes of civil hfe.
2. Frame or structure.
The earth is a piece of divine architecture.
Burnet.
Military architecture is the art of fortification.
J^avnl architecture is the art of building ships.
'ARCHITRAVE, 71. [Gr. apxoi, chief, and It
trave, fi-om L. trabs, a beam.]
In architecture, the lower division of ar
entablature, or that part which rests
mediately on the coliunn. It probably
represents the beam which, in ancient
buildings, extended from column to col-
umn, to support the roof
In chimney.s, the architrave is called the
mantle piece ; and over doors and win-
dows, the hyperthyrioii.
Johnson. Encyc. Cyc.
'ARCHIVAL, a. [See Archives.] Pertain-
ing to archives or records ; contained in
records. Tooke.
~AR€HIVAULT, ji. [arch, chief, and vault.]
In building, the inner contour of an arch, or
a band adorned with moldings, running
over the faces of the arch-stones, and
bearing upon the imposts. It has only a
single face in the Tuscan order ; two faces
crowned in the Doric and Ionic, and the
same moldings, as the architrave, in the
Corinthian and Composite. Encyc.
'ARCHIVES, n.plu. [Gr. op;tecw ; Low L.
archivum ; Fr. archives ; It. arcldvio.]
The apartment in which records are kept ;
also the records and papers which are
preserved, as evidences of facts.
'ARCHIVIST, n. [Fr. and It.] The keeper
of archives or records. Encyc.
'ARCHLIKE, a. Built Ukc an arch.
Young.
'ARCHLUTE, ) „ ,., „..•/,„,„ i
'ARCHILUTE, \ "• t^'' '"•"'"''"•I
A large lute, a theorbo, the base-strings of
which are doubled with an octave, and the
higher strings with a unison. Busby
'ARCHLY, adv. Shrewdly; wittily; jest-
ingly.
.RCHR
ARCHMAGI'CIAN, ji. The chief magi
cian. Spenser.
ARCHMAR'SHAL, n. The grand marshal
of the German empire ; a dignity belong-
ing to the elector of Saxony.
ARCHNESS, n. Cunning ; shrewdness ;
waggishness.
ARCHON, n. [Gr. apx^', a prince.]
The archons in Greece were chief magis-
trates chosen, after the death of Codrus,
from the most illustrious famiUes, to si
perintend civil and religious concern!
They were nine in number ; the fii-st was
properly the archon ; the second was called
kiTig ; the third, polemarch, or general of
the forces. The other six were called
thesmothetce, or legislators. Encyc.
'ARCHONSHIP, n. The office of an ar-
chon ; or the term of his office. Mitford.
ARCHON'TICS, n. In church history, a
branch of the Valentinians, who held that
the world was not created by God, but by
angels, archontes.
ARCHP'ASTOR, n. Chief pastor, the shep-
herd and bishop of our souls. Barrow.
ARCHPHILOS'OPHER, n. A chief phi-
losopher. Hooker.
ARCHPIL'LAR, 7!. The main pillar.
Harmar.
ARCHPO'ET, n. The principal poet.
ARCHPOLITI CIAN,»i. [See Policy.] An
eminent or distinguished poUtician.
Bacon
ARCHPON'TIFF, n. [See Pontiff.] A su
premc pontitl'or priest. Burke
ARCHPRE'LATE, n. [See Prelate.] The
chief prelate.
ARCHPRES'BYTER, n. [See Presbyter.]
A chief presbyter or priest. Encyc.
ARCHPRES'BYTER V. v. The absolute
dominion of presbyteiT, or the chief pres-
•jy'ery. " Milton.
ARCHPRIE'ST, n. [See Priest.] A chief
priest. Encyc.
ARCHPRI'MATE, 71. The chief primate ; an
archbishop. MUton.
ARCHPROPH'ET, ti. Chief prophet.
fVarton.
ARCHPROT'ESTANT, n. A principal or
distinguished proteslant.
ARCIIPUB'LICAN, ,.. The distinguished
publican. Hall.
ARCHREB'EL, ti. The chief rebel.
MUton.
ARCHTRA'ITOR, n. A principal traitor.
ARCHTREAS'URER, n. [See Treasure.^
The great treasurer of the German em-
pire ; a dignity claimed by the elector of
Hanover. Guthrie.
ARCHTREAS'URERSniP,7i. The office
of archtreasurer. Collins' Peerage.
ARCHTY'RANT, n. A principal or great
tyrant. Hall.
ARCHVIL'LAIN, n. [See Villain.] A chief
or great villain. Shak.
ARCHVIL'LANY, n. Great villany.
'ARCHWISE, adv. [arch and mse. See
fVise.] In the form of an arch.
ARCTA'TION, t [L. arrfus, tight.] Pre-
ARC'TITUDE, ^ "-tematuralstraightness :
constipation from inflammation. Corf.
ARCTIC, a. [Gr. opxroj, a bear, and ii
northern constellation so called. W. artb ;
Ir. art, a bear.]
Northern ; pertaining to the northern con-
stellation, called the bear ; as, the arctic
pole, circle, region or sea.
The arctic circle is a lesser circle parallel to
the equator, 23° 28' from the north pole.
This, and the antarctic circle, are called
the polar circles, and within these lie the
frigid zones.
ARCTU'RUS, 7!. [Gr. opxro}, a bear, and
ovfia, tail.] A fixed star of the first mag-
nitude, in the constellation of Bootes.
Encyc.
'ARCUATE, a. [L. arcuatus. See Arc]
Bent or curved in the form of a bow.
Martyn. Bacon. Ray.
ARCUA'TION, 77. The act of bending ; in-
curvation ; the state of being bent ; cur-
vity; crookedness; great convexity of the
tliorax. Coxe.
2. A method of raising trees by layers; that
is, by bending branches to the ground, and
covering the small shoots with earth, three
inches deep upon the joints ; making a
bason of earth to hold the water. When
these have taken root, they are removed
into a nursery. Chambers. Encyc.
ARCUBALIST, 7?. [L. arcus, a bow, and
balista, an engine for throwing stones.]
A cross-bow. H'arton.
.\RCUBALIS'TER, 7i. A cross-bowman;
one who used the arbalist. Camden.
'ARD, the termination of many Enghsh
words, is the Ger. art, species, kind ; Sw.
and Dan. art, mode, nature, genius, form ;
Ger. arten, to take after, resemble ; Sw.
arta, to form or fashion ; Ger. aiiig, of the
nature of, also comely ; Dan. and Sw.
artig, beautiful ; D. aarden, to take after,
resemble; aardig, genteel, pretty, ingen-
ious. We observe it in Goddard, a divine
temper ; Giffard, a disposition to give, lib^
ARE
erality ; Bernard, filial affcciion ; standard,
drunkard, dotard, &c.
ARDENCY, n. [L. ardens, from ardeo, to
burn.]
Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; ea-
gerness ; as, the ardency of love or zeal.
ARDENT, a. Hot ; burning ; that causes a
sensation of burning ; as, ardent spirits, that
is, distilled spirits ; an ardent fever.
•2. Having the ap))earance or quality of fire;
fierce ; as ardent eyes.
;'. Warm, applied to the passions and affec-
tions ; passionate ; affectionate ; much en-
gaged ; zealous ; as, ardent love or vows ;
ardent zeal.
ARDENTLY, adv. With warmth ; affec-
tionately ; passionately.
■ARDENTNESS, n. Ardency.
■ARDOR, H. [L.] Heat, in a literal sense ;
as, the ardor of the sun's rays.
•i. Warmth, or heat, applied to the passions
and affections ; eagerness ; !is, he pursues
study with ardor; they fought with ardor.
Milton uses the word for person or spirit,
bright and effulgent, but by an unusual
license.
ARDUOUS, (J. [L. ardiius; Ir. ard, high;
W. hardh ; Ir. airdh, high, highth.]
I. High, lofty, ill a literal sense ; as, ardu
ous'paths. Pope
'i. Ditficult ; attended with great labor, like
the ascending of acclivities ; as, an arduoui
em])loyment, task, or enterprise.
'ARDUOUSLY, adv. Li aii arduous man
uer ; with laboiiousness.
ARDUOUSNESS, n. Highth ; difficulty of
execution.
\RE. The plural of the substantive verb ;
but a different word from be, am or was.
It is from the Sw. vara, Dan. vcerer, to
be, to exist ; « or «) being lost. We are ;
ye or you are ; they are ; jiast tense plural
tvere. It is usually pronounced ar.
,V-RE, ) The lowest note, except one.
ALAMIRE, S ill Guido's scale of music.
Shak
A'REA, n. [L. I suspect this to be con-
tracted from Ch. NJ'IX, an area or bed ;
Heb. njny ; fi'om a root which signifies to
reach, stretch, lay or spread.]
1. Any plain surface, as the floor of a room
of a church or other building, or of tlie
ground.
2. "The space or site on which a building
stands; or of any inclosure.
3. Ill geometry, the superficial contents of any
figure ; the surface included witliin any
given lines ; as the area of a square or a
triangle.
4. Among physicians, baldness ; an empty
space ; a bald space produced by alopecy
also a name of the disease. Core. Parr.
5. In mining, a compass of ore allotted to
diggers. Coxe.
AREA'D, ) . [Sax. aredan.'] To counsel
AREE'D, \ "• ''■ to advise. Ohs. Spenser
A'REAL, a. Pertaiiiuig to an area ; as areai
interstices. Barton.
AKEE'K, aiiu. In a reeking condition. [Set
Reek.^ Smjl
AREFA€'TION, n. [L. arefacio, to dry,
from areo.] The act of drying ; the state of
growing dry. Bacon
AR'EFY, V. t. To dry or make dry.
Bacon
ARE'NA, n. [L. sand.] An open space ofl
ARE
ground, strewed with sand, on which the
gladiators, in ancient Rome, exhibited
shows of fighting for the amusement of
spectators. Hence, a place for pubhc ex-
hibition. Mam's Rom. Ant. Ray.
2. Among physicians, sand or gravel in the
kidneys.
ARENA'CEOUS, a. [from arena, sand.]
Sandy ; having the properties of sand.
IVoodward.
2. Brittle ; as arenaceous limestone. Kinvan
ARENA'TION,n. Among ;)A_i/sicians, a sand
bath ; a sprinkhng of hot sand upon a dis-
eased person. Core.
.'VREN'DALITE, n. In mineralogy, another
name of epidote, or pistacite ; epidote being
the name given to it by Hauy, and pistacite
by Werner. [See Epidote.]
ARENDA'TOR, n. [Russ. arenda, a farm
Q». Sp. arrendar, to rent.]
In Livonia and other provinces of Russia, a
farmer of the farms or rents ; one who
contracts with the crown for the rents of
the farms. He who rents an estate be-
longing to the crown, is called Crotcn-
arendator. Arende is a term used both for
the estate let to farm, and the sum for
which it is rented. Tooke's Russ. ii. 288.
\RENILIT'I€, a. [arena, sand, and xiBof, a
stone.]
Pertaining to sand stone ; consisting of sand
stone ; as arenilitic mountains. Kirwan
ARENO'SE, \ Sandy ; fiUl of sand.
AR'ENOUS, \ "• Johnson.
AR'EOLE, \ [L.] The colored circle
AREO'LA, \ "■ round tlie nipple, or round
)ustulc. Encyc. Coxe.
AREOM'ETER, n. [Gr. apatoj, rare, thin,
and fiffpfw, to measure.]
An instrument for measuring the specific
gravity of liquids. Fourcroy.
AREOMET'RI€AL, a. Pertaining to an
areometer.
AREOM'ETRY, n. Tlie measuring or act
of measuring tlie specific gravity of fluids.
AREOPAGIT'Ie, a. Pertauiing to the Are-
opagus. Mitford
AREOP'AGITE, n. A member of the Are-
opagus, which see. Acts xvii. 34.
AREOPAGUS, n. [Gr. Ap,j{, 3Iars, and
Ttayof, hill.]
A sovereign tribunal at Athens, famous for
the justice and impartiality of its decis
ions. It was originally held on a hill ii
the city ; but afterward removed to the
Royal Portico, an open square, where the
judges sat in the open air, inclosed by a
cord. Their sessions were in the night,
that they might not be diverted by object;
of sight, or influenced by the presence and
action of the speakers. By a law of So-
lon, no person could be a member of tlii;
tribunal, until he had been archon or chiel]
magistrate. This court took cognizance
of high crimes, impiety and immorality,
and watched over the laws and the public
treasury. Lempriere. Encyc. Pausa- }
nias. Acts xvii. 10. ^
AREOT'Ie, a. [Gr. apaiof, thin.] Attenu
ating ; making thin, as in liquids ; rare
AREOT'Ie, ?i. A medicine, which atteiiuatei
the humors, dissolves viscidity, opens the
pores, and increases perspiration ; an at-
tenuaut. Quincy. Coxe.
A R G
[Gr. opEfiy, virtue, and
ARETOL'OgY,
>.oyo{, discourse.^
That part of moral philosojihy which treats
of virtue, its nature and "the means of
attaining to it. [Little used.] Johnson.
ARGAL, n. Unrefined or crude tartar, a
substance adheiing to the sides of wine
ca.sks. Johnson. Coxe.
ARtiE'AN, a. Pertaining to Argo or the
Ark. Faber.
ARGENT, n. [L. argentum ; Gr. apyupof, sil-
ver, from opyoj, white ; Ir. arg, white ;
airgiod, silver, money ; Fr. argent, money ;
Sans, rajatam, Q.U.]
1. The white color in coats of arms, intended
to represent silver, or purity, innocence,
beauty, or gentleness. Encyc.
2. a. Silvery ; of a pale white, Uke silver.
Johnson. Encyc.
3. a. Bright.
Ask of yonder argent fields above. Pope,
ARgENT'AL, a. Pertaining to silver ; con-
sisting of silver ; containing silver ; com-
bined with silver ; applied to the native
amalgam of silver, as argental mercury.
Cleaveland.
>ARgENTATE, n. A combination of the
argentic acid with another substance.
ARtiENTA'TION, n. An overlaying with
silver. Johnson.
ARGENT-HORNED, a. Silver honied.
ARGENT'Ie, a. Pertaining to silver ; tlie
argentic acid is a saturated combination of
silver and oxygen. This is yet hypothet-
ical. Lavoisier.
ARGENTIF'EROUS, a. [L. argentum, sil-
ver, and fero, to produce.] Producing
silver ; as argentiferous ore. Kirwan.
ARGENTI'NA, ? InK/i%oZogT/, ageuus
'ARGENTINE, ^ of fishes ot the order
of abdominals.
Argentina is also a name of the wild tansy,
silver-weed. Encyc. Coxe.
'ARGENTINE, a. Like silver; pertaining
to silver, or sounding hke it. Johnson.
'ARGENTINE, n. In mineralogy, a sub-
species of carbonate of lime, nearly pure ;
a mineral of a lamellated or slaty struc-
ture ; its lamens usually curved or undu-
lated ; its surface is shining, or of a pearly
luster. It is found in primitive rocks, and
frequently in metallic veins. Cleaveland.
'ARGIL, n. A species of the Ardea, or genus
of cranes.
'ARGIL, 71. [L. argilla, white clay, from Gr.
opyos, white.]
Ill a general sense, clay, or potter's earth ;
but in a technical sense, pure clay, or alu-
mine. Fourcroy.
AR(5ILLA;CE0US, a. [L.argillaceus.] Par-
taking of the nature of clay ; clayey ; con-
sisting of argil. Kirwan.
ARgILLIF'EROUS, a. [L. argilla, clay, and
fero, to produce.] Producing clay ; applied
to such earths as abound with argil.
Kirwan.
ARGILLITE, n. Argillaceous shist or
slate; clay-slate. Its usual color is bluish,
greenish or blackish gray. Kirwan.
ARGlLLIT'le, a. Pertaining to argilUte.
AllGlLLO€AL'CITE, n. [of argilla, clay,
and calx, calcaneus earth.]
A species of calcarious earth, with a large
]iroportion of clay. Kirwan.
ARGILLOMURITE, n. [of argilla, clay,
ARC
A R I
A R 1
"Hnd muria, Iirlne or salt water ; magnesia
being obtained from sea-salt.]
A species of earth consisting of magnesia,
mixed with silex, alumine and lime ; a
variety of Magnesite.
Kirwan. Cleaveland.
ARgIL'LOUS, a. Consisting of clay ; clayey ;
partaking of clay ; belonging to clay.
Brown.
"ARGIVE, a. Designating what belongs to
Argos, the capital of Argohs in Greece,
whose inhabitants were called Argivi.
This name however is used by the poets
for the Greeks in general. Paus. Trans.
JAIIGO, n. The name of the ship which car-
ried Jason and his fifty-four companions
to Colchis, in quest of the golden fleece.
ARGO-NAVIS, the ship Argo, is a constel-
lation in the southern hemisphere, whose
stars, in tlie British catalogue, are sixty-
four. Encyc.
'ARGO'AN, a. Pertaining to the ship Argo.
Faber.
•ARGOL'l€, a. Belonging to Ai-golis, a ter-
ritory or district of Peloponnese, between
Arcadia and the Egean sea ; as the Ar-
solic Gulf. D'Anmlk.
ARGOL'ICS, Ji. The title of a chapter in
Pausanias, which treats of Argolis.
Trails. B. ii. 15.
'ARGONAUT, n. [of apyu, Jason's ship,
and vavtrji, a sailor.]
One of the persons who sailed to Colcliis
witli Jason^ in the Argo, in quest of tl
golden fleece.
Cicero. Pliny. Sir W. Jones.
ARGONAUT' A, n. [See Argonaut.]
A genus of shell-fish, of the order of vermes
testacea. The shell consists of one spiral
involuted valve. There are several spe
cies ; one of which is the Argo, with i
subdentated carina, the famous nautilus,
which, when it sails, extends two of its
arms, spreading a membrane, which
for a sail, and six other arms are thrown
out, for rowing or steering.
Encyc. Cuvier.
ARGONAUT'I€, a. Pertaining to the Ar-
gonauts, or to their voyage to Colchis ; as
the Argonautic story. Sir W. Jones.
ARGONAUT'I€S, n. A poem on the sub-
ject of Jason's voyage, or the exi)edition
of the Argonauts ; as, the Argonautics of
Orpheus, of V. Flaccus, and of Apollo-
nius Rhodius. Encyc.
'ARGOSY, n. [Sp. argos, Jason's ship.] A
lar^e merchantman ; a carrac. Shak.
'ARGrUE, V. i. [L. arguo, to show, argue,
accuse or convict ; Fr. arguer ; Sp. arguir ;
It. arguire. The radical sense of arg-ue is
to urge, drive, press, or struggle.]
1. To reason ; to invent and offer reasons to
support or overthrow a proposition, opin-
ion or measure ; as, A argites m favor of
a measure ; B argues against it.
3. To dispute ; to reason with ; followed by
leith ; as, you may argue loith your friend,
a week, without convincing liim.
'ARGUE, V. t. To debate or discuss ; to treat
by reasoning ; as, the counsel argued the
cause before the supreme court ; the cause
was well argued.
2. To prove or evince ; to manifest by infer-
ence or deduction ; or to show reasons for ;
as, the order visible in the universe argues I
a divine cause.
Vol I.
3. To persuade by reasons ; as, to argue a
man into a different opinion.
4. Formerly, to accuse or charge with ; a
Latin sense, now obsolete ; as, to argue one
of profaneness. Dryden.
'ARGUED, pp. Debated ; discussed ; evin-
ced; accused.
'ARGUER, n. One who argues; areasoner;
a disputer ; a controvertist.
ARGUING, ppr. Inventing and offeruig
reasons; disputing; discussing ; cvijiciiig ;
accusing.
'ARGUING, n. Reasoning ; argumentation.
What (lotli youi- arguing reprove .' .lob.
'ARGUMENT, n. fL. argumentum.]
1. A I
offered for or against a proposi
tion, opinion, or measure ; a reason offered
in proof, to induce belief, or convince the
mind; followed by for or against.
2. In logic, an inference drawn fi-om prenii
ses, which are indisputable, or at least of|
probable truth. Encyc.
■3. The subject of a discourse or writing.
Milton. Shak
4. An abstract or summary of a book, or the
heads of the subjects.
.5. A debate or discussion ; a series of reason
ing ; as, an argument was had before the
court, in which argument, all the reasons
were urged.
In nstronomy, an arch by which we seek
another unknown arch, proportional to
the first. Chambers.
ARGUMENT'AL, a. Belonging to argu-
ment ; consisting in argument. Pope.
ARGUMENTATION, n. Reasoning ; the
act of reasoning ; the act of inventing or
forming reasons, making inductions, draw
ing conclusions, and applying them to the
case in discussion. The operation of in-
ferring propositions, not known or admit-
ted as true, from facts or principles known,
admitted, or proved to be true.
Encyc. IVatts.
ARGUMENT'ATIVE, a. Consisting of ar-
gument ; contauiing a process of reason-
ing ; as an argumentative chscourse.
2. Showing reasons for ; as, the adaptation
of things to their uses is argumentative of
infinite wisdom in the Creator.
ARGUMENT' ATIVELY, adv. In an argu-
mentative manner. Taylor
'ARGUS, n. A fabulous being of antiquity
said to have had a hundred eyes, placed
by Juno to guard lo. The origin of this
being may perhaps be found ui the Teu-
tonic word arg, crafty, cunning, of which
the hundred eyes are symbohcal.
ARGUS-SHELL, n. A species of porcelain-
shell, beautifully variegated with spots,
resembhng, in some measiu'e, a peacock's
tail. Encyc.
ARGUTE, a. [L. arguius.] Sharp ; slu-ill ;
wittv. [Little used.]
ARGU'TENESS, n. Acuteness ; wittiness.
[Uttle used.] Dryden.
A'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Arius, apreshyter
of the church of Alexandria, in the fourth
century ; or to his doctrines.
A'RIAN, n. One who adheres to the doc-
trines of Arius, who held Christ to be a
created being, inferior to God the father
in nature and dignity, though the first
and noblest of all created beings ; and also
that the Holy Spirit is not God, but crea-
ted bv the power of the Son, Encyc.
13
A RIANISM,?;. Thcdoctrinesofihc Ariaus.
A'RIANIZE, V. i. To admit the tenets of the
Arians. WoHhington.
AR'ID, a. [L. aridus, diy, from areo, to be
dry.]
Dry ; exliau.sted of moisture ; parched with
heat ; as an arid waste. Thomson.
AR'IDAS, n. A kind of taffety, from the
East Indies, made of thread, from certain
lants
.ARIDITY,
.•VR'IDNESS,
Encyc.
Dryness ; a state of being
without moisture.
Arbuthnol.
2. A dry state of the body ; emaciation; thc-
withering of a limb. Con.
A'RIES, n. [L. from the Celtic. Ir. reithe.
or receith ; Corn, urz, a ram ; W. hwn, a
thrust, a ram.]
The ram, a constellation of fixed stars, drawji
on the globe, in the figure of a ram. It is
the first of the twelve signs iu the zodiac,
which the sun enters about the 21st of
March.
AR'IETATE, v. i. [L. ai-ieto, from aries.]
To butt, as a ram. [jYot used.] Johnson.
VRIETA'TION, n. The act of butting, as a
ram. The act of battering with the aries
or battering ram. Bacon.
2. The act of striking or conflicting. [Rare-
ly used.] Glanville.
ARIET'TA, n. [It.] A short song ; an au-.
or Uttle air.
ARI'GHT, (irfj;. [a va\d right. Sax. gericht.)
Rightly ; iu a right form ; without mistake
or crime.
AR'IL, } The exterior coat or covcr-
ARIL'LUS, S ing of a seed, fixed to it at
the base only, investing it wholly or par-
tially, and falling off spontaneously ; by
some writers called, from the Greek, Ca-
lyptra. It is either succulent, or cartila-
ginous ; colored, elastic, rough or knotted.
Linne. Milne. Martyn. Smith.
Havuig an exterior cov-
ei-ing or aril, as coffee.
Encyc. Eaton,
AR'IMAN, -
AR'IMA,
AH'RIMAN,
The evil genius or demon of the Persians :
opposed to yezad, yezdan, ormozd, or
hormizda, the good demon. The ancient
magi held, that there are two deities or
principles ; one the author of all good,
eternally absorbed in light ; the other, the
author of all evil, forever buried in dark-
ness ; or the one represented by light ;
the other by darkness. The latter answers
to the loke of the Scandinavians, whose
Celtic name, lock, signifies darkness. Ori-
ginally, the Persians held these demons or
jjrinciples to be equal, and from all eterni-
ty ; but the moderns maintain that the evil
principle is an inferior being. So the
devil is called the prince of darkness.
Encyc. Gibbon. As. Researches.
ARIOLA'TION or ) [L. ariolus or hari-
HARIOLA'TION, S oto, a sooth sayer.j
\ soothsaying ; a foretelling. Brown.
ARIO'SO, a. [It. from aria, air.] Light ;
airy. //. Did.
But according to Rousseau, applied to mu-
sic, it denotes a kind of melody bordering
on the majestic style of a capital air.
Cyc.
ARI'SE, t'. i. s as t. pret. arose: pji. arisen .-
AR'ILLATED, j
AR'ILLED, (
[Per. ahriman. Sans, art,
a foe.]
A R I
proii. arize, aroze, arizn. [Sax. arisan ; D.l
rjjzen ; Goth, reisan. It may be allied to Ar.
I to be the head or chief ; Heb. Ch.
Svr. Sam. Eth. U'iO head, origin.]
(. To ascend, mount up or move to a higher
])lace ; as, vapors arise fi'om hinnid places.
:,*. To emerge from below the horizon ; as,
the sun or a star arises or rises.
!}. To get out of bed ; to leave the place or
.•^tate of rest ; or to leave a sitting or lying
[)Osture.
The king arose early and went to the den
Dan. vi.
4. To begin ; to spring up ; to originate.
A persecution arose about Stephen. Acts xi
5. To revive from death ; to leave the grave
Many bodies of saints arose. Math, xxvii.
Figuratively, to awake from a state of
sin and stupidity ; to repent.
Jlrise from the dead, and Christ shall give
thee life. Eph,
6. To begin to act ; to exert power ; to
move from a state of inaction.
Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered
Ps. Ixviii.
7. To appear, or become known ; to become
visible, sensible or operative.
To you shall the sun of righteousness arise
Math, iv
shall .
you
Till the day
2 Pet. i.
8. To be put in motion ; to swell or be agi
tated ; as, the waves arose.
0. To be excited or provoked ; as, the wrath
of the king shall arise.
10. To emerge from poverty, depress!
tlistress.
By whom shall Jacob arise ? for he is small
Amos vii.
11. To appear in a particidar character
enter upon an office.
There arose a new kins who knew not Jo
seph. Ex. i.
12. To begin sedition, insurrection, or mu
tiny ; as, the men arose, or rose upon their
oflicers.
13. To invade, assault or begin hostility ; fol-
lowed by against.
When he "arose against me, I caught him by
the beard. 1 Sam. xvii.
In this sense, the word against really be-
longs to the verb, and is necessary to give
it this meaning. [See Rise, another
form of this verb, which has the
nification, and is more generally used in
popular language.]
ARI'SING, ppr. Ascending; moving up-
ward; originating or proceeding; getting
up ; springin
.\RIST'A,n. [
pointed beard which issues from the husk,
or scaly flower cup of the grasses, called
the glume. Milne.
ABISTAR'CHY, n. [Or. api/of, best, and
apxv, I'ule.]
A body of good men in power, or govern
ment by excellent men. Harington
ARlSTO€'RACY, n. [Gr. opifos, best, and
xfiariio, to hold or govern.]
\ form of government, in which the whole
supreme power is vested in the principal
persons of a state ; or in a few men distin-
guished by their rank and opulence.
When the supreme power is exercised by
a small niuiiber, the government is called
nil oligarchy. The latter word however
ARK
is usually applied to a corrupted form of
aristocracy.
ARIST'0€RAT, n. One who favors an ar
tocracy in principle or practice ; one w
is a friend to an aristocratical form of
government. Burke.
ARlSTOeRAT'le, I Pertaining to
ARISTOeRAT'I€AL, S aristocracy ;
consisting in a government of nobles, or
principal men ; as an aristocratic consti-
tution.
2. Partaking of aristocracy; as, an aristo-
cratic measure ; aristocratic pride or man-
ners.
ARISTO€RAT'I€ALLY, adv. In an aris-
tocratical manner.
ARISTO€RAT'l€ALNESS, n. The quahty
of being aristocratical.
ARISTOTE'LIAN, a. Pertainmg to Aris-
totle, a celebrated philosoplicr, who was
born at Stagyra, in Macedon, about 38<
years before Christ. The Aristotelian phi-
iosophv is otherwise called peripatetic.
ARISTOTE'LIAN, n. A follower of Aris
totle, who was a disciple of Plato, and
founded the sect of peripatetics. [See
Peripatetic]
ARISTOTE'LIANISM, n. Tlie philosophy
or doctrines of Aristotle.
ARISTOTEL'le, a. Pertaining to Aristotle
or to his philosophy.
AR'ITHMANCY, n. [Gr. (ipiS/cto,-, number,
and fioivriM, divination.]
Divination or the foretelling of future events
by the use or observation of numbers.
ARITH'METIe, n. [Gr. api«;ix(«, to num
ber, af,Lefit]ri.xri, the art of numbering, from
optS^of, number ; from pvS/iioj, number
rhythm, order, agreement.]
The science of numbers, or the art of com-
putation. The various operations of arith-
metic are performed by addition, subtrac-
tion, multiplication and division.
ARTT1IMET'I€, ) Pertaining to arith
ARITiniETK AL, S metic ; according
to thi- rules 111- iiifthod of arithmetic.
ARITll^iF/r It ALLY, adv. According to
tlie ruk's, jiriiiciples or method of arith-
1. Port. It
airg, airk ;
■ coft'er, sucli
ARITHMETI CIAN, n. One skilled in
arithmetic, or versed in the science of
numbers.
'ARK, n. \Tr.arche; L. a
area, a chest or coffer
Sax. ere or erk ; G. arche ; D. arke ; Ch,
TJ1X.]
1. A small close vessel, chest
as that which was the repository of the
tables of the covenant among the Jews.
This was about three feet nine inches in
length. The lid was the propitiatory, or
mercy seat, over which were the cherubs.
The vessel in which Moses was set afloat
upon the Nile was an ark of bulrushes.
2. The large floating vessel, in which N
and his family were preserved, during the
deluge.
3. A depository.
Arise, O Lord, into thy rest, thou and the ark
of thy strength. Ps. cxxx
4. A large boat used on American rivers, to
transport produce to market.
"ARKITE, ji. A term used by Biyant to de-
note one of the persons who were prcsi
ARM
ved in the ark ; or who, according to-
pasan fables, belonged to the ark.
ARKITE, a. Belonging to the ark.
Bryant. Faber.
ARKTJZITE, > A mineral, now called
AR€TlZiTE, (, "■ Wernerite.
ARM, n. [Sax. arm, earm ; D. G. Sw. Dan.
arm ; L. arvms, an arm, a shoulder, a
wing. In Russ. a shoulder is ramo, « hich
may be the same word as the L. armu3.
If so, this word Ivlongs to the root, Rm,
coinciding with L. ramus, a branch, that
is, a shoot, like the Celtic braich, L. bra-
cliium. But if the L. arrnus is directly
from the Gr. ap^toj, a joint, it would seem
to be formed from Gr. opu, to fit.]
The limb of the himian body, which ex-
tends from the shoulder to the hand.
2. The branch of a tree, or the slender part
of a macliine, projecting from a trunk or
axis. The limbs of animals are also
sometimes called arms.
3. A narrow inlet of water from the sea.
I. Figuratively, power, might, strength ; as
the secular arm. In this sense the word
is often used in the scriptures.
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed.
Isa. liii.
ARM, V. t. [L. armo ; Fr. armer ; Sp. armar;
It. armare ; from L. arma.]
t. To furnish or equip with weapons of of-
fense, or defense ; as, to arm the militia.
3. To cover with a plate, or with whatever
will add strength, force, or security ; as,
to arm the hilt of a sword.
I. To furnish with means of defense; to pre-
pare for resistance ; to fortify.
Arm yourselves with the same mind. 1
Pet. iv.
ARM, V. i. To provide with arms, weapons,
or means of attack or resistance ; to take
arms ; as, the nations arm for war.
This verb is not really intransitive in
this use, but recipi-ocal, the pronoun being
omitted. The nations arm — for, the na-
tions arm themselves.
\RMA'DA, n. [Sp. from arma.]
A fleet of armed ships ; a squadron. The
term is usually applied to the Spanish fleet,
called the Invincible Armada, consisting of
1.30 ships, intended to act against England
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, A. D.
1588.
ARMADILLO, n. [Sp. ; so called from be-
ing armed with a bony shell.]
A quadruped peculiar to America, called
also tatoo, and in zoology, the dasypus.
This animal has neither fore-teeth, nor
dog-teeth ; it is covered with a hard, bony
shell,Tlivided into movable belts, except
on the forehead, shoulders and haunches,
where it is not movable. The belts are
connected by a membrane, which ena-
bles the animal to roll itself up like a
hedge hog. These animals burrow in the
earth, where they he during the day time,
seldom going abroad except at night.
They are of diflferent sizes ; the largest
3 feet in length, without the tail. They
subsist chiefly on fruits and roots ; some-
times on insects atid flesh. When attack-
ed, they roll themselves into a ball, present-
ing their armor on all sides to any assail-
ant ; but they are inoftensive, and their
flesh is esteemed good food. Encyc.
ARM
ARM
ARM
ARMAMENT, n. [L. urmamenlu, utensils,
tackle, from arma.]
A body of forces equijjped for war ; used ol
II land or naval force. It is more gene-
rally used of a naval force, including ships,
men and all tlie necessary furniture for war.
ARMAMENT' ARY, n. An armory ; a maga-
zine or arsenal. [Rareli/ used.l
'ARMATURE, n. [L. arniatura.]
1. Armor ; that which defends the body. It
comprehends whatever is worn for defense
of the body, and has been sometimes used
for offensive weapons. Armature, like arms
and arynor, is used also of the furniture of
animals and vegetables, evidently intend
ed for their protection ; as prickles, spines
and horns.
2. In ancient military art, an exercise pei
formed with missive weapons, as darts,
spears and arrows. Encyc.
'ARMED, pp. Furnished with weapons of
offense or defense ; furnished with the
means of secui'ity; fortified, in a moral
2. In heraldry, armed is when the beaks,
talons, horns, or teeth of beasts and bu-ds
of prey are of a difl'erent color from the
rest of the body Chambers.
3. Capped and cased, as the load stone ; that
is, set in iron.
An armed ship is one which is taken into the
service of government for a particular oc-
casion, and armed like a ship of war.
ARME'NIA, a. Pertaining to Armenia, a
country and formerly, a kingdom, in Asia,
divided into Major and Minor. The great-
er Armenia is now called Turcomania.
ARME'NIAN, n. A native of Armenia, or
the language of the country.
Sir W. Jones.
Armenian bole is a species of clay from Ar-
menia, and found in other countries. But
the term, being of uncertain signification,
is rejected in modern mineralogy. [See
Bole] Cronsledt. Kirwan.
Armenian stone, a soft blue stone, consisting
of calcarious earth or gypsum, with the
oxyd of copper. It is too soft to give fire
with steel, loses its color when heated,
and does not admit of a polish.
JVicholson.
ARME-PUIS'SANT, a. [See Puissant.]
Powerfid in arms. Weever.
'ARMFUL, ji. As much as the arms can
hold.
'ARMGAUNT, a. Slender, as the arm. [J^ot
in use.] Shak.
'ARMHOLE, n. [arm and hole.] The cavi-
ty under the shoulder, or the armpit.
Bacon.
2. \ hole for the arm in a garment.
ARMI6'EROUS, a. [L.armiger; armo and
gero.]
i jterally, bearing arms. But in present usage,
armiger is a title of dignity next m degree
to a knight. In times of chivalry, it sig-
nified an attendant on a knight, or other
person of rank, who bore his shield and
rendered him other military services. So
in antiquity, Abiniilech, Saul, &c. had
their armor bearers. Jiidg. ix. 1 Sam.
xvi. As had Hector and Achilles. Homer.
This title, under the French princes, in
England, was exchanged, in common
usage, for esquire, Fr. ecuyer, a wnrd of
similar import, from ecu, L. scutum.
shield. Armiger is still retained with us,
as u title of respect, being the Latin word
equivalent to esquire, which see. Spelman.
ARMILLARY, a. [L. armilla, a bracelet,
from annus, the arm.]
Resemblmg a bracelet, or ring ; consisting
of rings or circles. It is chiefly applied to
an artificial sphere, composed of a number
of circles of the mundane sphere, put to-
gether in tlieir natural order, to ;i—i-i in
giving a just conception of the ron-niu
tion of the heavens, and the motion?, oiiln
celestial bodies. This artificial sjijiere re-
volves upon its axis within a horizon, divi-
ded into degrees, and movable every way
upon a brass sirpporter. Encyc.
'ARMING, ppr. Equipping with arms ; pro-
viding with the means of defense or at-
tack ; also, preparing for resistance in a
moral sense.
'ARMINGS, n. The same as leaist-clothes,
hung about a ship's upper works.
Chambers.
ARMIN'IAN, a. Pertaining to Arminius, or
designating his principles.
ARMIN'IAN, n. One of a sect or party of
Cliristians, so called from Arminius, or
HarmanscM, of Mollaml, who llourishe.l at
the cLisc' of tl]o l(ilh coiituiv, and Ijroiji-
IHUgof tlic 17tlr. Tli.'Ariiiiuianductriiic.-,
are, 1. Conditional election and reproba-
tion, in opposition to absolute predestina-
tion. 2. Universal redemption, or that the
atonement was made by Clu'lst for all
mankind, though none but believers can
be partakers of the benefit. 3. That man,
in order to exercise true faith, must be re-
generated and renewed by the operation
of the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God
but tliat this grace is not irresistible and
may be lost ; so that men may relapse from a
state of grace and die in theirsins. Encyc.
ARMIN'IANISM, (I. The pecuUar doctriiies
or tenets of the Arminians.
ARMIP'OTENCE, n. [arma and potentia.
See Potency.]
Power in arms. Johnson.
ARMIP'OTENT, a. Powerful in arms
mighty in battle. Dnjden.
AR3IIS'ONOUS, a. [arma and sonus.' See
Sound.]
Sounding or rustling in arms. Johnson
ARMISTICE, n. [L. arma and sisto, tc
stand still, Gr. ifTj/ii ; Sp. armistido ; It.
armistizio ; Fr. armistice.]
A cessation of arms, for a short time, by (
vention ; a truce ; a temporary suspension
of hostihties by agreement of the partie:
ARMLESS, or." Without an arm ; destitute
of weapons. Beaumont
'ARMLET, n. [dim. of arm.] A little arm
a piece of armor for the arm ; a bracelet.
JDryden. Johnson.
'ARMOR, n. [from arm.]
1. Defensive arms ; any habit worn to protect
the body in battle ; formerly called har
ness. A complete armor formerly con-
sisted of a casque or helmet, a gorget
cuirass, gauntlets, tasses, brassets, cuisbes,
and covers for the legs to which the spurs
were fastened. Encyc.
In English statutes, armor is used for the
whole apparatus of war ; includmg ofl^en-
sive as well as defensive arms. The
statittes of armor <lirected what arms e% e-
ry man shouM provide, 27. Heu. II. and
of Westminster. Hence armor includes
all instruments of war.
Blackstone, B. iv. Cli. 7. B. i. Cli. 1.'!.
Hen. Hist. Brit. B. iii. Ch. 1.
2. In a spiritual sense, a good conscience,
faith and Christian graces are called annor.
Rom. xiii. Eph. viT 2 Cor. vi.
Coat-armor is the escutcheon of a person or
family, with its several charges and other
fiMiiiture, as mantling, crest, supporters.
'ootto, &c. Encyc.
AKMOR-BEARER, n. One who carries
thi! armor of another.
'ARMORER, n. A maker of armor or arms :
a manufacturer of instruments of war.
The armorer of a ship has the cliarge of
the arms, to see that they are in a condi-
tion fit for service.
.\RMO'RIAL, a. Belonging to armor, or to
the arms or escutcheon of a family ; as
ensigns armorial. Blackstone.
/VRMOR'l€, ) [Celtic ar, upon, and
ARMOR'ICAN, J "" mor, the sea ; that u=.
maritime.]
Designating the northwestern part of France,
formerly called Armorica, afterward Bre-
tagne, or Britanny. This part of France
is peopled by inhabitants who speak a dia-
liil of ilic Celtic. It is usually supposed
ihcir ancestors were refugees or colonists
from Emrland.
ARMOR'le, n. The language of the Armo-
ricans ; one of the Celtic dialects which
have remained to the present times.
ARMOR'ICAN, n. A native of Armorica,
or Bretagne.
ARMORIST, n. One skilled in heraldry'.
ARMORY, n. A place where arms, and m-
Etruments of war are deposited for safe
keeping.
2. Arinor; defensive arms. Milton.
'.i. Ensigns armorial. Spenser.
4. The knowledge of coat-armor ; skill in
heraldry. Encyc.
'ARMPIT, n. [armand;?^*.] The hollow place
or cavity under the shoulder. Moxon.
'ARMS, n. plu. [L. arma ; Fr. arme ; Sp.
it.arm^.]
1. ^Veapons of offense, or armor for defense
and protection of the body.
2. War ; ho.stility.
jirins and the man I sing. Dryden.
To be in arms, to be in a state of hostil-
ity, or in a military life.
To arms is a phrase which denotes a ta-
king arms for war or hostility ; particu-
larly, a summoning to war.
To take arms, is to arm for attack or de-
fense.
Bred to arms denotes that a person has
been educated to the profession of a soldier.
3. The ensigns armorial of a family ; con-
sisting of figures and colors borne in
shields, banners, &c., as marks of dignity
and distinction, and descending from fa-
ther to son.
4. In law, arms are any tiling which a man
takes in his hand in "anger, to strike or as-
sault anotlier. Cowel. Blackstone.
5. In botany, one of the seven species of ful-
cra or props of plants, enumerated by
Linne and others. The different sjiecies
of arms or armor, are prickles, thorns,
forks and stings, which seem intended to
protect the plants from injiny by animals.
Milne. Martyn,
A R O
A R R
A R R
Kre arms, are such as may be cliargeil with
powder, as cannon, muskets, mortars, &c,
A stand of arms consists of amusket, bayonet,
cartridge-box and belt, with a sword. But
for common soldiers a sword is not neces
sary.
Ill falconiy, arms are the legs of a hawk
from the thigh to the foot. Encyc.
ARMS-END, n. At the end of the arms ; al
a good distance ; a phrase taken from box-
ers or wrestlers.
'ARMY, n. [Fr. armee ; Ir. arbhar, or arm-
har ; from the common root of arm, armo,
1. A collection or body of men armed for
war, and organized in companies, battal-
lions, regiments, brigades and clivisions,
under proper officers. In general, an ar-
my in modern times consists of infantiy
and cavalry, with artillery ; although the
union of all is not essential to the consti
tution of an army. Among savages, ar-
mies are differently formed.
2. A great number ; a vast nmltitude ; as an
army of locusts or caterpillars. Joel ii. 25
■■ARNOLDIST, n. A disciple of Arnold of
Brescia, who in the 12th century, preach-
ed against the Romisli Clnnili, H.r wljicl
he was banished ; but he wa, aliii u:ird
permitted to return. ]!\ liisinr.irlmi;.., ai
insurrection was excited, fuj- ulmli lie
was condemned and executed. Encyc.
ARNOT, 91. A name of the bunium, pig-
nut or eartlmut.
ARNOT'TO, n. The Anotta, which see.
Also a tree so called.
>ARNUTS, n. Tall oat grass.
ARO'MA, I [Gr. apuua.] The quality of
AR'OBIA, I "■ plants which constitutes theii
fragrance, which is perceived by an agree
able smell, or a warm spicy taste.
AROMAT'l€, I Fragrant ; spicy
AROMAT'ICAL, ^ "' strong-scented; odo-
riferous ; having an agreeable odor,
AROMAT'l€, n. A plant which yields a
spicy, fragrant smell, or a warm pimgent
taste ; as sage, summer savory, geranium
sweet marjoram, &c. Mihie
AR'OMATITE, n. A bituminous stone, ir
smell and color reserabhng myrrh. Coxe
AROMATIZA'TION, n. The act of hn-
pregnating or scentuig with aroma, oi
rendering aromatic.
AR'OMATIZE, i;. t. To impregnate with
aroma ; to infuse an aromatic odor ; to
give a spicy scent or taste ; to perfume.
Bacon.
AR'OMATIZED, pp. Impregnated with
aroma ; rendered fragrant.
AR'OMATIZER, n. That which commu-
nicates an aromatic quality. Evelyn.
AR'OMATIZING, ppr. Rendering spicy;
impregnating with aroma.
ARO'MATOUS, a. Containing aroma, or
the principle of fragrance.
AR'OPH, n. [A contraction ot aroma philos-
ophoriim.]
1. A name by which saffron is sometimes
called.
1. A chimical preparation of Paracelsus,
formed by sublimation from equal quanti-
ties of hematite and sal ammoniac. The
word is also used by the same writer as
synonymous with lithontriptic, a solvent
ftir the stone. Encyc. Coxe.
ARO'SE. The pastor preterite tense of the
verb, to arise.
AROUND', prep, [a and round. See Round.]i
1. About; on all sides ; encircling; encom-|
passing ; as, a lambent flame around h'
brows. Dryden
2. In a looser sense, from place to place
random.
AROUND', adv. In a circle ; on every side
2. In a looser sense, at random ; without any
fixed direction ; as, to travel around from
town to town. [See Round.]
AR6URA, n. [Gr.] A Grecian measure ofl
fifty feet. Also, a square measure of hall]
the plethron, a measure not ascertained
The Egyptian aroura was the square of
hundred feet or a hundred cubits.
Encyc. Arbuth.
AROUSE, V. t. arouz". [In Heb Xtn ; Ar.
«3 J s» haratza, to stir, to excite. It
often contracted into rouse. It may be
allied to D. raazen ; G. hrausen, to ragt
to stir, bluster ; Class Rs.]
To excite into action, that which is at rest
to stir, or put in motion or exertion, that
which is languid ; as, to arouse one frou
sleep ; to arouse the dormant faculties.
AROUS'ED, pp. Excited into action ; put
in motion.
AROUS'ING, ppr. Putting in motion ; stir-
ring ; exciting into action or exertion.
AROW, adv. [a and roio.'] In a row ; suc-
cessively. Sidney. Shak.
AROYNT', adv. Be gone ; away. Obs.
Shak.
ARPEg'6IO, n. [From If. arpa, a harp.]
The distinct sound of the notes of an instru-
mental chord, accompanymg the voice.
ffUker
ARPENT, ?!. [Fr. arpcnt ; Norm, arpen.
In Domesday, it is written arpennus, ar-
pendtis, and arpent. Columella mentions
that the arepennis was etiual to half the
Roman juger. The word is supposed to
be corrupted from arvifendium, or aripen-
mwrn, the measuring of land with a cord
Spelman. Lunier.]
A portion of land m France, ordinarily con-
taining one hundred square rods or perch
es, each of 18 feet. But the arpent is dif-
ferent in different parts of France. The
arpent of Paris contains 900 square toises
It is less than the English acre, by about
one seventh. Spelman. Encyc. Cowel.
Arthur Young.
ARQUEBUSA'DE, n. A distilled liquor
applied to a bruise. Chestetfeld.
I. The shot of an arquebuse. Ash.
ARQUEBUSE, ) [Fr. 6-om arquer, to
H' ARQUEBUSE, I "' make crooked, and
the Teutonic bus, a pii)e, a gun ; D. bus, a
tube, pipe, gun ; Sw. bossa, a gun or
non. Hence the word signifies a hook
gun.]
A hand gun ; a species of fire arms, anciently
used, which was cocked with a wheel.
It carried a ball that weighed nearly two
ounces. A larger kind, used in fortresses,
carried a ball of three ounces and a half
Encyc.
ARQUEBUSIE'R, n. A soldier armed with
an arquebuse.
AR'RACH, n. A plant. See Oirach.
ARRACK', n. contracted into rack. A
spirituous liquor imported from the East
Indies. The name is said to signify, in
the East, any spirituous liquor ; but that
which usually bears this name is toddy, a
liquor distilled from the juice of the cocoa-
nut tree, procured by incision. Some per-
sons alledge it to be a spirit distilled from
rice or sugar, fermented with the juice of
the cocoa-nut.
AR'RAGONITE, n. [From MoUua in Ai--
ragon, Spain.]
In mineralogy, a species of carbonate of
lime, but not pure, and said to contain 3 or
4 per cent, of carbonate of strontian. It
differs from pure carbonate of lime, in
hardness, specific gravity, crystaline
structure, &c. It is harder than calcarious
spar, and exhibits several varieties of
structure and form. It is ofi:en crystaU-
zed, generally in hexahedral prisms or
jtyramids. The massive varieties have
usually a fibrous structure, exhibiting va-
rious imitative forms, being sometunes
coraloidal.
Haiiy. Cleaveland. Stromeyer.
ARRA'IGN, V. t. aira'ne. [Norm, arraner.
arraisoner, and aresner, to put to answer,
to arraign. The usual derivation of this
word, from Sax. wregan, gewregan, to ac-
cuse, is probably incorrect. It appears to
be of Norman origin, and if s is radical, it
coincides in origin with L. reus, contract-
ed from the root of re*.]
1. To call or set a prisoner at the bar of a
court, to answer to the matter charged
against him in an indictment or informa-
tion. When called, the indictment is read
to him, and he is put to plead, guilty or not
guilty, and to elect by whom he will be
tried. Blackstone.
2. According to Law writers, to set in order ;
to fit for trial ; as, to arraign a writ of novel
disseisin. To arraign the assize, is to
cause the tenant to be called to make the
plaint, and set the cause in order, that the
tenant may be brought to answer. Cowel.
•3. To accuse ; to charge with faults. John-
son. More correctly, to call before the
har of reason, or taste ; to call in question;
for faults, before any tribunal.
They will not arraign you for want of knowl-
edge. Dryden.
ARRA'IGN, n. arra'ne. Arraignment ; as,
clerk of the arraigns. Blackstone.
ARRA'IGNED, pp. Called before a tribu-
nal to answer, and elect triers ; accused ;
called in qurstion.
AURA KiNIXO, yo/w. Calling beforeacourt
or ti-ihuiial ; arcusing.
ARKA 1<;XM1;NT, n. i^oxm. arresnemeni,
arraynement.]
The act of arraigning ; the act of calling and
setting a prisoner before a court to an-
swer to an accusation, and to choose his
triers.
2. Accusation.
3. A calling in question for faults.
ARRA'IMENT, n. [See Array.] Clothes;
garments. We now use raiment.
ARRANGE, V. t. [Fr. arranger, of ad and
ranger, to set m order ; Arm. renega, rang,
rank, a row or line. See Rank.]
1. To i)Ut in proper order ; to dispose the-
parts of a whole in the manner intended,
or best suited for the purpose ; as troops
arranged for battle.
A R R,
A R R
A R R
3, To adjust ; to sijttln ; to put in oirlcr ; to
prepare ; a popular ttse oj' the word of very
eencril explication.
ARRANGED, pp. Put in order ; disposed
in the proper order ; adjusted.
ARRANGEMENT, n. The act of putting in
proper order ; the state of being put in or-
der ; disposition in suitable form.
9. Tiiat which is disposed in order ; system
of parts disposed in due order.
The interest of that portion of social ar-
rangement is in the hands of all those who com-
pose it. Burke.
3. Preparatory measure; previous disposi-
tion ; as, we have made arrangements for
receiving company.
4. Final settlement; adjustment by agree
ment ; as, the parties have made an ar
rangemtnt between themselves concerning
their disputes ; a popular use of the word.
3. Classification of facts relating to a sub-
ject, in a regular, systematic order ; as the
Linnean arrangement of plants.
ARRANGER, n. One that puts in order.
ARRANGING, ppr. Putting in due order or
form ; adjusting.
AR'RANT a. [I know not the origin of this
word. It coincides in sense with tlic W.
cam, notorious.]
Notorious, in an ill sense ; infamous ; mere
vile ; as an arrant rogue or coward.
AR'RANTLY, adv. Notoriously, in an ill
sense ; infamously ; impudently ; shamefully
AR'RAS, n. [Said to be from Arras, tlie cap-
ital of Arlois, in the French Netherlands,
where this article is manufactured.]
Tapestry ; hangings wove with figures.
Shah
ARRA'Y, n. [Norm, araie, and arraer, arair,
to array, settle, prepare ; ray, a robe and
the array or pannel of tlie Jury ; Old Fr.
arroi, a word contracted ; Ir. earradh.
suit of annor, furniture, accouternients,
wares ; It. arredo, furniture, implements,
rigging ; arredare, to prepare or equip ; Arm
revza, to put in order or arrange ; Sp. arreo,
Port, arreio, arreyo, array, dress ; Port.
rear, to dress. Class Rd., and allied to
rod, radius, ray. The primary sense is
make straight or right. See Dress.]
1. Order ; disposition in regular lines ; as
army in battle array. Hence a posture ofl
defense.
2. Dress ; garments disposed in order upon
the person. Dryden.
3. In law, the act of impanneling a jury ;
or a jury impanneled ; that is, a jury set
in order by the sheriff, or called man by
man. Blackstone. Cowel.
Commission of array, in English history, was
a commission given by the prince to offi
cers in every county, to muster and array
the inhabitants, or see them in a condition
for war. Blacksto
ARRA'Y, V. i. To place or dispose in order,
as troops for battle.
2. To deck or dress ; to adorn with di-ess
it is applied especially to dress of a splen-
did kind.
^rray thyself with glory. Job, xl.
Pharaoh arrayed Joseph with fine linen.
Gen. xli-
3. To set a jury in order for the trial of e
cause ; that is, to call them man by man.
Blackstone. Cowel
4. To envelop.
f judgm
a judgn
mg or stopping of a judgment after ver-
dict, for causes assigned. Courts have
power to arre.st judgment for intrinsic cau-
ses appearing upon the face of the record ;
aswhonlhi' (|i',|:ii:iiioii varies from the
origjii.i! uni: u Inn ih- v ndict ditiers ma-
terially lio],, il„- I.I.;,,!,,,:;.; or when the
case laiil iii ili,> (l.vian.ii..M is not sufficient
in point of law, to found an action upon.
The motion for this purpose is called a
motion in arrest of judgment. Blackstone.
5. A mangy humor between the ham and
pastern of the liiiid legs of a horse.
Johnson.
\RRESTA'TION, n. The act of arresting ;
In gelid caves with horrid glooms arrayed. I 9. Any seizure, or taking by power, phvsical
T^-mnbull.n or moral. ■= .< j ' i j
ARRA'YED, pp. Set in order, or in lines ; ;j. a stop, hindrance or restraint.
arranged m order for attack or <l<-fe.|se; 4. !„ ;„„,, „n arrest of judgment is the stay
dressed; adorned by dress; impanneled, -- - -^-^ ^ •>. T - J
as a jurv ; enveloped.
ARRA'VER, n. One who arrays. In Ei
glish history, an officer who had a commis-
sion of array, to put soldiers of a coimty
in a condition for military service.
ARRA'YING, ppr. Setting in order; putting
on splendid raiment ; impanneling.
ARRE'AR, adv. [Fr. ari-iere, behind. In
some of its uses it has the sense o( lower,
inferior. [See Arriere-ban.] Sp. and Port.
arriar, to lower sail ; Arm. rem; revr, or
refr, the fundament ; W. rhevyr, id., from
rhev, thick. Lunier deduces arrear and
arriere froniL.arf and retro. But the deri-
vation from the Celtic seems most proba-
bly correct.]
Beliind ; at the hinder part. Spenser. In
this sense obsolete. But from this use, \\>-
retain the word as a noun in the phrase, mi
arrear, to signify behind in payment.
ARRE'AR, n. That which is behind in pay-
ment, or which remains unpaid, though
due. It is generally used in the plural,
as the arrears of rent, wages and taxes ;
and supposes a part of the money already
paid.
ARRE'ARAgE, n. [arre r and the common
French termination age.]
Arrears ; any sum of money remauiing un
paid, afler previous payment of a part. A
person may be in arrear for the whole
amount of a debt ; but arrears and arrear-
age imply that a part has been paid.
ARRE€T', I [L. arrccius, raised, erect,
ARRE€T'ED, ^ "• from arrigo. See Reach.]
Erect ; attentive ; as a person listening.
Menside.
ARRENTA'TION, n. [Sp. arrendar
rent, or take by lease ; of ad and reddo, to
return. See Rent.]
In the forest laws of England, a licensing the
ir of land in a forest, to inclose it with
all ditch and low hedge, in considera-
ofa yearly rent. Cowel.
ARREPTI'TIOUS, o. [L. arreptus, of ad
and rapio, to snatch. See Rapacious.]
1. Snatched away.
2. [ad and repo, to creep. See Creep.] CrepI
in privily. Johnson. Bailey.
ARREST', V. t. [Fr. arreter, for arrester
Sp. arrestar ; It. arrestare ; L. resto, to stop ;
W. araws, arosi, to stay, wait, dwell ; Eng.
to rest. See Rest.]
1. To obstruct ; to stop ; to check or hinder
motion ; as, to arrest the current of a river ;
to arrest the senses.
2. To take, seize or apprehend by virtue of
a warrant from authority ; as, to arrest one
for debt or for a crime.
3. To seize and fix ; as, to arrest the eyes or
attention.
The appearance of such a person in the
world, and at such a period, ought to arrest the
consideration of every tliinking mind.
JBuckminster.
4. To hinder, or restrain ; as, to arrest the
course of justice.
ARREST', J!. The taking or apprehending
of a person by virtue of a warrant froni
authority. An arrest is made by seizing
or touching the body.
ARRl'.S T r.l), pp. Seized ; apprehended ;
sici|i|nil ; l/indered; restrained.
AHKKSTKR, > One who an-ests. In
ARREST'OR, J "• Scots law, the ijerson at
whose suit an arrest is made.
ARRESTING, ppr. Seizing; staying ; hin-
dering; restraining.
ARREST'MENT, n. In Scots law, an ar-
rest, or detention of a criminal, till he finds
caution or surety, to stand trial.
Also the order of a judge by which a debtor
to the arrestor's debtor is prohibited to
make payirient, till the debt due to the ar-
rester is paid or secured.
ARRET', 71. [Contracted from arrests, Fr.
arrete, fixed.]
The decision of a court, tribunal or council ;
a decree published ; the edict of a sove-
reign prmce.
ARRET', v. t. To assign ; to allot. Obs.
Spe7iser.
ARRI'DE, V. t. [L. arrideo.] To laugh at ;
to please well. [JVotinuse.] B. Jonson.
ARRIE'RE, n. The last body of an army ;
now called rear, wliich see.
Arriere-ban, or ban and arriere ban. This
phrase is defined to be a general proclama-
tion of the French kings, by which not
only their immediate feudatories, but their
vassals, were summoned to take the field
for war. In this case, ariiere is the French
word signifying those who are last or be-
hind, and ban is proclamation. [See Ban.]
.drriere-fee or fief. A fee or fief dependent
on a superior fee, or a fee held of a feuda-
tory.
irriere vassal. The vassal of a vassal.
ARRI'VAL, n. The coming to, or reaching
a place, from a (hstance, whetlier by water,
as in its original sense, or by land.
2. The attainment or gaining of any object,
by effort, agreement, practice or study.
ARRI'VANCE, n. Company commg. [J^Tot
itsed.] Shak.
2. Arrival ; a reachmg in progress. Obs.
Brown.
ARRI'VE, V. i. [Fr. arriver ; Ann. arrivont,
arrivein ; It. arrivare ; Sp. Port, arribar ;
of ad and Fr. rive, the shore or sloping
bank of a river ; Sp. ribera ; L. ripa ; Sans.
arivi. In Irish, airbhe is ribs. It appears
that rib, rive and ripa are radicahy one
word ; in like manner, casta, a rib, and
coast are radically the same.]
1. Literally, to come to the shore, or baiik.
A R R
A R S
ART
Tlence to romc to or reach in progress by
water, followed by at. We arrived at
Havre de Grace, July 10, 1824. N. W.
2. To come to or reach by traveling on land ;
as, the post arrives at 7 o'clock.
8. To reach a point by progressive motion ;
to gain or compass by effort, practice,
study, enquiry, reasoning or experiment ;
as, to arrive at an unusual degree of excel-
lence or wickedness ; to arrive at a con-
elusion.
4. To happen or occur.
He to whom this glorious death arrives.
Waller.
ARRI'VE, V. t. To reach. LVot in use.]
.ShaJc.
ARRI'VING, ppr. Coming to, or reaching
by water or land ; gaining by research, ef-
fort or study.
ARRO'BA, n. [Arabic] A weight in Por-
tugal of tliirty two pounds ; in Spain, of]
twenty five pounds. Also a Spanish meas-
ure of thirty two Spanish pints.
Sp. Dictionary.
AR'ROGANCE, n. [L. arrogantia, from ar-
rogo, to claim ; of ad and rogo, to beg, oi
desire ; Fr. arrogance ; Ann. roguerdez
S]). Port, arrogancia; It. arroganza. See
Arrogate.]
The act or quaUty of taking much upon one
self; that species of pride which consists
in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, esti
niation or power, or which exalts th<
worth or importance of the person to at
undue degree ; proud contempt of others
conceitedness ; presumption.
I will cause the arrogance of the piouJ to
cease. Is. xiii. 1 Sam. ii. Prov. viii.
AR'ROGANCY, n. Arrogance. [This
thograpktj is less usual.]
AR'ROGANT, a. Assuming; making or
having the disposition to make exorbitant
claims of rank or estimation ; giving one's
self an undue degree of importance ;
haughty ; conceited ; applied to persons.
2. Containing arrogance ; marked with ar-
rogance ; proceeding from undue claims
or self importance ; applied to things ; as
arrogant pretensions or behavior.
AR'ROGANTLY, adv. In an arrogant
manner ; with undue pride or self im
portance.
AR'ROGANTNESS, n. Arrogance. [Little
used.]
AR'ROG ATE, v. t. [L. arrogo, ofad and rogo ,
Fr. arroger ; Sp. Port, arrogar ; It. arro-
gare. The primary sense of rogo, to ask
is to reach or stretch.]
To assume, demand or challenge more thai
is proper ; to make imdue claims, from
vanity or false pretensions to right or
merit ; as, the Pope arrogated dominion
over kings. I
AR'ROGATED, pp. Claimed by undue
pretensions.
AR'ROGATING, ppr. Challenging or
claiming more power or respect than is
just or reasonable.
ARROGA'TION, n. The act of arrogating,!
or making exorbitant claims ; the act oil
taking more than one is justly entitled to.
AR'ROGATIVE, a. Assuming or making
undue claims and pretensions. More.]
ARROND'ISMENT, n. [from Fr. arro7idir,\
to make round; of ad and rond, round.]
A circuit ; a district ; a division or portion of I
territory, in France, for the exercise of a
particular jurisdiction.
ARRO'SION, n. s as :. [L. arrodo.] A
gnawing.
AR'ROW,»z. [Sax. arewa. Qu.ray, radius, a
shoot.]
A missive weapon of offense, straight,
slender, pointed and barbed, to be shot
with a bow.
2. In scripture, the an-oios of God are the ap-
prehensions of his wrath, which pierce and
pain the conscience. Job vi. Ps. xxxviii.
In a like figm-ative manner, arrows repre-
sent the judgments of God, as thimder,
hghtning, tempests and famine. 2 Sam.
xxii. Ez. V. Ilab. iii. The word is used
also for slanderous words and malicious
purposes of evil men. Ps. xi. Prov. xxv.
Jer. ix. Ps. Ixiv. Cruden. Brown.
AR'ROW-GRASS, n. A plant or genus of
plants ; the Triglochin. Muhlenberg.
AR'ROW-HEAD, 71. The head of an arrow.
Sagittaria ; a genus of aquatic plants,
called from the resemblance of the leaves
to the point of an arrow.
AR' ROW-ROOT, n. The Maranta ; a genus
of plants, natives of the Indies. The In-
dians are said to employ the roots of the
arundinacea, in extracting the virus of poi
soned arrows ; w hence the name. There
are several species. From the root of the
arunflinnrert, or starch-plant, is obtamed
tlir :inii^\ -i-.Kit iif the shops. Encyc.
2. Thr >Ninli iiltlic maranta, or arrow-root,
food.
AR'KOVVV, a. Consisting of arrows.
Milton
!. Formed Uke an arrow. Cowper
ARSE, n. cvrs. [Sax. earse ; D. aars ; G
arsch ; Persic, arsit, or arst] The but-
tocks or hind part of an animal.
To hang an arse, is to lag beliind ; to be slug-
gish, or tardy.
'ARSE-SMART, n. The vulgar name of a
species of polygonum, or knot-grass.
'ARSENAL, n. [Sp. Port. It. Fr. Arm. i
magazine or repository of stores ; in Ital
ian and Spanish, a dock or dock-yard
probably L. arx navalis, a naval citadel or
repository.]
A repository or magazine of arms and niili
tary stores, whether for land or naval ser-
vice.
ARSE'NIA€ or ARSEN'ICAL ACID. Ar-
senic combined with a greater jiroportion
of oxygen, than in the arsenious acid. It
is called arsenic acid by most authors.
ARSE'NIATE, n. A neutral sah, formed by
arsenical acid combined with any metal-
lic, earthy or sahne base.
Lavoisier. Fourcroy.
ARSENIC, n. [Ar. Jiijj zirnakon ; Syr.
).:^.>.ji1 zarnika ; Gr. afntvixov; L
nicum ; Sp. arsenico ; Fr. arsenic]
Arsenic, as it is usually seen in the shops, is
not a metal, but an oxyd, from which the
metal may be easily obtained by mixing it
with half its weight of black flux, and
introducing the mixture into a Floreni
flask, gradually raised to a red heat, in
sand bath. A* brilUant metallic subhmate
of pine arsenic collects in the upper po
of the flask. Ai-senic is of h steel blue
color, quite brittle, and the metal with aB
its compounds, is a virulent poison, vul-
garly called rats-bane. It forms alloys with
most of the metals. Combined with sul-
phur it forms orpiment or realgar, which
are the yellow and red sulphurets of ar-
senic. Orpiment is the true arsenicum of
the ancients. Plin. 34, 18. Native orpi-
ment appears in yellow, brilliant, and
seemingly talcky masses of various sizes ■
realgar is red, of different shades, and of-
ten crystalized in needles. Arsenic is also
found as a mineralizer in cobalt, antimonj .
copper, iron and silver ores. It is brought
chiefly from the cobalt works in Saxony,
where zaifer is made. Webster's Manual.
Fourcroy. JSIicholson. Cyc.
.•VRSEN'ICAL, a. Belonging to arsenic r
consisting of or containing arsenic.
ARSEN'I€ATE, v. t. To combine with
arsenic.
ARSEN'ICATED, a. Combined with ar-
senic.
ARSE'NIOUS, a. Pertaunng to, or con-
taining arsenic. The arsenious acid, or
white oxyd of arsenic, is a combination of
arsenic with a less proportion of oxygen
than in the arseniac acid.
ARSENITE, n. A salt formed by the ar-
senious acid, with a base.
ARSHINE, n. A Russian measure of two
feet, four inches and 242 decimals. This
seems to be the Chinese arschin, of which
four make three yards English.
Toolce\i Russia. Encyc.
ARSON, n. arsn. [Norm. Fr. arsine, arseun ;
from L. ardeo, arsum, to burn.]
In laiD, the malicious burning of a dwelling
house or outhouse of another man, which
by the common law is felony. The defi-
nition of this crime is varied by statutes in
different countries and states. In Con-
necticut, the burning not only of a dwell-
ing house or contiguous building, but of a
ship or other vessel, is declared to be ar-
son, if human life is thereby destroyed or
put to hazard.
ART. The second person, indicative mode,
present tense, of the substantive verb am ;
but from were, Sw. vara, Dan. merer.
ART, n. [L. ars, artis ; probably contracted
from the root of W. cerz, Ir. ceard. The
radical sense is strength, from stretching,
straining, the primary sense of strength
and power, and hence of skill. See an
analogy in can.]
1. The disposition or modification of things
by human skill, to answer the purpose in-
tended. In this sense art stands opposed
to nature. Bacon. Encyc.
2. A system of rules, serving to facihtate the
performance of certain actions ; opposed
to science, or to speculative principles ; as
the art of building or engraving. Arts are
divided into useful or mechanic, and liberal
or polite. The mechanic arts are those in
which the hands and body are more con-
cerned than the mind ; as in making
clothes, and utensils. These arts are
called trades. The liberal or polite arts
are those in which the mind or imagina-
tion is chiefly concerned ; as poetry, music
and painting.
In America, literature and the elegant artx
must s;row up side by side with the coarser plants
of daily necessity. Irving.
ART
A R T
A R 1'
3. Skill, dexterity, or the power of perform
ing certain actions, ac(iuire<l by experi
ciice, study or observation ; as, a man has
the art of managing liis business to advan
tage.
ARTEMIS'IA, n. Mug-wort, southern
wood, and wormwood ; a genus of plants
of numerous species. Of these, tlie uli
sinthium or common wormwood is wel
known.
ARTE'RIAL, a. [See AHery.] Pertaining
to an artery or the arteries ; as arteriui
action.
2. Contained in an artery ; as arterial blood.
ARTERIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. apr^pwt, an ar-
tery, and to/irj, a cutting,"
Tlie opening of an artery by the lancet, for
the purpose of letting blood
•ARTERY, n. [Gr. oprjjpio, from aijp, air, and
rijptco, to i)resen'e or contain ; so called
frotn the opinion of the ancients, that the
arteries contained or circulateil air. The
term was also applied to the trachea oi
winrl pipe, arteria aspera. In Ger. hijl-
ader, air-vein, is the name for artery ; ii
Dutch, slag-ader, stroke-vein ; in Swed
puls-ader, pidse-vein ; Dan. jnds-aart
pidse vein, that is, the beating vein.]
A cylindrical vessel or tube, which convey;
the blood from the heart to all parts of the
body. There are two principal arteries
the aorta, which rises from the left ventri-
cle and ramifies through the whole body
and the pulmonary artery, which conveys
the blood from the right ventricle to the
lungs, to undergo respiration. An artery
is composed of three coats ; the outer con-
sists of condensed cellular membrane, and
is supplied with numerous blood vessels
and nerves ; the middle coat consists o;
circular fibers, generally supposed to bo
muscular ; the inner coat, thin, smooth,
and dense, confines the blood within its
canal, and facihtates its motion.
Parr. Cyc.
•ARTFUL, a. [See Art.] Performed with
art or skill. Dryden,
2. Artificial, as opposed to natural.
Johnson.
3. Cunning; practicing art, or stratagem:
crafty ; as an artful boy. [ This is the most
usual sense.]
4. Proceeding from art or craft ; as an artful
scheme.
'ARTFULLY, adv. With art, or cunning
skilfully ; dextrously.
ARTFULNESS, n. Art;
ift;
ad.l
cunnmg
ARTHRIT'IC, I ^, Pertaining to the
ARTHRIT'I€AL, ^ "• joints, or to the
gout ; affecting the joints.
ARTIIRIT'IS, n. [Gr. ap9piris, from ap9pov
a joint. It seems to be of the same fam-
ily as artus, a limb.]
In a general sense, any jiainful disease of the
joints ; but more particularly, the gout, an
hereditary, intermitting disease, usually
affecting the small joints; sometimes tlie
stomach. Coie. Ouina/.
ARTHRO'DIA, ?i. [from ap9pou, to frame or
articulate.]
1. A species of articulation, in wliich the head
of one bone is received into the shallow
socket of anotlier ; as the humerus and the
scapula. Encyc.
2. In natural history, a genus of imperfect
cr^stnl', iniiMil in complex masses, and
Ciniiliir I'm;; >irigle pyramids, with ven
>Im.i-i .'111.! -I. M,|<-i- colunms. Encyr.
'AR'I'lt. 'l\n> \\(jrd is by mistake used In
sdiiir jMithois tor arclic.
ARTICHOKE, .1. [Qu. the first syllable of
Gr. opTvrixa. Fr. artichaut ; Arm. aiii-
chauden ; Sp. alcachofa ; Port, alcachofra ;
It. carciofo, carciofano, or carciofalo. The
first syllable is probably the L. carduus,
chard, thistle, corrupted. D. artichok ; G
urlischoke ; Dan. artiskok.']
A plant somewhat resembling a thi.stle, with
a dilated, imbricated and prickly calyx.
The head is large, rough and scaly, on an
upright stalk. It is composed of nume-
rous, oval scales, inclosing the florets, sit-
ting on a broad receptacle, which, with the
fleshy base of the scales, is the eatable
part of the plant. Encyc. Miller.
The Jerusalem artichoke is a species of sun-
flower or hehanthus.
'ARTICLE, n. [L. artictdus, a joint, from
artus ; Gr. opSpor.]
1. A single clause in a contract, account,
system of regulations, treaty, or other wri-
ting ; a |)articular separate charge or item,
in an account; a term, condition, or stip-
ulation, in a contract. In short, adistmct
part of a writing, instrument or discourse,
consisting of two or more particulars ; as,
articles of agreement ; an accoiuit con-
sisting of many articles.
2. A point of faith ; a doctrinal point or
proposition in theology ; as the thirty-nine
aiiicles.
3. A distinct part.
Upon each article of human duty. Paley.
4. A particidar commodity, or substance ; as,
an article of merchandize ; salt is a neces-
sary article. In common usage, this word
is appUed to almost every separate sub-
.stance or material.
The articles which compose the blood.
Danmn.
5. A point of time. [.Vol in use.]
Clarendon.
G. In hotany, that part of a stalk or stem,
which is between two joints. Milne.
". In grammar, an adjective used before
uouns, to limit or define their appUcation ;
as hie, ille, ipse, in Latin ; o, tj, to, in Greek ;
the, this, that, in English ; le, la, les, in
French ; il, la, to, in Italian. The pri-
mary use of these adjectives was to
convert an indeterminate name into a
determinate one ; or to luuit the applica-
tion of a common name, to a specific,
known, or certain individual. But article
being an unjiroper term to express the
true signification, I make use of definitive,
which see.
ARTICLE, V. t. To draw up in distinct par-
ticulars; as, to article the eiTors or folhesi
of a man. Taylor ^
2. To accuse or charge by an exhibition of)
articles. " He shall be articled againsti
in the High Court of admiralty." Stat.'
as. George III.
3. To bind by articles of covenant or stipu-
lation ; as, to article an apprentice to a me-
chanic.
ARTICLE, V. {. [supra.] To agree by arti-
cles ; to stipulate. Donne.
^■VRTICLED, pp. Drawn up in particulars :
accused or bound by articles.
ARTK I I,\H,«. [L. articularis.]
!■' ML 111'.' 1.1 tlie joints; as, the gout is an
\l;ri( I I.VTE, a. [L.arhVu/a/us, jointed,
Formed by jointing pr articuliition of tlio
organs of speech j applied to sox'tid. An
articulate sound is. nmde "by i?iosin;t -nOd •
opening the organ.~i of speech. Thftj.iik'- ■
tion or closing of the organs forms a joint
or articulation, u.s in the .syllables ab, ad,
ap ; in passing from one articulation to an-
other, the organs are, or may be opened,
and a vowel is uttered, as in attune ; and
the diflerent articulatioii.s with the inter-
vening vocal sounds, fiiii wIku is called
articulate sounds; s.iiin.l- .li-ru.. i. hc|)a-
rate, and modified by :ini. nlaii.in ..r |i)int-
ing. This articulation r.-n-iniit. -^ the
j)rominent difference In tu. , n iIm hiiiiiiin
voice and that of briiti--. ISnii. - nji. n ihe
mouth and make vocjil >iiiiiiil.-, I.m have,
either not at all, or very imiifcrlecllv, the
power of articulation.
2. Expressed in articles, or in separate par-
ticulars. IJ^ot used.] Brown.
3. Jointed ; (firmed with joints. Botany.
ARTICULATE, v. t. To utter articulate
sounds; to utter distinct syllables or words.
2. To draw up or write in separate particu-
lars. [JVot used.] Shak.
3. To treat, stipulate or make terms. [.Vol
used.] Shak.
4. To joint. Smith.
ARTICULATED, pp. Uttered distinctly in
syllables or words.
2. Jointed ; having joints, as a plant.
ARTIC ULATELY, adv. With distinct ut-
terance of syllables or words.
2. Article by article ; in detail. Paley.
ARTIC'ULATENESS, n. The quality of
being articulate.
ARTICULATING, ;>/)r. Uttering in distinct
syllables or words.
ARTICULATION, n. In anatomy, the join-
ing or juncture of the bones. This is of
three kinds : 1st, diaiihrosis, or a mova-
ble connection, including enarthrosis, or
the ball and socket joint ; anhrodia, which
is the same, but more superficial ; gingly-
inus, or hinge-Uke joint ; and trochoid, or
the wheel and axle : 2d, synarthrosis, im-
movable connection, as by suture, or
junction by serrated margins ; harmony,
or union by straight margins ; and goni-
phosis, like a nail driven in a board, as
the teeth m their sockets : 3d, symphysis,
or union by means of another substance ;
as synchondrosis, union by a cartilage ;
syssarcosis, union by muscular fibres ;
syimeurosis, union by a tendon ; syndes-
mosis, union by hgaments ; and synostosis,
union by a bony substance.
^uincy. Coxe.
2. In botany, the connection oi the parts of a
plant by joints; also the nodes or joints,
as in cane and maize. Encyc.
3. The forming of words ; a distinct utter-
ance of syllables and words by the human
voice, by means of closing and opening
the organs.
4. A consonant; a letter noting a jointing or
closing of the organs.
'ARTIFICE, n. [L. artificium, from ars, art,
and facio, to make.]
Stratagem ; an artful or ingenious device, in
ART
a good or bad sense. In a bad sense, it
coiTes))onds with trick, or fraud.
3. Art ; trade ; skill acquired by science
practice. [Rarek/ used.]
ARTIE'IJSBH.,.?.',. \L.arHfe.r, from ars, and
faciq.]., . ' -
1. An artisl; ; a, mechanic or manufacturer
, pH^. wli/j.sv! ocGdgatitiu requires skill or
iHovviedge ot' a particular kind ; as a sil-
versmith, or Sadler.
3. One who makes or contrives ; an inventor ;
as an artificer of fraud or lies. Milton.
3. A cunnmg, or artful fellow. [JVot used.]
Ben Jonson.
ARTIFI"CIAL, a. Made or contrived by
art, or by human skill and labor, in oppo-
sition to natural ; as artificial heat or Ught
an artificial magnet.
'J. Feigned; fictitious; no
ural ; as artificial tears.
3. Contrived with skill or
4. Cultivated ; not indigenous ; not being of
spontaneous growth ; as artificial grasses.
Gibbon.
AHifidal arguments, in rhetoi-ic, are argu-
ments invented by the speaker, in distinc-
tion from laws, authorities and the like,
which are called inartificial arguments or
proofs. Johnson.
Artificial lines, on a sector or scale, are luies
so contrived as to represent the logarith-
mic sines and tangents, which, by the help
of the hne of numbers, solve, with tolerable
exactness, questions in trigonometry, navi-
gation, &c.
Artificial numbers, the same with logarithms
Chambers. Encye
ARTIFICIAL'ITY, n. The quaUty of being
artificial; appearance of art.
Shenstone.
ARTIFI"CIALLY, adv. By art, or human
skill and contrivance ; hence, with good
contrivance ; with art or ingenuity.
ARTIFI"CIALNESS, n. The quality of
being artificial.
ARTIL'LERY, n. This word has no plural.
[Fr. artilkne ; It. artiglie7-ia ; Sp. artille-
ria. In Fr. artilleur, artillier, is a matross ;
Sp. arlillar, to mount cannon. In Arm-
oric, artillery is adilhiry, and an artist is
artilher. In Norm. Fr. artillery is written
articlane. The Arinoric unites this word
with art, aHist, inihcating that the primary
sense is, instruments, things formed by art
or rather prepared by art, preparations.]
1. In a general sense, offensive weapons of
war. Hence it was formerly used for bows
and arrows.
But in present usage, appropriately,
3. Cannon ; great guns ; ordnance, inchuUng
guns, mortars and grenades, with their
furniture of carriages, balls, bombs and
shot of all kinds.
3. In a more extended sense, the word in-
cludes i)owderj cartridges, matches, uten-
sils, machines of all kinds, and horses that
belong to a train of artillery.
4. The men who manage cannon and mor-
tars, including iiiatrosses, gunners, bomb-
ardiers, c-aiinoiiins, or by whatever name
they ai-r calli-il, with the officers, engineers
and iHTsnns « lio supply the artillery witli
implements and materials. Encyc.
A R U
ARTISAN, n. s as z. [ Fr. from L. ars. Sec
Art.]
An artist ; one skilled in any art, mystery or
trade ; a handicrafls-man ; a mechanic
a tradesman.
'ARTIST, n. [¥r. artiste; It. artisla;^-om
L. ars. See AH.]
1. One skilled m an art or trade ; one who
is master or professor of a manual art ;
good workman in any trade.
2. A skilful man ; not a novice.
In an academical sense, a proficient in the
faculty of arts ; a philosopher. Encyc.
4. One skilled in the fine arts ; as a painter
scidptor, architect, &c.
'ARTLESS, a. Unskilful ; wanting art
knowledge or skill. Dryden.
2. Free from guile, art, craft or stratagem
simple ; sincere ; unaffected ; undesign-
ing ; as an aiiless mind.
3. Contrived without skill or art ; as an art-
less tale.
ARTLESSLY, adv. Without art or skill;
in an artless manner.
3. Without guile ; naturally ; sincerely ;
Pope
The quality of being
simplicity ; sincerity ;
n. [ofGr. apros, bread,
affectedly,
ARTLESSNESS,
void of art or guil
unaffectedness.
AR'TOTYRITE,
and Tupos, cheese.]
One of a sect of heretics, in the primitive
church, who celebrated the euchai'ist with
bread and cheese, alledging that the first
oblations of men were not only the fruit of
the earth, but of their flocks. They ad-
mitted females to the priesthood and epis-
copacv. Encyc.
.4RTS-MAN, n. A learned man. Obs.
Shak.
ARUNDE'LIAN, a. Pertaining to Arundel,
as Arundelian marbles. The Arimdelia
marbles are ancient stones, containing
chronological detail of the principal events
of Greece, from Cecrops, who lived about
1582 years before Christ, to the archonship
of Diognetus, before Christ 264. The en-
graving was done in Pares, and the chro-
nology is called the Parian Chronicle
These stones are called Arundelian from
the Earl of Arundel, who employed W
liam Petty to procure relics of antiquity in
the East, in 1624. These, with other
osities, were purchased, and by the Earl's
grandson presented to the University of
Oxford. Their antiquity and even their
authentioitv has been questioned. Ena/c.
ARUNDINA'CEOUS, a. [L. arundo, a reed.]
Pertaining to a reed ; resembhng the reed
or cane
ARUNDIN'EOUS, a. Abounding with reeds.
ARU'RA, n. [Gr. apspo.] Literally, as au
thors suppose, a ploweti field. According
to Herodotus, and Suidas, the arura of
Egypt, was a piece of ground fifty feet
square. Others make it a square of 100
cubits ; others of 100 feet. The Grecian
aroura was a square measure of half the
plethron, [See Aronra.]
Encyc. Herod. Euterpe.
[L.] A soothsayer.
Dryden.
writteji also haruspice.
haruspex, a soothsayer, or
VRUS'PEX,
ARUS'PICE,
[L. aruspex.
diviner, who attemjKed to foretell events
A S B
by consulting the entrails of beasts slain iia
sacrifice. Qu. Teut. or/; i/r/"; Eth. A4T
arwe, cattle, and L. specio, to view.]
A priest, in ancient Rome, whose business
was to inspect the entrails of victhns, killed
m sacrifice, and by them to foretel future
events.
ARUS'PICY, n. The act of prognosticating
by inspection of the entrails of beasts, slain
m sacrifice. Butler.
AS, adv. nz. [Pers. \,^\ asa, like, similar,
as ; Gr. uj. Qii. Fr. aussi. But more prob-
ably the English word is contracted fi-oni
als, G. and D. It corresponds in sense
with the Persian.]
1. Literally, Uke ; even; similar. " Ye shaH
be as Gods, knowmg good and evil." " As
far as we can see," that is, like far, equally
far. Hence it may be explained by in like
manner ; as, do as you are connnanded.
2. It was formerly used where we now use
that Obs.
The relations are so unccrtiiin as they require
a great deal of examination. Bacon.
3. It was formerly used for as if. Obs.
He lies, as he his bliss did know.
Waller.
V\''hile ; dm-ing ; at the same time. " He
trembled as he spoke." But in most of its
uses, it is resolvable into like, equal, even,
or equally, in like manner. In some phra-
ses, it must be considered a nomuiative
word, or other words must be supplied.
" Appoint to office such men as deserve
pubUc confidence." This phrase may be
elliptical for " such men as those who de-
serve public confidence."
As seems, in some cases, to imply the sense
of ))ro])ortion. " In general, men are more
happy, as they are less involved in pubhc
concerns."
?, m a subsequent part of a sentence, an-
swers to such ; give us such tilings as you
please ; and in a preceding part of a sen-
tence, has so to answer to it ; as with the
people, so with the priest.
AS, n. [L.] A Roman weight of 12 ouncesj
answering to the libra or potmd.
A Roman coin, origuially of a pound
weight ; but reduced, after the first Punic
war, to two ounces ; in the second Punic
war, to one ounce ; and by the Papirian
law, to half an ounce. It was originally
stamped with the figure of a sheep, sow,
or ox ; and afterwards with a Jamis, on
one side, and on the reverse, a rostrum o^-
prow of a ship.
3. An integer ; a whole or single thing.
Hence the English ace. Hence the Ro-
mans used the word for the whole inher-
itance ; haeres ex asse, an heir to the whole
estate. Encyc.
ASA, a corru])tion oflasar, an ancient name
of a gum. [See Ooze.]
ASA-DULCIS, the same as benzoin.
ASA-FET'IDA, n. [Asa, gum, and L. fati-
dus, fetid.]
A fetid gum-resin, from the East Indies. It
is the concrete juice of a large imibelhfer-
ous plant, much used in Medicine, as ai»
antispasmodic. Encyc.
ASBES'TINE, a. [See Asbestus.]
Pertaining to asbestus, or i)aitaking of it'?
nature and qualities ; ineonibustible.
A S C
A S C
A S C
ASBES'TINITE, n. [See Jlshestus.] The
actinolite or stralilstciii. Kirwan.
Calciferous abestinite ; u variety of steatite.
Kirwan.
ASBES'TUS, } [Gr. aaSi^o,, inextiiiguisii-
ASBES'TOS, <, "•alp|e;ofaneg.and<jSE.TVMi,
•\ti
A niiii(i:il, wliiclj lias frequently the appear-
ance (if a \ ejjctahle .suhstaiieo. It isalways
filjri)us, and its fihers sometimes aj)pear tc
l)e prismatic crystals. They are some-
times delicate, flexible, and elastic ; al
other times, stiff and brittle. Its powder
is soft to the touch; its colors are s
shade of white, gray or green, passing
brown, red or black, ft is incombustible,
anil has been wrought into a soft, fl
cloth, which was formerly used as a shroud
for dead bodies. It has been al.-i
factured into incombustible pajjer, and
wicks for lamps.
Kirwan. Encyc. Cleaveland.
Ugniform asbeslus is a variety of a brown
color, of asphntery fracture, and if broken
across, presents an irregidar filamentous
structure, like wood. Kirwan.
ASCA'RIS, n. plu. ascar'ides. [Gr.]
In zoology, a genus of intestinal worms. The
body is cylindrical, and tapering at the
ends. It includes two of the mc
mon worms in the lumian intestines, the
ascarides, and the lumbricoides.
ASCEND', V. {. [L. ascendo, from scando, to
mount or climb ; VV. e.igyn, to rise ; cyn
first, chief It has the same elements as
begin.]
1. To move upwards ; to mount ; to go up
to rise, wlietlier in an- or water, or upon a
material object.
2. To rise, in a figurative sense ; to proceed
from an inferior to a superior degree, from
mean to noble objects, from particulars tc
generals, &c.
3. To proceed from modern to ancient times
to recur to former ages ; as, our inquiries
ascend to the remotest antiquity.
4. In a corresponding sense, to proceed in a
line towards ancestors ; as, to ascend
our first progenitors.
5. To rise as a star ; to proceed or come
above the horizon.
C. In mmic, to rise in vocal utterance ;
l)ass from any note to one more acute.
ASCEND', V. t. To go or move upwards
upon, as to ascend a hill or ladder; or to
climb, as to ascend a tree.
ASCEND' ABLE, a. That maybe ascended,
ASCEND'ANT, n. Superiority or conmiaud-
ing influence ; as, one man has the ascend-
ant over another.
'i. An ancestor, or one who precedes in ge-
nealogy, or degrees of kindred ; ojjposed
to descendant.
3. Ilighth ; elevation. [Little used.]
Temple.
4. hi astrology, that degree of the echptic
which rises above the horizon at the time
of one's birth. That part of the echptic
at any particular time above the horizon,
supposed to have influence on a person's
life and fortune. Johnson. Encyc.
ASCEND'ANT, a. Superior ; predominant ;
surpassing.
•i. In astrologi), above the horizon.
ASCEND'Ei), pij. or a. Risen ; mounted up;
irone to heaven.
Vol. I.
ASCEND'ENCY, n. Power; governing oi
controlling influence.
Custom has an ascendency over the under-
standing. Watts.
ASCE.\D'ING, ppr. Rising; moving up-
wards ; proceeding from the less to the
griiater ; proceeding from modern to an-
cient, from grave to more acute. A star
is said to be ascending, when rising above
the horizon, in any parallel of the equator.
scending latitude is the latitude of a planet,
when moving towards the North pole.
Ascending node is that point of a planet's or-
bit, wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed
northward. It is also called the northern
node.
\.,1scending vessels, in .'cnatoniy, arc thos(
whicli carrv the liluinl M|i\\aiil or tow;u-(
tiio su|icrio"r parlsortliclMiilv.
ASCEN'SION, n. [L. ascensi6.]
1. The act of ascending; arising. It is fre-
quently applied to the visible elevation of]
our Savior to Heaven.
2. The thing rismg, or ascending. [JVot
authorized.]
3. In astronomy, ascension is either right or
obliijue. Right ascension of the sim or of a
star, is that degree of the equinoctial,
counted from the beginning of Aries,
which rises with the sim or star, in a right
sphere. Obliiiue ascension is an arch of
the equator, intercepted between the first
point of Aiies, and that point of the equa-
tor which rises together with a star, in ar
oblique sphere. Johnson.
ASCENSION-DAY, n. A festival of some
cliristian churches, held ten days or on
the Thursday but one, before Whitsuntide,
which is called Holy Thursday, in com-
memoration of our Savior's ascension into
heaven, after his resurrection.
Ascensional difference is tlie difference be-
tween the right and oblique ascension of
the same point on the surface of the S|)here.
Chambers.
ASCEN'SIVE, a. Rising ; tending to rise,
or causing to rise. Joum. of Science.
ASCENT', n. [L. ascensus.]
'. The act of rising ; motion upwards,
whether in air, water or other fluid, nr on
elevated objects ; rise ; a mountiiifj np-
• wards; as the ascent of vapors from the
earth.
2. The way by which one ascends ; the
means of ascending. Baron.
3. An eminence, hill or high place.
Mdison
4. The degree of elevation of an object, or
the angle it makes with a horizontal line
as, a road has an ascent of fi^e degrees.
Acclivity ; the rise of a hill ; as a steep
ascent.
ASCERTA'IN, v.t. [from the L. ad certum.
to a certainty.]
. To make certain ; to define or reduce to
precision, by removing obscurity or ambi-
giuty.
The divine law ascertains the truth. Hooker.
. To make certain, by trial, examination or
experiment, so as to know what was be-
fore imknown ; as, to ascertain the weight
of a commodity, or Uie purity of a metal.
3. To make sure by previous measures.
Tl>c ministry, in order to ascertain a majority
in (he house of lords, jiersuaded the queen to
create twelve new peers. Smollett
14
4. To make certain or confident, followed hy
a pronoun ; as, to a.'irertain j(.sof the good-
ness of our work. [Vniisval.] Dryden.
5. To fix ; to establish wiili certainty; to
render invariable, an<l not suhject to will.
The mildness and precision of their laws as-
certained the mle and measure of taxation.
Gibbon.
ASCERTA'INABLE, a. That may be made
certain in fact, or certain to the mind ;
that may be certainly known or reduced
to a certainty. Kerr's Lavoisier.
ASCERTA'INED, pp. Made certain ; de-
fined ; established ; reduced to a certainty.
ASCERTA'INER, n. The person who as-
certains or makes certain.
ASCERTA'IMXO, ppr. Making certain ;
; (--^iiiliii^liing ; reducing to a cer-
: nliiainiiii.' certain knowledge.
ASCi;i!'l A l.NiMENT, n. The act of ascer-
tahiing ; a reducing to certainty ; certainty ;
fi-'i:<''l rule. Suiff. Burke.
ASCESSANCY, ) [See Acescency, Aces-
ASCESSANT, J cent.]
ASCET'IC, a. [Gr. aoxr;ro;, exercised, hard-
ened ; from aaxtu, to exercise.]
Retired tioni tlie world; rigid; severe ; aus-
tere ; cmi)loyed in devotions and mortifi-
cations.
ASCET'I€, n. One who retires from the
customary business of life, and devotes
himself to tlie duties of piety and devotion ;
a hermit ; a recluse.
2. The title of certain books, on devout ex-
ercises ; as the ascetics of St. Basil.
AS'CIAN, n. [L. ascii, from Gr. a prW.
and BXM, a shadow.]
A person, who, at certain times of the year,
has no shadow at noon. Such are the
inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have,
at times, a vertical sun. Bailey.
AS'CITANS, n. [Gr. oaxoj, a bag or bottle
of skin.]
.K sect or branch of Montanists, who appear-
ed in the second century. They introdu-
ced into their assemblies, certain bacchan-
als, who danced around a bag or skin
distended with air, in allusion to the bot-
tles filled with new wine. Math ix. Encyc.
AS'CITES, n. [Gr. affxoj, a bladder.]
A dropsy or tense elastic swelling of the
belly, with fluctuation, from a collection of
"••Iter. CoTe. Quincy.
AS( IT IC. i ^ Belonging to an ascites;
ASCIT UAL, 5 ■ dropsical; hydropical.
ASCITI TIOUS, a. [L.ascifus; Low L.
ascititius ; trom ascisco, to take to or asso-
ciate.]
Additional ; added ; supplemental ; not inhe-
rent or original.
Homer has been reckoned an ascititious
name. Pope.
AS€LE'PIAD, Ji. In ancient poetry, a verse
of four feet, the first of which is a .spondee,
the second, a choriamb, and the last two,
dactyls ; or of four feet and a cesura, the
first, a spondee, the second, a dactyl, then
the cesura, followed by two dactyls ; a.s,
Maece | nas ata : vis | edite 1 regihus. Encyc.
AS€RI'BABLE, a. [See Ascribe.] Thai
may be ascribed or attributed.
ASCRIBE, V. t. [L. ascribo, of ad and .scribo,
to write.]
1. To attribute, impute, or set to, astoacau.se ;
to assign, as effect to a cause ; as, losses
are often to be ascribed to imprudence.
A 8 11
A S I
ASK
•1. To uliribiito, n*i a quahty, or an appurte-
nance ; to consider or alledge to belong ;
as, to ascribe perfection to God, or imper-
fection to man. Job xxxvi. Ps. 'Ixviii.
1 Sam. xviii.
ASCRI'BED, ])p. Attributed or imputed;
considered or alledged, as belonging.
AS€RI'BING, 7);)r. Attributing; imputing;
alledging to belong.
ASCRIP'TION, n. The act of ascribing,
imputing or atTirming to belong.
\S€RIPTI"TIOUS, a. That is ascribed.
This word is applied to villains under the
feudal system, who are annexed to the
freehold and transferable with it.
Spelman. Lib. JViger Scaccarii.
ASH, n. [Sax. ase ; Dan. ask ; Germ, esche ;
D. essche ; Russ. yassen.]
1. A well known tree, of which there are
many species. There is no hermaphrodite
calyx, or it is quadripartite ; and no corol,
or it is tetrapetalous. There are two sta-
mens ; one pistil ; one seed, contained in a
membranous, lanceolate capsule, and tlie
pistil of the female flower is lanceolate
The leaves are pinnate, and the capsules
grow in clusters. This wood is valuable,
for fuel, as well as for timber ; and the
tree, when it grows in an open field, often
formp, with its branches, a beautiful oval
figure and a thick shade.
Encyc. Linne. MUlei
2. The wood of the ash tree.
ASH, a. Pertaining to or like the ash ; made
of asli.
ASHA'ME, V. t. To shame. [JVot tised.]
ASHA'MED, «. [from Sax. gescamian or as-
camian, to be ashamed, to blush, iron)
scama, shame ; originally a participle. See
Shame.]
1. Affected by shame ; abashed or confused
by guilt or a conviction of some criminal
action or indecorous conduct, or by the
exposure of some gross errors or miscon-
duct, which the person is conscious must
be wrong, and which tends to impair his
honor or reputation. It is followed by of.
Thou shall remember thy ways, and be asha-
med. Ex. xvi.
Israel shall be ashamed of liis own counsel.
Hosea x.
9. Confused by a consciousness of guilt or of
inferiority ; by the mortification of pride
by failure or disappointment.
They shall be greatly ashamed, Ihat trust ii
images. Isa. xlii.
[This adjective always follows its noun.'}
ASHA'MEDLY, adv. Bashfully. [J^ot used.]
ASH-€OLORED, a. Of a color between
brown and gray. Woodward.
ASH'EN. a. [See Ash.] Pertaining to ash ;
made of ash.
ASH'ES, n. plu. without the singular num-
ber. [Sax. asca ; Goth, azga ; D. asch ; G.
asche ; Sw. aska ; Dan. aske ; Basque, aus-
cxia.]
1. The earthy particles of combustible sub-
stances remaining after combustion ; as of
wood or coal.
2. The remains of the human body when
burnt. Hence figuratively, a dead body
or corpse.
3. In scnpture, ashes is vised to denote vile
ness, meanness, frailty, or liumiliation.
I who am but dust and ashes. Gen. xviii.
1 abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
Job xlii.
ASH'-FIRE, n. A low fire used in chunical
operations.
ASH'-HOLE, n. A repositoi^ for ashes ; the
lower jiart of a furnace.
ASH'LAJl, Ji. Common or free stones, as
they come from the quarry, of difti;rent
lengths, breadths and thicknesses.
Johnson.
ASH'LERING, n. Quartering for lathing
to, in garrets, two or three feet high, per-
pendicular to the floor, and reacliing to
the under side of the rafters. Encyc.
ASHO'RE, adv. [a, at or on, and shore. See
Shore.]
1. On shore ; on the land adjacent to water ;
to the shore ; as, bring the goods ashore.
On land, opposed to aboard ; as, the cap-
tain of the ship. remained asAorc.
3. On the ground ; as, the ship was driven
ashore.
ASHWEDNESDAY, n. The first day of
Lent ; supposed to be so called from a cus-
tom in the Romish Church of sprinkhng
ashes, that day, on the heads of penitents,
then admitted to penance.
ASH'-WEED, n. A plant, the small wild
angehca, gout-wort, goats-foot, or herb-
gerard. Encyc,
ASHY, a. Belonging to ashes ; ash-color-
ed ; pale ; inchnuig to a whitish gray.
Shak
\SHY-PALE, a. Pale as ashes. Shak
\'SIAN, a. [from J}sia, a name originally
gwen to Asia Minor or some part of it
))erhaps fi-om the Asses, Ases or Osses,
about Mount Taurus. Mallet, JVorth. Ant
i. 60. Plin. 6. 17.]
Pertaining to Asia. Dryden. Mitford.
A'SIAR€H, n. [Asia and apxof, chief]
A chief or pontiff of Asia ; one who had
the sujjerintendence of the public games,
Acts xix. Milner.
ASIAT'I€, a. Belonging to Asia, a quarter
of the globe whicli extends from the strait
of Constantinople and the Arabian gulf, to
the Pacific ocean on the east. It is proba
ble, the name was originally appropriated
to what is now Asia Miiior or rather a
part of it.
ASIAT'Ie, n. A native of Asia.
ASIAT'ICISM, n. Imitation of the Asiatic
manner. JVarton.
ASI'DE, adv. [a and side. See Side.
I. On or to one side ; out of a perpendicular
straight direction.
i. At a little distance from the main part or
body.
Thou shall set asUle that which is full. 2
Kings iv.
3. From the body ; as, to jiut or lay aside a
gai-ment. John xiii.
4. From the company ; at a small distance
or ui private ; as when speakers utter
something by themselves, upon the stage.
5. Separate from the person, mind or atten-
tion ; in a state of abandonment.
Let us lay aside every weight. Heb. xii.
6. Out of the fine of rectitude or propriety,
a moral view.
They are all gone aside. Ps. xiv.
7. In a state of separation to a particular
use ; as, to set aside a thing for a future
day.
To set aside, in judicial proceedings, is to de
feat the eflfect or operation of, by a subse-
quent decision of a superior tribunal ; as.
to set aside a verdict or a judgment.
ASINE'GO, n. [Sp. asnico, a httle ass.] A
foolish fellow. Mason.
AS'ININE, rarely AS'INARY, a. [L. asi-
nus ; W. asyn, the ass ; which see.]
Belonging to the ass ; ha^^ng the quaUties of
the ass.
ASK, V. t. [Sax. ascian, acsian, or aiian ;
D. eischen ; G. heischen ; Ir. ascaim ; Gr;
allow. Qu. Eth. ^ ft tV t'^ pray or beseech.
In former times, the EngUsh word was
])ronouneed ax, as in the royal style of as-
senting to bills in Parliament. " Be it as
it is axed." In Calmuc, asoc signifies to in-
quire. The sense is to urge or press.]
1. To request ; to seek to obtain by words ;
to petition ; with of before the person to
whom the request is made.
Ask counsel of God. Judges xviii.
2. To require, expect or claim.
To whom men J^ave committed much, of him
they wiU ask the more. Luke xii.
3. To interrogate, or inquire ; to put a ques-
tion, with a view to an answer.
He is of age, ask him. John ix.
4. To require, or make claim.
Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv.
Dan. ii.
5. To claim, require or demand, as the price
or value of a commodity ; to set a price ;
as, what price do you ask ?
L To requiie, as physically necessarj'.
The exigence of a stale asks a much longer
time to conduct the design to maturity.
Addison .
This sense is nearly or entirely obsolete :
ask being superseded by require and de-
mand.
7. To invite ; as, to ask guests to a wedding
or entertainment ; ask my friend to step
into the house.
ASK, V. i. To request or petition, followed
by for ; as, ask for bread ; or without for.
Ask and it shall be given you. Mat. «i.
2. To incpiire, or seek by request ; some-
times followed by after.
Wherefore dost thou ask after my name ?
Gen. xxxii.
This verb can hardly be considered as
strictly intransitive, for some person or ob-
ject is always understood.
Ask is not equivalent to demand, claim, and
require, at least, in modern usage ; much
less, is it equivalent to beg and beseech.
The first three words, demand, claim, re-
quire, iiiqily a right or supposed right in
the person asking, to the thuig requested ;
and beseech imphes more urgency, than ask.
Ask and request imply no right, but sup-
pose the thing desired to be a favor. The
French demander is correctly rendered by
ask, rather than by demand.
ASK\\NCE, ? , " [D. schuins, sloping.]
ASK^ANT, I '^^- Sideways ; obhquely ;
towards one corner of tlie eye. Dryden.
^ASKED, pp. Requested ; petitioned ; ques-
tioned ; mterrogated.
'ASKER, Ji. One who asks ; a petitioner ;
an inquirer.
2. A water newt. Johnson.
ASKEW adv. [G.schief; Dan. ski(EV ; D.
schccf, awry, crooked, oblique.]
ASP
^Vith a wry look ; aside ; askant ; sometimes
indicating scorn, or contempt, or envy.
Sptnser.
ASKING, ppr. Requesting; petitioning;
interrogating ; inquiring.
2. Silently expressing request or desire.
Kxplain the asking eye. Pope.
ASLA'KE, V. I. [Sax. nulacian. See Slack.]
To remit ; to slacken. [.Vo/ in use.] Speiise;
ASLA'NI, n. A silver coin worth from 115
to 120 aspers. Enn/c.
ASL'ANT, a. or adv. [a and slant. See
Slant.]
On one side ; obliquely ; not perpendicularly
or with a right angle.
The shaft drove through his neck aslant
Dry den
ASLEE'P, a. or adv. [a and sleep, or Sax,
ge^lapan, to sleep.]
1. Sleeping ; in a state of sleep ; at rest.
Sisera was fast asleep. Judges iv.
2. To a state of sleep ; as to fall asleep.
-!?. Dead ; in a state of death.
Concerning them who arc asleep, sonrow not.
1 Thess. iv.
4. To death.
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue. 2 Pet. iii.
ASLO'PE, a. or adv. [n and slope. See
Slope.]
With leaning or inclination ; obliquely ; wit
declivity or descent, as a hill ; dechning
from an upright direc-tion.
Set theni not upright, but aslope. Bacon
ASLUG', adv. In a sluggish manner. [JVot
tised.] Fotherby.
ASMONE'AN, a. Pertaining to Asmoneus,
the father of Simon, and chief of the As
moneans, a family that reigned over the
Jews 126 years.
ASMONE'AN, n. One of the family of As
moneus.
ASO'MATOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and e^ixa,
body.]
Without a material body ; incorporeal. [JVot
used.] Todd.
ASP, } ji [L. aspis ; Gr. asrtis, a round
ASP'I€, ^ ■ shield and an asp ; supposed
to be from Ileb. and Ch. 30X,to gather in,
or collect ; from the coil of this serpent,
with his head elevated in the center, like
the boss of a buckler.]
A small poisonous serpent of Egypt and
Libya, whose bite occasions inevitable
death, but without pain. It is said that
the celebrated Cleopatra, rather than be
carried a captive to Rome by Augustus,
suffered death by the bite of the asp ; but
the fact has been questioned. Authors
are not agreed, as to what species the asp
of the ancients should be referred. Bruce
thinks it the coluber cerastes, Liime.
ASPAL'ATHUS, n. A plant.
ASPAR'AgIN, n. White transparent crys-
tals of a peculiar vegetable principle,
which spontaneously form in asparagus
juice evaporated to the consistence of
"su-up. They are ui the form of rhom-
boidal prisms. Ure
ASPAR'AGUS, 7J. [L. and Gr. ; probably
from 8rtopo9(ju, to tear, from its lacerated
appearance, or from the root of ujtttpa, a
spire, from its stem.]
Sparagus ; sperage ; vulgarly, sparrow-grass
a genus of plants. That which is cultiva
ted in gardens, has an upright herbaceous
ASP
stalk, bristly leaves, and equal stipuJas.
The roots have a bitterish mucilaginous
taste ; and the stalk is, in some degree,
aperient and deobstruent, but not verj'efH-
caciou.s. Encyc,
"ASPECT, n. [L. aspectus, from asptcio, to
look on, of arf and specio, to see or look.]
1. Look ; view ; appearance to the eye or
the mind ; as, to present an object or a
subject in its true aspect, or under a double
a.ipect. So we say, public afl'airs have
favorable aspect.
2. Countenance ; look, or particular appear-
ance of the face ; as a mild or severe
pect.
3. View ; sight ; act of seeing. [This sense
is now unusual.]
4. Position or situation with regard to „._
I ing, or that position which enables one to
I look in a particular direction ; as, a house
I has a southern aspect, that is, a position
I which faces or looks to the south.
5. In astronomy, the situation of one planet
with respect to another. The aspects are
five; sextile, when the planets are 60°
distant ; quartile, or quadrate, when their
distance is 90°, or the quarter of a circle ;
trine, when the distance is 120° ; opposi-
tion, when the distance is 180°, or half a
circle ; and conjunction, when they are in
the same degree.
ASPECT', V. t. To behold. [JVot used.]
Temple.
ASPECT' ABLE, a. That may be seen.
[.Vol used.] Raleigh.
ASPECT'ED, a. Having an aspect. [Xot
tised.] B. Jonson
ASPEC'TION, „. The act of viewing
[A'ot used.] Brown
ASP'EN or ASP, n. [D. esp; G. aspe, dspe ;
Sax. (espe ; Sw. asp ; Dan. a;sp ; Qu. from
the Ar.^^^ gashafa, to be agitated.]
A species of the poplar, so called from thi
trembUng of its leaves, which move with
the sUghtest impulse of the air. Its leaves
are roundish, smooth, and stand on long
slender foot-stalks.
.\SP'EN, a. Pertaining to the aspen, or re-
sembling it ; made of aspen wood.
Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze
Gay
AS'PER, a. [L. See Asperate.] Rough
rugged. [Little used.] Bacon.
AS'PER, n. [L. aspiro, to breathe.]
In grammar, the Greek accent ' , unporting
that the letter over which it is placed
ought to be aspirated, or pronounced as if
the letter h preceded it. Encyc.
jAS'PER, n. A Turkish coin, of which three
make a medine. Its value is about a cent
and 12 decimals.
IAS' PER ATE, V. t. [L. aspero, from asper,
rough.]
To make rough or uneven. Boyle.
ASPER A'TION, n. A making rough.
ASPERIFO'LIATE, a. [L. asper, rough,
and folium, a leaf]
Having rough leaves. Plants of this kind
are, by some authors, classified according
to this character. They constitute the
foity-first order of Linne's fragments of a
natural method. In the methods of Her-
man, Boerhave, and Ray, tliis class con-
sists of plants wliich "have four naked
ASP
seeds. Their leaves stand alternately on
the stalks, and the flower is monopetalous
in five di> isir)ns. Encyc. Milne.
ASPERIFO'LIOUS, a. Having leaves rough
to the touch. [See the preceding word.]
ASPER ITV, n. [L. asperitas, from asper.
rough.]
1. Roughness of surface ; unevenness : op-
posed to smoothness. Boyle.
2. Roughness of sound ; that quahty which
grates the ear ; harshness of [ironunciation.
Warton.
.3. Roughness to the taste : sourness.
4. Roughness or ruggedness of temper ; mo-
roseness ; sourness ; crabbedness. Rogers.
5. Sharpness. Berkeley.
ASPEROUS,a. [L. asper, rough.] Rough;
uneven. Boyle.
ASPERSE, V. t. aspers'. [L. aspergo, asper-
sus, of ad and spargo, to scatter ; Ar. ^ j
to spUt, divide, scatter. See Class Brg.]
1. To bespatter with foul reports or false
and injurious charges ; to tarnish in point
of reijutation, or good name ; to slander or
calumniate ; as, to asperse a |)oet or his
writings ; to asperse a character.
2. To cast upon. Heywood.
ASPERS ER, n. One that asperses, or vih-
fies another.
.\SPER'SION, n. A .'=prinkhng,as of water
or dust, in a literal sense. Shak.
2. The spreading of calumnious reports or
charges, which tarnish reputation, like the
bespattering of a body with foul water.
Bp. Hall.
ASPHALT', I [Gr.aataWo;.] Bitumen
ASP1L\LT'UM, S Judaicum, Jew's pitch;
a smooth, hard, brittle, black or brown
substance, which breaks with a polish,
melts easily when heated, and when pure,
burns without leaving any ashes. It has
little taste, and scarcely any smell, unless
heated, when it emits a strong smell of
pitch. It is found in a soft or liquid state
on the surface of the Dead Sea, which,
from this substance, is called Asphaltite, or
the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in
the earth, in many parts of Asia, Europe
and America. Formerly, it was used tor
embalming dead bodies ; the sohd asphalt
is still employed in Arabia, Egypt, and
Persia, instead of pitch for ships ; and the
fluid asphalt is used for varnishing, and
for burning in lamps. A species found in
Neufchatel is found excellent as a cement
for walls and pavements ; very durable in
an', and not penetrable by water. A com-
position of asphalt, lamp black and oil is
used for drawing black figures on dial-
plates. Encyc. .\icholson.
ASPHALT'IC, a. Pertaining to asphalt, or
containing it ; bituminous. Milton.
ASPHALT ITE, a. Pertaining to or con-
taining asphalt. Bryant. Wilford.
AS PHODEL, »i. [L. and Gr. See Theoph.
Lib. 7. Phn. Lib. 21. 17. Perhaps it is
from the root of spud ; Sw. spyd ; Ice.
spioot, a spear, from the shape of its
leaves.]
King's-spear ; a genus of Uhaceous plants,
cultivated for the beauty of their flow-
ers. The ancients planted asphodels near
graves, to supply the manes of the dead
with nourishment. Encyc. Johnson.
A 8 P
ASS
ASS
, a hammer ; not malleable,
A series of semimetallic fossils, fTisible bj
ASPIIU'RELATES, n. [Gr. a priv. and
s, ui
fire, and in their purest state not niallea
ble. Ill their native state, they are mixed
with sulphur and other adventitious mat-
ter, in the form of ore. Under this denom-
ination are classed bismuth, antimony, co-
balt, zink and quicksilver. Core. Encyc.
ASPHYX'Y, n. [Gr. aafv^M, of a priv. and
o^ulij, pulse.]
A temporary suspension of the motion of]
the heart and arteries ; swooning ; faint-
ing. QidncT/. Coxe.
ASP'I€, 7!. The asp, which see.
2. A ])iece of ordnance carrying a twelve
poimd shot.
ASP'I€, n. A plant growing in France, a
species of lavender, which it resembles in
the blue color of its flowers, and in the
iigure and green color of its leaves. It is
called male-lavender, .spica nardi, and
Pseudo-nardus. The oil of this plant
used by painters, farriers and other art
cers. It is very inflammable, of a wliite
color and aromatic ; and it is almost the
only dissolvent of sandarac.
J\picholson. Fourcroy
ASPI'RANT, n. [See Aspire.] One wlio
aspires, breathes after, or seeks with eager-
ness. Faher.
AS'PIRATE, t'. t. ]L. aspiro, to breathe or
blow ; Gr. osrtaipu, to palj)itate ; fromspiVo,
and ijrtaipu ; Ar. j, i^o safara, to hiss, or
make a hissing by blowing on a wind in-
strument. See Spire, Spirit.]
To pronounce with a breathing or full emis-
sion of lireath. We aspirate the word.';
horse and house. Dryden.
AS'PIRATE, V. i. To be uttered with a
strong breathing ; as, the letter h aspirates.
Dryden.
AS'PIRATE, n. A letter marked with an
asper, or note of breathing ; a mark of as-
piration, as the Greek accent ' .
Beniley.
AS'PIRATE, a. Pronounced with a full
breath. Holder.
AS'PIRATED, pp. Uttered with a strong
emission of breath.
AS'PIRATING, ppr. Pronouncing with a
full breath.
ASPIRA'TION, n. The pronunciation of a
letter with a full emission of breath.
Holder.
2. A breathing after ; an ardent wish or de-
sire, chiefly of spiritual blessings. Jf'atts.
3. The act of aspiring or of ardently desiring
what is noble or spnitual.
ASPI'RE, V. i. [L. aspiro, to breathe. See
Aspirate.]
1. To desire with eagerness ; to pant after
an object, great, noble or spiritual ; follow
ed by to or ajltr ; as to aspire to a cr6wn,
or ujler unmortality.
2. To aim at something elevated ; to rise or
tower with desire.
Aspiring to be Gods, if angels fell ;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope
ASPI'RER, n. One who aspires ; one who
aims to rise in power or consequence, t
to accomplish some important object.
Mitto.
ASPi'RING ppr. Desiring eagerly ; aiming
at something noble, great, or spiritual.
ASPI'RING, a. Ambitious : animated with
an ardent desire of power, importance, or
excellence.
ASPIRING, n. Ambition ; eager desire of
something great. Hammond.
2. Points ; stops. [JVol used.] Herbert.
ASPORTA'TION, n. [L asportatio, of abs
and poHo, to carry ; W. porthi, to carry
See Bear.]
A cari'ying away. In laiv, the felonious re-
moval of goods from the place where they
were ileposited, is an asportation, and ad-
judged to be theft, though the goods are
not carried from the house or apartment.
Blackstone
ASQUINT', adv. [D. schuinte, a slope ;
schuins, slopingly ; Sp. esqvina ; D. kant,
a corner. See Askance, and Squint'
To the corner or angle of the eye ; obliquely ;
towards one side ; not in the straight line of
vision ; as, to look asquint.
2. Not with regard or due notice. Fox.
'ASS, ?!. [W. asyn ; Ir. asan ; L. asinus ; Fr.
line, for asne ; Arm. asen ; Sp. Port, asno ;
It. asino. Qu. from Goth, auso, Gr. ovf, an
ear.]
1. A quadruped of the equine genus. This
animal has long slouching ears, a short
mane, and a tail covered with long hairs
at the end. He is usually of an ash color,
with a black bar across the shoulders.
The tame or domestic ass is patient to
stujiidity, and carries a heavy burden. He
is slow,"but very sure footed, and for this
reason very useful on rough steep hills.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow ; a dolt.
ASS'AI, [Ital.] A term in music ; added to a
word signifying slow, it denotes a little
quicker ; and to a word signifying quick,
it denotes a little slower. Bailey.
ASSA'IL, V. t. [Fr. assaillir, from L. assilio,
to leap or rush upon, of ad and salio, to
leap, to rise.]
To leap or fall upon by violence ; to assault ;
to attack suddenly, as when one person
falls upon another to beat him.
2. To invade or attack, in a hostile manner,
an army, or nation. Spenser.
3. To attack with arguments, censure, abuse,
or criticism, with a view to injure, bring
into disre])ute, or overthrow.
4. To attack, with a view to overcome, by
motives ajjplied to the passions.
Nov hide the encounter of assailing eyes.
Shak.
ASSA'ILABLE, a. That may be assailed,
attacked or invaded.
ASSA'ILANT, n. [Fr.] One who assails,
attacks or assaults.
ASSA'ILANT, a. Assaulting; attacking;
invading with violence.
ASSA'ILED, pp. Assaulted ; invaded ; at-
tacked with violence.
ASSA'ILER, n. One who assails.
ASSA'ILING, ppr. Assaulting ; invading
by force ; attacking with violence.
ASSA'ILMENT, n. Attack. [LiUle used.]
Johnson.
ASSAPAN'I€, n. The flying squirrel ; an
animal which flies a Uttle distance by ex-
tending the skin between the fore and hind
legs. [See Squirrel.] Trevoux.
AS'SARON, n. The omer or homer, a H
brew measure of five pints. Enci,
ASSART', n. [Old Fr. assarter, to grub up.'
In ancient laws, the offense of grubbing up
trees, and thus destroying thickets or cov-
erts of a forest. Spelman. Cowel.
2. A tree plucked up by the roots ; also a
piece of land cleared. Ash.
ASSART', V. t. To grub up trees ; to com-
mit an assart. Ashmole.
ASSAS'SIN,
[Ar
hassa, to kill.]
One who kills or attempts to kill, by sur-
prise or secret assault. The circumstance
of surprise or secresy seems essential to the
signification of this word ; though it is
sometimes used to denote one who takes
any advantage, ui kiUing or attempting to
murder ; as by attacking one when un-
armed.
ASSAS'SINATE, v. t. To kill or attempt to
kill, by surprise or secret assault ; to mur-
der by sudden violence. Assassin as a verb
is not now used.
2. To way lay ; to take by treachery.
Milton
ASSAS'SINATE, n. A murder or murderer.
[jVo< used.] B. Jonson.
ASSAS'SINATED, pp. Murdered by sur-
prise or secret assault.
ASSAS'SINATING, ppr. Murdering by
surprise or secret assault.
ASSASSINA'TION, n. The act of kiUing
or mm-dering, by surprise or secret as-
sault ; murder by violence.
ASSAS'SINATOR, n. An assassin, which
see.
ASSAS'SINOUS, a. Murderous. [JVot used.}
ASSAS'SINS, n. In Syria, a tribe or clan
called Ismaehans, Batauists or Bateniaiis.
They originated in Persia about the year
1090; whence a colony migrated and set-
tled on the mountains of Lebanon, and
were remarkable for their assassinations.
Their religion was a compound of magia-
nism, Judaism, and Christianity. One ar-
ticle of their creed was, that the Holy
Spirit resided in their Chief, and that his
orders proceeded fi-om God himself He
was called Scheik, and is better known by
the denomination of Old man of the mou7i-
tain. This barbarous chieftain and his
followers spread terror among nations far
and near, for almost two centuries, when
the tribe was subdued by Sultan Bibaris.
Enaic.
ASSA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. assatus.] A
roasting. [J^'ot used.]
ASSAULT', n. [Fr. assault, now assaut ; It.
Port, assalto; Sp. asalto; from L. assulto,
o{ ad and salto, to lea]), fonned on salio, or
its root. See Assail. We have the same
root in insidt and result.]
1. An attack or violent onset, whether by an
individual, a company, or an ai-my. An
assault by private persons may be made
with or without weapons. An assault by
an army is a violent hostile attack ; and
when made upon a fort or fortified place is
called a storm, as opposed to sap or siege.
2. All attack by hostile words or measures ;
as, an assault upon the prerogatives of a
pruice, or upon a constitution of govern-
3. In Law, an
ilawful setting upon one';
iipt or ofter to beat
.'I other, without touching his person ; as by
A S
A S 8
ASS
lifting the fist or a cane, in a threatenii _
iiiauiier. If the blow aimed takes effecf,
it is a battery. Blackstone. Finch.
ASSAULT', V. t. To attack or fall upon by
violence, or with a hostile intention
to assault a man, a house or town.
2. To invade or fall on with force ; as, the
cry of war assaults our ears.
3. To attack by words, arguments or
friendly measures, with a view to shake,
impair or overthrow ; as, to assault a char
aoter, the laws or the administration.
ASSAULT' ABLE, a. That may be assault
ed. IFUliams.
ASS^iULT'ED, pp. Attacked with force,
arms, violence, or hostile views.
ASSAULT'ER, n. One who assaults, or vio-
lently attacks.
ASSaCLT'ING, ppr. Attacking with force,
or with hostile measures.
ASSA'Y, n. [Ft. essai; Sp. eiisayo; Port, en-
saio ; It. saggio, an assay ; Fr. essayer, to
try ; old Fr. essoyer, to endeavor. Kelham's
Norm. Did. It. assaggiare, to try ; saggiare
to try, essay ; Sp. etisayar, to try ; Sw.fbrst)-
kia, to try ; Dan. forsiiger, to try, examine,
endeavor. These words are all from the
same root as seek, the radical sense of
which is, to follow, to urge, press or strain
Sax. secan, to seek ; L. sequor ; assequor, ti:
follow, to examine ; D. zoeken ; G. sucheii ;
Dan. sSger ; Ir. seichim ; It. seguire ; Sp.
seguir, to follow. Assay and essay are
radically one word ; but modem usage ha;
a]>propriated assay to experiments in met
allurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily
efforts. Class Sg. See Essay.]
1. The trial of the goodness, purity, weight,
value, &c. of metals or metallic substan-
ces. Any operation or experiment for as-
certaining the quantity of a precious metal
in an ore or mineral. Analysis is a term
of more comprehensive import, extending
to an examination of the nature and quan-
tities of all parts of the compound.
Assaying is called the docimaslic art.
8. In law, an examination of weights and
measures by the standard. Coivet.
3. Examination ; trial ; effort ; &-st entrance
upon any business; attempt. In these
senses, which are found in old authors,
now rarely used. [See Essay.]
4. Value ; great purity. Obs. Spenser
ASSA'Y, V. t. To try or prove, by examina-
tion or experiment, the quantity and pu-
rity of metallic substances.
2. To apply to the touchstone. Milton.
ASSA'Y, V. i. To attempt, try or endeavor.
He assayed to go. 1 Sam. xvii.
[In this sense essay is now used.]
ASSAY-BALANCE, n. A balance for thi
trial of the weight and purity of metals.
ASSA'Y ED, ;?^. Examined; tested; prov
ed by experiment.
ASSA'YER, n. One who examines metals
to find tlieir quantity and purity. An offi-
cer of the mint, whose business is to try
the weight and purity of metals.
ASSA'YING, ppr. Trying by some stand-
ard ; examining by experiment, as metals
cer appointed to try the weight and fine
ness of tlie precious" metals.
ASSECU'RANCE, w. Assurance. [M)t
used.] Sheldon.
ASSEeURA'TION, n. A^^.-^urance ; a mak-
ing secure. [jYot used.] Bp. Hall.
ASSEeU'RE, V. t. To secure. [jVo< used.]
BuUokar
ASSECU'TION, n. [L. assequor.] An ob-
taining or acquiring. Ayliffe.
ASSEM'BLAUE, n. [Fr. See Assemble.]
A collection of individuals, or of particular
things ; the state of being assembled.
Locke. Thomsm
2. Rarely, the act of assembling.
ASSEftrBLANCE, ?i. Representation; an
assembling. [.\'ol in use.] Shak. Spenser.
ASSEM'BLE, v. i. [Fr. assembler; Sw
samla ; Dan. samler ; D. zamelen ; Ger
sammeln, to assemble. L. simul ; Dan
sammen ; D. zamen, together.]
To collect a number of individuals or par-
ticulars into one place, or body ; to bring
or call together ; to convene ; to congre
ASSEM'BLE, v. i. To meet or come to
gether ; to convene, as a number of indi
viduals.
ASSEM'BLED, pp. CoUected into a body
congregated.
ASSEMBLER, n. One who assembles.
\SSr,;\I HLIXG, ppr. Comhig together
ciillii-iiii;,' iiiici one place.
V.'^Sll.M lilJ.\(;, li. A collection or meeting
to-rl|„T. Ilcb. X.
ASSEMBLY, n. [Sp. asamblea ; It. assem
blea ; Fr. assemUee.]
1. A company or collection of individuals, in
the same place ; usually for the same pur
pose.
2. A congregation or religious society convc
ned.
•3. In some of the United States, the \cgis\atm-e,
consisting of different houses or branches,
whether in session or not. In some states,
the popular branch or House of Represent
atives is denominated an assembly. [Sci
the constitutions of the several states.]
4. A collection of persons for amusement;
as a dancing assembly.
5. A convocation, convention or council of
ministers and riiling elders delegated from
each presbytery ; as the General Assembly
of Scotland or of the United States.
Ena/c
G. In armies, the second beating of the drum
before a march, when the soldiers strike
their tents. Encyc.
7. An assemblage. [.Vo/ in use.]
ASSEM'BLY-ROOM, n. A room in which
persons assemble.
ASSENT', n. [L. assensus, from assentior,
to assent, of a<i and sentio, to think; Eth.
f]hl\ sena or sana, concord, audits de-
rivative, to agree, to harmonize ; Sw. sin7ie,
mind, sen.se ; D. zin, mind ; zinnen, to feel
or mind ; G. sinn, sense ; sinnen, to tlimk
or consider. The Danes preserve the
final consonant, sind, mind, sense, inclina-
tion ; W. syn, sense ; syniaw, to perceive.]
1. The act of the mind in admitting, or
agreeing to, the truth of a proposition.
Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the
credit of the proposer. Locke.
2. Consent ; agreement to a proposal, res-
pecting some right or interest ; as, the bill
Ijefore the house has the asseytt of a great
majority of the members.
The distinction between assent and consent,
seems to be this: assent is the agreement
to an abstract jtroposition. VVe os.tcni to
a statement, but we do not consent to it.
Consent is an agreement to some proposal
or measure which affects the rights or in-
terest of the consenter. We consent to a
proposal of marriage. This distinction
howe\er is not always observed. [See
Consent.]
3. AcronI ; agreement. 2 Chron. xviii.
ASSENT', !'. 1. To admit as true ; to agree,
yield or concede, or rather to cx|)ress an
agreement of the mind to what is alledged,
or proposed.
The Jews also assented, saying these tilings
are so. Acts xxiv.
It is sometimes usnl for consent, or an agree-
nient to .sdmcihiiiic affecting the rights or
uitere-^t cif i|;c |,( r.son assentinff. But to
asucnl In tlic inaniage of a daughter is less
roncc I tli:iii lu nuiscnt.
ASSENT \ llo.V. n. [L. assentatio, from
assiiilui; 111 i-iiiii|ily.]
Conipliuiicc with tiic opinion of another, from
flattery or dissimulation. Chesterfield.
ASSENTA'TOR, ,i. A flatterer.
ASSENTATO'RILY, adv. With adulation.
[JVot in use.] Bacon.
ASSENT'ER, n. One who assents, agrees
to, or admits.
ASSENT'ING, ppr. Agreeing to, or admit-
ting as true ; vielding to.
ASSENT'INGLY, adv. In a manner to ex-
press assent ; by agreement.
ASSENT'MENT, a. Assent ; agreement.
[Rarely used.] Broivn.
ASSERT', V. t. [L. assero, assertum, to claim
or challenge, to maintain or assert; ofarf
and sero. The sense of sero is to sow,
properly to throw or set. To assert is to
throw or set firmly.]
L To affirm positively ; to declare witli as-
surance ; to aver. Milton.
2. To maintain or defend by words or meas-
ures ; to vindicate a claim or title to ; as, to
assert our rights and liberties. Dryden.
ASSERT'ED, pp. Affirmed positively;
maintained ; vindicated.
ASSERT'ING, ppr. Declaring with confi-
dence ; maintaming ; defending.
ASSER'TION, n. The act of asserting; the
maintaining of a claim.
2. Positive declaration or averment ; affirm-
ation ; position advanced. Broum.
ASSERT'IVE, a. Positive ; affirming con-
fidentlv ; peremptory. GlanvUle.
ASSERTIVELY, adv. Affirmatively.
'BedeU.
ASSERT OR, n. One who affirms positive-
ly ; one who maintains or vindicates a
claim ; an affirmer, supporter, or vindica-
tor. Dryden.
ASSERT'ORY, a. Affirming ; maintaining.
Bp. Hall.
ASSESS', V. i. [Fr. asseoir ; Norm, asser,
asseoir, to settle, fix, ascertain, assess ; It.
assestare, assettare ; L. assideo, ad and
sedeo ; Eng. to «7, or set. See Set and Sit.]
To set, fix or charge a certain sum upon
one, as a tax ; as, to assess each citizen in
due proportion.
2. To value ; to fix the value of property,
for the purpose of being taxed ; as by the
law of the United States. Also, to value
or fix the profits of business, for the pur-
pose of taxation.
ASS
ASS
ASS
;J. To set, iix or ascertain ; as, it is tlio prov-
ince of a jury to assess damages.
ASSESS', n. Assessment. [JVot used.]
ASSESS'ABLE, a. That may be assessed.
ASSESS'ED, pp. Charged with a
sum ; valued ; set ; fixed ; ascertaiued,
ASSESSING, ppr. Cliarging with a sii
vahiing ; fixing ; ascertaining.
ASSES'SION, n. A sitting down by a per-
son. [JVot used.]
ASSES'SIONARY, a. Pertaining to assess-
ors. Carew.
ASSESS'MENT, n. A valuation of prop-
erty or profits of business, for the purpose
of taxation. An assessment is a valuation
made by authorized persons according to
their discretion, as opposed to a sum cer-
tain or determined by law. It may be a
direct charge of the tax to be paid ; or a
valuation of the property of those who are
to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing
the proportion which each man shall pay ;
on which valuation the law imposes a spe-
cific sum upon a given amount.
Btackstone. Laws of the U. States.
Q. A tax or specific sura charged on the per-
son or property.
.3. The act of assessing ; the act of deter-
mining the amount of damages by a jury.
ASSESS'OR, n. One appointed to assess
the person or projjerty.
2. An inferior otficer of justice, who sits to
assist the judge. Encyc.
3. One who sits by another, as next in dig-
nity. Milton.
ASSETS', n. plu. [Fr. assez, enough ; It.
a^sai, enough, or many ; Ir. sath, suffi-
ciency ; sasadh, satisfaction ; L. sat, satis,
enough.]
Goods or estate of a tleceased person,
cient to pay the debts of tlie deceased.
But the word sufficient, though expressing
the original signification of assets, is not
with us necessary to the definition. In
present usage, assets are the money, goods
or estate of a deceased person, subject by
law to the payment of his debts and lega-
cies. Assets are real or personal ; real assets
are lands which descend to the heir, sub-
ject to the fulfilment of the obligations of
the ancestor ; personal assets are the money
or goods of tiie deceased, or debts due to
him, which come into the hands of the
executor or administrator, or which he is
bound to collect and convert into money.
Blackstone.
ASSEV'ER, I „ , [L. assevero, from
ASSEVERATE, S ad, and
mc sioear; Sax.swerian; Goth, sioaran, to
swear, to aflSrm positively.]
To affirm or aver positively, or with solemni-
ty. Fotherby.
ASSEVERA'TION, n. Positive affirmation
or assertion ; solemn declaration. This
word is not, generally, if ever, used for a
declaration under an official oath, but for
a declaration accompanied with solemnity.
ASS-HEAD, n. [ass and head.] One dull,
like the ass ; one slow of apj)rcliension :
a blockhead.
ASSIDE'ANS or CHASIDE'ANS. [Heb.
IDD pious.]
A sect of Jews who resorted to Mattathias
to fight for tlie laws of their God and the
liberties of their country. They were men
of great zeal, and obsei-ved the traditions
of the elders. From these sprung the
Pharisees and Essenes. Encyc.
AS'SIDENT, a. [L. assideo, assidens, of ad
and sedeo, to sit.]
issidenl signs, ui medicine, are such as usu
ally attend a disease, but not always ; dis-
tinguished {rom ■pathognomic signs, which
are inseparable from it. Encyc.
\SSID'UATE, a. Daily. [JVol in use.]
K. Charles
ASSIDU'ITY, )!. [h. ussiduitas. SeeAssid-
1. Constant or close application to any busi-
ness or enterprise ; dihgence. Addison.
\ Attention ; attentiveness to persons.
siduities, in the phn-al, are services i
dered with zeal and constancy.
ASSID'UOUS, a. [L. assiduus, from assideo,
to sit close, ad and sedeo ; Eng. to sit ; Sax.
sittan, settan.'i
. Constant in application ; as a person as-
siduous in his occupation.
2. Attentive ; careful ; regular in attendance ;
as an assiduous physician or nurse.
3. Performed with constant dihgence or at-
tention ; as assiduous labor.
ASSID'UOUSLY, adv. DUigently; atten-
tively ; with earnestness and care ; with
regular attendance.
.\SSID'UOUSNESS, n. Constant or dili-
gent application.
ASSIENT'O, n. [Sp. asiento, a seat, a con-
tract or agreement ; L. assideo.]
A contract or convention between the king
of Spain and other powers, for furnishingj
slaves for the Spanish domuiions in South,
America. Treaty between G. B. and Spain}
March 26, 1713. I
ASSI'GN, V. t. assine. [Fr. assigner ; Sp.
asignar ; Port, assinar ; It. assegnare ; L.I
assigno, of ad and signo, to allot, to mark
out ; Ir. sighin ; L. signum, a mark. The[
primary sense of sign is to send, or to set.]i
1. To allot ; to appoint or grant by distribu-|
tion or apportionment. i
The priests had a portion assigned them.
Gen. xlvii.
9. To designate or appoint for a particular
purpose.
They assigned Bezer, a city of refuge. Josh
XX.
3. To fix, specify or designate ; as an as-
signed quantity.
4. To 1 "
make or set over ; to transfer, sell or
convey, by writing, as by indorsing a note
or by any writing on a separate paper.
5. Toalledgeor show in particular ; as, to
assign a reason for one's conduct.
6. In law, to show or set forth with particu
larity ; as, to assign error in a writ ; to'
as-ngn false judgment.
ASSI'GN, n. A person to whom property or
an interest is or may be transferred ; as, a
deed to a man and "his heirs and assigns.
ASSI'GNABLE, a. That may be allotted,
appointed or assigned.
That may be transferred by writing ; as
an assignable note, or bill.
3. That may be specified, shown with pre-
cision, or designated; as an assignable.
error.
AS'SIGNAT, Jj. A public note or hill in'
France ; paper currency. Burl
ASSIGNA'TION, n. An appointment ■
tune and place for meeting ; used chiefly
of love-meetings.
2. A making over by transfer of title. [See
Assignment.]
3. In Russia, a public note or bank bill ; pa-
per currency. Tooke.
ASSI'GNED,j9p. Appointed ; allotted ; made
over ; shown or designated.
ASSIGNEE', n. A person to whom an as-
signment is made ; a person appointed or
deputed to do some act, perform some
business or enjoy some right, privilege or
property ; as an assignee of a bankrupt.
An assignee may be by special appoint-
ment or deed, or be created by law ; a?
an executor. Cowel.
ASSi'GNER, n. One who assigns, or ap-
points.
ASSI'GNING, ppr. Allotting ; appointing •
transferring ; showing specially.
ASSI'GNMENT, n. An allotting, or an ap-
pointment to a particular person or use.
2. A transfer of title or interest by writing,
as of a lease, bond, note, or bill of ex-
change.
3. The writmg by which an interest is trans-
ferred.
4. The appointment or designation of causes
or actions in court, for trial on particular
days.
5. In law, the conveyance of the whole in-
terest which a man has in an estate, usu-
ally for life or years. It differs from a
lease, which is the conveyance of a less
term than the lessor has m the estate.
Z. Siifiji.
ASSIGNOR', n. An assigner ; a person who
assigns or transfers an interest ; as the
assignor of a bill of exchange.
ASSIM'ILABLE, a. That may be assimi-
lated.
ASSIM'ILATE, v. t. [L. assimUo, of ad and
similis, like. See Similar.]
1. To bring to a lilieness ; to cause to resem-
ble. Swifl.
2. To convert into a like substance ; as, food
is assimilated by conversion into animal
substances, flesh, chyle, blood, &c.
ASSIM'ILATE, v. i. To become similar.
2. To be converted into a like substance.
Bacon.
ASSIM'ILATED, pp. Brought to a like-
ness ; changed into a like substance.
ASSIM'ILATING, ppr. Causing to resem-
ble ; converting into a like substance.
ASSIMILA'TION, n. Tlic net of bringing
a resemblance.
2. The act or process by whicli bodies con-
vert other bodies into their own nature
and substance ; as, flame assimilates oil,
and the food of animals is by assimilation
converted into the substances which com-
pose their bodies.
Mineral assimilation is the property which
substances possess, m the earth, of appro-
priating and assimilating to themselves
other substances with which they are in
contact ; a property which seems to be the
basis of the natural history of the earth.
,\SSII\IILATIVE, a. Having power of con-
verting to a likeness, or to a like substance.
HaJcewill.
'VSSiai'ULATE, V. t. [L. assimido.] To
feign. [JVot used. See Simulate.]
i ASSIMULA'TION, n. A coimtcrfeiting.
[.Wot used. Sec Simulation.]
ASS
ASS
ASS
ASSIST', V. t. [L. assisto, of ad and sisto, I
stand up ; Russ. sijii, to sit, or be placed ;
Sp. asistir ; It. assistere ; Fr. assister. Lit-
erally, to be present, or as we still say in
English, to stand by.]
To help ; to aid; to succor ; to give support
to in some undertaking or effort, or in
time of distress.
ASSIST', V. i. To lend aid.
ASSIST' ANCE.K. Help ; aid; furtherance ;
succor ; a contribution of support in bodily
strength or other means.
ASSIST'ANT, a. Helping ; lending aid or
support ; auxiliary. Hale.
ASSIST'ANT, n. One who aids, or who
contributes liis strength or other means to
further the designs or welfare of another
an auxiliary. Dnjden
ASSISTED,/;;). Helped; aided.
ASSIST'ER, n. One that lends aid.
ASSIST'ING, ppr. Helping ; aiding ; sup
porting with strength or means.
ASSIST'LESS, a. Without aid or help.
Pope.
ASSI'ZE, \ [Fr. assises, and sometimes
ASSI'ZES, S "• so written in English ; L,
assideo, to sit by, of ad and sedeo, to sit ;
Ir. ^asair, a session. See Jlssess.]
1. Originally, an assembly of knights and oth-
er substantial men, with a bailiff or justice,
in a certain place and at a certain time, for
public busines. The word was sometimes
appUed to the general council, or fVittena-
gemote, of England.
Blackslone. Glanville.
!J. A court in England, held in every county
by special commission to one of tlie judg-
es, who is called a justice of the assize, and
empowered to take assizes, that is, th
verdict of a jury, called the assize.
3. A jury. In this sense the word was ap-
plied to tlie grand assize, for the trial of
property, and to the petty assize, for the
trial of possession. In Scotland, the assize
consists of fifteen men, selected from a
greater number.
4. A writ ; as an assize of novel disseisin,
which is given to recover the possession
of lands, tenements, rents, common, &c.,
of which the tenant has been lately dis-
seised ; assize of mart d' ancestor, which lies
against an abator, who enters upon land
after the death of the tenant, and before
the heir enters ; assize of darrein present-
7nent, which lies against a stranger whc
presents a clerk to a benefice. Blackstone.
5. A particular species of rents, estabhshed
and not subject to be varied. Eng. Law.
6. The time or place of holding the court of
assize.
7. In a more general sense, any court of jus-
tice.
8. A statute of regulation ; an ordinance
regulating the weight, measure and price
of articles sold in market ; and hence the
word came to signify the weight, measure
or price itself; as the assize of bread.
Sjitlman. Cowel. Encyc. Blackstone.
This word is, in a certain sense, now
corrupted into size, which see.
ASSI'ZE, V. t. To fix the weight, measure
or price of commodities, by an ordinance
or regulation of authority.
ASSIZED,;;;). Regulated in weight, meas-
ure or price, by an assize or ordinance.
ASSI ZER, n. An officer who has the care
or inspection of weights and measures.
Chambers.
ASSI'ZOR, )i. In.S'coWanrf, ajuror. Bailey.
'ASS-LIKE, a. Resembling an ass.
Sidney.
ASSO'BER, V. I. rSee Sober.] To keep un-
der. [JVot used.) Gower
ASSOCIABIL'ITY, n. The quality of being
capable of association ; the quality of
suffering some change by sympathy, or of
being affected by the affections of another
part of the body. Darwin.
ASSO'CIABLE, a. assoshable. [See ^sso
date.] That may be joined to or asso
ciated.
2. In a medical sense, liable to be affected
by sympathy, or to receive from other
parts correspondent feelings and affec
tions. " The stomach, the most associa
ble of all the organs of the animal body."
Med. Rep. Darwin
ASSO'CIATE, V. I. assoshate. [Fr. associer
L. associo, of ad and socio, to join.]
1. To join in company, as a friend, compan
ion, partner or confederate ; as, to associate
others with us in business, or in an enter
prise.
It conveys the idea of intimate union.
2. To unite in the same mass : as, particles
of matter associated with other substances,
ASSO'CIATE, t». i. To unite in company ;
to keep company, implying mtimacy ; as.
congenial minds are disposed to associate.
2. To unite in action, or be affected by the
action of a different part of the body.
Darwin
ASSO'CIATE, flf. Joined in interest or pur
pose ; confederate. Milton.
2. Joined in employment or office ;
associate judge.
ASSO'CIATE, n. A companion ; one
frequently in company with another, im-
plying intimacy or equality ; a mate ; e
fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business ; or a
confederate in a league.
3. A companion in a criminal transaction ;
an accomplice.
ASSO'CIATED, pp. United in company
in interest ; joined.
ASSO'CIATESHIP, »!. The state or office
of an associate. Encyc. art. Reynolds.
ASSO'CIATING, ppr. Uniting in company
or in interest ; joining.
ASSOCIA'TION, n. The act of associating;
union ; connection of persons.
2. Union of persons in a company ; a society
formed for transacting or carrying on
some business for mutual advantage ; a
partnership. It is often appUed to a union
of states or a confederacy.
3. Union of things ; apposition, as of parti
cles of matter.
4. Union or connection of ideas. An asso-
ciation of ideas is where two or more ideas
constantly or naturally follow each other
in the mind, so that one ahnost infallibly
produces the otlier. Encyc.
5. An exertion or change of some extreme
part of the sensory residing in the muscles
or organs of sense, in consequence of some
antecedent or attendant fibrous contrac-
tions. Darwin.
0. In cccksiasticid affairs, a society of the
clergy, consisling of a number of jmstors
of neighboring churches, united for pro-
moting I he interests of religion and the
haiiiHpfiv oftlii- i-liuiclies.
A^^^Of 1 A TloNAi., „. Pertaining loan
.•i>>iiii:iii.iii of i-lci-j:vMien.
AS.SO CIA ri\ E, «. 'Having the quality of
as.-^ociatiiig, or of being affected by symjia-
thy. Dnndn. Miller.
ASSOIL', r. t. [Old Fr. from L. absolvo.]
To .-<olvc ; to release ; to absolve. Obs.
Mcde. Taylor.
ASSOIL', V. t. [Fr. souilhr.] To soil ; to
stain. Obs.
AS'SO\A.\CE, ». [Fr. from L. ad and
.sunu, Id sound. See Sound.]
Rcseiiililaiice of sounds. In rhetoric and po-
etry, a rcscmblanre in sound or termina-
tion, without making rhyme. Encyc.
AS'SONANT, a. Having a resemblance of
sounds. In Spanish poetry, assonant
rhymes are those ui which a resemblance
of sounds serves instead of a natural
i-hyme ; as, ligera, tierra. Encyc.
.ASSORT', V. t. [Fr. assortir ; It. assortlre ; of
ad and sortir, sorlire, to sally forth, and in
It. to draw lots. See Sort.]
1. To separate and distribute into classes
things of the like kind, nature or quality,
or things which are suited to a like pur-
pose. It is sometimes applied to persons
as well as things.
2. T.. n.p .M>li with all .sorts. Burke.
ASHOl!'!', r. /. To agree; to be in accor-
iliiiitr « nil ; t(i suit. Mitford.
\."^S()K'I' i;i), pp. Distributed into .sorts,
kinds or classes.
2. Furnished with an assortment, or with :i
variety ; as a well assorted store. Burke.
ASSORT'ING, ppr. Separating into sorts ;
supplying with an assortment.
ASSORT'MENT, n. The act of distributing
into sorts, kinds or classes, or of selecting
and suiting things.
2. A mass or quantity distributed into kinds
or sorts; or a number of things assorted.
3. A number of things of the same kind, va-
ried in size, color, quahty, price, form, or
the like, to suit the market, the wants of
people, or various purposes ; as an assorl-
ment of thread, of .silks, of calicoes, &c.
An assortmezif of paintings. W. Coxe.
4. A variety of sorts or kinds adapted to va-
rious wants, demands or purposes ; as an
assortment of goods. Mercantile Usage.
ASSOT', r. t. [See Sot.] To infatuate ; to
besot. [JVot used.] Spenser.
ASSUA'6E, V. t. [This word appears to be
formed on the G. schwach ; D. zwak, weak ;
or on D. zagt, sof\, gentle, quiet, which
coincides with the Sax. steig, silence ;
swigan, to be silent ; whence gesmgean,
to be silent ; D. zwygen, id. In Sax. also,
gesiincan, is to cease, fail, rest, be quiet.
But the Dutch word for assuage is verzagt-
en, to soflen.]
To soften, in afgurative sense ; to allay, mit-
igate, ease or lessen, as pain or grief; to
appease or pacify, as passion or tumult.
In strictness, it signifies raflier to moderate,
than to quiet, tranquilize or reduce to per-
fect peace or ease.
ASSUA'GE, I', i. To abate or subside.
The waters assuaged. Gen. viii.
A .S S
A S «
AST
iiiit 1 a)ipreliPiitl tlie snnse is, tlir; waters
were .•hecked; llcb. yif.
ASSV A.' tJHI), pp. Allayed; mitigated ; eased ;
aj>])eased.
ASSUA'GEMENT, n. Mitigation; abate-
ment.
ASSUA'GER, n. One who allays ; that
which mitigates or abates.
ASSUA'GlNGf, ppr. Allaying ; mitigating ;
appeasing ; abating.
ASSUA'SIVE, a, [from nsuvage.} Soften-
ing; mitigating; tranquilizing. Pope.
ASSUEFAC'TION, n. [L. assiufano.] The
art of accustoming. [JVot used.] Brown.
AS'SUETUDE, n. [L. assuetudo, from assu-
e.tiis, p. of «.ssj(esco, to acctistom.] Custom;
habit ; habitual use. Bacon.
ASSU'ME, V. t. [L. assumo, of ad and sumo,
to take.]
1 . To lake or take upon one. It differs from
receive, in not implying an offer to give.
The God assvmed his native form again.
Pope,
•I. To take what is not just ; to take with
arrogant claims ; to arrogate ; to seize
unjustly ; as, to assume haughty airs
assume unwarrantable powers.
3. To take for granted, or without proof; to
suppose as a fact ; as, to assume a principle
in reasoning.
4. To appropriate, or take to one's self; as, to
assume the debts of another.
5. To take what is fictitious ; to pretend to
possess ; to take in appearance ; as, to as-
sume the garb of humility.
ASSUME, V. i. To be arrogant ; to clain
more than is due.
3. In law, to take upon one's self an obliga
tion ; to undertake or promise ; as, A assu
vied upon himself, and promised to pay.
ASSU'MED,pjj. Taken; arrogated; takei
without proof; pretended.
ASSU'MER,?j. One who assumes ; unarro
gant person.
ASSU'MING, ppr. Taking ; arrogating
taking for granted ; pretending.
ASSU'MING, a. Taking or disposed to take
upon one's self more than is just ; haughty
arrogant.
ASSU'MING, Ji. Presumption. Jonson
ASSUMP'SIT, n. [Pret. tense of L. assumo.'
1. In faiu, a promise or undertaking, founded
on a consideration. This promise may be
verbal or written. An assumpsit is express
or implied ; express, when made in wordi
or writiiii!' ; implieil, when in consequence
-■ifsoiiir lull, lit III cimsideration accrniij
to our |iiiM)ii liiiiii tlie acts of another, tl
law prcftUiuts lliat person has promised to
iriake compensation. In this case, the
law, upon a principle of justice, implies or
raises a promise, on which an action may
be brought to recover the compensation.
Thus if A contracts with B to build a
iiouse for him, by miplication and intend
ment of law, A promises to pay B for the
same, without any express words to tl
effect.
'J. An action founded on a promise. When
this action is brought on a debt, it is called
indelitalus assumpsit, which is an action
on the case to recover damages for the non-
payment of a debt. Blackstone.
ASSUMPT', V. t. To take up ; to raise. [Bar-
barous and not used.] Sheldon,
ASSUMPT', n. That which is assumed.
[Not used.] Chillingiooiih.
ASSUMP'TiON, n. [L. assumptio.]
The act of taking to one's self.
Hammond.
2. The act of taking for granted, or suppo-
sing a thing without proof; supposition.
JVorris.
This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable
asstwiption that the soul sleeps from the period
of death to the resurrection of the bodv-
Thodey.
3. The thing supposed ; a postidate or propo-
sition assumeil. In logic, the minor or
second proposition In a categorical syllo-
gism. Enc7jc.
4. A consequence drawn from the pro])osi-
tions of which an argument is composed.
Encyc.
5. Undertaldng ; a taking upon one's self.
Kent.
C. In the Romish Church, the taking up a
person into heaven, as the Virgin Mary.
Also a festival in honor of the miraculous
ascent of Mary, celebrated by the Romish
and Greek churches. Encyc.
7. Adojrtion. Warton
ASSUMP'TIVE, a. That is or may be assu-
med. In heraldry, assumptive arms are
such as a person has a right, with the ap-
probation of his sovereign, and of the her-
alds, to assume, in consequence of ai
exploit. Encyc.
ASSU'RANCE, n. ashu'rance. [Fr. from
assurer, of ad and sur, seivr, sure, certain
Qu. the Rab. and Tahn. IB'X, to make firm,
confirm, verify ; or is seur the G. zivar, fron
the root of L. verus; or h.securus, contract
ed.]
1. The act of assuring, or of making a decla
ration in terms that furnish ground of con
fidence ; as, I trusted to his assurances ; or
the act of furnishing any ground of full
confidence.
Whereof he hath given assurance to all men
in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts
2. Firm persuasion ; full confidence or trust ;
freedom from doubt ; certain expectation
the utmost certainty.
Let us draw near with a true heart, in full
assurance of faith. Hcb. x.
3. Firmness of mind ; undoubting stead
ness ; intrepiditj'.
Brave men meet danger with assurance.
Knolles.
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; as, his
».«:,n„„r,<i„tiiierable.
5. Vvi • i!"M iV.iui ■■xcessivemodesty,timidity
or ha-iiiiihir-s ; hiiidable confidence.
Luin.,i.-.iliuii with the world will give them
Ivnowledge and assurance. Locke.
6. Insurance ; a contract to make good a
loss. [See Insurance.]
7. Any writing or legal evidence of the con-
I vevance of property. Blackstone.
18. Conviction. Tillotson.
9. In theology, full confidence of one's inter-
est in Christ, and of final salvation.
ASSU'RE, V. t. ashu're. [Fr. assurer. Sec
./Issurance.]
|I. To make certain ; to give confidence by
I a promise, declaration, or other evidence ;
I as, he assured me of his sincerity.
2. To confirm ; to make certain or seen
And it shall be assured to hiin. Lev. :
Is. To embolden ; to make confUlent.
And hereby we shall assure our hearts before
m. 1 John iii.
4. To make secure, with o/ before the object
secured ; as, let me be assured of your
fidelity.
5. To affiance ; to betroth. Obs. Shot.
6. To insure ; to covenant to indemnify for
loss. [See Insure.]
ASSU'RED, pp. Made certain or confident ;
made secure ; insured.
ASSU'RED, a. Certain ; indubitable ; nor
doubting ; bold to excess. Bacon. Shak.
ASSU'REDLY, orfi). Certainly ; indubitably.
Jlssuredly thy son Solomon shall reign.
1 Kings i.
ASSU'REDNESS, n. The state of being
assured ; certaintv ; full confidence.
Hakcuin
ASSU'RER, Ji. One who assures; one who
insures against loss ; an insurer or under-
writer.
ASSUR'GENT, a. [L. assurgens, assurgo.]
Rising upwards in an arch ; as an assurgenl.
stem, in botany. Eaton.
ASSU'RING, ]^r. Making sure or confi-
dent ; eiving security ; confirming.
ASSWA'GE. [See Assuage.]
AS'TACITE, ? [Gr. ayaxo?, a craw-
AS'TA€OLITE, S fish, and J-iflos, a stone.]
Petrified or fossil crawfish, and other crusta-
ceous animals ; called also caticrites, crab-
ites, and gammarolites.
AS'TEISM, n. [Gr. ac-fws, beautiful, polite.]
In rhetoric, genteel irony ; a polite and ingen-
ious maimer of deriding another. Encyc.
AS'TER, n. [Gr. afjjp.] A genus of plants,
with comjiound flowers, many of which
are cultivated for their beauty, particularly
the China Aster. The species are very
ASTE'RIAS, } [Gr. ay^p, a star.] Stella
AS'TER, ^ marina, sea-star, or star
fish, a genus of the order of Molliiscas. It
has a depressed body with a coriaceous
coat ; is composed of five or more seg-
ments ruimuig out from a central part,
and furnished with numerous tentacles,
with a mouth below, in the center. There
are many species. Encyc.
ASTE'RIATED, a. [Supra.] Radiated ;
presenting diverging rays, like a star ; as
asteriated sap)ihire. Cleaveland.
ASTE'RIATITE, n. Petrified asterias.
AS'TERISK, n. [Gr. a;eft.<ixoi, a httle star,
from a;ijp, a star.]
The figure of a star, thus,*, used in printing
and writing as a reference to a passage or
imtf in tiic margin, or to fill the space
when a nan;e is omitted.
AS'TERISM, JI. [Gr. ajspto^o;, a little star,
from ayjjp, a star.]
1. A constellation ; a sign in the zodiac.
The figures of the twelve asterisms.
As. Researches.
2. An asterisk, or mark of reference. [This
is less proper.]
AS'TER ITE, or .star stone. [See Astrite.]
ASTERN', adv. [a or at, and stem. See
Stern.]
1. In or at the hinder part of a ship ; or
towards the hinder part, or backwards ;
as, to go astern.
2. Behind a ship, at any indefinite distance.
Mar. Diet.
AS'TEROID, n. [Gr. as-i:p, a star, and £i6o<,
iiriri
AST
A uamc given by Ilerschel to the newly dis
covered planets between the orbits of Mars
and Jupiter.
ASTEROID'AL, a. Resembling a star ; or
pertaining to the asteroids.
Journ. of Sciei
AS'TEROPODE, ) [Gr. ar^p, a star,
ASTEROPO'DIUM, i "" and ?tovs, «o«of, a
foot.]
A kind of extraneous fossil, of the same sul
stance with tlie astrite, to which it serve
as the base. Encyc.
ASTERT', V. t To startle. [J^ot in use.]
Spenser.
ASTHEN'I€, a. asten'ic. [Gr. a priv. and
aStuoi, strength.]
Weak ; characterized by extreme debility
Brown.
ASTHENOL'OOY, n. [Gr. o priv., aSivos.
strength, and J^yoj, discourse.]
The doctrine of diseases arising from de-
bility. Coxe.
ASTriMA, n. ast'ma. [Gr. aaSfw.]
A shortness of breath ; intermitting difficiUty
of breathing, with cough, straitness and
wheezing. Coxe.
ASTHMAT'IC, a. Pertaining to asthma
also affected by asthma ; as an asthmatic
patient.
ASTIPULATE for StipuMe. t [Mtt
AST] PULATION for Stipulation. S use.
ASTO'NE, ?„, [See .Astonish.] To terrify
ASTO'NY, S"-'- or astonish. Obs. Chaucer.
ASTO'NED, ) „ Astonished. Obs.
ASTO'NIED, S PP- Spencer. MUton.
ASTON'ISH, V. t. [Old Fr. estonner, now
Manner ; L. attono, to astonish ; ad and tono.
Sax. gestun, noise, and stunian, to stun :
G. staunen ; Arm. eston, wonderfully. The
primary sense is, to stop, to strike diunb, to
fix. See Tone and Stun.]
T(i stun or strike dumb with sudden fear,
terror, surprise or wonder; to amaze; to
confound with some sudden passion.
I Daniel was astonished at the vision.
Dan. viii.
ASTON'ISHED, p;>. Amazed; confounded
«ith fear, surprise, or admiration.
\STON'ISHING,ppr. Amazing ; confound-
iiii: with wonder or fear.
AS rON'ISHING, a. Very wonderful ; of a
nature to excite great admiration, or
AST
ASTONISHINGLY, adv. In a manner or
ilei;ree to excite amazement.
Bp. Fleetwood.
NSTON'ISHINGNESS, n. The quality of
exciting astonishment.
\STON'ISHiHENT, n. Amazement; con-
tusion of mind from fear, surprise or ad-
luiiation, at an extraordinary or imex-
peeted event.
ASTOUND', V. t. To astonish ; to strike
dimib with amazement. From Old Fr.
estonner.
ASTRAD'DLE, adv. [a and straddle. See
StraMle.]
AVitli tlie legs across a thing, or on different
siiles ; as, to sit astraddle.
AS TRAGAL, n. [Gr. ofpoyaTioj, a tiu-ning
liiiiit, vertebra, spondylus.]
I. Ill architecture, a httle round molding
which surrounds the top or bottom of a
cnkiran, in the form of a ring ; represent-
ing a ring or band of iron, to prevent tlie
splitting of the column. It is often cut
Vol. I.
into beads or berries, and is used in orna
mented entablatures to separate the sev
eral faces of the architrave. Encyc.
2. In gunnery, a round molding on cannot
lear the mouth. Encyc
3. In anatomy, the buckle, ankle, or sling
bone ; the upper bone of the foot support-
ing tlie tibia. Coxe.
4. In botany, the wood pea ; the milk vetch
the liquorice vetch.
AS'TRAL, a. [L. astrum ; Gr.a^tif, a star.]
Belonging to tlie stars ; starry. Dryden.
ASTRA'Y, adv. [a and stray. See Stray.]
Out of the right way or proper place, both in
a Uteral and figurative sense. In morals
and religion, it signifies wandering from
the path of rectitude, from duty and ha])-
piness.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray. Ps
cxix.
Cattle go astray when they leave their propei
owners or inclosures. See Deut. xxii.
ASTRE'A, n. [Gr. a;,,p, a star.]
The goddess of justice. A name sometimes
given to the sign virgo. The poets feign
that justice quitted heaven, in the golder
age, to reside on earth ; but becoming
weary with the iniquities of men, she re-
turned to heaven, and conunenced a con-
stellation of stars. Enctjc
ASTRICT', t). «. [L. astringo, astridus. See
Jlstringc]
To bind fast, or compress. [Aot much used.
ASTRIeT', a. Compendious ; contracted.
H'eeva
ASTRI€T'ED, pp. Bound fast ; compressed
with bandages.
ASTRleT'ING, ppr. Buiding close ; com
pressing ; contracting.
ASTRIC'TION, n. The act of binding close
compressing with ligatures.
2. A contraction of parts by applications ;
the stopping of hemorrhages. Coxe
ASTRIeT'IVE, a. Bindmg ; cotiipressing
A S T
ASTRINg'ER, n. A falconer that keeps a
I goss hawk. Shak.
ASTRIN(i'ING,ppr. Compressing ; binding
I fast ; contracting.
AS'TRITE, 7!. [Gr. am, a star; Fr.
I astroite.]
An extraneous fossil, called also asteria and
astroit. Astrites are stones in the form of
small, short, angular, or sulcated columns,
about an inch and a half long, and the third
of an inch in diameter, composed of several
regular joitits, wliich, when separated,
resemble a radiated star. Encyc.
^strites are said to be detached articu-
I lations of encrinites, a kind of marine
I polypier.
\STROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ari;p, or orpoi,
a star, and ypacjiu, to describe.]
A description of the stars, or the science of
I describing them.
jAS'TROIT, n. Star-stone. [See Jlstritc]
i2. A species of petrified madrepore often
found in calcarious stones.
ASTROLABE, «. [Gr. ar.jp, a star, and
XoSsii', to take.]
1. An instrument formerly used for taking
the altitude of the sun or stars at sea.
2. A stereograjihic projection of the sphere,
either upon the plane of the equator, the
eye being supposed to be in the pole of
the world ; or upon the plane of the me-
ridian, the eye being in the point of inter-
section of tlie ec|uinoctial and the horizon.
.3. Among the ancients, the same as the mod-
ern armillary sphere. Encyc.
ASTROLOGER, > [L. astrologus, of
ASTROLO'6IAN, S ofpor, a star, and
>^o{, discourse.]
1 . One who professes to foretell futiu-e events
by the aspects and situation of the stars.
Astrologian is little used. fVotton.
2. Formerly, one who understood the mo-
tions of the planets, without predicting.
ASTRl€T'ORY, a. Astrmgent ; biuduig;
ipt to bind.
ASTRIF'EROUS, a. [L.astrifer; astrum,
a star, and fero, to bear.]
Bearing or containing stars. [Little used.]
ASTRIG'EROUS, a. (^Low L. astrigcr.]
Bearing stars. [JVot used.]
ASTRIN(JE, v.t. astrinj'. [L. astringo, o{
ad and stringo, to bind fast, to strain. See
Strain.]
To compress ; to bind together; to contract
by pressing the parts together. Bacon.
ASTRINg'ED, pp. Compressed ; straiten-
ed , contracted.
ASTRIN6'ENCY, n. The power of con-
tracting the parts of tlie body ; that quality
in medicines which binds, contracts or
strengthens parts which' are relaxed ; as
the astringency of acids or bitters.
Bacon.
ASTRING'ENT, a. Binding; contracting;
trengthening ; opposed to laxative.
Quinci/.
ASTRING'ENT, n. A medicine which binds
or contracts tlie parts of the body to which
it is apphed, restrains profuse discharges,
coagulates animal fluids, condenses and
strengtliens the sohds. Core.
Modern practice inclines to the use of as-
tringent, for internal applications, and styp-
tic, for external.
15
ASTR0L0G'I€, I Pertaining to as-
ASTR0L0g'I€AL, ^ "• trology ; profess-
ing or practicing astrology.
ASTR0L06'ICALLY, adv. In the manner
of astrology.
ASTROL'OgIZE, v. i. To practice as-
trology.
ASTROL'OgY, n. [Supra.] A science
which teaches to judge of the effects and
influences of the stars, and to foretell fu-
ture events, by their situation and different
aspects. This science was formeriy in
great request, as men ignorantly supposed
the heavenly bodies to have a riding influ-
ence over the physical and moral world ;
but it is now universally exploded by true
science and philosophy.
ASTRON'OMER, n. One who is versed in
astronomy ; one who has a knowledge of
the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the prin-
ciples by which their motions are regida-
ted, with their various phenomena.
ASTRONOMIC, I Pertaining to as-
ASTRONOM ICAL, S tronomy.
ASTRONOMICALLY, adv. In an astro-
nomical manner ; by the principles of
astronomy.
ASTRON'OMIZE, v. i. To study astrono-
Diy. [Litth used.] Broum.
ASTRONOMY, n. [Gr. ojpov, a star, and
fo^oj, a law or rule.]
A S Y
Tlie science which teaches the knowledge of
the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, mo-
tions, distances, periods of revolution, as-
pects, eclipses, order, &c. This science
depends on observations, made chiefly
with instruments, and upon mathematical
calculations.
ASTROSCOPE, n. [Gr. ofpor, a star, and
oxortfu, to view.]
An astronomical instrument, composed of
two cones, on whose surface the constella-
tions, with their stars, are delineated, by
means of which the stars may be easily
known. Encyc.
AS'TROSCOPY, n. [See Astroscope.] Ob-
.servation of the stars.
ASTRO-THEOL'OgY, n. [L. astmm, a
star, and theologia, divinity.]
Theology founded on the observation of the
celestial bodies. Derhavi.
ASTRUT', adv. [See Strut.] In a strutting
ASTU'TE, a. [L. astutus, from astus, craft,
subtilty ; Ir. aisde, aiste, ingenuity.]
Shrewd; sharp; eagle-eyed; critically ex-
amining or discerning. Sandys.
ASUND'ER, adv. [Sax. asundrian,to divide.
See Sunder.]
Apart ; into parts ; separately ; in a divided
state.
The Lord hath cut asunder the cords of the
wicked. Ps. cxxix.
ASWOON', adv. In a swoon. Obs.
Gower.
ASY'LUM, »!. [L. from Gr. aauT-or, safe from
spoil, a and av'Kri, spoil, (5i*o<j, to plunder.]
1. A sanctuary, or place ofrefuge, where crim-
inals and debtors shelter themselves from
justice, and from which they cannot be
taken without sacrilege. Temples and
altars were anciently asylums ; as were
tombs, statues and monuments. The an-
cient heathens allowed asylums for the
protection of the vilest criminals ; and the
Jews had their cities ofrefuge.
'I. Any place of retreat and security.
AlYMMKPmc^AL, \ «■ tSee Symmetry.]
Not having symmetry. [Little used.] More.
AS YM' JVIETR Y, n. [Gr. a priv. and au^/ttrpta,
symmetry, of aw, with, and utrptu,
measure.]
The want of proportion between the parts of
a thing. It is also used in mathematics
for incommensurability, when between
two quantities there is no common meas-
ure. Johnson.
AS'YMPTOTE, n. [Gr. a priv., aw, with,
and rtrow, to fall; not meeting or coin
ciding.]
\ line which approaches nearer and nearer
to some curve, but though infinitely ex-
tended, would never meet it. This may
be conceived as a tangent to a curve at an
infinite distance. Chambers.
ASYMPTOT'ICAL, a. Belonging to an
asymptote. Asymptotical lines or curves
are such as continually approach, when
extended, but never meet.
ASYN'DETON, n. [Gr. a priv. and awbiu,
to bind together.]
In grammar, a figure which omits the con-
nective ; as, vent, vidi, vici. It stands op-
posed tojpohjsyndeton, which is a multipli-
Campbell.
■ connectives.
ATE
AT, prep. [Sax. at ; Goth, at ; L. ad. At,
ad and to, if not radically the same word,
often coincide in signification. In W. at
is to, and in Danish it is the sign of the
infinitive mode ; in Amh. od, or ud, is to-
wards. The word at is doubtless the ori-
ental xnx, nflN, Ch. and Heb. to come, to
approach. Hence it primarily denotes
presence, meeting, iiearness, direction to-
wards.]
In general, at denotes nearness, or presence ;
as at the ninth hour, at the house ; but
it is less definite than in or on ; at the
house, may be in or near the house. It
denotes also towards, versus ; as, to aim an
ai-row at a mark.
From this original import are derived all
the various uses of oJ. At the sight, is vnth,
present, or coming the sight ; at this news,
present the news, on or unth the approach
or arrival of this news. At peace, at war,
in a state of peace or war, peace or war
existing, being present ; at ease, at play, at
a loss, &.C. convey the like idea. At am
furnished with arras, bearing arms, pi
sent with arms ; at hand, within reach of
the hand, and therefore near ; at my cost,
with my cost ; at his suit, by or with his
suit ; at this declaration, he rose from liis
seat, that is, present, or coming this dec
laration ; whence results the idea in con
sequence of it. At his command, is either
under his command, that is, literally, com
iiig or being come his command, in the
power of, or in consequence of it. He '
good at engraving, at husbandry ; that
in performing that business. He deserv
well at our hands, that is, from us. The
peculiar phrases in which this word
curs, with appropriate significations, are
numerous. At first, at last, at least, at
best, ai the worst, a<the highest or lowest
are phrases in which some noun is impli-
ed ; as, at the first time or beginning ; at
the last time, or point of time ; at the least
or best degree, &c. ; all denoting an ex-
treme point or superlative degree. At all.
is in any manner or degree.
At is sometimes used for to, or towards.
noting progression or direction ; as, he
auns at perfection ; he makes or run
him, or points at him. In this phrase, he
longs to be at him, at has its general sense
of approaching, or present, or with, in con
test or attack.
AT'ABAL, 71. [Sp.] A kettle drum; a kind
of tabor. Dryden.
ATAC'AMITE, n. A muriate of copper.
AT'AGAS, n. The red cock or niooi-ganic,
Coxe.
ATAMAS'€0, n. A species of lily of the
genus Amaryllis.
AT'ARAXY, n. [Gr. arapa;to5, of <x priv.
and rafsaxri, tumult.]
Calmness of mind ; a term used by the stoics
and sceptics to denote a freedom from the
emotions which proceed from vanity and
self-conceit. Encyc.
ATAX'Y, n. [Gr. a priv. and rolij, order.]
Want of order ; disturbance ; irregularity
in the functions of the body, or in the cri-
ses and paroxysms of disease.
Coxe. Encyc
ATCHE, n. In Turkey, a small silver coin,
value about six or seven mills. Encyc.
ATE, the preterite of ea(, wliich see.
A T H
A'TE, n. a'ty. [Gr. att;, mischief; atau, to
hint. Ate is a personification of evil, mis-
chief or mahce.]
In pagan mythology, the goddess of mischief,
who was cast down from heaven by Jupi-
ter. Pope's Horn. II.
ATEL'LAN, a. Relating to the dramas at
Atella in Italy. Shajlesbury.
ATEL'LAN, n. A dramatic representation,
satirical or Ucentious. Shajlesbury.
A TEMP'O (ilUSTO. [It. ; L. in tempore jus-
A direction in music, which signifies to sing
• play in an eciual, true or just time.
ATHANA'SIAN, a. Pertaining to Athana-
sius, bishop of Alexandria, in the fourth
century. The Athanasian creed is a for-
mulary, confession or exposition of faith,
supposed formerly to have been drawn up
by Athanasius, but this opinion is now re-
jected, and the composition is ascribed by
some to Hilary, bishop of Aries. It is a
summary of what was called the orthodox
faith.
ATH'ANOR, n. [Ar. and Heb. nun thanor,
an oven or furnace.]
A digesting furnace, formerly used in chimi-
cal operations ; so constructed as to main-
tain a uniform and durable heat. It is a
ftirnace, with a lateral tower close on all
sides, which is to be filled with fuel. As
the fuel below is consumed, that in the
tower falls down to supply its place.
JVicholsov.
A'THEISM, n. The disbehefof the exist-
ence of a God, or Supreme intelligent Be-
ing.
JitheUm is a teroclous system that leaves
nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us.
to awaken tenderness. Rob. Hall
A'THEIST, n. [Gr. a9E0{,ofopriv. andStoj.
God.]
One who disbelieves the existence of a God.
or Supreme intelligent Being.
A'THEIST, a. Atheistical ; disbelieinng or
denying the being of a Supreme God.
ATHEIST'I€, I Pertauiing to athe-
ATHEISTICAL, ^ "' ism.
2. Disbeheving the existence of a God ; im-
pious ; applied to persons; as, an atheistic
writer.
3. Implying or containing atheism; applied
to things ; as, atheistic doctrines or opin-
ions.
rVTHEIST'ICALLY, adv. In an atheistic
manner ; impiously.
ATHEIST'I€ALNESS, n. The tiuaUty of
lieing atheistical.
A'THEIZE, V. i. To discourse as an athe-
ist. [Not iised.] Cudworth.
ATHEL, ADEL or ^THEL, noble, of
illustrious birth ; Sax. add, athel ; G. adel ;
--£
D.edel; Sw. adel ; Ban. adel ; Ar. yj\
athala, to be well rooted, to be of noble
origin. Tliis word is found in many Sax-
on names ; as in Atheling, a noble youth ;
Ethelred, noble counsel ; Ethelard, noble
genius ; Ethelbert, noble bright, eminently
noble ; Ethehvald, noble government, or
power ; Ethelward, noble defender.
ATHE'NIAN, a. [from Athens.] Pertaining
to Athens, the metropoUs of Attica in
Greece.
ATHE'NIAN, n. A native or inhabitant of
Athens.
A T L
A T O
A T O
ATHEOLO'GIAN, n. One who is opposed
to a theologian. Hayward.
ATHEOL'OciY, n. Atheism. [JVot in use.]
Swifl.
A'THEOUS, a. Atheistic ; impious. [JVot
vsfd.] Milton.
ATII'KRINE, I A gemis of fishes of tlie
ATIIKRI'NA, s"-Jib(lominal order. The
fliaracters are, the upper jaw is rather
flat, the rays of the gill membrane are
six, and tlie side belt or Une shines like
silver. There are four species ; the best
known is the Hepsetus, very abundant in
the Mediterranean, where it is caught in
larfie quantities. Pennant. Ed. Encyc.
ATU'tfaOME; ['■•[«'•. from a.,pa, pap.]
An encysted tumor, without pain or discol-
oration of the skin, containing matter like
pap, intermixed with hard stony particles ;
easily cured by incision. Encyc. Coxe.
ATHERO'MATOUS, a. Pertaining to or
resembling an atherome ; having the qual-
ities of an atherome. Wiseman.
ATHIRST', a. athursV. [a and thirst. See
Thirst.]
1. Thirsty ; wanting drink.
y. Having a keen appetite or desire.
He had a soul athirst for knowledge.
Ch. Observer.
ATHLETE, n. [See AtlUetic] A contend-
er for victory. A. Smith's Theory.
ATHLET'le, a. [Gr. aST>.rjT7js ; L. athleta, a
wrestler ; fi-om arfixof, strife, contest.]
1. Belonging te wrestling, boxing, running
and other exercises and sports, which
were practiced by the ancients, usually
called the athletic games. Hence,
'i. Strong ; lusty ; robust ; vigorous. An
athletic body or constitution is one fitted
for vigorous exertions.
ATHWART', prep, [a and thwaH. See
Thwart.]
1. Across ; from side to side ; transverse ;
as athwart the path.
2. In marine language, across the line of a
ship's course ; as, a fleet standing athwart
our course.
Athwart house, is the situation of a ship
when she Ues across the stem of another,
whether near, or at some distance.
Athwart the fore foot, is a phrase applied
to the flight of a cannon ball, across
other ship's course, ahead, as a signal for
her to bring to.
Athwart ships, reaching across the sliip
from side to side, or in that direction.
Mar. Diet.
.\THWART', adv. In a mamier to cross
and perplex ; crossly ; wrong ; wrongfully.
ATII.T', adv. [a and tilt. See TUt]
1. Ill the manner of a tilter; in the posi
tioii, or with the action of a man making
a thrust ; as, to stand or run aiilt.
3. Ill the manner of a cask tilted, or with one
• III! raised.
A'"' 1^1Y, n. [Gr. ofi/uio, a and tifi?;, honor.^
In iiiident Greece, disgrace; exclusion from
I 111. I' or magistracy, by some disquahfylng
:i(l iir.lrrree. Mitford.
ATLAN riAX. > Pertaining to the isle
ATI. W'I'i; AN, ^ 'Atlantis, which the an
ri. Ills all) ilge was sunk and overwhelm
.il liy the ocean. Plato.
'i. Pertaining to Atlas ; resembluig Atlas.
ATLAN'TIC, a. [from Atlas or Atlantis.]
Pertaining to that division of the ocean,
which lies between Europe and Africa oi)
the east and America on the west.
ATLAN'TIC, n. The ocean, or that part of
the ocean, which is between Europe and
Africa on the east and America on the
west.
ATLAN'TI€A, > An isle mentioned by
ATLAN'TIS, S tl'c ancients, situated
west of Gades, or Cadiz, on the strait of
Gibraltar. The poets mention two isles
and call them Hespendes, western isles,
and Ely sian fields. Authors are not agreed
whether these isles were the Canaries, or
some other isles, or the continent of Amer-
ica. Homer. Horace.
ATLAN'TIDES, n. A name given to the
Pleiades or seven stars, which were feign-
ed to be the daughters of Atlas, a king of
Mauritania, or of his brother, Hesperus,
who were translated to heaven. Encyc.
ATLAN'TIS, n. A fictitious philosophical
commonwealth of Lord Bacon, or the
piece describing it ; composed in the man-
ner of Morc's Utopia, and Campanella's
City of the Sun. One part of the work is
finished, in which the author has described
a college, founded for the study of Nature,
under the name of Solomon's House. The
model of a commonwealth ivas never ex-
ecuted. Encyc.
AT' LAS, n. A collection of maps in a
volume ; supposed to be so called from a
picture of mount Atlas, supporting the
heavens, prefixed to some collection.
Johnson.
2. A large square folio, resembling a volume
of maps.
3. The supporters of a building.
4. A silk sattin, or stuff", manufactured in the
east, with admirable ingenuity, Atlasses
are plain, striped, or flowered ; but they
have not the fine gloss and luster of some
French silks. Encyc.
5. The first verteber of the neck. Coie.
t). A term apphed to paper, as atlas fine.
Burke.
ATMOM'ETER, n. [Gr. atfios, vapor, and
fiitfsfu, to measure.]
An instrument to measure the quantity of
exhalation from a humid surface in a giv-
en time ; an evaporometer. lire.
AT'MOSPHERE, n. [Gr. ar^oj, vapor, and
B$oipa,a sphere.]
The whole mass of fluid, consisting of air,
aqueous and other vapors, surrounding the
earth.
ATMOSPHERIC ) Pertaining to the
ATMOSPHERICAL, I "' atmosphere ; as
atmospheric air or vapors.
2. Dependent on the atmosphere.
I am an atmospAeric creature. Pope.
AT'OM, n. [Gr. a-roftoj ; h. atomus ; from a,
not, and fifivu, to cut.]
1. A particle of matter so minute as to ad-
mit of no division. Atoms are conceived
to be the first principles or component
parts of all bodies. Quincy.
2. The ultimate or smallest component part
of a body. Chimistry.
3. Any thing extremely small. Shak.
ATOMIC, ) Pertaining to atoms ; con-
ATOM'ICAL, \ °" sisting of atoms; extreme-
ly minute.
The atomical philosophy, said to be broach-
ed by Moschus, before the Trojan war.
and cultivated by Epicurus, teaches that
atoms are endued with gravity and mo-
tion, by which all things were formed,
without the aid of a supreme intelligent
Being.
The atomic theory, in chimistry^ or the doc-
trine of definite proportions, teaches that
all chimical combinations take place be-
tween the ultimate particles or atoms of
bodies, and thaf these unite either atom
with atom, or in proportions expressed by
some simple multiple of the number of
atoms. Dalton.
AT'OMISM, n. The doctrine of atoms.
AT'OMIST, n. One who holds to the atom-
ical philosophy.
ATOM-LIKE, a. Resembling atoms.
Brotime.
AT'OMY, n. A word used by Shak.-spearc
for ato7n ; also an abbreviation of anato-
my.
ATO'NE, adv. [at and one.] At one ; to-
gether. Spenser.
ATO'NE, v. i. [Supposed to be compound-
ed of at and one. The Spanish has adu-
nar, to unite or join, and the Ital. adunare,
to assemble ; from L. ad and unus, unio.
In Welsh, dyitn signifies united, accord-
ant, agreeing ; dyunatv, to unite or agree ;
from Hn, one, and dy, a prefix denoting
iteration.]
1. To agree; to be in accordance; to ac-
cord.
He and Aufidus can no more atone,
Than violentest contrariety. Shak.
[TTiis sense is obsolete.]
2. To stand as an equivalent ; to make re-
paration, amends or satisfaction for an of-
fense or a crime, by which reconciliation
is procured between the offended and of-
fending parties.
The murderer fell and blood atoned for blood.
Pope.
By what propitiation shall I atone for my for-
mer gravity. Rambler, No. 10.
The life of a slave was deemed to be of so
little value, that a very slight compensation
atoned for taking it away.
Robertson, Charles V.
3. To atone for, to make comjiensation or
amends.
This evil was atoned for by the good effects
of the study of the practical physics of Aristotle.
Schlegel, Trans.
The ministry not atoning for their former
conduct by any wise or popular measure.
Junius.
ATO'NE, V. t. To expiate; to answer or
make satisfaction for.
Or each atone his guilty love with life.
Pope.
2. To reduce to concord ; to reconcile, as
parties at variance ; to appease. [JVot
now used.]
ATO'NED, pp. Expiated ; appeased ; re-
conciled.
ATONEMENT, n. Agreement; concord;
reconciliation, after enmity or controversy.
Rom. V.
He seeks to make atonement
Between the Duke of Glo'ster and your brothers.
Shak.
2. Expiation ; satisfaction or reparation
made by giving an equivalent for an inju-
ry, or by doing or suffering that which is
received in satisfaction for an offense or
injiu-y ; witli /or.
ATT
And Moses said to Aaron, go to the altar, and
oli'er thy sin-offering, and thybumt-offering, and
make an atoneinent for thyself and for tlie peo-
ple. Lev. ix.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the
best atonement he can make for it is, to warn
others not to fall into the like. Spect. No. 8.
The Phocians behaved with so much gallant-
ly, that they were thotight to have made a suffi-
cient atonement for their former offense.
Potter, Anliq.
8. In theology, the expiation of sin made by
the obedience and personal sufTerings ot
Christ.
ATO'NER, n. lie who makes atonement.
ATON'le, a. Relaxed; debilitated.
ATO'NING, ppr. Reconcihng. Obs.
'I. Making amends, or satisfaction.
.\T'ONY, n. [Gr. atoiia, defect, of a priv.
and foi<o5, tone, from tuvu, to stretch.]
Debihty ; relaxation ; a want of tone or ten-
sion ; defect of muscular power ; palsy.
Wilson. C'oxe.
ATOP' adv. [a and top. See Top.] On or
at the top. Milton
.ATRABILA'RIAN, ? [L. atraUUs,
ATRABILA'RIOUS, \ "■ black bile.]
.\ft'ected witli melancholy, which the an-
cients attributed to the bile ; replete with
black bile.
VTRABILA'RIOUSNESS, n. The state of
being melancholy, or aflected with disor-
ATRAlMEiNT'AL, > {L. atramenliim,\nk.
ATRAMENT'OUS, \ "• from atcr, black.]
Inky ; black Uke iidi.
\TRAMENTA'RI0US, a. Like ink ; suit-
able for making ink. The sulphate of iron,
or green copperas, is called atramentari-
ous, as being the material of ink.
Foiircroy,
ATRIP', adv. [a and trip. See Trip.]
In nautical language, the anchor is atrip.
when drawn out of the ground in a per-
pendicular direction. The topsails are
atrip, when they are hoisted to the top of
the mast, or as high as possible. Mar. Diet
ATRO'CIOUS, a. [L. atrox, trui, fierce,
cruel.]
Extremely hainous, criminal or cruel ; enor-
mous ; outrageous ; as atrocious guilt or
offense.
ATRO'CIOUSLY, adv. In an atrocious
manner ; with enormous cruelty or guilt-
ATRO'CIOUSNESS, n. The quahty of be-
ing enormously criminal or cruel.
ATROCITY, n. Enormous wickedness;
extreme hainousnes or cruelty ; as the atro
city of murder.
AT'ROPHY, n. [Gr. a. priv. and rpt^u, to
nourish.]
A consumption or wasting of the flesh, with
loss of strength, without any sensible cause
or hectic fever ; a wasting from defect of
nourishment. Encye. Coxe
ATRO'PIA, n. A new vegetable alkali ex
tracted from the atropa belladonna, oi
deadly nightshade. It is white, brilliant
and crystaUzes in long needles. Ure.
\TTACH', V. t. [Fr. attacker, to tie or fas
ten, to apply, to engage, to stick ; Arm
staga ; It. attaccare ; Norm, attacker, to
attack ; tacke, tied, fixed, tacked together ;
Port. Sp. atacar. It seems to be allied to
attack, and the sense is to put, throw or
fall on, hence to seize, and stop, coincid
ing with the Eng. take ; Sw. tuga ; Dan
ATT
tager ; Sax. tmccan ; Gr. Sta;0|Uot ; L. tango,
for tago; Eng. tack ; &c. Class, Dg.
See Attack and Tack.]
. To take by legal authority ; to arrest the
person by writ, to answer for a debt ; ap-
phed to a taking of the person by a civil
process ; being never used for the arrest of
a criminal. It is appUed also to the taking
of goods and real estate by an officer, by
virtue of a writ or precept, to hold the
same to satisfy a judgment to be rendered
in the suit.
!. To take, seize and lay hold on, by moral
force, as by affection or interest ; to win
the heart ; to fasten or bind by moral influ-
ence ; as, attacked to a friend ; atlaching
others to us by wealth or flattery.
3. To make to adhere ; to tie, bind or fasten ;
as, to attack substances by any glutmous
matter ; to attach one thing to another by
a string.
ATTACHABLE, a. That may be legally
attached ; liable to be taken by writ or pre-
cept.
ATTACH'ED, pp. Taken by writ or pre
cept ; drawn to and fixed, or united by af
fection or uiterest.
ATTACHING, ppi: Taking or seizmg by
connnandment or writ ; drawing to, and
fixing by influence ; whining the aft'ec
tions.
ATTACH'MENT, n. A takuig of the per
son, goods or estate by a writ or precept
in a civil action, to secure a debt or de
mand.
2. A writ directing the person or estate of a
person to be taken, to secm-e his appear
ance before a court. In England, the first
notice to appear in court -is by summons ;
and if the defendant disobeys this moni
tion, a writ of attachment issues, com
manding the sheriff to attack him, by ta
king gage, or security in goods, which he
forfeits by non-appearance, or by making
him find safe pledges or sureties for his
appearance. But in trespasses, an attach-
ment is the first process. In this country,
attachment is more generally the first pro-
cess, and in some states, the writ of at-
tachment issues at first against the prop-
erty or person of the defendant. In Con-
necticut, this writ issues against the person,
goods or land, in the first instance, com-
manding to take the goods and estate of
the defendant, if to be found ; or other-
wise, to take his body. In England, wit-
nesses not appearing upon a summons,
may be taken by attachment ; a process
called with us a capias. Attachments also
issue against persons for contempt of|
court. The cou7-t of attachments, in Eng
land, is held before the verderors of the
forest, to attach and try offenders against
vert and venison.
Foreign attachment is the taking of the money
or goods of a debtor in the hands of a
stranger ; as when the debtor is not with
in the jurisdiction of the court or has ah
seonded. Any person who has goods or
effects of a debtor, is considered in law as
the agent, attorney, factor or trustee of
the debtor ; and an attachment served on
such person binds the property in his hands
to respond the judgment against the
debtor.
3. Close adherence or affection ; fidelity
ATT
regard ; any passion or affection that binds
a person ; as, an attachment to a friend, or
to a party.
ATTACK', v.t. [Fr. attaquer ; Arm. attacqi ;
It. attaccare, to fasten, to engage in battle ;
attacco, a sticking ; Sp. atacar, to assault,
to fasten or make close, to cram ; Port.
atacar, to attack, to seize, to fasten ; Heb.
and Ch. mr\, to thrust, to drive, to strike.
It seems to be alUed to attack ; but the
latter verb agrees better with the Eth.
m©+ to press, whence ^^® +
to press, to make close ; and the Ch. ntJ,
to accuse, to unite. Class Dg.]
1. To assault ; to fall upon with force ; to
assail, as with force and arms. It is the
appropriate word for the commencing act
of hostility between armies and navies.
2. To fall upon, with unfriendly words or
writing ; to begin a controversy with ; to
attempt to overthrow or bring into dis-
repute, by satue, calunany or criticism ; as,
to attack a man or his opinions in a pam-
phlet.
ATTACK', n. An onset ; first invasion ; a
falhng on, with force or violence, or with
calumny, satire or criticism.
ATTACK'ED, pp. Assaulted; invaded;
fallen on by force or emnity.
ATTACK'ER, n. One who assaults or in-
vades.
ATTACKING, ppr. Assaulting; invading:
falling on with force, cahunny or criticism.
ATTA€OT'TI€, a. Pertaining to the Atta-
cotti, a tribe of ancient Britons, alhes of
the Scots. Pinkerton.
AT'TAGEN, «. A beautiful fowl, reseni-
bhng the pheasant, witli a short black bill
and a fine crest of yellow feathers, varie-
gated with black and white spots, foimd
in the mountains of Sicily.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
ATTA'IN, V. i. [Fr. and Norm, atteindre ; L.
attingo, to reach, come to or overtake ;
ad and tango, to touch, reach or strike ;
that is, to thrust, urge or push to. It has
no connection with L. attineo. See Class,
To reach ; to come to or arrive at, by mo-
tion, bodily exertion, or efforts towards a
place or object.
If by any means they might attain to Phen-
icc. Acts xxvii.
2. To reach ; to come to or arrive at, by an
effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for rae ; it
is high ; I cannot attain to it. Ps. cxxxix.
Regularly tliis verb should be always follow-
ed by /o; the omission of <o, and the use
of the verb, in a transitive sense, may have
originated in mistake, from the opinion
that the verb is from the L. attineo, and
equivalent to obtain.
ATTA'IN, 17./. To gain; to compass; to
achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach
by efforts ; without to following.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end wijji-
out the means ? TillotsdH.
This use of the verb is now established ; but
in strictness to is here implied ; attain to
the end. The real sense, as in the intran-
sitive use of the verb, is, to reach or come to
the end or purpose in view. This word
always implies an effort towards an object.
Hence it is not synonymous with obtain
ATT
A T T
ATT
and procure, which do not necessarily im-|
ply such eftbrt. We procure or obtain a!
thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain
by inheritance, but we do not attain it by
such means. An inattention to this dis-
tinction has led good authors into great
mistakes in the use of this word.
9. To reach or come to a place or object by
progression or motion.
But ere such tidings shall his ears attain.
Hook's Tasso.
Canaan he now attains. Milton.
3. To reach in excellence or degree ; to
equal. Bacon.
ATTA'INABLE, a. That may be attained ;
that may be reached by efttirts of the niiml
or body ; that may be compassed or ac-
oomphshed by eftbrta dir«riecl to th(^ <ili-
ject ; as, perfection is not attainable in this
life. From an inattention to the true sense
of this word, as explauied under attain,
authors have very improperly used tliis
word for obtainable, procurable ; as in the
following passages. " The kind and quali-
ty of food and liquor ; the species of hab-
itation, furniture and clothing to which
the common people of each country are
habituated, must be attainable with ease
and certainty." Paley, Phil. B. G. Ch. 11.
" Gen. Howe would not permit them to
be purchased in Philadelphia, and they
(clothes and blankets) were not attainable
in the country." Marshall's Lile of Wash-
ington, 3, 428. Each ofthese words should
be obtainable.
ATTA'INABLENESS, n. The quality of
being attainable.
ATTAINDER, n. [Norm. Fr. atteindre, to
corrupt, attaint ; also conviction ; L. ad
and hngo, to stain ; Gr. rtyyu. Class Dg.
See Tinge.]
1. Literally a staining, corruption, or ren-
dering impure ; a corruption of blood.
Hence,
2. The judgment of death, or sentence of a
competent tribunal upon a person convict-
ed of treason or felony, which judgment
attaints, taints or corrupts his blood, so
that he can no longer inherit lands. The
consequences of this judgment are, forfeit-
ure of lands, tenements and hereditaments,
loss of reputation, and disqualification to
be a witness in any court of law. A stat-
ute of Parhament attainting a criminal, is
called an act of attainder.
Upon the thorough demonstration of which
guilt by legal attainder, the feudal covenant is
broken. Blackstonc.
3. The act of attainting.
An act was made for the attainder of several
persons. Encyc.
J\lht€. By the constitution of the United
States, no crime works an attainder.
ATTAINMENT, n. The act of attaining ;
the act of aiTiving at or reaching; hence
the act of obtaining by efforts ; as the at-
tainment of excellence.
2. That which is attained to, or obtained by
exertion ; acquisition ; as, a man of great
attainments.
ATTA'INT, V. t. [See Jlttainder.]
,1. To taint or corrupt ; to extinguish the
pure or inheritable blood of a person found
guilty of treason or felony, by confession,
battle, or verdict, and consequent sentence
of death, or by special act of Parliament.
No person shall be attainted of high tieason
where corruption of blood is incurred, but by
the oath of two witnesses, &c. Slat. 7 and H.
W. 3.
2. To taint, as the credit of jurors, convicted
of giving a false verdict. This is done by
special writ of attaint. The conviction of
such a crime attaints the reputation of ju-
rors, and renders them infamous.
3. To disgrace; to cloud with infamy; to
stain. Spenser.
. To taint or corrupt. Shak.
ATTA'INT, n. A stain, spot or taint. Stiak.
[See Taint.}
2. Any thing injurious ; that which impairs.
Ohs. Sliak.
j. A blow or wound on the hinder feet of a
horse. Farriery.
4. A writ which lies after judgment against
a jury for giving a false verdict in any
court of record.
ATTAINTED, pp. Stained; corrupted;
rendered infamous; rendered incapable
of inheriting.
ATTA'lNTING,;)pr. Staining; corrupting;
rendering infamous by judicial act ; depri-
ving of inheritable blood.
ATTA'INTMENT, n. The being attainted.
ATTA'INTURE, n. A staining or render-
ing infamous ; reproach ; imputation
ATTASK', V. t. To task ; to tax. [Not
used. See Task.} Stiak.
ATTA'STE, V. t. To taste. [.\o( used. See
Taste.-\
ATTEM'PER, v. t. [L. attempero, oforfand
tempera, to temper, mix, or moderate. See
Temper.]
To reduce, modify or moderate by niix-
tiu-e ; as, to attemper heat by a cooling
mixture, or spirit by diluting it with water
2. To soften, mollify or moderate ; as, to at-
temper rigid justice with clemency.
3. To mix in just proportion ; to regulate ;
as, a mind well attempered with kindness
and justice.
4. To accommodate ; to fit or make suit-
able.
Arts attempered to the lyre. Pope
ATTEM'PERANCE, n. Temperance. [.Yet
used.] Chaucer.
ATTEM'PERATE, a. [L. attemperatns.]
Tempered ; ))roportioned ; suited.
Hope must be proportioned and attemperate
to the promise. Hammond.
ATTEM'PERATE, v. t. To attemper. [Not
in use.] Hammond.
ATTEM'PERED, pp. Reduced in quality
moderated ; softened ; well mixed ; suited.
ATTEM'PERING, ppr. Moderating in
quality ; softening ; mixing in due propor-
tion ; "making suitable.
ATTEM'PERLY, adv. In a temperate
manner. [Not in use.[ Chaucer.
ATTEMPT', V. t. [Fr. atfenter, from L. at-
tento, to attempt, of ad and /f)i(o, to ti-y ;
Arm. attempti. The L. tento is from the
same root as tendo, to strain ; Gr. ravu.
Hence, the literal sense is to strain, urge,
stretch.]
1. To make an effort to effect some object ;
to make trial or experiment ; to try ; to
endeavor ; to use exertion for any pui
pose ; as, to attempt to sing ; to attempt
bold flight.
2. To attack ; to make an effort upon ; as, to
attempt the enemy's camp.
This verb is not always followed by an ob-
ject, and appears to be intransitive ; but
some object is understood, or a verb in
the infinitive follows in the place of an
object ; as, he attempted to speak.
VTTEMPT', n. An essay, trial or endeav-
or ; an attack ; or an effort to gain a point.
Baco7i.
\TTEMPT'.\BLE, a. That may be at-
tempted, tried or attacked ; hable to an
attempt, or attack. Shak.
ATTEMPT'ED, pp. Essayed ; tried ; at-
ATTEMPT'ER, n. One who attempts, or
tacks. Milton.
ATTEMPT'ING, ;);)r. Trying; essaying;
iiaking an effort to gain a point ; attack-
off-
ATTEND', V. t. [L. attendo ; Fr. attendre, to
wait, stay, hold, exjjcct ; Sp. atender ; It.
attendere ; L. ad and tendo, to stretch,
to tend. See Tend.]
. To go with, or accompany, as a compan-
ion, minister or servant.
2. To be present ; to accompany or be uni-
ted to ; as a cold attended with fever.
3. To be present for some duty, implying
charge or oversight ; to wait on ; as, the
physician or the nurse attends the sick.
4. To be present in business ; to be in com-
pany from curiosity, or from some connec-
tion in affairs ; as, lawyers or spectators
attend a court.
3. To be consequent to, from connection of
cause ; as, a measure attended w itli ill
effects.
6. To await ; to remain, abide or be in store
for ; as, happiness or misery attends us
after death.
7. To wait for ; to lie in wait. Shah.
8. To wait or stay for.
Three days 1 promised to attend my doom.
Diyden.
9. To accompany with sohcitude ; to regard.
Their hunger thus appeased, their care attends
The doubtful forttine of their absent friends.
Dry den .
10. To regard ; to fix the mind upon.
Tlie pilot doth not attend the unskilful words
of the passenger. Sidney.
This is not now a legitimate sense. "To
express this idea, we now use the verb in-
transitively, with to, attend to.
11. To expect. [Not in use.] Raleigh.
ATTEND' V. i. To listen ; to regard with
attention ; followed by to.
Attend to the voice of my supplication. Vs.
Ixxxvi.
Hence much used in the imperative, at-
tend '.
2. To regard with observation, and corres-
pondent practice.
My son, attend to my words.
Hence, to regard with corapUance.
He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Ps. Ixvi.
3. To fix the attention upon, as an object of
pursuit ; to be busy or engaged in ; as, to
attend to the study of the scriptures.
4. To wait on ; to accompany or be present,
in pursuance of duty ; with on or upon ; as,
to attend upon a committee ; to attend upon
business. Hence,
5. To wait on, in ser\'ice or worship ; to
serve.
ATT
ATT
ATT
That ye may attend upon the Lord without
distraction. 1 Cor. vii.
(j. To stay ; to delay. Obs.
For this perfection she must yet attend.
Till to her maker she espoused be.
Davies
7. To wait ; to be within call. Spenser.
ATTEND' ANCE, n. [Fr.] The act of wait-
ing on, or serving.
Of which no man gave attendance at the al
tar. Heb. vii.
2. A waiting on; a being present on business
of any kind ; as, the attendance ofwitne:
or persons in court ; attendance of members
of the legislature.
3. Service ; ministry.
Receive attendance. S
4. The persons attending ; a train ; a retinue.
Milton
5. Attention ; regard ; careful application of
mind.
Give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv.
6. Expectation. Obs. Hooker.
ATTEND' ANT, a. Accompanying; being
present, or in the train.
Other suns with their attendant moons.
Milton
'2. Accompanying, connected with, or imme-
diately following, as consequential ; as,
intemperance with all its attendant evils.
3. In law, depending on or owing service to ;
as, the wife attendant to the heir. Cowel.
ATTEND'ANT, n. One who attends oi
accompanies, in any character whatever,
as a friend, companion, minister or ser-
vant ; one who belongs to the train.
Dryden.
'2. One who is present ; as an attendant at
or upon a meeting.
3. One who owes semce to or depends on
another. Cowel.
4. That which accompanies or is conse-
quent to.
A love of fame, the attendant of noble spirits
Pope.
Shame is the attendant of vice. ^non.
ATTEND' ED, pp. Accompanied; having
attendants ; served ; waited on.
ATTEND'ER, n. One wlio attends ; a com-
panion ; an associate. [Little tised.]
ATTEND'ING. ppr. Going with ; accom-
panying ; waiting on ; superintending or
taking care of; being present ; immediately
consequent to ; serving ; Ustening ; regard-
ing with care.
ATTENT', n. Attentive. "2 Chron. vi.
ATTENT'ATES, n. Proceedings in a court
of judicature, after an inhibition is de
creeil. Ayliffe.
ATTENTION, n. The act of attending or
heeding; the due application of the ear to
sounds, or of the mind to objects presented
to its contemplation. [Literally, a stretch-
ing toioards.]
They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention lilie deep harmony.
Shah.
2. Act of civility, or courtesy ; as attention to
a stranger.
ATTENT'IVE, a. [Fr. attentif.]
Heedful ; intent ; observant ; regarding will
care. It is applied to the senses of hear-
ing and seeing, as an attentive ear or eye
to the application of the mind, as in con-
templation ; or to the application of the
mind, together with the senses abovemei
tioned, as when a person is attentive to the
words, the manner and matter of a speak
er at tlie same time.
ATTENT'IVELY, adv. Heedfully; care
fully ; vvith fixed attention.
ATTENT'IVENESS, n. The state of beuig
attentive ; heedfulness ; attention.
ATTEN'UANT, a. [See Mtenuate..]
Making thin, as fluids ; diluting ; renderin,
less dense and viscid.
ATTEN'UANT, n. A medicine which thins
the humors, subtilizes their parts, dissolves
viscidity, and disposes the fluids to motion,
circulation and secretion ; a diluent.
Coxe.
ATTEN'UATE, v. t. [L. attenuo, of ad and
tenuo, to make thin ; L. tenuis; W. tenau ;
Ir. tana or tanaidhe ; Eng. thin, which
1. To make thin or less consistent ; to
tilize or break the humors of the body
finer parts ; to render less viscid ; opposed
to condense, incrassate or thicken.
2. To comminute ; to break or wear solid
substances into finer or very minute parts.
This uninterrupted motion must attenuate and
wear away the hardest rocks.
Trans, of Chaptal's Chimistry.
.3. To make slender ; to reduce in thickness.
ATTEN'UATE, a. Made thin, or less vis-
cid ; made slender. Bacon.
ATTEN'UATED, pp. Made thin or less
viscid ; comminuted ; made slender. In
botany, growing slender towards the point.
ATTEN'UATING, ppr. Making thin, as
fluids ; making fine, as solid substances ;
making slender or lean.
ATTENUA'TION, n. The act of making
thin, as fluids ; as the attenuation of the
humors.
2. The act of making fine, by commmution,
or attrition.
The action of the air facilitates the attenua-
tion of these rocks. Trans. Chaptal.
.3. The act or process of making slender, thin
or lean.
AT'TERATE, v. t. [L. attero, to wear.] To
wear away.
2. To fijrm or accumulate by wearing.
AT'TERATED, pp. Formed by wearing.
Ray.
ATTERA'TION, n. The operation of form-
ing land by the wearing of the sea, and the
wearing of the earth in one place and depo-
sition of it in another. Ray.
ATTEST', V. t. [Fr. attester ; L. attestor ; of
ad and teslor, to aflirm or bear witness,
from testis. See Testify.]
1. To bear witness to ; to certify ; to affirm
to be true or genuine ; to make a solemn
declaration in words or writing, to support
a fact ; appropriately used for the affirma-
tion of persons in their official capacity ; as,
to attest the truth of a writing ; to attest a
copy of record. Persons also attest wri-
tings by subscribing their names.
2. To bear witness, or support the truth of
a fact, by other evidence than words ; as,
the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient
magnificence.
3. To call to witness ; to invoke as con-
scious.
The sacred streams which heaven's imperial state
Jittests in oaths, and fears to violate.
Dryden.
ATTEST', n. Witness ; testimony ; attesta-
tion. [Little iwerf.]
ATTESTA'TION, n. Testimony ; witness ;
a solemn or official declaration, verbal or
written, in support of a fact; evidence.
The truth appears from the attestation of
witnesses, or of the proper officer. The
subscription of a name to a writing is an
attestation.
ATTESTED, pp. Proved or supported by
testhnony, solenm or official ; witnessed ;
supported by evidence.
ATTEST'ING,;)ior. Witnessing; calhngto
witness ; affirming in support of.
ATTESTOR, n. One who attests.
AT'TIC, a. [L. Micus ; Gr. Atnxoi.]
Pertaining to Attica in Greece, or to its prin-
cipal city, Athens. Thus, Attic wit, Attic
salt, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to
the Athenians ; Attic faith, inviolable faith.
Attic base, a peculiar base used by the an-
cient architects in the Ionic order, or col-
umn ; and by Palladio and others, ui the
Doric. Encyc.
Attic order, an order of small square pillars
at the uppermost extremity of a building.
This had its origin in Athens, and was in-
tended to conceal the roof. These pdlars
should never exceed one tliird of the length
of the order on which they are placed, nor
be less than one quarter of it. Encyc.
Attic story, a story in the upper part of a
house, where the windows usually are
square. Encyc.
AT'TI€, n. A small square pillar with its
cornice on the uppermost part of a build-
ing. Attics properly form the crown of
the building, or a finishing for the other
orders, when they are used in the struc-
ture. Encyc.
2. An Athenian ; an Athenian author.
Jones^ Gr. Grammar.
^.T'TICISM, n. The pecidiar style and idiom
of the Greek language, used by the Athe-
nians ; refined and elegant Greek ; con-
cise and elegant expression.
Encyc. Art. Philos.
2. A parlicidar attachment to the Athenians.
Mitford.
AT'TICiZE, V. t. To conform or make con-
formable to the language or idiom of At-
tica. Adjectives in o;, when atticized, be-
come u5. Jones^ Gi: Grammar.
AT'TICiZE, V. i. To use atticisms, or the
i(hom of the Athenians.
AT'TI€S, n. plu. The title of a book in Pau-
sanias, wliich treats of Attica.
Trans, of Paus. B. 1.
ATTI'RE, V. t. [Norm, attyrer, to provide ;
Fr. atours, dress, attire ; atoumer, to dress
a bride, to attire ; atourneresse, a tire
woman ; Arm. atourm, female ornaments ;
G. zieren, to adorn. We retain tire, the
sinijile word, applied to the band of a
wheel, and this word, in the D. toer, coin-
cides with tour. See Class Dr.]
To dress ; to array ; to adorn with elegant
or splendid garments.
With the linen miter shall Aaron be attired.
Lev. xvi.
ATTI'RE, n. Dress; clothes; habit; but
appropriately, ornamental dress.
Can a bride forget her attire. Jer. ii.
2. The horns of a deer.
3. In botany, the generative parts of plants.
Florid attire, called thrums or suits, as in
the flowers of marygold or tansy, consists
of two or three parts, of which tlie outer
ATT
ATT
ATT
part is the floret. Semiform attire consists
oftlu; chives and apexes. T/tis language
is now obsolete.
ATTl'RED, pp. Dressed ; decked witli or-
naments or attire.
ATTI'RER, n. One who dresses or adorns
with attire.
ATTl'RING, p;^r. Dressing; adorning with
dress or attire.
ATTl'TLE, ». «. To entitle. [JVotiiiuse.]
Goiver.
ATTITUDE, n. [Fr. attitude, posture ; Sp.
actitud, from L. actus, ago. Tlie Italian
attitudine is posture and fitness ; attitude
and aptitude being united in the same
word.]
1. In painting and sculpture, the posture or
action in which a figure or statue is placed ;
the gesture of a figure or statue ; such a
disposition of the parts as serves to ex-
press the action and sentiments of the per-
son represented. Johnson. Ena/c.
9. Posture ; position of things or persons ;
as, in times of trouble let the prince or a
nation preserve a firm attitude.
fVashington^s Farewell Address.
Hamilton. Gov. Smith. JV. H.
ATTOL'LENT, a. [L. attollens, attoUo, of|
ad and tollo, to lift.]
Lifting up ; raising ; as an attoUent muscle,
Derham.
ATTOL'LENT, n. A muscle which raises
some part, as the ear, the tip of th
or tlie upper eyo lid ; otherwise called
levator or elevator. Quincy. Coxe.
ATTORN', V. i. [L. ad and tomo ; Fr. tour-
ner ; Arm. tuirgna, tumein, to turn ; Sp,
tornar; Port, id; It. attamare, lomiare
Hence tomiamento, a tournament ; Sp. lor-
neo. See Turn.]
In the feudal law, to turn, or transfer homage
and service from one lord to another.
This is the act of feudatories, vassals or
tenants, upon the alienation of the estate.
Blackstone. Encyc.
ATTORN'EY, n. plu. attorneys. [Norm, at-
tournon ; torne,iA; i'rom tour, touni, turn,
change. One who takes the turn or place
<if another. See ^ftorji and Turn.]
One who is appointed or admitted in the
place of another, to manage his matters in
law. The word formerly signified any
per.son who did business for another ; but
its sense is now chiefly or wholly restricted
to persons who act as substitutes for the
persons concerned, in prosecuting andde
finding actions before courts of justice, or
ill transacting other business in which
legal rights are involved. The word
swers to the procurator, (proctor,) of the
civilians.
Attorneys are not admitted to practio
courts, until examined, approved, licensed
and sworn, by direction of some
after which they are proper officers of the
court.
In G. Britain, and in some of the U. States,
attorneys are not jiermitted to be advocates
or counsel in the higher courts ; this privi-
lege being confuied to counsellors and ser-
geants. In other states, there is no dis-
tinction of rank, and attorneys practice in
all the courts. And in a general sense, the
word attorney comprehends counsellors,
barristers and Serjeants.
In Virginia, the duties of attorney, counsellor,
conveyancer and advocate, are all per-
formed by the same individual. H'irt.
An attorney may have general powers to
transact business fiir another ; or his pow-
ers may be special, or limited to a particu-
lar act or acts.
Attorney General is an (iflicer appointed to
manage business liir llie king, the state or
prosecute jiersoiis guilty oiCrimcs.
A tetter or warrant of attorney is a written
authority from one piTson empowering
another to transact business for him.
ATTORN'EY, i;. t. To perform by proxy ;
to employ as a proxy. [.Voi in use.\
Shak.
ATTORN'EYSHIP, n. The oflice of an
attorney ; agency for another. Shak.
ATTORN'ING, ppr. Acknowledging a new
lord, or transferring homage and fealty to
the purchaser of an estate.
ATTORN'MENT, n. The act of a feudatory,
vassal or tenant, by which he consents,
U|K>n the alienation of an estate, to receive
a new lord or sujjerior, and transfers to
him his homage and service.
Encyc. Blackstone.
ATTRACT', V. t. [L. attraho, attractus, of]
ad and traho, to draw. See Drag and
Draw.]
1. To draw to ; to cause to move towards
and unite with ; as, electrical bodies attract
straws, and light substances, by physical
laws.
3. To draw to or incline to unite with,
though some cause may prevent the
ion ; as, the sun is supposed to attract the
planets.
3. To draw by influence of a moral kuid ; to
invite or allure ; as, to attract admirers.
4. To engage ; as, to attract attention.
ATTRACT', n. Attraction. [JSTotinu^e.]
Hudibras.
ATTRACTABIL'ITY, n. The quality ofl
being attractable, or of being subject to
the law of attraction. Asiat. Researches.
ATTRACT' ABLE, a. That may be attract-
ed ; subject to attraction.
Lavoisier by Kerr.
ATTRACTED, pp. Drawn towards
ted; allured; engaged.
ATTRACT'IC, ) „ Having power to
ATTRACT'ICAL, ] "' draw to. [JSTot
used.] Ray.
ATTRACT'ILE, a. That has power to
attract. Med. Rep
ATTRACT'ING, ppr. Drawing to or to-
wards ; inviting ; alluring ; engaging.
ATTRACT'INGLY, adv. In an attracting
manner.
ATTRACTION, n. The power in bodies
which is sujjposed to draw them together
or the tendency or principle which inchne=
them to unite or cohere ; called by Coper-
nicus, appetence. Encyc.
This power, principle or tendency in
bodies to unite, is distinguished by philoso-
phers into attraction of gravity or gravita-
tion, which extends to a sensible distance,
such as the tendency of the planets to the
sun, or of a stone, when raised in the air,
to fall to the earth, and of which kind is
the attraction of magnetism, and of elec-
tricity ; and into attraction of cohesion, or
that tendency which is manifested between
small particles of matter, at insensible dis-
tan<'e.s, or near the ))oint of contact, to
unite them in coherence.
The attraction of grarily is supposed to
be the great principle which confines the
planets in their orbits. Its power or force
is directly as the (juantity of matter in a
body, and inversely as the square of the
distances of the attracting bodies.
jYeivton. Encyc.
2. The act of attracting ; the cflect of the
principle of attraction.
Attraction may be performed by impulse or
other means. JVewton'a Optica.
3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to,
inviting or engaging ; as the attraction of
beauty or eloquence.
Contiguous attraction is that which is ex-
erted briui-cn iiiiiinle [laiiicles or atoms,
at ijiscij>ililc (li-iaiiees. \\ hen this prin-
ciple unites ])arlicl<s iif the same kind, it is
called affinity of aggregation, cohesive af-
finity or cohesion. When it operates on
dissimilar particles, producing union, it is
distinguished as heterogeneous, and called
chimical attraction or affinity.
fVebster's Manual.
Elective attraction, in chiniistry, is other-
wise called affinity. It is that power in
substances, which elects or selects from a
mixture those elements with which they
have the strongest tendency to combine.
ATTRACT'IVE, a. [Fr. att'ractif]
1. Having the quality of attracting; drawuig
to ; as the attractive force of bodies.
2. Drawing to by moral influence ; alluring ;
inviting ; engaging ; as the attractive graces.
An attractive undertaking. Roscoe.
ATTRACT'IVELY, adv. With the power
of attracting, or drawing to.
ATTRACTIVENESS, n. The quaUty of
being attractive, or engaging.
ATTRACT'OR, n. The person or thing that
attracts.
ATTR A'HENT, a. [L. attrahens.] Drawing
to ; or as a noun, that which draws to.
Glanville.
ATTRAP', V. t. [Qu. Fr. drap, cloth.] To
clothe : to dress. [Not in use.] Barret.
ATTRECTA'TION, n. [L.attrectatio.] Fre-
quent handling. Diet.
ATTRIBUTABLE, a. [Sec AttHbute.]
That may be ascribed, imputed or attribu-
ted ; ascribable ; imputable ; as, the fault
is not attributable to the author.
ATTRIBUTE, v. t. [L. attribuo ; ad and
tribuo, to divide, to bestow, to assign ; tri-
his, a tribe, division or ward ; Fr. attribuer ;
Sp. atribuir, tribuir ; It. atiribuire. See
Tribe.]
1. To allot or attach, in contemplation ; to
ascribe ; to consider as belonging.
We attribute nothing to God, that contains a
contradiction. Tillatson.
2. To give as due ; to yield as an act of the
mind ; as, to attribute to God all the glory
of redemption.
3. To impute, as to a cause ; as, our misfor-
tunes are generally to be attributed to our
folhes or imprudence.
AT'TRIBUTE, n. Tliat which is attributed ;
that which is considered as belonging to,
or inherent in ; as, power and wisdom are
attributes of the Supreme Being: or a
quality determining something to be after
A U C
A U D
AUG
1, extension is an at-
tribute of body. Encyc.
'2. Quality ; characteristic disposition ; as
bravery and generosity in men. Bacon.
3. A tiling belonging to another ; an append-
ant ; as the arms of a warrior. In paint-
ing and sculpture, a symbol of office or
character, added to the principal figure :
as a club is the atlrihute of Hercules.
Encyc.
4. Reputation ; honor. Shak.
[JSTot a proper sense of this ^vorl{.]
ATTRIB'UTED, pp. Ascribed ; yielded a:
due ; imputed.
ATTRIB'UTING,/,'^/-. Ascribing: yielding
or giving as due ; imputing.
ATTRIBU'TION, n. The act of attributing,
or the quality ascribed ; commendation.
ATTRIB'UTIVE, a. Pertaining to or e.\-
pressing an attribute. Harris.
ATTRIB'UTIVE, ?i. In f!;rammar, a word
significant of an attribute ; as an adjec-
tive, verb or particle, which is the attribute
of a substance. Harris'' Hermes.
ATTRI'TE, a. [L. attritus, worn, of ad and
tero, to wear ; Gr. tttfiu. See Trite.] Worn
by rubbing or friction. Milton.
[See Trite, which is now generally used.]
ATTRI'TENESS.n. The bemg much worn.
Johnson.
ATTRI"TION, n. Abrasion ; the act of
wearing by friction, or rubbing substances
together.
The change of aliment is effected by the at-
trition of the stomach. Arbuthnot
9. The state of being worn. Johnson.
3. With divines, grief for sin arising from
fear of punishment ; the lowest degree of
repentance. Widlis.
ATTU'NE, «.«. [ofarf and tone. See Tone
and Tune.'] To make musical.
Vernal airs attune the trembling leaves.
Miltu,
2. To tune, or put in tune ; to adjust one
sound to another ; to make accordant ; as
to attune the voice to a harp.
ATTU'NED, pp. Made musical or harmoni
ous ; accommodated in sound.
ATTU'NING,ppr. Putting in tune ; making
musical, or accordant in sound.
ATWA'IN, adv. In twain ; asunder. Obs.
Shak.
ATWEE'N, «(£«. Between. Obs. Spenser.
ATWIXT', adv. Betwixt. Obs. Spenser.
ATWO, adv. In two. Ota. Chaucer.
AUBA'INE, n. auhain. [Fr. auhain, an alien.]
The droit d^auhaine, in France, is the right
of the king to the goods of an alien
dying within his jurisdiction, the king
standing in the place of the heirs.
AU'BURN,a. [This word is evidently formed
from brun, bruno, Fr. and It. brown, by a
transposition of the letters r and n, with a
prefix, auburn, for aubrun, from brennan,
burn, denoting the color rnade by scorch
ing.] Brown ; of a dark color.
His autmrn locks on either shoulder flowed.
Dtyden
AUCTION, n. [L. auctio, a public sale;
Eng. to haxok ; G. hoken ; properly, to cry
out. See Hawk.]
1. A public sale of property to the highest
bidder, and regularly, by a person licensed
and authorized for tiie purpose ; a vendue.
Contracts for services, sometunes, are sold
to the lowest bidder. By the Romans,
this species of sale was made by a crier,
stib hasta, under a spear stuck in the earth.
2. The thing sold at auction. Pope.
AU€'TIONARY, a. Belonging to an auc-
tion or public sale. Dryden,
AU€TIONEE'R, n. [L. auctionarius.]
The person who sells at auction ; a person
licensed by government to dispose of goods
or lands by pubUc sale to the highest bid
der.
AUCTIONEE'R, v. t. To sell at auction.
Coumer.
AUCUPA'TION, n. [L. aucupatio, from
aucupor, of avis and capio.] The act oi
practice of taking birds ; fowling ; bird
catching. [Little used.]
AUDA'CIOUS, a. [L. aiidax ; Fr. audacieux;
from L. audeo, to dare. The sense is, ad
vancing forward.]
1. Very bold or daring ; impudent ; contem
ning the restraints of law, religion or de-
corum ; used for bold in wickedness ; apphed
to persons ; as an audacious wretch.
2. Committed with, or proceeding from, dar
ing elFrontery, or contempt of law ; as an
audacious crime.
3. Bold ; spirited. Jonson.
AUDA'CIOUSLY, adv. In an impudent
manner ; with excess of boldness. Shak
AUDA'CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing audacious ; impudence ; audacity.
Sandys,
AUDACITY, n. Boldness, sometimes in a
good seyise ; daring spirit, resolution or
confidence.
9. Audaciousness ; impudence ; in a bad
sense ; implying a contempt of law
moral restraint.
AUD'EANISM, n. Anthropomorjihism ; or
the doctrine of Audeus, who maintained
that God has a human shape ; fiom Gen.
i 26. Encyc.
AUD'IBLE, a. [L. audibilis, from audio, to
hear. This word is evidently connected
with the name of the ear; Gr. ova;, ovato;;
Vulg. Gr. av8ia. The verb is contracted
into Sp. oir ; Port, ouvir ; Fr. ouir, to hear.
Hence in law oyer, and from the French
oyez, hear ye, the barbarous O yes, of our
courts.]
That may be heard ; perceivable by the ear ;
loud enough to be heard ; as an audible
voice or whisper.
AUD'IBLENESS, n. The quahty of being
audible.
AUD'IBLY, adv. In an audible manner ; in
a manner so as to be heard.
AUD'IENCE, n. The act of hearing, or at-
tending to sounds.
His bold discourse had audience. Milton.
2. Admittance to a hearing ; pubhc recep-
tion to an interview ; a ceremony observed
in courts, or by official characters, when
embassadors or applicants to men in office
are permitted to appear and state their
business in person.
3. An auditory ; an assembly of hearers.
4. In the Spanish dominions, a court ; as the
audience of Seville, which is a court of
oyer and terminer ; and the audience pre-
torial, in the Indies, which is a high court
of judicature. The word in Spain also
signifies certain law-officers, appointed to
institute a judicial uiquiry. Span. Dirt.
5. In England, a court held by the arch-
bishop of Canterbury, on the subject of
consecrations, elections, institutions, mar-
riages, &c, Encyc.
AUD'IENT,n. A hearer. lM.tinuse.]
AUD'IT, n. [h. audit, he hears.] An exam-
ination of an account or of accounts, with
a hearing of the parties concerned, by
proper officers, or persons appointed for
that purpose, who compare the charges
with the vouchers, examine witnesses, and
state the balance.
2. The result of such an examination, or ac-
count as adjusted by auditors; a final
account. Hooker.
AUD'IT, V. t. To examine and adjust an ac-
count or accounts, by proper officers, or by
persons legally authorized for the purpose :
as, to audit the accounts of a treasurer, or
of parties who have a suit depending in
court.
AUD'IT-HOUSE, n. An appendage to a ca-
thedral, in which the business belonging
to it is transacted. Wheler.
AUD'ITIVE, a. Having the power of hear-
ing- Cotgrave.
AUDITOR, [L.] A hearer ; one who at-
tends to hear a discourse.
2. A person appointed and authorized to ex-
amine an account or accounts, compare
the charges with the vouchers, examine
the paities and witnesses, allow or reject
charges, and state the balance. It is usual
with courts to refer accounts, on which an
action is brought, to auditors for adjust-
ment, and their rejjort, if received, is the
basis of the judgment.
In England, there are officers who are aud-
itors of courts; as the auditors of the Ex-
chequer, of the receipts, &c.
AUD'ITORSHIP, n. The office of auditor.
Johnson.
AUD'ITORY, a. That has the power of
hearing ; pertaining to the sense or organs
of hearing; as, the aurfitoTO nerve.
AUD'ITORY, n. [L. auditonum.] An audi-
ence ; an assembly of hearers, as in a
church or lecture room.
2. A place or apartment where discourses
are dehvered. In ancient churches, the
nave, where the hearers stood to be in-
structed.
3. A bench on which a judge sits to hear
causes. Encyc.
AUD'ITRESS, n. A female hearer.
Milton.
AUF, n. A fool ; a simpleton. [See Oaf]
AUGE'AN, a. The Augean stable, in Gre-
cian mythology, is represented as belong-
ing to Augeas or Augias, one of the
Argonauts, and afterwards king of Ehs.
This prince kept a great number of oxen,
in a stable which was never cleansed, un-
til Hercules undertook the task ; a task
which it seemed impracticable to execute.
Hence the Augean stable came to repre-
sent what is deemed impracticable, or a
place which has not, for a long time, been
clean-sed. Lempriere.
AUG'ER, n. [D. avegaar. The Saxon word
is nafe-gar or naue-gar, from nafa, the nave
of a wheel, and gar, a tool or a borer. It
is probable that the real word is naugar,
corrupted.]
An instrument for boring large holes, chiefly
used by carpenters, joiners, cabinet mak-
AUG
ers, wheelwiiglits and sliipwiiglits. It
consists of an iron blade, ending in a steel
Ijit, with a handle placed at right angles
with tlie blade. Augers, made with a
straight channel or groove, in some places,
are called pod-augers ; the modern augers,
with spiral channels, arc called screiv-
augers.
AUG'ER-HOLE, n. A hole made by an
auger.
AUGHT, 71. aut. [Sax. atviht, aid, or oioiht,
ohml, olil, from ttfiht, wight, a creature, an-
imal, thing, any thing. 'I'his xrihi m-xnus
to be our ivight and icliil ; mid ( .■■ns|H'(t
the L. qui, qua, quod, quid, whal, to be the
same word varied in ortliograjihy. Tliis
word .should not be written ought.]
I. Any thing, indefinitely.
But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting.
Addisoti.
0. Any part, the smallest , a jot or tittle.
There liiiled not aught of'any good thing
which the Lord had spoken. Josh. xxi.
AU'(SITE, n. [Gr. atyyr, briffhtness. Plin.
37,10.]
A mineral called by HaOy, pyroxene ; oflen
found ill distinct crystals. Its secondary
forms are all six or eight-sided prisms.
Sometimes it ajijiears in hemitrope crys-
tals. It has a foliated structure, and is
harder than Iiornblend. The varieties
are common augile, sahlite, fassaite, and
coccolite. The "omphacite of Werner ap-
pears also to lie a vjiriety ; and the com-
mon augite, found near the lake Baikal,
has been called Baikalite. Cleaveland.
Werner divides augite into four sub-species;
granular, foliaterl, conchoidal, and com-
mon ; and there is a variety called slaggy
augite.
AU(iIT'l€, a. Pertaining to augite ; resem-
bling augite, or partaking of its nature and
characters. Cooper.
AUGMENT', V. t. [Fr. augmenter ; L. aug
mento, augmentum, from augeo, auxi, to
increase ; Gr. milu, oslu. It seems to be
the Eng. to loax, or to eke ; Sax. eacan.]
\. To increase ; to enlarge in size or extent ;
to swell ; to make bigger ; a.s, to augment
an army, by reinforcement ; rain augments
a sti'eam.
a. To increase or swell the degree, amount
or magnitude ; as, impatience augments an
AUGMENT', V. i. To increase ; to grow
larger ; as, a stream augments by rain.
AUG'MENT, ji. Increase ; enlargement by
addition ; state of increase.
3. In philology, a syllable prefixed to a word
or an increase of the quantity of the ini-
tial vowel.
AUGMENT'ABLE, a. That may be in-
creased; capable of augmentation.
. „„.,^ ft^alsh's Jlmer. Review
AUGMENTA'TION, n. The act of increas-
ing, or making lai-ger, by addition,#xpan-
sion, or dilatation.
2. The state of being increased or enlarged,
3. The thing added by which a thing is en-
larged.
I. In nmstc, a dou!)ling the value of the notes
of the subject of a fugue or canon.
Bushy
.'bigmentation Court, in England, a couri
erected by 27 Hen. VIII., to augment thi
revenues of the crown, by the" suppres-H
Vol. I.
AUG
sion ofnionasteries. It was long ago dis-
solved. Encyc
In heraldry, augmentation consists in ad-
ditional charges to a coat-armor, often as
marks of honor, borne on the escutcheon
ol- a canton. Ena/c.
AUGMENT'yVTIVE, a. Having the quality
or power of augmenting.
AUGMENT'EK, n. He that augments.
AUGMENTING, ;);)r. Increasing; enlarg-
ing.
AU'GUR, n. [L. augur. The first syllable
is from avis, a fowl ; but the meaning and
origin of the last syllable are not obvious.]
1. Among the Romans, an officer whose duty
was to foretell future events by the sing-
ing, chattering, flight and feeding of birds^
There was a college or community of
augurs, originally three in number, and
afiirwards nine, four patricians, and five
plclici.uis. 'I'licy bore a staffer wand, and
«i Tc- IrI(I ill ;;ieat respect. Encyc.
a. One who pixieiids to foretell future events
by oniei
We all know that augur cannot look at augur
without laughing. Buckminster.
AU'GUIl, 1'. i. To guess ; to conjecture by
signs or omens ; to prognosticate.
AU'GUR, V. t. To predict or foretell; as, to
OMg-urill success.
AU'GUR.\L, a. [L. auguralis.] Pertaining
to an augur, or to i)rediction by the ap-
pearance of birds. The Romans had their
augural stall" and augural books.
AU'GURATE, v. i. To judge by augury
to predict. [Little used.] Warburton.
AUGURA'TION, n. The practice of au-
gury, or the foretelling of events by the
chattering and flight of birds. It may be
used for prediction by other signs and
omens.
AUGURED,
. Conjectured by omens ;
An augur. [J^ot legitimate.]
Shak.
AUGU'RIAL, a. Relating to augurs.
Brown.
AU'GURIZE, V. t. To au-rur. [JVot in use.]
AU'GUROUS, a. Predicting ; foretelhng ;
foreboding.
AU'GURY, n. [L. atigurium.] The art or
practice of foretelhng events by the flight
or chattering of birds.
2. All omen ; prediction ; prognostication.
Skak. Druden.
AUGUST', a. [L. augtcstus. The fii-st syl-
lable of this word is probably fi-om the
root of augeo, or of awe.]
Grand; magnificent; majestic; impressing
-■ve ; inspiring reverence.
The Trojan chief appeared, august in visage.
Bryden.
It is related that this epithet was first' con-
ferred by the Roman senate upon Octa-
vius, after confirming him in the sovereign
power.
AU'GUST, n. The eighth month of the'
year, containing thirty-one days. The old
Roman name was Sextilis, the sixth month
from March, the month in which the prim-
itive Romans, as well as Jews, began the'
year. The name was changed to August
in honor of the Emperor Octavius Augus-j
tus, on account of his victories, and" hisj
entering on his first consulate in tliati
"^o'ltli- Gebelin.l
16
A U R
r\UGUST'AN, a. Pertaining to Augustus -.
as the Augustan age.
2. The Augustan confession, drawn up ai
Augusta or Augsburg, by Luther and Me-
lancthon, in 1530, contains the principle.^
of the protestants, and their reasons for
separating from the Romish church.
AUGUSTIN'IANS, „. Those divines, who
(mm St. Aiigustin, maintain that grace is
effectual from its nature, absolutely and
morally, not relatively and gradually.
AJJGUST'INS, } Anorderofmo"n'?s;
AUGUSTIN'IANS, ^ "• so called from St!
Augustin. They originally were hermits,
and called Austin friars. They were con-
gregated into one body by Pope Alexan-
der IV., under Lanfi-anc, in 1256. They
clothe in black, and make one of the four
orders of mendicants. Enciic
AUGUST'NESS, n. Dignity of mien; gran-
deur ; magnificence.
AUK, n. [contracted fi-om Alca.] The al-
ca, a genus of aquatic fowls, of the order
of ansers, including the northern penguin
or great auk, the little auk or black and
white diver, the puffin, &c.
AULA'RIAN, n. [L. attla, a hall.] At Ox-
ford, the meinhcr of a hall, distinguishei!
.fi'°'?i a collegian. Todd.
AULET'IC, a. [Gr. a.v>.r;Tixo(, from ovXoj, ;;
pipe.]
1 ertaimng to pipes or to a pipe. [Littlf
used.]
AU'Ll€, <r. [L. aidicus, from aula, a hall.
court or jialace ; Gr. av%r,.]
Pertaining to a royal court. The epithet is
probably confined to the German Emjiire,
where it is used to designate certain courts
or officers composing the courts. The
aulic council is composed of a president,
who is a catholic, a vice-chancellor and
eighteen counsellors, nine of whom are
protestants, and nine catholics. They al-
ways follow the Emperor's court,- and de-
cide without an appeal. This council
ceases at the death of the Emperor.
The Aulic, in some European universi-
ties, is an act of a young divine, on being
admitted a doctor of divinity. It begins
by a harangue of the chancellor address-
ed to the young doctor, after which he re-
ceives the cap and presides at the Aulic or
disputation. Encyc
AUMA'IL, V. t. [Fr. email.;] To figure or
variegate. [ATot used.] Spejiser.
AUMBRY. [SeeAmhy.] ^
AUME, n. A Dutch measure for Rhenish
ine, containing 40 gallons. Encyc.
AUNE, n. [A contraction of aulne, uina.]
A French cloth measure, but of ilifferent
lengths in different parts of the country
At Rouen, it is an Eng. ell ; at Calais,
1. 52 ; at Lyons, 1. OGl ; at Paris, 0. 95.
*AUNT, n. [L. amita, contracted. Qu. Fr.
tante.]
The sister of one's father or mother, coiTela-
tive to nephew or niece.
AURA, n. [L. from Heb.iN', a stream ; Gr.
aupa. See Air.]
Literally, a breeze, or gentle current of air,
but used by Enghsh writers for a stream
of fine particles flowing from a bodv, a.<?
effluvia, aroma, or odor ; au exhalation.
A U R
A U S^
A U S
■VlJ'llATE, n. [Supposed to be from aurum,
gold.]^
A sort of pear.
VII'RATE, n. [L. aurvm, gold ; Fr. or; from
the Heb. and CIi. 11N, light, fire, and to
shine, from its color ; Ir. or ; W. aur ;
Corn, our ; Basque urrea ; Arm. mir, gold.]
\ combination of the oxyd of gold with a
base; as auraie of potash.
Lavoisier. Fourcroy.
AU'RATED, a. Resembling gold.
AURE'LIA, »!. [from aurum, or avr, gold,
from its color. Pee Clir;isfilis.]
In natural histori/, tin' tt\ in|>h av clirysalis of
an insect ; or the loini <>!' im animal, like
a worm or maggot, cnvcrc'il with a hard
ish pellicle, and in a state ot' seeming in
sensibility. From this state, it changes t(
a moth, butterfly or other winged insect.
Encyc.
AURE'LIAiyf, a. Like or pertaining to the
aurelia. ' Humphreys.
AU'RI€, a. [from mtrum, gold.] Pertaining
to gold. The auric acid is a saturated
combination of gold and oxygen.
Fourcroy.
AU'RieLE, n. [L. auricula, dim. from au-
ris, the ear.]
1. The external ear, or that part which is
prominent from the head.
•3. The auricles of the heart are two muscu-
lar bags, situated at the base, serving as
diverticula for the blood, during the d
tole. They resemble the auricle of
ear, and cover the ventricles of the heart,
like caps. Their systole or contraction
corresponds to the diastole of the heart,
and vice versa. They receive the blood
from the veins, and communicate it to the
lentricles. Encyc. Chambers.
\URI€'ULA, n. That species of primrose,
called, from the shape of its leaves, bear'
ear.
AURI€'ULAR, a. [from L. auricula, the
(. Pertaining to the ear ; within the sense of
hearing; told in tlie ear ; &s auricular (
fession.
*?. Recngnizi'd by the ear; known by the
sense of hearing ; as auricular evidence,
:!. Trailitiiinai ; known by rejiort ; as auric-\
uliir traditions. Bacon.l
AURIC IJI.ARLY, adv. In a secret man-
ner ; by way of whisper, or voice adcbess-
ed to the ear.
AURI€'ULATE, a. Shaped like the ear.
Botany.
VURle'ULATED, a. Having large or elon-
gated cars ; as the auriculated vulture.
Ed. Encyc.
AURIF'EROUS, a. [L. aurifer, from aurum}
gold, and /ero, to produce.]
■That yields or produces gold ; as auriferous
sands or streams. Thomson.
AURI'GA, n. [L. ofaurea, orea, a head-stall,
a bridle, and rego, to govern or manage.]
Literally, the director of a ear, or wagon.
In astronomy, the wagoner, a constella-
tion in the northern hemisphere, consist-
ing of 23 stars, according to Tycho ; 40,
according to Hevelius ; and 68, in the Brit-
ish catalogue. Encyc.
3. The fourth lobe of the liver ; also a band-
age for the sides. Ouincy.
AURIGA'TION, n. [L. auriga.] The act
' practice of driving horses harnessed to
AURIPIGMENTUM. [See Orpiment]
AU'RISCALP, n. [L. auris, ear, and scalpo,
to scrape.]
An instrument to clean the ears; used also
operations of surgery on the ear.
AU RIST, n. [L. auris, ear.] One skilled
in disorders of the ear, or who professes
to cure them. Ash.
AU'ROCIIS, ». [G. wroc/is, the ure-ox,urus
and ox.]
A species of ox, whose bones are found in
gravel and alluvial soil. . J. of Science.
AURO'RxV, n. [L. aurora; Sans, anui ; Ch.
and Heb. 11X Ught, and "ly to raise.]
1. The rising hght of the morning ; the
dawn of day, or morning twilight.
2. The goddess of the morning, or twilight
deified by fancy. The poets represented
her ii> iiMfii; ^iiit oi'tiie ocean, in achariot,
witli r.i~\ lin;M I- .h()|)i)iMg gentle dew.
.3. A ^|" lir- oliiijw liiot. Johnson.
duroia Boixalis, or lumen borcak ; northern
twilight. This species of hght usually ap-
pears in streams, ascending towards the
zenith from a dusky line a few degrees
above the horizon. Sometimes it assmnes
a wavy appearance, as ui America, in
March 1782, when it overspread the whole
hemisphere. Sometimes it appears in de-
tached places ; at other times, it almost
covers the hemisphere. As the streams
of light have a tremulous motion, they are
called, in the Shetland isles, merry dan-
cers. They assume all shapes, and a va-
riety of colors, from a pale red or yellow
to a deep red or blood color ; and in the
northern latitudes, serve to illuminate the
earth and cheer the gloom of long winter
nights. This hght is sometimes near the
earth. It is said to have been seen be-
tween the spectator and a distant moun-
tain.
AURO'RAL, a. Belonging to the aurora, or
to the nortliern lights ; resembling the twi-
light. jE. Goodrich.
AU'RUM, n. [L. See Jlurate.] Gold.
Aurum fidminans, fulminating gold, is gold
dissolved in aqua-regja or nitro-muriatic
acid, and precipitated by volatile alkali.
This precipitate is of a brown yellow, or
orange color, and when exposed to a mod-
erate heat, detonizes with considerable
noise. It is a compo luid of the oxyd of gold
and annnonia. _ Fourcroy.
Aurum mosaicum, or musivum, a sparkling
gold-colored substance, from an amalgam
of ([uick-silverand tin, mixed with sulphur
and sal amnioniac, set to sublime. The
UifiTui y ami part of tlie suliihur unite in-
ainnifiiiiai', ami Iravi's the aur nosai-
cuiii at the buttoiii. It is a sulphurct of
tin, and is used as a pigment.
Encyc. J\/'icholson.
AUSeULTA'TION, n. [L. from aiitifi.ouse,
Gr. ov!, ova.!, the ear, and cultus, from colo,
to use or exercise.]
1. The act of listening, or hearkening to.
a. In medidne, a method of distinguishing
diseases, particularly in the thorax, by ob-
serving the sounds in the part, generally
by ineans of a tube applied to the surface.
Lacnnec.
AU'SPICATE, v. I. [L. auspicor.] To give
a favorable turn to ; a sense taken from
the Roman practice of taking the auspi-
cium, or inspection of birds, before they
undertook any important business.
Burke's Reflections.
2. To foreshow. B. Jonson.
a To beghi. Burke.
AU'SPICE, AU'SPICES, n. [L. auspicium,
I of avis, a bird, and specio, to inspect.]
A. The omens of an undertaking, drawn
from birds ; the same as augury, which
2. Protection; favor shown; patronage ; in-
fluence. In this sense the word is gene-
rally plural, auspices.
AUSPI"CIOUS, a. [^ee Auspice.] Having
omens of success, or favorable appearan
ces ; as an auspicious beginning.
3. Prosperous ; fortunate ; applied to persons .
as auspicious chief. Dryden.
3. Favorable ; kind ; propitious ; applied to
perscms or things ; as an auspicious mis-
tress. Shak.
AUSPI'CIOUSLY, adv. With favorable
omens ; happily ; prosperously ; favora-
bly ; propitiously.
AUSPI"CIOUSNESS, n. A state of fair
promise ; prosperity.
AIJS'TER, n. [L.] the south wind. Pope.
AUSTE'RE,a. [L.austerus.] Severe ; harsh ;
rigid ; stern ; applied to persons ; as an
austere master ; an austere look.
9- Sour ; harsh ; rough to the taste ; applied
to things; as austere fruit, or wine.
AUSTE'RELY, adv. Severely; rigidly;
harshly.
AUSTE'RENESS, Ji. Severity in maimers?
harshness ; austerity.
2. Roughness in taste".
AUSTERITY, n. [L. austeritas.} Severity
of manners or life ; rigor ; strictness ;
harsh discipline. It is particularly appli-
ed to the mortifications of a monastic Ufe,
which are called austerities.
AUS'TRAL, a. [L. australis, from austere
the south wind, or south.]
Southern ; lying or being in the south ; as
mistral land ; austral signs.
AUSTRALA'SIA, n. [austral and Asia.] \
name given to the countries situated to the
south of Asia ; comprehending New-Hol-
land, New Guinea, New Zealand, &c.
Pinkerton.
AUS'TRIAN, rt. [from Austria. This word
is formed with the Latin termination, ia,
country, trom (Estreich, the German name,
which "is eastern rick, eastern kingdom, so
called ill reference to the western domin-
ions of Charlemagne.]
Pertaining to Austria, a circle or district of
Germany, and an empire, Ijing on the
Damibe north of the gulf of Venice.
AUS'TRIAN, n. A native of Austria.
tVUS'TRINE, a. [L. axislrinus, from auster,
sou*.]
South ; southerly ; southern. Johnson.
AUS'TROiMANCY, n. [from auster, the
south wind, and Gr. juotrfio, divination.]
Soothsaying, or prediction of future events,
from observations of the^vinds. Encyc,
Auterfoits, a word composed of the French
autre, another, and foils, fois, time, intro-
duced into law language, imder the Nor-
man princes of England. It signifies, at
another time, formerly ; as auterfoits
A U T
A U T
A U T
(icquil, auterfoils allaird, auterfoils convict,
Jbrinerly acquitted, attainted or convicted,
which being specially pleaded, is a bar to
a second prosecution for the same offense.
Blackstone.
AUTHEN'TIC, I [Fr. authentique ; It.
AUTHEN'TI€AL, ^ "• and Sp. nuien&o;
Low L. autkcnticus, from the Gr. avOivt txo;,
I'rom wveivTTji, an author or maker; one
who doo.s any Ihingby his own right ; al.<o
one who kills himself. The first syllable
i.** from avrof, which is probably from tlie
loot of aulkor, audor ; and the sense of
si'lf-murderer seems to indicate that the
other constituent of the word is from Ofiio,
Oiivio, to kill, but the primary sense of which
is, to strike, to drive or thrust with the
hand, &c. In tlie word before ns, the
sense is to throw, or to set ; hence millim-
tlc is set, fi.xeil, made or made certain I)y
tlie author, by one's own self.]
• . [laving a genuine original or authority,
in opposition to that which is false, ficti
tious, or counterfeit ; being what it pin-
jiorts to be ; genuine ; true ; applied to
things ; as an authentic ])aper or register
9. Of approved authority ; as an authentic
writer.
AUTHEN'TI€ALLY, adv. In an authentic
manner ; with the requisite or genuine au-
thority. Brown.
AUTHEN'TICALNESS, n. The quality of
being authentic ; genuineness; the quality
of being of good authority ; authenticity.
[The latter word is genenilli/ itsed.]
Barrow.
AUTHENTICATE, v.t. To render au-
thentic ; to give authority to, by the proof,
attestation, or formalities, required by law,
or sufficient to entitle to credit.
The king serves only as a notary to authenti-
cate the choice of judges. Burke
AUTHEN'TI€ATED, pp. Rendered au-
thentic ; having received the forms wliich
prove genuineness.
AUTIIEN'TI€ATING,;);)r. Giving author-
ity by the necessary signature, seal, attes-
tation or other forms.
AUTHENTICATION, n. The act of au-
thenticating; the giving of authority by
the necessary formalities.
AUTHENTIC'ITY, n. Genuineness; the
quality of being of genuine original ; as
the authenticity of the scriptures.
AUTHEN'TI€NESS,n. Authenticity. {Rare-
ly tised.]
All'THOR, n. [L. auctor; Ir. ughdar ; W.
awdur; Fr.auteur; Sp. autor; It. autore.
The Latin word is from the root ofaugeo,
to increase, or cause to enlarge. The pri-
mary sense is one who brings or causes to
come fortli.]
1. One who produces, creates, or brings into
being ; as, God is the author of the Uni
verse.
3. The beginner, former, or first mover ofj
any thing ; hence, the efficient cause of a
thing. It is appropriately applied to one
who composes or writes a book, or origi-
nal work, and in a more general sense, to
one whose occupation is to compose and
write books ; opposed to compiler or
translator.
AU'THOR, V. t. To occasion ; to effect.
[JVot Kserf.]
AU'THORESS, n. A female author.
AUTHOR'ITATIVE, a. Having due au-
thority. Pearson.
2. Having an air of authority ; positive; per-
cmplorv. Wolton.
AUTHORITATIVELY, adv. In an author-
itative manner ; with a show of authority ;
with due authority.
AUTHOR ITATIVENESS, n. The quality
of being nullioritalivo ; an acting by au-
AlITIIOUri'V, ». [1,. rnulwUa^.]
1. Legal power, or a right to command or
to act ; as the axithority of a prince over
subjects, and of ))arents o\er children.
Power; rule; sway.
2. The power derived fi-om opinion, respect
or esteem ; iiithicncc of cliarnctcr or ollicc ;
credit ; as llic (iiithorili/ ot' i\'^e or (■.\aiii|)lc,
which is s-liliMiittcd tn or respected, in some
measure, as a law, or rule of action. That
which is claimed in justification or sup-
port of opinions and measures.
3. Testimony; M'itness; or the person who
testifies ; as, the Gospels or the evangel-
ists are our authorities for the miracles of
Christ.
4. Weight of testimony ; credibility ; as a
historian of no authority.
5. Weight of character ; respectability; dig-
nity ; as a magistrate of great authority in
the city.
C. Warrant ; order ; permission.
By what authority dost thou these things.
Mat. xxi. Acts ix.
7. Precedents, decisions of a court, official
declarations, respectable opinions and
sayings, also the books that i-ontain them,
are called authorities, as they influence the
opinions of others ; and in law, the deci
sions of supreme courts have a binding
fort'e upon inferior courts, and are called
authorities.
8. Government; the persons or the body ex
ercising power or command ; as the "local
authorities of the states.
Marshall. 1 Pet. iii.
In Connecticut, the justices of the peace
are denominated the civil authority.
AUTHORIZATION, n. The act of giving
authority, or legal power ; establishment
by authority.
AU'THORIZE, v.t. [Yr. autoriser ;
torizar.']
1. To give authority, warrant or legal power
to ; to give a right to act ; to empower ; as,
to authorize commissioners to settle the
boundary of the state.
2. To make legal ; as, to authorize a mar-
iage.
3. To establish by authority, as by usage, or
public opinion ; as an authorized idiom of
language.
4. To give authority, credit or reputation to;
as to authorize a report, or opinion.
5. To justify ; to support as right. Suppress
desires which reason does not authorize.
AU'THORIZED, pp. Warranted by right ;
supported by authority ; derived from le-
gal or proper authority ; having power or
authority.
AU'THORIZlNG,/i;)r. Giving authority to,
or legal power, credit, or permission.
AU'THORSHIP, n. [atdhor and ship.] The
quality or state of being an author.
Shaftesbury.
AUTOBIOG'RAPIIY, n. [Gr. ovro;, au.i
biography.]
Biograjihy or memoirs of one's life written
by himself. Ualsh.
AUTOC'RASY, n. [Gr. avra, self, and xpo-
foj, power, or scparju, to govern, to take
or hold. ]
Independent power; supreme, uncontrolled,
unlimited authority or right of governing^
in a single person.
AU'TOCRAT ) An absolute prince
AU'TOCRATER, } n. or sovereign ; a ru-
AU'TOCRATOR, ^ ler or monarch who
holds and exercises the ])owers of govern-
ment by inherent right, not subject to re-
striction ; a title assumed by the Emperors
of Russia. Tooke.
2. This litle was sometimes conferred by
the Atlicnians on their embassadors and
general.*, when invested with unlimited
powers. Encyc.
AUTOCRATIC, > Pertaining to au
AUTOCR.\T ICAL, ^ "• tocracy; absolute ;
holding independent and unlimited ])owers
of government. Eton.
AU'TOCRATRIX, n. A female sovereign,
who is independent and absolute ; a title
given to the Empresses of Russia. Tookt.
Auto dafe. [Port, act of faith.]
1. In the Romish church, a so\emn day held by
the Inquisition, for the punishment of her-
etics, and the absolution of the innocent,
accused. Span. Auto defc. Encyc.
2. A sentence given by the Inquisition, and
read to a criminal, or heretic, on the scaf-
fold, just before he is executed. Sp. Diet
,3. The session of the court of inquisition.
AU'TOGRAPH, ? [Gr. arros, self, and
lAUTOG'RAPHY, \ "• ypo^, writing.]
A person's own hand writing ; an original
manuscript.
AUTOGRAPHIC, ? Pertaining to an
AUTOGRAPH'ICAL, 5 "• autograph, oi
one's own hand writing.
AUTOM'ALITE, n. A mineral called b>
Haily, spinelle zincifere. It is classed with
the spinel ruby. It occurs imbedded in
talcky slate ; the color, a dark green. It
is crystalized in regular octahedrons, or in
tetrahedrons with truncated angles. It is
harder than quartz, but not so hard as
spinel. It is sometimes called gahnitCj
from Galiu, its discoverer.
Cyc. Thomson. Cleavdand.
AU'TOMATH, n. [Gr. wrof, and iJL0.v9a.vu, to
learn.] One who is self taught. Young.
AUTOMAT'IC, \ Belongine to an au-
AUTOMAT'ICAL, \ "' tomaton ;''liaving the
power of raovuig itself; mechanical.
Johnson. Stewart.
2. Not voluntary ; not depending on the will.
Dr. Hartley has demonstrated that all our
motions are originally automatic, and gen-
erally produced by the action of tangible
things on the muscular fiber.
AUTOM'ATON, n. [Gr. avro/iaroi ; ovfoj,
self, and ftau, moveo, nwtus. The Greek-
plural, automata, is sometimes used ; but
the regular English plural, automatons, is
preferable.]
A self-moving machine, or one which moves
by invisible springs.
AUTOM'ATOUS, a. Having in itself the
power of motion. Brown.
AUTON'OMOUS, a. [Infra.^ Independent.
A V A
A V E
AVE
in goveniineiit ; having the right of sell
goveiniiipiit. Mifford.
AUTON'OMY, n. [Gr. orr'os, self, and 10^05,
law, rule.]
This word is rarely used. It signifies the
power or right of self government, wheth-
er in a city which elects its own magis-
trates and makes its own laws, or in an
individual who lives according to his own
will. Johnson. En eye.
AU'TOPSY, n. [Gr. avta^M, orro;, self,
and (JiJ/is, sight.] Personal observation ; oc-
ular view. Ray.
AUTOP'TICAL, a. Seen with one's own
eyes. Johnson.
AUTOP'TIeALLY, adv. By means of ocu-
lar view, or one's own observation.
Broion.
[Autopsy and its derivatives are rarely used.]
AlI'TUiMN, n. aulum. [L. autuinnus, " Ety-
mon iimltuiii torquetur." Misworth.]
Tlic third siMxjn of the yeai-, or the season
hitwccii siiiuiiier and winter. Astronom-
ically, it begins at the equinox, when the
Sim enters libra, and ends at the winter
solstice ; but in popular language, autumn
comprises September, October and No-
vember.
The golden pomp of mihimn. Irving.
AUTUM'NAL, a. Belonging to autumn ;
produced or gathered in autumn ; as au-
tumnal fruits.
AUTUM'NAL, n. A plant that flowers in
Autumn. The autumnals form the third
division of plants in Du Pas' ai-rangc-
ment. Milne.
AUXE'SIS, n. [Gr. aAiir^nn, increase.]
fn rhetoric, a figure by which any thing is
magnified too much ; an increasing, or ex-
oriiation, when, for amplification, a more
grave and magnificent word is put for the
proper word. Smith. Eneyc.
AMXIL'IAR, I [L. auxiliaris, from aux-
\UXf L'lARY, i "• ilium, aid, auxilior, to
aid.]
Helping ; aiding ; assisting ; subsidiary ; con-
ferring aid or support by joint exertion,
influence or use ; as auxiliary troops.
AUXIL'IARIES, n. plu. Foreign troops m
the service of nations at war.
AUXILIARY, n. A helper; an assistant;
a confederate in some action, enterprise
or undertaking.
3. In grammar, a verb which helps to form
the modes and tenses of other verbs ; as,
have, be, may, can, do, must, shall and ivill,
in English ; etre and avoir, in French ;
avcre and essere, in Italian ; estar and ha-
ber, in Spanish.
,AVA'IL, V. t. [Fr. valoir, to be worth ; L.
valeo, to be strong or able, to profit, to be
of force or authority ; Sp. valer, to be val-
uable, to avail or prevail, to be binding,
to be worth ; It. valere, to be worth, to be
■useful; Eng. MJeZi; Ar. 3.J balla. The
primary sense is, to stretch or extend
whence strength, value.]
1. To profit one's self ; to turn to advantage
followed by the pronouns, myself, thyself,
himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, them-
selves, with of before the thing used ; as,
let him avail himself of \ns license.
2. To assist or profit ; to effect the oliject, or
bring to a succesful issue; as, what will
skill avail us against numbers. Artifices
will not avail the sinner in the day of
judgment.
AVA'lL, V. i. To be of use, or advantage
to answer the purpose ; as, strength with-
out judgment will rarely avail. Generally
it signifies to have strength, force or effica-
cy suflScient to accomplish the object ; as,
the plea in bar must avail, that is, be suf-
ficient to defeat the suit; this scheme
will not avail; medicines will not a«ai7 to
check the disease ; suppositions, without
proof, will not avail.
AVA'lL, n. Profit ; advantage towards suc-
cess ; benefit ; as, labor without econo-
my is of little avail. It seems usually to
convey the idea of eflicacioiis aid or
strength.
AVA'ILABLE, a. Profitable ; advanta-
geous ; having efiicacy ; as, a measure is
more or less available. .Mcrbury.
2. Having sufiicient power, force, or efiicacy,
for the object ; valid ; as an available plea.
Laws are available by consent. Hooker.
AVA'ILABLKXKS^;, /-. Power or efiicacy,
in proiiii.tiii;; ;ii] cii.l ill Miw.
2. Conqirtvnt powir; Iciral force; validity;
as the ucuilnUtnLSS uf a title.
AVAILABLY, adv. Powerfully; profita-
bly ; advantageously ; validly ; efiica-
ciously.
AVA'ILING, pp. Tm-ning to profit : using
to advantage or cflTect.
AVA'ILMENT, n. Profit ; efficacy ; success-
ful issue. [^Little used.l
AVA'ILS, Ji. plu. Profits or proceeds. It is
used in New-England, for the proceeds of
goods sold, or for rents, issues or profits.
AVALANCHE, ^ [Fr. from avaler, to
AVALANGE, \^- fall.]
A snow-slip ; a vast body of snow sliding
down a mountain.
AVANT', n. The front of an army. [Xoi
used.'] [See Van.']
AVANT'GUARD, n. The van or advanced
body of an army. [See Vanguard.]
AVANT'URINE, n. A variety of quartz
rock containing spangles. Ure.
AVARICE, n. "[L. avaritia, from avarus,
from aveo, to covet.]
\n inordinate desire of gaining and posses-
sing wealth ; covetousness ; greediness or
insatiable desire of gain. Shak.
Avarice sheds a blasting influence over the
finest afl'ections and sweetest comforts of man-
kind. Buekminster.
AVARP'CIOUS, a. Covetous ; greedy of
gain ; immoderately desirous of accumu-
lating propertv.
AVARL'CIOUSLY, adv. Covetously ; witli
inordinate desire of gaining wealth.
Goldsmith
AVARI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quahty of
being avaricious ; insatiable or inordinate
passion for property.
AV'AROUS, a. Covetous. [JVo< used.]
Gower.
AVAST, exclam. [Ger. 6nsto, stop ; bastant,
sufficient ; from It. taste, enough ; Per.
bas, enough.]
In seamen's language, cease ; stop ; stay.
AVAUNT', excl. [W. ibant, begone.]
Begone ; depart ; a word of contempt or ab-
horrence, equivalent to the phrase, " Get
thee behind me."
A'VE MARY, n. [from the first words of G
briel's salutation to the Virgin Maiy ; L-
ave, hail.]
A form of devotion in the Romish Church'.
Their chaplets and rosaries are divided
into a certain number of ave-marys and
paternosters.
AVENA'CEOUS, a. [L. avenaceus, from
avena, oats ; Fr. avoine.]
Belonging to, or partaking of the nature of
oats.
AV'ENAgE, n. [Fr.] A certain quantity of
oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu
of rent or other duty. Spelman.
Iv'ENOR;!"- [Norm. French.]
In English feudal law, an officer of the king's'
stable whose duty was to provide oats.
AVENgE, v. t. avenj'. [Fr. venger ; Sp. ven-
gar ; Port, vingar ; L. vindex. In Sax.-
ivinnan, to contend, to gain, to min.]
1. To take satisfaction for an injury by pun-
ishing the injuring party ; to vindicate by
inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer.
Shall not God avenge his own elect. Luke
xvili.
Avenge me of my adversary. Id. v. 3.
In these examples, avenge implies that tlie-
evil inflicted on the injuring party is a sat-
isfaction or justice done to the injured, and
the party vindicated is the object of the
verb.
2. To take satisfaction for, by pain or pun-
ishment inflicted on the injuruig party.
He will avenge the blood of his servants^
Deut. xx.\ii.
Here the thing for which satisfaction is'
taken is the object of the verb.
3. To revenge. To avenge and revenge, rad-
ically, are synonymous. But modern
usage inclines to niiike a valuable distinc-
tion in the use of these words, restricting
avenge to the taking of just punishment,
and revenge to the infliction of pain or
evil, maliciously, in an illegal manner.
4. In the passive form, this verb signifies to
have or receive just satisfaction, by the
punishment of the offender.
Shall not my soul be avenged on such a natidn
as this ? .ler. 5.
AVENG'EANCE, n. Punishment. [JVot
used.] [See Vengeance.]
AVEN(i'ED, pp. Satisfied by the punish-
ment of the offender ; vindicated ; pun-
ished.
AVENG'EMENT, n. Vengeance ; punish-
ment ; the act of taking satisfaction for an
injury by inflicting pain or evil on the of-
fender ; "satisfaction taken ; revenge.
AVENG'ER, n. One who avenges or vindi-
cates; a vindicator; a revenger.
AVENg'ERESS, n. A female avenger.
Spenser.
AVENG'ING, ppr. Executing vengeance ;
taking satisfaction for an injury by the
jiunishment of the offender; vindicating.
AV'ENS, n. The herb bennet. Miller.
AV'ENTINE, a. Pertaining to Mons Aven-
tinus, one of the seven hills on which
Rome stood. Bryant.
AVEN'TURE, n. [Fr. aventurc, from L. ve-
nio, to come.]
A mischance causing a person's death with-
out felony; as by drowning, or falling
from a house. [See Adventure.] Coxvd.
.W'ENUE, ji. [Fr. from venir, to come or
go ; L. venio.]
AVE
AVE
AVI
1. A passage ; a way or opening for entrance
into a place ; any opening or passage by
which a thing is or may be introduced.
2. An alley, or walk in a garden, planted
with trees, and leading to a liouse, gate,
wood, &c., and generally terminated by
some distant object. The trees may be in
rows on the sides, or, according to the
more modern practice, in clumps at some
distance from each other. Encyc.
3. A wide street, as in Washington, Co
lumbia.
AVER' V. I. fFr. avtrer ; It. avverare, to
aver or verify ; Arm. quirya, from the root
of verus, true ; Ir. feor, or jir ; W. gteir
Corn, uir ; Ger. wahr; D. waar. See
Venfy.]
To afhrm with confidence ; to declare in i
positive or peremptoi-y manner, as in con
fidence of asserting the truth. Prior.
AVERAGE, n. [Norm, avtr, avers, cattle
money, goods, Sp. averio, from aver or /iff-
ber, Fr. avoir, to have or possess. In an-
cient law, a duty or ser\'ice which a tenant
was bound to render to his lord, by hi;
beasts and carriages or instruments of Inis
bandry. Spelman. But averagium signi
lies also the loss of goods in transporta
tion ; Sp. averia, ilamage sustained by
goods or ships ; Port. avaria,au allowance
out of freight to the master of a ship, for
damage sustained ; contribution by insur
ers, to make good a loss ; It. avaria ; Dan.
haverie, damage of a ship or waste of
goods, extraordinary charges during a
voyage. If avaria signifies damage, and
is iVom aver or haber, Spanish, to have
the sense of the word is probably that
I which happens or falls, a misfortune, for
the verb have and liappen are radically the
•same word ; Spanish, haber, to have, and
to happen or befall; alsofortinie, property.
This would give the sense of damage, or
of proportion, lot, share, that which falls
to each of a number. But the primary
sense is not very obvious.]
1. In co;>iOTerce, a contribution to a general loss.
When for the safety of a ship in distress,
any destrucBon of property is incurred,
either by cutting away the masts, throw-
ing goods overboard, or other means, all
persons who have goods on hoard, or
property in the ship, contribute to the loss
according to their average, that is, the
goods of eacli on board. This principle,
iiuroduced into the commerce of Europe,
from the Rhodian laws, and recognized
by the regulations of Wisby, is now
established rule in the maritime laws of|
Europe ; for it is most reasonable, that
when one man's property is sacrificed to
save a ship, all persons whose property is
saved, or in like hazard, should bear their
proportion of the loss.
Spelman. Park. Beawes
2. From the practice of contributing to bear
losses, in proportion to each man's prop-
erty, this word has obtained the present
popular sense, which is, that of a mean
proportion, medial sum or quantity, made
out of imequal sums or quantities. Thus,
if A loses 5 dollars, B 9 and C 16, the
sum is 30, and the average, 10.
3. A small duty payable by the shippers of
goods, to the master of the ship, over and
above the fi-eight, for his care of the goods.
ITcnce the expression in bills of lading,
" paying so much freight, with primage
and average accustomed." Cowel. Encyc.
4. In England, the breaking up of cornfield!
eddisli or roughings. Jtsh. Spelman.
Upon, or on an average, is taking the mean
of imequal numbers or quantities.
AVERAGE, a. Medial; containing a mean
proportion. Price. Beddoes. Kirwan
Edwards^ If. Indies.
AVERAGE, V. t. To find the mean of un-
equal sums or quantities ; to reduce to a
medium ; to divide aniong a number, ac
cording to a given proportion ; as, to ai'er
age a loss.
AV'ERAGE, v. i. To form a mean or me
dial sum or quantity; as, the losses of the
owners will average 25 dollars each.
These spars average 10 feet in length.
Belknap.
C'h. Obs. X. .522. xi. 302.
AVERAGED, pp. Reduced or formed into
a mean proportion, or into shares propor-
tioned to each man's property. Jefferson.
AVERAGING, ppr. Forming a mean pro-
portion out of unequal sums or quantities,
or reducing to just shares according to
each man's property.
AVER'MENT, n. [See Aver.] Affirmation ;
positive assertion; the act of averring.
, Verification ; estabUshment by e% ' "
Bacon.
by evidence
3. In pleading, an offer of either party t
justify or prove what he alledges. In an
stage of pleadings, when either party ad
vanccs new matter, he avers it to be true,
and concludes with these words, " and thi
he is ready to verify." This is called an
averment. Blackstone.
A VER'NAT, n. A sort of grape. Ash. Johnson
AVER'NIAN, a. Pertauiing to Avemus, a
lake of Campania in Italy, famous for
its poisonous qualities, which the poefs
represent as so malignant, as to kill fowls
fljing over. Hence, as authors tell us, its
name, oopi'oj, without birds.
Virgil. Mela. SIrabo.
AVERPENNY, n. Money paid towards
the king's carriages by land, instead of
service by the beasts in kind. Burn.
WER'RED, pp. Affirmed; laid with an
averment.
AVER'RING, n/jr. Affirming ; declaring
positively ; offering to justify or verify.
AVERROIST, n. One of a sect of peripa
tetic philosophers, who were so denomi
nated from Averroes, a celebrated Arabi
an author. They held the soul to be mor
tal, though they ])retended to submit to
the christian theology. Encyc.
WERRUNC'ATE, v. t. [L. averrunco, of
ah and erunco, from runco, to weed, or rake
away.]
To root up ; to scrape or tear away by the
roots. Hudibras.
AVERRUN€A'T10N, n. Tiie act of tear-
ing up or raking away by the roots.
AVERSA'TION, n. [L. aversor. See Avert.]
A turning from with disgust or dislike ; aver-
sion ; hatred ; disinclination. South.
It is nearly superseded by aversion.
AVERSE, a. avers' [See Avert.] The literal
' sense of this word is, turned from, in mani-
festation of dislike. Hence the real sense is,
1. Disliking; unwilling; having a repug-1
nance of miud. I
.Iverse alike to flatter or oflTend. Pope
2. Unfavorable ; indisposed ; malign.
And Pallas now averse refused her aid.
Dry den.
This word and its derivatives ought to be
followed by to, and never by from. Thi."?
word includes the idea of from ; hut the
literal meaning being lost, the affection of
the mind signified by the word, is exerted
towards the object of dislike, and like ite
kindred terms, hatred, dislike, conlriry, re-
pugnant, &c., should be followed by to.
Indeed it is alisun! to speak of an affec-
tion of 111. inii.il I \cited from an object-
Aver.li ( \|.ii "( < .1 li-s degree of opposi-
tion in the niiiiil, than detesting and ab-
horring.
Milton once uses averse in its literal sense,
with from, but it is not according to tlie
English idiom.
AVERSELY, adv. avers'bj. With repug-
nance ; unwilUngly. Brown.
AVERSENESS, n. avers'ncss. Opposition
of mind ; dislike ; unwilluigness ; back-
wardness. Herbert.
WER'SION, n. [Fr. aversion, from L,
averio.]
I. Opposition or repugnance of mind ; dis-
like ; disinclination ; reluctance ; hatred.
Usually this word expresses moderate ha-
tred, or opposition of mind, not amounting
to abhorrence or detestation. It ought gen-
erally to be followed by to I)cfore the ob-
ject. [See Averse.] Sometimes it admits
of/or.
A freeholder is bred witli an aversion to sub-
jection. Addisor>.
2. Opiiosition or contrariety of nature ; ap-
plied to inanimate substances.
Magnesia, notivithstanding tliis aversion to
solution, forms a kind of paste with water.
Fourcroy, TVans.
a The causa of dislike.
Pain theii aversion, pleasure their desire.
Pope.
AVERT', V. t. [L. averto, a, from, and verto,
to turn, anciently, vorto ; hence vertex, vor-
tex, averto ; probably allied to L. vario ;
Eng. veer; Sp. birar ; V^ih.fMP bari.
Class Br.]
1. To turn from ; to turn off or away ; as, to
aveii the eyes from an object. Shak.
2. To keep "off, divert or prevent ; as, to
avert an approaching calamity. Hooker.
3. To cause to dishke. Hooker. But this
sense seems to be improper, except when
heart or some equivalent word is used ; as,
to avert the heart or affections, which
may signify to aUenate the affections.
Thomson.
AVERT', v. i. To turn away. Thomson.
AVERT'ER, 71. One that turns away ; that
Inch turns away.
.■VVERT'ING, /i;)r." Turning from; turning
away.
A'VIARY, ji. [L. aviarium, from avis, a
fowl.]
A bird cage ; an inclosure for keeping birds
confined. ffotton.
AVID' lOUSLY, arfu. [See Avidity.] Eager-
ly ; with greediness. Bale.
VID'ITY, n. [L. aviditas, from avidus, and
this from aveo, to desire, to have appetite ;
Heb. and Ch. nw, to desire, or covet.]
1. Greediness; strong appeute ; applied to
the senses.
A V O
A V O
A W A
ii. Eagerness; inteiiseness of desire ; a/ipZitrf
to the mind.
•WIGA'TO, ? Tlie Persea, or alUgator-
AVO€A'DO, ^ ■ pear, a species ranked
under the genus Laurus, a native of the
W. Indies. The tree lias a straight trunk,
long oval pointed leaves, and flowers of
six petals disposed like a star, produced
in clusters, on the extremities of the
branches. The fruit is insipid.
Encyc. Miller.
.Ivignon-herry, the fruit of a species of lycium,
so called from the city, Avignon, in France.
The berry is less than a pea, of a yellow
ish green color, and bitter astringent taste ;
used by dyers and painters for staining
yellow. Encuc.
AVI'LE, V. t. [Fr. avilir. See TOe.] I'o
depreciate. [Jsfotinuse.] B. Jonson.
AVI'SE, > [Yi.avis.] Advice: iutelhgence.
AVI'SO, I "• [ATot in use.]
AVI'SE, 1?. i. sasz. To consider. [jYotin use.;
Spenser
AVI'SEMENT, n. Advisement. [See Ad
vice and .ddvise.]
AV'0€ATE, V. t. [L. avoco, from a and
voco, to call. See Voice and Vocal.]
To call off, or away. [JVot used.] Boyle.
AVOCA'TION, n. [See Vocation, Voice.
Vocal.]
1. The act of calling aside, or diverting from
some employment ; as an avocation from
sin or from business.
2. The business which calls aside. The
word is generally used for the smaller af-
fairs of life, or occasional calls which sum-
mon a person to leave his ordinary or
princi))al business. The use of this word
for vocation is very improjier.
AVO'€ATIVE, fl. Calhng off. [.Vol zised-]
AVOID', !'. t. [Fr. vuicler, 01- viiler : vuide,
void, empty ; Eng. wide, void, widow ; L.
vidua. See Void. It coincides also with
L. vito, evito ; Fr. evitcr. See Class Bd.]
1. To shun; to keep at a distance from; that
is, literally, to go or heitnde from ; as, tn
avoid the company of gamesters.
S. To shift off", or clear off"; as, to avoid
expense.
3. To quit ; to evacuate ; to shun by leaving ;
as, to avoid the house.
4. To escape ; as, to avoid danger. Shak
5. To emit or throw out ; as, to avoid excre
tions. For this, void is now generally used.
(J. To make void; to annul or vacate.
The grant cannot be avoided without injustice
to the grantee. Anon.
7. \n pleading, to sti ii|is(iiii(> iiewmatteror
distinction, wliirli sli;ill nniid, that is, de
feat or evadn \W all.-.ii„>ii of the othei
party. Thus, in m leiilicatioii, the plaintiff'
may deny the defendant's [ilea, or confess
it, and avoid it by stating new matter.
Blackstone.
.WOID', V. i. Tn retire ; to withdraw.
l)a\i'l (irauhd f,iit of his presence. 1 Sam
Nvin, [/,„,„,.,.-, ^]
'.'. To liLcuiiii- xdiil, vacant or empty.
A lieiietice avoids liv common law. .^yliffe
AVOID'ABLE, a. that may be avoided,
left at a distance, shunned or escaped.
2. Tliat may be vacated ; liable to be
nulled.
AVOID'ANCE, n. The act of avoiding, or
shunning.
0. The act of vacating, or the state of I;
vacant. It is appropriately used for the
state of a benefice becoming void, by the
death, deprivation, or resignation of the
incumbent. Cowel. Encyc.
3. The act of annulUng.
4. The course by which any thing is car-
ried ofl^. Bacon.
AVOID'ED, pp. Shunned ; evaded ; made
void ; ejected.
AVOID'ER, n. One who avoids, shuns or
escapes.
2. The person who carries any thing away ;
the vessel in which things are carried
away. Johnson.
AVOlb'ING, ppr. Shuimiug ; escaping ;
keeping at a distance ; ejecting ; evacua-
AVO
g ; making void, or vacant.
iID'LESS, a. That cannot be avoided ;
bic. Dryden.
AVOIRDUPOIS', n. s as z. [Fr. avotr du
poids, to have weight. See Poise.']
A weight, of which a pound contains 16
ounces. Its proportion to a pound Troy
is as 17 to 14. This is the weight for the
larger and coarser commodities, as hay,
iron, cheese, groceries, &c. Chambers.
rWOLA'TION, n. [L. avolo, to fly away, of
a and volo. See Volatile.]
The act of fly uig away ; flight ; escape. [lAt-
tle used.]
AV'OSET, > In ornithology, a species
AVOSET'TA, I "■ of fowls, arranged under
the geiuis, rccurviro.stra, and jilaced by
Linne in the grallic order, but by Pennant
and Latham, among tlie palmipeds. The
bill is long, slender, flexible and bent up-
ward towards the tip. This bird is of the
size of a lapwing, with very long legs, and
the feathers variegated with black and
white. It is found both in Europe and
America. Encyc.
AVOUCH', v. t. [Norm, voucher, to call, to
vouch ; L. roco, arfi'oco. See Voice.]
I. To affirm; to declare or assert with
positiveness. Hooker.
'i. To produce or call in ; to aftirm in favor
of, maintain or support.
Such antiquities coulJ be avouched for the
the Irish. ' S2}enser
To maintain, vindicate or justify. Skak.
AVOUCH', n. Evidence ; testimony ; decla-
ration. [Little used.] Shak.
AVOUCH'ABLE, a. That may be avouched.
[Little used.]
AVOUCH'ED, pp. Affirmed; maintained;
called in to support.
AVOUCII'ER, n. One who avouches.
AVOUCH'ING, ppr. Aflirming ; calling in
to maintain ; vindicating.
AVOUCH'iMENT, n. Declaration ; the act
of avouching. Shak.
AVOW, v.t. [Fr. amier; Arm. avoei ;
Norm, avower ; L. voveo.]
1. To declare openly, with a view to justify,
maintain or defend ; or simply to own,
acknowledge or confess frankly ; e
man avoivs his princi])les or his crimes.
2. In law, to acknowledge and justify ; as
when tlie distrainer of goods defends '
action of replevin, and avoios the taking,
but insists that such taking was legal.
Blackstone.
AVOW, n. A vow or determinaiion. [JVot
used.] Gower.
AVOW ABLE, a. That may be avowed, or
openly acknowledged with confidence.
Donne.
AVOWAL, n. An open declaration ; frank
acknowledgment. Hume.
AVOWANT, n. The defendant in replevin,
who avoivs the distress of the goods, and
justifies the taking. Coivel.
AVOWED, pp. Openly declared; owned;
frankly acknowledged.
AVOWEDLY, adv. In an open manner ;
with frank acknowledgment.
AVOW^'EE, n. Sometimes used for advowee,
the person who has a right to present to a
benefice, the patron. [See Advowson.]
Cowel.
AVOW'ER, n. One who avows, owns, or
asserts.
AVOWING, ppr. Openly declaring ; frank-
ly acknowledging ; justifying.
AVOWRY, n. In laiv, the act of the dis-
trainer of goods, who, in an action of re-
plevin, avows and justifies the taking ; the
act of maintaining the right to distrain, by
the distrainer, or defendant in replevin.
Blackstone.
AVOWTRY, [See Advowtry.]
AVULS'ED,o. [See Avulsion.] Plucked or
pulled oft". Shenstone.
AVUL'SION, n. [L. avulsio, from avello, a
and vello, to pull, comciding with Heb.
and Ar. rhs, to separate ; Eng. pull.]
A pulling or tearing asunder ; a rending or
violent separation.
AWA'IT, V. t. [a and wait. See fVait. Fr.
guetter, to watch ; guet, a watch ; It. gua-
tare, to look or watch.]
Literally, to remain, hold or stay.
1. To wait for ; to look for, or expect.
Betwixt the rocky pillars, Gabriel sat,
Chief of the Angelic guards, awaiting nighf.
Alitton.
2. To be in store for; to attend ; to be ready
for ; as, a glorious reward aivaits the
good.
AWA'IT, }(. Ambush ; in a state of waiting
for. Spenser.
AWA'ITING, ppr. Waiting for ; looking
for ; expecting ; being ready or in store for.
AWA'KE, V. t. pret. awoke, awaked; pp. awa-
ked. [Sax. geivwcan, wacian, or weccan ;
D. wekken ; Ger. wecken ; Sw. xipvhcka ;
Dan. vaekker. The L. vigilo seems to be
formed on this root. See Wake.]
1. To rouse from sleep.
I go that I may awake him out of sleep.
John xi.
2. To excite from a state resembling sleep,
as from death, stupidity or ijiaction ; to
put into action, or new life ; as, to awake
the dead ; to awake the dormant faculties.
AWA'KE, V. i. To cease to sleep ; to come
from a state of natural sleep.
Jacob awaked out of sleep. Gen. xxviii.
9. To bestir, revive or rouse from a state of
inaction ; to be invigorated with new life ;
as, the mind awakes from its stupidity.
Awake, 0 sword, against my shepherd.
Zcch. xiii.
3. To rouse from spiritual sleep.
Awake thou tliat sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph. v.
Awake to righteousness. 1 Cor. xv.
4. To rise from the dead. Job xiv.
AWA'KE, a. Not sleeping ; in a state oi
vigilance or action.
A W A
A W H
A W R
AWA'KEN, I', t. awiikn. This is the word
awake, with its Snxoii iIlfiniti^■e. It is
transitive or intransitive ; but more fre-
quently transitive, as awake is more fre-
quently intransitive. Its significations are
the same as those of awake.
AWA'KENED, pp. Roused from sleep, in
a natural or moral sense.
AWA'KENER, n. He or that which aw
kens.
AWA'KENING, n. A revival of religion, or
more general attention to religion, than
usual.
AWARD', V. t. [Scot, warde, determination ;
Norm, garda, award, judgment ; agardetz,
awarded. See Guard and Regard.]
To adjudge ; to give by sentence or judicial
deterniinatiou ; to assign by sentence.
This word is appropriately used to e.\-
press the act of arbitrators in pronoimcing
upon the rights of parties; as, the arbitra-
tors awarded damages to A. B.
AWARD', V. i. To judge ; to determine ;
to make an award.
AWARD', n. The judgment, or determina-
tion of arbitrators, or tlie paper contain-
ing it.
2. Judgment ; sentence ; determination of
ijoints submitted to arbitrators.
AWARD'ED, pp. Adjudged, or given by
juflicial sentence, or by the decision of
arbitrators.
AWARD'ER, n. One that awards, or as-
signs by sentence or judicial determina-
tion; a judge. Thomson.
AWARD'ING, ppr. Adjudging; assigning
by judicial sentence ; determining.
AWA'RE, a. [Sax. gewarian, to take care,
provide, avoid ; to preserve or defend ;
also covered, protected ; warian, to be-
ware ; war, aware. See Ware and IVary.]
Watchful ; vigilant ; guarded ; but more
strictly in modern usage, apprised ; ex-
pecting an event from information, or
probability ; as, the general was aware of
the enemy's design.s.
AWA'RE, V. i. To beware ; to be cautious.
[Mt legitimate.] Milton.
AWARN', V. t. To warn, which see.
Spenser.
AWAT'CHA, n. A bird of Kanitchatka,
enumerated by Pennant, among the war-
blers. The upper parts of the body are of
a deep brown color ; the throat and breast
white, with black spots.
AWA'Y, adv. [Sax. aweg, absent, a and
weg, way ; also onweg, away, and awegan,
to avert. See ff^ay.]
1. Absent ; at a distance ; as, the master is
aivay from home.
Have me away, for I am wounde J. 2 Chron.
XXXV.
S. It is much used with words signifying
moving or going from ; as, go aivay, send
away, run away. Sic; all signifying de-
parture, or separation to a distance. Some-
times without the verb ; as, whither aivay
so fast. ShaL
Love hath wings and will away. Waller.
3. As an exclamation, it is a command or in-
vitation to depart ; aivay, that is, be gone,
or let us go. " Away with him." Take
him away.
4. With verbs, it serves to modify thek sense
and form peculiar phrases ; as.
To throw away, to cast from, to give up,
dissipate or foolishly destroy.
To trijle aivay, to lose or expend in tri-
fles, or in idleness.
To drink away, to squander away, &c.,'
to dissipate in drinking or extravagance.
To make away, is to kill or destroy.
5. Away iinth has a peculiar signification in
the phrase, " I caimot away with it." Isa.
i. The sense is, " I cannot bear or en-
dure it."
AWE, n. aw. [Dan. ave, fear, awe, chastise-
ment, discipline ; aver, to chastise or cor-
rect ; Gr. ayaw, to be astonished. Qu. Ir.
agh ; Sax. ege, or oga, fear ; Goth, agjan,
or ogan, to dread. It would appear that
the primary sense of the Dan. is to strike,'
or check.] I
1. Fear mingled with admiration or rever-
ence ; reverential fear. |
Stand in awe and sin not. Ps. iv.
2. Fear ; dread inspired by something great,!
or terrific. j
AWE, V. t. To strike with fear and rever-
ence ; to influence by fear, terror or res-
pect ; as, his majesty awed them into
silence.
AWE'ARY, a. Weary, which see. Shaki
AWEATU'ER, adv. aweth'er. [a and'
weather.] I
On the weather-side, or towards the wind ;
as, the helm is aweather ; opposed to (i/ee.|
Mar. Diet.
AWE-€OMMAND'ING, a. Striking or in-
fluencing by awe. Gray.
AW'ED,j);). Struck with fear; influenced
bv fear or reverence. j
AWEIGH', adv. [a and weigh.] Atrip. The'
anchor is aweigh, when it is just drawn'
out of the ground, and hangs perpendicu
a. Impressinir with
Bp. Hohrn-I.
Impressed or siiucU
.Milton.
lar. [See Atrip.] j
AWE-INSPIRING,
awe.
AWE-STRUCK, a.
with awe.
AWFUL, a. [awe and full]
1. That strikes with awe ; that fills with
profound reverence; as the au/wZ majesty
of Jehovah.
2. That fills with terror and dread ; as the
awful approach of death.
3. Struck with awe ; scrupulous.
A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.
Watts.
Shakspeare uses it for worshipful, inspir-
ing respect by authority or dignity.
Our common people use this word in the
sense of frightful, ugly, detestable.
AW'FULLY, adv. In a manner to fill with!
awe ; in a reverential manner. |
AW'FULNESS, n. The quahty of striking:
with awe, or with reverence ; solemnity ;'
as, " the auf illness of this sacred place." j
2. The state of being struck with awe.
A help to prayer, producing in us reverence and!
awfulness. Taylo
[J\/'ot legitimale.]
AWHAPE, V. t. awhap'. [W. cwapiaw, to
strike smartly.] To strike ; to confound.
Obs. Spenser.
[This is our vulgar whop.]
AWH'ILE, adv. [a and while, time, or inter-
val.]
A space of titne ; for some time ; for a short
time.
AWK,n. Odd; out of order. L' Estrange.
2. Clumsy in performance, or manners ; un-
handy; not dextrous. [Fulgar.]
AWK'WARD,a. [awk and ward.] Wanting
de.\terity in the use of the hands or of in-
struments ; unready; not dextrous; bung-
ling; untoward. Dryden.
2. Inelegant ; unpoUte ; ungraceful in man-
ners; clumsy; unnatural; bad. Shak.
AWKWARDLY, arft,. Clumsily; in a rude
or bungling manner ; inelegantly; badly.
AWK'\VARDNESS, n. Clumsiness; un-
gracefulness in manners; want of dexter-
ity in the use of the hands or instruments ;
unsuitableness. Addison.
AWL, n. [Sax. wl, an awl, and an eel ; Ger.
ahl, an awl, and aal, an eel ; D. els, an awl ;
aal, an eel ; Dan. aal, an rel ; Ir. ail, a
sting or prickle.]
^Vn iron instrument for piercing small holes
in leather, for sewing and stitching ; used
by shoemakers, sadlers, &c. The blade
is either straight, or a little bent and flat-
tened.
AW'LESS, a. [awe and less.] Wanting rev-
erence ; void of respectful fear ; as awless
insolence. Dryden.
2. Wanting the power of causing reverence:
not exciting awe ; as an awless throne.
Shak.
AWL'WORT, ?i. [awl and wort. See /f orf.]
The popular name of the Subularia arjvalica,
or rough leaved alyssum; so called from
its awl-shaped leaves, which grow in clus-
ters round the root. It is a native of Brit-
ain and Ireland. Enciic.
AWM, ? ,r, r. I 1
AUM S "■ ^ """^ ' """••]
A Dutch hquid measure, containing, eight
stcckans or twenty verges or verteels, equal
to the English tierce, the sixth of a French
tun, and the seventh of an English tun, or
thirty-six gallons. Encyc. Arbuthnot.
WVN, n. [Sw. agne ; Gr. ax'">; °-X''n-\
The beard of corn or grass, as it is usually
midcrstood. But technically, a slender
sharp process issuing from the chaff or
glume in corn and grasses. Mariyn.
AWN'ING, n. [Goth, hulijan, to cover.]
1. A cover of canvas, usua"lly a sail or tar-
pauhng, spread over a boat or ship's deck,
to shelter from the sun's rays, the oflicers
and crew, and preserve the decks.
2. That part of the poop deck which is con-
tinued forward beyond the bulk head of
the cabin. Mar. Diet.
\WN'LESS, a. Without a^vn or beard.
AWN'Y, a. Ilaving awns ; full of beard.
AWO'KE. The preterit of awake.
.\WORK', adv. [Sax. geweorcan, to work.]
At work ; in a state of labor or action. [JVot
used.] Shak.
AWORK ING, adv. At work; into a state
of working or action. Hubbard's Tale.
.\WRY', a. or adv. [Dan. vrider, to twist ;
wen, twisted ; Sw. vrida ; Sax. writhan,
to writhe.]
1. Turned or twisted towards one side ; not
in a straight or true direction, or position ;
asquint ; with oblique vision ; as, " to
glance a look awry;" the lady's cap is
awry.
2. In a fgurative sense, turned aside from
the line of truth, or right reason ; per-
verse or perversely. Sidney. Milton
A X r
AYE
A Z U
AX, n. improperly written o.rt. [Sax. cei
eax, wse ; Sw. yxe ; L. ascia ; Gr. oIcm;
It. azza ; Eth. rh 6 P hatzi, an ax ; or Ar.
•«» hazza, to cut; Ch. and Syr. Nrsn an
An instrument usually of iron, for hewing
timber and chopping wood. It consists of
a head with an arching edge, and a helve
or handle. The ax is of two kinds, the
broad ax for hewing, and tlie narrow ax
for rough-hewing and cutting. The hatch-
et is a small ax to be used with one hand
AXAYA'CAT, n. A fly in Mexico, whose
eggs, deposited on rushes and flags, in
large quantities, are sold and used i
sort of caviare, called ahuauhtli. This was
a dish among the Mexicans, as it now is
among the Spaniards. Clavigero
AXESTONE, I A mineral, a subspecies
AXSTONE, I "• of jade ; less hard than
nephrite ; of a leek or grass green, ol
green or greenish gray color. It occurs
amorphous, or in rolled fragments. It is
found chiefly in New-Zealand and the S,
Sea isles, where it is used by the rude na-
tives for axes and other instruments.
Ure. Cteaveland.
AX'IFORM, a. [L. axis, and forma.] In the
form of au axis. Encyc.
AX'IL, »i. [L. axilla; h: asgal ; Fr. aisselle ;
D. oxel, the armpit ; Ch. and Heb. VsN, to
separate or set apart ; whence 'VXN, arm-
pits.]
1. The armpit ; a cavity under the upper
part of the arm or shoulder.
S. In botany, the .space or angle formed by a
branch with the stem, or by a leaf with
the stem or branch. Milne. Darwin.
AX'ILLAR, ) Pertaining to the arm-
AXTLLARY, ^ ' pit, or to the axil of plants.
AxUlary leaves are those whicli proceed
from the angle formed by the stem and
branch. Martyn. Milne.
AX'INITE, n. A mineral which sometimes
occurs in lamellar masses, but commonly
in crystals, whose general form is that of a
very oblique rhomb, or rather, foiu-sided
prism, so flattened that some of its eilges
become thin and sharp, like that of an ax ;
whence its name, Gr. a|i)i);. This is the
thumerstone of Kirwan. It has been
sometimes called yanolite and violet shorl.
Hawj. Brongniart. Cleaveland.
AXINOM'ANCV, n. [Gr. o^.,, au ax, and
IMvtiia, divination.]
Among the ancients, a species of divination,
by means of an ax or hatchet, ijerfornied
by laying an agate-stone on a red hot
hatchet, or by fixing a hatchet on a round
stake, so as to be poised ; then the names
of those suspected were repeated, anil he
at whose name the hatchet moved, was
pronounced guilty. Encyc.
AX'IOM, n. [Gr. atuo/ta, aiuhority, an au-
thoritative sentence, or that which is as-
sumed, from a|ioj, worthy, aliou, to think
worthy, to esteem ; Eng. to ask, [to ax ;]
that which is asked, sought or esteemed.]
1. A self evident truth, or a proposition whose
truth is so evident at first sight, that
process of reasoning or demonstration can
make it plainer ; as, " tlie whole is greater
Ij)^n a part." John-son. Encyc.
2. An established principle in some art or
science ; a principle received without new
proof; as, " things which are equal to the
same thing, are equal to one another."
Encyc.
AXIOMAT'IG, ) Pertaining to an ax-
AXIOMAT'I€AL, ^ iom ; havuig the na-
ture of self evident truths or received
principles. Pre/, to Bacon's Aphorisms.
AX'IS, n. plu. axes. [L. ; Gr. o^uv ; Russ. os.
or osi ; Sax. ax ; Fr. axe, or aissieu ; G.
achse ; D. as ; It. asse ; Sp. exe ; Port, exo,
eivo.]
1. The straight hue, real or imaginary, p
iug through a body, on which it revolves,
or may revolve ; as the axis of the earth.
2. In geometry, a straight line in a plain fig-
ure, about wliich it revolves to produce a
solid.
.3. In conic sections, a i-ight line dividing the
section into two equal parts, and cutting
all its ordinates at right angles.
4. In mechanics, the axis of abalance is that
Une about which it moves, or rather turns.
The axis of oscillation is a right line
parallel to the horizon passing through
the center, about which a penduliun vi-
brates.
The axis in peritrochio is a wheel con-
centric with the base of a cylinder, and
movable -with it about its axis.
5. In optics, a jjarticular ray of light from any
object which falls perpendicularly on the
eye.
6. In archilectwe, s)iiral axis is the axis of a
■]>tvi] ruiiiiiii] >|iir:illy iliawii in order to
Axi.<ioflln Iniilr ,,ij,il,il I - a 1 1 1 1.- | .asking pcr-
iei]"ilii-ii!ai-|y ihruiigli tluj iriidilli' uf the eye
f the volute.
The axis of a vessel is an imaginai-y line
passing through the middle of it, perpen-
dicular to its base, and equally distant from
its sides.
In botany, axis is a taper column in the cen-
ter of some flowers or catkins, about which
the other parts are disposed.
In anatomy, axis is the name of the second
verteberof the neck; it has a tooth which
enters into the fii-st verteber, and this tooth
is by some called the axis. Encyc.
AX'LE, > [Sax. a:x and tree. See
VX'LE-TREE, I "" Axis.]
A piece of timber or bar of iron, fitted for
insertion in the hobs or naves of wheels,
on which the wheels turn.
AX'OLOTE, n. A water lizard found in the
Mexican lake, about eight inches in length,
sometimes much larger. The skin is black
and soft. It swims with its feet, which re-
semble those of a frog. It has a periodical
evacuation of blood, like the human fe-
male. Clavigero.
AY, ? „ ,„ [G. D. Dan. Sw. ja, pron. ya ;
AYE, ^"""-Dan. eja ; Corn, ia; Ar. ya ;
Fr. Old. It may be a contracted word.]
Yes, yea, a word expressing assent, or an af-
firmative answer to a question. It is used
also to enforce the sense of what is assert-
ed, equivalent to even so, truly, certainly.
AYE, adv. [Sax. aa, a, or awa ; Gr. asi :
Amh. at, continually ; D. eetiw, an age ;
Goth, aiw, an age, eternity ; L. asvum,
which, without its termination, is av, wtv ;
probably a contracted word, W. hang.]
Always; forever; continually; for an indef-
inite time ; used in poetry.
AYLE, n. In law, a grandfather. [See
Besayle.]
A'YRY. [See^me.]
AZ'AROLE, n. [Fr.] A species of thorn .
the three grained medlar, a species of
cratasgus.
A7'FRIT "i
AZERI'TA.Jn. A species of ph.morpru-
AZERrRA, S '""• Fam. of Plants.
AZ'IMUTH,n. [Ar.CK*-w saniatha, to move
or go towards ; Ck.^am i (L. semita,) a way
or path ; with a prefix.]
1. In astronomy, an arch of the horizon inter-
cejited between the meridian of the place,
and the azimuth or vertical circle, passing
through the center of the object.
2. Magnetical azimuth, an arch of the hori-
zon, intercepted between the azimuth or
vertical circle, passing through the center
of any heavenly body, and the magnetic
meridian. This is found by observing the
object with an azimuth compass.
3. Azimuth compass, an instrument for find-
ing either the magnetic azimuth or ampli-
tude of an heaveidy object.
4. Azimuth dial, a dial whose stile or gno-
mon is at right angles to the plane of the
horizon.
5. Azimuths or vertical circles, are great
circles intersecting each other in the zenith
and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right
angles.
Encyc. Chambers. Bailey. Johnson.
On charts, these azimuths are repre-
sented by rhumbs, and on the globe, by
the quadrant of altitude, when screwed
in the zenith.
AZ'OTE, n. [Gr. o priv. and fco,, life, or
^uiTtxoi, vital.]
A species of gas, called also niephitic aii-,
and atmospheric mephitis, on account of
its fatal effects upon animal hfe. It is
tasteless, and inodorous : it exists in com-
mon air, mixed with oxygen, and consti-
tutes about seventy-nine hundredth parts
of atmospheric air. It may be obtained,
in large quantities, from the muscular
fibers of animals. Combined with hydro-
gen, it forms volatile alkali ; and it enters
into the composition of most animal sub-
stances. It is the radical of nitric acid,
and is now called nitrogen gas, or ni-
trogen.
AZ'OTH, n. Among alchimists, the first
principle of metals ; the mercury of met-
als ; a universal medicine. Obs. Ash.
2. The liquor of sublimated quicksilver;
l>rass. Coxe.
AZOT'Ie, a. Pertaining to azote ; fatal to
limal life.
AZ'OTITE, n. A salt formed by a combina-
tion of the protoxyd of azote, or nitrous
oxyd, with an alkali. Tlwmson.
AZ'URE, a. azh'ur. [Persic, lazurd, blue ;
Fr. azur; Sp. azul, or azur; It. azzurro ;
W. astir, blue. Hence lazuli, in Lapis
Lazuli.]
Of a sky-blue ; resembling the clear blue
color of the sky.
AZ'URE, n. aih'w: The fine blue color <:»l
BAA
the sky. This word was formerly applied
to the lapis lazuli, and the color prepared
from it. But it is now applied to the blue
extracted from cobalt, though somewhat
a different color ; the blue of the lapi
called ultramarine. Azure is applied also
to the blue glass made of the oxyd of co-
balt and vitrifiable substances, reduced to
fine powder. In large masses it is called
^mnlt. Encyc.
BAB
12. The sky, or azure vault of heaven.
3. In heraldry, a blue color in coats of all per-
sons und(;r the degree of baron. Jones.
'AZ'URE, r. /. To color blue.
[AZ'URED, a. azh'tired. Colored azure ; be-
ing of an azure color. Sidney.
AZURE-STONE, ) ^ Another name of the
AZ'URITE, I "• jazuhte.
AZ'URN, a. Of a blue color. [Li'We used.]
Milton
BAB
AZ'YME, )!. [See Azymous.] L'jiiiiaveiled
liread. [Ao/ in use.]
AZ'YMITE, n. [See ^ymous.] In church
history, azymites are christians who ad-
minister the eucharist with unleavened
'"■ead- Eneyc.
AZ'\ MOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and ^vfir,, leav
en.]
Unleavened ; unfermented ; as sea-biscuit.
Enci/c. Jlst .
B.
Ij is the second letter, and the first articu-
lation, or consonant, in the Enghsh
the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and most other
alphabets. In the Ethiopic, it is the ninth
letter, and its shape is that of a hut. Per-
haps from this or other like figure, it
received its Hebrew name, beth, a house.
It is a mute and a labial, being formed by
pressing the whole length of the lips to-
gether, as in pronouncing eb. It is less
perfectly mute than p, as may be perceived
by pronouncing the syllables ab and ap.
It is convertible, 1st, with j>, as in the Cel-
tic, ben or pen, a mountain ; in the English,
heak and peak, beck and peck ; 2d, with v,
as in the German, silber for silver ; and in
Spanish, b and v are used indifferently ;
3d, with /, as in bore and perforo ; Eng
hear, L. fero; in the Celtic bun, bunadh.
bunait, stock, origin, foundation ; English,
found^ ; L. fundamentum ; with the Gr. f,
as Bilip, for 4>at«rtoj; 4th, with u and iti;
as, Ir. /for, L. verus ; fear, vir ; Ir. buaic,
the udck of a candle.
The Greek B is always pronounced hke tlie
English V, and the Russian B corresponds
with the Greek.
In composition, the letter B is changed into
p before the letter p ; as in opprimo, from
ob and premo ; oppono, from ob and pono ;
into /, before /, as in offero, from oh and
fero ; into c before c, as in occido, from ob
and cado, and credo.
-\s a mnneral, B was used by the Hebrews
and Greeks, as now by the Arabians, for
2 ; by the Romans for 3"00, and with a dash
over it thus B, for 3000. B is use<l also
as an abbreviation; thus B. A. stand for
bachelor of arts ; B. L. for bachelor of|
laws; B.D. for bachelor of divinity ; B. F,
before the decrees of the old Romans, for
bonum factum. In music, B stands for the
tone above A ; Bb, for B flat, or the .semi
tone major above A. B also stands foi
base, and B. C. for basso continuo, Oi
thorough base.
B"AA, n. The cry or appropriate bleating of]
sheep.
B\\A, V. i. To cry or bleat as sheep.
BA'AL, n. [Oriental, '7;'^, lord.]
An idol among the ancient Chaldeans and
Syrians, representing the sun. The word
signifies also lord, or commander ; and the
character of the idol was varied by differ-
ent nations, at different times. Thus Baal
Vol. I.
I Berith is supposed to signify the Lord of
the Covenant ; Baal Peor, or ratlier Baal
Phegor, the Lord of the dead. Ps.
Baal Zebub, the god of flies, &c.
BAB'BLE, t.. i. [b. habbelen ; Fr. habiUer ;
properly to throw out.]
1. To utter words imperfectly or indistinct-
ly, as children. Prior.
To talk idly or irrationally ; to talk
thoughtlessly. Arhuthnot.
.3. To talk much ; to prate ; hence to tell se-
crets. Shak.
To utter sounds frequently, incessantly, or
indistinctly; as, a babbling echo; a hub
bling stream.
BAB'BLE, v.t. To prate; to utter.
BAB'BLE, n. Idle talk ; senseless prattle.
Shak
BABBLEMENT, n. Idle talk; sensele;
prate ; unmeaning words. MiUon.
BAB'BLER, n. An idle talker ; an irrational
prattler ; a teller of secrets.
BAB'BLING, ppr. Talking idly ; telling
crets.
2. Uttering a succession of murmuring
sounds ; as a babbling stream.
3. In hunting, babbling is when tlie hound
are too busy after they have found a good
scent.
BAB'BLING, n. Foolish talk. 1 Tim. vi.
BABE, n. [Ger. buhe, a boy ; Ir. baban ; D.
babyn ; Syr. babia ; Phenician, babion; Ar.l
babah, ababe, an infant. Ar. |j„ »,jljba
bos or baboson, the young of man or be"ast
Syr. babosa, a little child. It is remarka
ble that tliis Syriac and Arabic word for
an infant, is retained by the natives of
."Vmenca, who call an infant pappoos. L.
pupus, a word of endearment ; pupa, little
girl; whence pupiltus,pupilla, pupil. Ar.
bobohon, the beginning of youth ; Gr. fJaffou
and Ttanai. ; Ar. Lj L j baba, to say haba,
that is, father ; papa,' a word taken from!
the first attempts of children to pronounce:
the name of a parent.]
An infant ; a youne child of either sex.
B.\'BEL, 11. [Heb.] Confusion; disorder.
Beaumonti
BA'BERY, ?!. Finery to please a child ; any^
trifling toy for children. Sidnevi
BA'BISH, a. Like a babe ; childish. ]
_ Ascham.\
BA'BISHLY, adv. Childishly.
BABOON', n. [Fr. icrtoum," so called from!
17
its resemblance to a babe. This name
seems to have originated in the oriental
habion, papio. See Babe.]
A monkey of the largest species ; a quadru-
l)ed belonging to the genus Simia, in the
class Mammalia, and order Primates, ac-
cording to the system of Linne ; but by
Pennant arranged under the digitated
quadrupeds. Baboons have short tails;
a long face ; a broad high muzzle ; dog-
like tusks, or canine teetli; and naked
callosities on the buttocks. They are
found only on the eastern continent.
B.\ BY, a. Like a young child ; pertaining
to an infant. °
BABY, n. [See Babe.] An infant or young
child of either sex ; a babe ; [used in fa-
miliar language.]
i. A small image in form of an infant, for
girls to play with ; a doll.
BABY, V. t. To treat like a young child.
BA'BYHOOD, n. The state of being a tebfi
BA'BY-HOUSE, n. A jilace for children's
dolls and babies. Swift
BABYLONIAN, ) Penaining to Baby-
BABYLO'NISH, \ "• Ion, the cipital of the
ancient kingdom of Babylonia, or to the
kingdom. The city stood on the river
Prat, or Euphrates, and it is supposed, on
the spot where the tower of Babel was
foimded.
2. Like the language of Babel ; mixed ; con-
fused.
BABYLO'NIAN, n. Aninhabitant of Baby-
lonia. In ancient writers, an astrologer,
as the Chaldeans were remarkable for llie
study of astrology'.
BABYLON'IC, ? „ Pertaining to Baby-
BABYLON'l€AL, \ "' Ion, or made there ;
as Babylonic garments, carpets or lian"-
"igs- Enc^c.
Tumultuous; disorderly. Harrington
BABYLON'ICS, n. plu. The title of a frag-
ment of the history of tbe worid, ending
267 years before Christ, composed by Be-
rosus, a priest of Babylon. Encyc.
BABYRoUS'SA, n. In zoology, the Indian
hog, a native of Celebes, and of Buero, but
not found on the continent of Asia or of
Africa. This quadruped belongs to the
genus Sus, in the class Mammalia, and
order Bellua. From the outside of the
upper jaw, spring two teeth twelve inches
B A C
BAG
B A C
lung, bemling like horns, and aVmosUouch-
iiig the forehead. Along the back are
some weak bristles, and on the rest of the
body only a sort of wool. These animals
live in herds, feed on herbage, are some
times tamed, and their flesh is well tasted.
When pursued hard, they rush into the
sea, swim or dive and pass from isle to isle.
In the forest, they rest their heads by
hooking their upper tusks on a bough.
Ejici/c
BAC or BACK, n. [D. bak, a bov 1 or c"is-
tern.]
1. In nam^ation, a ferry-boat or praam.
a. In bremng, a large flat tub, or vessel, in
which wort is cooled before boiling ; hence
called a cooler.
3. In disiilhrits, a vessel into which the !i
quor to be fermented is pumped, from the
cooler, iu order to be worked with the
yeast.
BA€'€A, n. [L.] In botany, a berry ; a fruit
which consists of a pulpy pericarp, with-
out valves, inclosing several naked seeds.
Milne.
BA€€ALAU'REATE, n. [The first part of
this word is from the same root asbachel
or ; or as Bailey supposes, from bacca,
ben-y ; and the latter part, from laurea, a
laurel, from the practice of wearing a gar
land of bay berries.]
The degree of bachelor of arts.
BAC'€ATED, a. [L. baccatus, garnished
with pearls, from bacca, a berry.]
Set or adorned with pearls ; having many
berries. [Little used.]
BAC'ellANAL, I [from Bacchus, Gr.
BACeHANA'LIAN, <, "'taaxajos, the deity ot
wine and revelling. Qu. Ir. back, drunk
or D. bak, bowl, L. poculum ; Gyp. becha
ri, a cup ; or from raging, revelling.]
One who indulges in driuiken revels ; <
druid;ard ; one who is noisy and riotous,
when intoxicated.
BACCHANAL, ? RevelHng in intern-
BAC€IIAN.VLIAN, \ "" perate drinking ; ri-
otous ; noisy.
BAeeHANA'LIAN, a. Pertaining to revel-
ling and drunkenness.
Even bacchanalian in.idncss h.is its charms.
Cowper
BACCHANALS, n. plu. Drunken feasts
the revels of bacchanalians. In antiquity.
feasts in honor of Bacchus, the god of
wine. These were celebrated in spring
and autunui, with games and shows.
Encyc
BA€'€HI€, a. Jovial; drunken; mad will
intoxication.
% Relating to Bacchus, the god of wine
as, a bacchic feast or song ; bacchic myste
ries. Faber. Encijc.
BA€'eHIUS, n. In ancient poetry, a foot
composed of a short syllable and two long
ones ; as in avari. Encyc.
BA€CIF'EROUS, a. [L. baccifer, of bacca
a berry, and /ero, to bear.]
That jn-oduces berries. [See Bncca.'] Bac
ciferous plants formerly included all siicl
plants a-< liave a jHilpy fruit, whether of
ihe ■.\Y\>\'\ liiTiv •'i- cl'iiTi-y kiLul; but tlie
under ilii;.l.-.rn|,ii.,ii Mich'|ilaiit^' (Ujly as
beai- Ih.; i>ulpy pmcuq), railed iucci, c
berry. Milw
BA€CIV'OROUS, a. [L. bacca, berry, and
voro, to eat.]
Eating or subsisting on berries ; as baccivo-
rmts birds.
BACH'ELOR, n. [Fr. bachelier; Sp. bach-
itler, a bachelor of arts and a babbler;
i'ort. hacharel, id. and bacello, a shoot
twig of the vine ; It. baccelliere, a bachelor
of arts; bacchio, a staff ; hacchelta, a rod;
L. baculus, a stick, that is, a shoot ; Fr.
bachelettc,a. damsel or young woman ; Scot.
baich, a child ; W. bacgen, a boy, a child ;
liacgenes, a young girl ; from bac, small.
This word has its origin in the name of a
child or young person of either sex,
whence the sense of babbling in the Span-
ish. Or both senses are rather from shoot-
ing, protruding.]
A young man who has not been married.
2. A man of any age, who has not been mar-
ried : often with the word old.
3. A pei'son who has taken the first degree
in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college
or university. This degree or honor is
called the baccalaureate. This title is giv-
en also to such as take the first degree in
divinity, law or physic, in certain Euro
pean universities.
4. A knight of the lowest order, or more cor
rectly, a young knight, styled, a knight
bachelor. The Germans anciently consti-
tuted their young men knights or soldiers,
by presenting to them a shield and a lance,
in a great council. This ceremony an-
swered to that of the toga virilis of the
Romans. In the livery companies of Lon-
don, those persons not yet admitted to the
livery are called bachelors.
BACHELORSHIP, n. The state of bein
bachelor.
2. The state of one who has taken his first
degree in a college or university.
BACK, n. [Sax. bac, bcec; Dan. bag; Sw
bak ; and Sw. backe, bakke, a hill, a clod
or lump. The se
like the Ger. jiicA-
shoulders or to the back oi'ix beast
1. The upper part of an animal, particidarly
of a quadruped, whose back is a ridge
In human beings, the hinder part of the
bixly.
2. The outward or convex part of the hand,
ojjposed to the inner, concave part, or
se probably is a ridge,
)i, D. rug, applied to the
ojjpose
palm.
3. As the back of man is the part on the
side opposite to the face ; hence the part
opposed to the front ; as the back of
book and of a chimney, or the back of
house.
4. The part opposite to or most remote from
that which fronts the speaker or actor, or
the part out of sight ; as the back of an isle,
of a wood, of a village.
5. As the back is the strongest part of an
imal, and as the back is behind ui moti
hence the thick and strong part of a <
ting tool; as the back of . a knife, or of a
saw.
(j. The place behind or nearest the back : as,
on the back of a hill or of a village.
7. The outer part of the body, or the whole
body ; a part for the whole ; as, he has
not clothes to his back.
To turn the back on one, is to forsake, oi
neiflecf liiiii. South
9. To turn the back to one, to acknowledge
to be superior.
10. To turn the back, is to depart, or to leave
the care or cognizance of ; to remove or
be absent. Davits.
\\. Behind the back, is in secret, or when
one is absent.
12. To cast behind the back, in scripture, is to
forget and forgive. Is. xxxviii. 17 ; or to
treat with contempt. Ez. xxiii. 35. Neh,
ix. 26.
13. To plow the back, is to oppress and per-
secute. Ps. cxxix.
14. To bow the back, is to submit to oppres-
sion. Rom. xi. 10.
BACK, adv. To the place from which one
came ; as, to go back is to return.
2. In a Jigurative sense, to a former state,
condition or station ; as, he cannot go back
from his engagements.
3. Behind ; not advancing ; not coming oi-
bringing forward ; as, to keep hack a part ;
to keep one's self tacfc.
4. Towards times or things past ; as, to lool)
back on former ages.
5. Again ; in return ; as, give hack the
6. To go or come back, is to return, either to
a Ibrmer place, or state.
7. To go or give back, is to retreat, to recede
BACK, V. t. To mount ; to get upon the
back ; sometimes perhaps to place upon
the back ; as, to batk a horse. Shak.
2. To support ; to maintain ; to second or
strengthen by aid ; as, the Court was
backed by the House of Commons.
Dryden.
3. To put backward ; to cause to retreat or
recede ; as, to back oxen.
To buck a warrant, is for a justice of the
peace in the county where the warrant is
to be executed, to sign or indorse a war-
rant, issued in another county, to appre-
hend an offender. " Blackstone.
5. In seamanship, to back an anchor is to lay
down a small anchor ahead of a large one,
the cable of the small one being fastened
to the crown of the large one, to prevent
its coming home.
(5. To back astern, in rowing, is to manage
the oars in a direction contrary to the us-
ual method, to move a boat stern foremost.
7. To back the sails, is to arrange them so as
to cause the ship to move astern.
Mar. Diet.
BACK, II. i. To move or go back ; as, the
horse refuses to back. Encyc.
BACK'BITE, V. t. [back and bite.] To cen-
, sine, slander, reproach, or speak evil of
the absent. Prov. ,\xv.
BACKBITER, n. One who slanders, ca-
hnnniates or .speaks ill of the absent.
BACKBITING, n. The act of slandering
tlie absent ; secret calumnv. 2 Cor. xii.
BACKBITINGLY, adv. With secret slan-
der. Barret.
BACK'BOARD, n. [back and board.] A
board placed across the after part of a
boat.
BACKBO'NE, n. [back and bone.] The
hone of the back ; or the spine.
BACK'€ARRY, n. A having on the back ;
a term of law.
BACKDOOR, n. [hack and door.] A door
on the back part of a building ; a private
)>assas:'' ; an indirect vvyv.
BAG
BAG
A D
ftACK'ED, pp. Mounted ; having on the
back ; supported by aid ; seconded ; mo-
ved backward.
BACK'ED, o. Having a back; a word used
in composition ; as broad-backed, hump-
backed.
BACK'FRIEND, n. Ihack and friend. A
secret enemy. South.
BACKGAM'MON, n. [W. bac, small, and
cammaun, conflict, battle ; camp, a game.]
A game played by two persons, upon a ta-
ble, with box and dice. The table is in
two parts, on which are 24 black and white
spaces, called points. Each player has 15
men of difterent colors for the purpose of
distinction. Encyc.
BACK'GROUND, n. [back and ground.]
Ground in tlie rear or behind, as opposed
to the front.
2. A place of obscurity, or shade ; a situa-
tion little seen, or noticed.
BACK'HANDED, a. [back andhand.] With
the hand turned backward ; as a backhand
ed blow.
BACK'HANDED, adv. With the hand di
rected backward ; as, to strike backhanded.
BACK'HOUSE, n. [back and house.] A
building behind the main or front build
in?.
BACK'ING, ppr. Mounting ; moving back,
as a horse ; seconding.
BACK'PAINTINO, n. [back and paint.]
The method of painting mezzotinto prints,
pasted on glass of a size to (it the print.
Ena/c.
BACK'PIECE, n. [back and piece.] The
piece of armor which covers the back.
BACK'RETURN, ti. Repeated return.
Shak.
BACK'ROOM, n. [back and room.] A room
behind the front room, or in the back part
of the house.
BACKS, n. Among dealers in leather, the
thickest and best tanned hides. Eyicyc.',
BACK'SET, a. [back and set.] Set upon!
in the rear. Anderson.
BACK'SIDE, n. [back and side.] The back
part of any thing ; tlie part behind that
which is presented to the face of a specta-
tor. Ex. iii.
?. The hind part of an animal.
:J. The yard, ground or place behind a
house. I
BACKSLI'DE, v. i. [back and slide.] To|
fall off; to apostatize ; to tiu-n gradually
from the faith and practice of Christianity.!
Jer. iii. Hos. iv. 1
BACKSLI'DER, n. An apostate; one who
falls from the faith and practice of reh-j
gion. Prov. xiv. |
2. One who neglects his vows of obedience
and falls into sin. |
BACKSLI'DING, n. The act of apostati-
zing from faith or practice ; a faUing in-
sensibly from religion into sin or idolatry.
Jer. v. 6.
BACK'STAFF, n. [back and staff, so called
from its being used with the observer's
back toward the sun.]
■V quadi'ant ; an instrument for taking the
sun's altitude at sea ; called also, from its]
inventor, Davis's quadrant. Encyc.\
BACK'STAIRS, n. [hack and stairs.] I
Btairs in the back part of a house ; privatej
stairs ; and fguratively, a private or indi-
rect way. 1
BACK'STAYS, n. [back and stay.]
Long ropes or stays extending from the top-
mast heads to both sides of ii ship, to as-
sist the shrouds in supporting the mast,
when strained by a weight of sail, and
prevent it from giving way and falling
overboard. Mar. Diet.
BACK'SWORD, n. [back and sword.]
A sword with one sharp edge. In England,
a stick wth a basket handle used in rustic
amusements. Arbuthnol.
BACK'WARD, ) . [back and ward. See
BACK'WARDS, P""- IVard.] With the
back in advance ; as, to move backward.
2. Toward the back ; as, to throw the arms
backward; to move backwards and fo
wards.
3. On the back, or with the back downward
a?, to fall backward.
4. Toward past times or events ; as to look
backward on the history of man.
,5. By way of reflection ; reflexively. Davies.
(5. From a better to a worse state ; as, public
afiiiirs go backward.
7. In time past ; as, let us look some age
backward.
8. Perversely ; from a wrong end.
I never yet saw man but she would spell him
backward. Shak
9. Towards the beginning ; in an order con
trary to the natural order; as, to read
backivard.
10. In a scriptural sense, to go or turn back
loard, is to rebel, apostatize, or relapse into
sin, or idolatry. Is. i.
11. Contrarily; in a contrai-y manner.
Swift.
To be driven or turned backieard, is to be de-
feated, or disappointed. Ps. xl.
To turn judgment backward, is to pervert jus-
tice and laws. Is. lix.
BACK'W.-UID, a. Unwilling ; averse ; re-
luctant ; hesitating.
For wiser bmtcs are backward to be slaves.
Pope.
2. Slow ; sluggish ; dilatory.
The mind is backward to undergo the fati^e
of weighing every argument. Watts
3. Dull ; not quick of apprehension ; behind
progress ; as a backward learner.
4. Late ; behind in time ; coming after some-
thing else, or after the usual time ; as
backward fruits ; the season is backward.
B.\CK'WARD n. The things or state be-
hind or past.
In the dark backward or abysm of time.
Shak.
[JSTot proper, nor in use.]
BACK'WARDLY, adv. UnwilUngly ; re-
luctantly ; aversely ; perversely.
BACKWARDNESS, n. Unwillingness ; re-
luctance ; dilatoriness, or dullness in ac-
tion.
2. A state of being behind in progress ; slow-
ness ; tardiness ; as the backwardness of
the spring.
BACK'WORM, n. [back and worm.] a|
small worm, in a thin skin, in tlie reins ofl
a hawk. [See Filanders.] Encyci
BA'€ON, 5!. ba'kn. [W. baccun ; Ir. bogun.l
In old charters, boca. Cowel. In Ger.l
bache, is a wild sow.]
Hog's flesh, salted or pickled and dried, usu-
ally in smoke.
Tti save one's bacon, is to preserve one's self
from hiirin.
BA<;'IJLK, n. [Fr. bascule.]
In fortification, a kind of portcullis or gate,
made like a pit-fall, with a counter])oi»c,
and supported by two great stakes. Encyc.
BAC'ULITE, n. [L. baculus.]
A genus of fossil shells, of a straight fonn,
in their cellular structure resembling the
anmionitos. Edin. Encyc.
BAeULOM'ETRY, n. [L. baculus, a staflT.
and Gr. futiiov, measure.]
The act of measuring distance or altitude by
a stafl' or staves. Bailey. Johnson.
BAD, «. [Pers. Jv J bad, evil, depraved ; al-
lied perhaps to Ar. i Lj ; Ibb. Ch. Syr
Sam. n3N to perish or destroy.]
1. Ill ; evil ; opposed to good ;" a word of
general use, denoting physical defects and
moral faults, in men and things ; as a bad
man, a bad heart, a bad design, bad air, bad
water, bad books.
2. Vicious ; corrupt ; depraved, in a moral
sense ; as a bad lite ; a bad action.
3. Unwholesome ; as bad provisions.
4. Unfortunate ; unprosperous ; as a bad
state of afTairs.
a. Unskilful ; as a bad player.
6. Small ; poor ; as a bad crop.
7. Infirm ; as a bad state of health.
8. Feeble, corrupt, or oppressive ; as a bad
government.
9. Hurtful ; pernicious ; as, fine print is bad
for the eyes.
10. Unfavorable ; as a bad season.
11. Poor; steril ; as a 6orf soil.
12. Rough or muddy ; as a bad road.
In short, bad expresses whatever is injurious,
hurtful, uiconvenient, unlawful or immor-
al ; wliatever is ofiensive, painful or unfa-
vorable ; or what is defective.
BAD, BADE, the past tense of bid. [See
Bid.]
BADGE, n. [I know not the afiiniiies of this
word, not having found it in any other lan-
guage. Probably it belongs to class Bg.]
1. A mark, sign, token or thing, by which a
person is distinguished, in a particular
place or employment, and designating his
relation to a person or to a pardcular oc-
cupation ; as the badge of authority.
2. Tlie mark or token of any thing ; as the
badge of bitterness. Skak.
3. An ornament on ships, near the stem,
decorated with figures.
BAD(';E, V. t. To mark, or distinguish with
a Ijadfro. Shak.
BAl)(i'ER, n. [Qu. badge, sn^ra. ; or Sax.
Iii/!fiui, hycffan, to buy ; Norm, bugge.]
In law, a person who is licensed to buy corn
in one place and sell it in another, without
incurring the penalties of engrossing.
CmveL
BADG'ER, n. A quadruped of the genua
Ursus, of a clumsy make, with short, thick
legs, and long claws on the fore feet. It
inhabits the north of Europe and Asia,
burrows, is indolent and sleepy, feeds by
night on vegetables, and is very fat. Its
skin is used for pistol furniture ; its flesh
makes good bacon, and its hair is used for
brushes to soften the shades in painting.
Ena/c.
BAG
BAH
B A
riie American badger is called the gi-ouud
hoir, and is sometimes white. Pennant.
BADV; ER-LEGGED, a. Having legs like
a badger. Johnson says having legs of
iniequal length ; but, qu. short thick legs.
Shak.
BADIA'GA, n. A small spunge, common in
the North of Europe, the powder of which
is used to take away the livid marks of
bruises. Encyc.
BAD'IANE, I The seed of a tree in Ciii-
BAN'DIAN, ^ ' 'na, which smells hke anise
seeds ; used by the Chinese and Dutch to
give their tea im aromatic taste. Encyc.
BADIgE'ON, n. A mixture of plaster and
free stone, ground together and sifted,
used by statuaries to lill the small holes
and repair the defects of the stones, of
which they make their statues. Encyc.
BAD'INAgE, 11. [Fr.] Light or playful dis-
course. CktsUrfitld.
BAD'LY, adv. [from had.]
In a bad manner ; not well ; unskilfully ;
grievously ; unfortunately ; imperfectly.
BAD'NESS, n. The state of being bad, evil,
vicious or depraved ; want of good quali-
ties, natural or moral ; as the badness of
the heart, of the season, of the roads, &e.
BAF'FETAS, 1 An India cloth or plain
BAF'TAS, > n. muslin. That of Su
B.\S'TAS, 5 is said to be the best.
Encyc.
BAF'FLE, V. t. [Fr. befler, to make, or play
the fool with ; Sp. befar ; It. beffare, id.
It coincides in origin with buffoon. In
Scottish, heff, baff, signifies to stiike.]
To mock or elude by artifice ; to elude by
shifts and turns ; hence to defeat, or con-
found ; as, to baffle the designs of an
enemy.
Fashionable follies baffle argument. .inon.
BAF'FLE, i\ i. To practice deceit. Barroio.
BAF'FLE, w. A defeat by artifice, shifts
and turns. South.
BAFFLED, p;?. Eluded ; defeated ; eon-
foundod.
BAF'FLER, ?i. One that baffles.
BAF'FLING, ppi: Eluding by shifts, and
turns, or by stratagem; defeating; con-
founding. A baffling wind, among sea-
men, is one that frequently shifts, from
one point to another.
BAG, n. [Norm, bage, a bag, a coflfer ; bag
nes, baggage. This word seems to be from
the root of pack, pouch, Fr. poche, or of
the same family ; or it is from the
of tying, binding; Sp. baga, a rope or cord
for fastening loads on beasts of burden.
Hence baggage ; It. bagagUa ; Sp. bagage
Port, bagagein ;Fr. bagage; Arm. pacq,
a pack, and bagaich.]
i. A sack ; a pouch, usually of cloth or leath-
er, used to hold, preserve or convey corn,
and other commodities.
9. A sack in animal bodies containing some
fluid or other substance.
3. Formerly, a sort of silken purse tied to
the hair.
i. In commerce, a certain quantity of a com-
modity, such as it is customary to carry
to market in a sack ; as a bag of pepper or
hops ; a bag of corn.
3. Among farriers, a bag of asafcEtida and
savin is tied to the bits of horses to restore
their appetites Enciic.
BAG, V. t. To put into a bag.
2. To load with bags.
BAG, V. i. To swell like a full bag, as sail:
when filled with wind.
BAGATELLE, n. bagaleV. [Fr. ; Sp. baga-
tela ; It. bagatella ; Arm. bagauh.]
A trifle ; a thing of no importance.
BAGGAGE, n. [Fr. bagage. Qu. Eug.
package ; D. pakkaadje, baggage, that
which is packed. See Bag.]
1. The tents, clothing, utensils, and other
necessaries of an army.
2. The clothing and other conveniencies
which a traveller carries with him, on e
journey.
Havhig dispatcheJ my baggage by water t(
Altdorf. Coxe, Switz
[The English now call this luggage.']
BAG'GAtiE, n. [Fr. bagasse; lubagascia
Sj). bagazo, a catamite ; Pers. baga, i
strumpet.]
A low worthless woman ; a strumpet.
BAG'GING, ppr. Swelling ; becoming pro
tuberant.
BAG'GING, n. The cloth or materials for
bags. U. States. Edivards' W. Indies.
BAGNIO, n. ban'yo. [It. bagno ; Sp. bano ;
Port, banho ; Fr. bain ; L. balneum.]
1. A bath ; a house for bathing, cupping,
sweating and otherwise cleansing the
body. In Turkey, it is the name of pris-
ons where slaves are kept ; so called from
the baths which they contain. Encyc.
2. A brothel.
BAG' PIPE, n. [bag ami pipe.]
A musical wind instrument, used chiefly in
Scotland and Ireland. It consists of a
leatliern bag, which receives the air by a
tube, wliich is stopped by a valve ; and
pipes, into which the air is pressed by the
])erformer. The base-pipe is called the
drone, and the tenor or treble is called the
chanter. The pipes have eight holes like
those of a flute, which the performer stops
and opens at pleasure. There are several
species of bag-pipes, as the sort and me-
lodious Irish bag-pipe, with two short
drones and a long one ; the Highland bag-
pipe, with two short drones, the music of
wliich is very loud ; the Scot's Lowland
bag-pipe, which is ])layed with a bellows
and is also a loud instrument. There '
also a small pipe, with a chanter about
eight inches in length. Encyc.
In seamansliip, to bag-pipe the mizen,
lay it aback by bringing the sheet to the
mizen shrouds. Mar. Diet.
BAG'PIPER, ?!. Que who plays on a bag-pipe,
BAG'RE, n. A small beardetl fish, a species
of Silurus, anguillifortn, of a silvery hue,
without scales, and delicious food.
Did. of ATat. Hist.
BAG'REEF, n. [bag and reef/]
A fourth and lower reef used in the 1
ritish
uavy. Mar. Diet.
BAGUET', n. [Fr. baguette, from bague, a
ring ; Ir. beacht ; Sax. beag.]
In architecture, a little round molding, less
than an astragal, sometimes carved and
enriched. Encyc.
BAHAR', ? Weights used in the E. Indies.
BAR'RE, I "■ The great bahar, for weighing
pepper, cloves, nutmegs, &c., is 5241b. 9oz.
avoirdupoise. The little bahar, for weigl
ing quicksilver, vermilion, ivory, silk, ice,
)•=. 137 lbs. 90:?. Encyi
^AIGNE, V. t. [Fr. baigner.]
To soak or drench. [JVot used.] Carew .
BA'IKALITE, m. [From Baikal, a lake in
Northern Asia.]
A mineral occurring in acicular prisms,
sometimes long, and either confusedly
grouped or radiating from a center. Its
color is greenisli, or yellowish white. It
is regarded as a variety of Tremolite.
This name is given also to an olive-green
variety of augite and also of epidote.
Cleaveland.
BAIL, V. t. [Fr. and Norm, bailler, to deUv-
er, to lease ; Ann. bahailhat ; Ar. J. 4 j
bahala ; Eth. (]^(h baleah, to deliver, free,
liberate, permit to go.]
. To .set free, deliver, or liberate from ar-
rest and imprisonment, upon security giv-
en that the person bailed shall appear and
answer in court. The word is apphed to
the magistrate, or the surety. The magis-
trate bails a man, when he Uberates him
from arrest or imprisonment, upon bond
given with siu-eties. The surety bails a
person, when he procures his release fi-om
arrest, by giving bond for his appearance.
Blackstone.
2. To deliver goods in trust, upon a contract,
expressed or implied, that the trust shall
be faithfully executed on the part of the
bailee or person entrusted ; as, to baii
cloth to a tailor to be made iiUo a garment,
or to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone
'■i. To free from water, as to bail a boat.
This word is improperly written bale
The word is probably the same as bail in
law, to free, or liberate, and signifies to
throw out water, as with a bucket or
shovel.
BAIL, n. Tlie person or persons tvho pro-
cure the release of a prisoner from custody,
by becoming surety for his appearance in
The 6ai7 must be real substantial bondsmen.
Blackstone.
B and B were bail to the arrest in a suit at law.
Kent.
Bailis not used with a plural termination.
2. The security given for the release of a
prisoner from custody ; as, the man is out
upon bail.
Excessive bail ought not to be required.
Blackstone.
Bail is common or special. Common bail are
imaginary persons, who are pledges for
the plaintifl''s prosecution ; as John Doe
and Richard Roe.
Special hail must be men of real substance,
sufficient to pay their bojid or recogniz-
ance. To perfect or justify bail is to prove
by the oath of the person that he is worth
the sum for which he is surety beyond his
debts. To admit to bail, is to release up-
on security given by bondsmen.
3. The handle of a kettle or other vessel.
1. Ill England, a certain limit within a
lol-cst.
BA ILABLE, a. That in.iy he set free up-
on bond with sureties ; that may be ad-
mitted to bail ; used of persons.
2. That admits of bail ; as a bailable offense.
Blacksto7ic.
BA'ILBOND, n. A bond or obhgation given
B A I
B A L
B A L
by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the
prisoner's appearance in court, at the re-
turn of the writ.
BAILED, pp. Released from custody on
bonds for appearance in court.
"2. Dehvered in trust, to be carried and de-
posited, redehvered, or otherwise account-
ed for.
3. Freed from water, as a boat.
BAILEE', n. The person to whom goods
are connnitted in trust, and who has a
temporary possession and a quahfied prop-
erty in theni,lbr the purposes of the trust.
Blackstone.
BA'ILER, } One wlio dehvers goods to
BA'ILOR, \ "■ another in trust, for some
particular purpose.
BA'ILIFF, n. f Fr. baUlif; Arm. belly ; Scot.
bailii ; It. bailo, a magistrate ; balia, power,
authority. Ch. Ar. Heb. Syr. S;'3, lord,
chief. Class, Bl.]
In England, an officer appointed by the sher-
if}". Bailiffs are either special, and ap-
pointed, for their adroitness, to arrest
persons ; or bailiffs of hundreds, who col-
lect fines, siunmon juries, attend the assiz
es, and execute writs and process. The
sheriff in England is the king's bailiff.
There are also iiaiVi^sof Uberties, appointed
by the lords in their respective jurisdic
tions, to execute process, and perforn
other duties ; bailiffs of forests and of man-
ors, who direct the husbandry, coUeci
rents, &c. ; and water bailiffs ia each port,
to search vessels, gather toll for anchorage
arrest persons for debt on the water, &c
Blackslone. Encyc.
The office of bailiff formerly was high and
honorable in England, and officers under
tliat title on the continent are still invest-
ed with important functions.
BA'ILIWICK, n. [bailii, an officer, see
bailiff, and Sax. tine]
The precincts in which a bailifT has juris-
diction ; the limits of a baihfTs authority
as a hundred, a liberty, a forest, over which
a bailiff is appointed. In the hberties and
i franchises of lords, the baiUff has exclu-
sive jurisdiction. Encyc.
i BA'ILMENT, n. [from bail]
I A delivery of goods, in trust, upon a con-
'' tract, expressed or implied, tliat the trust
shall be faithfully executed. Blackslone.
1 BA ILPIECE, n. A slip of parchment or
I i)aper containing a recognizance of bail
above or bail to the actio7i. Blackslone.
BA 1 KN, ^ [Sax. beam ; Scot, bairn ; prob-
BARN, S ably. Eng. born.} A child. [Lit-
tle used in English.]
BAIT, ii. [W.abwyd, hwyd; Arm. boet; Ir.
aliiilh; Sw. bete, food ; beta, to feed ; Sax,
biitiin, to bait ; Russ. pitayu : Dan. beder, to
rest lor refreshment.]
1. Any substance for food, proper to be used
or actually used, to catch fish, or other
animals, by alluring them to swallow a
hook, or to be caught in snares, or in a
iuclosure or net.
'1. A nortion of food and drink, or a refresli
meat taken on a journey.
3. An allurement ; enticement ; temptation.
BAIT, V. t. To put meat on a hook or line
or in an inclosure, or among snares, to al-
hne tisli, fowls and other animals into hu-
■nan power.
2. To give a portion of food and drink toi
man or beast upon the road ; as, to bail
iiorses.
BAIT, V. i. To take a portion of food and
drink for refreshment on a journey ; as,
we stopped to bait.
BAIT, V. t. [Goth, beilan. In Sax. bale is
contention. See Make-bate.]
1. To provoke and harass by dogs ; to har-
ass by the help of others ; as, to bait a bull
or a boar.
2. To attack with violence ; to harass in the
manner of small animals.
BAIT, V. i. To clap the wings ; to flutter
as if to fly ; or to hover as a hawk, when
she stoo))s to her prey. Bailey. Shak.
BAIT, n. VVliitc Bait, a small fish of the
Thames.
BA'ITED, pp. Furnished with bait ; allur-
ed ; tempted.
2. Fed, or refreshed, on the road.
■•3. Harassed by dogs or other small animals ;
I attacked.
BAITING, ppr. Furnishing with bait
tempting; alluring.
2. Feeding; refreshing at an inn.
3. Harassing, with dogs ; attacking.
BAIZE, n. [Per. pozah, the nap or down of
cloth ; Sp. bausan, the same.]
A coarse woolen stuff, with a long naji
sometimes frized on one side, withou
wale, being wove with two treadles like
flannel. Chambers.
BAKE, V. t. [Sax. bacan ; Sw. baka ; Dan,
bager ; D. hakken ; Ger. backen ; Gypsey,
pekgum ; Russ. peku, to bake ; pekar, a.
baker ; Per. pochian, to bake or cook.^
1. To heat, dry and harden, as in an oven or
furnace, or under coals of fire ; to dress
and prepare for food, in a close place
heated ; as, to bake bread.
2. To dry and harden by heat, either
oven, kiln or furnace, or by the solar rays ;
as, to bake bricks ; to bake the ground.
BAKE, V. i. To do the work of baking
as, she brews, washes and bakes.
2. To be baked ; to dry and harden in heat ;
as, the bread bakes; the ground bakes in a
hot sun.
BA'KED, pp. Dried and hardened by heat ;
dressed in heat ; as baked meat.
BAKEHOUSE, n. [bake and hojise.] A
house or building for baking.
BA'KEMEATS, n. Meats prepared for
food in an oven. Gen. xl.
B A' KET>!, pp. The same as baked, and nearly
obsolete.
BAKER, n. One whose occupation is to
bake bread, biscuit, &c.
BA'KER-FOOT, n. An ill-sliaped or dis
torted foot. Taylor
BAKER-LEGGED, a. One who has crook
ed legs, or legs that beiid inward at tin
BAKERY, n. The trade of a baker.
2. A i)lace occupied with the business of]
baking bread, &c. SmoUett.
BA'KING, ppr. Drying and hardening in
heat : dressuig or cooking in a close place,
or in heat.
BA'KING, n. The quantity baked at once
as a baking of bread.
BAL'AN, n. A fish of a beautiful yellow,
variegated with orange, a species of
wrasse, caught on the shores of England
Did. o/mt. Hist
BAL'ANCE, 71. [Fr. balance ; Sp. balanza ,
It. bitancia ; L. bilani, bis, twice, and
lam, a dish, the double dish.]
1. A pair of scales, for wcighmg commodi-
ties. It consists of a beam or lever sus-
pended exactly in the middle, with a scale
or basin hung to each extremity, of pre-
cisely equal weight. The Roman balance,
our steel-yard, consists of a lever or beam,
movable on a center, and suspended near
one of its extremities. Hence,
2. One of the simple powers in mechanics,
used for determining the equality or dif-
ference of weight in hea%-y bodies, and
consequently their masses or quantity of
matter. Encyc.
3. Figuratively, an impartial state of the
mind, in deliberating ; or a just estimate
of the reasons and arguments on both
sides of a question, which gives to each its
due iveight, or foTce and importance.
4. As balance signifies equal weight, or equal-
ity, it is by custom used for the wciglU or
sum necessary to make two unequal weights
or sums equal ; that wliich is necessary to
bring them to a balance or equipoise.
Hence, in accounts, balance is the differ-
ence of two sums ; as upon an adjustment
of accounts, a balance was found against
A, in fiivor of B. Hence, to pay a balance,
is to pay the difference and maKe the two
accounts equal.
5. Balance of trade is an equal exportation
of domestic productions, and importation
of foreign. But, usually, the term is ap-
plied to the difference between the amount
or value of the commodities exported and
imported. Hence the common expres-
sion, the balance of trade is against or in
favor of a couutrj'.
6. Equipoise, or an equal state of power be-
tween nations ; as the "balance of power."
7. Equipoise, or an equal state of the pas-
sions.
The Jafei»ice of the mind. Pope.
. That which renders weight or authority
equal.
The only balance attempted against the an-
cient kings, was a body of nobles. /. Adams.
9. The part of a clock or watch which reg-
ulates the beats.
10. In astronomy, a sign in the zodiac, called
in Latin Libra, which the sun enters at the
equinox in September.
The hydrostatic balance is an instnunent
to determine the specific gravity of fluid
and solid bodies.
The assay balance is one which is used
in docimastic operations, to determine the
weight of minute bodies.
BAL'ANCE, V. t. To adjust the weights m
the scales of a balance so as to bring them
to an equipoise. Hence,
2. To weigh reasons; to compare, by esti-
mating the relative force, importance, or
value of different things ; as, to balance
good and evil.
3. To regulate different powers, so as to
keep them in a state of just proportion;
as, to balance Europe, or the powers of
Europe.
4. To counterpoise ; to mal<e of equal weight
or force ; to make equipollent ; as, one
species of attraction balantes another.
One expression in the letter must check and
balance another. fTeni
B A L
B A L
B A L
5. To settle and adjust, as an account ; to
find the difference of two accounts, and to
pay the balance, or difference, and make
them equal.
6. In seamanship, to contract a sail, by roll
ing up a small part of it at
BAL'ANCE,
I corner.
Mar. Did.
To have on each sidi
equal weight ; to be on a poise.
3. To hesitate ; to fluctuate between motives
which appear of equal force, as a balance
plays when poised by equal weights.
Between right and wrong, never balance
moment. Jlnoi
BAL'ANCED, pp. Charged with equal
v/eights; standing on an C(iuipojse ; regu
lated si. :!s Id bcM'((u;il: settled; adjusted
made r(|i;;il ill V. ii"lit oraiiKiunt.
BAL'A.XCi; FISH, ,,. 'rhfzyi.a<na,orniRr
teaii ; :\ li-li dl'tlic ^ciius sqiiulus, or shark
kind. It is () feet' long, and weighs 500
lbs. It has three or four rows of broad
pointed and serrated teeth; has a horrible
aspect, and is verv voracious. Encyc.
lUL'ANCER, ;;. The person who weighs,
or who uses a balance.
9. A member of an insect useful in balancing
the body.
3. One skilled in balancing.
BAL'ANCE-REEF, n. A reef band that
crosses a sail diagonally, used to contract
it in a storm. Mar. Did.
BAL'ANCING, ppr. Charging with equal
weights ; being in a state of equipoise ;
bringing to a state of equality ; regulating
respective forces or sums lo make them
equal; settling; adjusting; paying a dif-
ference of accounts ; hesitating; contract-
ing a sail bv rolling up one corner of it.
BAL'ANCING, n. Equilibrium ; poise.
Spenser.
BAL'ANITE, n. A fossil shell of the genus
Balanus. Jameson.
BAL'ASS, } r- I , ,',,•■,
BAL'AS < "■ '■*''• *"""' ' '' ''• ""'«'*■]
A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red,
or inclining to orange. Its crystals are
usually octahedrons, composed' of two
four-sided pyramids, applied base to base.
[See Spinel.] CkaveUmd. Kinivn.
BALAUS'TINE, n. The wild pomegranate
tree. Core.
BAL'eONY, n. [Fr. balcon ; It. balcone ;
Sp. balcon ; Port, balcam ; probably a jut-
ting, as in bulk, belly, W. bale. In Pers.
t.jS.1 1 J balkanah, is a cancellated win-
dow.}
In arcMtecture, a frame of woqd, iron or stone,
in front of a house or other building, sup-
ported by colunms, pillars or consoles, and
encompassed with a balustrade. Balco-
nies are conmion before windows.
BALD, a. baiild. [Sp. baldio, untilled, va-
cant, unfiirnished ; Port, baldio, open, com-
mon ; baldar, to frustrate.]
I. Destitute of hair, especially on the top
and back of the head.
5. Destitute of the natural covering ; as a
bald oak.
n. Without feathers on the head ; as a bald
vulture.
t. Destitute of trees pj)^ thp top ;. as a bald
mountain. ...■ -,, ....
5. Unadorned ; inelegant ; as a bald transla-
tion. Dryden
(>. Mean ; naked ; base ; without dignity oi
value. Shak
7. In popular language, open, bold, auda
cious.
8. Without beard or awn ; as bald wheat.
BALD'ACIIIN, I [It. baldacchino ; Sp.
BALD'AQUIN, \ "' baldaquino, a rich silk
or canopy, carried over the host. Du
Cange. Lunier deduces it from the name of
a city in Babylonia.]
In architecture, a building in form of a
opy, supported by columns, and oiten used
as a covering to insulated altars; some-
times used for a shell over a door.
Encyc. Johnson.
BALD ERDASH, n. [Qu. Sp. balda, a tri-
fle, or baldonar, to insult with abusive
language ; AV. baldoi-z, to prattle ; D. bid-
deren.]
Mean, senseless prate ; a jargon of words :
ribaldry ; any thing jumbled together with-
out judement.
BALD ERDASH, v. t. To inix or adulterate
liquors. Johy^son
BALD LY, adv. Nakedly ; meanly ; inele-
gantly ; openly.
BALD IVESS, n. Want of hair on the toj
and back of the head; loss of hair; mean-
ness or inelegance of writing; want of
BALD'PATE, n. A pate without hair.
Shak
BALD'PATED, a. Destitute of hair ; shorn
of hair. Shak
ALD'RICK, n. [from Sw. bait, Ir. balta,
L. balteus, a belt, and lick, rich. See these
words.]
1. A girdle, or richly ornamented belt ; a
ar girdle.
A radiant baldrick o'er his shoulders ded.
Pope.
2. The zodiac. Spenser.
BALE, n. [Fr. bulk ; Ger. ballen ; D. bi "
It. balla, a bale ; Ch. Ar. Heb. h:r\, to bind,
to pledge, and its derivative, in Ar. antl
Etii., a rope.]
1. A bundle or package of goods in a cloth
cover, and corded for carriage or trans-
l)ortation.
9. Formerly, a pair of dice.
BALE.t). t. To make up in a bale.
BALE, 71. [Sax. beat, bealo. Qu. Ilcb. Ch.
Syr. and Ar. S3N, to grieve or mourn, to
be desolate, orS^n, to destroy. In Ir. bealu
is to die, and abail, death.] Alisery ; calam-
ity. Obs.
BALEAR'I€, a. [from Balearis, the denom-
ination given to Majorca and Minorca.
Q.U. fi-om Gr. ^a%\u, to throw, because the
inhabitants were good slingers.]
Pertaining to the isles of Majorca and Mi-
norca, in the Mediterranean sea.
BA'LEFUL, a. [See Bale.] Woeful ; sad ;
sorrowful ; full of grief ; producing mis-
ery ; as, a baleful smart ; baleful eyes.
Spenser. Milton
2. Mischievous ; destructive ; pernicious
calamitous ; deadly ; as, baleful enemies ;
baleful war.
BALtFULLY, adv. Sorrowfidly ; perni-
ciouslv ; in a calamitous manner.
BALIS'TER, n. [L. balista, from Gr. icCKT.^.
throw.] A cross bow. Blount.
BALiZE', n. [Fr. balise ; Sp. valiza, a bea-
con.] A sea-mark; a pole raised on a
bank.
BALK, n. bank. [Sax. bale ; W. bale, a ridge
between furrows ; bale, prominent, swell-
ing, proud ; said to be from bal, a promi-
nence ; bala, eruption ; bakm, to shoot,
spring or drive out.]
1. A ridge of land, left unplowed, between
furrows, or at the end of a field.
2. A great beam, or rafter. [G. balken ; D.
balk.]
3. Any thing left untouched, hke a ridge in
plowing. Spenser.
4. A frustration ; disappointment. South.
BALK, V. t. bauk. To disappoint ; to frus-
trate. Locke.
2. To leave untouched ; to miss or omit.
Drayton .
3. To pile, as in a heap or ridge. Shak.
4. To turn aside ; to talk beside one's mean-
Obs. Spenser.
5. To plow, leaving balks.
BALK'ED, pp. Plowed in ridges between
furrows, as in American husbandry.
2. Frustrated ; disappointed.
BALK'ER, n. One who balks. In fishery,
balkers are persons who stand on rocks
and eminences to espy the slides of her-
ring, and to give notice to the men in
boats, which way they pass.
Encyc. Cowel.
BALKTNG, ppr. Plowing in ridges ; frus-
trating.
BALL, n. [G. ball ; D. bal ; Sw. ball ; Dan.
baUon ; Russ. bal ; Sp. bala, bola ; It. palla ;
h. pila; W. p(l, pellen; Arm. bolat; Fr.
balle, boule. A ball may signify a mass
from collecting, or it may be that which is
driven, from the root of L. pello ; probably
the former.]
1. A round body ; a spherical substance,
whether natural or artificial; or a body
nearly round ; as, a ball for play ; a ball of
thread ; a ball of snow.
2. A bullet; aiaHof iron or lead for cannon,
muskets, &c.
3. A printer's ball, consisting of hair or wool,
covered with leather or skin, and fastened
to a stock, called a ball-stock, and used to
put ink on the types in the forms.
4. The globe or earth, from its figure.
5. A globe home as an ensign of authority ;
as, to hold the hall of a kingdom. Bacon.
6. Any part of the body that is round or pro-
tuberant ; as, the eye ball ; the ball of the
thumb or foot.
7. The weight at the bottom of a pendulum.
8. Among the Cornish miners in England, a
tin mine.
9. hi pyrotechnics, a composition of combus-
tible ingredients, which serve to burn,
smoke or give hght.
Ball-stock, among printers, a stock somewhat
hollow at one end, to which balls of skin,
stuffed with wool, are fastened, and which
serves as a handle.
Ball-vein, among miners, a sort of iron ore,
found in loose masses, of a circular form,
containing sparkling particles. Encyc.
Ball and socket, an instrument used in sur-
veying and astronomy, made of brass, with
a perpetual screw, to move horizontally,
obliquely, or vertically.
Puff-ball, in botany, the Lycoperdon, a genu«
of funguses.
B A L
B A L
B A L
l^re-ball, a meteor ; a luminous globe dart-!
iiijr through the atmosphere ; also, a ba]
of canvas filled with gunpowder, sulphui
pitch, saltpeter, &c., to be thrown by the
hand, or from mortars, to set fire to
houses.
BALL, 71. [Fr. bal ; It. ballo ; Sp. baijle, a
dance ; It. baUare, to dance, to shake ; Gr.
(SoAXu, to toss or tlirow ; or noXKu, to leap.]
An entertainment of dancing; originally and
peculiarly, at the invitation and expense of
an individual ; but the word is used in
America, for a dance at the expense of the
attendants.
BALL, 1). i. To form into a ball, as snow on
horses' hoofs, or on the feet. We say the
horse balh, or the snow balls.
BAL'LAD, »i. [It. ballata, a ball, a dance, a
ballad ; Fr. balhde, a song, and baladin, a
dancer. See Bail.]
A song ; originally, a solemn song of praise ;
but now a meaner kind of popular song.
ft'atts.
BAL'LAD, V. i. To make or sing ballads.
Shak.
BAL'LADER, n. A writer of ballads.
Overburij.
BAL'LAD-MAKER, n. A maker or coiii-
poser of ballads. Shak.
BAL'LAD-MONGER, n. [Bee Monger.] A
dealer in writing ballads. Shak.
BAL'LADRY, n. The subject or style of
ballads. B. Jonson.
BALLAD-SINGER, n. One whose employ-
ment is to sing ballads.
BAL'LAD-STYLE, n. The air or manner
of a ballad.
BAL'LAD-TUNE, n. Tlie tune of a ballad.
Ifarton.
BAL'LAD-WRITER, J^. A composer of
ballads. Warion.
BAL'LARAG, v. I. To bully; to tlireaton.
[N'ot in use.} Jf'aiion.
BAL'LAST, n. [Sax. bat, a boat, with lust,
a load ; D. Gor. and Dan. last ; VV. llwyth ;
Arm. lastr, a load ; bal-Iast, boat-loati, cor-
rupted into ballast ; Russ. baUasl ; Fr. lest ;
Sp. lastre.]
1 . i leavy matter, as stone, sand or iron, laid
on tlie bottom of a ship or other vessel, to
sink it in the water, to such a depth, as to
iiiable it to carry sufficient sail, without
oversetting.
ShingleballastishaUast of coarse gravel.
Mar. Did.
i. Figuratively, that which is used to make
:i thing steady. Sivifl.
I5AI.'L.4ST, V. t. To place heavy substances
nil tlie bottom of a ship or vessel, to keep
it from oversetting.
i. Tf) keep any thing steady, by counterbal-
ancing its force. Dryden.
BA L' LASTED, pp. Furnished with ballast ;
ki pt steady bv a counterpoising force.
P. A 1.' LASTING, ppr. Furnishing with bal-
last ; keeping steadv.
KAl.'LASTING, n. Ballast; that which is
iisnl for ballast. Shak.
P.Al.'LATED, a. Sung in a ballad. [Little
BAl.l.ATOON', n. A heavy luggage boat
iiiiployed on the rivers about the Caspian
Lake. Encyc.
HA 1,'LATRY, ji. A song ; a jig. Milton.
IJAI.'LET, )i. [Fr. ia//ef ; It. 6a//f«o. See
Halt, a dance.]
L A kind of dance ; an interlude ;
dance, consi.sting of a series of several airs,
with different movements, representing
some subject or action.
2. A kind of dramatic poem, representing
some fabulous action or subject, in which
several persons appear and recite things
under the name of some deity or person-
age. Encyc
In heraldry, ballets or balls, a bearing in
coats of anus, dcnon)inated according to
their color, bezants, plates, hurts, &c.
Encyc.
BAL'LIAgE, or more correctly bailage, n.
[Ir. baile, a town.]
A small duty paid to the city of London by
aliens, and even by denizens, for certain
commodities exported by them. Encyc.
BALLIARDS. [See BUlwrds.]
BALLISTER. [See Baluster.]
\LLIS'TIe, a. [L. balista, an engine to
throw stones, or shoot darts, from Gr.
jiaUM, to throw or shoot.]
Pertaining to the balista, or to the art of
shooting darts, and other missive weap-
ons, by means of an engine.
BALLIS'TIeS, n. The science or art of
throwing missive weapons, by the use of
an engine. The balista was a machine
resembling a cross-bow.
Encyc. Math. Diet. Ash.
BALLOON', )!. [Fr. ballon, a foot-ball ; Sp.
balon ; It. pallone ; W. pelhen, from pel, a
a ball. See BaU.]
In general, any spherical hollow body.
Encyc.
2. In chimistry, a round ves.sel with a short
neck, to receive whatever is distilled ; a
glass receiver of a splierical form.
3. In architecture, a ball or globe, on the top
of a pillar.
4. In fireworks, a ball of pasteboard, or kind
i)f bomb, stuflfed with combustibles, to be
jilaynl off, when fired, either in the air, or
in water, which, bursting like a bomb, ex-
hibits sparks of fire like stars.
Johnson. Encyc.
5. A game, somewhat resembling tennis,
played in an open field, with a lar^e ball
of leather, inflated with wind. Encyc.
6. A bag or hollow vessel, made of silk or
other light material, and filled with hydro-
gen gas or heated air, so as to rise and
float in the atmosphere ; called for distinc-
tion, an air-balloon.
7. In France, a quantity of paper, containing
24 reams. [See Bale.]
8. In France, balloon, ballon or ballot, a
quantity of gla.ss plates ; of white glass,
25 btindles of six plates each ; of colored
glass, 121-2 bundles of three plates each.
Enn/c.
B,\LL0ON', ? A state barge of Siam,
BAL'LOEN, 5 "• made of a single piece of
timber, veiy long, and managed with oars.
Encyc.
BAL'LOT, n. [Fr. ballotte ; Sp. balota,a Uttle
ball. See Ball]
A ball used in voting. Ballots are of dif-
ferent colors; those of one color give an
affirmative ; those of another, a negative.
They are privately put into a box or urn.
2. A ticket or written vote, being given in
Heti of a ballot, is now called by the same
name.
3. The act of voting by balls or tickets.
BAL'LOT, V. i. To vote by ballot, that i.-.^
by putting little balls of" diftcrent color>
into a box, the greater number of one
I color or the other determining the result.
2. To vote bv written papers or tickets.
BAL'LOTADE, ) In the menage, a leap ol
BAL'OTADE, ^ a horse between two
pillars, or uiion a strait line, so that when
ins fore feet are in the air, he shews noth-
ing but the shoes of his hind feet, withoul
jerking out. In a capriole, the horse yerks
out his hind legs. Farrier's Diet. Encyc.
BALLOTA'TION, n. A voting by ballot.
[Lillle usprf.J Wotton.
BAL'LOT-BOX, n. A box for receiving
ballots.
B'ALftI, n. biim. [Fr. baume, a contraction
o( balsam, which see.]
. The sap or juice of trees or shrubs re-
markably odoriferous or aromatic.
Dryden.
I. Any fragrant or valuable ointment.
Shak.
•3. Any thing which heals, or which soothcf-
or mitigates pain. Shak. Young.
4. In botany, the name of several plants, par-
ticularly of the genus Melissa. They are
aromatic and used as corroborants.
Balm of Gilead. A plant of the genus Ainj -
ris. Its leaves yield, when bruised, a
strong aromatic scent ; and from this plant
is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops,
or balsam of Mecca or of Syria. It has a
yellowish or greenish color, a wann bitter-
ish aromatic taste, and an acidulous fra-
grant smell. It is valued as an odoriferous
unguent, and cosmetic, by the Turks, who
possess the country of its growth, and
hence it is adulterated for market. Encyc
B ALM, v.t. To anoint with balm, or with
any thing medicinal.
i2. To sootlie ; to mitigate ; to assuage.
Shak.
B'ALMY, a. Having the qualities of balm :
aromatic. Milton.
[2. Producing balm ; as the balmy tree.
Pope.
3. Sootliing ; soft ; mild ; as balmy slumbers.
Dryden .
4. Fragrant ; odoriferous ; as halmy wings.
Dryden.
5. Mitigating ; easing ; assuaging ; as balmy
breath. Shak.
B.AL'NEAL, a. [L. balneum.^ Pertaining
to a bath. Howell.
BAL'NEARY, ji. [L.bulnearium,iTon\bal-
neum. Syr. balna, bath.]
A bathing room. Broum.
BALNEA'TION, n. The act of bathing.
Brown.
BAL'NEATORY, a. Belonging to a bath or
stove. Johnson.
BaL'SAM, n. [Gr. fJoaoo^iov ; L. lalsamum.]
An oily, aromatic, resinous substance, flow-
ing spontaneously or by incision, from cer-
tain plants. A great variety of substances
pass imder this denomination. But in
modem chimistry, the term is confined to
such vegetable juices, as are liquid or spon-
taneously become concrete, and consist of
a resinous substance, combined with ben-
zoic acid, or capable of affording it by de-
coction or subhmation. The balsams are
either hquid or solid ; of the former, are the
balm of Gilead and the balsams of copaibaj
BAM
Peru and tolu ; of the latter, benzoin,
dragon's blood, and storax.
Encyc. JVicholson. Ure
Balsam apple, an annual Indian plant, inclu-
ded under the genus Momordica. A wate r
and a subtil oil are obtained from it, which
are commended as dcobstruents.
Balsam tree. This name is given to a genus
of plants called Clusia ; to another, called
Copaijera, which produces the balsam of
Copaiha ; and to a third, called Pistacia,
turpentine tree or mastich tree.
Balsam of Sulphur is a solution of sulpliur in
oil.
Balsam of Tolu is the produce of the Toha-
fera, or Tolu tree, of South America. It is
of a reddish yellow color, transparent, thick
and tenacious, but growing hard and brit-
tle by age. It is very fragrant, and like
the Balsam of Peru, is a stimulant
used as a pectoral. Ena/c. Linne.
Balsam 0/ Peru, the produce of a tree in Peru,
possessing strong stimulant qualities.
BALSAM A'TION, n. The act of rendering
balsamic.
BALSAMIC, ?
BALSAM'leAL, I
ting ; unctuous ;
BALSAMIC,
Encyc.
a. Yielding bal
Crashaw
Having the qualities
\ "' of balsam ; stimula-
soft ; mitigating ; mild.
Arhuthnot.
A warm, stimulating, de-
mulcent medicine, of a smooth and oily
consistence. Coxe.
BAL'SAMINE, ?!. Touch-me-not, or Iinpa
tiens, a genus of plants.
BAL'SAM-SWEATING
sam.
3.\LT'I€, 11. [From halte, belt, from certain
straits or channels, surrounding its isles,
called helts. See Belt.}
The sea which separates Norway and Swe
den from Jutland, Holstein and Germany.
BALT'I€, a. Pertaining to the sea of that
name ; situated on the Baltic sea.
Each Baltic state to join the righteous cause
Barlow
BAL'USTER, n. [It. balaustro ; S\>. balaus-
tre ; Fr. balustre ; from L. palus ; Eng. pole
pale. This is corrupted into baniuster.
which I liave rejected.^
A small colunm or pilaster, of various forms
and dimensions, often adorned with mold
ings, used for balustrades.
BAL'USTERED, a. Having balusters.
Soames.
BAL'USTRADE, n. [S[>. balaiistrado ; I
balaustrata; Fr. bahtstrade; from baluster.
\ row of balusters, joined by a rail, serving
as a fence or inclosure, for altars, balco-
nies, stair-cases, ten-aces, tops of build-
ings, &c. Encyc. Johnson,
BAM or BEAM, as an initial syllable in
names of places, signifies tcood; implying
that the place took its name from a grove,i
or forest. Ger. baum, a tree.
BAM'BOO, n. A plant of the reed kind, or
genus Arundo, growing in the East Indies,
and in some other warm climates, and
sometimes attaining to the height of 60
feet. From the main root, which is long,
thick and jointed, spring several round,
jointed stalks, which at 10 or 12 feet from
the ground, send out from their joints sev-
eral stalks which are united at their base.
These are armed, at their joints, with one
or two sharp rigid spines, and furnished
BAN
with oblong, oval leaves, eight or nine
inches long, on short footstalks. The flow-
ers grow in large panicles, from the joints
of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close
to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to
five or six inches in diameter, and are so
hard and durable, as to be used for build-
ing and for all sorts of fumitiu-e, for water-
pipes, and for poles to support palanquins.
The smaller stalks are used for walking
sticks, flutes, &c. Encyc.
BAMBOO'ZLE, v.t. Toconfoimd; to de-
ceive ; to play low tricks. [A loiv ivord.)
Arhuthnot
BAMBOO'ZLER, n. A cheat ; one who
plays low tricks. Arhuthnot.
BAN, n. [Sax. bannan, abannan, to pro
claim ; It. bando, a proclamation ; Sp. and
Port, bando ; Fr. ban ; Arm. ban ; D. ban,
bnnnen ; Ger. id ; Sw. banna, to revile ;
Dan. band, ban, outlawry ; forbander, to
curse. Hence banish. The radical sense
is to send, thrust or drive. Class Bn.
No. 3.]
1. A public proclamation or edict ; a public
order or notice, mandatory or proliibitory,
In a more particular sense,
3. Notice of a marriage proposed, or of a
matrimonial contract, proclainied in a
ciiurch, that any person may object, if he
knows of any kindred between the parties,
of any precontract or other just cause, why
the marriage should not take place.
3. An edict of interdiction or proscription
Hence to put a prince under the ban of the
empire, is to divest him of his dignities,
and to interdict all intercourse and all offi-
ces of humanity with the oflfender. Some-
times whole cities have been put under
the ban, that is, deprived of their rights and
privileges. Encyc.
Interdiction ; prohibition. Milton.
5. Curse ; excommunication ; anathema.
Raleigh.
C. A pecuniai-y mulct or penalty laid upon a
dehn(|uent for offijnding against a ban.
A nmlct paid to the bishop by one guilty
of sacrilege and other crimes.
8. In military ajfnirs, a ])roclan!ation by beat
iif diiiMi, 'n"(|uiring a strict observance of
disiijilini', citliri- for declaring a new offi-
cer, or fur puiii.-liing an offender.
9. In commerce, a smooth fine mushn, im-
ported from the E. Indies. Encyc-
BAN, V. t. To curse ; to execrate.
Shak. Knolles.
BAN, V. i. To curse. Spenser
BAN' ANA, n. A species of the genus Mw-
sa, or plantain tree, and its fruit. It ri-
ses 15 or 20 feet high, with a sot\ stalk,
marked with dark purple stripes and spots,
with leaves six feet long, and a foot broad.
The flowers grow in bunches, covered with
a sheath of a fine purple color. The fruii
is four or five inches long, and an inch 01
more in diameter ; the pulp soft and of j
luscious taste. When ripe, it is eaten raw
or fried in sUces. Bananas grow in large
bunches weighing a dozen pounds or more,
This tree is the native of tropical countries,
and on many isles, constitutes an impor-
tant article of food. Encyc.
BAND, n, [Sax. banda; Sw.band; Dan
baand ; D. band ; G. band, hinde ; Sp. banda
BAN
venda ; Port. It. banda ; Ir. banna ; Pers.
Jvx J band ; Sans, bande, bunda ; Fr. hande.
See Bind and Bend.']
1. A fillet ; a cord ; a tie ; a chain ; any nar-
row ligament with which a thing is bound,
tied or fastened, or by which a number of
things are confined together.
2. In architecttire, any flat low member or
molding, broad but not deep, called also
fascia, face or plinth. Johnson. Encyc
3. Figuratively, any chain; any means of re-
straint ; that which draws or confines.
Dryden.
4. Means of union or connection between
persons; an. Hymen's hands. Shak.
. Any thing bound round or encircling
another. Bacon.
1. Something worn about the neck ; as the
6a»!rfs of clergymen. Addison.
7. A company of soldiers ; the body of men
united under one flag or ensign. Also, in-
definitely, a troop, a body of armed men,
2 Kings vi.
8. A company of persons united in any com-
mon design ; as a band of brothers.
9. A shp of canvas, sewed across a sail to
strengthen it. Mar. Diet.
The band of pensioners in England, is a
company of 120 gentlemen, who receive a
yearly allowance of £100 St., for attending
the king on solemn occasions. Encyc.
The bands of a saddle are two pieces of
iron nailed upon the bows, to hold them in
their proper situation. Johnson.
BAND, V. t. To bind together ; to bind over
with a band. Dryden.
2. To unite in a troop, company or confed-
eracy. Milton.
BAND, V. i. To unite ; to associate ; to con-
federate for some common purpose. Acts
xxiii.
BAND'AgE, ji. [Fr.] A fillet, roller, or
swath, used in dressing and binding up
wounds, restraining hemorrhages, and
joining fractured and dislocated bones.
Sometimes, the act or practice of applying
bandages.
2. Something resembUng a bandage ; that
I which is bound over another. Addison.
BANDAN'A, n. .\ species of silk handker-
chief.
BAND'BOX, )!. A slight paper box for
bands, caps, bonnets, mufl's, or other light
articles. Addison.
BAND'ED, pp. Bound with a band ; united
in a band.
BAND'ER, )i. One that bands or associates
ith others.
BAND'ERET, n. [from band.] In Swiss-
erland, a general in chief of military forces.
BAND'IED, pp. Beat or tossed to and fro ;
agitated ; controverted without ceremony.
BAND'ING, ppr. Bindii:g with a band ; uni-
ting in a band or company.
BANDIT, n. plu. BAN'DITS or BANDIT-
TI, [It. bandito, from bandire, to pro-
claim, to banish or proscribe by proclama-
tion. Bonrfj'io, is the participle. Sp. 6aJ!-
dido. See Ban.]
An outlaw ; also in a general sense, a robber ;
a highwayman ; a lawless or desperate
fellow.
BAN'DLE, 21. An Irish measure of two feet
in length. Bailty.
BAN
BAN
BAN
BAND'LET, / rir i j ; ., i
BAND'ELET, \ "• t^r- bandddh.]
Any little baud or flat molding, as that which
crowns the Doric architrave. Encyc
BAN'DOG, n. A large species of dog.
Shak. Spenser.
BANDOLEE'RS, n. [Sp. bandolera ; It. ban-
dolicra ; Fr. bandouliere ; band and V.lecr.
leather.]
A large leathern belt, thrown over the right
shoulder, and hanging under the left arm
worn by ancient musketeers for sustaining
their fire arms, and their musket charges,
which being put into little wooden cases,
and coated with leather, were hung, to the
number of twelve, to each bandoleer.
Encyc
BAN'DON, )!. Di.sposal ; hcensc. [Not in
xise.] Chaucer.
BAN'DORE, n. [Sji. bandurria ; Gr. )iav-
«8pa.]
A musical stringed instrument, like a lute.
Encyc.
BAND'ROL, n. [Fr. banderole ; h. bande-
ruola ; Sp. banderolas ; literally, a httle
banner. See Banner.]
1. A little flag or streamer, in form of a gui-
don, used to be hung on the masts of ves-
sels.. Encyc.
2. The little fringed silk flag that hangs on a
trumpet. Johnson.
BAND' STRING, n. A string appendant tc
a band. Taylor
BAND'Y, n. [Fr. bander, to tie, bind, bend,
bandy ; L. panda.]
.\ club for striking a ball at play. Johnson.
BAND'Y, V. t. To beat to and fro, as a ball
in play.
2. To exchange ; to give and receive recip-
rocally ; as, to bandy looks. Shak.
3. To agitate ; to toss about, as from man to
man.
Let not known truth be bandied in disputa-
tion. Watts.
B.^ND'Y, II. t. To contend, as at some
game, in which each strives to drive the
ball Ills own way. Shak.
BAND'YING, ppr. Beating, impeHing oi
tossing from one to another ; agitating in
controversy without ceremony.
BAND'Y-LEG, n. [bandy and leg. See
Bend.]
A crooked leg ; a leg bending inward or
outward. Encyc.
BAND'Y-LEG GED, a. Having crooked
legs.
BANE, n. [Qu. the aftinities. In Sax. bana,
is a murderer; in Gr. fjiu, is to kill ; in
L. venenum is poison ; Fr. vejiin ; Arm.
benym or vinym.]
Poison of a deadly quaUty ; hence, any fatal
cause of mischief, injiiry or destruction ;
as, vice is the bane of society.
BANE, V. t. To poison. Shak
BA'NE BERRY, n. A name of tlie herb
Christopher, acteea, or
BA'NEFUL, a. Poisonous ; pernicious ;
destructive.
BA'NEFULLY, adv. Perniciously ; destruc-
tively.
BA'NEFULNESS, n. Poisonousness ; de-
structiveness.
BA'NE WORT, n. [See Ifort.] A plant,
called also deadly nightshade. Johnson.
BANG, V. t. [Dan. banker, to beat ; G. bangd.
Vol. I.
a club, and the clapper of a bell ; D. ben
gel, a bell ; Ir. beanaim, to beat.]
L To beat, as with a club or cudgel; tc
thump ; to cudgel. [^ low word.]
2. To beat or handle roughly ; to treat with
violence. Shak.
BANG, n. A blow with a club ; a heavy blow
Shak
BAN'GLE, j;. /. To waste by httle and httle
to squander carelessly. Johnson
BAN'IAN, n. A man's undress or morning
gown, as worn by the Banians in the
E. Indies. Johnson
2. A Gentoo senant, employed as an ageni
in commerce. Herbert.
3. A tree in India. Milton.
Banian days, in seamen's language, are
three days in a week, hi which the sailors
have no flesh meat served out to them,
This use of the terni seems to be borrowed
from the Banians in Asia, who, believing
in a metempsychosis, will eat no flesh, nor
even kill noxious animals.
BAN'ISH, V. I. [Fr. bannir, bajinissant
whence bannissement, banishment ; Arm.
emhanna, to publish ; forbana and forbani-
za, to banish ; It. bandire ; D. bannen ; G.
verbannen, ausbannen. See Ban.]
1. To condemn to exile, or compel to leave
one's country, by autliority of the prince
or government, either for life or for a Um-
ited time. It is connnon for Russians to
be banished to Siberia.
2. To drive away ; to compel to depart ; as,
to banish sorroAV.
3. To quit one's country voluntarily, and
with a view to reside abroad ; as, he ban-
ished himself.
BAN'ISHED, pp. Compelled to leave one's
country ; driven away.
BAN'ISHER, ?i. One who compels another
to (|iiit his country.
BAN'lSlUNt;, i>pr. Compellingto quit one'
<■ iiv ; driving away.
BAN Ir^llMK.NT, n. The actof aprince o
government, compelling a citizen to leave
his country, either for a hmited time or
forever, as for some crime.
2. A voluntary forsaking of one's country
upon oath, called abjuration. [This prac-
tice has noiv ceased in G. Brilain.]
3. The state of bemg banished; exile.
4. The act of driving away or dispelling ; as
" e banishment o{ care from the mind.
B.VNK, n. [Sax. banc; D. and G. bank ; Sw.
banck ; Dan. banke ; It. banco ; Sp. Port.
banca, banco ; Fr. banc, banque ; W. banc ;
Arm. bancq; Ar. ^^j bank, a bench.
Bank and bench are radically the same
word. The sense is, that which is set,
laid or extended. Applied to a mass of
earth, it is a collectio;i, that which is
thrown or laid together.]
1. A mound, pile or ridge of earth, raised
above the surrounding plain, either as a
defense or for other purposes. 2 Sam. xx.
15.
2. Any steep acclivity, whether rising from
a river, a lake, or the sea, or forming the
side of a ravine, or the steep side of a hil-
lock on a plain. When we speak of the
earth in general adjoining a lake or the
sea, we use the word shore ; but a particu-
lar steep acclivity on the side of a lake,
river or the sea, is called a bank.
18
3. A bench, or a bencli of rowers, in a gal-
ley ; so called from their seat.
Placed on their banks, the lusty Trojans
sweep. Waller.
4. By analogy, a collection or stock of money,
deposited, by a number of persons, for a
particular use; that is, an aggregate of
particulars, or a fund ; as, to establish a
bank, tliat is a joint fund.
5. The place where a collection of money is
deposited ; a common repository of the
money of individuals or of companies ;
also a house used for a bank.
C. A company of persons concerned in a
bank, \v hetlier a private association, or an
incorporated company ; the stockholders
of a bank, or their representatives, the di-
rectors, acting in their corporate capacity.
7. An elevation, or rising ground, in the sea ;
called also flats, shoals, shelves or shal-
lows. These may rise to tlie surface of
the water or near to it ; but the word bank
signifies also elevated ground at the bot-
tom of the sea, when many fathoms be-
low the surface, as the banks of New-
foundland.
BANK, V. I. To raise a mound or dyke ; to
inclose, defend or fortify with a bank ; as,
to bank a house.
2. To ])ass by the banks of.
As 1 have bank'd their towns. Shak.
[JVbt in use]
3. To lay up or deposit money in a bank.
[Little used A Johnson.
BANK'ABLE, a. Receivable at a bank, as
bills ; or discountable, as notes. [Of re-
cent origin.]
BANK-BILL, ) A promissory note, is-
ANK-NO'1'E, S sued by a banking com-
pany, signed by their President and coun-
tersigijcd by the Cashier, payable to the
beanr in gold or silver at the bank, on de-
mand. If payable to order, the note is
called a. post-note.
BANK'ED, pp. Raised in a ridge or mound
of earth ; inclosed, or fortified with a bank.
BANK'ER, n. One who keeps a bank ; one
w ho traflicks in money, receives and remits
money, negotiates bills of exchange, &;c.
2. A vessel employed in the codfishery on
the banks of Newfoundland. Mar. Did.
BANK'ING, ppr. Raising a mound or bank ;
inclosing « ith a bank. When we speak
of restraining water, we usually call it
banking; when we speak of defending the
land, we call it imhanking. Encyc.
BANK'ING, n. The business or employ-
ment of a banker ; the business of estab-
lishing a common fund for lending money,
discounting notes, issuing bills, receiving
deposits, collecting themoney on notesde-
posited, negotiating bills of exchange, &c.
BANKRUPT, n. [Fr. banqueroute ; Sp.
bancarrota, bankruptcy, bank and Sp.
roto, Port, roto, It. rotto, "broken ; Eng. rout,
defeat. This may signify icncA-broken, or
iajiA-broken ; most jjrobably the latter,
referring to the fund or stock. The last
syllable is the Latin ruptus contracted ;
Norm, roupt, rous, broken.]
1. A trader who secretes himself, or does
certain other acts tending to defraud his
creditors. Blaekstone.
2. In a less technical sense, a trader who fails
or becomes unable to pay his just debts;
an insolvent trader. In strictness, no per-
BAN
BAP
BAR
sou but a trader can be a bankrupt.
Bankruptcy is applied to merchants and
traders ; insolvency, to other persons.
BANK'RUPT, a. ftaving committed acts of
banliruptcy ; unable to pay just debts ; in-
solvent.
BANK'RUPT, V. t. To break one in trade ;
to make insolvent.
BANK'RUPTCY, n. The state of being a
bankrupt, or insolvent ; inability to pay all
debts.
■J. The act of becoming a bankrupt; the act
of rendering one's self a bankrupt, as by
absconding, or otherwise ; failure in trade.
BANK'RUPTED, pp. Rendered insolvent.
BANK'RUPTING, ppr. Breaking in trade ;
rendering insolvent.
BANK'RUPT-LAW, n. A law, which, upon
a bankrupt's surrendering all his property
to commissioners for the benefit of hi;
creditors, discharges him from the pay
ment of his debts, and allUability to arres
or suit for the same, and secures his future
acquired property from a liability to the
payment of his past debts.
BANKRUPT-SYSTEM, n. A system of
laws and legal proceedings in regard to
bankrupts and their property.
BANK-STOCK, n. A share or shares in
the capital stock of a bank.
BAN'NER, n. [Fr. banniere ; W. baner; It.
bandiera ; Sp.bandera; G. fahne andpan-
ier; D. vaan and vaandel ; from Goth, fana,
cloth; 8a.x. fana; h. pannus ; li: fuan,
cloth.]
1. A square flag ; a military ensign ; the prin-
cipal standard of a jirince or state. Encyc.
2. A streamer borne at the end of a lance or
elsewhere. Johnson.
3. In botany, the upper petal of a papiliona-
ceous corol. Martyn.
BAN'NERED, a. Furnished with or bear-
ing banners. .Milton.
Shield the strong foes, and riike the bannered
shore. Barlow.
BAN'NERET, n. [Fr. from banner.] A
knight made in the field. Bannerets for-
merly constituted an order of knights or
feudal lords, who led their vassals to bat-
tle under their own flags. On the day of
battle, the candidates presented their flags
to the king or general, who cut off" the
train or skirt, and made it square. They
were then called knights of the square flag.
They were a middle order between barons
and simple knights. Spelman. Encyc,
BAN'NEROL. [See BandroL]
BAN'NOCK, n. [Ir. boinneog.] A cake
made of oatmeal or peas-meal, baked on
an iron plate over the fire ; used in Scot-
land, and the northern counties of Eng-
land. Johnson
BAN'OY, n. A species of hawk, somewhat
larger than the English sparrow hawk ;
the hack and wings yellow, and the belly
white ; a native of the Philippine isles.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist
BAN'QUET, n. [Fr. banquet ; Arm. bancyed,
or banvez ; It. banchetto, a little seat, a
feast; Sp. banqueta, a stool with three
legs ; banquete, a banquet. From these
words, it would appear that banquet is f
sitting and hence a feast, and not, as sup
posed, from the oriental pJS, ijiii to feed
or bring up delicately.]
A feast ; a rich entertainment of meat and
drink. Esther v. Job xh. Amosvi.
BAN'QUET, V. t. To treat with a feast, or
h entertainment. Shak.
BAN'QUET, V. i. To feast ; to regale one'
self with good eating and drinking. Shak.
BAN'QUETED, pp. Feasted; richly
tertained at the table.
BAN'QUETER, n. A feaster; one who
lives deliciously.
2. One who makes feasts, or rich entertain-
ments.
BAN'QUETING,/)j)r. Feasting; entertain-
ing with rich fare.
2. Partaking of rich fare.
BAN'QUETING, n. A feast ; luxurious
living ; rich entertainment. 1 Pet. iv.
BAN'CiUETING-HOUSE, ? A house
BAN'QUET-HOUSE, S where en-
tertainments are made. Cant, xxiv
Dan. v.
BAN'aUETING-ROOM, n. A saloon, or
spacious hall for public entertainments.
Enajc
BANQUETTE or BANQUET, n. banket'
[Fr.] In fortification, a httle raised way
or foot bank, riuming along the inside of a
parapet, on which musketeers stand tc
fire upon the enemy in the moat or cover-
ered wav. Encyc.
BAN'SHEEorBEN'SHI, n. An Irish fairv
Todd
BAN'STICKLE, n. A small fish, called al-
so stickle-back. This fish falls under the
genus Gastcrosleus.
BAN'TER, V. t. [Gr. ^f^ol, whence 4>fmxifu,
to mock, or deride.]
To play upon in words and in good humor ;
to rally ; to joke, or jest with. Banter
hardly amounts to ridicule, much les
derision. It consists in being pleasant and
witty with the actions of another, and
raising a humorous laugh at his expense,j
often attended with some degree of sar
casm.
BAN'TER, 71. A joking or jesting ; raillery
wit or humor ; pleasantry.
BAN'TERED, pp. Rallied ; laughed at ii
good humor.
BAN'TERER, n. One who banters, o
laughs at with pleasantry.
B.\N'TERING, ppr. Joking ; laughing a
with good humor.
BANT'LING, n. [G. bankaH. Qu.] A
young child ; an infant.
BAP'TISM, n. [Gr. fiartT'Ki;ua, from fJartTcJw,
from 3artTio, to baptize; Sp. bautizar ; It.
battezzare ; Port, bautizar, or baptizar.
These seem to be from the Greek, by con-
traction. But the Arm. badeza, badein,
may be from bath, bad, water]
1. The application of water to a person, as a
sacrament or religious ceremony, by which
he is initiated into the visible church of
Christ. This is usually performed by
sprinkling or innnersion.
2. The sufferings of Christ. Matt. xx. 22
23.
3. So much of the gospel as was preached
by John, the Baptist. Actsxviii.
Cruden
BAPTIS'MAL, a. Pertaining to baptism
as a baptismal vow.
BAP'TIST, n. One who administers bap
tism. This appellation is appropriately
given to John, the forerunner of Christ,
2. As a contraction of Anabaptist, one who
denies the doctrine of infant baptism, and
maintains that baptism ought to be admin-
istered only to adults by iimnersing the
body in water.
BAP'TISTERY, n. [L. baptistenum.] A
l)lace where the sacrament of baptism is
administered. Primitively, baptisteries
were in buildings separate from the
church ; but in the sixth century, they
were taken into the church-porch, and
afterwards into the cliurch itself Encyc.
BAPTIS'TIe, I Pertaining to bap-
BAPTIS'TICAL, S "■ tism. Bramhall.
BAPTI'ZE, V. t. [See Baptism.] To ad-
minister the sacrament of baptism to ; to
christen. By some denominations of
christians, baptism is performed by plung-
ing, or immersing the whole body in water,
and this is done to none but adults. More
generally the ceremony is performed by
sprinkling water on the face of a person,
whether an infant or an adult, and in the
case of an infant, by giving him a name,
in the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, which is called Christening.
BAPTI'ZED, pp. Having received baptism ;
christened.
BAPTI'ZER, n. One who christens, or ad-
ministers baptism.
BAPTI'ZING, ppr. Administering baptism
; christening.
B'AR, n. [VV. bar; Ir. barra; Fr.barre;
Sp. barra ; Port, id ; It. barra, sbarra ;
Arm. barren, sparl ; Heb. n'">3 ; Ch. Xl3i'.
If these words are the Eng. bar, the sense
is a shoot, that which shoots, passes or is
driven.]
1. A piece of wood, iron or other solid mat-
ter, long in proportion to its diameter,
used for various purposes, but especial-
ly for a hindrance or obstruction ; as
the bars of a fence or gate ; the bar of a
door or hatchway. Numb. iii. 36. Ex.
xxvi. 26.
Any obstacle which obstructs, hinders or
defends ; an obstruction ; a fortification.
Must I new bars to my own joy create.
Dry den.
•3. The shore of the sea, which restrains its
aters. Job .xxxviii.
4. The railing that incloses the place which
counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence
the phrase, at the bar of the court, signifies
in open court. Hence also licensed law-
yers are called barristers ; and hence the
whole body of lawyers licensed in a court,
are customarily called the bar. A trial at
bar, in England, is a trial in the courts of
Westminster, ojiposed to a trial at Nisi
Pj-ius, in the circuits.
5. Figuratively, any tribunal ; as the bar of
public opinion. Thus the final trial of
men is called the bar of God.
6. The inclosed place of a tavern, inn or
coffee house, where the landlord or his
servant delivers out liquors, and waits upon
customers. Addison.
7. A bank of sand, gravel or earth, forming
a shoal at the mouth of a river or harbor,
obstructing entrance, or rendering it difli-
cuh.
8. A rock in the sea, according to Brown ; or
I any thing by which structure is held to-
BAR
BAR
BAR
gether, according to Johnson ; used in Jo
null ii.
9. Any thing laid across another, as bars in
heraldry, stripes in color, and the like.
10. In the menage, the highest part of the
place in a horse's mouth between the
grinders and tusks, so that the part of the
mouth wliich lies under and at the side of
the bars, retains the name of the gum.
Ena/c. The upper part of the gums,
which hears no teeth, and to which the bit
is applied. Johnson.
11. In music, bars are liites drawn perpen-
dicularly across the lines of the staff, in-
cluding between each two, a certain quan-
tity of tunc, or number of beats.
12. In law, a peremptory exception suffi-
cient to destroy the plaintiff's action. It
is divided into a bar to common intend
mcnt, and bar special ; bar temporary and
bar perpetual. Bar to common intend
nient is an ordinary or general bar, which
disables the declaration of the plaintiff.
A special bar is more than ordinary, as a
fine, release, or justification. A temporari/
bar is that which is good for a time, but
may afterwards cease. A perpetual bai
overthrows the action of the plaintiff for-
ever. Blackstone. Cotcel.
13. A barof ^old or silver, is an ingot, lump
or wedge, from the mines, run in a mold,
and unwrought. A bar of iron is a long
piece, wrought in the forge and hammer
ed from a pig.
14. Among printers, the iron with a wooden
handle, by which the screw of the press is
turned.
15. In the African trade,, a denomination of
price ; payment formerly being made tc
tlie Africans in iron bars. Johnson
B'AR, V. i. To fasten with a bar; as, to bai
a door, or gate.
2. To hinder; to obstruct, or prevent ; as, to
bar the entrance of evil.
3. To prevent ; to exclude ; to hinder ; to
make impracticable ; as, the distance be-
tween us bars our intercourse. In this
sense, the phrase is ofVen varied, thus : the
distance bars me from his aid, or bars him
from my aid.
4. To prohibit ; to restrain or exclude by ex-
press or implied prohibition ; as, the stat-
ute bars my right ; the law bars the use of
poisoned weapons.
.■). To obstruct, prevent or hinder by
moral obstacle ; as, the right is barred by
time, or by statute ; a release bars the
plaintiff's recovery.
f). To except ; to exclude by exception ; as, I
bar to night. Shak.
7. To cross with stripes of a different color.
8. To bar a vein, in farriery, is an operation
upon llic I(i;s of a horse, or other parts, to
slop iiialiyiiaiit liumors. This is done by
opciiiiii.' llir skin .-ihove a vein, disengaging
it and lying ii licith above and below, and
striking between tlic two hgatures.
Johnson.
9. To adorn with trappings ; a contraction
of barb. [See Barb.]
Drayton. Haywood.
B*ARB, n. [h. barba ; W.barv; Corn, bar;
Arm. baro. This is beard, with a different
ending. The sense may be, that which
shoots out.]
1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or
grows in the place of it ; as the barb of a
fish, tlie smaller claws of the polypus, &c.
Johnson. Coxe.
2. The down, or pubes, covering the surface
of some plants; or rather, a tuft or bunch
of strong hairs terminating leaves.
lAnne. Milne.
3. Anciently, armor for horses; formerly,
barbe or barde. Hayward.
. A c-ommon name of the barbary pigeon,
a bird , " • • ■
a black or dun color.
Did. ofJSTat. Hist.
A horse from Barbary, of which it seems
to be a contraction.
(J. The points that stand backward in an
arrow, fish-hook or other instrument for
jiiercing, intended to prevent its being ex-
tracted.
In botany, a straight process armed witli
teeth ijointing backward like the sting of a
bee. This is one sort of pubescence.
Martyn.
B>ARB, v.t. To shave; to dress the beard
Obs. Shak.
2. To furnish with barbs, as an arrow, fisl
hook, spear, or other instrument.
3. To put armor on a horse. Milton
B'ARBACAN, n. [Fr. barbacane ; Sp. bar-
bacana ; It. barbacane. Qu. a projectin<;
work.]
1. A fortification or outer defense to a city
or castle, consisting of an elevation ofl
earth about three feet high, along the foot
of the rampart.
Encyc. Johnson. Sp. Diet.
2. A fortress at the end of a bridge, or at the
outlet of a city, having a double wall with
towers. " Encyc
3. An opening in the wall of a foi-tress
through wliich guns are leveled and fired
upon an enemy. Johnson. Encyc.
The French use the word also for an aper-
ture in a wall to let in or drain off water;
and the Spaniards, for a low wall round
church vard. Fr. and Sp. Diet.
BARBA'DOES-CHERRY, n. The Malpigh-
ia, a tree growing in the W. Indies, fif-
teen feet high and producing a pleasant
tart fruit. Johnson.
BARBA'DOES TAR, ,i. A mineral fluid, of
the nature of the thicker fluid bitumens, of
a nauseous bitterish taste, a very strong
disagreeable smell, viscid, of a brown,
black or reddish color ; it easily melts, and
burns with much smoke, but is not soluble
in ardent spirits. It contains a portion of
acid of amber. It trickles down the sides
of mountains in some parts of A
and sometimes is found on the surface of
the waters. It is recommended in coughs
and disorders of the breast and lungs.
Encyc. J\/icholson.
BARBARIAN, n. [L. barbarus ; Gr. >5op-
Sapoj; Ir. barba, or beorb ; Russ. varvar ;
Ch.-Ol3. See Class Br. No. 3 and 7. The
sense is, foreign, wild, fierce.]
A man in his rude, siivage state ; an un-
civilized person. Dcnham.
2. A cruel, savage, brutal man ; one desti-
tute of iiity or humanity. Philips.
i. A foreigner. The Greeks and Romans
denominated most foreign nations barbari-
ans ; and many of these were less civilized
than themselves, or unacquainted with
their language, la«s and manners. But
reproacli
witii them the word w
ful than with us.
BARBA'RIAN, a. Belonging to savages:
rude ; uncivilized. Pope.
2. Cruel ; inhuman.
BARBAR'Ie, a. [L. barbaricus. See Barba-
rian. The Romans apphed this word to
designate things foreign ; Barbaricum au-
rum, gold fi-oni Asia, Virg. JEn. 2. 504 ;
Barbarica vestes, embroidered garments
from foreign nations. English writers
use the word in a like sense.]
Foreign ; imported from foreign nations.
Milton. Pope.
B'ARBARISM, n. [L. barharismus. Se(
Barbarian.]
1. An offense against purity of style or lan-
guage ; any form of speech contrary to the
pure idioms of a particular language.
Dryden.
2. Ignorance of arts ; want of learning.
Shak. Dryden.
Rudeness of manners ; savagisni ; inci-
vility ; ferociousness ; a savage state of so-
ciety. Spenser. Davits.
4. Brutality ; cruelty ; barbarity. {In this
.irn.'se Utile used, being superseded by bar-
ba.-in.]
|{AKI5.\I{ JTV, n. [See Barbarian.]
'I'hc MiaiMicrs of a barbarian ; savagencss ;
cruelty ; ferociousness ; inhumanity.
Clarendon.
2. Barbarism; impurity of speech.
Dryden. Swift.
[The use of the word in this setise, is now
superseded bi/ barbarism.]
B-ARBARIZ£:, V. t. To make barbarous.
Hideous changes have barbarized France.
Burke.
BARBAROUS, a. Uncivilized; savage;
unlettered ; untutored ; ignorant ; unac-
quainted with arts ; stranger to civility of
Thou art a Roman ; be not barbarous.
Shak.
2. Cruel ; ferocious ; inhuman ; as barbarous
usage. Clarendon.
B ARBAROUSLY, adv. In the manner of
a barbarian ; ignorantly ; without knowl-
edge or arts ; contrary to the rules of
speech. Dryden.
2. In a savage, cruel, ferocious or inhuman
B ARBAROUSNESS, n. Rudeness or inci-
vility of manners. Temple.
2. Impurity of language. Brerewood.
3. Cruelty ; inhumanity ; barbarity. Hall.
BARBARY, n. A barbaiy horse ; a barb.
Beaum.
B'ARBASTEL, n. A bat with hairy lips.
BARBATE, ) [\..barbatus, frombarba.
BARBATED, \ "' See Barb.]
In botany, bearded ; also gaping or ringent.
Barba'tus Jlos, a gaping or ringent flower ;
.synonymous witli the ringent flower of
Linne, and the labiate of Tournefort.
JV/i7ne. Lee.
B'ARBE. In the military art, to fire in barbe.
is to fire the cannon over the paiapet, in-
stead of firing through the embrasures.
Encyc.
BARBECUE, n. In the West Indies, a hog
roasted wliole. It is, with us, used for
an ox or perhaps any other animal dres-
sed in like manner.
BARBECUE, v. t. To dress and roast a
BAR
BAR
BAR
liog wliole, which is clone by splitting the
liog to the back bone, and roasting it on a
gvidiion ; to roast any animal whole.
BARBED, pp. [See Barb.]
1. Furnished with armor ; as barbed steeds.
Shak.
2. Bearded ; jagged with hooks or points ;
as barbed arrows.
3. Shaved or trinuned ; having the beard
dressed. Encyc.
B'ARBEL, n. [L. barba ; Fr. barbeau ; D.
barbeel.]
1. A fish of the genus Cypriniis, of the order
of abdominals. The mouth is toothless;
the gill has three rays ; the body is smooth
and white. This fish is about three feet
long, and weighs 18 pounds. It is a very
coarse fish, living in deep still rivers and
rooting like swine in the soft banks. Its
dorsal fin is armed with a strong spine,
sharply serrated, from which circumstance
it probably received its name. Encyc.
2. A knot of superfluous flesh, growing in
the channels of a horse's mouth; written
also barbie, or barb. Eticyc. Farrier's Diet.
B'ARBER, 11. [Persian, barbr. See Barb.]
One whose occupation is to shave men, or
to shave and dress hair. Shak.
B'ARBER, V. t. To shave and dress hair.
Shak.
B ARBER-eHIRURGEON, n. One who
joins the practice of surgery with that of
a barber ; a practice now unusual. A low
practitioner of surgery. Wiseman.
B^ARBERESS, n. A female barber. [jYot
used.]
BARBER-M6NGER, »i. A man who fre
quents tlie barber's shop, or prides him
self in being dressed by a barber ; a fop.
Shak.
B'ARBERRY, n. [L.berberis; Iv.barbrogi
D. berberis ; Sp. berbero. In Eth. abar-
bar, is the nettle, urtica major ; in Anih., a
species of thistle. Lud. Eth. 23.3; Amh.
39. It is probable therefore that this
jjlant is so named from its spines or barbs.
Its other name, oiyacanthus, indicates a
like origin.]
1. A plant of the genus berberis, common in
hedges ; called in England, pipperidge
bush. The berries are used in house-
wifery, and are deemed eflicacioiis ir
fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine
yellow, especially the bark of the root.
This plant is pernicious to wheat, the ears
of which will not fill, if within the effluvia
of the plant ; and the influence of this
has been known to extend three or foiu-
hundred yards. Miller. Encyc.
B'ARBET, n. A name given by some
French writers to a peculiar species of
those worms which feed on the puceron
or aphis. [See Aphis.] Encyc.
2. The Bucco, a genus of birds found in tlie
warm cUmates of both continents.
3. A dog, so called fi-om his long hair.
BARD, n. [W. bardh, or barz ; Ir. bard;
Fr. barde ; a poet ; Ir. bardas, a satire or
lampoon; W. bardhas, philosophy; bard-
gan, a song.]
1. A poet and a singer among the ancient
Celts ; one whose occupation was to com-
pose and sing verses, in honor of the hero-
ic achievements of princes and brave men.
The bards used an instrument of music
like a lyre or guitar, and not only praised
the brave, but reproached the cowardly,
Diod. Sic. Am. Marcel. Lucan. Festus
2. In modern usage, a poet. Pope. Dryden
B*ARD, n. The trappings of a horse.
B'ARDED, a. In heraldry, caparisoned.
Encyc
BARDES'ANISTS, n. A sect of heretics,
who sprung from Bardesanes, of Edessa,
in Mesopotamia, in the 2<1 century, who
taught that the actions of men depend on
fate, to which God himself is subject. His
followers went farther, and denied the in
carnation of Christ and the resurrection.
Encyc.
B*ARDI€, a. Pertaining to bards, oi
their poetry. Owen.
B^ARDISH, a. Pertaining to bards ; writ
ten by a bard.
B^ARDISM, n. The science of bards ; the
learning and maxims of bards. Owen
BARE, a. [Sax. bar, or iffr ; Sw. and Dan.
bar ; G. bar. This word is from opening,
separating, stripping. In Ch. Syr. Sam.
1S3 signifies to open, or explain ; Ar. to
dig; also 113 is to separate, to purify.
Ch. Syr. 113 to lay waste ; Ar. id.]
1. Naked ; without covering ; as, the arm is
bare ; the trees are bare.
2. With the head uncovered, from respect,
Clarendon.
3. Plain ; simple ; unadorned ; without the
polish of refined manners. Spenser.
4. Laid open to view ; detected ; no longer
concealed. Milton.
,5. Poor ; destitute ; indigent ; empty ; un-
furtiished. Hooker. Dryden.
I have made Esau bare. Jer. xlix.
6. Alone ; unaccompanied. Shak. South.
7. Thread-bare ; much worn. Shak.
8. Wanting clothes ; or ill supjjlied with gar-
ments. Johnson
Under bare poles, at sea, signifies having no
sail set. Mar. Diet.
It is often followed by of; as, the country is
bare of money. Locke.
BARE, 1'. t. [Sax. abarian. See Bare, adj.]
To strip oft' the covering ; to make naked :
as, to bare the breast. Bacon. Pope.
BARE, the old preterit of bear, now bore.
BA'REBONE, n. [See Bone.] A very lean
))erson.
BA'REBONED, a. Lean, so that the bones
ap])ear, or rather, so that the bones show
their forms. Shak
BA'RED, pp. Made bare ; made naked.
BA'REFACED, a. [See Face.]
' . With the face uncovered ; not masked.
Shak.
2. Undisguised ; unreserved ; without con-
cealment ; hence shameless ; impudent :
audacious ; as a barefaced lalsehood.
BA'REFACEDLY, adv. Without disguise
or reserve ; openlv ; ini])udently.
BA'REFACEDNESS, n. Effi-ontery ; as-
surance ; audaciousness.
BA'REFOOT, a. [See Foot]
With the feet bare ; without shoes and stock-
ings. 2 Sam. XV. Isaiah xx.
BA'REFOOT, a. or adv. With the feet
bare ; as, to dance barefoot. Shak.
BA'REFOOTED, a. Having the feet bare.
BA'REGNAWN, a. [See Gnaiv.] Eaten
bare. Shak.
BAREHEADED, a. [See Head.]
Having tlie head uncovered, either from res-
pect or other cause. Bacon. Dryden.
BA'RELEGGED, a. Having the legs bare.
Burton.
BA'RELY, adv. Nakedly; poorly; indi-
gently ; without decoration ; merely ;
only ; without any thing more; as a
prince barely in title. Barret. Hooker.
BA'RENECKED, a. Having the neck un-
covered ; exposed. Shak.
BA'RENESS, n. Nakedness ; leanness ;
poverty ; uidigence ; defect of clothes, or
the usual covering. Shak. South.
BA'REPICKED, a. Picked to the bone.
Sliak.
BA'RERIBBED, a. Lean. Shak.
BARGAIN, n. [Fr. bareuigner, to haggle,
to hum and haw ; Atia. barguignour, a hag-
gler ; It. bargagnare, to cavil, contend,
bargain ; Ir. braighean, debate. It seems
to accord with It. briga, Sp. brega, Fr.
brigue.]
An agreement between parties concerning
the sale of property ; or a contract by
which one party binds himself to transfer
the right to some property, for a consider-
ation, and the other party binds himself
to receive the property and pay the con-
sideration.
2. Stipulation : interested dealing.
3. Purchase or the thing purchased. Locke.
4. In popidar language, final event ; upshot.
We must make the best of a bad bargain.
To sell bargains, is a vulgar phrase.
To strike a bargain, is to ratify an agreement,
originally by striking, or shaking hands.
The Latin ferire faidus, may represent a
like ceremony, unless it refers to the
practice of killing a victim, at the solemn
ratification of oaths.
Bargain and sale, in law, a species of convey-
ance, by which the bargainer contracts "to
convey the lands to the bargainee, and be-
comes" by such contract a trustee for and
seised to the use of the bargainee. The
statute then completes the purchase ; that
is, the bargain vests the use, and the stat-
ute vests the possession. Blackstone.
B'ARGAIN, V. i. To make a contract or
conclusive agreement, for the transfer of
property ; often with for before the thing
purchased ; as, to bargain far a house. A
bargained with B for his farm.
B^ARGAIN, V. t. To sell ; to transfer for a
consideration ; as, A bargained away his
farm ; a popidar use of the word.
BARGAINEE', n. The party in a contract
who receives or agrees to receive the
property sold. Blackstone.
B^ARGAINER, n. The party in a contract
who stipulates to sell and convey property
to another. Blackstone.
B>ARGE, n. biirj. [D. bargie ; It. and Sp.
barca ; Ir. bare. Barge, and bark or barque,
a sliip, are radically one word.]
1. A pleasin-e boat ; a vessel or boat of state,
fin-nishcd with elegant apartments, cano-
pies and cusliions, equipped with a band
of rowers, and decorated with flags and
streamers; used by officers and masfis-
trates. Encyc.
3. A flat-bottomed vessel of burthen, for
loading and unloading ships. Mar. Diet.
B'ARGE-€0UPLES, n. In architecture, a
beam mortised into another, to strength-
en the building. Encyr
B'AR<';E-€0URSE, n. In bricklaying, ;.
BAR
BAR
BAR
part of the tiling which projects beyond
the principal rafters, in buildings where
there is a gable, or kirkinhead. Encyc.
B ARCiEMAN, n. The man who manages
a barge.
B'ARGEMASTER, n. The proprietor of a
barge, conveying goods for hire.
Blackslone.
BARKER, n. The manager of a barge.
«AilII/LA, »i. [Sp.] A plant cultivated in
Spain for its ashes, from which the purest
kind of mineral alkali is obtained; used
ill making glass and soap, and in bleach-
ing linen. The plant is cut and laid in
hiaps, and burnt, the salts running into a
hole in the ground where they form a vit-
rified lump. Encyc.
2. The alkali procured from this plant.
BAR'ITONE, [See Banitone.-]
BAR'IUM, n. The metallic basis of barytoor
baryta, which is an oxyd of barium.
Davi/.
B'ARK, »!. [Dan. bark; Sw. barck ; G.
borke ; probably from stripping, separa
ting.]
I. The rind or exterior covering of a tree,
corresponding to the skin of an animal
This is composed of the cuticle or epider-
mis, the outer bark or cortex, and the
inner bark or liber. The rough broken
matter on bark is, by the common people
of New-England, called ross.
i. By wav of distinction, Peruvian Bark.
B'ARK, 'v. t. To peel ; to strip off bark
Also to cover or inclose with bark.
B'ARK, \ [Ir. 6arc ; Fr. ioryue ; Russ.
BARQUE, \ "• barka ; It. and Sp. barca.'
A small ship ; but appropriately, a ship
which carries three masts without a mizen
top sail. The English mariners, in the
coal trade, apply this name to a broad-
sterned ship without a figure-head.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
fVater-barks, in Holland, are small vessel;
for conveying fresh water from place to
place, the hold of which is filled with wa-
ter. Encyc.
B'ARK, V. i. [Sax. beorcan, hyrcan, to
bark.]
1. To make the noise of dogs, when they
threaten or pursue.
2. To clamor at ; to pursue with unreason-
able clamor or reproach. It is followed
by at.
To hark at sleepino; fame. Spenser.
IV ARK-BARED, a. Stripped of the bark.
.Mortimer.
B ARK-BOUND, a. Having the bark too
firm or close, as with trees. This dis-
ease is cured by slitting the bark. Encyc.
BARKED, pp. Stripped of the bark ; peel-
ed ; also covered with bark.
B',\RKER, n. One who barks, or clamo/s
unreasonably ; one who strips trees of
their bark.
B' ARK-GALLED, a. Having the bark gall-
ed, as with thorns. This defect is cured
bv binding on clay. Encyc.
B'.\RKING, ppr. Stripping off bark; mak
ing the noise of dogs; clamoring; cover-
ing with bark.
B'ARKY, a. Consisting of bark ; contain-
ing bark. Shak.
B'ARLEY, n. [W. barlys ; Sax. here. Qu.
L. far, Gr. xupoj, Heb. na bar, corn. In
the Saxon chronicle. An. 1124, it is writ
ten barlk. Owen renders it bread-corn,
from bara, bread.]
A species ofv.-duable grain, used especially
for making malt, from which are distilled
liquors of extensive use, as betr, ale. and
porter. It is of the genus hordeum, coii-i
sisting of several s()ecies. Those jirinci-
pally cultivated in England, are the com-
mon spring barley, the long eared barley,
the winter or square barley, by some
called Wfif, and the sprat or battledore
barley. This grain is used in medicine,
as possessing emollient, diluent, and ex-
pectorant (|ualities.
Encyc. Miller. Arbuthnot.
BARLEY-BRAKE, n. A rural play ; a trial
of swiftness. Sidnei/.
BARLEY-BROTH, n. A low word fii
strong beer. Shak.
B ARLEY-€ORN, n. [See Com.] Agn
of barley ; the third part of an inch
length ; hence originated our measures of
length. Johnson.
BARLEY-MOW, n. A mow of barley, or
the place where barley is deposited.
Ga)j.
B'ARLEY-SUGAR, n. Sugar boiled tiU'it
is brittle, formerly with a decoction ofl
barley.
B'ARL'EY-WATER,n. A decoction of bai-
ley, which is reputed soft and lubricating,
and much used in medicine.
French barlet/ and pearl barley are used for
making decoctions. Tliese are made by
separating the grain from its coat. The
pearl barley is reduced to the size of a
small shot. "
B'ARM, n. [Sax. beorm. Qu. L. fermentum,
from ferveo ; or beer-rakm, beer cream ; or
AV. berwi, to boil.]
Yeast ; the scum rising upon beer, or other
malt liquors, when fermenting, and used
as leaven in bread to make it swell, caus-
ing it to be softer, lighter, and more del:
cate. It may be used in liquors to make
them ferment or work.
Johnson. Encyc.
B'ARMY, a. Containing barm, or yeast.
Bacon. Shak.
B'ARN, n. [Sax. bereni, from here, barley,
and cern, or em, a close place or repos-
itory.]
A covered building for securing grain, hay,
flax, and other productions of the earth.
In the northern states of America, the
farmers generally use barns for stabling
their horses and cattle ; so that among
them, a barn is both a cornhouse or grange,
and a stable.
B>ARNA€LE. n. [Port, bemaca, the Solan
goose; Fr. barnacle or bamaque; L.pema,
a shell-fish.]
1. A shell which is often found on the bot-
toms of ships, rocks and timber, below the
surface of the sea.
2. A species of goose, found in the northern
seas, but visiting more southern climates
in winter. The forehead and cheeks are
white, but the upper part of the body and
neck is black. Formerly, a strange no-
tion prevailed, that these birds grew out
of wood, or rather out of the barnacles at-
tached to wood in the sea. Hence the
name. It is written also Bemacte.
Pennant.
. In tlie pUirnl, an instrument consisting of
luo branches joined at one end with a
hinge, to jiut upon a horse's nose, to con-
fine him, fur shoeing, bleeding, or dress-
ing. Encyc.
BAR'OLITE, n. [Gr. ^apo;, weight, and
>.iOoj, a stone.]
Carbonate of baryte. Its color is usually a
light yellowish gray ; sometimes whitish,
or with a tinge of gi-een. It is strongly
translucent. It usually occurs in sniajl
masses, which have U fibrous structure :
sometimes in distinct crystals.
This niineral is called also VVitherite, from
Dr. Withering, the di.st^overer.
Cleaveland. Kirwan. Urel '.
BAROM ETER, n. [Gr. ,iapo;, weight, am^'
jutTpoi-, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the weight
pressure of the atmosphere, consisting i
a glass tube, Iiermeticully sealed at onp\ Cv
end, filled with quicksilver, well defecated NT-'.^.-
and purged of air, and inverted in a basin
of quicksilver. A column of quicksilver
is then supported in the tube, of equal
weight witli the incuiiibent atmosphere.
This instrument was invented by Torri-
celli, of Florence, in 1G43. Its uses are to
indicate changes of weather, and to deter-
mine the altitude of mountains, by tin-
falling and rismg of the mercury. For
this purpose, the tube is fixed to a grad-
uated scale, so that the smallest variation
in the column is visible.
Encyc. Johnson.
BARO.METRltAL, a. Pertaining or re-
lating.' Id till liaruiiietcr ; made by a ba-
i-oniPt(-r ; .-i- hiiniiinlrical experiments.
BAROMET KKALLY, adv. By means of
a barometer. Pinkerton.
BAR'ON, n. [Fr. baron ; Sp. baron or varon ;
It. barone ; Sans, bareru, bharta, a husband.
This word, in the middle ages, was writ-
fen bar, ber, var, baro, paro, viro, virro.
viron. It is the vir of the Latins; Sax.
wer ; Ir. fir, fear ; W. gror, for guir, gevir.
See Spelman''3 Glossary, and Hirt. Pansa.
De Bell. Alex. 42 : Hicks' Sax. Grammar.
113, ]4fJ. The Sax. wer, L. vir, is doubt-
less the Shemitic "OJ, a man, so named
from strength.]
. In Great Britain, a title or degree of no-
bility ; a lord ; a peer ; one who holds the
rank of nobiUty next below that of a vis-
count, and above that of a knight or bar-
onet. Originally, the barons, being the
feudatories of princes, were the proprie-
tors of land held by honorable .service.
Hence, in ancient records, the word barons
comprehends all the nobility. All such in
England had, in early times, a right to sit
in parliament. As a baron was the pro-
prietor of a manor, and each manor had
its court-baron ; hence the barons claimed,
and to this day enjoy, the right of judging
in the last resort ; a right pertaining to the
house of lords, or peers, as the represen-
tatives of the ancient barons, land-holders,
manor-holders.
Anciently, barons were greater, or such
as held their lands of the lung in capite;
or lesser, such as held then- lands of the
greater barons by military service in
capiie.
The title of baron is no longer attached
to the possession of a manor, but given by
the king's letters patent, or writ of sum-
BAR
BAR
BAR
inons to parliament ; that is, the dignity is
personal, and not territorial.
The radical word, v{r,fir, a man, is Cel-
tic, as well as Teutonic ; but the word
baron was not known in the British isles,
till introduced from the continent under
the Norman princes.
Spehian. Blackstone. Encyc. Cowel.
2. Baron is a title of certain officers, as bar-\
ons of the exchequer, who are the four judg-
es who try cases between the king and hisi
subjects, relating to the revenue. Barons
of the Cinque Ports are members of the
House of Commons, elected by the seven
Cinque Ports, two for each port. These
ports are Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hast-
ings, Hythe, Winchclsea, and Rye.
Blackstone.
3. In law, a husband ; as baron and feme,
husband and wife.
BAR'ONAgE, n. The whole body of bar-
ons or peers.
2. The dignity of a haroii.
3. The land which gives title to a baron.
Johnson.
BAR'ONESS, n. A baron's wife or lady.
BAR'ONET, n. [Fr. diinia of baron.]
A dignity or degree of honor, next below a
baron, and above a kniglii ; having prece-
dency of all knights except those of the
garter, and being the only knighthood
that is hereditary. The order was founded
by James I. in 1611, and is given by
patent. Johnson. Blackstone.
BARO'NIAL, a. Pertaining to a baron.
Encyc.
BAR'ONY, n. The lordship, honor, or fee
of a baron, whether spiritual or temporal
This lordship is held in chief of the king
and gives title to the possessor, or baron.
Johnson. Encyc
BAR'0S€0PE, n. [Gr. .iSapoj, weight, and
exoTCsu, to view.]
An instrument to sliow the weiglit of the at-
mosphere ; superseded by the Barometer.
AROSeOPTe, a. Pertaining to or deter-
mined by the baroscope.
BAROSEL'ENITE, n. [Gr. /3apo5, weight
or |3apu5, heavy, and se/e?ii7e.]
A mineral ; sulphate of baryte ; heavy spar.
Kirivan. Cleaveland.
BAR'RA, n. In Portugal and Spain, a long
measure for cloths. In Valencia, 13 bar-
ras make 12^ yards English ; in Castile, 7
are equal to 67 yards ; in Arragon, 3 make
2y yards. Encyc.
BARRAeA'DA, n. A fish, about fifteen
inches in length, of a dusky color on tl
back, and a white belly, with small blat-k
spots. Diet, of , Vat. Hist.
BAR'RA€AN, n. lit. baracane ; Sp. barra
gan ; Fr. bouracan.]
A thick, strong stuff, something like camelot
used for clokes, surtouts, and other oute
gai-ments.
B.CR'RACK, n. [Sp. barraca; Fr. buraque.
It seems to be formed like Sax. parruc, a
park, an inclosure.]
A hut or house tor soUUers, especially in gar
rison. In Spain, a hut or cabm for fish
ernien.
BARRACK-MASTER,?!. The officer who
superintends the barracks of soldiers.
Swijl.
BARRA€U'DA, n. A species of fish of the
pike kind, found in the seas about the
Bahamas and W. Indies, of ten feet in
length. The color is deep brown, and the
fish is very voracious. The flesh is disa-
greeable and sometimes poisonous.
Catesby. Pennant.
BAR'RATOR, n. [Old Fr. barat, strife, de-
ceit ; Cimbric, baratton ; Ice. and Scan-
dinavian, baratta, contest ; It. baratta, strife,
quarrel ; barattare, to barter, to cheat ; Sp.
barato, fraud, deceit ; baratar, to barter, to
deceive. The radical sense is to turn,
toind and twist, whence to strive ; L. verto ;
Eng. barter. See Barter.]
1. One who frequently excites suits at law ;
a Common mover and maintainer of suits
and controversies ; an encourager of liti-
gation. Coke. Blackstone.
2. The master of a ship, who commits any
fraud, in the management of the ship, or
in relation to his duties as master, by whicli
the owner or insurers are injured.
BAR'RATRY, n. The practice of exciting
and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels.
Coke. Blackstone.
2. In commerce, any species of cheating or
fraud, in a shipmaster, by which the own
ers or insurers are injured ; as by running
away witli the ship, sinking or deserting
her, by wilful deviation, or by embezzUng
the cargo. Park.
BARRED, pp. Fastened with a bar; bin
dered ; restrained ; excluded ; forbid ;
striped ; checkered.
BAR REL, n. [W. Fr. baril ; Sp. baml ; It
barUe ; Arm. baraz.]
1. A vessel or cask, of more length than
breadth, round and bulging in the middle,
made of staves and heading, and bound
with hoops.
2. The quantity which a barrel contains
Of wine measure, the Enghsh barrel con-
tains 31i gallons ; of beer measure, 36
gallons ; of ale, 32 gallons ; and of beer-
vinegar, 34 gallons.
Of weight, a barrel of Essex butter is
lOGpomids; of Suffolk butter, 2.56 ; a bar
rel of herring should contain 32 gallon!
wine measure, and hold 1000 herrings; a
barrel of salmon should contain 42 gal-
lons ; a barrel of soap should weigh 2.56
lbs. Johnson. Encyc.
In America, the contents of a barrel are
regulated by statutes.
In Connecticut, the barrel for liquors
nmst contain 31 i gallons, each gallon to
contain 231 cubic inches. In New- York,
a barrel of flour by statute must contain
either 196 lb. or 228 lb. nett weight. Tlie
barrel of beef and pork in New- York and
Connecticut, is 200 lbs. In general, the
contents of barrels, as defined by statute,
in this country, must be from 28 to 31
gallons.
.3. Any thing hollow and long, as the barrel
of a gim ; a tube.
4. A cylinder ; as the barrel of a watch,
within which the spring is coiled
rounil which is wound the chain.
5. A cavity behind the tympanum of the ear
is called the barrel of the ear. It is lour or
five lines deep, and five or six wide, and
covered with a fine membrane. It is
ni(ne usually called the cavity of the tym-
panum. Enci/c. Johnson
BAR'REL, V. t. To i)ut in a barrel ; to pack
in a baiTel with salt for preservation, as
to barrel beef, pork or fish.
BARREL-BELLIED, o. [See Belly.] Hav-
ing a large belly. Dryden.
BAR'RELED,^;}. Put or packed in a barrel.
BAR'RELING, ppr. Putting or packing in a
barrel.
BAR'REN, a. [from the same root as bare.]
Not producing young, or offspring ; ap-
plied to animals.
2. Not producing plants; imfruitful; steril;
not fertile ; or producing Uttle ; unproduc-
tive ; applied to the earth.
3. Not producing the usual fruit ; applied to
trees. &c.
Not copious ; scanty ; as a scheme barren
of hints. SwiJI.
5. Not containing useful or entertaining
ideas ; as a barren treatise.
6. Unmeaning ; uninventive ; dull ; as barren
spectators. Shak. Johnson. Qu.
7. Unproductive ; not inventive ; as a barren
mind.
BAR'REN, n. In the States west of the AUe-
ghany, a word used to denote a tract of
land, rising a few feet above the level of a
plain, and producing trees and grass. The
soil of these barrens is not barren, as the
name imports, but often very fertile. It is
usually alluvial, to a depth sometimes of
several feet. Atwater, Journ. of Science.
2. Any unproductive tract of land ; as the
pine barrens of South Carohna.
Drayton.
BAR RENLY, adv. Unfruitfully.
BAR'RENNESS, adv. The quahty of not
])roducing its kind ; want of the power of
conception ; applied to animals.
2. Unfruitfuhiess ; sterility ; infertility. The
quality of not producing at all, or in small
uantities ; as the barrenness of soil.
Vant of invention ; want of the power of
producing any thing new ; applied to tht
mind.
Want of matter ; scantiness ; as the ftor-
rejirees.! of a cause. Hooker.
5. Defect of emotion, sensibility or fervency ;
as the barrenness of devotion. Taylor.
BAR'RENWORT, n. [See WoH.] A plant,
constituting the genus Epimedium, of
which the aipinum is the only species ; a
low herbaceous plant, with a creeping
root, having many stalks, each of wliicli
has three flowers. Encyc.
B'ARRFUL, a. Full of obstructions. Shak.
BARRI€A'DE, n. [Fr. barricade; It. barri-
cata ; fiom It. barrare, Sp. barrear, to bar.]
1. A fortification made in haste, of trees,
earth, palisades, wagons, or any thing
that will obstruct the progress of an ene-
my, or serve for defense or security,
against his shot.
2. Any bar or obstruction ; that which de-
fends.
3. In naval architecture, a strong wooden
rail, supported by stanchions, extending
across the foremost part of the quarter
deck, in ships of war, and filled with rope,
mats, pieces of old cable, and full ham-
mocks, to prevent the efiect of small shot
in time of action. Encyc.
BARRI€A'DE, v. t. To stop up a passage ;
to obstruct.
2. To fortify with any sUght work that pre-
vents the approach of an enemy.
BARRl€A'DO. The same as barricade.
ail.
6 A R
B A S
B A S
BAR'RIER, [Fr. barrierc ; It. barriera ; Sp.
harrera, n barrier; Sp. barrmr, to bar or
barricade. See Bar.]
1. In fortification, a kind offence made in a
passage or retrenchment, composed of
great stakes, with transums or overthwart
rafters, to stop an enemy. Encyc.
2. A wall for defense.
3. A fortress or fortified town on the fron-
tier of a country. Stinfl.
4. Any obstruction ; any thing which con-
fines, or vvliicli hinders approach, or at-
tack ; as constitutional barriers.
Hopkinson.
.'>. A bar to mark the limits of a place ; any
limit, or boundary ; a line of separation.
Pope.
B>ARRING, ppr. Making fast with a bar ;
obstructing ; excluding ; preventing ; pro-
hibiting ; crossing with stripes.
BAR'RISTER, n. [from bar.-] A counsel-
or, learned in the laws, qualified and
admitted to plead at the bar, and to take
upon him the defense of chents ; answer-
ing to the advocate or hcentiate of other
countries. Anciently, barristers were call-
ed, in England, apprentices of the law.
Outer barristers are pleaders without the
bar, to distinguish them from iimer barris-
ters, benchers or readers, who have been
sometime admitted to plead within the
bar, as the king's counsel are.
Johnson. Encyc.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. berewe ; W. berva ; Ger.
bahre ; D. berri ; from the root of bear, to
carry. See Bear.]
1. A light small carriage. A hand-harrow is
a frame covered in the middle with boards,
and borne by and between two men.
A wheel-barrow, is a frame with a box,
supported by one wheel, and rolled by a
single man.
2. A wicker case, in salt works, where the
salt is put to drain. Encyc.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. berga, or beorgh, a hog ;
D. barg, a barrow hog.]
1. In England, a hog ; and according to Ash,
obsolete. Barrow-grease is hog's lard.
'2. In America, a male hog castrated; a word
in common itse.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. beara, or bearewe, a
grove.]
In the names of places, barrow is used to
signify a wood or grove.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. beorg,a liill or hillock ;
byrgen, a tomb ; G. and D. bergen, to con-
ceal, to save.]
\ hillock or mound of earth, intended as a
repository of the dead. Such barrows are
found in England, in the North of the Eu-
ropean continent, and in America. They
sometimes were formed of stones, and iii
England called cairns. The barrow an-
swers to the tumulus of the Latuis. rSee
Tomb.]
B'ARSE, n. An English name for the com-
mon perch. Did. of jYat. Hist.
B^ARSHOT, n. [See Bar and Shoot.]
Double headed shot, consisting of a bar, with
a half ball or round head at each end ;
used for destroying the masts and rigging
in naval combat. Mar. Diet.
B'ARTER, V. i. [Sp. baratar ; It. barattare,
to exchange. The primary sense is prob-
ably to turn or change, and this gives the
sense of deceiving, barratry, as well as of
bartering. L. vario, verto. Class Br.]
To traffick or trade, by exchanging one com
niodity for another, in distinction from a
sale and purchase, in which money is paid
for the commodities transferred.
BARTER, V. t. To give one thing for an-
other in commerce. It is sometimes fol-
lowed by away ; as, to barter away goods or
honor.
BARTER, 71. The act or practice of traf-
ficking by exchange of commodities ;
sometimes, perhaps, the thing given in ex-
change.
B-ARTERED,;)p. Given in exchange.
B-ARTERER, n. One who trafficks by ex-
change of commodities.
B^ARTERING, ;;/«•. Trafficking or trading
by an exchange of commodities.
B' ARTERY, n. Exchange of commoditie.-
in trade. [JVot jised.] Camden
B-ARTON, n. [Sax. bere-ton, barley-town.]
The demain lands of a manor ; the manor
itself; and sometimes the out-houses.
Johnson. Blount.
B'ARTRAM, n. [L. pyrethrum ; Gr. «vp,
fire.]
A plant ; pellitory. Bailey. Johnson.
BARYSTRON"riANITE, n. [Gr. fSopvj,
heavy, and slrontian.]
A mineral, called also stromnite, from Stroni-
ness, in Orkney. It has been found in
masses of a grayish white color internally,
but externally of a yellowish white.
Traill. ' Cleaveland. Phillips.
BARY'TA, I „ [Gr. fjapvj, heavy ; ^fwcn.
BAR'YTE, \ "• weight.]
Ponderous earth ; so called from its great
weight, it being the heaviest of the earths,
Spec. grav. about 4. Recent discoveries
have shown tliat baryle is an oxyd, the ba-
sis of whirli is a niftallic substance called
II is ^c'litially found in conibi-
itli the suljiliiiric and carbonic
niiig tlic sulphate and carbonate
, the former of which is called
heavy spar. Cleaveland. Thomson.
BARYT'le, a. Pertaining to baryte ; form-
ed of baryte, or containing it. Kirtcan.
BARYTO-CAL'CITE, it. [baryte and calr.
Sec Calx.]
A mixture of carbonate of lime with sul-
phate of baryte, of a dark or light gray
color, of various forms. Kirwan.
BARYTONE
roroj, tone.]
Pertaining to or noting a grave deep sound,
or male voice. H'alker. Arbuthnot.
BAR'YTONE, n. In music, a male voice,
tlie compass of which partakes of the com-
mon base and the tenor, but which does
not descend so low as the one, nor rise as
high as the other.
2. In Greek Grammar, a verb which has no
accent marked on the last syllable, the
grave accent being understood.
BA'SAL, a. Pertaining to the base ; consti-
tuting the base. Say.
BASALT', n. bazaW. [Pliny informs us that
the Egyptians found in Ethiopia, a species
of marble, called basaltes, of an iron color
and hardness, whence it received its name.
Nat. Hist. Lib. 36. Ca. 7. But according tojl
han'ui]
of bai-j't
a. [Gr. (Sopvf, hea\-y.
tlie Fr. basane, tawi
till' Ethiopic basal, ire
It may b.; allied
Lunicr rrfrvs i, ,
a wi.r.l I caiiiii.t
A (lark,giavisli bla( k luineral or stone, some-
tinics biui.sli ur brownish black, and when
withered, the surface is grayish or reddish
brown. It is amoi-phous, columnar, tabu-
lar or globular. The columnar form is
straight or cuned, perpendicular or incli-
ned, sometimes nearly horizontal ; the
diameter of the columns from three inclies
to three feet, sometimes with transverse
semi-spherical joints, in which the convex
part ot one is inserted in the concavity of
another. The forms of the columns gen-
erally are pentagonal, hexagonal, or octa-
gonal. It is sometimes found also in
romided masses, either spherical, or com-
pressed and lenticular. These rounded
mas.ses are sometimes composed of con-
centric layers, with a nucleus, and some-
times of prisms radiating from a center.
It is heavy and hard. The pillars of the
Giant's causey in Ireland, composed of
this stone and exposed to the roughest sea
for ages, have their angles as perfect as
those at a distance from the waves. The
English miners call it cockle ; the German,
short, or sheerl. It is called by Kirwan,
Figurale Trap, from its prismatic forms.
hiniuin. Jameson. Cleaveland.
BASALTIC, n. Pertaining to basalt ; formed
of or coiilaiiiiiig basalt.
BASALT IFOK.M, a. In the form of basalt;
columnar.
BAS.^LT'INE, n. Basaltic Hornblend ; a
variety of conmion hornblend, so called
from its being often found in Basalt. It is
also found in lavas-and volcanic scorijB. It
is generally in distinct crystals, and its
color is a pure black, or slightly tinged
with green. It is more foliated than the
other varieties, and has been mistaken for
mica. Kirwan. Cleaveland.
i. A column of basalt. Kirwan.
BAS'ANITE, n. « as 2. [Gr. ^amvoi, the
trier. Plin. Lib. .30. Ca. 22. See Basalt.]
Lydian stone, or black jasjrer ; a variety of
siliceous or flinty slate. Its color is a gray-
ish or bluish bl.ick, interspersed with veins
of quartzL. It is employed to test the purity
of gold. Kirwan. lire. Cleaveland.
BASE, a. [Fr. bas, low ; W. bas ; It. basso;
Sp. baio, low ; W. hasu, to faU, or lower.
See Abase.]
1. Low in place. Obs. Spenser.
2. Mean ; vile ; worthless ; that is, loio in
value or estimation ; used of things.
3. Of low station ; of mean account ; with-
out rank, dignity or estimation among
men ; used of persons.
The base shall behave proudly against the
honorable. I-s. iii.
4. Of mean spirit; disingenuous; ilhberal ;
low ; wiilioiit (li!.'iiiiy of sentiment; as a
base and aliic.i iiniliiuide.
5. Of littli- niMiii.ir.itivo value; applied to
metals, and perhaps to all metals, except gold
and silver.
the
Dee]) ; grave ; applied to sounds ;
sounds of a viol. Bacon.
7. Of illegitimate birth ; born out of wed-
lock. Shak.
Da Costa, that stone was not the samel 8. Not held by honorable tenure. A base
which now bears the name of 6<MaZ<. Hist. I estate is an estate held by services not
of Fossils, p. 263. If named from its color,|| honorable, not in capite, or by viUenage.
B A
B A
B A S
Sai-li a tenure is called base, or low, andj
rlie tenant, a base, tenant. 80 writers
the laws of England use the terms, a base
lee, a base court. Encyi
BASE, n. [Gr. )3a<«5 ; L. basis ; It. basa,
base ; Sp. basa ; Fr. base ; that which
set, the foundation or bottom.]
1. The bottom of any thing, considered
its support or the part of a thing on which
it stands or rests ; as the base of a column,
the pedestal of a statue, the foundation of
a house, &c.
In architecture, tlie base of a pillar ])ropcrly
is that part which is between the top of a
pedestal and the bottom of the shaft ; but
when there is no pedestal, it is the part
between the bottom of the colunni and the
pUnth. Usually it consists of certain spires
or circles. The pedestal also has its base,
Encyc
2. In fortification, the exterior side of the
polygon, or that imaginary line which is
drawn from the flanked angle of a bastion
to the angle opposite to it.
3. In gunnery, the least sort of ordnance,
the diameter of whose bore is 1 1-4 inch.
Encyc.
4. The part of any ornament which hangs
down, as housings. Sidney.
.'>. The broad part of any thing, as the bot-
tom of a cone.
0. In old authors, stockings ; armor for the
legs. Hudibras.
7. The place from which racers or tilters
start ; the bottom of the field ; tlie career
or starting post. Dryden.
0. The lowest or gravest part in music ; im-
properly written bass.
10. A rustic play, called also bays, or prison
bars. Shak.
11. In geometry, the lowest side of the peri-
meter of a figm-e. Any side of a triangle
may be called its base, but this term most
properly belongs to the side which is par-
allel to the horizon. In rectangled trian-
gles, the base, properly, is the side oppo-
site to the right angle. The base of a solid
figure is that on which it stands. The
base of a conic section is a right line in the
hyperbola and parabola, arising from the
common intersection of the secant plane
and the base of the cone. Encyc.
19. In chimistry, any body which is dissolved
by another body, which it receives and
fixes. Tlius any alkaline, earthy or me-
tallic substance, combining with an acid,
forms a compound or neutral salt, of which
it is the base. Such salts arc called salts
with alkaline, earthy or metollic bases.
Encyc.
13. Thorough base, in music, is the part per-
formed with base viols or theorbos, while
the voices sing and other instruments per-
form their parts, or during the intervals
when the otlier parts stop. It is distin-
guished by figures over the notes.
Counter base is a second or double base,
when tliere are several in the same con
cert. Encyc.
BASE, V. t. To embase ; to reduce the value
by the admi,\ture of meaner metals. [Ldt-
tie used.] Bacon
'i. To found ; to lay the base or foundation
To base and build the cominomvealth of man
Columbiad.
BA'SE-BORN, a. [base and born.] Born:
out of wedlock. Gay.l
2. Born of low parentage.
3. Vile ; mean. Milton.
BA'SE-€OURT, n. [Fr. basae-cour. See
Court.]
The back yard, opposed to the chief court
in front of a house ; the farm yard.
Shak.
BA'SED, pp. Reduced in value ; founded.
BA'SELESS, a. Without a base ; having
nb foimdation, or support.
The 6ose/fss fabric of a vision. Shak
The fame how poor that swells our baseless
pride. TVumbull.
BA'SELY, adv. In a base manner ; meanly;
dishonorably. Dryden.
2. Illegitimately ; in bastardy. Knolles.
BA'SEMENT, n. In architecture, the ground!
floor, on which the order or colunms whichj
decorate the principal story, are placed. 1
Encyc.^
BA'SE-MINDED, a. Of a low spirit or
mind ; mean. Camden.
BA'SE-MINDEDNESS, ji. Meanness of^
spirit. Sandys.'
BA'SENESS, n. Meanness ; vileness ; worth-
lessness. Dryden
2. Vileness of metal ; the quality of being oi
little comparative value. Swift.
i. Bastardy; illegitimacy of birth. Shak.
4. Deepness of sound. Bacon.'
BA'SENET, n. A helmet. Spenser:
BA'SE-STRING, n. The lowest note. j
Shak.:
BA'SE-VIOL, n. [See Viol.] A musical in-;
striunent, used for playing the base or'
gravest part. |
BASH, v.i. [Heb.E?13,bosh,tobe cast down,|
or confounded. Qu. D. verbaazen, to con-:
found. See Mash.] |
To be ashamed ; to be confounded with'
shame. Spenstr.]
BASHAW, n. [Ar. lx:U basha ; Pers.'
pasha ; Sp. baxa ; It. bascia ; Turk. basch,<
the head. Qu. D. baas, master, and tlie^
bassus of the Alemanni and Longobards, in'
the middle ages. This word is often writ-!
ten most absurdly pasha, both by the
English and Americans. It should be
written and pronounced pashaw.]
1. A title of honor in the Turkish dominions ;
appropriately, the title of the prime vizei
but given to viceroys or governors of prov
inces, and to generals and other men of
distinction. The Turkish bashaws exer
cise an oppressive authority in their prov
inces. Hence,
2. A proud, tyrannical, overbearing man.
BASH'FUL, a. [See Bash and Abash.]
' Properly, having a downcast look ; hence
very modest.
9. Modest to excess ; sheepish. Shak.'
3. Exciting shame.
BASH'FULLY, adv. Very modestly : in a!
timorous manner.
BASH'FULNESS, n. Excessive or extreme'
modesty ; a quality of mind often visible
in external appearance, as in blushijjg, a
downcast look, confusion, &c.
2. Vicious or rustic shame. Sidney.
BASH'LESS, a. Shameless; unblushing."
Spenser.
BAS'IL, ?i. s as :. The slope or angle of a
tool or instrument, as of a chisel or plant :
usually of 13 degrees, but for hard wood^
18 degrees. Encyc.
BAS'IL, V. t. To grind or form the edge of
a tool to an angle. Moxon.
BAS'IL, n. s as z. [Fr. basilic ; It. basUico.]
A plant of the genus Ocymum, of which
there are many species, all natives of warm
climates. They are fragrant aromatic
plants, and one species, the sweet basil,
is much used in cookery, especially in
France.
BAS'IL, n. [Orient, tn to strip.]
The skin of a sheej) tanned ; written also
basan.
BAS'IL-WEED, n. Wild basil, a plant of
the genus Clinopodium. Muhlenburg.
EaI{lARY,S«- — tSeefi-Kc]
Chief; an anatomical term appUed to several
bones, and to an artery of the brain.
Coxe.
Basilian monks, monks of the order of St.
Basil, who founded the order hi Pontus.
The order still exists, but has less power
and celebrity than formerly. Encyc.
BAS'ILIC, n. s as 2. [Gr. iiaaAtxi] ; L. bas-
ilica ; Gr. )Sq.aAiv$, a king.]
Anciently, a public bailor court of judicature,
where princes and magistrates sat to ad-
minister justice. It was a large hall, with
aisles, porticoes, tribiuies, and tribunals.
The bankers also had a part allotted for
their residence. These edifices, at first,
were the palaces of princes, afterwards
courts of justice, and finally converted into
churches. Hence basilic now signifies a
church, chapel, cathedral or royal palace.
Encyc. Sp. and 6. Diet.
BAS'ILle, n. [SeeBasU.] The middle vein
of the arm, or the interior branch of the
axillary vein, so called by way of emi-
nence. Encyc. Qidncy.
BAS'ILI€, I Belonging to the middle
BASIL'I€AL, S "■ vein of the arm.
2. Noting a particular nut, the walnut, bas-
ilica nu.r.
BASIL' l€ON, n. s as z. [Gr. fJaaaixos,
royal.]
An ointment. This name is given to several
compositions in ancient medical writers.
At present it is confined to three oflicinal
ointments, distinguished into black, yellow
and green basilicon. Encyc.
BAS'ILISK, n. s as z. [Gr. f3tt!jin(jxos; L.
basillscus.]
1. A fabulous serpent, called a cockatrice,
and said to be produced from a cock's egg
brooded by a serpent. The ancients al- •
ledgod that its hissing would drive away
all other serpents, and that its breath and 1
even its look was fatal. Some writers i
siqjpose that a real sei-pent exists under j
ihis name.
2. In milituni affairs, a large piece of ord-
nance, so called from its supposed resem-
blance to the serjjent of that name, or from
its size. This cannon carried a ball of 200
pounds weight, but is not now used. Mod-
ern writers give this name to cannon of a
smaller size, which the Dutch make 15
feet long, and the French 10, carrying a
48 pound ball. Encyc.
BA'SIN, ?i. biisn. [Fr. bassin ; Ir. baisiii ;
Arm. bafiiii; It. bacino, or bacile; Port.
B A S
B A S
B A S
hacia. If the last rodical is primarily
palatal letter, this is the German becken ;
D. bekken.]
1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for
wasliing, and for various other uses.
2. In hydraulics, any reservoir of water.
3. That which resemhles a basin in contain
ing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, i
hollow place for Uquids, or an inclosed
part of water, forming a broad space with-
in a strait or narrow entrance ; a Uttle
bay.
4. Anion;; glass fcrinders, a concave piece
of metal by which convex glasses art
formed.
5. Among hatters, a large shell or case.
usually of iron, placed over a furnace, in
which the hat is molded into due shape.
6. In anatomy, a round cavity between the
anterior ventricles of the brain.
7. The scale of a balance, when hollow and
round.
8. In Jewish antiquities, the laver of the tab-
ernacle.
BA'SIS, n. plu. bases. [L. and Gr.; the samt
as base, which see.]
1. The foundation of any thing; that on
which a thing stands or lies ; the bottom
or foot of the thing itself, or that on which
it rests. See a full explanation under base.
'i. The ground work or fij'st principle ; that
which supports.
3. Foundation ; support.
Tlie basis of public credit is good faith.
Hamilton
The basis of all excellence is truth.
Johnson
4. Basis, in chimistry. See Base. No. 12.
B'ASK, V. i. [The origin of tliis word is nol
obvious. Clu. Ir. basgaim, to rest or
repose.]
To lie in warmth ; to be exposed to genial
heat ; to be at ease and thriving under be-
nign influences; as,tobask in the blaze of
day ; to bask in the sunshine of royal favor.
The word includes the idea of some con-
tinuance of exposure.
B'ASK, V. t. To warm by continued expo-
sure to heat ; to warm with genial heat.
Dryden.
B" ASKED, pp. Exposed to warmth, or gen-
ial heat.
B'ASKET, n. [W. basged, or basgawd; Ir.
hascaid ; probably from weaving or tex-
ture ; W. basg, a netting or plaitijig of
splinters.]
1. A domestic vessel made of twigs, rushes,
splinters or other flexible things interwo-
ven. The forms and sizes of baskets are
very various, as well as the uses to which
they are appHed ; as corn-baskets, clothes-
baskets, fruit-baskets, and work-baskets.
2. The contents of a basket ; as much as a
baslj^et will contain ; as, a basket of med-
lars is two bushels. But in genera], this
quantity is indefinite.
In military affairs, baskets of earth some-
times are used on the parapet of a trench,
between which the soldiers fire. They
serve for defense against small shot.
Encyc.
B>ASKET, v.t. To put in a basket.
Coioper.
B'ASKET-FISH, n. A species of sea-star,
or star-fish, of the genus Asterias, and
otherwise called the Magellanic star-fish.
Vol. I.
It has live rays issuing from an augui
body, and dividing into innumerable
branches. These wheji extended form a
circle of three feet diameter. [See As-
terias. ] Encyc.
B^ASKET-HILT, »i. [See HM.] A hilt
which covers the hand, and defends it from
injury, as of a sword. Hudibras.
B-ASKET-HILTEl), a. Having a hilt of
basket-work. H'arton.
B>ASKET-SALT, 7i. Salt made from .salt
springs, which is purer, whiter and finer,
than common brine salt. Encyc.
B>ASKET-WOMAN, n. A woman who
carries a basket, to and from market.
B" ASKING, ppr. Exposing or lying exposed
to the continued action of heat or genial
warmth.
B' ASKING-SHARK, n. The sun-fish of tlie
Irish ; a species of squalus or shark. This
fish is from three to twelve yards in lengtl
or even longer. The upper jaw is much
longer than the lower one ; the tail
large and the upper part much longer than
the lower ; the skin is rough, of a deep
leaden color on the back, and white on
the belly. The fish weighs more than a
thousand pounds, and affords a great quan-
tity of oil, which is used for lamps, and to
cure bruises, bums, and rheumatic com-
plaints. It is viviparous, and frequent;
the northern seas. [See Squalus.]
Pennant. Enci/c.
B>ASQUISH, a. baskish. Pertaining to th^
people or language of Biscay. Brown
B'ASS, n. [It has no plural.] The name of
several species offish. In England, this
name is given to a species of perch, called
by some the sea-wolf, from its voracity,
and resembling, in a degree, the trout in
shape, but having a larger head. It weighs
about fifteen pounds. In the northern
stales of America, this name is given to a
striped fish which grows to the weight of
25 or 30 pounds, and which enters the
rivers ; the perca ocellaia.
.\ species of striped fish, of a darker color,
with a large head, is called sea-ba
is never found in fresh water. This fish
grows to two or three pounds weight.
Both s])ecies are well tasted, but the proper
bass is a very white and delicious food.
Prince. Belknap.
B'ASS, n. The linden, lime or tiel tree ;
called also bass-wood. [See Bast.]
2. [pron. bas.] A mat to kneel on in churches.
B.4SS, n. In music, the base ; the deepest or
gravest part of a tune. Tliis word is th
written in imitation of the Itahan basso,
which is the Eng. base, low ; yet with the
pronunciation of ia.se and plural bases, a
gross error that ought to be corrected ; as
the word used in pronunciation is the Eng-
lish word base.
BASS, V. t. To sound in a deep tone.
Shak.
BASS-RELIE'F, n. In English, base-relief
[From It. basso, low, and rilevare, to raise ;
whence nViewo, raised work. See Z<i/iand
Relief]
Scidpture, whose figures do not stand out
far from the ground or plane on which
they are formed. When figures do not pro-
tuberate so as to exhibit the entire body,
they are said to be done in relief; and
when they are low, flat or little raised
19
liom tiie plane, the work i.s .<aid lo be ih
low riliif When the figures are so raised
as to be well distinguished, they are said
to be bold, strong, or high, alto relievo.
jSce Relief] Encyc.
Bass-viol, „. [See Basc-vioi.]
BAS'SA. [See Bashaio.]
BAS'SET, n. [Fr. busselte.] A game at
cards, said to have been invented at Ven-
ice, by a nobleman, who was banished fw
the invention. The game being introduced
into France by the Venetian embassador,
Justiniani, in 1674, it was prohibited by
severe edicts. Encyc.
BAS'SET, V. i. [See Basil.] Among coal
diggers, to inchnc upwards. Thus a vein
of coal bassets, when it takes a direction
towards the surface of the earth. This is
called cropping, and is opposed to dipping.
Encyc.
BAS'SETING, ppr. Having a direction up-
wards.
BAS'SETING, n. The upward direction of
a vein in a coal mine.
BASSO-€ONCERTANTE, in music, is the
base of the Uttle chorus, or that which
plays throughout tlie whole piece. Bailey.
BASSO-€ONTINUO, thorough base, which
see under base. Bailey.
BASSO-REPIENO, is the base of the grand
chorus, which plays only occasionally, or
in particular parts. Bailey.
BASSO-RELIEVO. [See Bass-relief]
BASSO-VIOLINO, is the base of the base-
viol. Bailey.
BAS'SOCK, n. The same as bass, a mat.
BASSOON', n. [Fr. basson ; It. bassone, from
basso, low.]
A musical wind instrument, blown with
a reed, and furnished with eleven holes,
which are stojiped, as in other large flutes.
Its compass comprehends three octaves.
Its diameter at bottom is nine inches, and
for convenience of carriage it is divided
into two parts ; whence it is called also a
fagot. It serves for the base in a concert of
hautboys, flutes, &c.
Johnson. Encyc. Bushy.
BASSOON'IST, n. A performer on the
5n. Busby.
B'AST, n. [Qu. D. and Dan. bast, bark, or
from twisting.]
A rope or cord, made of the bark of the lime
tree, bass-wood or Unden ; or the bark
made into ropes and mats. Ash. Bailey.
B'ASTARD, n. [\rm. bastard ; Ir.basdard;
Fr. bdtard; D. bastaard ; G. bastari ; It.
and Sp. bastardo ; W. bastarz ; basu, to
fall, whence base, and tars, gro>vth, issue,
a sprout.]
A natural child ; a child begotten and born
out of wedlock ; an illegitimate or .spuri-
ous child. By the civil and canon laws, a
bastard becomes a legitimate chUd, by the
intermarriage of the parents, at any future
time. But by the laws of this country, as
by those of England, a child, to be legiti-
mate, must at least be bom after the law-
ful marriage. Blackstonc.
Bastard eigne', or bastard elder, in law, is
when a man has a bastard son, and after-
ward marries the mother, and has a legiti-
mate son, called mulier puisne, or younger.
Blackstone.
BASTARD, n. A kind of sweet wine. [.\'ot
.] Shak.
B A S
BASTARD, a. Begotten and born out of
lawful matrimony ; illegitimate.
9. Spurious ; not genuine ; false ; suppositi
tious ; adulterate. In this sense, it is ap
plied to things which resemble those
which are genuine, but are really not gen-
uine ; as a bastard hope, bastard honors.
Shak. Temple.
In military affairs, bastard is applied to pie-
ces of artillei7 which are of an unusual
make or proportion, whether longer or
shorter, as the double cidverin extraordi-
nary, half or quarter culverin extraordina-
ry. Encyc.
Bastard-Flawer-fence, a plant, a species of
Menanthera.
Bastard-hemp, a plant, a species of Datisca.
false hemp.
Bastard-Rocket, dyers- weed, or wildwoad,
a species of Reseda.
Bastard-Star of Bethlehem, a plant, a species
ot.ilbuca.
Bastard-Scarlet, a red color dyed with ball
madder.
B'ASTARD, v.t. To make or determine to
be a bastard. Bacon.
B>ASTARDISM, n. The state of a bastard.
B'ASTARDIZE, v. t. To make or prove to
be a bastard ; to convict of being a bas-
tard ; to declare legally, or decide a pe
son to be illegitimate.
Tlie law is so indulgent as not to bastardize
the child, if bora, though not begotten, in law-
ful wedlock. Blackstone
% To beget a bastard. Shak.
B'ASTARDLY, adv. In the manner of a
bastard; spuriously. Donne
ITASTARDS, an appellation given to s
faction or troop of bandits, who ravaged
Guienne in France in the 14th century ;
sujjposed to have been headed by the ille
gitiraate sons of noblemen, who were ex
eluded from the rights of inheritance.
Mezeray.
B'ASTARDY, n. A state of bemg
tard, or begotten and born out of lawful
wedlock, which condition disables the per-
son from inheriting an estate. Blackstone.
JiASTARN'le, o. Pertaining to the Bas-
ternsB, ancient inhabitants of the Carpa-
thian mountains. D^AnvUle.
Bastarnic Alps, the Carpathian moimtains,
between Poland, Himgary and Transylva-
nia ; so called from the ancient inhabitants,
the Baslarna. D'Anville.
BASTE, V. t. [Arm. baz ; Fr. baton, for bos-
ton ; Sp. baston ; It. bastone, a stick or
club.]
1. To beat with a stick.
1. To drip butter or fat upon meat, as it
turns upon the spit, in roasting ; to mois
ten with fat or other Uquid. Swift.
BASTE, V. t. [Sp. bastear ; It. imbastire, t
baste ; It. basta, a long stitch.]
To sew with long stitches ; to sew slightly,
BASTED, pp. Beat with a stick; moistened
with fat or other matter in roasting ; sew-
ed together with long stitches, or slightly,
BAS'TILE, )!. [Fr., from bdtir, bastir, to
build.]
An old castle in Paris, built between 1369
and 1383, used as a state prison, and con-
verted to the purpose of confining men
for life, who happened to incur the resent-
ment or jealousy of the French monarchs.
BAT
It was demolished by the enraged popu-
lace in 1789.
BASTINA'DE, ) [Fr. bastonnade ; Sp.
BASTINA'DO, ^ bastonada ; It. bastona-
ta, trom bastone, a stick or staff. See
Baste.]
A sound beating with a stick or cudgel ; the
blows given with a stick or staff". Tliis
name is given to a punishment in use
among the Turks, of beatuig an oflender
on the soles of his feet.
BASTINA'DE, ). To beat with a stick
BASTINA'DO, ^ "' '' or cudgel.
BASTING, ppr. Beating with a stick ; mois-
tening with dripping ; sewing togetlier
with long stitches.
Basting, n. a beating with a stick; a
moistening with dripping ; a sewing to-
gether slightly with long stitches.
BAS'TION, n. bas'chun. [Fr. and Sp. bas-
tion ; It. bastione ; probably fa-om bastir, ba-
th; to build, to set or Ibund.]
A huge mass of earth, usually faced with
sods, sometimes with brick, or stones,
standing out trom a rampart, of which ii
is a principal part ; formerly called a but
mark. Bastions are solid or hollow. A
flat bastion is made in the middle of tl
curtaui, when it is too long to be defended
by the bastions in its extretnes. A cut
bastion has its point cut off and mstead of
it a re-entering angle, or an angle inwards,
with two points outward. A composed
bastion has two sides of the interior poly
gon unequal, which makes the gorges un
equal. A demibastion is composed of one
face only, with one flank and a demigorge
A double bastion is one raised on the plane
of another. Encyc.
BAS'TO, n. The ace of clubs at quadrille.
BASTON, or BATOON', n. [Sp. Sec
Baste.]
In architecture, a round molding in the base
of a column ; called also a tore, [torus.]
Encyc.
BAT, n. [Sax. bat; h:bat,bata; Russ. fcoi ;
allied to beat]
1. A heavy stick or club; a piece of wood
with one end thicker or broader than the
other.
2. Bat or bate, a small copper coin of Ger
many, with a small mixture of silver,
worth four crutzers. Also a coin of Switz-
erland, worth five livres. Encyc.
3. A term given by muiers to shale or bitu-
minous shale. Kirwan.
BAT, V. i. To manage a bat, or play with
one. Mason
BAT, n. [Rab. and Tal. niX3, Nni3, or nNl3
Buxtorf. I have not found this word in
any European language, except in Eng-
lish.]
A race of quadrupeds, technically called
Vespertilio, of the orAar primates, in Linne's
system. The fore feet have the toes con-
nected by a membrane, expanded into a
kind of wings, by means of which the an-
imals fly. The species are numerous. Of|
these, the vampire or Ternate bat inhabits
Africa and the Oriental Isles. Tiiese an
imals fly in flocks from isle to isle, ohscu
ring the sun by their numbers. Their
wings when extended measure five or si
feet. They five on fruits ; but are sai
sometimes to draw blood from persons
when asleep. The bats of the northern
BAT
latitudes are small ; they are viviparous
and suckle their young. Their skin re-
sembles that of a mouse. They enter
houses in pleasant summer evenmgs, teed
upon moths, flies, flesh, and oily substan-
ces, and are torpid during the winter.
Encyc.
BAT'-FOWLER, n. One who practices, or
i pleased with bat-fowling. Bamngton.
BAT'-FOWLING, n. A mode of catching
birds at night, by holding a torcn or other
hglit, and beating the bush or perch where
they roost. The birds flying to the light
are caught with nets or otherwise.
Coivel. Encyc.
BA'TABLE, a. [See Bate and Debate.] Dis-
putable. The laud between England and
Scotland, « liich, when the Idngdoms were
distinct, was a subject of contention, was
called batable ground. Cowel. Encyc.
BATA'TAS, n. A species of tick or mite,
found on the potatoes of Surinam. Also
the Peruvian njune of the siceet potatoe.
Encyc.
BATA'VIAN, a. [from Batavi, the people
lio inhabited the isle.]
Pertaining to the isle of Betaw in Holland,
between the Rhine and the Waal. But
more generally, the word denotes what
appertains to Holland in general.
BATA'VIAN, n. A native of Betaw, or of
the Low Countries.
BATCH, n. [D. bakzel ; G. geback ; from
bake.]
1. The quantity of bread baked at onetime;
a baking of bread.
2. Any quantity of a thing made at once, or
united as to have like qualities.
B. Jonson.
BATE, n. [Sax. bate, contention. It is
obably from the root of beat. See De-
Strife ; contention ; retained in make-bate.
BATE, V. t. [Fr. baUre, to beat, to batter;
but perhaps from abattre, to beat down.
The literal sense is, to beat, strike, thrust ;
to force down. See Beat.]
To lessen by retrenching, deducting or re-
ducing; as, to bate the wages of the labor-
er ; to bate good cheer. Locke. Dryden.
[We now use abate.]
BATE, V- i. To grow or become less ; to
remit or retrench a part ; with of.
Abate thy speed and I will bate of mine.
Dryden.
Spenser uses bate in the sense of smking,
driving in, penetrating ; a sense regularly
deducible from that of fceaf, to thrust.
Yet there the steel staid not, but inly bate
Deep in tlie flesh, and open'd wide a red
flood gate.
BATE-BREEDING, a. Breeding strife.
[.mt used.] Shak.
BA'TEFUL, a. Contentious ; given to strife ;
exciting contention. Sidney.
BA'TELESS, a. Not to be abated. Shak.
BA'TEMENT, n. Abatement; deduction;
diminution.
[Bate, with its derivatives, is, I believe,
httle used, or wholly obsolete in the U.
States.]
BATEAU, n. batto'. [Fr. from L. batillum.]
A light boat, long in proportion to its
breadth, and wider in the middle than at
the ends.
BAT
BAT
BAT
BAT'ENfTES, BAT'ENISTS, or BATE-
NIANS, n. A sect of apostates from Mo'
hammedism, who professed the abomina
ble practices of the Ismaelians and Kir-
matians. The word signifies esoteric, or
persons of inward light. [See Assassins.'
BAT'FUL, a. [See Batten.} Rich, fertile, a^
land. lJ\rot in use.] Mason
B>ATH, n. [Sax. bwth, baiho, a bath ; ba-
thian, to bathe ; W. badh, or baz ; D. G. Sw.
Dan. bad, a bath ; Ir. bath, the .sea ; Old
Phrygian bedu, water. Qu. W. bozi, to
immerse.]
1. A place for bathing ; a convenient vat or
receittacle of water for persons to plunge
or wash their bodies in. Baths are warin
or tepid, hot or cold, more generally cal-
led warm and cold. They are also natural
or artificial. J^atural baths are those
which consist of spring water, either hot
or cold, wliich is often impregnated with
iron, and called chalybeate, or with sul-
phur, carbonic acid, and other mineral
qualities. These waters are often very
efficacious in scorbutic, bilious, dyspeptic
and other complaints.
2. A place in which heat is appUed to a body
immersed in some substance. Thus,
A dry bath is made of hot sand, ashes,
salt, or other matter, for the purpose of
applying heat to a body immersed in them.
A vapor bath is formed by filling an
apartment with hot steam or vapor, in
which the body sweats copiously, as in
Russia ; or the term is used for the ap-
plication of hot steam to a diseased part
of the body. Encyc. Tooke.
A metalline bath is water impregnated
with iron or other metalUc substance, and
applied to a diseased part. Encyc.
In chimistry, a wet bath is fonmed by hot
water in which is placed a vessel contain-
ing the matter which requires a softer
iieat than the naked fire.
In medicine, the animal bath is made by
wrapping the part aftected in a warm skin
just taken from an animal. Coxe.
3. A house for bathing. In some eastern
countries, baths are very magnificent edifi-
ces.
4. A Hebrew measure containing the tenth
of a homer, or seven gallons and four
])ints, as a measure for liquids ; and three
pecks and three pints, as a dry measure.
Calmit.
BATH-ROOM, n. An apartment for bath-
ing. Tooke.
BATHE, V. t. [Sax. bathian, to wash. See
Bath. (iu. W. bozi, to immerse.]
1. To wash the body, or some part of it, by
immersion, as in a bath ; it often differs
from ordinary washing in a longer appli-
cation of water, to the body or to a par-
ticular part, as for the purpose of cleans-
ing or stimulating the skin.
2. To wash or moisten, for the purpose of
making soft and supple, or for cleansing,
as a wound.
3. To moisten or suffuse with a liquid ; as, to
bathe in tears or blood.
BATHE, V. i. To be or lie in a bath ; to
be in water, or in other hquid, or to be im-
mersed in a fluid, as in a bath ; as, to bathe
in fiery floods. Shnk.
BA'THED, pp. Washed as in a bath; mois-
tened with a liquid ; bedewed.
BA'THER, n. One who bathes; one who
immerses himself in water, or who a|)-
plies a liquid to himself or to another.
Tooke.
BA'THING, ppr. Washing by immersion,
■ by applying a liquid ; moistening ; fo-
BA'THING, n. The act of batliing, or wash-
ing the body in water. Mason.
BA'THING-TUB, n. A vessel for bathing,
usually made either of wood or tin. In
the Royal Library at Paris, I saw a bath
ing-tub of porphyry, of beautiful form and
exquisite workmanship.
BATHOS, n. [Gr. ,3a9o5; allied to Eng.
bottom, and perhaps to W. bozi, to im-
merse.]
The art of sinking in poetiy. Arbuthnot
BATING, ppr. [from bate.] Abating ; ta-
king away ; deducting ; excepting.
Children have few ideas, bating some faint
ideas of hunger and thirst. Locke.
BAT'INIST. [See BatenUes.]
BAT'IST, n. A fine linen cloth made in
Flanders and Picardy, of three different
kinds or thicknesses. Encyi
BAT'LET, n. [from bat.] A small bat, or
square piece of wood with a handle, for
beating linen when taken out of the buck.
Johnson
BAT'MAN, n. A weight used in Smyrna, of
six okes, each of 400 drams ; equal to
16 lbs. 6 oz. 1.5 dr. English.
BATOON' or BAT'ON, n. [Fr. baton from
baslon. See Baste.]
A staff" or ehib ; a marshal's staff"; a trun-
cheon ; a badge of militaiy honors.
Johnson.
BAT'RA€HITE, n. [Gr. ^of pa;^05, a fiog.j
A fossil or stone in color resembling a frog,
Ash.
BAT'RA€HOMYOM'A€HY, n. [Gr. t3oT-
fia-xoi, a frog, ^vj, a mouse, and ^ajt"?, a bat-
tle.]
The battle between the frogs and mice ; a
burlesque poem ascribed to Homer.
BATRA'CIAN, a. [Gr. 3o.tfa.xof, a frog.]
Pertaining to fi-ogs ; an epithet designa-
ting an order of animals, including frogs
toads and similar animals. Barnes.
BATRA'CIAN, n. An animal of the orde:
above mentioned.
BAT'TABLE, a. Capable of cultivation.
[.Vo( in use.'] Burton.
BAT TAILANT, n. [See BatUe.] A com-
liatant. [.Yot used.] Shelton.
BAT'TAILOUS, a. [See Battle.] Warlilte ;
having the form or appearance of an
my arrayed for battle ; marshaled, as for
an attack. Milton. Fairfo
BATTAL'IA, n. [Sp.batalla; Ix. battaglia,
battle. See Battle.]
1. Tlie order of battle : troops arrayed in
their proper brigades, regiments, battal-
ions, &c., as for action.
2. The main body of an army in array, dis-
tinguished from the wings. Johnson.
BATT ALTON, n. [Fr.bataiUon. See Battte.]
A body of infantry, consisting of from 500
to 800 men ; so" called from being origi-
nally a body of men arrayed for battle.
A battalion is generally a body of troops
next below a regiment. Sometimes a bat-
talion composes a regiment ; more gene-
rally a regiment consists of two or more
battalions. Johnson. Encyc.
Shakspeare u.ses the word for an arm v.
BATTALTONED, a. Formed into battal
ions. Barlow.
BATTEL, (I. [See Battle.]
In law, wager of battel, a si)ecies of trial for
the decision of causes between parties-
This species of trial is of high antiquity,
among the rude mihtary people of Eu-
rope. It wasintroducedinto England, by
William, the Norman Conqueror, and used
in three cases only ; in the court martial,
or court of chivalry or honor ; in appeals
of felony; and in issues joined upon a
writ of right. The contest was had before
the judges, on a piece of ground inclosed,
and the combatants were boimd to fight
till the stars appeared, unless the death
of one party or victory sootier decided tlu'
contest. It is no longer in use.
Blackstone.
BATTEL, V. i. To grow fat. LVot in use.]
[See batten.]
2. To stand indebted in the college books at
Oxford, for provisions and drink, from
the buttery. Hence a 6a«e/er answers to
a sizer at Cambridge.
BAT'TEL, n. An account of the expenses
of a student at Oxford.
BAT'TEL, a. [See Batten.] Fertile ; fruit-
fid. [JVot used.]
BAT'TELER,
B.\TTLER,
Hooker.
A student at Oxford.
BAT'TEMENT, n. [Fr.] A beating; strilv-
g ; imi)ulse. [.Yot in use.]
Darwin, Zoon.
BAT'TEN, V. t. bat'n. [Russ. botiayu. Uu.
Ar. •S.J badana, to be fat; or • j^j
faddana, to fatten. See Fat.]
1. To fatten ; to make fat ; to make plump
by plenteous feeding. Milton.
To fertilize or enrich land. Philips.
BAT'TEN, V. i. To grow or become fat ; to
live in luxury, or to grow fat in ease and
luxury. ' Dryden.
The pampered monarch battening in ease.
Garth.
BAT'TEN, n. A piece of board or scant-
ling, of a few inches in breadth, used in
making doors and windows. It is not as
broad as a pannel. Encyc.
ATTEN, V. t. To form with battens.
BAT'TER, v.f. [Fr. baHre ; Sp. batir; It.
battere; L. batiw, to beat. See Beat.]
1. To beat with successive blows ; to beat
with violence, so as to bruise, shake, or
demolish ; as, to batter a wall.
2. To wear or impair with heating ; as a bat-
tered pavement; a battered jade.
Dryden. Pope.
3. To attack with a battering ram.
4. To attack with heavy artillerj', for the
purpose of making a breach in" a wall or
rampart.
BAT'TER, V. i. To sweU, bulge or stand
out, as a timber or side of a wall from its
foundation. Moxon.
BAT'TER, n. [from beat or batter.]
A mixture of seAeral ingredients, as flour,
eggs, salt, &c., beaten together with some
liquor, used in cookery. King.
BATTERED, pp. Beaten ; bruised, brok-
en, impaired by beating or wearing.
BAT TERER, n. One who batters or beats.
BATTERING, ppr. Beating; da.<^hing a-
gainst ; bruising or demoUsliijig by beatinsr
BAT
BATTERING-RAM, n. In antiquity, a
military engine used to beat down the
walls of besieged places. It was a large
beam, with a head of iron somewhat re-
sembling the head of a ram, whence its
name. It was suspended by ropes in the
middle to a beam which was supported
by posts, and balanced so as to swing back
wards and forwards, and was impelled by
men against the wall. It was sometimes
mounted on wheels.
BATTERY, n. [Fr. baUeiie ; Sp. bateria ;
It. batteria. See Beat.]
1. The act of battering, or beating.
9. The instrument of battering.
3. In the military art, a parapet thrown up.l
cover the gunners and others employed
about tlieni, from the enemy's shot, with
the guns employed. Thus, to erect a bat
tery, is to form the parapet and mount the
guns. The term is applied also to a num-
ber of guns ranged in order for battering
and to mortars used for a like purpose
Cross batteries me two batteries which
play athwart each other, forming an angle
upon the object battered
Battery d'enjilade, is one which scours or
sweeps the whole line or length.
Battery en echarpe, is that which play
obliquely. .
Battery de revers, is that which plays
upon the enemy's back.
Camerade battery, is when several guns
olay at the same time upon one place.
* ■' Encyc.
■1. In laiv, the unlawful beating of another,
The least violence or the touching ot an-
other in anger is a battery. Blackstone
.5. In electrical apparatus and experiments, s
number of coated jars placed in such t
manner, that they may be charged at the
same time, and- discharged in the same
manner. This is called an electrical battery.
6. Galvanic battery, a pile or series of plates
of copper and ?ink, or of any substances
susceptible of galvanic action.
"BAT'TING, n. The management of a bat
play.
BAT'TISH, a. [from bat,
Resembling a bat ; as a battish humor.
p'crnon.
BAT'TLE, n. [Fr. bataille ; W. batel, a
drawing of the bow, a battle ; Sp. batal-
la ; It. battaglia, from beating. See Beat.
Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from
fel, tight, stretched, compact, and the
word primarily to have expressed the
g of the bow. This
B A U
2. A body of forces, or division of an army,
Mason
animal.]
The main body, as distinct from the
and rear. Obs. Hayward.
To give battle, is to attack an enemy ; to join
battle, is properly to meet the attack ; but
perhaps tliis distinction is not always ob-
served.
A pitched battle is one in which the aiTmci
are previously drawn up in form, with i
regular disposition of the forces.
To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight val-
iantly, and drive the enemy, who hath
entered the city, back to the gate. Is.
BAT'TLE, V. i. [Fr. batailler ; Sp. batallar.]
To join in battle ; to contend in fight ; some-
times with it ; as, to battle it. Addison.
BAT'TLE, V. I. To cover with armed force.
Fairfax.
BATTLE-ARRA'Y, n. [battle axiA array.]
Array or order of battle ; the disposif— ' ■''
forces preparatory to a battle.
BAT'TLE-AX, \ An ax anciently used
BAT'TLE-AXE, \ "" as a weapon of
It has been used till of late years by the
highlanders in Scotland ; and is still used
by the city guards in Edinburg, in quelling
mobs, &c. Encyc.
BAT'TLE-DOOR, n. bat'tl-dore. An instru-
ment of play, with a handle and a flat
board or palm, used to strike a ball or
shuttle-cock ; a racket. . iocte-
3. A child's horn book. [M'ot in use in U. S.]
BAT'TLEMENT, n. [This is said to have
been bastillement, from bastille, a fortifica-
tion, from Fr. bdtir, bastir, to build. Qu.]
A wall raised on a building with openmgs
or embrasures, or the embrasure itself
Encyc. Johnson.
BAT'TLEMENTED, a. Secured by battle-
ments. Herbert
BAT'TLING, n. Conflict. Thomson
BATTOL'OGIST, n. [See Battology.]
One that repeats the same thing in speaking
Iting. [Little used.] Wkitlock.
BATTOL'OtiIZE, v. t. To repeat need-
lessly the same thing. [Liltle used.]
Herbert.
BATTOL'OuY, n. [Gr. fSarfoXoyia, from
fJarros, a garrulous person, and 710705, dis-
A needless repetition of words in speaking.
Ash. Encyc.
BAT'TON, )!. [from bat.] In commerce,
pieces of wood or deal for flooring, or
other purposes. Encyc.
BAT'TORY, n. Among the Hans-Towns, a
factory or magazine which the merchants
have in foreign countries. Encyc.
BAT'TULATE, v. t. To interdict commerce,
[A word used by the Levant company.]
Eton
drawing of the bow. Tins is probably an
error. The first battles of men were vifitl
clubs, or some weapons used in beating.
striking. Hence the club of Hercules
And although the moderns
weapons, still a battle is si
l.''r4"hl°or'enc"unter between enemies,! BAT'TY, a. [from 6a<, an animal.]
or opposing armies ; an engagement. It'
is usually applied to armies or large bod
ies of men ; but in popular language, the
word is applied to an encounter between
small bodies, between individuals, or infe-
rior animate. It is also more generally
applied to the encounters of land forces
than of ships ; the encounters of the latter]
being called engagements. But battle is
applicable to any combat of enemies.
difterent., „
ode oi BATTULA'TION,>i. A prohibition of com
Eton
Belonging to a bat. Shak.
BATZ, n. A small copper coin with a mix-
ture of silver, current in some parts of
Germany and Switzerland. Encyc.
BAUBEE', n. [Qu. Fr. bas-biUon.] In Scut-
land and the North of England, a half
penny. Johnson.
BAUgE, n. A drugget manufactured in Bur-
gundy, with thread spun thick, and of
coarse wool. Encyc.
B A W
BAULK. [See Balk.-\
BAV'AROY, n. A kind of cloke or surtout.
Johnson.
BAVIN, n. A stick like those bound up in
faggots ; a piece of waste wood. In war,
brush, faggots. Johnson. Encyc.
BAWBLE, n. [Fr. babiole, a toy, or baby-
thing ; according to Spelman, baubella are
gems or jewels.]
A trifling piece of finery ; a gew-gaw ; that
which is gay or showy without real value.
Dry den.
BAWB'LING, a. Trifling ; contemptible.
Obs. Shak.
BA W'-€OCK, n. A fine fellow. [Qu. beau-
cock.] Shak.
BAWD, n. [I know not the origin of this
word ; but in French, baudir is a term in
hunting, signifying to excite or encourage
dogs to the chase ; formed, according to
Lunier, from the Low Latin, baldire, or
exbaldire, to enliven, to quicken ; which,
from the Italian, baldo, baldanza, appears
to be from the root of Eng. bold, the pri-
mary sense of which is, to project, to push
or rush forward. In W. pud is what tends
to allure. But one author quotes Hesych-
ius, as giving Gr. )3a6o5, a procurer or
procuress.]
A procurer or procuress. A person who
keeps a house of prostitution, and con-
ducts criminal intrigues. [UsuMy applied
to females.]
BAWD, V. i. To procure ; to provide women
for lewd purposes.
2. To foul or dirtv. [ATol in use.] Skelton.
BAWD'-BORN, a. Descended from a bawd.
Shak.
BAWD'ILY, arfi'. Obscenely; lewdly.
BAWD'INESS, n. OKscenity ; lewdness.
B.\WD'RICK, n. [See Baldrick.] A belt.
Chapman.
BAWD'RY,n. [See Bawd.] The abomina-
ble practice of procuring women for the
gratification of lust.
2. Obscenity ; filthy, unchaste language.
BAWD'Y, a. Obscene; filthy; unchaste;
applied to lane^uase.
BAWD'Y-HOUSE; a. A house of lewdness
and prostitution.
BAWL, V. i. [Sax. bellan ; Sw. hola, to low
or bellow ; W. ballaw ; G. bellen, to bark ;
D. balderen, to roar ; L. balo, to bleat ; Fr.
piailler, to bawl, to pule ; Heb. by the
blast of a trumpet ; Per. bala, a cry or
clamor ; and Ar. and Heb. Sds, to weep,
to wail. These all coincide in elements
with L. pello, appello, Eng. peal, and the
primary sense is the same]
To cry out with a loud full sound ; to
hoot ; to cry with vehemence, as in calling,
or in pain or exultation.
2. To cry loud, as a child from pain or
vexation.
BAWL, D. t. To proclaim by outcry, as a
common crier. Suijt.
BAWL'ED, pp. Proclaimed by outcry.
BAWL'ING,/)pr. Orving aloud.
BAWL'ING, n. The act of crying with a
loud sound.
BAWN, n. An inclosure with mud or stone
walls for keeping cattle ; a fortification.
[JVot used.] Spen.'icr.
BAW'RKL,n. A kind of hawk. Todc'.
BAW'SIN, rt. A badger. B. Jonson.
BAY
BAXTE'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Baxter, :
celebrated English divine ; as the Baxle
rian scheme. Encyc.
BAV, a. JFr. hai or haie ; It. baio ; 6p. bayo
L. badius. Class Bd.]
Red, or reddish, inchniiig to a chcsnut color
applied to the color of horses. The shades
of this color are called light bay, dark bay,
dappled bay, gilded bay, chesnut bay. In
popular language, in England, all bay
horses are called broum.
Johnson. Encyc
BAY, n. [Fr. baie ; Sp. Port, bahia ; It. bam
D. baai ; contracted from the root of Sax.
byge, an angle, bygan, D. boogen, to bend,
whence bow.']
1. An arm of the sea, extending into the
land, not of any definite form, but smaller
than a gulf, and larger than a creek. The
name however is not used with much pre
cision, and is often applied to large tracts
of water, around which the land forms a
curve, as Hudson's Bay. Nor is the name
restricted to tracts of water with a narrow
entrance, but used for any recess or inlet
between capes or head lands, as tlie bay
of Biscay.
2. A pond-head, or a pond formed by a dam,
for the purpose of ilriving mill-wheels,
[/ believe not used in U. S.]
3. Ill a bam, a place between the floor and
the end of the building, or a low inclosed
place, for depositing hay.
In Englaiid,B&ysio\msoT\, if a barn con-
sists of a floor and two h^ads, where they
lay corn, they call it a barn of two bay's.
These bays are from 14 to 20 feet long,
and floors from 10 to 12 feet broad, and
usually 20 feet long, wliicli is the breadth
of the bam. Builder's Did.
4. In ships of war, that part on each side be-
tween decks which hes between the hitts.
Mar. Did.
.'). Any kind of opening in walls.
Chambers.
BAY, n. [Qu. Gr. tSaiov, a branch of the palm
tree. In Sp. baya is a berry, the fruit of
the laurel.]
1. The laurel tree. Hence,
2. Bays, in the plural, an honorary garland
or crown, bestowed as a prize for victory
or excellence, anciently made or consist-
ing of branches of the laurel.
The patriot's honors, and tlie poet's bays.
Tnimbull.
3. In .some parts of the U. States, a tract of
land covered with bay trees.
Drayton, S. Carolina.
BAY, 71. [Goth, beidan, to expect ; It. bada ;
" tenere a bada," to keep at bay ; " star a
bada," to stand trifling ; bada're, to stand
trifling, to amuse one's self, to take care,
to watch, to covet ; abbadare, to mind ; ^r.
bayer, to gape or stand gaping. Qu.
aboyer.]
A state of expectation, watching or looking
for ; as, to kee)) a man at bay. So a stag
at bay is when he turns his head against
the dogs. Whence abeyance, in law, or a
state of expectancy.
BAY, t). f. [Fr. aboyer; It. toinre, to bark.]
1. To bark, as a dog at his game. Spenser.
2. To encompass, or inclose, from bay. We'
now use embay. Shak.l
B.\Y, V. t. To bark at ; to follow with bark-
ing. Shale]
B E
BAY-SALT, is salt which crystalizes or re
ceives its consistence from the heat of the
sun or action of the air. It fonns in pits
or basins, and from this circumstance re-
ceives its denomination. It appears first
in a slight incrustation upon the surface of
the water, which may be sea water, or any
other water in which salt is dissolved.
This crust thickens and hardens, till the
crystaUzation is perfected, which takes
place, in eight, ten or fifteen days.
Encyc. Chambers.
BAY-WINDOW, n. A window jutting out
from the wall, as in shops.
BAY- YARN, n. A denomination sometimes
used promiscuously with woolen yam.
Chambers.
BA'YARD, 71. [bay and ard, kind.]
1. A bay horse. Philips.
2. An-unmannerly beholder. B. Jonson.
BA'YARDLY, a. Blind ; stupid. Taylor.
BA'YED, a. Having bays, as a building.
BA'YONET, 71. [Fr. baionette ; Sp. bayoji-
etu ; It. baionetta ; so called, it is said, be
cause the first bayonets were made at Bay
onne. Fieyra's Portuguese Did.]
A short pointed instrument of iron or broad
dagger, formerly with a handle fitted to
the bore of a gun, where it was inserted
for use, after the soldier had fired ; bi
now made with an iron handle and rmg
which go over the muzzle of the piece, so
that the soldier fires with his bayonel
fixed. Encyc
BA'YONET, V. t. To stab with a bayonet.
2. To compel or drive by tlie bayonet.
Burke.
BAYS, or BAYZE. [See Baize.]
BAZAR, 71. [Pers.jljL^ bazar; Rus
bazari, a market.]
Among the Turks and Persians, an ej
change, market-place, or place wliere
goods are exposed to sale. Some bazars
are open, others are covered with lofty
ceihiigs or domes, pierced to give light.
The bazar at Tauris will contain 30,000
men. "" Encyc.
BAZ'AT, ^ „ A long, fine spun cotton from
BAZ'A, S ■ Jerusalem, whence it is called
Jerusalem cotton. Encyc.
BDEL'LIUM, n. deU'yum. [L.; Gr. ^SfWi.or;
Syr. Ch. Heb. rhl2. Bochart and Park
hurst translate it, pearl. Gen. ii. But i
is doubtful whether the bdellium of the
scriptures is that now used.]
A gummy resinous juice, produced by a tree
in the East Indies, of which we have no
satisfactory account. It is brought fi-om
the E. Indies and from Arabia, in pieces
of diflferent sizes and figures, externally of
a dark reddish brown, internally, clear
and not unlike to glue. To the taste, it '
slightly bitterish and pungent ; its odor
agreeable. In the mouth, it becomes S(
and sticks to the teeth ; on a red hot iron,
it readily catches flame and burns with a
crackling noise. It is used as a perfume
and a medicine, being a weak deobstru-
ent. Encyc.
BE, V. i. substantive; ppr. being; pp. been.
[Sax. 6eon, to be. 6. bin, bist ; D. 6€7i ;
Indie, pres. tense. Qu. Pers. • v ,
bodan, to be, and W. bud, byzu, bydiaw.
B E A
The sense is to stand, remain or be fixed ;
hence to continue. This verb is defect-
ive, and its defects are supjihed by verbs
from other roots, am, is, was, were, which
have no radical connection with be. The
case is the same with the substantive verb
in most languages.]
1. To be fixed ; to exist ; to have a real state
or existence, for a longer or shorter time.
Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ
Jesus. Phil. ii.
To be, contents his natural desire. Pope.
2. To be made to be ; to become.
And they twain shall be one flesh. Math.
Jcr. xxxii.
3. To remain. Let the garment be as if
was made.
4. To he present in a place. Where uas I
at the time ? When will you be at my
house .''
5. To have a particular manner of being or
happening ; as, how is this aflair ? how
was it ? what were the circumstances ?
This verb is used as an auxiliary in forming
the tenses of other verbs, and particularly
in giving to them the passive form ; as,
he has been disturbed. It forms, with
the infinitive, a particular future tense,
which often expresses duty, necessity or
purpose ; as, govenmient is to be sup-
ported ; we are to pay our just debts.
Let be is to omit, or leave untouched ; to let
alone.
Let be, said he, my prey. Dryden.
BE, a prefix, as in because, before, beset, be-
deck, is the same word as by ; Sax. 6f, big ;
Goth. bi. It is common to the EngUsh,
Saxon, Gothic, German, Dutch, Danish
and Swedish languages. It occurs proba-
bly in the Russian, but is written ;)o, as it
is in possideo and a few other words in the
Latin. It denotes nearness, closeness,
about, on, at, from some root signifying to
pass or to press. [See By.]
That this word is the Shemitic 3, used as a
prefix, is certain, not only from its general
applications, which may he seen by com-
paring the uses of the word, in the Heb.
for instance, with those in the Saxon ;
but from its use in particular phrases, par-
ticularly in its use before the name of the
Supreme being in s»vearing. Hence we
find that 3 is not from n3 nor from ri'S, as
Parkhurst supposes, but is a contraction
of big, which is used in the Saxon, big-
spelt, a proverb, a by-worA ; bigslandan,
to stand by.
BEACH, 71. [Qu. Russ. bok, coast.]
The shore of the sea, or of a lake, wliieh is
washed by the tide and waves ; the strand.
It may he sometimes used for the shore of
large rivers.
BE' ACHED, a. Exposed to the waves ;
washed by the tide and waves. Shak,
BE'ACHY, a. Having a beach or beaches.
Shak.
BE'A€ON, 71. be^kn. [W. pigxm, a beacon,
cone, or turret, from p^g, a point. See
Pike. Sax. beaccn, becen, asignal ; D. baak,
baaken ; Ger. bake.]
1. A signal erected on a long pole, upon an
eminence, consisting of a pitch barrel, or
some combustible matter, to be fired at
night, or to cause a smoke by day, to no-
tify the approach of an enemy.
2. A light-house ; a house erected on a point
B E A
of land, or other place on the sea-coast,
with lamps which burn at night, to direct
navigators, and preserve vessels from run-
ning upon rocks, sand banks, or the shore.
In general, a beacon may be any light or
mark intended for direction and security
against danger.
3. Figuratively, that which gives notice of
danger.
BE'A€ONAgE, n. Money paid for the
maintenance of a beacon. Encyc. ,/lsh,
BEAD, n. [Ger. bethe, a bead ; supposed
from beten, biddan, to pray, from the use of
beads in Cathohc countries ; Sax. bead, a
praying. In Spanish and Portuguese, the
word answering to count is used for a bead.'
1. A little perforated ball, to be strung on £
tln-ead, and worn about the neck, for orna
nient. A string of beads is called a neck-
lace. Beads are made of gold, pearl,
amber, steel, garnet, coral, diamond, crys-
tal, pastes, glasses, &c. The Romanists
use strings of beads in rehearsing their
prayers. Hence the phrase, to tell heads,
and to be at 0)ie'« beads, is to be at prayer.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. Any small globular body ; hence the glass
globules, used in traffick with savages, and
sold in strings, are called beads ; also a
bubble on spirit.
3. In architecture, a round molding, com-
monly made upon the edge of a piece of
stuff.in the Corintliian and Roman orders,
cut or carved in short embossments, like
beads in necklaces. Encyc.
Bidding of beads, is a charge given by
priest to his parishioners, to repeat certain
pater-nosters upon their beads for a de-
parted sold. Bailey.
BE'AD-MAKER, n. One who makes beads.
In French, paternostrier is one who makes,
strings, and sells beads. In Paris are
three companies of paternostriers ; one that
works in glass or ci-ystal ; one, in wood
and horn ;"a third, ui amber, coral, &c.
Enci/c.
BE'AD-PROOF, a. Spirit is bead-proof,
when, after being shaken, a crown of
bubbles will stand, for some time after,
on the surface, manifesting a certain
standard of strength. Encyc.
BE' AD-ROLL, n. Among Catholics, a list
or catalogue of persons, for the rest of
whose souls, they are to repeat a certain
number of prayers, which they count by
their beads. Encyc.
BE'AD-TREE, n. The azedarach, a species
of MeUa, a native of the Indies, growing
about 20 feet high, adorned with large
pinnated or winged leaves, and clusters of
pentapetalous flowers. Encyc.
BEADS-MAN, n. A man employed in pray-
ing, generally in praying for another.
Joh7ison.
BE' ADS-WOMAN, n. A praying woman ;
a woman wlio resides in an alms-house.
Ash.
BE'ADLE, n. [Sax. bydel, or bfcdel; Fr.
bedeau ; Sp. bedel ; It. bidello ; Ger. bidtel,
pedeU ; Sw. bodel, a beadle, or lictor ; from
the root of bid. Sax. beodan, to order or
command. See Bid.]
1. A messenger or crier of a court ; a servi-
tor ; one who cites persons to appear and
answer ; called also an apparitor or sum-
raoner. Encyc.
13 E A
2. An officer in a university, whose chief
business is to walk with a mace, before
the masters, in a public procession ; or as
in America, before the president, trus-
tees, faculty and students of a college, in a
procession, at public commencements.
Encyc.
A parish officer, whose business is to pim-
ish jietty offenders. Johnson.
BE'ADLESHIP, n. The office of a beadle.
Wood.
BE'AGLE, n. [Fr. bigle, so named from lit-
tleness ; W. ioc, little ; Ir. pig ; It. piccolo.
We have from the same root boy, and the
Danes pige, a httle girl, and probably pug
is the same word. Qu. Gr. nvyfiaMi, a pyg
my.]
A small hound, or hunting dog. Beagles are
of different sorts ; as tlie southern beagle,
shorter and less, but thicker, than the
deep-mouthed hound ; the Jleet northern
or cat beagle, smaller, and of a finer shape
than the southern. From these
united, is bred a third, still preferable ; and
a smaller sort is little larger than the lap-
dog. Encyc.
BEAK, n. [D.bek; W.pig; Ir.peac ; Arm.
bek ; Fr. bee ; Sp. pica ; It. becco ; Dan.
pig, pik ; Sw. pigg, pik ; Sax.piic ; Fr.
pique ; Eng. peak, pike, &c. The sense
is, a shoot, or a point, from thrusting ; and
this word is connected with a numerous
family. See Class Bg.]
1. The bill, or nib of a bird, consisting of i
horny substance, either straight or curv
ing, and ending in a point.
2. A pointed piece of wood, fortified with
brass, resembling a beak, fastened to the
end of ancient gallies ; intended to pierce
the vessels of an enemy. In modern ships,
the beak-head is a name given to the fore
part of a ship, whose forecastle is square,
or oblong ; a circumstance common to all
ships of war, which have two or more
tiers of guns. Mar. Diet
Beak or beak-head, that part of a ship,
before the forecastle, which is fastened to
the stem, and supported by the main knee.
Encyc
3. In farriery, a little shoe, at the toe, about
an inch long, turned up and fastened in
upon the fore part of the hoof
Farrier^s Diet
4. Any thing ending in a point, like a beak,
This in America is more generally pro-
nounced peak.
BEAK, II. t. Among cock fighters, to take
hold witli the beak. Ash.
BE'AKED, a. Having a beak ; ending in
point, like a beak.
BE'AKER, n. [Ger. hecher.] A cup or glass.
Johnson.
BE'AKiRON, n. A bickern ; an iron tool,
ending in a point, used by blacksmiths.
Ash.
BEAL, n. [See Boil. W. bal, a pronfiinence.]
A pimple ; a whelk ; a small inflamma-
tory tumor ; a pustule. Johnson. Ash
BEAL, V. i. To gather matter ; to swell and
come to a head, as a pimple.
Johnson. Ash.
BEAM, n. [Goth, bagms, a tree ; Sax. beam ;
G. baum ; D. boom, a tree ; Dan. horn, a bar
or rail ; Ir. beiin, a beam. We see by the
Gothic, th^t the word belongs to Cli
B E A
Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem
of a tree ; that is, the fixed, firm part.]
1. The largest, or a principal piece in a
building, that lies across the walls, and
serves to support the principal rafters.
Encyc.
2. Any large piece of timber, long in pro-
portion to its tliickuess, and squared, or
hewed for use.
3. The part of a balance, from the ends of
which the scales are suspended ; some-
times used for the whole apparatus for
weighing. Encyc.
4. The part on the head of a stag, which
bears the antlers, royals and tops.
5. The pole of a carriage, which runs be-
tween the horses. Dryden.
6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a
loom, on which weavers -wind the warp
before weaving ; and this name is given
also to the cylinder on which the cloth is
rolled, as it is wove.
7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
In ships, a great main cross timber, which
holds the sides of a ship from falling to-
gether. The beams support the decks and
orlops. The mam beam is next the main-
mast. Mar. DicL
The maul piece of a plow, in which the
I plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is
i drawn.
10. Beam co7npass, an instrument consisting
of a square wooden cr brass beam, having
shding sockets, that carry steel or pencil
points ; used for describing large circles,
and in large projections for drawing the
furniture on wall-dials. Encyc. Johnson.
On the beam, in navigation, signifies any dis-
tance from the ship, on a line with the
beams, or at right angles with the keel.
Jlfar. Diet.
Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon be-
tween a line that crosses the ship at right
angles, or the line of tlie beam, and that
point of the compass which she steers.
Mar. Diet.
Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her
beam ends, when she inclines so much on
one side that her beams approach a ver-
tical position. Mar. Diet.
Beam-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers
of a hawk's wing. Bailey.
BE'AM-BIRD, n. In Yorkshire, England,
the petty chaps, a species of Motacilla,
called in Dorsetshire, the hay-bird.
Encyc.
The spotted fly-catcher, a species of Musci-
capa. Ed. Encyc.
BE'AM-TREE, n. A si)ecies of wild ser-
vice. Johnson.
The Crataegus Aria. Cye.
BEAM, n. [Sax. beam, a ray of the sun ;
tieamian, to shine or send forth beams ;
Sam. bahmah, splendor ; Ij. beim, a stroke,
and solf'heim, a thunderbolt.]
A ray of light, emitted from the sun, or other
luminous bodv.
BEAM, V. f. To send forth ; to emit.
BEAM, V. i. To emit rays of hght, or beams-,
to shine.
He beam'd, the day star of the rising age.
Trumbull.
BE'AMING, ppr. Emitting rays of hght or
beams.
BE'AMING, n. Radiation ; the emission or
darting of light in rays.
B E A
'■I. The issuing of ijitellectual light ; dawn
prophetic intimation ; first indication.
Such were tlie beamings of an original and
rifted mind. T. Dawes
BE'AMLESS, a. Emitting no rays of light
BE'AMY, a. Emitting rays of hght ; radi-
ant ; shining.
2. Resembling a beam in size and weight :
massy. Dryden.
3. Having horns, or antlers. Dryden.
BEAN, n. [Sax. bean ; Dan. bonne ; Sw.
bbna ; Gr. rfvavw ; D. boon ; Ger. bohne ;
Ch. [ISN, apun, a vetch. Qu. Arm. fa
Corn. id. ; W. faen.]
A name given to several kinds of pulse, or
leguminous seeds, and the plants produ
cing them. They belong to several gen
era, particularly Vicia, Phaseolus and
Dolichos. The varieties most usually
cultivated are, the horse bean, the maza-
gan, the kidney bean, the cranberry liean,
the hma bean, the frost bean, &c. The
stalk is erect or climbing, and the fruit
generally roundish, oval or fiat, and of
various colors.
Malacca-beans. Anacardia, the fruit of a tree]
growing in Malabar, and other parts of
the Indies. This fluit is of a shining black
color, of the shape of a heart flattened,
about an inch long, terminating at one end
in an obtuse point, and at the other, ad-
liering to a wrinkled stalk. It contains,
mthin two shells, a kernel of a sweetish
taste ; and betwixt the shells is lodged
thick acrid juice. Encyc.
BE'AN-€APER, n. A plant, a species of
zygophyllum, a native of warm climates.
Encyc.
BE'AN-€OD, n. A small fishing vessel oi
pilot boat, used in the rivers of Portugal.
It is sharp forward, having its stem bent
above into a great curve, and plated with
iron. Eyicyc.
BE'AN-FED, a. Fed with beans. Shak.
BE'AN-FLY, n. A beautiful fiy, of a pale
purple color, found on bean flowers, pro-
duced from a maggot called mida.
Encyc.
BE'AN-GOOSE, n. A species of Anas ; a
migratory bird, which arrives in England
in autumn, and retires to the north in sum
mer. It is so named, from the likeness of
the nail of the bill to a horse-bean.
Encyc
Bean-tree of America, a name given to thi
Erythrina.
Kidney- Bean-tree, a name given to the Gly
B E A
son ; Dan. barer, to carry, bear,|
; L. ftro, pario, porta ; Gr. ^i
barn, a
produce
?iopf« ; Sji. I'on.parir, to bring forth ; por-
tar, to carry ; It. portare, to carry ; Ir
bearadh, beirim, to bear or bring forth, to
tell or relate, whence Fr. parter; Russ.
bent, to take, to carry; Sans, bharadi,
bear. Tliis verb I suppose to be radically
the same as the Shemitic tn3 to produce ;
L. pario. The primary sense is to throw
out, to bring forth, or in general, to thrust
or drive along. It includes the proper
both of L. fero and pario ;
significations, both of L. fe
Shemitic mi) and <</JP. Hem
Binding-bean-tree, a name given to the
Mimosa.
Bean-trefoil, tlie Cytisus. Fam. of Plants.
BEAR, V. t. pret. bore ; pp. born, borne. [Sax.
boeran, beran, beoran, byran, geba:ran, gebe-
ran, gebyran, abceran, aberan, to beai-,
carry, bring, sustain, produce, bring forth ;
gebyrian, gebyrigan, to pertain to, to be-
long to, to happen, to become, or be suit-
able ; answering to the Latin fero, porto,
pario and oporteo. Hence, probably. Sax.
barn, beam, a son, coinciding with bom.
Goth, bairan, to bear, or carry ; gabairan,
to bear; G.fikren, to carry, and gebaren, to
bring forth ; D. beuren, to hfV ; voeren, to
carry or bear ; baaren, to bring forth ; Sw.
b&ra, to carry ; bhra from, to bring forth ;|
pano
probi
bly, Gr. tJopoj, .io^vj, and a great family of
words. See Class Br. No. 15, Zi, S3, 35.]
1. To support ; to sustain ; as, to bear a
weight or burden.
2. To carry ; to convey ; to support and re
niove from place to place ; as, " they bear
him upon the shoulder ;" " the eagle bear-
eth them on lier wings."
Isaiah. Deuteronomy.
3. To wear ; to hear as a mark of authority
tiou ; as, to iear u sword, a badge,
to bear arms in a coat.
4. To keep afloat ; as, the water bears a ship.
5. To support or sustain without sinking
yielding ; to endure; as, a man can bear
severe pain or calamity ; or to sustain witi
proportionate strength, and without inju-
ry ; as, a man may bear stronger food oi
drink.
6. To entertain ; to carry in the mind ; as
to bear a great love for a fiiend ; to bear
inveterate liatred to gaining.
7. To suffer ; to undergo ; as, to bear pun
ishment.
To suffer without resentment, or inter-
ference to prevent ; to have patience ; as
to bear neglect or indignities.
9. To admit or be capable of; that is, to suf-
fer or sustain without violence, injury, oi
change ; as, to give words the most favor
able interpretation they will bear.
10. To bring forth or produce, as the fruit of
plants, or the young of animals ; as, to bear
apples ; to bear children.
11. To give birth to, or be the native place of
Here dwelt the man divine whom Samos bore.
Dryden.
13. To possess and use as power ; to exer-
s, to bear sway.
13. To gain or win.
Some think to bear it by speaking a great
word. £acon
[Not now used. The phrase now used is
to bear away.]
14. To carry on, or maintain ; to have ; as,
to bear a part in conversation.
15. To show or exhibit ; to relate ; as, to bear
testimony or witness. This seems to im
ply utterance, like the Latin fero, to relate
or utter.
16. To sustain the effect, or be answerable
for ; as, to bear the blame.
17. To sustain, as expense ; to supply the
means of paying ; as, to bear the charges,
that is, to pav the expe
18. To be the object of.
Let me but 6ear your love, and I'll tear your
cares. [Unusual.] Shak.
19. To behave ; to act in any character ; as,
" hath he borne iiiraself penitent ?" [.Vbf
usual] Shak.
B E A
0. To remove, or to endure the eft'ects of;
and hence to give satisfaction for.
He shall bear tlieir iniquities. Is. liii. Heb.
To bear the infrmities of the weak, to bear one
another's burdens, is to be charitable to-
wards their faults, to sympathize with
them, and to aid them in distress.
Brown.
To bear off, is to restrain ; to keep from ap-
proach ; and in seamanship, to remove to
a distance ; tu keep clear from rubbing
against any tiling ; as, to bear off a blow ;
to bear off a boat ; also, to carry away ; as,
to bear iff stolen goods.
To bear down, is to imjiel or urge ; to over-
throw or crush by force ; as, to bear down
an enemy.
To bear down upon, to press to overtake ; to
make all sail to come up with.
To bear hard, is to press or lu-ge.
Cesar doth bear me hard. Shak.
To bear on, is to press against ; also to carry
forward, to press, incite or animate.
Confidence hath borne thee on. Milton.
To bear through, is to conduct or manage ;
as, " to bear through the consulship."
B. Jonson. Also, to maintain or support
to the end ; as, religion will bear us through
the evils of Hfe.
To bear out, is to maintain and support to the
end ; to defend to the last.
Company only can bear a man out in an ill
thing. South.
To bear up, to support ; to keep from falling.
Religious hope bears up the mind under suf-
fprings. Addison.
To bear up, to keep afloat.
To bear a body. A color is said to bear a
body in paintuig, when it is capable of be-
ing ground so fine, and mixed so entirely
with the oil, as to seem only a very thick
oil of the same color. Johnson.
To bear date, is to have the mark of time
when written or executed ; as, a letter or
bond bears date, Jan. 6, 1811.
To bear a price, is to have a certain price.
In common mercantile language, it oden
signifies or imphes, to bear a good or high
price.
To bear in hand, to amuse with false preten-
ses ; to deceive. Bacon. South. Shak.
I believe this phrase is obsolete, or never
used in America.
To bear a hand, in seamanship, is to make
haste, be quick.
BEAR, V. i. To suffer, as with pain.
But man is bom to bear. Pope.
This is unusual in prose ; and though
admissible, is rendered intransitive, merely
by the omission of pain, or other word ex-
pressive of evil.
2. To be patient ; to endure.
I cannot, cannot bear. Dryden.
This also seems to be elliptical.
3. To produce, as fruit ; to be fruitful, in op-
position to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
Dryden.
Here fruit must be luiderstood.
4. To take effect ; to succeed ; as, to bring
matters to bear. Guardian.
5. To act in any character.
Instruct me how I may bear like a tnie friar
[C'/iKsua;.] Shak.
To be situated as to the point of compas?.
B E A
with respect to something else ; as, the
land hore E. N. E. fi-om the ship.
7. To bear away, in navigation, is to change
the course of a ship, when close hauled,
or sailing with a side wind, and make her
run before the wind. To bear up, is used
in a like sense, from the act of bearing up
the helm to the windward. Mar. Did
Hence, perhaps, in other cases, the ex-
pression may be used to denote tending or
moving from.
8. To bear down, is to drive or tend to ; to
approach with a fair wind ; as, the fleet
bore down upon the enemy.
9. To bear in, is to run or tend towards
a ship bears in with the land ; opposed to
bear off, or keeping at a greater distance.
10. To bear up, is to tend or move towards ;
as, to bear up to one another : also, to be
su])ported ; to have fortitude ; to be firm :
not to sink ; as, to bear up under afflictions
11. To bear upon, or against, is to lean upon
or against ; to act on as weight or force,
in any direction, as a column upon its
base, or the sides of two incluiing objects
against each other.
12. To bear agaiiist, to approach for attack
or seizure ; as, " a lion bears against his
prey." Dryden.
13. To bear upon, to act upon ; as, the artil-
lery bore upon the center : or to be pointed
or situated so as to affect ; as, to bring or
plant guns so as to bear upon a fort, or
ship.
14. To bear leith, to endure what is unplea
ing ; to be indulgent ; to forbear to resent,
oppose, or punish.
Reason would I shoulJ bear with you. Acts
xviii.
Shall not God avenge his elect, though he
bear long iciih them ? Luke xviii.
BEAR €LOTH, > A cloth in whicl
BEARING-€LOTH, S "' a new born child
is covered when carried to church
baptized. Shak.
BEAR, Ji. [Sax. bera; Ger. bar; D.
Sw. Dan. and Ice. biom ; Ir. bear ; allied
perhaps xojierce, L. ferus, /era, or to bar-
barus.]
1. A wild quadruped, of the genus Ursus.
The marks of the genus are, six fore
teeth in the upper jaw, alternately hol-
low on the inside ; and six in the under
jaw, the two lateral ones lobated ; the dog
teeth are soUtary and conical ; the eyes
have a nictitating membrane, and the nose
is prominent.
The arctos, or black bear, has his body
covered with long shaggy hair. Some are
found in Tartary, of a pure white color.
The polar, or white bear, has a long head
and neck ; short, round ears ; the hair
long, soft, and white, tinged in some parti
with yellow. He grows to a great size,
the skins of some being 13 feet long. This
bear lives in cold climates only, and fre-
quently swims from one isle of ice t<
another. Enajc.
:l. The name of two constellations in the
northern hemisphere, called the greater
and lesser bear. In the tail of the lesser
bear is the pole star.
BEAR-BAITING, n. The sport of baiting
hears with dogs. Shak
BEAR-BERRY, n. A plant, a species of
Arbutus.
B E A
BEaR-BIND, n. A species of bind weed,
or Convolvulus.
BEAR'S-BREECH, n. Brank-ursine oi
Acanthus, a genus of jilants.
BEAR'S-EAR, n. The trivial name of prim-
ula auricula.
BEAR'S EAR SANICLE, n. A species of
Cortusa.
BEAR-FLY, n. An insect. Bacon
BEAR'S-FOOT, n. A plant, a species of
hellebore.
BEAR-GARDEN, n. A place where bears
are kept for diversion. Jlsh.
BEAR-G.\RDEN, a. Rude ; turbulent ; as
bear-garden sijort. Todd.
BEAR-WHELP, n. The whelp of a bear.
Shak.
BEAR'S WORT, n. A plant. Shak.
BEARD, n. berd. [Sax. beard; D. baard;
Ger. bart; Dan. bart ; L. harba ; Russ. 6or-
oda, the beard and the chin ; probably from
bear.]
1. The hair that grows on the chin, lips and
adjacent parts of the face, chiefly of male
adults ; hence a mark of virility. A gray
heard, long beard and reverend beard, are
terms for old age.
2. Beard is sometimes used for the face, and
to do a thing to a man's beard, is to do il
in defiance, or to his face. Johnson
3. The awn or sharp prickles on the ears
of corn. But more technically, parallel
hairs or a tuft of stiff hairs terminatuig the
leaves of plants, a species of pubescence.
By some authors the name is given to the
lower lip of a rmgent corol. Martyn
4. A barb or sharp point of an arrow, or oth-
er instrmnent, bent backward from the
end to prevent its being easily drawn out.
5. The beard or chuck of a horse, is that part
which bears the ciu-b of a bridle, under-
neath the lower mandible and above the
chin. Farrier's Diet. Encyc.
j6. The rays of a comet, emitted towards that
part of the heaven to which its proper mo-
tion seems to direct it. Encyc.
7. The threads or hairs of an oyster, muscle
or similar shell-fish, by which they fasten
themselves to stones. Encyc.
8. In insects, two small, oblong, fleshy bo-
dies, placed just above the trunk, as in
gnats, moths and butterflies. Encyc.
BEARD, V. t. herd. To take by the beard ;
to sieze, pluck or pull the beard, in con-
tempt or anger.
2. To opiiose to the face ; to set at defiance.
hA\e been bearded by boys. More.
BEARD'ED, a. berd'ed. Having a beard,
as a man. Having parallel hairs or tufts
of hair, as the leaves of plants. Martyn
2. Barbed or jagged, as an arrow. Dryden.
BEARD'ED, pp. berd'ed. Taken by the
beard ; opposed to the face.
BEARD'-GRASS, n. A plant, the Andro-
pogon.
BEARD'ING, ppr. berd'ing. Taking by the
beard ; opposing to the face.
BEARD'LESS, a. berd'less. Without i
beard ; yoimg ; not having arrived to man
hood, in botany, not having a tuft, of
hairs.
BEARD'LESSNESS, n. The state or qual
ity of being destitute of beard.
Laurrence, Led
BEARER, 7(. [See Bear.] One who bears
B E A
sustains, or carries ; a earner, especially
of a corpse to the grave.
2. One who wears any thing, as a badge or
sword.
3. A tree or plant that yields its fruit ; as a
good bearer.
4. In architecture, a post or brick wall be-
tween the ends of a piece of tunber, to
support it. In general, any thing that sup-
ports another thing.
5. In heraldry, a figure in an achievement,
placed by the side of a shield, and seeming
to support it ; generally the figure of a
beast. The figure of a human creature
for a like purpose is called a tenant.
Encyc.
BEARHERD, n. [bear and herd.] A man
that tends bears. Shak.
BEARING, ppr. Supporting ; carrying ; pro-
ducing.
BEARING, n. Gesture; mien; behavior.
I know him by his bearing. [ Unusual.']
Shak
2. The situation of an object, with respect to
another object, by which it is supposed to
have a connection with it or influence
upon it, or to be influenced by it.
But of this frame, the bearings and the ties.
Pope.
3. In architecture, the space between the two
fi.xed extremes of a piece of timber, or be-
tween one extreme and a supporter.
Builder's Did.
4. In navigation, the situation of a distant
object, with regard to a ship's position, as
on the bow, on the lee quarter, &c. Al-
so, an arch of the horizon intercepted be-
tween the nearest meridian and any dis-
tant object, either discovered by the eye
and referred to a point on the compass, or
residting from sinical proportion.
Mar. Diet.
5. In heraldry, bearings are the coats of arms
or figures of armories, by which the uo-
bihty and gentry are distinguished from
common persons. Encyc.
BEARISH, a. Partaking of the qualities of
a bear. Harris.
BEARLIKE, a. Resembling a bear. Shak.
BE.ARN, n. [Sax. beam ; Goth, bam ; from
hear ; Goth, gabaurans, born.]
A child. In Scotland, bairn. Shak.
BEAR WARD, n. A keeper of bears. Shak.
BEAST, Ji. [\y. biast, piasd ; Corn, hist ; D.
beest ; L. bestia ; Fr. bete, from beste ; Da:i.
bmst, beest ; W. btcyst, wild, savage, fero-
cious. See Boisterous.]
Any four footed animal, which may be
used for labor, food or sport ; distuiguish-
ed from fowls, insects, fishes and man ; as
beasts of burden, beasts of the chase, beasts
of the forest. It is usually apphed to large
animals.
2. Opposed to man, it signifies any irrational
animal, as in the phrase " man and beast."
So wild beast.
.3. Figuratively, a brutal man ; a person rude,
coarse, filthy, or acting in a manner un-
worthy of a rational creature. Johnson.
4. A game at cards. Hence to beast.
Encyi:.
BE' ASTLIKE, a. Like a beast ; brutal.
Titus Andronicus.
BE'ASTLINESS, n. [from beastly.] Bru-
tality; coarseness; vulgarity ; filthiness: a
practice contrary to the rules of humanity.
B E A
B E A
B E A
BE'ASTLY, a. Like a beast ; bl-utui ; coar:^e ;
filthy ; contrary to the nature and dignity
of man.
2. Having the forth or rtaturii of a beast.
Prior.
BE.\T, V. t. pret. beat ; p]). beat, beaten.
[Sax. bealan, gebeolan, to beat ; gebeaien,
beaten ; W. btezu ; Fr. batlre, or batre ; Sp
hatir ; Port, baier ; It. bnttere ; L. batuo
Russ. botayu ; Ar. IaA:i. gabata, and
C^A^j kabata ; Heb. Ch. Syr. B2n,
Perliapa, Hindoo, pata, to kill ; Burmaii, po-
tai, id ; as we say, to smite and to slay
Henoe, the otV-pata, man killers, in Hero-
dotus. Class Bd. No. SO. 23. 33. See
Mate.]
1. To strikt' repeatedly ; to lay on repeated
blov.s, with a stick, with the hand or fist
or with any instrument, and for any cause
just or unjust, or for punishment. Luke
xii. Deut. .\xv.
2. To .strike an iustrumcnt of music ; to play
On, as a drum. Shak
3. To break, bruise, comminute, or pidver-
ize by beating or pounding, as pepper oi
spices. Ex. XXX.
4. To extend by beating, as gold or other
malleable substance ; or to hammer into
any form ; to forge. Ex. xxxix.
5. To strike bushes ; to shake by beating, or
to make a noise to rouse game. Prior.
G. To thresh ; to force out corn from tin
husk by blows. Rufh
7. To break, mix or agitate by beating ; as,
to beat an egg with any other tiling.
Bo!/le.
8. To dash or strike, as water ; to strike or
brush, as wind. Milton
0. To tread, as a path. Blackmore.
10. To overcome in a battle, contest or
strife ; to vanquish or conquer ; as, one
beats another at play.
Pyrrhus beat the Carthagiuians at sea.
.Irbuthnot
11. To harass ; to exercise severely ; to over
labor ; as, to beat the brains about logic.
HakewiU.
To beat down, to break, destroy, throw down,
by beating or battering, as a wall.
Also, to press down or lay flat, as I
treading, by a current of water, by violent
wind, &c. Shak.
Also, to lower the price by importunity
■ or argument.
Also, to depress or crush ; as, to beat down
opposition.
Also, to sink or lessen the price or value.
Usury beats down the price of land . Bacon.
-To beat back, to compel to retire or return.
To beat into, to teach or instill, by repetition
of instruction.
To beat up, to attack suddenly ; to alarm or
disturb; as, to beat up an "enemy's quar-
ters.
To beat the iidng, to flutter ; to move with
fluttering agitation.
To beat off, to repel or drive back.
To beat the hoof, to walk ; to go on foot.
To beat time, to measure or regulate time in
music by the motion of the hand or foot
In the manege, a horse beats the dust, when at
each motion he does not take in groimd
enough with his fore legs ; and at curvets,
when he does them too precipitately, or
Vol. 1.
too low. He beats upon a walk, when lie
walks too short. Enq/c.
To beat out, to extend by hartuncring. In
popular use, to be beat out, is to lie extreme-
ly fatigued ; to have the strength exhau.st-
ed by- labor or exertion.
BEAT, 1). ]. To move with pulsation, as
the pulse beats ; or to throb, as the heart
beats.
2. To dash with force, as a storm, flood, pas-
sion, &c. ; as, the tempest beats against the
house.
3. To knock at a door. Judges xix.
4. To fluctuate ; to be in agitation. Shak
To beat about, to trj' to find ; to search b)
various means or ways. Mdison
To beat upon, to act upon with violence.
Jonah.
Al.'o, to speak frequently ; to enforce by
repetition. Hooker.
To beat up for soldiers, is to go about to
enlist men into the army.
In seamanship, to beat, is to make pro-
gress against the direction of the wind, by
sailing in a zigzag hue or traverse.
Mar. Diet.
With hunter.s, a stag heats up and down,
when he runs first one way and then an-
other. Encyc.
BEAT, n. A stroke ; a striking ; a blow,
whether with the hand, or with a weapon.
2. A pulsation ; as the beat of the pulse.
3. The rise or fall of the hand or foot, in reg-
ulating the divisions of time in music.
4. A transient grace-note in music, .struck
tnediately before the note it is intended
ornament. Busby
In tlie military art, the heat of drum, is a
succession of strokes varied, in different
ways, for particular })urposes ; as to reg
ulate a march, to call soldiers to their amis
or quarters, to direct an attack or re
treat, &c.
The heat of a watch or clock, is the stroke
made by the fangs or pallets of the spin
die of the balance, or of the pads in a roy
al pendulum. Encyc.
BEAT, I Struck; dashed against;
BE'ATEN, I PP- pressed or laid down ;
hannnered ; pounded ; vanquished ; made
smooth by treading ; worn by use ; track-
ed.
BE'ATER, n. One who beats, or strikes :
one whose occupation is to hammer me-
tals.
2. .'Vn instrument for pounding, or commi-
nuting substances.
BEATER-UP, n. One who beats for game:!
porlsman^s term. Butler.
BEATH, v.t. To bathe. [Xotinuse.]
Spenser.
BEATIF'IC, I [L.6en*tiS, blessed, from
BEATIF'I€AL, 5 "' beo, to bless, and facio,
ke. See Beatify.]
That has the power to' bless or make happy
or the power to complete blissful enjoy
ment ; used only of heavenly fruition after
death ; as beatific vision. Milton
BEATIF'ICALLY, adv. In such a manner
as to complete happiness.
BEATIFICATION, n. In the Romish
church, an act of the Po])e by which he
declares a person beatified or blessed af-
ter death. This is the first step towards
canonization, or the raising of one to the
dicnitv of a saint. No person can be be-
20
untied nil so years after his death. All
CI itificatcs or attestations of his virtucF
and miracles are examined by the con-
gregation of rites, and tliis examination
continues often for years ; after which his
Holiness decrees the beatification, and tho
corpse and relics of the intended saint are
exposed to the veneration of all good
christians. Encyc.
BEAT'IFY, V. t. [L. beatus, happy, from
beo, to bless, and facio, to make.]
1. To make happy ; to bless with the com-
pletion of celestial enjoyment.
2. In the Romish church, to declare, by a de-
cree or jmblic act, that a person is receiv-
ed into heaven, and is to be reverenced as
ble.'^ised, though not canonized.
BE'ATING, ppr. Laying on blows ; strik-
ing; dashing against ; conquering; pound-
ing ; sailing against the direction of the
wind;&c.
BE'ATING, n. The act of striking or giv-
ing blows ; punishtnent or chastisement
by blows.
The beating of flax and hemp is an ope-
ration which renders them more soft and
pliable. For this purpose, they are made
into rolls and laid in a trough, where they
are beat, till no rouehness or hardness can
be felt. " Encyc.
In book binding, beating is performed ny
laying the book in quires or sheets folded,
on a block, and beating it with a heavy
broad-faced hammer. On this operation
the elegance of the binding and the easy
opening of the book chiefly depend.
Encyc.
Beating the icind, was a pi-actice in tlic
ancient trial by combat. If one of the
combatants did not appear on the field,
tlie other was to beat the icind, by making
flourishes with his weapons ; by "which he
was entitled to the advantages of a con-
queror.
Beatings, in music, the regular pulsative
swellings of sound, produced in an organ
by |)ipes of the same kej-, when not in
uni-son, and their vibrations not simulta-
neous or coincident. Bvsby.
BEAT'ITUDE, n. [L. beaiUudo, from bea-
tus, beo. See Beatify.]
1. Blessedness ; felicity of the highest kind ;
consununate bliss ; used of the joys of
heaven.
2. The declaration of blessedness made by
our Savior to jiarticular virtues.
BEAU, 71. bo. i)lu. beaux, boze. [Fr. beau,
contracted fi-om bel, L. bellus, Sp. It.
Iiello, fine, gay, handsome.]
Aman of dre.ss; a fine, gay man ; one whose
great care is to deck his person. In fa-
miliar language, a man who attends a
lady.
BEAUISH,
pish ; fine.
BEAU-MONDE, n. bomond'. [Fr.6eau,fine,
and monde, world.]
The fashionable world ; people of fashion
I gaiety. Prior.
BEAUTEOUS, a. bu'teous. [See Beauty.]
Very fair; elegant in form; pleasing to
the "sight : beautifid ; verj' handsome. It
expresses a greater degree of beauty than
handsome, and is chiefly used in poetrv.
BEAU'TEOUSLY, adv. 'bu'Uously. In ",i
bo'ish. Like a beau; fop-
B E A
B E C
beauteous
to the sight ; beautifully
BEAU'TEOUSNESS, n. bu'teousness. The
state or quality of being beauteous; beau-
in a manner pleasingi 6. Joy and gladness. Is. Ixi. Order, pros-
perity, peace, holiness. Ezek. xvi.
EAU'TY, V. t. bu'ty. To adorn ; to beau-
tify or embellish. Obs. Shuk
BEAUTY-SPOT, n. bu'ty-spot. A patch;
a foil ; a spot placed on the face to height-
en beauty.
BEAUTY-WANING, a. Declining in beau
ty. Shak
BE'AVER, n. ]Sax. he/or, biofor ; Fr. bii-
vre ; h. fiber ; Ir. beabhar; Sw. bafwt
Dan. bwoer ; Ger. biber ; D. bever ; Rus
He
that
BEAU'TIFIER, n. bu'tifier
which makes beautiful.
BEAU'TIFUL, a. bu'tiful. [beauty and full
1. Elegant in form; fair; having the fori
that pleases the eye. It expresses more
than handsome.
A beautiful woman is one of the most attrac-
tive objects in all nature's works. Anon
A circle is more beautiful than a square ; !
square is more beautiful than a parrallelogram
Lord Karnes
9. Having the qualities which constitute
beauty, or that which pleases the senses
other tlian the sight ; as a beautiful sound.
Encyc.
BEAU'TIFULLY, adv. bu'tifally. In a
beautiful manner.
BEAU'TIFULNESS, n. bu'Ufubiess. Ele-
gance of form ; beauty ; the quahty of
being beautiful.
BEAU'TIFY, V. t. bu'tify. [beauty and L
To make or render beautiful ; to adorn ; to
dork ; to grace ; to add beauty to ; to em
licjiisli. Hayward.
Cl^AU'TIFY, t). r. bu'tify. To become beau
tifid ; to advance in beauty. Addison
CEAU'TY, n. bu'ty. [Fr. beauti, from beau.
See Bea%i.'\
1. An assemblage of graces, or an assem
blage of properties in the form of the per
son or any other object, which ])Ieases the
eye. In the person, due proporti
symmetry of parts constitutes the most
essential property to which we annex
the term beauty. In the face, the regu
ty and symmetry of the features, the color
of the skin, the expression of the eye, are
among the principal properties which con
stitute beauty. But as it is hanlly possi
ble to define all the properties which con
stitute beauty, we may observe in genera]
that beauty consists in whatever pleases tin
eye of the beholder, whether in the human
body, in a tree, in a landscape, or in any
other object.
Beauty is intrinsic, and ))erceived by the
eye at first view, or relative, to perceive
which the aid of the understanding and
(lection is requisite. Thus, tlie beauty of
a machine is not perceived, till wo under-
stand its uses, and adaptation to its pur-
pose. This is called the beauty of utility
By an easy transition, the word beauty ii
used to express what is pleasing to the
other senses, or to the understanding.
Thus we say, the beauty of a thought, of a
remark, of sound, &c.
So beauty, armed with virtue, bows the soul
With a commanding, but a sweet control.
Percival.
2. A particular grace, feature or ornament
any particular thing which is beautiful
and pleasing ; as the beauties of nature,
3. A particular e.\cellence, or a part which
surpasses in excellence that with whicl
is united ; as the beauties of an author.
4. A beautiful person. In scripture, the
chief dignity or ornament. 2 Sam. i.
5. In the aHs, symmetry of parts ; harmony ;
justness of composition. Encyc.
bobr; Pers. xj babir.]
1. An amphibious quadruped, of the genus
Castor. It has short ears, a blunt nose,
small fore feet, large hind feet, with a flat
ovate tail. It is remarkable for its inge-
nuity in constructing its lodges or habita-
tions, and fromthis animal is obtained the
castor of the shops, which is taken froiu
cods or bags in the groin. Its fur, which
is mostly of a ehesnut brown, is the
rial of the best hats.
2. The fur of the beaver, and a hat made of
the fur ; also, a part of a helmet that cov
ers the face.
BE'AVERED, a. Covered with or wearing
a beaver. Pope.
BEBLEE'D, v. t. [be and bleed.] To make
bloodv. Obs. Chaucer.
BEBLdOD', ) , [be and blood.] To
BEBLOOD Y, < **• '" make bloodv. Obs.
Sheldon
BEBLOT', V. t. [he and blot.] To blot ; to
stain. Obs. Chaucer
BEBLUB'BERED, a. [be and blubber.] Fou
or swelled with weeping. Shelton.
BE€ABUN'GA, n. [Sax. becc ; G. bach, a
brook.]
Brookliine speedwell ; veronica bccabung
a plant common in ditches and shallow
streams. Hooper.
BE€AFi'€0, n. [It. from the root of pica,
peck, beck, and fico, a fig. See Beak.]
A fig-pecker ; a bird like a nightingale
which feeds on figs and grapes.
Johnson. Prior. Bailey,
BECALM, V. t. becam. [be and calm. See
Calm.]
1. To still ; to make quiet ; to appease
stop, or repress motion in a body ; used
of the elements and of the passions; as
becalm the ocean, or the mind. But calm
is generally used.
2. To intercept the current of wind, so as to
prevent motion ; to keep from motion for
want of wind ; as, high lands becalm a ship.
BECALMED, pp. becamed. Quieted ; ap-
peased.
a. Hindered from motion or progress by a
calm ; as a ship becalmed.
BECALMING, p;jr. becaming. Appeasing;
keeping from motion or progress.
BECALMING, n. becaming. A calm at
Herbert.
BECA'ME, pret. of become. [See Beco
BECAUSE, becauz', a compound word.
[Sax. be for by and cause. See By and
Cause.]
By cause, or by the cause ; on this accoui
for the cause which is explained in the
next proposition ; for the reason next ex
plained. Thus, I fled, because I was
afraid, is to be thus resolved ; I fled, by
EEC
the cause, for the cause, which is mentioned
in the next affirmation, viz. I was afi-aid.
Hence, cause being a noun, because may
be regularly followed by of.
The spirit is life, because of righteousness.
Because of these cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience.
BECH'ARM, V. t. [be and charm.] To
harm ; to captivate. Beaum.
BECH-ANCE, v. i. [be, by, and chance.] To
befall ; to happen to. Shak.
BE'CHIC, n. [Gr. (3>;;t«a, from )3j;5, a cough.]
A medicine for relieving coughs, synony-
mous with pectoral, which is now the term
mostly used. i^incy.
BECK, n. A small brook. Gray. This
word. Sax. becc, Ger. bach, D. btek, Dan.
bcek, Sw. back, Pers. ^j bak, a brook
or rivulet, is found in the Ir. Ar. Ch. Syr.
Sam. Heb. and Eth., in the sense of floic-
ing-, as tears, weeping. Gen. xxxii. 22 It is
obsolete in English, but is found in the
names of towns situated near streams, as
in Walbeck ; but is more fi-equent in names
on the continent, as in Griesbach, &c.
BECK, n. [Sax. beacn, a sign ; beacniav.
bycnian, to beckon. The Sw. peka, Dan.
peger, signifies to point with the finger.]
A nod of the head ; a significant nod, in-
tended to be understood by some person,
especially as a sign of command.
BECK, V. i. To nod or make a sign with the
head.
BECK, V. t. To call by a nod ; to intimate a
command to ; to notify by a motion of the
head. Shak.
BECK'ED, pp. Called or notified by a nod.
BECK'ET, n. A thing used in ships to con-
fine loose ropes, tackles or spars ; as a
large hook, a rope, with an eye at one
end, or a wooden bracket. Mar. Diet.
BECK'ING, ppr. Nodding significantly ;
directing by a nod.
BECK'ON, V. i. bek'n. [See Beck.]
To make a sign to another, by nodding,
winking, or a motion of the hand or finger,
&c., intended as a hint or intimation. Acts
xix.
BECK'ON, v.t. bek'n. To make a signifi-
cant sign to. Dryden.
BECK'ONED, pp. Having a sign made to.
BECK'ONING, ppr. Making a significant
IS a hint.
BECLIP', V. t. [Sax. beclyppan.] To em-
brace. [M'ot in use.] Wickliffe.
BECLOUD', V. t. [See Cloud.] To cloud ;
to obscure ; to dim. Sidney.
BECOME, V. i. becum'. pret. became, pp.
become. [Sax. bccuman, to fall out or hap-
pen ; D. bekoomen ; G. bekommen, to get or
obtain; Sw. bekomma ; Dan. bekommer, to
obtain ; be and come. Tlicse >ii,'iiifi(ations
diiFer from the sense in En^dish. But the
sense is, to come to, to arrive, to reacli, to
fall or pass to. [See Come.] Hence the
sense of suiting, agreeing with. In Sax.
cicman, Goth, kuriman, is to come, and
Sax. cweman, is to please, that is, to suit or
be agreeable.]
1. To pass from one state to another; to
enter into some state or condition, by a
change from another state or condition, or
by assuming or recpiving new properties
or qualities, additional matter, or a new
character ; as, a cion becomes a tree.
BED
The Lord God breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life and man became a living soul
To the Jew, I became a Jew.
BED
BED
^. To become of, usually with u)fta< preceding ;
to be the fate of; to be the end of; to be
the final or subsequent condition ; as, what
will become o/" our commerce ? what will
become of ua i
In the present tense, it applies X.0J1U
well as condition. What has become of my
friend ? that is, where is he ? as well as
what is his condition ? IVhere is he become '.
used by Shakspeare and Spenser, is obso
leir ; but this is the sense in Saxon, where
has be fallen ?
BECOME, V. t. In general, to suit or be suita
blc ; to be congruous ; to befit ; to accord
with, in character or circumstances ; to be
worthy of, decent or pro])er. It is used
ill tlie same sense applied to persons or
things.
If 1 become not a cart as weil as another man
Shak
This use of the word however is less fre-
quent, the verb usually expressing the
suitableness of thuigs, to persons or
other things ; a,s, a robe becomes a prince.
It becomes me so to speak of an excellent
poet. Dryd,
BEcC)M'ING,^/)r., but used rarely or never
except as an adjective. Fit ; suitable ;
congruous ; proper ; gracefid ; belonging
to the character, or adopted to circumstan
ces ; as, he speaks with becoming boldness
a dress is very becoming.
Some writers formerly used of, after this
word.
Such discourses as are becoming of t\\em
Drydcn.
But this use is inelegant or improper.
BECOM'ING, a. Ornament. Obs. Shak
BECOM'INGLY, adv. After a becoming 01
projicr manner.
BECOM'INGNESS, »i. Fitness; congruity;
propriety ; decency ; gracefidness arising
from fitness. Greie.
BE€RIP'PLE, j;. «. [^pe.Cnppk.] To make
lame ; to cripiile. [Little used.]
BE€URL', V. t. To curl. [Ao« wed.]
BED, n. [Sax. bed ; D. bed ; G. bctt or beet ;
Goth. badi. The sense is a lay or .spread,
from laying or setting.]
1. A place or an article of furniture to sleep
and take rest on ; in modern times, and
aniong civilized men, a sack or tick filled
with feathers or wool ; but a bed may be
made of straw or any other materials. The
word bed includes often the bedstead.
2. Lodging; a convenient place for sleep.
3. Marriage ; matrimonial connection.
George, the eldest son of his second bed.
Clarendon.
4. A plat or level piece of ground in a garden,
usually a bttle raised above the adjoining
ground. Bacon.
5. The channel of a river, or that part in
which the water usually flows. Milton.
6. Any hollow ])lace, especially in the arts ; a
hollow place, in which any thing rests ; as
the bed of a mortar.
7. A layer ; a stratum ; an extended inass of
any thing, whether upon the earth or with-
in it ; as a bed of sulphur ; a bed of sand
or clay.
8. Pain, torment. Rev. ii. The grave. Is
Ivii. The lawful use of wedlock. Heb,
The icrf of the carriage of a gun is a thick IBEDASH'ING, ppr. Be.'spatlcring ; dasliiuj
plank which lies under the piece, being, as
it wore, the body of the carriage.
The bed of a inortar is a solid piece of oak,
hollow in the middle, to receive the britch
and half the trimnions.
In masonry, bed is a range of stones, and the
joint of the bed is the mortar between I
stones placed over each other. En
Bed of justice, in France, was a throne
which the king was seated when he w
to parliament. Hence the phrase, to hold
a bed of justice.
To make a bed, is to put it in order aftei
has been used.
To bring to bed, to deliver of a child, is rarely
used. But in the passive form, to In
brought to bed, that is, to be delivered of r
child, is common. It is often followed bj
of; as, to be brought to bed of a son.
To put to bed, in midwifery, is to deliver of j
child.
Dining bed, or discubitory bed, among tbf
ancients, a bed on which persons lay ai
meals. It was four or five feet high, "and
would hold three or four persons. Three
of these beds were ranged by a square
table, one side of the table being left open,
and accessible to the waiters. Hence the
Latin name tor the table and the roon
tricliniuyn, or three beds. Encyc.
From bed and board. In law, a separation of
njan and wife, without dissolving the bandi
of matrimony, is called a separation from
bed and 6oarrf, o mensa et thoro. In this
case the wife has a suitable maintenance
allotted to her out of the husband's estate,
called alimony. Blackstone.
BED, V. t. To place in a bed. Bacon.
2. To go to bed with. [Unusual.] Shak.
3. To make partaker of the bed. Bacon.
4. To plant and inclose or cover ; to set or
lay and inclose ; as, to bed the roots of a
plant in soft mold.
5. To lay in any hollow place, surrounded
or inclosed ; as, to bed a stone.
6. To lay in a place of rest or security, cov-
ered, surrounded or inclosed ; as" a fish
bedded in sand, or under a bank.
7. To lay in a stratum ; to stratify ; to lay in
order, or flat ; as bedded clay, bedded liau-s.
Shak.
BED, V. i. To cohabit ; to use the same bed.
If he be married and bed with his wife.
H^iseman.
BEDAB'BLE, v. t. [be and dabble.] To wet ;
to sprinkle.
Bedabbled with the dew. Shak.
BEDABBLED, pp. Wet ; sprinkled.
BEDAB'BLING,our. Wetting; sprinkling.
BEDAFF', V. I. To make a fool of, [JVot m
use.] Chaucer.
BEDAG'GLE, v.t. [6c and daggle.] To
soil, as clothes, by drawing the ends in the
mud, or spattering tbom with dirty water.
BEDAG'GLED, pp. Soiled by reaching the
mud in walking ; bespattering.
BEDA'RE,r. (. [be and dare.] To dare ; to
lefv. [JVot used.] Peek.
BEDARK', V. t. [be and dark.] To darken.
[.\'nt used ] Gotver.
BEDAFH', V. «. [be an(\ dash.] To wet, by I
throwing water, or other liquor upon; to
bespatter, with water or mud.
BEDASH'ED, /)p. Bespattered with watcr^
or other liquid.
water upon, or other liquid.
BEDAUB', V. t. [be and daub.] To daub
over ; to besmear with viscous, slimy mat-
ter ; to soil with any thing thick and dirty.
Shak.
BEDAUBED, pp. Daubed over; be-
smeared.
BEDAUBING, ppr. Daubing over; be
Muraring.
BEDAZ'ZLE, r.f. [be and dazzle.] To con-
found the sight by too strong a light ; to
make dim by luster. Shak.
BEDAZ'ZLED, pp. Having the sight con-
Immdcd by too strong a light.
BI".I».\Z Zl.ING, ppr. Confounding or ma
Uiiig iliin li\ H too brilliant luster.
BKD't 11 AMBER, n. [bed ami chamber.] An
u|iartment ur chamber intended or appro-
priated fur a bed, or for sleep and repose.
BED'-CLOTHES, n. plu. [bed and clothes.]
Blankets, or coverlets, &c., for beds.
Shak.
BED'DED,p/>. Laid in a bed ; inclosed as
in a bed.
BED'DER, } [from bed.] The nether
BEDET'TER, $ "' stone of an oil mill.
Todd.
BED'DING, ppr. Laying in a bed ; inclo-
sing as in a bed.
BED'DING, 71. A bed and its furniture ; a
bed ; the materials of a bed, whether for
man or beast. Spenser.
BEDECK', V. t. [be and deck.] To deck ; to
adorn ; to grace. Shak.
BEDECK'ED, ;>;?. Adorned; ornamented.
BEDECK'ING, ppr. Adorning ; decking.
BE'DEHOUSE, n. [Sax. bead, a prayer, and
house.']
Formerly, a hospital or alms bouse, where
the poor prayed for their founders and
benefactors.
BE'DEL, n. An ofiicer in the universities
of England. fA pecuhar orthography of
beadle^]
BE'DELRY, n. The extent of a bedel's
office. Blount.
BEDEW', V. t. [be and deiv.] To moisten,
as with dew ; to moisten in a gentle man-
ner with any liquid ; as, tears bedew her
face. Shak.
BEDEWED, pp. Moistened, as if xyith
lew ; gently moi-stened.
BEDEW'ER, 11. That which bedews.
Sherwood.
BEDEWING, ppr. Moistening gently, as
with dew ; wetting.
BEDEW'Y, a. Moist with dew. [Littk
used.]
ED'FELLOW, n. [bed and feUoiv.] Orte
who lies in the same bed. Shak^
BED-HANGINGS, n. Curtains. Shak.
BEDI'GHT, V. t. bedi'te. [be and dight.]
To adorn ; to dress ; to set off with orna-
ments. [Link used.] More.
BEDi'GHTED, pp. Adorned; set off with
ornaments.
BEDI'GHTING, ppr. Adorning.
BEDIM', V. t. [be and dim.] To make dim ;
t(i iilisi-iirc (ir darken. Sidney.
miDIM Air.l)./)^. Made dim ; obscured.
r.rniM MiSC.ppr. ftlakingdim; obscur-
iiiLr : ilarki-ning.
, Bi:i)IZ'EN, V. t. bediz'n. [be and dizen.] To
1 adorn ; to deck ; a low word.
BEDIZENED, pp. Bedecked; adorned
BED
appropriated for
Spelman.
one who lives in
SItak
mad house
Sluik
BEBIZ'ENING.p/).-. Adorning.
BEDLAM, n. [Corrupted Irom B€M(e/icni,
tlie name of a religious house in London,
afterward converted into a hospital lor
lunatics.]
1. A mad house ; a plac
lunatics.
9. A madman ; a lunatic
Bedtum.
3. A place of uproar.
BED'LAM, a. Belonging to
fit for a mad house.
BED'LAMITE, n. An inhabitant of a mad
house; a madman. B. Jonson.
BED'MAKEK, n. [bed and maker.] One
whose occupation is to make beds, as ir
a college or university. Spectator.
BED'MATE, n. [bed and male.] A bed-
fellow. ,^. '='«''''"•
BED'-MOLDING, n. [bed and molding.\
In iirchitedure, the members of a cornice,
which are placed below the coronet, con-
sisting of an ogee, a list, a large boultme,
and aiiother list under the coronet.
Encyc.
BEDO'TE, V. t. [be and dote.] To make to
dote. [Xotinuse.] ^ ,^, ^'""'f i
BED'l'OST, «. [bed anA post.] The post ot
a bedstead.
BED'PRESSER,«. [bed and press.] A lazy
fellow ; one who loves his bed. Shak.
BEDRAG'GLE, v. t. [be and draggle.] To
soil, as garments which are sufiered, ni
walkmg, to reach the dirt ; to soil bj
drawing along on mud. Swijt.
BEDRAG'GLED, pp. Soiled by reachmg
the dirt, in walking. . , , .
BEDRAG'GLING, ppr. Soiling by drawing
along in dirt or mud: , -, ,r.
BEDRKNCH', v.t. [be and drewh-] lo
drench ; to soak ; to saturate with moist-
ure • applied to things which imbibe moist-
nre.' «*«*•
BEDRENCH'ED,pp. Drenched ; soaked.
BEDRENCiriNG,;)/>r. Soaking; drench-
ing.
BED'RID, ? _ [bed and ride ; S;
BED'RIDDEN, <, ' rida.]
Confined to the bed, by age or infirmity.
Shnk
BED'RITE, 11. [bed and rile.] The privi
lege of the marriage bed.
BED'ROOM, n. [bed and room.\ A room or
apartment intended or used for a bed ; "
lodging room.
2. Room in a bed. [JVot m use.] A/ja*.
BEDROP', V. t. [be and drop.] To sprinkle,
as with drops. ^ . ,, ^ Chaucer
BEDROP'PED, pp. Sprinkled as with
drops; speckled; variegated with spots.
BED'SIDE. n. The side of the bed.
Middleton.
BED'STAFF.n. [bed a,nA staff .] A wooden
pin anciently inserted on the sides of bed-
steads, to keep the ckHhes from slipping
on either side. , , Johnson
BED'STEAD, n. bed'sted. [bed and stead.
A frame for supporting a bed. ^
BED'STRAVV, n. [bed and straw.] btraw
laid under a bed to make it soft ; also the
name of a plant, a species of gahum.
BED'SWERVER, n. [bed and swerve.] Oi
that swerves from his bed ; that is, one
who is false and unfaithful to the marriage
«nw. Shak.
BEE
BED'TIME, J!. [ic(/ and iimf.] The time to
tro to rest ; the usual hour of going to bed.
" Shak.
[be and duck.] To duck
.bed
BEDUCK
to put the head under water ; to nninerse.
Spenser.
BEDUST', V. t. [be and dust.] To sprinkle,
soil or cover with dust. Sherwood.
BED'WARD, adv. [bed and ward.] Toward
bed •^''«*'
IbEDVVARF', ?). <. [be and dwarf.] To make
httle ; to stunt or liiuder growth. Donne.
BED' WORK, n. [bed and work.] Work
done in bed, without toil of the hands
with ease. , *'"'"'*■
BEDY'E, t>. t. [be and dye.] To dye
stain. ■S>«"««'-
BEDY'ED,;)?. Dyed; stained.
BEE n. [Sax. beo ; D. bye ; Ger. biene ; Sw.
bij ; Dan. bie ; Ir. beach ; It. pecchia ; Sp.
abeja. Class Bg.] ^ a . -,
An insect of the genus Apis. [See Apis.]
The species are numerous, of which the
honey-bee is the most interesting to inai
It has been cultivated from the earliest
periods, for its wax and honey. It lives
in swarms or societies, of from 10,000 to
I 50,000 individuals. These swarms con-
tain three classes of bees, the females or
queen bees, the males or drones, and
neuters or working bees. Of the fori
there is only one in each hive or swsi
whose sole office is to jiropagate the spe
cies. It is much larger than the other
bees. The drones serve merely for
pregnating the queen, after which they
destroyed by the neuters. These last are
the laborers of the hive. They collect the
honey, form the cells, and feed the other
bees and the young. They are furnished
%vith a proboscis by which they suck the
honey from flowers, and a mouth by which
they swallow it, and then convey it to the
hive in then- stomachs, where they dis
gorge it into the cells. The pollen of flovv
ers'settleson the hairs with which then-
body is covered, whence it is collected into
pellets, by a brush on their second pair of
legs, and deposited in a hollow in the third
pair. It is called bee bread, and is the food
of the lamw or young. The adult bees
feed on honey. The wax was supposed
to be formed from pollen by a digestive
process, but it is now ascertained that it is
formed from the honey by a siniilar pro-
cess. The females and neuters have a
barbed stins, attached to a bag of poison
SEE
BEE'-GARDEN, n. [bee and garden.] A
garden, or inclosure to set bee-hives in.
Johnson.
BEE'-GLUE, n. [bee and glue.] A soft,
unctuous matter with which bees cement
the combs to the hives, and close up the
cells ; called also propoMs. Encyc.
BEE'-HIVE, n. [bee and hive.] A case,
box, or other hollow vessel, which serves
as a habitation for bees. Hives are made
of various materials, as of boards, the hol-
low trunk of a tree, and withes of straw,
or of glass.
BEE'-JIASTER, n. [bee and master.] One
who keeps bees. Mortimer.
BEECH, «. [Sax. bece, hoc ; D. hmke, or
beukenboom ; Ger. buche, or buchbaum ;
Slav. 6ofeu; Russ. iM* ; Gr. ^^ayoj; L./«-
gus; It. faggio; Sp.haya; Port.faia. In
Saxon bee and boc is a book. It, is proba-
ble that beechis properly the name of bark,
and this being used, by oiir rude ances-
tors, as the material for writing, the word
came to signify a book.]
A tree arranged" by Linne under the genus
fngus, with the chesnut. The beech grows
to a large size, with branches forming a
beautiful head, with thick fofiage. The
bark is smooth and of a silvery cast. The
mast or nuts are the food of swine, and of
certain wild animals, and yield a good oil
for lamps. When eaten by man, they are
said to occasion giddiness and headach.
Encyc.
BEE'CH-€OAL, n. [beech and coal]
Charcoal from beech wood.
BEE'CHEN, a. bee'chn. Consisting of the
wood or bark of the beech ; belonging to
the beech ; as a beechen vessel. Dryden.
BEE'CHMAST, n. The fruit or nuts of the
lieech.
BEE'CH-OIL, n. [beech and oil]
Oil expressed from tlie mast or nuts of the
beech-tree. It is used in Picardy, and in
other parts of France, instead of butter;
but is said to occasion heaviness and pains
the stomach. Encyc.
wlij.-h Hows im^
the sting. Whe
new colony is se
of a queen bee.
; food
the wound inflicted by
a hive is overstocked,
t out under the direction
This is called swarming.
Cyc. Ed. Enyc.
BEE'-BREAD, n. [bet and bread.] TV
pollen of flowers collected by bees,
for their young. [See Bu.]
BEE'-EATER, n. [bee and eat.] A bird
tliat feeds on bees. There are several
species included in the genus merops, of
which the apiaster of Europe is remarka
ble for the brilliancy of its plumage.
Encyc.
BEE'-FLOWEB, n. [bee and Jlower.] A
plant; a species of Ophrys or Iwyblade,
whose flowers represent singular figures
of bees, flies and other uisects. Encyc.
BEE'CH-TREE, ii. [beech and tree.]
beech.
BEEF, n. [Fr. bauf, beuf, an ox ; Arm. be-
vin ; It. bue ; Sp. buey ; Port, boy ; W.
buw ; Corn, byuh, an ox ; Ir. bo, a cow,
plu. buaibh ; L. bos, bovis ; Gr. |3oi!{.]
1. An animal of the bovine genus, whether
ox, bull or cow ; but used of those which
are full grown or nearly so. In this, which
is the orighial sense, the word has a plu-
ral, beeve.?.
1. The flesh of an ox, bull, or cow, when
killed. In popular language, the word is
often apiilied to the live animal ; as, an ox
is good beef; that is, is well fattened. In
this sense, the word has no plural.
BEEF, a. Consisting of the flesh of the ox,
or bovine kind ; as a beef-steak. Swift.
BEE'F-EATER, n. [beef and eat.] One
that eats beef.
2. A yeoman of the guards, in England.
1:5. The Buphaga, an African bird that feeds
on the larvas which nestle nnder the hides
of oxen.
4 In popular use, a stout fleshy man.
BEE'F-STEAK, n. [beef and steak.] A
steak or slice of bee/ for broihng.
BEE'F-WITTED, a. [beef and uit.] Dull
in intellects; stupid ; lieavy-headed. Shak.
BEE
B E F
BEG
BEELD, n. [Sax. behJiidan, to cover.] Pro-|
toction ; refuge. [jYot in nse.] Fairfax
BEEN, [>S,ix. fceo)!.] Part. perf. of 6e; pro
nouncerl bin. In old aiithoi's, it is also the]
prcseut tense plural of Ae.
BEEN, n. A IVetted stringed instruinent ofj
music of the guitar kind, having nineteen
frets ; used in India. As. Researches.
BEER, n. [W. bir; Fr. biere ; Arm. Injer,
bir, ber; D. and Ger. bier; It. birra.]
1. A spirituous liquormade from any farina-
ceous grain; but generally from barley,!
which is first malted and ground, and itsj
fermentable substance extracted by hot|
water. This extract or infusion is evapo-
rated by boiling in caldrons, and hops or!
some other plant of an agreeable bitter-
ness added. The liquor is then suffered
to ferment in vats. Beer is of ditferent
degrees of strength, and is denominated
small beer, ale, porter, broivn stout, &c., ac-
cording to its strength, or other peculiar
qualities. Encyc.i
'1. Beer is ?i name given in America to fer-|
nienting liquors made of various other
materials; and when a decoction of the
roots of plants forms a part of the com-
position, it is called spnng-beer, from the
season in which it is made.
BEE'R-BARREL, n. A barrel for holdingj
beer.
BEE'R-HOUSE, n. A house where maltj
liquors are sold ; an ale house.
BEKSTINGS, [See Biestinfcs.]
BEET, n. [D. bid; Ger. beete ; It. bietola ;
VV. hdi/se,i ; L. beta ; Fr. bette.] j
A plant of the genus Beta. The species cul-
tivated in gardens are the cicla and vulga-
ris, or white and red beet. There are ma-
ny varieties ; some with long taper roots,
and others with flat roots, like turneps.
The root furnishes a large portion of su-
gar, which has been recently manufactur-
ed in France on a great scale. Ci/c.
BEE'TLE, n. [Sax. bill, or bytl, a mallet ;
betel, the insect, beetle.]
1. A heavy mallet or wooden hammer, used
to drive wedges, beat pavements, &c. ;
called also a stamper, or rammer.
3. In zoology, a genus of insects, the scara-
bseus, of many species. The generic char-
acters arc, clavatcd aiiteiiMrc, fissile lon-
gitmliiKilly, Icfxs IVi'ipii'iitly il'iilatcd, and
win<;s wliic-h have liaid i asrs, ur sheatlis.
The hmies of tliosc insects are placed ex-
ternally, and their muscles within. They
are of different sizes, from that of a pin's
head, to that of a man's fist. Some are
produced in a month, and go through
their existence in a year ; in others, four
years are required to produce thcin, and
they live as winged insects a year more.
They have various names, as the may-bug,
the dorr-beetle, the cock-chaffer, the tum-
ble-dung, the elephant-beetle, &.c. The
latter, found in South America, is the lar-
gest species, being foiu- inches long.
Encyc.
BEE'TLE, V. i. bee'tl. To jut ; to be proin-
inent ; to hang or extend out ; as, a cliff
that bceiles over its base. Shak.
BEE'TLE-BROW, n. [beeUe and brow.] a'
prominent brow. Shak.\
BEE'TLE-BROWED, a. Having promi-l
nent brows. Swift.]
BEE'TLE-IIEAD, n. [beetle and head.] A
stupid fellow. Scot.
BEE'TLE-HEADED, a. Having a head
hke a beetle ; dull ; stupid. Shak.
BEE'TLE-STOCK, n. [beeUe and stock.]
The handle of a beetle. Spenser,
BEE'TLING, ppr. Jutting ; being promi-
nent ; standing out from the main body,
Ttiomson.
BEET-RAVE, ) A kind of beet, used
BEET-RADISH, p- for sallad. Ash.
BEEVES, n. j.lu. of beef. Cattle ; quad-
rupeds of the bovine genus, called in En-
gland, black cattle.
BEFALL', V. t. pret. befeU ; part, befallen
[Sax. befellan, of be and fall.]
To happen to ; to occur to ; as, let me know
the worst that can befaU me. It usually
denotes ill. It is generally transitive in
form, but there seems to be an ellipsis of
to, and to sometimes follows it.
BEFALL', V. i. To happen ; to come to
pass.
I have reveal'd this discoid which befell.
.miton
To befall of is not legitimate.
BEFALL'ING, ppr. Happening to ; occur-
ring to ; coming to pas.s.
BEFELL', pret. of befall.
BEFIT', i;. t. [be and ft] To suit ; to be
suitable to ; to become.
That name best befits tliee. Milton
BEFIT'TING, ppr. or a. Suiting ; becom
iug.
BEFOAM, V. t. [be and foam.] To cover
with foam. [Little used.]
BEFOOL', V. t. [be And fool] To fool ; to
infatuate ; to delude or lead into error.
Men befuol tlieinselves. South
BEFOOL'ED, pp. Fooled ; deceived ; led
into error.
BEFOOL'ING, ppr. Fooling; making
fool of; deceiving ; infatuating.
BEFO'RE, prep, [ie and/ore, that is by fore,
near the fore part. Sax. before, or beforan,
retained by Chaucer in befom.]
i. In front ; on the side with the face, at
any distance ; used of persons. Milton.
3. In presence of, with the idea of power,
authority, respect.
Abraham bowed before the people of the land
Gen. xxiii.
Wherewitlial shall I come before tl:e Lord
Micah vi.
3. In sight of; as before the face.
4. In the presence of, noting cognizance or
jurisdiction.
Both parties shall come before the judge.
Ex. xxii.
5. In the power of, noting the right or ability
to choose or possess ; free to the choice.
The world was all before them. Milton
My land is before thee. ■ Gen. xx.
6. In front of any object ; as before the house ;
before the fire
7. Pr.
receding in time.
Before I was afflicted.
stray. Ps
Before Abraham was, I am. John viii.
Here the preposition has a sentence fol-
lowing for an object.
8. In preference to.
Aiid he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Gen,
xlviii.
Poverty is desirable before torments.
Tat/lor.
9. Superior ; preceding in dignity.
j He that Cometh after me is preferred before
I me, for he was before me. John i.
[10. Prior to; having prior right ; preceding
iu order ; as, the eldest son is before the
I younger in succession.
,n. Previous to ; in previous order; in or-
der to.
Before this treatise can become of use, two
I points are necessary. Swift. [See No. 7.]
12. Before the u-ind, is to move in the direc-
I tion of tlie wind by its impulse.
BEFO'RE, adv. In time preceding.
You tell me what 1 knew before. Dryden.
2. In time preceding, to the present, or to this
time ; hitherto ; as, tumults then arose
which before were unknown.
3. Further onward in place, iu progress, or
in front.
Reaching forth to those things which are be-
fore. Phil. iil.
4. In front ; on the fore part.
The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron
In some of the examples of the use of before,
which Johnson places under the adverb,
the word is a preposition governing a sen-
tence ; as, " Before the hills appeared."
This is the real construction, however
overlooked or misunderstood.
BEFOREHAND, adv. [before and hand.]
In a state of anticipation or preoccupa-
tion ; often followed by with ; as, you are
before hand with me.
2. Antecedently ; by way of preparation or
preliminary ; aforetime. Math. xiii. 1
Tim. v.
3. In a state of accumulation, so as that
more has been received than expended.
A man is beforehand. In this use it is morr
j properly an adjective.
4. At first ; before any thing is done.
L'Estrange.
BEFO'RE-TIME, adv. [before and time.]
Formerly ; of old time. 1 Sam. 9. Josh.
XX. Obs.
BEFOR'TUNE, v. t. [be and foiiune.] To
I happen to ; to betide. Shai.
.BEFOUL', t.. t. [Sax. befylan, be and foul.]
I To make foul ; to soil.
jBEFRIEND, v. I. befrend'. [be and friend.]
To favor ; to act as a friend to ; to coun-
tenance, aid or benefit. Shak.
BEFRIENDED, ;)p. Favored; countenan-
jBEFlilENDING, ppr. Favoring; assist-
ing as a friend ; showing kindness to.
|BEFRIN(iE, V. t. befrinj'. [be and fringe.]
To furnish with a fringe ; to adorn as
I with fringe. FuUer.
IBEFRINg'ED, pp. Adorued as with a
j fringe.
iBEG, / [The Turks write this word begh
JBEY, \ "■ or bek, hut pronounce it bey.]
In the Turkish dominions, a governor of a
town or country ; more particularly, the
lord of a sangiac or banner. Every prov-
ince is divided into seven sangiacs or ban-
ners, each of which qualifies a bey ; and
these are commanded by the go\emor of
the province, called begler-beg or lord of
all the beys. Each beg has the command
of a certain number of spahis, or horse,
denominated timariots.
In Tunis, the beg or bey is the prince or
king, answering to the dey of Algiers.
In Egypt, the begs are twelve generals
BEG
wlio command the militia, or standiii}^ for-
ces of the kingdom. Enajc.
BEG, V. t. [In Italian, piccaro is a beggar.
This word is from some root in Class Bg,
which signifies to make towards or to
press, to urge, or to cry out. The Ger.
hegehren, to wliich Skinner refers this word,
is a compound of be and gieren to
D. begeeren, Sax. giernan, whence yearn
With this, beg has no connection.]
1. To ask earnestly ; to beseech ; to entreat
or supplicate with humility. It implies
more urgency than ask or petition.
Joseph begged the body of Jesus. Math
xxvii.
2. To ask or supplicate in charity; as, we
may yet be reduced to beg
3. To take for granted ; to assume without
proof; as, to beg the question in debate.
BEG, V. i. To ask alms or charity ; t
practice begging ; to live by asking alms,
I cannot dig ; I am ashamed to beg. Luke
xvi.
BEOET', V. t. pret. begot, begat ; pp. begot,
begotten. [Sax. begetan, of be and getan, to
• get. See Get.}
1. To procreate, as a father or sire ; to
erate ; as, to beget a son.
2. To produce, as an effect ; to cause to ex-
ist; to generate ; as, luxury begets vice.
BEGET'TER, n. One who' begets or pro-
creates ; a father.
BEG'GABLE, a. Tliat may be begged.
Bntler.
BEG'GAR, n. [See Beg-.] One that lives
by asking alms, or makes it his business
to beg for charity.
2. One who supplicates with humility ; a
petitioner ; but in this sense rarely used
as the word has become a term of con-
tempt. Johnson.
3. One who assumes in argument what he
does not prove. TiUotson.
BEG'GAR, V. t. To reduce to beggary ; to
im|)Overish. Shak.
2. To deprive or make destitute ; to exhaust :
as, to beggftr description.
BEG'GARED, pp. Reduced to extreme
poverty.
BEG'GARING, ppr. Reducing to indigence
or a state of beggary.
BEG'GARLINESS, n. Tlie state of being
beggarly ; meanness ; extreme poverty.
Barret.
BEG'GARLY, a. Mean ; poor ; in the con-
dition of a beggar; extremely indi
BEG'GARLY, adv.
despicably.
BEGGAR-MAID, ;;
Shak
Meanly ; indigently ;
looker.
a heg
Shak
BEG'GAR-MAN, n. A man that is a beg-
gar. Slmk
BEG'GAR-WoMAN, n. A female beggar
Shak.
BEG'GARY, n. A state of extreme indi-
ffpnce. Sidney.
BEG'GED, pp. Entreated ; sujiplicated ; ask-
ed in charity.
BEG'GING, ppr. Asking alms; supplica-
uming without proof.
BEG'GING, n. The act ofsohciting alms;
tlie practice of asking alms ; as, he lives
bv begging
BEGHARDS', ) A religious order of St
BEGUARDS', I "• Francis in Flanders, es
BEG
(abhslied at Antwerp in 1228, and .so na
med from St. Begghe, their patroness.
They at first employed themselves in ma-
lung linen cloth, united in bonds of chari-
ty, without any rule ; but in 1290, they
embraced tliat of the tliird order of St.
Francis. The name has been transferred
to all the other religious of the convent of
Antwerp. Encm.
BEGILT', a. Gilded. B.Jonson.
BEGIN', 17. i. pret. began ; pp. begun. [Sax.
gynnan, aginnan, beginnan, and onginnan,
to begin, ongin, a beginning ; Goth, du-
ginnan ; Sw. begynna ; Dan. begynder ; D
anil Ger. beginnen, to begin ; D. and Ger.
beginn, a beginning, origin ; W. cycwnii
to begin, cy, a prefix, and cwn, a head
The radical word is gin or gyn, to which
are prefixed ie, on, and du whicli is to. This
appears to be the root of the Gr. yivonai
■yfwow, L. genero, gigno, coinciding with
Syr. 3 Kon, to begin to be ; in Apl:
plant, to confirm, to create ; Eth. Tl (D ^
Kon, to be, to become or be made ; Ar,
• tr to be or become, to make, t(
to generate ; Heb. Ch. Sam. ]13, to make
ready, to adapt, prepare, establish ; Sam
to create. The primary sense is, to throw
thrust, stretch forward, hence to set, or
to produce, according to its connection
application.]
To have an original or first existence ;
to take rise ; to commence.
As he spake by the mouth of his holy proph-
ets, who have been since the world bes;an.
Lukel.
Judgment must ifgm at the liouse of God,
1 Pet. 4.
From Nimrod first the savage race began.
Pope.
And tears began to flow. Dryden.
2. To do the first act ; to enter upon some-
thing new ; to take the first step ; as, begin,
my muse.
Begin every day to repent. Taylor.
When I begin, I will also make an end. 1
S.im. Hi.
BEGIN', v.t. To do the first act of any
thing ; to enter on ; to commence.
Ye nymphs of Solyma, begin the song.
Pope.
And tirs they begin to do. Gen. xi.
2. To trace from any thing, as the first
ground ; to lay the foundation.
^The apostle begins our knowledge in the
creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of
God. Locke.
To begin with, to enter upon first ; to use or
employ first ; as, to begin ivith the Latin
Grammar ; to begin business ivith a small
capital.
BEGIN'NER, n. The person who begins ;
he that gives an original ; the agent who
is the cause ; an author.
2. One who first enters upon any art, sci-
ence or business ; one who is in his rudi-
ments ; a young practitioner ; often imply-
ing want of experience.
BEGIN'NING, pjn: First entering upon ;
commencing ; giving rise or original ; ta
king rise or origin.
BEGIN'NING, n. The first cause ; origin,
n the beginning and the ending. Rev. i
2. That which is first ; the first state; coin
menccmcnt ; entrance into being.
BEG
In the beginning, God created the heaven
d the earth. Gen. 1.
3. The rudiments, first ground or materials.
Mighty things from small beginnings grow.
BEGIN'NINGLESS, a. That hath'^note-
gmniiig. [Jl bad word and not used.}
Barrow.
BEGIRD, V. t. begurd'. pret. begirt, begirded;
pp. begirt, [be and gird ; Sax. begyrdan.]
1. To bind with a band or girdle.
2. To surround ; to inclose ; to encompass.
Begird the Almighty throne. Milton.
3. To besiege. Clarendon.
To begirt, used by B. Jonson, is a corrupt
orthography.
BEGIRDED, }
pp.
Bound with a girdle ;
surrounded ; inclosed :
BEGIRT,
besieged.
BEGIR'D'ING, ppr. Binding with a girdle,-
surrounding ; besieging.
BEG'LERBEG, n. [See Beg.] The gover-
nor of a province in the Turkish empire,
next in dignity to the grand vizier. Each
has three ensigns or staves, trimmed witk
a horse tail, to distinguish him from a ba-
shaw, who has two, and a beg, who has
one. His province is called beglerbeglik.
Encyc.
BEGNAW, V. t. benaw'. [Sax. begnagan;
be and gnaw.}
To bite or gnaw ; to eat away ; to corrode ;
to nibble. Shak.
BEGONE. Go away; depart. These two
words have been improperly united. Be
retains the sense of a verb, and gone, that
of a participle.
BEGO'RED, a. [be andg-ore.] Besmeared
with gore. Spenser.
BEGOT', BEGOT'TEN, pp. of get. Pro-
created ; generated.
BEGRA'VE, V. t. To deposit in the grave;
to bury. [JVot used.]
2. To engrave. [JVot used.] Gower.
BEGRE'ASE, v. t. s as z. [be and grease.]
To soil or daub with grease, or other oily
matter.
BEGRI'ME, V. t. [be and grime.] To soil
with dirt deep-impressed, so that the nat-
ural hue caiuiot easily be recovered.
Shak.
BEGRIMED, np. Deeply soiled.
BEGRUDtiE, V. t. begrvdj'. [See Grudge.]
To grudge ; to cnxy the possession of.
BEGUI'LE, V. t. begi'le. [be and guile.] To
delude ; to deceive ; to impose on by arti-
fice or crafl.
The serpent beguiled mc and I did (
Gen,
2. To elude by craft.
WHien misei'v could beguile the tyrant's rage
Shak
3. To elude any thing disagreeable by
amusement, or other means ; to pas.<
ph^.^-^iii^lv : to amuse ; as, to beguile the
tedious ,l;iy with sleep. ShaJc.
BV.ai]]. V.D, jip. Deluded; imposed on;
misled by craft ; eluded by stratagem ;
passed pleasingly.
BEGUI'LER, n. He or that wliich beguiles
■ deceives.
BEGUI'LING,;)pr. Deluding; deceiving by
raft; eluding by artifice ; amusing.
BEGUIL'TY, V. t. To render guilty. [^
barbarous word.] Sander.<!on.
BE'GUIN, n. The Beguins are a coiigrega-
B E H
B E H
B E H
non of nuns in Flanders, so called from
their founder, or from their head dres
Beguin, in French, is a linen cap. From
this order sprung tiie Beguinages in Flan-
ders. Encyc. Mason.
BEGUN', pp. of btgin. Connnenced ; ori-
ginated.
BEHALF, n. bthaf. [This word is probably
a corruption. If composed of te and half,
it is a word of modern origin : but I take
it to be the Sa.v. behefe, profit, need, or
convenience ; G. behuf; D. behoef, neces-
saries, business ; behoeve, behalf ; Sw. 6e-
kof; Uan. behov, need, necessity, sufficien-
cy, or what is required, sustenance or sup-
port ; from the verb behoove, behofwa, be-
hover, to need. The spelling is therefore
corrupt : it should be behof or behoof. See
Behoof]
1. Favor; advantage; convenience; profit;
support ; defense ; vindication. The ad-
vocate pleads in behalf of the i)risoner.
The patriot suffers in behalf of his coun-
try.
9. Part; side; noting substitution, or the act
of taking the part of another ; as, the agent
appeared in beh<itf of his constituents, and
entered a clahn.
BEHAP'PEN, v.i. [be and happen.] To
happen to. Spenser.
BEHA'VE, v.l. [G.gchaben; Sax. gehabban,
and hehabban ; be and have.]
1. To restrain ; to govern ; to subdue. [The
Saxon sense of the word.]
He did behave his anger e'er 'twas spent.
Shak.
This sense is obsolete. Yet it often
seems to be implied ; for to behave one'«
self, is really, to govern one's self; to have
in command.
9. To carry ; to conduct ; used with the re-
ciprocal pronoun ; as, he behaves himself
■manfully. But the tendency of modern
usage is to omit the pronoun ; as, he behaves
well.
BEHA'VE, V. i. To act ; to conduct ; gen-
erally applied to manners, or to conduct
in any particular business ; and in a good
or bad sense. He behaves well or ill.
BEHAVED,/);?. Conducted.
BFHA'VING, ;>;»■. Carrying; conducting.
BEHA'VIOR, n. 6c/i(ii.^ur. [See Behave.] \
-Manner of behaving, whether gooti or bad
conduct; manners; carriage of one's self,
with respect to propriety, or morals ; de-
portment. It expresses external appear-
ance or action ; sometunes in a particular
character ; more generally in the common
duties of life ; as, our future destiny de-
pends on our behavior in this Hfe. It may
express correct or good manners, but I
doubt whether it ever expresses the idea
of elegance of manners, without another
word to qualify it.
To be upon one^s behavior, is to be in a state
of trial, in which something important de-
pends on propriety of conduct. The mod-
ern phrase is, to be or to be put, tipon one's
good behavior.
BEHEAD', v. t. behed'. [be and head.]
To cut off the head; to sever the head from
the body, with a cutting instrument ; ap-
propriately used of the execution of men
for crimes.
BEHEAD' ED, pp. behed' ed. Having the
head cut off.
BEHEAD'ING, ppr. hehed'ing. Severing
the lieuil from the body. 1
BEHEAD'ING, n. behed'ing. The act of
separating the head from the body by i
cutting instrument : decollation.
BEHELD', pret. and pp. of behold, whicl
BE'HEMOTH, n. [Heh. niona, from nDn3,
a beast or brute ; from an Arabic verb,
which signifies, to shut, to lie hid, to be
dumb. In Eth. dumb.]
Authors are divided in opinion as to the an-
imal intended in scripture by this name ;
some supposing it to be an ox, others, an
elephant ; and Bochart labors to prove it
the hippopotamus, or river horse. The lat-
ter opinion is most probable. [See Hip-
popotamus.] The original word in Arabic
signifies a brute or beast in general, es-
pecially a quadruped.
BE'HEN, BEN, or BEK'EN, n. A plant.
The white behen is a species of Cucuhal-
us, called Swedish Lychnis, or gum
sepungar. The empalement of its flower
resembles net-work, and its leaves have
somewhat of the flavor of pease.
Family of Plants. Encyc.
The behen of the shops, or white behen,
is spatling poppy. Red behen is sea lav
ender. Lee. Bailey. Coxe.
BEHEST', n. [be and Sax. hcese, a com
mand ; Ger. geheiss, connnand, from heis
sen, to call, tell, or command. See Heat.]
Command ; precept ; mandate. [Antiquated,
except in poetry.]
BEHI'GHT, V. t. behite ; pret. behot. [Sax,
behetan, to promise.]
To promise ; to entrust ; to call, or
to command ; to adjudge ; to address ; to
inform ; to mean ; to reckon. The orthog-
raphy is corrupt ; it should he behite. Obs.
Spenser. Chaucer.
BEHIND, prep. [Sax. behindan, of be and
hindan, behind ; Goth, hindar, beyond, he
hind ; hindar-leithan, to pass, prseterire ;
Ger. hinter.]
1. At the back of another ; as, to ride behind
a horseman.
2. On the back ]iart, at any distance ; in tJi
rear ; as, to walk behind another.
3. Remaining ; left after the departure of
another, whether by removing to a d'
tance, or by death ; as, a man leaves his
servant behind him, or his estate at his
decease.
4. Left at a distance, in progress or ira
provement ; as, one student is behind an
other in mathematics.
5. Inferior to another in dignity and excel
leuce.
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the
very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi.
6. On the side opposite the front or nearest
part, or opposite to that which fronts
person ; on the other side ; as behind a
bed ; behind a hill ; behind a house, tree,
or rock.
Behind the back, in scripture, signifies, out
of notice, or regard ; overlooked ; disre-
garded.
They cast thy laws behind their backs. Neh
xix. Is. xxxviii.
BEHIND, arfi). [be a.ni hind.] Out of sight;
not produced, or exhibited to view; re
niaining ; as, we know no what evidence
is behind.
2. Backwards ; on the back-part; a.<, to look
behind.
3. Past in the progress of time.
Forgetting those things which arc behind.
Phil. iii.
4. Future, or remaining to be endured.
And fill up that which is behind of llic afflic-
tions of Christ in my flesh. Col. i.
.5. Remaining after a payment ; unpaid ; as,
there is a large sum behind.
G. Remaining after the (le|)arture of; as, he
departed and left us behind.
BEHINDHAND, a. [behind and liand.]
In arrear; in an exhausted state; in a state
in which rent or profit has been anticipa"
ted, and expenditures precede the receipt
of funds to sup|)ly them. In popular use,
a state of poverty, in which the means of
living are not adequate to the end. Also,
in a state of backwardness, in which a
particular business has been delayed be-
yond the proper season for perforiiiing it ;
as, he is behindhand in his business.
Behindhand loith, is behind in progress ; not
u|)on equal terms in forwardness ; as, to be
behindliand with the fashionable world.
This word is really an adjective, as it is ap-
plied to the ^craon rather than to the verb;
but like adnfi, aloft, ashamed, and several
other words, never precedes the noun.
Sliakspeare's " behindhand slackness, "
therefore, according to present usage, is
not a legitimate phrase.
BEHO'LD, v.t. pret. and pp. beheld'. [Sax.
behealdan, beheoldan, gehealdan, gehaldan,
from healdan, to hold. The sense is, to
hold, or rather to reach with the eye, to
have in sight, from straining, or extend-
ing. In Saxon, the verb signifies not only
to look or see, but to guard ; so in Latin,
obsen-o, from servo, to keep. This expli-
cation leads us to an understanding of the
participle beholden, which retains the prim-
itive sense of the verb, hound, obliged.
The Germans retain the original sense in
behalten, to hold or keep ; as the Dutch do
in gehouden, held, bound ; and the Danes
in beholder, to keep, retain ; behold, a re-
treat, refuge, reservation. See Observe
and Regard.]
1. To fix the eyes upon ; to see with atten-
tion ; to ob.serve with care.
Behold the lamb of God wliich taketh away
the sin of the world. John i.
2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon ;
to see.
When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Num. xxl.
BEHO'LD, v. i. To look ; to direct the eyes
to an object.
And I beheld, and lo, iu the midst of the
throne, a lamb, as it had been slain. Rev. 5.
2. To fix tlic attention upon an object ; to
attend ; to direct or fix the mind.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
Rev. iii.
This word is much used in this manner
for exciting attention, or admiration. It
is in the imperative mode, expressing com-
mand, or exhortation ; and by no means
a mere exclamation.
BEHO'LDEN, pp. or a. beholdn. [The
participle of behold, to keep, guard, or bind.
See Beliold.]
Obliged ; bound in gratitude ; indebted.
Little are we beholden to your love. Sltak.
B E K
BEL
BEL
BEHO'LDKR, n. One whobeliojtis; cispto-
tutor ; one who looks upon, or sees.
BEHO'LDING,;jpr. Fixing tlic eyes upon
looking on ; seeing.
2. Fixing the attention ; regarding with at
tention.
3. Obligation. [JVb< used.] Cairw
4. Obliged. Bacon on Love. A mistaken use
of the word for beholden.
BEHO'LDINGNESS, n. The state of being
obliged. Donne. Sidney.
[An error, and not in ■use.']
BEHON'EY, V. I. To sweeten with honey.
Skeneood.\
BEHOOF', n. [Sax. behojran, to want, to be|
necessary, to be expedient ; hence, tfi bei
n duty ; D. hehoeven, to need ; Ger. behuf,i
behoof; Dan. behorer, to need, to lack ;[
behx>v, need, necessity, sufficiency, niain-j
teiiance, that is, thhigs needed ; Sw.}
behof, need ; behoftva, to need.] !
1. RndieaUy, need, necessity ; whence, by.
an easy analogy, the word came to signify
that which supplies want. Hence, ini
present usage,
0. That which is advantageous ; advantage ;
profit ; benefit.
No mean recompense it brings to your behoof.
Milton.
BEHOOV'ABLE, a. Ncedfid ; profitable. !
BEHOOVE, V. I. behoov'. [Sax. behofian, to
want, to be necessary, or expedient. Sa-,
pra.]
To be necessary for ; to be fit for ; to be:
meet for, with respect to necessity, duty,;
or convenience.
And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Lulie
xxiv.
It may perhaps be used intransitively ; as,i
let him behave as it behoovetk ; but I be-|
lieve such use is rare.
BEHOOVEFUL, a. behoov'/ul. Needful :
useful ; profitable ; advantageous.
BEHOOVEFULLY, adv. behoov' fully. Use-
fiilly ; profitably. [Obs. or nearly so.]
BEHOT', pret. of" behigU. Obs.
BEHOVE, and its derivatives. [See Be-
hoove.]
BEHOWL', V. i. [be and howl] Tojiiowl at.
[Kot used.] Shak.
BE'ING, ppr. [See Be.] Existing in a cer-
tain state.
Man, being in honor, abideth not. Ps. xlix.
BE'ING, n. Existence ; as, God is the au-
thor of^ our being.
In God we live, and move, and have our
being. Acts xvii.
a. A particular state or condition. [This is
hardly a different sense.]
3. A person existing ; applied to thi
race.
4. An immaterial, intelligent existence, or
.spirit.
Superior beings, when of late they saw
\ mortal man unfold all nature's law —
Pupe
5. An animal ; any living creature.
Animals are such beings, as are endowed will
sensation and spontaneous motion.
BEJA'DE, I). <. [6e and Jade.] To tire. [,\'ot\
used.] Milton.
BE.IA'PE, V. t. To laugh at ; to deceive.
[JVot used.] Chaucer.
BEKISS', V. t. [be and kiss.] To kiss or sa-
lute. [JVot in use.] Jonson
BEKNA'VE, V. t. [be aiid knave.] To call
knave. [Not used.] Pope.
BE KNOW, V. t. [be and knmo.] To ac-
knowledge. [Not used.] Chaucer.
BELABOR, V. I. [))erhaps from he and la-
bor ; but in Russ. bulava is a club.] To
beat soundly ; to thump.
Ajax belabors there a harmless ox.
Dry den.
BELA'CE, V. t. [be and lace.] To fasten, as
with a lace or cf)rd.
•i. To beat ; to whip.
BELA'CED, a. Adorned witli lace.
Beaumont.
BEL'AMOUR, n. [Fr. bel-amour.] A gal-
lant; a consort. [Aotxtsed.] Spenser.
BEL'AMY, n. [Fr. bel-ami.] A good friend ;
intimate. [.Yot used.] Spenser.
BELA'TE, V. t. [be and late.] To retard or
make too late. [Not used.
BELA'TED, a. [be and lated.] Benighted ;
abroad late at night.
9. Too late for the hour ap]iointcd or in-
tended ; later than the proper time.
BELA'TEDNESS, n. A being too late.
Milton.
BELA \E, I', t. [be and lave.] To wash.
[Not used.]
BEI.AWGIVE, V. t. To give a law to
[Barbarous and not used.] Miiton
BELAY, V. t. [This word is composed of IBELEP'ER
To besiege ; to bleok up ; to surround wit!i
an army, so as to preclude escape.
Dryden.
BELEAGUERED, pp. Besieged.
BELE'AGUERER, n. One wiio besieges.
Sherwood.
BELE'AGURING, ppr. Besieging ; block-
ing up.
BELE'AVE, V. t. [be and leave.] To leave.
[Not used.] May.
BELEE', V. t. [be and lee.] To place on tlie
lee, or in a position unfavorable to the
wind. [Not used.] Shak.
BELEM'NITE, n. [Gr. li^-Keuvoi,, a dart, or
arrow, from jJf^os, from the root of iIoMm.
pello, to throw.]
rVrrow-liead, or finger stone ; vulgarly called
thunder-bolt, or thunder stone. A genus
of fossil shells, common in chalk and
limestone. These shells consist of an in-
terior cone, divided into partitions con-
nected by a syphon, as in the nautilus, and
surrounded by a number of concentric lay-
ers, made up of fibers radiating from the
axis. These layers are somewhat trans-
parent, and when burnt, rubbed or scruiied,
give the odor of rasped horn. The spe-
cies are now extinct.
Eneyc. Ed. Encyc.
be and lay, to lay to, lay by, or close. See
Beleagve'r.]
To block tip, or obstruct.
Dryden. Gower.
2. To place in anihu.sli. Spenser.
To adorn, surround, or cover. Spenser.
4. In seamanship, to fasten, or make fast, by
winding a rope round a cleat, kevil, or be-
laying-pin. It is chiefly applied to the
running rigging. Mar. Diet.
BELA'YED, pp. Obstructed ; ambushed ;
made fast.
BELA'YING, ppr. Blocking up ; laying an
mbush ; making fast.
BELCH, V. t. [Sax. bealcan, to belch, that
is, to push out, to swell or heave ; hrlgan,
to be angry, that is, to swell with ]>as-
sion ; Eng. bulge, bilge, bulk; allied to W.
bale, prominent.]
1. To tlirow or eject wind from the stom-
ach with violence.
2. To eject violently from a deep hollow
place ; as, a volcano belches flames and
lava.
BELCH, n. The act of throwing out from
the stomach, or from a hollow place ;
eructation.
3. A cant name for malt liquor. Dennis.
BELCH'ED, pp. Ejected from the stomach,
or from a hollow place.
BELCH'ING, ppr. Ejecting from tlic stom-
ach or any deep hollow place.
BELCH'ING, n. Eructation. Barret.
BEL'DAM, n. [Fr. belle, fine, handsome,
and dame, lady. It seems to be used in
contempt, or as a cant term.]
L An old woman. Shak.
Spenser seems to have used the word in
its true sense for good dame.
2. A hag. Dryden. Shak
BELE'AGIJER, v. t.belee'ger. [Ger. helagern,
from it, by, near, and tagem, to lay ; D
belegeren, to besiege, to convene, to belay
Sw. belcegra, to besiege ; Dati. heligger ;
Russ. ohlrgayi'.'
>. t. To infect with leprosy.
Beaumont.
[Fr. befroy ; barb. L. belfre-
JVot used.]
EL'FRY, n.
dus.]
Among military writers of the middle
age, a tower erected by besiegers to over-
look the place besieged, in which senti-
nels were placed to watch the avenues,
and to prevent surprise from parties of the
enemy, or to give notice of fires, by ring-
ing a "bell. Encyc.
3. That part of a steeple, or other building,
in which a bell is hung, and more particu-
larly, the timber Avork which sustains it.
Encyc.
BELGARD', n. [Fr. bel and egard.] A soft
look or glance. [Not tised.] Spenser.
BEL'GIAN, a. [See Belgic.] Belonging to
Belgica, or the Netherlands.
BEL'GlAN, n. A native of Belgica, or tlie
Low Countries.
BEL't>Ie, a. [L, belgicus, from Belgae, the
inhabitants of the Netherlands and the
country bordering on the Rhine, from that
river to the Seine and the ocean. The
name may have been given to them from
their bulk or large stature ; W. bale, prom-
inent, proud, from bal, a shooting out ;
Eng. bidge ; Russ. velikai, great. See
Pomp. Mela. Lib. 3. 3, and 3. 5 : Tac.
Agric : Joseph. De Bell. Jud.2. 16 : Herod.
L. 6 : Strabo. L. 4. Owen sup))oses the
Welch name, Belgiad, to have been given
them, from their bursting t'ortli and r.iv-
aging Britain and Ireland, lint tiny had
the name on the continent, before their ir-
ruption into Britain.]
Pertaining to the Belgae, who, in Cesar's
time, possessed the country between the
Rhine, the Seine and the ocean. They
were of Teutonic origin, and anterior to
Cesar's invasion of Gaul and Britain, col-
onies of them had established themselves
in the southern part of Britain. The
country was railed from its inhabitants
Belgica, tint Belgium, which was the town
of Beauvais. Sec Cluv. Germ. Ant. 2. 2.
BEL
BEL
BEL
Belgic is now applied to the Netherlands,
called also Flanders, or that part of the
Low Countries which formerly belonged
to the house of Austria.
BE'LIAL, n. [Heb. hp-^Z.] As a noun, un-
profitableness ; wickedness. As an ad-
jective, worthless ; wicked. In a collec-
tive sense, wicked men. Parkhursl.
BELI'BEL, V. t. [ht and lihd.] To libel or
traduce. [JSTot used.] Fuller.
BELI'E, V. I. [be and lie. Sax. belecgan, of
be and leogan, to lie, lig, or lyg, a lie ; D,
beliegen ; Ger. beliXgen, to belie.
iie.J
1. To give the lie to ; to show to be false;
to charge with falsehood ; as, the heart
belies the tongue. It is rarely used of de
clarations ; but of appearances and facti
which show that declarations, or certain
appearances and pretences are false and
hypocritical. Hence,
% To counterfeit ; to mimic ; to feign re-
semblance.
With dust, with horse's hoofs, that beat the
gi'ound.
And martial brass, hcUe tlie tliunder's sound.
Dry den.
3. To give H false representation.
Should 1 do so, \ should belie my thouslits.
Shak.
4. To tell lies concerning ; to calumniate by
false reports.
Thou dost helie him, Percy. Shali
5. To fill with lies.
Slander doth belie all comers of the world.
[jXtit legitimate.'] Shak.
BELI'ED, pp. Falsely represented either
by word or obvious evidence and indica-
cation ; counterfeited ; mimicked.
BELIE'F, 71. [Sax. geleaf, leave, license,
permission, consent, assent, belief, faith or
trust ; gelenfan, gelefan, geliefan, gehjfan, to
believe ; leofan, to leave and to live. From
tliese words, it api)ears that belief is from
the root o{ leave, peniiission, assent; Sax.
leaf, leave and belief, fides ; leofn, permission,
license ; written also lif and lufii ; hfnn.
to permit; D. geloof G. gliiube, belief
credit, faith ; ofe/oown, glaubcn, to believe ;
Dan. belover, to promise ; D. oorlof, verlof.
leave, permission ; G. urlaub, leave, fi
low. The primary sense of believe is to
throw or put to, or to assent to ; to leave
with or to rest on ; to rely. See Leave
and Live.]
I. A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of
mind to the truth of a declaration, pro-
position or alledged fact, on the ground
of evidence, distinct from personal kiinw-
tedge ; a.* the belief of the gospel ; belief
of a « iiiifss. liiliif may also he fminded
on iiilcri.;il iiii|.i-r.-si,)n.s. or arpiim-iits and
reasons t'lnni^lii'il liy our own iiiiiids ; as
the bflirfi,\'nnr sriiscs ; a train of reason-
ing may rcsidtin belief. Belief is opposed
to knowledge and science.
*. In theologij, faith, or a firm persuasion of
the truths of rehgion.
[ No man can attain [to] belief by the bare
I contemplation of heaven and earth. Hooker.
\i. Religion ; the body of tenets held by the
I professors of faith."
I In the heat of persecution, to which christian
belief vias subject, upon its tirst promulgation.
Hooker.
X. In some cases, the word is used for per-
■' suasion or opinion, when the evidence isl
Vol. I.
not so clear as to leave no doulrt ; but the
shades of strength in opinion can hardly
be defined, or exemplified. Hence the
of qualifying words; as a. firm, full or
strong belief.
5. The thing believed ; the object of belief.
Superstitious prophecies are the belief of
fools. Bacon.
0. A creed ; a form or summary of articles
of faith. In this sense, we generally use
Creed.
BELIE'VABLE, a. That may be beheved ;
credible. Sherwood.
BELIE'VE, j>. t. To credit upon tlje author-
ity or testimony of another ; to be per-
suaded of the truth of something upon
the declaration of another, or upon ev
dence furnished by reason.'!, argument
and deductions of the minil, or by other
circumstances, than personal knowledge.
When we believe uj)on the authority ot
another, we always put confidence in hi.s
veracity. When we believe upon the au-
thority of reasoning, arguments, or a con-
currence of facts and circumstances, we
rest our conclusions upon their strength
or probability, their agreement with our
own experience, &c.
2. To exi>ect or hope witli confidence ; t
trust.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see tl
goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
liiuler nistruction, as prejjaratory to bap,
tisiii and admission to church privileges.
ppr. Giving credit to testi-
otlier evidence than jicrsonaj
BELIE'VE, v. i. To have a firm persuasion of
any thing. In some cases, to have full per-
suasion, approaching to certainty; in oth
ers, more doubt is inijilied. It is' often fol-
lowed by in or on, especially in the scrip-
tures. To believe in, is to hold as the objeci
of faith. " Ve believe in God, believe also in
me." John xiv. To believe on, is to trust,
to place full confidence in, to rest upon
with faith. " To them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to then
that believe on his name." John i. John
son. But there is no ground for much dis
tinction.
In theology, to believe sometimes expresses !
mere assent of the understanding to the
truths of the gospel ; as in the case of Si-
mon, .^cts viii. In others, the word im
plies, with this assent of the mind,a yield-
ing of the will and affections, accotnpani-
ed with a humble reliance on Christ foi
salvation. John i. 12. iii. 1.5.
In fiopular use, and familiar discourse, to be-
lieve often expresses an opinion in a vague
manner, without a very exact estimate of
evidence, noting a mere preponderance
of opinion, and is nearly equivalent to
think or suppose.
BELIEVED, pp. Credited; assented to, as
true.
BELIE'VER, n. One who believes ; oni
who gives credit to other evidence than
that of ])ersonal knowledge.
2. In theology, one who gives credit to the
truth of the scriptures, as a revelation from
God. In a more restricted sense, a pro
fessor of Christianity; one who receives
the gospel, as unfolding the true way of
• sah :iti<pii, and Christ, as his Savior
In the primilirr church, those who had been
instructed in the truths of the gospel and
baptized, were called believers; in dis-
tinction from the catechwmens, who were
21
i'/ICT/C.
BELIEVING, - '^■- •
mony or to otli
knowledge.
BELIE'VINGLV, adr. In a believing man
ner.
BELIKE, adv. [be and like.] Probablv;
likely ; perhaps. [.Yenrlu antiquated.]
BELI'KELV, adu. Probably. [Xot used.]
Hall.
BELI'VE, adv. [See Uve.] Speedilv ; qiiick-
l.V- Obs. ' Spenser.
BELL, n. [Sax. bell, hella, belle, so named
from its sound ; Sax. bellan, to bawl, or bel-
loiv ; W. bullaw ; G. bellen ; D. id. ; coin^
cidiug with i3a\Xa and ;;f//o. See Peal.]
1. A vessel or hollow body, used for in.-iking
sounds. Its constituent parts arc a bar-
rel or hollow body, enlarged or expanded
at one end, an ear or cannon by which it
is himg to a beam, and a clapper on the
inside. It is formed of a composition oi
metals. Bells are of high antiquity. Th<
blue tunic of the Jewi.Ji High Priest wai
adorned with
lis : and the king.-
t" have the hem of ihei:
li till 111 ill liki- manner
ks, those who went tin
robe .11 1.. I
Amoiii.' tl
nightly rounds in camps or garrisons,
u.scd to ring a bell, at each sentinel-box, to
see that the soldier on duty was awake.
Bells were also put on the necks of crimi-
nals, to warn persons to move out of the
way of so ill an omen, as the sight of a
criminalor his executioner ; also on the
necks of beasts and birds, and in houses.
In churches and other public bnildingt.
bells are now used to notify the time ot'
meeting of any congregation or other as-
sembly. Encyr.
In private houses, bells are used to call
servants, either hung and moved bv a
wire, or as hand-bells. Small bells are also
used in electrical experiments.
. A hollow body of metal, perforated, and
containing a solid ball, to give sounds
when shaken ; used on animals, as on
horses or hawks.
3. Any thing in form of a liell, as the cup
or calix of a flower.
To bear the bell, is to be the first or leader,
in allusion to the bell-wetlicr of .-i flociv,
or the leading horse of a team or drove,
that wears bells on his collar.
To shake the bells, a phrase of Shakspearc,
gnifies to move, give notice or alarm.
BELL, V. i. To grow in the form of bells,
as buds or flowers.
BELL -FASHIONED, a. Having the form
of a liell. Mortimer.
BELL'-FLOWER, n. [beU and fiower.] A
genus of plants, so named Irom the shape
of the corol or flower which resembles a
bell, L. Campanula, a genus of monogy-
nian pentanders, comprehending many
species.
BELL'-FOUNDER, n. [beU and founder.]
A man whose occupation is to found or
cast bells.
BELL'-MAN, n. [bell and man.] A man who
rings a bell, especially to give notice of any
thing in the streets.
BELL-METAL, n. [beU and metal.] A
mixture of copper and tin, in the proportion
BEL
BEL
BEL
<if alioiit ten parts of copper to one ol
tin, or according to Thomson, three parts
to one, and usually a small portion of
brass or ziuk ; used" for making bells.
Encyc.
BELL'-PEPPER, n. [bell and pepper.] A
name of the Guinea pepper, a species of
Capsicum. Tliis is the red pepper of the
gardens, and most proper for pickling.
Encyc.
BELL-RINGER, n. One whose business
is to ring a church or other bell.
BELL'-SHAPED, n. [hell and shape.^ Hav-
ing the form of a bell. Botany.
BELL'-WETHER, n. [bell and tcether.] A
wether or sheep which leads the flock,
with a bell on his neck.
BELL'-WORT, n. A plant, the Uvidaria.
Muhlenberg.
BEL'LADONNA, n. A plant, a species of
Atropa, or deadly nightshade. Lee.
BEL'LATRIX, n. [L.] A ruddy, glittering
star of the second magnitude, in the left
shoulder of Orion ; so named from its ima-
gined influence in exciting war. Encyc.
BELLE, n. bel. [Fr., from L. bellus, It. hel-
lo, Sp. hello, handsome, fine, whence to
embellish ; allied jjerhaps to Russ. bielo,
white.]
A young lady. In popular use, a lady of su-
perior beauty and much admired.
BELL'ED, a. Hung with bells.
BELLES-LETTRES, n. phi. bel' letter, or
anglicised, bell-ktters. [Fr. See Belle and
Letter.]
PoUte literature ; a word of very vague sig-
nification. It includes poetry and orato-
ry ; but authors are not agreed to what
particular branches of learning the term
should be restricted. Enryc.
BELL'IBONE, n. [Fr.belle and bonne.] A
woman excelling both in beauty and good-
ness. UVot in use.] Spenser.
BELLIG'ERENT, a. [L. belliger, warlike ;
helligero, to wage war ; from helium, war,
and gero, to wage ; part, gerens, gerentis,
waging. Gr. n;oj.f/ioj, war ; W. bel, war, tu-
mult ; beta, to war, to wrangle.]
Waging war ; carrying on war ; as a bel-
ligerent nation.
BELLIG'ERENT, n. A nation, power or
slate i-arrving on war.
BELLlG'ERdUS, a. The same as hellige-
renl. [J^ot used.]
BELL'ING, n. [Sax. hellan, to bellow.] The
noise of a roe in rutting time ; a hunl.^-
man's term. Diet.
2. a. Growing or forming like a bell ; grow-
ing full and ripe ; used of hops ; from bell.
Jlsh.
BELLIP'OTENT, a. [L. helium, war, and
patens, powerful, bellipotens.]
Powerful 01' mighty in war. [Little used.]
Diet.
BELLIQUE, a. hellee'k. [Old Fr.] War-
like. [JVo< used.] Feltham.
BEL'LON, )i. A disease, attended with lan-
guor and intolerable griping of the bow-
els, common in places where lead ore is
smelted. Encye.
BELLO'NA, n. [from L. bellum, war.] The
goddess of war. Alt. Mythol.
BEL'LOW, v.i. [8e.x.bulgian,bylgean;W.
hatlaw ; L. balo ; D. hilken ; Sw. bola ;
Sax. bellan, to bawl. See Bawl.]
1. To make a hollow, loud noise, as a bull
to make a loud outcry ; to roar. In con-
tempt, to vociferate or clamor.
2. To roar, as the sea in a tempest, or as the
wind when violent ; to make a loud, hol-
low, continued sound. Dryden.
BEL'LOW, n. A loud outcry ; roar.
BEL'LOWING, ppr. Making a loud hol-
low soinul, as a bull, or as the roaring of
billows.
BEL'LOWING, n. A loud hollow sound or
roar. Herbert.
BEL'LOWS, n. sing, and phi. [Sax. bilig or
bylig, bellows ; and bihg, bylg, a blown
bladder, a bottle ; Goth, balgs, bylg, byl-
ga, a mail or budget ; L. bulga ; Ir. builg,
holg, a bellows ; Ger. balg, a skin ; blase-
halg, a bellows, that is, a blow-skin ; D.
blaasbalg ; Sw. blhsbcdg ; Dan. blwsebelg.
See Blaze. The word is properly in the
singular number, Goth halgs, but is used
also in the plural. It seems to be the same
word as the L. follis, and probably from
shooting out, sweHing or driving, W.
bal.]
An instrument, utensil or machine for blow-
ing fire, either in private dwellings or in
forges, ftirnaces and shops. It is so form-
ed as by being dilated and contracted, to
inhale air by a lateral orifice which is
opened and closed with a valve, and to
propel it through a tube upon the fire.
BEL'LOWS-FISH, n. The tnnnpet-fish,
about four inches long, with a long snout ;
w lience its name. " Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BEL'LUINE, a. [L. belhiimis, from belhia,
a beast.]
Beastly ; pertainins to or like a Ijeast ; bru-
tal. [Little u.'sed".] Alterbury.
BEL'LY, n. [h: holg, the belly, a bag, pouch,
budget, blister, bellows ; \V. boly, the bel-
ly, whence bolimv, to belly, to gorge
Arm. boelcu, bowels. The primary sens«
is swelled, or a swell.]
1. That part of the human body which ex-
tends from the breast to the thighs, con-
taining the bowels. It is called also the
abdomen or lower belly, to distinguish it
from the head and breast, which are
sometimes called bellies, from their cavity.
Qiiincy.
2. The part of a beast, corresponding to the
human belly.
3. The womb. .Ter. i. 5.
4. The receptacle of food ; that wliich re
quires food, in opposition' to the back.
Whose god is their belly. Phil. iii.
.'>. The part of any tiling which resembles
the hvinian belly in protuberance or cav
ity, as of a harp or a bottle.
6. Any hollow inclosed place; as the belly of
hell, in Jonah.
7. In so-ipture, belh/ is used for the heart.
Prov. xviii. 8. xx'. 30. John vii. 38. Car-
nal lusts, sensual pleasures. Rom. xvi. 18.
Phil. iii. 19. The whole man. Tit. i. 12.
Brown. Cruden.
BEL'LY, V. t. To fill ; to swell out. Shak.
BEL'LY, V. i. To swell and become protu-
berant, like the belly ; as, bellying goblets ;
bellying canvas. Dryden. Phillips.
9. To strut. Bailey.
BEL'LY-A€HE, n. [belly and ache.] Pain
ill the bowels; the colic. [Vulgar.]
BELLY-ACHE BUSH or WEED, n. A
s|i. r ,>- ofJatropha.
BEL'LY-BAND, n. A baud that encom-
I passes the belly of a horse, and fastens the
I saddle ; a girth. Sherwood.
iBEL'LY-BOUND, a. Diseased in the belly,
so as to be costive, and shrunk in the'belly.
I Johnson -
BEL'LY-CHEER, n. Good cheer. [JVo<
i used.] Chaucer.
.BEL'LY-FRETTING, n. The chafing of a
I horse's belly, with a fore girt.
j2. A violent pain in a horse's bell-y, caused
I by worms. Diet.
BEL'LYFUL, n. [belly awl full] As mnch
as fills tiie belly, or satisfies the appetite.
In familiar and ludicrous language, a great
abundance ; more than enough. [ Vulgar.]
Johnson.
BEL'LY-GOD, n. [belly and god.] A glut-
ton ; one who makes a god of his belly;
that is, whose great business or pleasure
is to gratify his appetite.
BEL' LYING, fi;)r. Enlarging capacity; swel-
ling out, like the belly.
BELLY-PINCHED, a. [See Pinch.] Star-
ved ; pinched with himger. Shak.
BEL'LY -ROLL, n. [See Rott.] A roller
protuberant in the middle, to roll land be-
tween ridges, or in hollows. Mortimer.
BEL'LY-SLAVE, n. A slave to the appe-
tite. Homily.
BEL'LY-TIMBER,n. [See Timber.] Food;
that which supports the belly. [ Vulgar.]
Prior. Hiidibras.
BEL'LY-WORM, n. [See Worm.] A worm
that breeds in the belly or stomach.
Johnson.
BELOCK', V. t. [Sax. belucan, from loc, a
lock, with be.]
To lock or fasten as with a lock. Shak.
BEL'OMANCY, n. [Gr. jJfjios, an arrow,
and (Uai'Tfia, divination.]
A kind of divination, practiced by the an-
cient Scythians, Babylonians and other
nations, and by the Arabians. A number
of arrows, being marked, were put into a
bag or quiver, and drawn out at random ;
and the marks or words on the arrow
drawn determined what was to happen.
See Ezek. xxi. 31. Encyc.
BELO'NE, n. [Gr. |3E>.or,, a needle.] The
gar, garfish, or sea-needle, a species of
Esox. It grows to the length of two or
three feet, with long pointed jaws, the
edges of which are armed with small
teeth. Encyc.
BELONG', V. i. [D. belangen, to concern,
belang, concern, interest, importance, of
be and lang ; Ger. belangen, to attain to,
or come t<i ; anlangen, to arrive, to come
to, to concern, touch or belong ; Dan. an-
langer, to arrive at, to belong. In Sax.
gelangian is to call or bring. The radical
sense of long is to extend or draw out,
and with be or an, it signifies to extend to,
to reach.]
1. To be the property of; as, a field belongs
to Richard Roe ; Jamaica belongs to G.
Britain.
2. To be the concern or proper business of ;
to appertain ; as, it belongs to John Doe to
prove his title.
3. To be appendant to.
He went into a desert place belonging to
Bethsaida. Luke ix.
4. To be a pait of, or connected with,tliough
detached in place ; as, a beam or rafter
BEL
B E M
BEN
Mongs to surh a iranie, or lo such n placf
in the building.
5. To liave relation to.
And David said, lo wiiom belotigest thou :
1 Sam. XXX.
C To be the quality or attribute of.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and for-
giveness. Dan. ix.
7. To be suitable for.
Stroni; meat belongeth to them of full age,
Heb. V.
8. To relate to, or be referred to.
He careth for tilings that belong to the Lord.
1 Cor. vii.
!>. To have a legal residence, settlement, or
inhabitancy, whether by birth or operation
of law, so as to be entitled to maintenance
by the parish or town.
Bastards also are settled in the parishes to
which the mothers belong. Slackstonc.
Hence,
10 To be the native of; to have original resi-
dence.
There is no other country in the world to
which the Gipeys could belong.
Grellman. Prcf 12.
n. In common language, to have a settled
resilience ; to be domiciliated.
BELONG'ING,;)/;r. Pertaining ; appertain-
ing ; being the jiroperty of; being a quality
of; being the concern of; being append-
ant to ; being a native of, or having a legal
or permanent settlement in.
BELONG'ING, n. A (piality. [jYot in use.]
Shall.
BELOVED, ppr. [be and loved, from love.
Belove, as a verb, is not used.]
Loved ; greatly loved ; dear to the heart.
Paul.
BELOW, prep, [be and low.] Under in place ;
beneath ; not so high ; as, below the moon ;
beloiv the knee.
2. Inferior in rank, excellence or dignitj'.
Felton.
;}. Unworthy of; unbefitting. Dryden.
BELOW, adv. In a lower place, with respect
to any object ; as, the heavens above and
the earth below.
"2. On the earth, as oiijiosed to the heavens.
The fairest child of Jove below. Prior.
3. Ill hell, or the region of the dead ; as the
realms below. Dn/den.
4. In a court of inferior jurisdiction ; as, at
the trial below. IVhealon.
BELOWT', t). «. [SeeLoivt.] To treat with
contemptuous language. [JVot in use.]
Camden.
BEL'SWAGGER, n. A lewd man.
Dnjden.
BELT, 71. [.Sax. belt ; Sw. bdlt ; Dan. bielie ;
L. balteus. Qu. Ir. bait, a ivelt. Class
BI.]
1. A girdle ; a band, usually of leather, in
which a sword or other weapon is hung.
2. A narrow passage, or strait between the
isle of Zealand and that of Funen at the
entrance of the Baltic, u.sually called the
Great Bell. The Lesser Belt is the passage
between the isle of Funen, and the coast
of Jutland.
3. A bandage or band used by surgeons for
various purposes.
4. Ill astronomy, certain girdles or rings,
which surround the planet Jupiter, are
called belts.
5. A disease among sheep, cured by cutting
off the tail, laying the sore bare, tJien cast-
ing mold on it, and applying tai- and goose
grease. Encyc.
BELT, I', t. To encircle. ff'arton
BELU'GA, n. [Russ. signifying white fish.]
A fish of the cetaceous order, and genu;
Velphinus, from 12 to 18 Icet in length
The tail is divided into two lobes, lyinj
horizontally, and there is no dorsal fin. In
swimming, this fish bends its tail under its
body like a lobster, and thrusts itself along
with the rapidity of an aiTow. This lisji
is found in the arctic seas and rivers, ami
is caught for its oil and its skin. Pennant.
BEL'VIDERE, n. [L. beUus, fine, and video,
to see.]
\. A plant, a species of chenopodlum, goose
foot or wild orach, called scoparia or an
nual mock cyjiress. It is of a beautiful
pyramidical form, and much esteemed in
China, as a salad, and for other uses.
Eneyc.
2. In Italian architecture, a pavilion on the
top of an edifice ; an artificial eminence
in a gartlen. Encyc.
BELYE. [See Belie.]
BE'MA, n. [Gr. /Jijiua.] A chancel. [JVot
; use.] Beaumont.
2. In ancient Greece, a stage or kind of pul-
pit, on which speakers stood when ad-
dressing an assembly. Milfurd.
BEMAD', u. «. Ibeandmad.] Tomakeiiiad.
[.Yot in «*c.] Shak.
BEMAN'GLE, v. t. [be and mangle.] To
mangle ; to tear asunder. [Little used.]
Beaumont
BEarASK, V. t. [he and mask.] To mask :
conceal. Slielton
BEMA'ZE, V. t. To bewilder. [See Maze.]
[Little used.] Cowper.
BEME'TE, V. t. [be and melc] To meas-
ure. [J^ot in use.] Shnk.
BEMIN'GLE, v. t. [be and mingle.] To
mingle ; to mix. [lAttle used ]
BEMI'RE, V. t. [be and mire.] To drag or
incumber in the mire ; to soil by passing
throuch mud or dirtv places. Swifl.
BEMIST', V. t. [be aiid mist.] To cover or
involve ill mist. [JVot used.] Felton.
BEMOAN, I', t. [be and moan.] To lament ;
to bev.'ail ; to express sorrow for ; as, to
bem/tan the loss of a son. Jeremiah.
BEMOANABLE, a. That may be lamented.
[.Vo< used.] Shenvood.
BEMOANED, /y/). Lamented; bewailed.
BF.MOANER, ?i. One who laments.
BEMOANING, p/)>\ Lamenting; bewailing.
BEMOCK', 11. t. [he and mock.] To treat
with niocWry. [Little used.] Shak.
BEMOCK', v.'i. To laugh at.
BEMOIL', V. t. [be and moil. Fr. mouiller,
to wet.]
To bedraggle ; to bemire ; to soil or incum-
ber with mire and dirt. {JVot in use.]
Shak.
BEMOL, n. In jnwsic, a half note. Bacon,
BEMON'STER, v. i. [be and monster.] To
make monstrous. [JVot in use.] Shak.
BEMOURN, V. t. To weep or mourn over.
[Little used.]
BEMU'SED, a. [be and muse.] Overcome
with musing ; dreaining ; a word of con-
tempt. Johnson. Pope.
BEN or BEN'-NUT, n. A purgative fniit or
nut, the largest of which resembles a fil-
bert, yielding an oil used in i)harmacy.
Encyc.
BENCH, n. [Ir. hinse ; Corn, btnk ; S?a.V.
bene ; Fr. banc. See Bank.]
1. A long seat, usually of boar<l or plank, dif-
fering from a stool in its greater length.
2. The seat where judges sit in court ; th*
at of justice. Hence,
3. The persons who sit as judges ; the court.
Shak. Dryden.
Free bench, in England, the estate in copy-
hold lands, which the wife, being espous-
ed a virgin, has for her dower, after the
decease of her husband. This is various
in different manors, accordhig to their res-
pective custoins.
King''s Bench, in England, a court in which
the king formerly sat in persun, and which
accompanied his hi>iiM Ih,M. 'I'ln cdiirt
consists of the Lord ( Imi .ln-n. . , and
three other justices, win. Iia\i jun-ilirtjon
overall matters of a crinniiiil or iiublic na-
ture. It lias a crown side and a plea side ;.
the former determining criminal, the lat-
ter, civil causes. Blackstow.
BENCH, V. t. To furnish with benches.
Dryden.
2. To seat on a bench. Slud.
.'5. r. i. To sit on a .seat of justice. Shak.
BENCH'ER, 71. In ing'/anrf, the benchers
in the inns of court, are the senior mem-
bers of the society who have the govern-
ment of it. They have been readers, and
being admitted to plead within the bar, are
called inner barristers. They annually
elect a treasurer. Encyc. Johnson.
2. The uUlermau of a corporation.
.ishmoli .
3. A judge. Shnk.
BEND, V. t. pret. bended or bent : pp. bended
or bent. [Sax. bendan, to bend ; Fr. bander,
to bend, bind or tie ; Ger. binden, to wind,
bind or tie ; D. binden, the same ; Sw.
banda, to bind ; Dan. binder, to bind ; L.
pando, pandare, to bend in ; pando, pan-
dere, to open ; pandus, bent, crooked ; It.
banda, sidewise ; benda, a fillet or band ;
bendare, to crown ; Sp. pandear, to bend
or be inclined, to bulge out, to belly ;
pandeo, a bulge or protuberance ; pando,
jutting out. The primary sense is, to
stretch or strain. Bend and bind are rad-
ically the same word.]
1. To strain, or to crook by straining ; as, to
bcTid a bow.
2. To crook ; to make crooked ; to curve :
to inflect ; as, to bend the arm.
3. To direct to a certain point ; as, to bend
our steps or course to a particular place.
4. To exert ; to apply closely ; to exercise
laboriously ; to intend or stretch ; as, to
bend the mind to study.
5. To prepare or put in order for use ; to
stretch or strain.
He hath bent his bow and made it ready.
6. To incline ; to be determined ; that is, to
stretch towards, or cause to tend ; as, to be
bent on mischief.
It expresses disposition or iiurjiose.
7. To subdue : to cause to yield ; to make
submissive : as, to bend a man to our will.
8. In seamanship, to fasten, as one rope to
another or to an anchor ; to fasten, as a
sail to its yard or stay ; to fasten, as a cable
to the ring of an anchor. Mar. Diet.
9. To hend thf lirou; is to knit the bro>v : to
sco«l; to frown. Camd'jn
BEN
BEN
B E N
[$Ki\D, r. ('. To be crooked; lo ciook, or be
curving. Sandys.
ti. To incline ; to lean or turn ; as, a road
bends to the west.
3. To jut over ; as a bending clifF.
4. To resolve, or determine. [Sec Bent on.]
Dnjdi
5. To bow or be submissive. Is. Ix.
BEND, n. A curve ; a crook ; a turn in
road or river ; flexure ; Incurvation.
2. In marine language, that part of a rope
which is fastened to another or to an
chor. [See To bend. No. 8.]
3. Bends of a ship, are the thickest and
strongest planks in her sides, more gener
ally called wales. They are reckoned from
the water,/rs*, second or third bend. They
have the beams, knees, and foot hooks
bolted to them, and are the chief strength
of the ship's sides. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
4. In heraldry, one of the nine honorable or-
dinaries, containing a third part of the
field, wlien charged, and a filth, when
plain. It is made by two lines drawn
across from the dexter chief, to the sinis-
ter base point. It sometimes is indented,
ingrailed, &c. Johnson. Encyc.
BEND, n. A band. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
BENDABLE, a. That may be bent or iii-
curvated. Sherwood.
BEND'ED, ? Strained ; incurvated :
BENT, ^ PP' made crooked ; inclined :
subdued.
BEND'ER, n. The person who bends, or
makes crooked ; also, an instrument for
bending other things.
BEND'ING, ppr. Incurvating ; forming into
a curve ; stoopiug ; subduing ; turning as
a road or river ; inclining ; leaning ; ap-
plying closely, as the mind ; fastening.
BEND'LET, n. In heraldry, a little bend,
which occupies a sixth i)art of a shield.
Baile)/.
BEND'-WITH, n. A plant. Did.
BEND'Y, n. In heraldry, the field divided
into four, six or more parts, diagonally,
and varying in metal and color.
Encyc. Ash.
.BENE, n. bcn'y. The popular name of the
sesamum orientale, called in the West In-
dies vangloe, an African plant. Mease.
BENE' APED, a. \be and neap.] Among
seamen, a ship is heneaped, when the water
does not flow high enough to float her
from a dock or over a bar. Encyc
QEyE'ATU,prep. [Sax. beneath, hcneothan
benythan ; of be and neothan, below, under
See JVether.]
I. Under ; lower in place, with something
directly over or on, as to place a cusli
ion beneath one ; often with the sense of
pressure or oppression, as to sink beneath a
burden, in a literal sense.
*3. Under, in a figurative sense ; bearing heavy
impositions, as taxes, or oppressive gov-
ernment.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.
3. Lower in rank, dignity or excellence ; as,
brutes are beneath man ; man is beneath
angels, in the scale of beings.
4. Unworthy of; mibecoming; not equal to;
as, he will do nothing beneath his station
or character.
BENE'ATH, adv. In a lower place ; as, the
earth from beneath will be barren.
Mortimer.
'2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any
superior region ; as, in heaven above, or
in earth beneath.
BEN'EDleT, a. [L. benedictus.] Having
mild and salubrious quaUties. [A/ot in
vse.] Bacon
BENEDI€'TINE, a. Pertaining to the order
or monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.
BENEDICTINES, n. An order of monks,
who profess to follow the rules of St. Ben
edict ; an order of great celebrity. They
wear a loose black gown, with large wide
sleeves, and a cowl on the head, ending in
a point. In the canon law, they are called
black friars.
BENEDICTION, ?!. [L. benedictio, from
bene, well, and dictio, speaking. See
Boon and Diction.]
1. The act of blessing; a giving praise to
God or rendering thanks for his favors ; a
blessing pronounced ; hence grace befu
and after meals.
3. Blessing, prayer, or kind wishes, uttered
in favor of any person or thing ; a solemn
or aftectionate invocation of happiness
thanks; expression of gratitude.
3. The advantage conferred by blessing.
Bacon
i. The form of instituting an abbot, answer-
ing to the consecration of a bishop.
Jlyliffe.
5. The external ceremony performed by
priest in the office of matrimony is called
the nuptial benediction. Encyi
6. In the Romish Church, an ecclesiastical
ceremony by which a thing is rendered
sacred or venerable. Encyc
BENEFACTION, k. [L. benefacio, oi' bene
well, andyaa'o, to make or do.]
1. The act of conferring a benefit.
More generally,
. A benefit conferred, especially a charita-
ble donation. Atlerbury
BENEFACTOR, n. He who confers a
benefit, especially one who makes chari-
table contributions either for public insti-
tutions or for private use.
BENEFACTRESS, n. A female who con-
fers a benefit. Delany.
BEN'EFICE, n. [L.. beneficium ; ¥r. bene-
fice. See Benefaction.]
1. Literally, a benefit, advantage or kind-
ness. But in present usage, an ecclesiast-
ical living ; a church endowed with a reve-
nue, for the maintenance of divine service,
or the revenue itself All church prefer-
ments are called benefices, except bish-
oprics, which are called dignities. But
ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to
bishoprics, deaneries, arch-deaconries, and
prebendaries ; and benefice, to parsonages,
vicarages, and donatives. Encyc.
2. In the middle ages, benefice was used for
a fee, or an estate in lands, granted at first
for life only, and held e.r mero beneficio of
the donor. The estate afterwards becom-
ing hereditary, took the appellation of feud,
and benefice became appropriated to cliurcli
livings. Encyc.
BEN'EFICED, a. Possessed of a beneliCt
or church jireferment. 'lyliffc
BEN'EFICELESS, a. Having no benefice
[jVol xised.] Sheldon
BENEF'ICENCE, n. [L. beneficentia, fron:
the participle of benefacio.]
The practice of doing good ; active good-
ness, kindness, or charity.
BENEF'ICENT, a. Doing good ; perform-
ing acts of kindness and charity. It dif-
fers from benign, as the act from the dispo-
sition ; beneficence being benignity or kind-
ness exerted in action. Johnson.
BENEFICENTLY, adv. In a beneficent
BENEFI"CIAL, a. Advantageous; confer-
ring benefits ; useful ; profitable ; helpful ;
contributmg to a valuable end ; followed
by to ; as, industry is beneficial to the body,
as well as to the property.
3. Receiving or entitled to have or receive
advantage, use or benefit ; as the beneficial
owner of an estate. Kent.
BENEFI"CIALLY, adv. Advantageously;
profitably ; helpllilly.
BENEFI'CIALNESS, 71. Usefidness; profi-
tableness. Hale.
BENEFl'CIARY, a. [L. beneficianus. See
Benefaction.]
Holding some office or valuable possession,
in subordination to another ; having a de-
pendent and secondary
BENEFl'CIARY, n. One who holds a
benefice. A beneficiary is not the proprie-
tor of the revenues of his church ; but he
has the administration of them, without
being accountable to any person. The
word was used, in the middle ages, for a
feudatory, or vassal. Encyc.
2. One who receives any thing as a gift, or
is maintained by charity. Blackstone.
BENEFI"CIENCY, n. Kindness or favor
bestowed. Broion.
BENEFI 'CIENT, a. Doing good.
Adam Smith.
BEN'EFIT, n. [Primarily from L. benefi-
cium, or benefactum ; but perhaps directly
from the Fr. bienfail, by corruption.]
1. An act of kindness ; a favor conferred.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all
his benefits. Ps. ciii.
2. Advantage ; profit ; a word of extensive
use, and expressing whatever contributes
to promote prosperity and personal happi-
ness, or add value to property.
Men have no right to what is not for their
benefit. Burke.
3. In \a\v, benefit of cleigy. [See Clergy.]
BEN'EFIT, ii. t. To do good to ; to advan-
tage ; to advance in health, or prosperity ;
applied either to persons or things ; as, exer-
cise benefits health ; trade benefits a nation.
BEN'EFIT, v.i. To gain advantage; to
make improvement ; as, he has benefited by
good advice ; that is, he has been bene-
fited.
BEN'EFITED,;)jo. Profited; having recei-
d benefit.
BEN'EFITING, ppr. Doing good to ; profit-
ing ; gaining advantage.
BENE'ME, V. t. [Sax. be and naman.] To
name. [J^ot in use.] Spenser.
3. To promise ; to give. [JVbi in iMc]
Spenser.
BENEMP'NE, v. t. To name. [TVbi in use.]
Spensei:
BENEPLAC'ITURE, n. [L. bcneptncitum,
bene, well, and placilum, from plaeeo, to
]>leasc.]
Will ; choice. [.Vo< in use.] Glanvilte.
BEN
BEN
B E R
BENET', V. t. [be and net] To catch in a
net ; to ensnare. [Kot used.] Shah.
BENEVOLENCE, n. [L. benevoknliaM
bene, well, and volo, to will or wish. See
nm.]
1. The disposition to do good ; good will
kindness ; charitableness ; the love of
mankind, accompanied with a desire to
promote their happiness.
The benevolence of God is one of his
moral attributes ; that attribute which de
lights in the happiness of intelligent beings.
" God is love." 1 John iv.
2. An act of kindness ; good done ; charity
given.
3. A species of contribution or tax illegally
exacted by arbitrary kings of England.
Blackstone.
BENEVOLENT, a. [L. benevolens, of bciu
and volo.]
Having a disposition to do good ; possessing
love to mankind, and a desire to promote
their prosperity and happiness ; kind.
BENEVOLENTLY, adv. In a kind man-
ner ; with good will.
BENGAL', n. A thin stuff made of silk and
hair, for women's apparel, so called from
Bengal in the E. Indies.
Bailey. Johnson.
BENGALEE', n. The language or dialect
spoken in Bengal.
BENGALE'SE, n. sing, and plu. A native
or the natives of Bengal. As. Res. vii. 171.
BENI'GHT, V. t. [be and night] To involve
in darkness ; to shroud with the shades of
night.
The clouds benight the sky. Garlh
2. To overtake with night; as a benighted
traveler.
."}. To involve in moral darkness, or igno-
rance ; to debar from intellectual light ; as
benighted nations, or heathen.
BENI'GIITED, pp. Involved in darkness,
physical or moral ; overtaken by the night.
BENI'GN, a. beni'ne. [L. benignus, from the
same root, as bonus, bene, ancient L. benus,
Eiig. boon.]
1. Kind; of a kind disposition ; gracious;
favorable.
Our Creator, bounteous and benign.
Milton.
'2. Generous ; liberal ; as a benign benefac-
tor.
3. Favorable ; having a salutary influence ;
as the benign aspect of the seasons.
The benign light of revelation.
IVashington.
4. Wholesome ; not pernicious ; as a benign
medicine. Arbuthnot
5. Favorable ; not malignant ; as a benign
disease.
BENIG'NANT, a. Kind ; gracious ; favor-
able.
BENIG'NITY, n. Goodness of disposition
or heart ; kindness of nature ; gracious-
ness.
2. Actual goodness ; beneficence.
3. Salubrity ; wholesome quahty ; or that
which tends to promote health. Wiseman.
BENI'GNLY, adv. beni'nehj. Favorably;
kindly ; graciously.
BEN'ISON, n. s as z. [Fr. henir, to bless ;
henissant, blessing ; from the root of bene,
bonus, boon. See Boon.]
Blessing ; beuedjction. [Nearly antiqua-
ted.] Johnson.
BEN'JAMIN, n. A tree, the Laurus liei
zoin, a native of America, Called a\so spic
hush. It grows to the height of 15 or 20
feet, with a very branchy head.
3. A gum or resin, or rather a balsam. [See
Benzoin.] Encijc.
BEN'NET, n. The herb bennet, or avens,
known in botany by the generic term
Geum. Fam. of Plants.
BEN'NET FISH, n. A fish of two feet in
length, caught in the African seas, having
scales of a deep purple, streaked with gold,
Diet. ofJ\rat. Hist
BENT, pp. of bend. Inciu-vated ; inflected ;
inclined ; prone to or having a fixed pro-
pensity ; determined.
Bent on, having a fixed inclination ; resolv-
ed or determined on.
BENT, n. The state of being curving
crooked, or inclined from a straight line
flexure ; curvity.
2. Declivity ; as the 6fHN)f a hill. [Unusual.]
Dnjden
Inclination ; disposition ; a leaning or hi
as of iniiid ; propensity; as the bent of the
Miiiiil or will ; the bent of a people toward;
an object. This may be natural or artiii
cial, occasional or habitual, with indefi
nite degrees of strength.
4. Flexion ; tendency ; particular direction ;
as the bents and turns of a subject.
Locke.
5. Application of the mind; a bending oWhe
mind in study or investigation. Locke.
BENT, \ A kind of grass, called
BENT'-GRASS, (, "' in botany, Agrostis, of
several species. Encijc.
BENT'ING-TIME, n. The time when pi-
geons feed on bents, bclbre peas are ripe,
Johnson. Dniden.
BENUM', corruptly BENUMB', v. t. [Sax,
beniman, benyman, j)p. benumen, to seize,
of 6e and niman. Sax. and Goth., to take or
seize. This root is retained in urUhemam.
It is to be observed, that b after m, in numb,
thumb, dumb, &c., is an arbitrary addition
of modern writers.]
. To make torpid ; to deprive of sensation ;
as, a hand or foot benummed by cold.
2. To stupify ; to render inactive ; as, to ie-
.nu7n the senses. Dryden.
BENUM'MED, pp. Rendered torpid ; de-
prived of sensation ; stupified.
BENUM'MING, ppr. Depriving of sensa-
tion ; stupifying.
BE.N'ZOATE, n. [See Benzoin.] A salt
formed by the union of the benzoic acid
with any salifiable base.
BENZO'l€, a. Pertaining to benzoin.
Benzoic acid, or flowers of Benzoin,
pecuUar vegetable acid, obtained from
Benzoin and other balsams, by subhmation
or decoction. It is a fine light white mat-
ter in small needles ; its taste pungent and
bitterish, and its odor slightly aromatic.
Thomson.
BENZOIN', \ Gum benjamin ; a con-
BEN'JAMIN, \ Crete resinous juice flow-
ing from the Styrax Benzoin, a tree of Su-
matra, &c. It is properly a balsam, as it
yields benzoic acid. It flows from incis-
ions made in the stem or branches. It is
solid and brittle, sometimes in yellowish
white tears joined together by a brown
substance, and sometimes of a uniform
brown substance lilie resin. It lias little
taste, but its smell, especially when rub-
bed or heated, is extremely fragrant and
agreeable. It is chiefly used in cosmetics
and perfumes. Encyc. Thomson.
BEl'A'INT, v.t. [be and par)!/.] To paint;
to cover with paint. [Little used.] Shah.
BEl'A'LE, V. t [be and pale.] To make
pale. [M)t in use.] Careus.
BEPINCII', V. t [be and pinch.] To mark
with pinches.
BEPLXCIIED, ^ ^^ Marked with pinches.
BEPINCHT,
pp.
Chapman.
BEPOW'DER, V. t. [he and ponder.] To
])owder ; to sjjrinkle or cover with pow-
der.
BEPRA'ISE, V. t. [be and jnaise.] To praise
greatly or extravagantly. Goldsmith.
BEPUR'PLE, V. t [be and purple.] To tinge
or dye with a purple color.
BEQUE'ATH, v.t [Sax. becwmthan ; bt
and cicethan, to say ; cuid, a saying, opin-
ion, will, testament ; cythan, to testily ; Eng.
(juuth.]
To give or leave by will ; to devise some
species of property by testament ; as, to
bequeath an estate or a legacy.
BEQiriVATIIED, pp. Given oV left by will.
BIXiUK ATHING, ppr. Giving or devising
by tcstiiMieiit.
BEliUE ATHMENT, n. The act »f be-
queathing ; a bequest.
BEUUEST', n. Something left by will; a
legacy.
BERA'IN, V. t To rain upon. {Xot in use.]
Chaucer.
BERA'TE, V. t [be and rale.] To chide ve-
hemently ; to scold.
BERAT'TLE, v. t [be and rattU.] To fill
with rattling sounds or noise. Shak.
BERA'Y, V. t To make foul ; to soil. [J^ot
in use.] Milton.
BERBERRY, n. [L. berheris.] [See Bar-
berry.]
BERE, n. [Sax. ber, barley.] The name of
a species of barley in Scotland. Gray.
BERE' AVE, V. t pret. bereaved, bereft -.pp.
bereaved, bereft. [Sax. bereafan, of be and
reafian, to deprive. See Rob and Reap.]
1. To deprive; to strip; to make destitute ;
with o/ before the thing taken away.
Mc have yc bereaved of my children. Gen.
xlii.
It is sometimes used without of, and is
particidarly applied to express the loss of
IHcnds by death.
2. To take away from. Shak.
BEREAVED, pp. Deprived ; stripped and
left destitute.
BEREAVEMENT, n. Deprivation, par-
ticularly by the loss of a friend by death.
BERE'AVING, ppr. Stripping bare; de-
priving.
BEREFT',;?;), of bereave. Deprived ; made
destitute.
BERENGA'RIANISM, n. The opinions or
doctrines of Bereugarius, archdeacon of
St. Mary at Anjou, and of his followers,
who deny the reality of the body and
blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Encyc.
BERG, ji. [Sax. beorg, beorh, a hill, a castle.]
A borough ; a town that sends burgesses to
ParUament ; a castle. [See Burg.] Obs.
Ash.
BERG'AMOT, ». [Fr. bergamote ; Sp. ber-
gamota.]
1. A species of pear.
B E R
B E S
B E S
2. A species of citron, at first casually pro-
duced by an Italian, who grafted a citron
on the stock of a bergamot pear tree.
The fruit has a fine taste and smell, and
its essential oil is in high esteem as a per-
ume. This oil is extracted from the yel-
low rind of the fruit. Hence,
t). An essence or perfume from the citron
thus produced.
4. A species of snuff perfumed with berga
mot.
5. A coarse tapestry, manufactured with
flocks of wool, silk, cotton, hemp and ox
or goat's hair, said to have been invented
at Bergamo in Italy. Encyc.
BERG'ANDER, n. [berg, a cliff", and Dan.
and, G. ente. Sax. ened, a duck.]
A burrow duck ; a duck that breeds in holes
under cliffs. Thomson.
BER'GERET, n. [Fr. lergcr, a shepherd.]
A song, [j^ot used.'] Chaucer.
BERG'MANITE, n. [from Bergman, the
mineralogist.]
A mineral classed with scapolite, in the fam
ily of felspath. It occurs massive, witli
gray and red quartz in Norway. Its col-
ors are greenisli and grayisli white. Cyc.
BERG'MASTER, n. [Sax. beorg, a hill oi
castle, and master.]
The bailiff or chief officer among the Derby-
shire miners. Johnson.
BERG'iWOTE, n. [Sax. beorg, a hill, and
mote, a meeting.]
A court held on a hill in Derbyshire, in Eng
land, for deciding controversies l)etween
tlie miners. Blount. Johnson.
BERHY'ME, v. t. [be and rhyme.] To men-
tion in rhyme or verse ; used in contempt.
Shak.
BER'LIN, n. A vehicle of the chariot kind,
sup]josed to have this name from Berhn,
the chief city of Prussia, wliere it was first
made, or from tlie Italian berlina, a sort
of stage or pillory, and a coach. Encyc.
BERLUC'CIO, n. A sinall bird, somewhat
lik-v! the yellow hammer, but less and more
sle-.:ler. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BERME, n. In foHiJicalion, a space of
ground of three, four or five feet in width,
I n between the rampart and the moat or
foss, designed to receive the ruins of the
rajnpart, and prevent the earth from filling
the ibss. Sometimes, it is palisaded, and
in Holland, it is generally planted with
quick-set liedge. Encyc.
BESJ'NACLE, [See Barnacle.]
BER'NARDINE, a. Pertaining to St. Ber-
nard, aud the monks of the order.
BER'NARDINS, n. An order of monks,
foimded by Robert, abbot of Moleme, and
reformed by St. Bernard. Tlie order
originated about the beginning of the 12tl
century. They wear a white robe, with a
black scapulary ; and wlien tliey officiate,
tliev are clothed with a large white gown,
with great sleeves, and a hood of the same
color. Encyc.
BEROB', v.t. [beauArob.] To rob. [JVotin
use.] Spen.<ier.
BER'OE, n. A marine animal of an oval or
spherical form, nearly an inch in diameter,
and divided into longitudinal ribs, like a
melon. Diet, of JVnt. Hist.
BRR'RIED, a. Furnished with berries.
BER'IIY, n. [Sax. tf-m. a -rapr or .hitter
of grapes ; hergn, a. grape stone, a berry.]
1. A succulent or pulpy fruit, contauiing na-
ked seeds. Or in more technical language
a succulent pulpy pericarp, or seed vessel,
without valves, containing several seeds,
which are naked, that is, which have no
covering but the pidp and rind. It is com-
monly round or oval. This botanical def-
inition includes the orange and other like
fruits. But in popular language, berry ex-
tends only to the smaller fruits, as straw-
berry, gooseberry, &c., containing seeds or
granules.
2. A mound, [for barrow.'] W. Broivne.
BER'RY, V. i. To bear or produce berries.
BER'RY-BEARING, a. Producing berries.
BERT. Sax. beorht, berht ; Eng. blight
This word enters into the name of many
Saxon princes and noblemen ; as Egbert,
Sigbert. T)ie Bertha of tlie northern na-
tions was by the Greeks called Eudoxia,
an equivalent word. Of the same sort
were Phcedrus, Epiphanius, Photius,
Lampridius, Fulgentius, Ilhistris. Camden.
[See Bright.]
BERTH, n. [fiom the root of bear.]
1. A station in which a ship rides at anchor,
comprehending the space in which she
ranges. In more famihar usage, the word
signifies any situation or place, Where a
vessel lies or can lie, whether at anchor
or at a wharf
3. A room or a))artment in a ship, where a
number of officers or men mess and re-
side.
3. The box or place for sleeping at the sides
of a cabin ; the jjlace for a haramoc, or a
repository for cliests, &c.
To berth, in seamen's language, is to al
lot to each man a place for liis hammoc.
BER'TRAM, n. [L. pyrethrnm, said to be
from Ttvp, fire, from its acrid quality.]
Bastard pellitory, a plant.
BER'YL, n. [h. berTjllus ; Gr. )3rpi.W.o5 ; Ch
Syr. Eth. a gem, beryl, and in Syr. crystal,
and a pearl ; the latter word being a dif
ferent orthography of beryl ; probably
from the root of the Fr. briller, to shine,
Eng. brilliant, Eth. f) C U bareah, to shine.]
A mineral, considered by Cleavelaud as a
subspecies of Emerald. Its prevailing
color is green of various shades, but al-
ways pale. Its crystals are usually longer
and larger than those of the precious em-
erald, aud its structure more distinctly fo-
liated. It is liarder than the ajjatite, with
which it has been confounded ; harder
aud less heavy than the pjcnite. The
best beryls are found in Brazil, in Siberia
and Ceylon, and in Dauria, on the fron-
tiers of China. They are found in many
of the United States.
Sillimnn. Cleaveland.
BER'YL- CRYSTAL, n. A species of im-
jjerfect crystal, of a very jiure, clear, and
et[ual texture. It is always of the figure
of a long and slender column, irregularly
hexangular, and tapering at the top. Its
color is a pale brown, of a fine transparen-
cy. Enci/c.
BER'YLLINE, a. Like a beryl ; of a ligi.t
or bluish green.
BESA'INT, 1'. t. [be and saint.'] To make
aiut. [JVot in u.ie.]
BESA'YLE, n. [Norm, ayte ; Fr. aietd,
grandfather.] A great grandfather.
part
If the abatement happened on the death
of one's grandfather or grandmother, a
writ of ayle lietii ; if on the death of the
great grandfather, then a writ of besayle ;
but if It mounts one degree higher, to the
tresayle, or grandfather's grandfather, &.C.,
the writ is called a writ of cosinage, or
dc consanguineo. Blackstone.
BES€AT'TER, v. t. [be and scatter.] To
scatter over. [ATot used.] Spenser.
BES€ORN', V. t. [be and acorn.] To treat
with scorn ; to mock at. [JVot used.]
Chaucer.
BES€BATCH', v. t. [be and scratch.] To
scratch ; to tear with the nails. [jVot in
use.] Chaucer.
BESeRAWL', V. t. [be and scrawl.] To
scrawl ; to scribble over. Milton.
BESCREE'N, v. t. [be and screen.] To cov-
er with a screen ; to shelter ; to conceal.
Shak.
BESCREE'NED, pp. Covered ; sheltered ;
concealed.
BESeRIB BLE, v. t. To scribble over.
Milton.
BES€UM'BER, v.t. [from cumber.] To
encumber. [JVot legitimate nor used.]
B. Jonson.
BESEE', 1'. i. [be and see.] To lofk ; to
mind. [Xotinuse.] TVicklife.
BESEE'CH, V. t. pret. and pp. besought. [Sax.
be and secan, to seek, enquire, follow ; D.
verzoeken ; Ger- ersuchen ; from seek, se-
quor, to follow, with be, by, near, about ;
that is, to follow close, to press. See Seek
and Essay. The Saxon has gesecan.]
To entreat ; to supplicate ; to implore ; to
ask or pray with urgency ; followed by a
person ; as, " I Paul beseech you by the
meekness of Christ," 2 Cor. x. ; or by a
thing ; as, I beseech your patience.
BESEE'CHER, n. One who beseeches.
BESEE'CHING, ppr. Entreating.
BESEE'K, ]>. t. To beseech. [JVbi used.]
Chaucer.
BESEE'M, v.t. [6e and seem.] To become;
to be fit for, or worthy of ; to be decent
for.
Wliat form of speech or behavior beseemeth
us, in our prayers to God ? Hooker.
BESEE'MIN'G, ppr. or a. Becoming; fit;
worthv of.
BESEE'MING, n. Comeliness. Barret.
BESEE'MLY, a. Becoming; fit; suitable.
BESEE'N, a. Adapted ; adjusted. [JVot
used.] Spenser.
BESET', V. t. pret. and pp. beset. [Sax. he-
settan, to place, of ic and setlan, to set; D.
bezetten ; Ger. besetzen. See Set.]
. To surround ; to inclose ; to hem in ; to
besiege ; as, we are beset with enemies", a
city is beset with troops. Hence,
2. To press on all sides, so as to perplex ; to
entangle, so as to render escape difficult or
impossible.
Adam sore beset replied. .Wilton.
3. To waylay. Shak.
4. To fall upon. Spenser.
BESET'TING, /!/))•. Surrounding; besieg-
ing ; wnylaving.
BRSET'TING, a. Habitually attending, or
pressing ; as a besetting sin.
BESHI'NE, f.<. To shine upon. [JVbtused.]
BESHREW, I', t. [be und shrew.] To wish
a curse to ; to execrate. Drydtii
B E S
2. To happen ill to. [JVot in use] Shak
BESHUT', 11. I. To shut up. [,Vot used.]
BESI'DE, prep, [be and side, by the. side.]
1. At tlie side of a person oithinjj; near
as, sit down beside me, or beside the stream.
3. Over and above ; distinct from.
Beside all this, between us and you, there is
a peat gulf fixed. Luke xvi.
3. On one side ; out of the regular course or
order ; not according to, but not contrary.
It i.s beside my present business to enlarge
upon this speculation. Locke.
4. Out of; in a state deviating from ; as, to
put one beside his patience. Hence,
5. With the reciprocal pronoun, beside one
self is outof the wits or senses; out of the
order of reason, or of rational beings.
Paul, thou art beside thyself. Acts xxvi.
BESI'DES, jtrep. Over and above ; sepa
rate or distinct from.
And there was a famine in the laud, besides
the first famine. Gen. xxvi.
Note. This word, though radically the
same as beside, and a corruption of it, ought
not to be confounded with it, for it is nev-
er used in the senses explained under be-
side, except in the second.
BESI'DE, ? , Moreover ; more than
BESI'DES, I ""*'• that ; over and above ;
distinct from ; not included in the nunibi
or in what has been mentioned.
Besides, you know not what is the fate of]
your friend.
The men said to Lot, hast thou here any be-
sides ! Gen. .xix.
To all beside, as much an empty shade,
An Eugene living, as a Cesar dead. Pope.
These sentences may be considered as
elliptical.
BESID'ERY, n. A species of pear.
Johnson.
BESIE'6E, V. t. [it and siege ; Fr. siege,
and assieger, to besiege. See Siege.]
1. To lay siege to ; to beleaguer ; to beset,
or surround with armed forces, for the
purpose of compelling to surrender, either
by famine or by violent attacks ; as, to ie-
siege a castle or city.
'i. To beset ; to throng round.
BESIE'fiED, pp. Surrounded or beset with
hostile troops.
BESIE'GER, n. One who lays siege, or is
employed in a sie^e.
BESIE'GING, ppr.Lay'mg siege ; surround-
ing with armed forces.
BESIE'dING, a. Surrounding in a hostile
manner ; employed in a siege ; as a besieg-
ing army.
BESIT', V. t. [be and sit.] To suit ; to be-
come. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BESLA'VE, V. t. To subjugate; to enslave.
[JVot used.] Bp. Hall.\
BESLI'ME, V. t. To daub with shme ; to soil.j
[JVot used.] B. JonsonJ
BESLUB'BER, v. t. [be and shtbber, slabber.]:
To soil or smear with spittle, or any thing;
running from the mouth or nose. [ Vul-.
BESME'AR, V. t. [be and smear.] To bedaub ;'
to overspread with any viscous, glutinous!
matter, or with any soft substance that
adheres. Hence, to foul ; to soil.
BESMEARED, pp. Bedaubed ; overspread!
with any thmg soft, viscous, or adhesive ;j
soiled.
BESME'ARER, n. One that besmears. I
B E S
BESME'ARING, ppr. Bedaubing; soihng.
BESMIRCH' V. t. [be and smirch.] To soil ;
to foul ; to discolor. [Little used.] Shak.
BESMO'KE, V. I. [be and smoke.] To foul
with smoke ; to harden or dry in smoke.
[Little used.]
BESMO'KED, pp. Fouled or soiled with
smoke ; dried m smoke.
BESMUT', V. t. [be and smut.] To blacken
with smut ; to fold with soot.
BESMUT'TED, pp. Blackened with smut
or soot.
BESNOW, V. t. [be and snow. Sax. besniwed,
participle.] To scatter ILIte snow. [Littli
used.] Goiiter.
BESNOWED, a. or pp. [be and snow.
Covered or sprinkled whh snow, or will
white blossoms. Hanbury.
BESNUFF', V. t. To befoul with snuff.
BESNUFF'ED, pp. Foul with snuff.
Young.
BE'SOM, n. s as z. [Sax. besm, a brush or
broom ; besnan, twigs. Orosius, 2. 3. Ger.
besen ; D. bezem; Arm. bezo, birch. Tiie
besom was a little bundle of twigs used
for sweeping.]
A broom; a brush of twigs for sweeping.
I will sweep it with the Jesom of destruction,
saitli the Lord of Hosts, is. xiv.
BE'SOM, V. t. To sweep, as with a besom
Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the
plain. Barlow.
BESORT', v.l. [be and sort.] To suit; to
fit ; to become. Shak.
BESORT', n. Company ; attendance ; train.
Obs. Shiik.
BESOT', V. t. [be and sot.] To make sottish ;
to infatuate ; to stupify ; to make dull or
senseless. Jililton.
2. To make to dote. Shak.
BESOT'TED, pp. Made sottish or stupid.
Besotted on, infatuated with foolish affec-
tion. Dryden.
BESOT TEDLY, adv. In a foohsh man-
ner. JUilton.
BESOT'TEDNESS, n. Stupidity; arrant
folly ; infatuation. Jililton.
BESOT'TING, ppr. Infatuatitig ; making
sottish or foolish.
BESOUGHT', besauV. pp. of beseech. En-
treated ; implored ; sought by entreaty.
BESPAN'GLE, v. t. [be and spangle.] To
adorn ivith spangles ; to dot or sprinkle
with something brilliant ; as, the heavens
bespangled with stars.
BESPAN'GLED, pp. Adorned with span-
gles or something shining.
BESPAN'GLING,;i;>A Adornuig with span-
gles or glittering objects.
BESPAT'TER, v. t. [be and spatter.] To soil
by spattering ; to sprinkle vvitli water, i
with dirt and water.
2. To asperse with calumny or reproach.
Sioifl.
BESPATTERED, pp. Spattered oi
soiled with dirt and water ; aspersed ;
calumniated.
BESPAT'TERING, ppr. Spattering with
water ; soihng with dirt and water ; as-
persing.
BESPAWL', I', t. [be and spawL] To soil or
make toul with spittle. Milton.
BESPE'AK, I', t. pret. bespoke; pp. bespoke,
bespoken, [be and speak.]
. To speak for beforehand ; to order or cn-
B E S
gage against a future time ; as, to bespeak
a seat in a public coacli.
My lady is bespoke. Shak.
2. To forebode ; to foretell.
They started fears, and beapoke dangers, to
scare the allies. Swift.
3. To speak to ; to address. This sense ia
mostly poetical.
He thus the queen bespoke. Dryden.
4. To betoken ; to show ; to indicate by ex-
ternal marks or appearances; as, hisinan-
ners bespeak him a gi-ntlcMmii.
BESPE'AKEK, n. <>,„• «!,., bespeaks.
BESPE'AKINC;. /-/>/. .-^iM-aking for or or-
dering belbrchaiiil ; U.ic hoding ; address-
ing ; showing ; indicating.
BESPE'AKING, n. A previous speaking-
or discourse, by way of apology, or to en-
gage favor. ' Dryden.
BESPECK'LE, v. t. [be and speckle.] To
mark with speckles or spot.s. Milton.
BESPI'CE, V. t. [be and spice.] To season
witli spices. Shak.
BESPIRT', > To spurt out, or over ; to
BESPURT', ^ "■ '■ throw out in a stream or
streams. [JVot tised.] Milton.
BESPIT', V. t. pret. bespit ; pp. bespit, bespit-
ten. [be and spit.] To daub or soil with
spittle. Johnson.
BESPO'KE, pret. and pp. of bespeak.
BESPOT', V. t. [be and spot.] To mark with
spots. Mortimer.
BESPOT'TED, pp. Marked with spots.
BESPOT'TING, ppr. Marking with spots.
BESPREAD', t!. t. bespred'. pret. and pp.
bespread, [be and spread.] To spread over ;
to cover over ; as, to besjtread with flowers.
BESPRINK'LE, D. <. [be and sprinkle.] To
sprinkle over ; to scatter over ; as, to ie-
sprinkle with dust.
BESPRINK'LED, pp. Sprinkled over.
BESPRINK'LER, n. One that sprinkles
over.
BESPRINK'LING, ppr. Sprinkhng over.
BEST, a. superlative. [Sax. best, contracted
from betest, from bet, more, or better ; betre
is also used ; betan, to amend, or restore,
correct, heal ; bote, reparation, compensa-
tion ; Eng. boot, to boot ; Gotli. botyan, to
profit, aid, assist ; Eng. but ; G. bass, good,
besser, better, beste, best ; D. beter, best ;
Dan. beste ; Sw. btist. This word has no
connection in origin with g'oorf. See Bet-
ter.]
Literally, most advanced. Hence,
1. Most good ; having good qualities in the
highest degree ; applied indifferently to
physical or moral subjects ; as, the best
man ; the best road ; the best cloth ; the
best abilities. This, like most, and other
attributes, is often used ^vithout its noun,
when the noun is obvious ; as, men are all
sinners ; the best of them fail in the per-
formance of duty.
2. Most advanced ; most accurate ; as the
best scholar.
3. Most correct or complete ; as the best
view of a landscape, or of a subject.
4. The best. This phrase is elliptical, and
may be variously interpreted ; as, the ut-
most power ; the strongest endeavor ; the
most, the highest perfection ; as, let a man
do his best ; let him do a thing to the best
of his power.
■. At best, in the best manner : in the utmosi
B E S
B E S
BET
degree or extent, applicable to the case ;
as, lile is at best very short.
To make the best of, to cany to its greatest
perfection ; to improve to the utmost ; as,
to make the best of a sum of money, or a
piece of land. Also, to permit the least pos-
sible inconvenience ; as, to make the best of
ill fortune or a bad bargain.
The best of the way. We had made tht. best
of ourivay to the city; that is, the most,
die greatest part of the distance. [This is
the primary sense of the word.]
BEST, adv. In the highest degree ; beyond
all other ; as, to love one best ; to like this
best ; to please best.
1. To the most advantage ; with the most
ease ; as, " which instrument can you best
use
3. With most profit or success ; as, money i.'
fces<eni])loyed in manufactures; this iiied
icine will answer best in the present case.
4. Most intimately or particulai'ly ; mos
correctly ; as, what is expedient is best
known to himself.
BEST-TElM PERED, a. Having the most
kind or mild temper.
BESTA'IN, V. t. [be and stain.] To marl
with stains ; to discolor, either the whole
surface of a thing, or in spots. Shak.
BESTEAD', V. t. bested', pret. and pp. bested.
[be and stead.] To profit.
How little you bestead. .Wilton.
9. To accommodate.
They shall pass through it, hardly bestead.
That is, distressed ; perplexed.
3. To dispose. Spenser.
BES'TIAL, a. [fi-om beast.]
1. Belonging to a beast, or to the class of
beasts.
9. Having the qualities of a beast ; brutal ;
below the dignity of reason or hiunanity ;
carnal ; as a bestial appetite. Shak.
BESTIAL'ITY, n. The quality of beasts ;
the state or manners of man which re
scmble those of brutes.
2. riiiK\tiir:il ciiiinection with a beast.
Bi:S Tl Al.lZr., V. t. To make like a beast.
B!;s 'riALI.V, adv. Brutally; in a mannei
Kclciw liuiiiaiiity.
BESTICK', V. t. "pret. and pp. bestuck. [ii
and stick.] j
To stick over, as ^vith sharp points ; to mark,
by infixing points or spots here and there
Truth shall retire, bestuck with slanderous
darts. Mdton
BESTIR', V. t. bestur'. [be and stir.] To put
into brisk or vigorous action ; to move
with life and vigor ; usually with the re-
ciprocal pronoun ; as, rise anil bestir your-
selves.
BESTIR'RED, pp. Roused uito vigorous
action ; quickened in action.
BESTIR'RING, ppr. Moving briskly ; put-
ting into vigorous action.
BEST'NESS, n. The state of being best.
[JVot used.] Morion.
BESTORM', i-.i. [be s.nA storm.] To storm;
to rage. [JVot used.'] Young.
BESTOW, V. t. [be and stow, a place. See
Stow. Literally, to set or place.]
1. To give ; to confer ; to impart ; with the
sense of gratuity, and followed by ou or
upon.
Consecrate yoursplvcs to the Lord, that he
nwy leslow on you a blessing. Ex. xxxii.
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the
oor. 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
This word should never be followed by to.
2. To give in marriage ; to dispose of.
I could have bestowed her upon a fine gen-
tleman. Tatter.
3. To apply ; to place for the purpose of ex-
ertion, or use ; as, to bestoio our whole
force upon an object.
4. To lay out, or dispose of; to give in pay-
ment for ; as, to bestow money lor what we
desire. Deut. xiv. 20.
5. To lay up in store ; to deposit for safe
keeping ; to stow ; to place.
I have no room where to bestow my fniits.
Luke xii.
BESTOWAI,, n. A conferring ; disposal.
[Little used.]
BESTOWED, p;?. Given gratuitously ; con-
I'pired ; laid out ; applied ; deposited for
» safe-keeping.
BESTOWER, n. One who bestows; a giv
er ; a disposer.
BESTOWING, ppr. Conferring gratuitous-
ly ; laying out ; applying ; depositing in
store.
BESTOWMENT, n. The act of giving gra
tuitously ; a conferring.
God the fatlier had committed the bestow
inent of the blessings purchased, to his son.
Edwards on Redemp. 375
If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this
view. Chauncey, U. Sal. 15.5
Whatever may be the secret coimsel of his
will respecting his own bestowment of saving
grace. Smalley, Serm. p. 37
2. That which is conferred, or given ; dona-
tion.
They strengthened his hands by their liberal
bestowments on him and his family.
Christ. Mag
The free and munificent bestowment of the
Sovereign Judge. Thndey
BESTRAD'DLE, v. I. To bestride. [See
Straddle.]
BESTRAUGHT', a. Distracted ; mad. [jYot
used.] Shak
BESTREW', V. t. pret. hestreived ; pp. be-
strewed, bestrown. [be and streu).] To scat-
ter over ; to besprinkle ; to strow.
Milton.
BESTREWED, pp. ofbe.ifrew.
BESTRI'DE, JJ. t. pret. bestrid ; pp. bestrid,
bestridden, [be and stride.]
1. To stride over ; to stand or sit with any
thing between tlie legs, or with the legs
extended across ; as, to bestride the world
like a colossus ; to bestride a horse.
Shak
2. To step over; as, to bestride a threshold.
Shak
Bestriding sometimes includes riding, or dc
fending, as Johnson remarks : but tlie jiar
ticuliir purposes of the act, which depend
on the circumstances of the case, can
hardly he reduced to definition.
BESTRI'DING, ppr. Extending the legs
over any thing, so as to include it between
them.
BESTROWN, pp. of bestreiv. Sprinkled
over.
BESTUCK', pp. of bestick. Pierced in vari-
ous places with sharp points.
BESTUD', 1!. t. [be and stud.] To set with
studs ; to adorn with bosses ; as, to bestud
with .<tars. Milton.
BESTUD'DED, pp. Adorned with .stud
BESTUD'DING, ppr. Settijig with studs;
adorning as with bosses.
BESWIKE, 1'. t. beswik'. [Sax. bestrican.]
To allure. [JVot used.] Gower.
BET, n. [Sax. bad, a pledge ; badian, to give
or take a pledge.]
wager ; that which is laid, staked or
pledged in a contest, to be won, either bj
the victorious party himself, or by another
person, in consequence of his victory. At
a race, a man lays a bet on his own "horse,
or on the horse of another man.
BET, V. t. To lay a bet ; to lay a wager ; to
stake or pledge something upon the event
of a contest.
BET, the old participle of beat, is obsolete or
vulgar.
BETA'KE, V. t. pret. betook ; pp. betaken, [be
and take. Sax. betuecun.]
1. To take to ; to have recourse to ; to ap-
ply ; to resort ; with the reciprocal pro-
noun ; as, to betake ourselves to arms, or
to action. It generally implies a motion
towards an object, as to betake ourselves
to a shady grove ; or an application of the
mind or faculties, corresponding with such
motion, as to betake ourselves to study or
to vice.
2. Formerly, to take or seize. Obs.
Spenser.
BETA'KEN, /)«)•/. of betake.
BETA'KING,^^r. Havmg recourse to ; ap-
lying; resorting.
BETAVGHT, pret. of betake. [JVot used.] .
Chaucer.
BETEE'M, v. t. [be and teem.] To bring
forth ; to produce ; to shed ; to bestow.
[JVot used.] Spenser. Shak.
BE'TEL, } A species of pepper, the
BE'TLE, ^ "• leaves of which are chewed
by the inhabitants of the East Indies. It
is a creeping or climbing plant like the
ivy, the leaves somewhat resembling those
of the citron. It is planted by a tree, or
supported by props. In India, betel is
taken after meals ; during a visit, it is of-
fered to friends when they meet, and when
they sei>arate ; in .short, nothing is to be
done without betel. To correct the bit-
terness of the leaves, a little areea is wrap-
ped in tliciii with the chinam, a kind of
burnt jiiiii' Diaile of shells. Encyc.
BIOTIIINK , r. t. pret. and pp. bethought.
[he and think.]
To call to mind ; to recall or bring to recol-
lection, reflection, or consideration ; gen-
erally followed by a reciprocal pronoun,
with o/ before the subject of thought.
I have bethought myself o/ another fault.
Shak.
BETHINK', v. i. To have in recollection ;
to consider. Spenser.
BETH'LEHEM, n. [Heb. the house of food
or bread.]
1. A town or village in Judea, about six
miles south-east of Jerusalem ; famous for
its being the place of Christ's nativity.
2. A liospital for lunatics ; corrupted into
bedlam.
BETH'LEMITE, n. An iidiabitant of Beth-
lehem ; a hmatic.
2. In chureh history. tlii> Bcthlemites w ere a
sortof Miiidis. iiitr.HliH-cd iijtd England in
the year i'-'.")7, \:]in wi-n- hidiited like the
Doniinicaiis. ex. i-pt that ihi'V wore a star
with five rays, in memory of the comet or
BET
BET
BET
star which appeared over Bethlehem at
the nativity of our Savior. The
order of Belhlemites also in Peru. Encyc.
BETHOUGHT', bethaut', pret. and pp. o'
bethink.
BETHRALL', v. I. [be and thrall.] To en
slave ; to reduce to bondage ; to bring into!
s\ibiection. [Little used.] Shak.\
BETHUMP', V. t. [be and thump.] To beat
sounillv. [LAttle used.] Shak.\
BETI'DE, v.t. pret. belid, or betided ; i)p.
betid, [be and tide. Sax. tidan, to happen.l
See Tide.]
To ha|)pen ; to befall ; to come to ; used oj
good or evil.
What will betide the few ? Milton
BETI'DE, V. i. To come to pass ; to hap-
pen.
What news else betideth here ? Shak
Shakspeare has used it with of. What would
betide of thee .' but this is unusual or im
proper.
BETI'ME, I , [be and time, that is, by
BETI'MES, \ """• the time.]
1. Seasonably ; in good season or time ; be-
fore it is late.
To measure life learn thou betimes.
.Milton
2. Soon ; in a short time.
He tires betimes, that spurs too fast betimes
Shak
BETO'KEN, V. t. beto'kn. [be and token.
Sax. betcecan.]
1. To signify by some visible object ; to show
by signs.
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Betokening peace from God. Milton
2. To foreshow by present signs ; to indi
cate something future by that which is
seen or known ; as, a dai-k cloud often be-\
tokens a storm. Thomson}
BETO'KENED, pp. Foreshown ; previJ
ouslv indicated. I
;: BETO'KENING, ppr. Indicating by previ-
ous signs. I
t BET'ONY, n. [L. betonica.] A genus of;
! plants, of several species. The pinple or
;; wood betony grows in woods and shadyj
places, and is deemed useful as a mild cor-i
roborant. Encyc)
BETQOK', pret. of betake.
BETO'RN, a. Torn in pieces.
15ETOSS', V. t. [he and toss.] To toss;
tci agitate; to disturb; to put in violent
motion. Shak. Shelton.
iir.TRAP', v.t. [h-om trap.] To entrap; to
1 iisnare. [JVo< used.] Occleve.
lil'TRA'Y, V. t. [Chaucer wrote betrass, be-
trniss, and the Fr. traiire is a contraction
oi' traistre ; Arm. traycza, to betray ; Norm.
Irahir, to draw in, to beti-ay ; treitre, a trai-
tor; Fr. trahir, which seems to be tlie L.
trtrho. From trahir, is formed trahissant,'
.iud trahison, treason. If traho is the root,'
tiie sense is, to draw aside, to withdraw,!
or lead away ; which would agree withj
'he D. bedriegen, G. betriegen, Sw. be-\
'Irnga, Dan. bedrager, to deceive ; and;
trnicheni, Fr. tricherie, is from the root of
liirk. I do not find betrogan in the Saxon,
liiil bedrog is rendered /f/e//i7, and this is!
tVorn dragan, to draw. Betray then seems
to be a compound of be and dragan, to
draw ; and betrass, supra, may be from a]
diflerent root. In strictness, to fail in du-j
ty ; to be guilty of breach of trust ; to vio-|
Vol. I.
late the confidence reposed. The word
does not in itself import to deliver up; but
by usage, either with or without the word
enemies, it signifies to deliver up, in breach
of trust.]
To deliver into the hands of an enemy by
treachery or fraud, in violation of trust ;
as, an officer betrayed the city.
Tlie son of man shall be betrayed into the
hands of men. Matt. xvii.
3. To violate by fraud, or unfaithfulness ; eis,
to betray a trust.
If the people of America ever betray their
trust, tlieir guUt will merit even greater punish-
ment than other nations have suffered, and the
indignation of heaven. /. Adams.
3. To violate confidence by disclosing a se-
cret, or that which was intrusted ; to ex-
pose ; followed by the person, or the thing ;
as, my friend betrayed me, or betrayed the
secret.
4. To disclose, or permit to appear, what is
intended to be kept secret, or what pru-
dence would conceal.
Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue,
lest you betray your ignorance. H'atts.
Hence,
5. To mislead or expose to inconvenience
not foreseen ; as, great confidence betrays
a man into errors.
To show ; to discover ; to indicate whs
is not obvious at first view, or would otl:
erwise be concealed.
Nor, after length of years, a stone betray
The place where once the very ruins lay.
Mdison.
Tliis river betrays its original in its ni
Holwell.
All tlie names in the country betray gi
tiquity. Bryant.
7. To fail, or deceive.
But when I rise, I shall find my legs betray
ng me. Johnson, Boswell.
BETRA'YED, pp. Delivered up in breach
of trust; violated by unfaithfulness ; ex
posed by breach of confidence ; disclosed
contrary to expectation or intention ; made
known ; discovered.
BETRA'YER, n. One who betrays ;
BETRA'YING, ppr. Delivering up treach
erously ; violating confidence ; disclosing
contrary to intention ; exposing ; diseov
ering.
BETRIM', V. t. [be and tiim.] To deck ; to
dress ; to adorn ; to grace ; to embellish ;
to beautify ; to decorate. Shak
ETRIMMED, pp. Adorned; decorated.
BETRIM'MING, ppr. Decking; adorning;
embellishing.
BETROTH', V. t. [be and troth, truth, faith.
See Truth, and Troth.]
1. To contract to any one, in order to a fu-
ture marriage ; to promise or pledge one
to be the future spouse of another; to af-
fiance ; used of either sex. " The father
betroths his daughter."
2. To contract with one for a future spouse ;
to espouse ; as, a man betroths a lady.
•3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to
consecration. Ayliffe.
BETROTHED, pp. Contracted for future
marriace.
BETROTHING, ppr. Contr.-cting to any
one, in order to a future niairiage, as the
father or guardian ; contracting with one
22
i for a future wife, as the intended husband ;
I espousing.
[BETROTH'MENT, n. A mutual promise
or contract between two parties, for a fu-
ture marriage between the persons be-
trothed ; espousals. Encyc.
BETRUST', V. t. [be and trust.] To entrust ;
to commit to another in confidence of
fidelity ; to confide. This is less used than
entrust. Hall.
BETRUST'ED, pjD. Entrusted; confided;
committed in trust.
BETRUST'ING, ppr. Entrusting ; commit-
ting in trust.
BETRUST'MENT, n. The act of entrust-
ing ; the thing entrusted. Cliipman.
BET'SO, n. The smallest Venetian coin.
Mason.
BET'TER, a. comp. of bet. See Best. [Sax.
bet, more, better ; betere, betera, better ;
Sw.bdtter; D. beter; G. besser ; D. baat,
profit ; baaten, to boot, to avail ; Sans.
bhadra, good. The primary sense is, more,
or advanced further ; and in America, this
is a common popular signification. This
vessel contains better than half, that is,
more than half; he walked better than a
mile, that is, more than a mile.]
1. Having good qualities in a greater degree
than another ; applied to physical, acquir-
ed or moral qualities ; as a better soil, a
qua
better man, a better physician, a better house,
a heller air, a better harvest.
2. More advantageous.
Were it not better for us to return to Egypt .'
X. xiv.
3. More acceptable.
To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv.
4. More safe.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put
confidence in man. Ps. cxviii.
5. Improved in health ; less affected with
; as, the patient is better.
6. To be better off, to be in a better condi-
tion. Beddoes, Hygeia. This is a verj' com-
mon phrase ; but ought not off, to be of?
It is not elegant.
To have the better, is to have the advan-
tage or superiority, followed by of before
him or that over which the advantage is
enjoyed ; as, the English had the better of
the Spaniards.
To get or gain the better, is to obtain the
advantage, superiority or victory ; as, to
get the better of an enemy.
For the better, is for the advantage or im-
provement.
BET'TER, adv. In a more excellent man-
ner ; with more skill and wisdom, virtue,
advantage or success ; as, to perform work
belter ; to plan a scheme better ; land better
cultivated ; laws better executed ; govern-
ment better administered.
2. More correctly, or fully ; as, to under-
stand a subject better than another.
3. With superior excellence ; as, to write or
speak better than another.
4. With more affection ; in a higher degree ;
as, to love one better than another.
It is not easy to specify and exemphfy the
various appUcations of better. In general,
it im]ilies what is more excellent, advan-
tiigeous, useful, or virtuous, than some-
thing else.
BET'TER, V. t. [Sas. bderian, hetrian. See
Better.]
B E V
B E W
B E W
1. To improve : to meliorate ; to increase
tlie good qualities of ; as, manure betters
land ; discipline may better the morals.
2. To surpass ; to exceed.
The works of nature do always aim at that
which cannot be bettered. Hooker
Qu. is not the sense, made better ?
3. To advance ; to support ; to give advan-
tage to ; as, to better a party ; to better a
cause.
BET'TER, «. A superior ; one who has a
claim to precedence on account of hi
rank, age, or office ; as, give place to you
belters. It is generally or always used ii
the plin-al.
BET'TERED, pp. Improved ; meliorated
made better.
BET'TERING, ppr. Making better; im
proving.
BET'TOR, n. [from bet.] One who bets oi
lays a wager. Addison.
BET'TY, n. [Supposed to be a cant word
from the name of a maid ; but qu. is it not
from the root of beat or L. peto ?]
An instrument to break open doors.
Jlrbuthnot.
BETUM'BLED, a. [be and tumble.] Rolled
about ; tumbled ; disordered. Shak.
BETWEE'N, prep. [Sax. betweonan, helimj-
nan ; of be and twain, two. Sax. tweg,
twegen. The Saxons used, in the same
sense, bcluh and betweoh, betwo. See
Twain, Tidn.]
1. In the intermediate space, without regard
to distance ; as. New- York is between Bos-
ton and Philadelphia ; the Delaware river
runs between Pennsylvania and New-Jer-
sey.
2. From one to another ; passing from one
to another, noting exchange of actions or
intercourse ; as, things go well betweenthe
parties.
^. Belonging to two or more, in common or
partnership ; as, two friends have but one
soul between them ; twenty proprietors
own a tract of land between them. We ob
serve that between is not restricted to two.
1. Having mutual relation to two or more ;
as, discords exist between the famiUes.
•">. Noting difference, or discrimination of one
from another; as, to distinguish between
right and wrong.
BETWIXT', prep. [Sax. betimjr, betmjit,
betweox, betweoh ; be and tweg, two.]
1. Between ; in the space that separates two
persons or things ; as, betivixt two oaks.
'i. Passing between ; from one to another,
noting intercourse. [See Between.]
BEVEL, n. [Fr. buveau. Qu. It. bieca livel-
la, oWique level.]
A^mong masons, carpenters, joiners, &c., an
instrument, or kind of square, one leg of
which is frequently crooked, according to
the sweep of an arch or vault. It is
movable on a point or center, and so may
be set to any angle. An angle that is not
square is called a bevel angle, whether ob-
tuse or acute. Bailey. Johnson. Encj/e.
fj. A curve or inclination of a surface from a
right line ; as, the proper bevel of a piece
of timber. Encyc.
BEVEL, a. Crooked ; awry ; oblique.
Bailey.
BEVEL, V. t. To cut to a bevel angle.
Moxon.
BEVEL, V. i. To curve ; to incline towards
a point, or from a direct line.
BEVELED, pp. Formed to a bevel angle
Kirwan.
BEVELING, ppr. Forming to a bevel
angle.
BEVELING, a. Curving ; bending from a
right line.
BEV'ELING, n. A hewing of timber with
a proper and regular curve, according to a
mold laid on one side of its surface.
2. The curve or bevel of timber. Encyc.
BEVELMENT, n. In mineralogy, bevel-
ment supposes the removal of two con-
tiguous segments from the edges, angles
or terminal faces of the predominant form,
thereby producing two new faces, inclined
to each other at a certain angle and form-
ing an edge. Cleaveland.
BEV'ER, n. [It. bevere, to drink.] A colla
tion or small repast between meals. [JVot
used.] Monson.
BEV'ER, V. i. To take a small repast be-
tween meals. fVallis.
BEVERAGE, n. [It. fcet)«re,or6ere,todrink;
beveraggio, drink ; Sp. heber, from L. bibo ;
Fr. buveur, a tipler ; buvette, a tavern ; bu-
volier, to sip, to tipple ; Arm. beuvrauh,
beverage.]
Drink ; liquor for diinking. It is generally
used of a mixed liquor. Nectar is called
the beverage of the gods.
In the middle ages, beverage, beveragium,
or hiberagium was money for drink given
to an artificer or other person over and
above his hire or wages. The practice
has existed, to a certain extent, in America,
within my memory, and I know not but it
still exists in some parts of this country.
A person who had a new garment, was
called on to })ay beverage, that is, to treat
with liquor. Hence,
3. A treat on wearing a new suit of clothes,
or on receiving a suit from the tailor ; also
a treat on first coming into prison ; a gar-
nish.
3. In England, water-cider, a mixture of
cider and water, made by putting water
into pumice before it is pressed.
Mortimer. Johnson.
BEVILE, n. [See Bevel] In heraldry, a
thing broken or opening, like a carpen-
ter's bevel. Encyc.
BEVY, n. [I know not the origin or affini-
ties of this word. The etymologies I have
seen are not worth notice.]
A flock of birds ; hence, a company ; an as-
sembly or collection of persons ; usually
applied to females.
BEWA'IL, V. t. [be and wail] To bemoan ;
to lament ; to express sorrow for. It ex-
presses deep sorrow ; as, to bewail the loss
of a child.
The true penitent bewails Iiis ingratitude to
God. Jinon.
BEWA'IL, V. i. To express grief. Shak.
BEWA'ILABLE, a. That may be lamented.
Sherwood.
BEWA'ILED, pp. Lamented; bemoaned.
BEWA'ILING, ppr. Lamenting ; bemoan-
ing ; expressing grief for.
BEWA'ILING, n. Lamentation. Raleigh.
BEWA'KE, V. t. [be and ivake.] To keep
awake. [A'ot used.] Goner.
BEWA'RE, V. i. [Sax. bewerian, bewarian,
geicarian, to guard, defend, restrain, pro-)j
hibit, fortify, be cautious ; Sw. bevara ; D.
bewaaren ; Ger. bewahren ; Dan. bevarer,
to keep, guard, preserve. See Ware,
Wary.]
1. Literally, to restrain or guard one's self
from. Hence, to regard with caution ; to
restrain one's self from any thing that may
be dangerous, injurious or improper; to
avoid ; to take care ; followed by o/before
the thing that is to be avoided.
Beware of all, but most beware of man.
Pope.
Betvare of false prophets ; beware of the leav-
en of the Pharisees ; beware of the concision.
Scripture
3. To have a special regard to.
Behold, I send an angel before thee — beware
of him, and obey his voice. Ex. xxiii.
[ This is unusual and hardly legitimate.']
This word though here admitted as a verb,
from the Saxon, is rarely used as a verb
in fact ; or if a verb, is now never used ex-
cept in the imperative mode. It is a com-
pound of be and the Old Eng. ware, now
wary. Be ivary of danger. Hence it can-
not be used with did, like a regular verb,
nor with be, in any of its inflections, he is
beware ; for this would be to use the sub-
stantive verb twice before toare and wary,
is and be. Ben Jonson however has used
the word in the third person. He bewares
to act. But it has no past tense or jiartici-
ple, and therefore, if admitted as a verb, it
is defective, and used only in the impera-
tive mode, or after an auxiliary.
We must beware of excess.
BEWEE'P, V. t. [be and weep.] To weep
over ; to bedew with tears. [Little used.]
Shak.
BEWEE'P, v.i. To make lamentation.
[Lnttle used.] Shak.
BEWEPT', pp. Wept over; bedewed with
tears. [Little ^ised.]
BEWET', V. t. [be and wet.] To wet ; to
moisten. [J^Tot used.]
BEWILDER, V. t. [Dan. forvilder, wider;
D. venmlderen ; G. vertoiUern ; from u>ild.]
To lead into perplexity or confusion ; to lose
in pathless places ; to confound for want
of a plain road ; to perplex with maze^ ;
or in general, to perplex.
Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search.
Mdison-
BEWIL'DERED, pp. Lost in mazes ; per-
plexed with tlisorder, confusion, or intri-
cacy.
BEWILDERING, ppr. Losing in a path-
less place ; perplexing with confusion or
intricacy.
BEWIN'TER, V. t. To make like winter.
[JVot used.] Cowley.
BEWITCH', V. t. [be and witch.] To fas-
cinate ; to gain an ascendancy over by
charms or incantation ; an operation which
was formerly supposed to injure the per-
son bewitched, so that he lost his flesh, or
behaved in a strange unaccountable man-
ner ; ignorant people being inclined to as-
cribe to evil spirits what they could not
account for.
Look, how I am bewitched ; behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up. Shak.
2. Tochai-m; to fascinate; to please to such
a degree as to take away the power of
resistance.
The charms of poetry our souls bewitch.
Dryden
BEY
B E Z
B I B
;j. To deceive and mislead by juggling tricks
or imposture. Acts viii. 9.
liEWITCH'ED,^;). Fascinated; charmed.
BEWITCH' ER, n. One that bewitches or
fascinates. Stafford.
BEWITCH'ERY, n. Fascination ; charm ;
resistless power of any thing that pleases.
South.
BEWITCH'FUL, a. Alluring; fascinating.
Milton.
BEWITCHING, ppr. Fascinating ; charm-
BEWITCII'ING, a. That has power to be-
witch or fascinate ; that has power to con-
trol by the arts of pleasing.
BEWITCH'INGLY, adv. In a fascinating
^ manner. HalbjwM.
^EWITCH'MENT.n. Fascination; power
j of charming. Shak.
/BEWON'DEKED.a. [4e and iTOnder.l Ama-
zed. [ATot used.] Fairfax.
BEWRAP', V. I. berap'. [be and wrap.] To
wrap up.
BEWRA'Y, V. t. beriiu. [Chaucer has wraie,
wreye, wray, and in the mfinitive, bewrien, to
discover, as if from Sax. wrecan, to tell. In
Sax. aiereon, omvrcon, signify to reveal, as
if the negative otiorigan, tocover.]
To disclose perfidiously ; to betray ; to show
or make visible.
Thy speech bewraycth thee. Matt, xxiii.
[Thi.i ivord is nearly antiquated.]
BEWRA'YED, pp. Disclo.sed ; indicated :
betrayed ; exposed to view.
BEWRA'YER, n. A divulger of secrets ; a
discoverer.
BEWRAYING, ppr. Disclosing; making
known or visible.
BEWRECK', V. t. bereck'. [be and lereck.]
To ruin : to destroy. [JVot itsed.]
BEWROUGHT', a. beraiW. [be and work.]
Worked. [jVot used.] B. Jonson.
BpY, n. In the Turkish dominions, a gover-
nor of a town or particular district of
country ; also, in some places, a prince ;
the same as the Arabic Uf »•. [See Besc.]
Eton. Encyc.
BEYOND', prep. [Sax. begeond, begeondnn,
of be and geond, yond, "yonder. " This is
the participle of the verb gan, to go, to
pass. It coincides with the D. gannde, the
participle of the present tense of the same
verb gaan, to go ; Dan. gaaende. Lite-
rally, then, it signifies by-passing, or by-
past ; or as we now say, past by, gone by.]
I. On the further side of; on the side most
distant, at any indefinite distance from
that side ; as beyond a river, or the sea,
either a mile beyond, or a hundred miles
beyond the river.
'J. Before ; at a place not yet reached.
.\ thing beyond us, even before our death.
Pope.
3. Past ; out of reach of; further than any
given Umit ; further than the extent of any
thing else ; as, beyond our power ; beyond
comprehension ; beyond dispute ; beyond
our care.
4. Above ; in a degree exceeding or sui-pass-
ing ; proceeding to a greater degree, as in
dignity, excellence, or quahty of any kind;
as, one man is great or good beyond an-
other.
To go beyond is a phrase which expresses an
excess in some action or scheme ; to ex-
ceed in ingenuity, in research, or in any
thing else ; hence, in a bad sense, to de-
ceive or circumvent.
Let no man go beyond and defraud his broth-
er in any matter. St. Paul
BEYOND, arfv. At a distance; yonder.
Spenser.
BEZ'AN, n. A cotton cloth from Bengal,
white or striped. Encyc.
BEZ'ANT, n. A gold coin of Byzantium.
[See Biizant.]
BEZANt'LER, n. [from antler.] The
branch of a deer's horn, tiext above the
brow antler. Encyc.
BEZ'EL, n. [Qu. Ch. Sa, limits, confines ;
Sw. betzel, a rein ; betzla, to curb.]
The upper part of the collet of a ring, which
encompasses and fastens the stone.
Bailey.
BE'ZOAR, n. [Pers. i>'iLj badzhar,
which Castle interprets " ventus, i. e. dis-
sipator veneni, alexipharmicum omne,
quod venenuHi pellit, et spirituum facul
tates retinet," from ^ l j wind, breath
spirit, and Aj poison. Others make it
pazahar, against poison, an antidote for
poison.]
1. An antidote ; a general name for certain
animal substances supposed to be effica
cious in preventing the fatal efiects of poi
son. Bezoar is a calcarious concretion
found in the stomach of certan ruminant
animals, composed of concentric c
surrounding each other, with a little cavity
in the middle, containing a bit of wood,
straw, hair, or the Uke substance. There
are two sorts ; the oriental, from Persia and
the East Indies, of a shining dark green
or olive color, with a smooth surface ; and
the occidental, from the Spanish West In
dies, which has a rough surface, is less,
green, much heavier, more brittle, and of|
a looser texture. The oriental is generally
less than a walnut ; the occidental is lar-
ger, and sometimes as large as a goose
egg. Encyc.
The oriental bezoars are generally of a
resinous composition and combustible.
Thomson.
2. In a more general sense, any substance
formed, stratum upon stratum, in the
stomach or intestines of animals. Encyc
This name is also given to the biliary
calculi of certain animals. Cyc.
Fossil-bezoar is a figiu-ed stone, formed, like
the animal bezoar, with several coats
round some extraneous body, which serves
as a nucleus ; found chiefly in Sicily, iii
sand and clay pits. It is of "a purple color
and of the size of a walnut. It seems to
be of the nature of bole armeniau, and is
called Sicilian earth. Encyc.
Bezoar-mineral. This preparation is an oxyd
of antimony, produced by distilUng the ni-
trous acid several times to dryness from
the sublimated muriate of antimony.
JK'icholson
BEZOAR DI€, a. Pertaining to or com
pounded of bezoar.
BEZOAR'DI€, n. A medicine compounder:
with bezoar. Johnson.
BEZ'OLA, n. Afish of tlie truttaceous kind
oi a dusky blue color, nearly of the size of
of a herring. iJid. of Xat. Hist.
BEZ'ZLE, t-. I. To waste in riot. l.Vof
used. [See Embezzle.] MxUon.
BHUCHAMP'AC, n. [Hindu, bhu, ground,
and clwmpac, a plant.]
A beautiful plant of India, knowai in Linne'.-*
system, under the name of Kmmjpferia ro-
tunda. The blossoms rise from the
ground with a short scajjc, and scarce
live a whole day. As. Res. iii. 254.
BI'A, n. In commerce, a small shell called a
coivry, much valued in the East Indies.
Encyc.
BIAN'GULATE, ) rr , ■ <
BIAN'GULATED, ia. ^^- ^f^ *"'"=^' '{"'I
BIAN'GULOUS, S ""^"'"*' ""» "°S'^-^
Having two angles or corners. [Little used.']
BIARM'IAN, a. Noting a race of Finns in
Perme, in the north of Europe, on the
Dvina, and about the White Sea ; written
also Permian. The Biarinians or Pcrmi-
ans are said to be the most wealthy and
powerful of the Finnish tribes. Tooke.
BI'AS, n. [Arm. Inhays or vies; Ft. biais, a
slope ; biaiser, to use shifts, evasions or
tricks.]
1. A weight on the side of a bowl which
turns it from a straight line.
2. A leaning of the mind ; inclination ; pre-
possession ; propensity towards an object,
not leaving the mind indifferent ; as, edu-
cation gives a bias to the mind.
3. That which causes the mind to lean or
incline from a state of indifference, to a
particular object or course.
BI'AS, V. t. To incline to one side; to warp:
to give a particular direction to the mind ;
to prejudice ; to prepossess. The judg-
ment is ofVen biassed by interest.
This word is used by Shakspeare as an ad-
verb, bias and thwart, i. e. aslope ; and as
an adjective.
Blow till tliy bias cheek
Outswell the cholic of puft Aquilon.
BIAS-DRAWING, n. Partiality. [AW
used.] Shak.
BI'ASED, pp. Inclined from a right line ;
warped ; jirejudiced.
BI'ASING, ppr. Ginng a bias, particular
direction or propensity ; warping ; preju-
dicing.
BIB, n. A small piece of linen or other cloth
worn by childien over the breast.
2. A fish about a foot in length, the back of
a light olive, the sides yello%v, and the
belly white. Diet. ofjYat. Hist.
BIB, V. t. [L. Ubo; Sp. beber ; It. bevere ;
Gypsey, piava, to driidt ; Slav, pibo, piba,
drink.]
To sip ; to tipple ; to drink frequently. [Lit-
tle itscrf.l Locke
BIBA'CIOUS, a. [L. W6ar. See Bi'6.] Ad-
dicted to drinking ; disposed to imbibe.
BIBAC'ITY, 71. The quahty of drinking
ranch. [JVbt used.]
BIB'BER, n. A tippler ; a man given to
drinking ; chiefly used in composition, as
irinebiliher.
BIB'BLE-BABBLE, n. Idle talk ; prating
to no purpose. [A low word, and not u.ied.]
Shak.
BIB'IO, »?. A name of the wine fly, a small
uisect found in emptv wine casks.
Dirt, of Xat. Mst.
Bl'BLE, II. [Gr. /Jiftuoi', (JiSJioj, a book.]
B I C
THE BOOK, by way of eminence ; the
sacred volume, in wliicli are contained tlie
revelations of God, the principles of Chris-
tian faith, and the rules of practice. It
consists of tvfo parts, called the Old and
New Testaments.
The Bible should be the standard of language
as well as of faith. Anoti.
BIB'LER, n. [See Bib.] A tipler ; a great
drinker.
BIB'LI€AL, o. Pertaining to the Bible, or
to the sacred writings ; as biblical criticism.
BIBLIOG'RAPHER, n. [Gr.>iiexo5,a book,
and ypo^u, to write.]
One who composes or compiles the history
of books ; one skiUed in literary history ;
a transcriber. Bailey. Johnson. Ash.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC, t Pertainin
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL, J the history of
books. Kelt
BIBLIOG'RAPHY, n. A history or descrip
tion of books ; the perusal of books, and
manuscripts, with notices of the diftijrent
editions, the times when they were printed,
and other information tending to illustrate
the history of literature.
Encyc. Pinkerton
BIB'LIOLITE, n. [Gr. ^iS^wv, a book, and
iiiOoj, a stone ; called also phylobiblia and
liOiobiblia.]
Bookstone; a species of shistous stones
mostly calcarious, which present, between
their lamens, the figures of leaves, or some
times simple dendrites.
BIBLIOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. ^iSJlos, a boolv
and iMvttia, divination.]
A kind of divination, performed by means of
the bible ; consisting in selecting passages
of scripture at hazard, and drawing from
them indications concerning things future
Encyc. Southey.
BIBLIOMA'NIA, n. [Gr. |3te^tov, book, and
IxavM, madness.]
Book-madness ; a rage for possessing rare
and curious book:
BIBLIOMA'NIAC, n. One who has a rage
for books.
BIBLIOP'OLIST, «. [Gr. liiSxwv, book, and
rtuXfu, to sell.] A bookseller.
BIBLIOTH'E€AL, a. [L. bibliolheca, a U-
brary ; ^iS?.os, and theca, Sr^xr,, a reposito-
ry-]
Belonging to a library.
BIBLIOTH'ECARY, n. A librarian.
IMl.
BIBLIOTHE'KE, n. A library. Bale.
BIB'LIST, n. [from bible.] With the Ro-
manists, one who makes the scriptures the
sole rule of faith. Encyc.
2. One who is conversant with the bible.
Ash.
BIBRAC'TEATE, a. Doubly bracteate.
Eaton
BIB'ULOUS, a. [L. bibulus, from bibo, to
drink.]
Spungy ; that has the quality of imbibing
fluids or moisture. Thomson.
BICAP'SULAR, a. [L. 6w, double, and ca/*
sula, a httle chest, from capsa, a chest.
See Capsular.]
In botany, having two capsules containing
seeds, to each flower ; as a bicapsular
pericarp. Martyn.
BIC^ARBONATE, n. Supercarbonate ; a
carbonate containing two primes of car-
bonic acid. Vre.
BICAU'DA, n. A fish of the sword-fish kind
B I D
about five feet m length ; its back and sides
of a brown color, and its belly white.
Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
BICE or BISE, n. Among painters, a blue
color prepared from the lapis armenus,
Armenian stone. Encyc.
Bice is smalt reduced to a fine powdei
by levigation. Cyc.
BICIP'ITAL, I [L. biceps, of bis, twice,
BICIP'ITOUS, S and caput, head.]
Having two heads. Applied to the muscles,
it signifies having two heads or origins ;
and any such muscle is denominated biceps
BICK'ER, V. i. [W. bicra, to fight, to bick-
er ; Scot, bicker, to fight by throwing
stones, to move quickly, to skirmish ; alhed
perhaps to It. picchiare, to beat ; picchiarsi.
to fight ; picchiere, a soldier armed with a
pike ; picchio, a blow or stroke, a wood-
pecker ; beccare, to peck. This verb is from
the root of beak, peck, pike, and primarily
signifies to beat, to strike, to thrust at, or
to make at by repeated thrusts or blows.]
1. To skirmish ; to fight off" and on ; that is,
to make repeated attacks. [But in this
sense I believe rarely used.]
2. To quarrel ; to contend in words ; tc
scold ; to contend in jietulant altercation
[This is the usual signification.]
3. To move quickly ; to quiver ; to be tremu-
lous, like flame or water; as the bickering
flame ; the bickering stream.
Milton. Thomson
BICK'ERER, n. One who bickers, or enga
ges in a petty quarrel.
BICK'ERING, ppr. Quarreling; contend
ing ; quivering.
BICK'ERMENT, n. Contention. [Mt
used.] Spenser
BICK'ERN, n. [of W. pig, a beak, or beak
and iron.]
An iron ending in a beak or point.
BI'CORN, n. [L. bis, twice, and comu.
horn, bicornis.]
A plant whose anthers have the appearance
of two horns. Milne.
BI'CORN, I Having two horns.
BleORN'OUS, 5 "• Browne
BID, V. t. pret. bid, or bade ; pp. bid, bidden
[Sax. biddan ; Goth, bidyan, to ask, request
or pray ; Sax. beodan, to command ; bead,
one who persuades or exhorts ; Sw. bidia,
to ask or entreat ; D. bieden, to offer, or
bid ; gebieden, to command ; G. bieten, to
offer ; gebieten, entbieten, to command ;
Dan. beder, to pray, or desire ; byder, to
command, to bid, to offer, to invite ; L,
peto, to drive at, to attack, to ask, to desire
to beseech, anciently beta ; Ir. impidhim
to beseech ; Sp. Port, pedir, to ask or beg
Sans, badi, padi, petir, bolti, a commander ;
Ch. B'3, to pray or beseech ; Eth. <<'t'®
fato, or fatho, to desire. The primary
sense is, to press forward, to drive, to urge ;
hence, L. impetus. Applied to the voice, it
denotes utterance, a driving of sounds,
which is applied to asking, prayer, and
command. Class Bd.]
1. To ask ; to request; to invite.
Go ye into the highways, and as many as ye
shall find, bid to tlie marriage. Math. xxii.
This sense is antiquated, but we have
the same word from the Latin, in invite,
[in and bid.]
|2. To command ; to order or direct
B I E
And Peter answered him and said. Lord, if
it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water.
Mat. xiv.
3. To offer ; to propose ; as, to bid a price at
in auction.
4. To proclaim ; to make known by a public
voice. 06s.
Our bans thrice bid. Shak.
5. To pronounce or declare ; as, to bid a
welcome.
6. To denoimce, or threaten ; as, to bid defi-
ance.
To wish or pray.
Neither bid him good speed. 2 John 10.
To bid beads, is to pray with beads, as the
CathoUcs ; to distinguish each bead by a
prayer. Johnson.
Also, to charge parishioners to say a
number of paternosters. Encyc.
To bid fair, is to open or offer a good pros-
pect ; to appear fair.
BID or BIDDEN, pp. of bid. Invited ; offer-
ed ; commanded.
BID, 71. An offer of a price ; a word much
used at auctions.
BID'ALE, n. [bid and ale.] In England, an
invitation of friends to drink ale at some
poor man's house, and there to contribute
in charity ; an ancient and still a local
custom. Encyc.
[D'DER, n. One who offers a price.
Bidders at the auction of popularity.
Burke
BID'DING, ppr. Inviting ; offering ; com
manding.
BID'DING, n. Invitation ; command ; order :
a proclamation or notifying. Shnk.
BIDE, V. i. [Sax. bidan. See Abide.] To
dwell ; to inhabit. Milton.
3. To remain ; to continue or be permanent,
in a place or state. [JVearly anfiijuitted.]
Shak.
BIDE, V. t. To endure ; to suffer. [See
Abide.] Shak.
BI'DENS, n. A plant, bur marigold.
Muhlenberg.
BIDENT'AL, a. [L. bidens, ofbis, twice, and
dens, a tooth.] Having two teeth.
Swijt.
BIDET', n. [Fr.] A small horse, formerly
allowed to each trooper or dragoon for
can-ying his baggage.
B. Jonson. Encyc.
BI'DING, ppr. Dwelling ; continuing ; re-
maining. [See Abiding.]
BI'DING, n. Residence ; habitation.
Rowe.
BID'ON, n. A measure of liquids, of about
five quarts, wuie measure, used by sea-
men. Ejicyc.
BIEN'NIAL, a. [L. biennis, of bis, twice,
and annus, a year.]
1. Continuing for two years ; or happening,
or taking place once in two years ; as a
biennial election.
In botany, continuing for two years and
then perishing ; as plants, whose root and
leaves are formed the first year, and which
produce fruit the second. Martyn.
BIEN'NIALLY, adv. Once in two years;
at the return of two years.
BIER, n. [Sax. ba:r ; D. baar ; Ger. bahre ;
Dan. baare ; Ir. fier ; from the same root as
bear; h.feretrum, fmm/ero. See Bear.]
A carriage or frame of wood for conveying
dead human bodies to the grave.
B I G
BIG
B I L
BIE'R-BALK, n. The church road for buri-
als. [M)t used in America.] Homilies.
BIE'STINGS, n. plu. [Sax. byst, or bi/sting ;
D. biest ; Ger. biest7mkh.]
The first milk given by a cow after calving
B. Jonson
BIFA'RIOIJS, o. [h.bifarius; bis and fero,
or Teutonic, /om«, to go.]
Two-fold. In botany, pointing two ways, as
leaves that grow only on opposite sides of
a brunch. Martyn.
BIFA'RIOUSLY, adv. In a bifarious man-
ner. A stein or branch is bifariously hairy,
when the hairs between any two joints
come out on the front and back, and in
the two adjoining internodes, on the right
and left side. Martyn.
BIF'EROUS, a. [h. bifer, Uferus ; of 6i4-.
twice, andjTero, to bear.
Bearing fruit twice a year, as plants do in
warm ciiniates. Martyn.
BIF'ID, I [L.bifulus, Uidatus^udis.
BIF'IDATE, \ °" twice, &iu\Jindo,fidi, to split
or cleave. See Divide and Wide.]
In botany, two-cleft ; divided ; opening witli
a cleft ; divided by a hnear sinus, witli
straight margins. Martyn
BIF'LOROUS, a. [L. bis, twice, an<\ Jlorec]
Rearing two flowers. Martyn.
BI'FOLD, a. [L. bis, twice, and fold.] Two
fold; double; of two kinds, degrees, &:.c.
BI'FORM, a. [L. biformis, of tw, twice, and
furmn, form.]
Having two forms, bodies or shapes.
Croxall.
BI'FORMED, a. Compounded of two forms.
Johnson.
BIFORM'ITY, n. A double form. More.
BI'FIJR€ATE, \ [L. bifurcus, of bis,
BI' FURCATED, S "' twice, and furca, a
fork.]
Forked ; divided into two branches.
Johnson.
BIFURCA'TION, n. A forking, or division
into two branches. Brown.
BIG, a. [In W. baic is a load ; beiciaw, to
load, or lay on ; beiciaiog, pregnant ;
bog is a swelling ; buciaw, to bellow ; Dan.
hug, the belly. These words seem to be
allied to big, but I have not found this word
ill any other language.]
t . Bulky ; protuberant ; pregnant, applied to
ft males. Big, in the sense of pregnant, is
lollowed by with ; as, big mthch'M. The
u<e of of, big q/" child, is not good Englisl
.'. ( ; reat ; large ; in a more general sense ;
applied to any body or object.
■i. Full ; fraught, and about to have vent, or
lie brought forth.
The important day, big with the fate of Rome.
Addison.
4. Distended ; full, as with grief or passion.
Tliy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
Shak
5. Swelled ; tumid ; inflated, as with pride ;
hence, haughty in air or mien, or indicar
ting haughtiness ; proud ; as big looks ;
big words; to look big.
a. (J reat in spirit; lofty ; brave.
Have not I a heart as Ji'^as tliine ? Shak.
lilt!, n. A kind of barley.
ilKJ'AM, n. A bigamist. [J\/'ot used.]
Bp. Peacock.
BIGAMIST, n. [See Bigamy.] One who
lias romniitted bigamy, or had two w'
BIG'AMY, n. f L. 6m, twice, and Or. ya/»ss
to marry, yay.o{, marriage. In Ar. «4,2»
is to collect ; to come together ; to agree,
or 1)0 in accord ; to sleep together ; to
bind.]
The crime of having two wives at once. But
the term is ordinarily used as synonymous
with Polygamy, and may be more justly
defined, the crime of havuig a plurality of
wives. Blackslone.
In the canon law, bigamy was the marrying
a second wife after the death of the first,
or once marrying a widow. This disqual-
ified a man for orders, and holding eccle-
siastical offices. Blackstone.
KIG'liKLLIED, o. Having a great belly;
iidvaiircd in pregnancy.
|{|(;|5(J'NED, a. Having large bones.
Herbert.
lUG'CORNED, a. Having large grains.
Dry den.
RIliEM'lNATE.n. [L. W«, twice, and gemi-
nus, double.]
Twin-forked ; used of a decompound leaf
having a forked petiole, with several leaf
Irts, at the end of cucli division. Martyn.
BI(;'(;i',L, ». A i|iiadni|ied of the East in-
dies, sipinrwliai like a rane or rein-deer,
but its head rcsi'iiililcs that of a horse. It
has two horns, cloven feet and a mane
like an ass. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BIG'GIN, 71. [Fr. beguin; Sp. teca, a tippet,
or cap.]
1. A child's cap, or something worn about
the head.
2. A building. Obs. [Sax. byggan, to build.]
Shak.
BIGHT, n. [D. bogt, a bend, a turning,
coil, a bay ; Dan. bugt, a bend, a bow,
a bay. It is the participle of boogen, bui-
gen, bugan, to bend ; W. bcu:, bacu. See
Bow.]
1. A bend, or small bay between two points
of land.
2. The double part of a rope when folded,
in distinction from the end ; that
round, bend or coil any where except at
the ends. Mar. Diet.
3. The inward bent of a horse's charabrel,
and the bent of the fore knees. Bailey.
BIG'LY, orfji. [from big.] In a tumid,
swelling, blustering manner ; haughtily.
BIG'NAMED, a. Having a great or famous
name. Crashaiv.
BIG'NESS, n. Bulk ; size ; largeness ; di-
mensions. It is used of any object, ani-
mate or inanimate, and with or without
comparison. Thus we speak of the lyig-
ness of a tree, of a rock, of a house, with-
out instituting a comparison with other
objects of the kind. Yet in this case there
is always some reference in the mind to
known measure. We also say, one thing
is as big as another ; in which case we
give the idea of unknown size, by a known
object. Big and bigness always imply
expansion, more or less, in breadth, and
are thus distinguished from tall and tatl-
ness.
BIG'OT, n. [Fr. bigot, and cagot, a bigot or
hypocrite; Arm. bigod. In Itahaii, iacc^ei-
tone is a hypocrite. In Spanish, bigote is
a whisker; hombre de bigote, a man of
spirit ; tener bigotes, to be hnn or undamit
ed. If the French cagot is connected with
bigot, the first syllable in both is a prefix.
But I am not able to ascertain the real
origin and primary sense of the word.
The etymologies I have seen are not
satisfactory.]
1. A person who is obstinately and unrea-
sonably wedded to a particular religious
creed, opinion, practice or ritual. The
word is sometimes used in an enlarged
sense, for a person who is illiberally at-
tached to any opinion, or system of belief;
as a bigot to the Mohammedan religion ; a
bigot to a Ibrm (^f government.
2. A Venetian liquid measure containing the
fourth part of the amphor, or half the
boot. Eneyc.
BIG'OT, > Obstinately and blindly
BIG'OTED, ^ ■ attached to some creed,
opinion, practice or ritual ; unreasonably
devoted to a system or party, and illiberal
towards the opinions of others.
BIG'OTEDLY, adv. In the manner of a
bigot ; pertinaciously.
BIG'OTRY, n. Obstinate or blind attach-
ment to a particular creed, or to certain
tenets; unreasonable zeal or warmth in
favor of a party, sect or opinion ; excess-
ive prejudice.
2. The practice or tenet of a bigot. Pope.
BIG'SOUNDING, a. Having a pompous
sound. Hall.
BIG'SVVOLN, a. [big and swoln. See
Swell.]
Swelled to a large size ; turgid ; greatly
1 swelled ; ready to burst. Addison.
!BIG-UDDERED, a. [big and udder.]
Having large udders, or udders swelled with
I milk. Pope.
BHIYDROG'URET, Jt. A double hydrogu-
ret, or with two atoms of hydrogen.
Thomson.
BIJU'GOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and jugum, a
yoke, a pair.]
Having two pairs of leaflets ; used of pinna-
ted lea\ es. Martyn.
BILA'BIATE, a. [L. bis, twice, and /aitum,
a lip.]
Having two Ups, as the corols of flowers.
Martyn.
BILAM'ELLATE, a. [L. 6m, twice, and
lamella, a plate.]
Having the form of a flatted sphere, longitu-
dinally bifid ; used of the stigma of plants.
Martyn.
BI'LANDER, n. [D. bylander ; Fr. beJaiide,
belandrc ; Sp. bUandra ; from be, by, and
land ; Ger. biniienlander.]
A small merchant vessel with two masts,
distinguished from other vessels of two
masts, by the form of the main-sail, which
is bent to the whole length of a yard, hang-
ing fore and aft, and inchned to the hori-
zon in an angle of about 4.'5 degrees ; the
foremost lower corner, called the tack,
being secured to a ring-bolt in the deck,
and the aftermost or sheet, to the tafferel.
Few vessels are now rigged in this man-
ner. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
The bilander is a kind of hoy, manageable
by four or five men and used chiefly in the
canals of the Low Countries. Johnson.
BILATERAL, a. [L. 6m and latus, side.]
Having two sides. Diet.
BILBERRY, ?i. [I know not the meaning
ot'bil in this word. The Dutch word is
B I L
Uaauwbes, blue-berry ; the Ger. heidelbeere.
heath-berry.]
The name of a shrub and its fruit ; a species
of Vaccinium or whortle-berry. Tlie
name with us is given to the tailor slvrub
and its fruit which is of a bluish color
BIL'BO, n. [from Bilboa, in Spain.]
A rapier; a sword; so named, it is said,
from Bilboa in Spain, where the best arc
made. Ash. Johnson
BIL'BOES, n.phi. Onboard of ships, long
bars or bolts of iron with shackles sliding
on them, and a lock at the end, used to
confine the feet of prisoners or offenders,
Hence the punishment of offenders in this
manner is called by the same name.
Mar. Did. Encyc.
BILD, V. t. pret. hilded, bill ; pp. id. [G.
bildeii; Dan. bilder; S\v. bilda.]
To construct ; to erect ; to set up and finish ;
as, to bild a house or ship ; to bild a wall.
[This is the true orthography ; the com-
mon spelling is incorrect. See Build.]
BILD'STEIN, n. [G. biU, shape, and stein,
stone.]
Agalmatolite, or figure-stone. A massive
mineral, with sometimes a slaty structure
of a color gray, brown, flesh red, some
times spotted, or with blue veins. It fuses
into a transparent glass. Brongniart calls
it steatite pagodite, from its coming from
China in grotesque figures. (Ire.
This mineral resembles steatite in its physi-
cal characters, but differs from it essen-
tially in its composition. It is soft, easily
cut with a knife, and reducible to a fine
unctuous powder. Cleaveland.
BILE, 71. [L. bilis ; Fr. bile.] A yellow bitter
liquor, separated from tlie blood in the
liver, collected in the poii biliarii and gall
bladder, and thence discharged by the
common duct into the duodenum. Encyc.
BILE, n. An inflamed tumor. [See Boil,
the correct orthography.]
BI'LEDUeT, n. [bile and L. ductus, a con-
duit.] A vessel or canal to convey bile.
Darmn.
BI'LESTONE, n. [bile and stone.] A con-
cretion of viscid bile. Darwin.
BILgE, n. [A different orthography o{ bulge,
and belly, a protuberance.]
1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is
usually in the^ middle.
2. The breadth of a ship's bottom, or that
part of her floor which approaches to a
horizontal direction, on which she would
rest, if aground. Hence, when this part
of a ship is fractured, she is said to be
bilged. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BILGE, v. i. To suffer a fracture in the
bilge ; to spring a leak l)y a fracture in the
bilge. The term is used also when a sliip
lias some of her timbers struck off by a
rock or an anchor, and springs a leak.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BILG'ED, pp. or a. Having a fracture in the
bilge. This participle is often used, as if
the verb were transitive ; arid perhaps it
is sometimes so used.
BILgE-PUMP, n. A burr-pump; a pump
to draw the bilge-water from a ship.
BILgE-WATER, n. Water which enters a
ship, and lies upon her bilge or bottom.
BII.'IARY, a. [from L. hilis.] Belonging
B I L
to the bile ; conveying the bile ; as a Mli
ary duct.
BIL'INGSGATE, n. [from a place of this
name in London frequented by low people
who use foul language.]
Foul language ; ribaldry. Pope.
BILINGUOUS, o. [L. 6is, and lingua,
tongue.]
Having two tongues, or speaking two lan-
guages.
BIL'IOUS, a. [L. biliosus, from bilis, the
bile.]
Pertaining to bile ; consisting or partaking
of bile; caused by a redundancy, or bad
state of the bile ; as a bilious fever. !
BILIT'ERAL, a. [L. bis, twice, and litera,
letter.]
Consisting of two letters; as a. biliteral root
in language. Sir W. Jones.
BILK, V. t. [Goth, bilaikan, to mock or de
ride. This Gothic word appears to be
compound, hi and laikan, to leap or
exult.]
To frustrate or disappoint ; to deceivi
defraud, by non-fulfilment of engagement ;
as, to bilk a creditor. Dryden
BILK'ED, pp. Disappointed ; deceived ; de-
frauded.
BILK'ING, ppr. Frustrating ; defrauding.
BILL, n. [Sax. bile, a beak, that is, e
shoot.]
1. The beak of a fowl.
•3. An instrument used by plumbers, basket-
makers and gardeners, made in the form
of a crescent, and fitted with a handle.
When short, it is called a hand-bill ; when
long, a hedge-bill. It is used for pruning
trees, &c.
BILL, n. [Sax. bil ; G. beil, an ax or hatch-
et ; D. byl ; Dan. bUe ; W. bwyell ; Pers.
Vaj bil, a mattock, or pick-ax, and a
shovel.]
.\ pick-ax, or mattock ; a battle-ax ; an ax
or hatchet with a crooked point.
BILL, n. [Norm, bille, a label or note ; Fr
billet, bil ; Arm. bilked ; Sp. billete ; It. bigl-
ietto, bulletta, bollettino. The primary sense
probably is a roll or folded paper, Sp. bo-
leta, a billet, a ticket, and a paper of to
bacco, coinciding with bola, a ball ; or it
is from cutting off, and signifies a piece.]
1. In laie, a declaration in writing, express-
ing some wrong the complainant has suf-^
fered from the defendant, or a fault com-
mitted by some person against a law. It
contains the fact complained of, the dam-
age sustained, and a petition or process
against the defendant for redress. It is
used both in civil and criminal cases.
In Scots law, every summary applica-
tion in writing, by way of petition to the
court of session, is called a bill. Encyc.
9. In law and in commerce, in England, an
obligation or security given for money
under the hand, and sometimes the seal
of the debtor, without a condition or for
feiture for non-payrnent. In the latter
circumstance, it differs from a bond. In
the United States, this species of security
is usually called a note, a note of hand, or
a promissory note.
3. A form or draft of a law, presented to a
legislature, but not enacted. In some ca-
B I L
ses, statutes are called bills ; but usually
they are qualified by some description, as
a bill of attainder.
4. A paper written or printed, and posted in
some public place, advertising the propo-
sed sale of goods, or particular things; an
advertisement posted.
5. An accomit of goods sold or delivered,
services rendered or work done, with the
price or value annexed to each article.
6. Any written paper, containing a state-
ment of particulars ; as a bill of charges
or expenditures ; a physician's bill of pre-
scriptions ; a bill of fare or provisions,
&c.
7. A biU of exchange is an order drawn on a
person, in a distant place, requesting or
directing him to pay money to some per-
son assigned by the drawer, or to his or-
der, in consideration of the same sum re-
ceived by the drawer. Bills of exchange
are eitherybreigTi or inland ; foreign, when
drawn by a person in one countiy upon
one residing in another; inland, when
both the drawer and drawee reside in the
same coimtry. The person who draws
the bill is called the drawer ; the person
on whom the request or demand is made,
is called the draicee ; and the person to
whom the money is directed to be paid,
is called the payee.
8. A bill of entry is a written account of
goods entered at the custom house, wheth-
er imported or intended for exportation.
9. A bill of lading is a written account of
goods shipped by any person, on board of
a vessel, signed by the master of the ves-
sel, who acknowledges the receipt of the
goods, and promises to deliver them safe
at the place directed, dangers of the sea
excepted. It is usual for the master to
sign two, three or four copies of the bill;
one of which he keeps in possession, one
is kept by the shii)i)er, and one is sent to
the consignee of the goods.
10. A bill of parcels is an account given by
the seller to the buyer, of the several arti-
cles purchased, with the price of each.
1 K A bill of sale is when a person borrows
money and delivers goods to the lender as
security, and at the same time, gives him
a bill, empowering him to sell the goods,
if the money is not repaid at the appoint-
ed time with interest. Encyc.
In the United States, a hill of sale is a
writing given by the seller of personal
property, to the purchaser, answering to
a deed of real estate, but without seal.
12. A bill of mortality is an account of the
number of deaths in a place, in a given
time. In these bills it is not unusual to
insert registers of births and christenings,
as ill London.
13. Bank-bill. [See Bank.]
14. A bill of rights is a summary of rights
and privileges, claimed by a people. Such
was the declaration presented by the
lords and commons of England to the
prince and princess of Orange ui 1688.
In America, a bill or declaration of rights
is prefi.xed to most of the constitutions of
the several states.
15. A bill of divorce, in tlie Jewish law, was a
writing given by the husband to the wife.
B I M
by which the marriage relation nag dis-
solved.
Ifi. [See Indictment.]
BILL, v.i. [Cromittf, obeak.] To join bills,
as doves ; to caress in fondness. Dryden.
BILL, V. t. [from bill, a writing.] To ad-
vertise by a bill or pubhc notice ; a cant
word. L'Estrange.
BILL ARI), n. A bastard or imiierfect ca-
non ; also a fish of the irod kind. Jhh.
BILL'ET, 71. [dim. of biU; Fr. billet; It.
buUetta.]
A small paper or note in writing, used for
various purposes ; sometimes it is a short
letter, addressed to some person; some-
times a ticket directing soldiers at what
house to lodge.
In heraldry, biUei is a bearing in the form of
a long square. Encyi
Billet-doux, bil'k-doo. [Fr.] A love billet.
BILL'ET, n. [Fr. billot.] A small stick of
wood
BILL'ET, V. t. [from billet, a ticket.] To
direct a soldier by a ticket or note where
to lodge ; hence, to quarter, or place in
lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.
BILL'ETING, ppr. Quartering, as soldier:^
in private houses.
BILL'IARD, a. bil'yard. Pertaining to the
game of biUiards.
BILL'IARDS, ji. phi. bil'yards. [Fr. bill-
aid, a mace or billiard-table ; It. bigliar-
do ; Sp. viliar. According to the an -lent
orthography, balyard, this word is com-
posed of ball and yard, a ball-stick.]
A game played on a rectangular table, cover-
ed with a green cloth, with small ivory balls,
which the players aim to drive into hazard-
nets or pockets at the sides and corners
oftlie tables, by impelling one ball against
another, with maces, or cues, according to
certain rules of the game.
BILL'ION, 11. bil'yiin. [bis and million.]
A million of millicms ; as many millions as
there are units in a million.
BIL'LOW, n. [Dan. bolge, Sw. bolja, a swell,
or rolhng swell, allied to bilge, bvige.]
A great wave or surge of the sea, occasioned
usually by violent wind. It can hardly
be applied to the waves of a river, un-
less in poetry, or when tlie river is very
large.
B I N
BIL'LOW, v.i. To swell; to rise and roll in
large waves, or surges. Prior.
BIL'LOW-BEATEN, a. Tossed by billows.
BIL'LOWING, ppr. Swelled into large
waves or surges.
BIL'LOWY, a. Swelling, or swelled into
large waves ; wavy ; full of billows, or
surges.
BILO'BED, I [L. bis, twice, and Gr.
BILO'BATE, I "• Xoeo{. See Lobe.] D" '
ded into two lobes ; as a bilobate leaf
Marli/n.
BILOe'ULAR, a. [L. bis, twice, and lo'cu-
lus, from locus, a place.]
Divided into two cells, or containing two
cells internally ; as a bilocular pericarp
Martyn.
BIL'VA, n. The Hindu name of a plant, the
Cratseva Marmelos of Liune.
.9s. Res. ii). 250
BIMA'NOUS, a. [bis and jnanus.] Having
two hands. Man is bimanous. Lnurrena
BIME'DIAL, a. [L. 67s, twice, and mcdinl.
In mathematics, if two medial lines, A B and
B C, commeuBurablc oidy in power, and
containing a rational rectangle, are com-
pounded, the whole hne A C will be irra-
tional, and is called a first bimedial Une.
Encyc.
2. Belonging to a quantity arising from a
particular combination of two other quan-
tities. 'Ush.
BIN, n. [Sax. binn, or bimie.] A wooden
box or chest used as a repository of corn
or other eommodities.
BIN'At'LE, n. [Formerly bittacle, supposed
to be a corruption of Fr. habilacle; but
more probably, boite d'aiguille, needle box.]
A woodeti case or box in which the compass
and lights are kept on board a ship. It is
sometimes divided into three apartments
with sliding shutters ; the two sides con-
tain each a compass, and the middle divis-
ion, a lamp or candle.
BI'NARY, a. [L. binus, two and two.]
Binary arithmetic, the invention of Leibnitz,
is that in vvhicli two figures only, 0 and 1,
are used, in lieu of ten ; the cypher mul-
tiplying every thing by two, as in common
arithmetic by 10. Thus, I is one ; 10 i
two ; 11 is three ; 100 is four ; 101 is five
110 is sLx ; HI, is seven; 1000 is eight
1001 is nine ; 1010 is ten. It is said this
species of arithmetic has been used by the
Chinese for 4000 years, being left in enig-
ma by Fohi. Encyc.
Binary measure, in music, is that used in
comtnon time, in which the time of rising
in beating, is equal tp the tune of falling.
Encyc.
Binary number is that which is composeil of
two imits. ' Encyc.
BI'NARY, Ji. The constitution of two.
Fotherby.
BI'NATE, a. [L.Wnu*. See Binary.] Be-
in" double or in couples ; growing in pairs.
Abinate leaf has a simple petiole, connect-
ing two leaflets on the top ; a species of
digitate leaf. Martyn.
BIND, !'. t. pret. bound; pp. bound, and obs.
bounden. [Sax. bindan, gebindan, pret.
band, bund, or bunden ; Goth, bindan, ga-
bindan ; D. binden, verbinden; Ger. the
same ; Sw. binda, forbinda ; Dan. binder,
to bind, and bind, a band ; also baand, a
hand ; Hindu, bandna ; Gypsey, bandopen ;
B I N
We are bound by tlie laws of kindness, of
nature, of a state, &.C.
C. To confirm or ratify.
Pers.
bandan, and
bandidan, to bind ; the former signifies al-
so, to apply, to bend the mind ; and the lat
ter, to shut, close, make fast. The sense
is, to strain.]
1. To tie together, or confine with a cord
or any thing tliat is flexible; to fasten as
with a band, fillet or ligature.
2. To gird, inwrap or involve ; to confine by
a wrapper, cover or bandage ; sometimes
with up ; as, to bind up a wound.
3. To confine or restrain, as with a chain
fetters or cord ; as, bind him hand and foot.
. To restrain in any manner.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing.
Job xxviii.
5. To oblige by a promise, vow> stipulation
covenant, law, duty or any other moral
tie ; to engage.
If a man shall swear an oath to bind his
with a bond. Numbers xxx.
Whatsoever thou sh-ilt bind on earth, shall be
bound ill heaven. Matth. xvi.
7. To distress, trouble, or confine by infirm-
ity.
Whom Satan hath bound these eighteen
years. Luke xiii.
To constrain by a powerful influence or
persuasion.
I go bound in tlie spirit to Jerusalem. Acts
XX.
To restrain the natural discharges of the
bowels; to make costive ; as, certain kinds
of food bind the body or bowels.
10. To form a border; to fasten with a
band, ribiu, or any thing that strengthens
the edges ; as, to bind a garment or car-
pet.
11. To cover witli leather or any thing firm;
to sew together and cover ; as, to bind a
book.
12. To cover or secure by a band ; as, to bind
a wheel with tire.
13. To oblige to serve, by contract ; as, to
bind an apprentice ; often with out ; as, to
bind out a servant.
14. To make hard or firm; as, certain sub-
stances bijul the earth.
The uses of this word are too various and
numerous to be reduced to exact defini-
tions.
To bind to is to contract ; as, to bind one s
self to a wife.
To bind over is to oblige by bond to appear
at a court.
BIND, V. i. To contract ; to grow hard or
tifl'; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer.
2. To grow or become costive.
3. To be obligatory.
BIND, n. A stalk of hops, so called from its
winding round a pole or tree, or being
hound to it.
2. A bind of eels, is a quantity consisting of
10 strikes, each containing ^ eels, or 250
in the whole. Encyc.
3. Among miners, indurated clay, when
much mixed with the oxyd of iron.
Kincan.
BI'NDER, n. A person who binds ; one
whose occupation is to bind books ; also,
one who binds sheaves.
2. Any thing that binds, as a fillet, cord, rope,
or band.
BINDERY, 71. A place where books are
bound.
BI'NDING, ppr. Fastening with a band ;
confining; restraining; covering or wrap-
jiing : obliging by a promise or other mor-
al tie ; making costive ; contracting ; ma-
king hard or stiff.
BI'NDING, a. That obliges; obligatory;
as the binding force of a moral duty or of
a command.
BI'NDING, n. The act of fastening with a
band or obliging : a bandage ; the cover
of a book, wth the sewing and accom-
panying work ; any thing that binds ;
something that secures the~edge of cloth.
2. In the art of defense, a method of securing
or crossing the adversarj^'s sword witli a
pressure, accompanied with a spring of
the wrist. Encyc.
Binding-joists, in architecture, are the joists
of a floor into which the trimmers of stair-
B I P
cases, or well holes of the stairs and cliim-
nev ways, are framed. Encyc.
BI'ND-WEED, n. A genus of plants, called
Convolvulus, comprehending many species,
as the white, the blue, the Syrian bind-
weed, &c. The black briony or Tamus is
called black bind-weed ; and the Smilax is
called rough bind-ioeed.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BING, n. In alum works, a heap of alum
thrown together in order to drain. Encyc.
BIN'0€LE, n. [binus, double, and ocidiis, an
eye.]
A (hoptric telescope, fitted with two tidies
joining, so as to enable a person to view
an object with both eyes at once.
Harris.
BINOCULAR, a. [See Binoclc] Having
two eyes ; also, having two apertures or
tubes, so joined that one may use both
eyes at once in viewing a distant object ;
as a binocular telescope. Encyc.
BINO'MIAL, a. [L. bis, twice, and nomen,
In algebra, a root consisting of two mem-
bers connected by the sign plus or minus ;
asa + fc, or7 — 3. Encyc.
BINOM'INOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and no-
men, name.]
Having two names. Johnson.
BINOT'ONOUS, a. [bis and note.] Consist-
ing of two notes ; as a binotonovs ciy.
Moi^tague.
BIOG'RAPHER, n. [See Biography.] One
who writes an account or histoi-y of the
hfe and actions of a particular person ; a
writer of hves, as Plutarch.
BIOGRAPHIC, ) Pertaining to biog-
BIOGRAPH'I€AL, \ "' raphy, or the histo-
ry of the life of a person ; containing
biography.
BiOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. iiio;, life, and ypafco^
to write.]
The history of the life and character of a
particular person.
BIOTINA, n. [from Biot, a French natu-
ralist.]
A newly discovered Vesuvian mineral
whose ]irimitive form is that of an obtuse
rhomboid. Journ. of Science.
BIP'AROUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and pario, U
bear.]
Bringing forth two at a birth.
BIPART'IBLE, ) [L. bis, twice, and par
BIP'ARTILE, S tio, to divide.] That
mav be divided into two parts. Martyn.
BIPAR'TIENT, a. [L. bis, twice, and par-
tio, partiens, to divide.] Dividing into
parts.
BIP'ARTITE, a. [L. bis, twice, andpaHitus
divided.]
1. Having two correspondent parts, as a legal
contract or writing, one for each party.
9. In botany, divided into two parts to the
base, as a leaf Marlyn.
BIPARTI"TION, n. The act of dividing in-
to two parts, or of making two correspon-
dent parts. Johnson.
BI'PED, n. [L. bipes, of bis, twice, and pes,
pedis, a foot.]
An animal having two feet, as man.
BIP'EDAL, a. Having two feet, or the
length of two feet.
BIPEN'NATE, a. [L. his, and penna,
wing or feather.] llaving two wings.
B I R
2. In botany, having pinnate leaves on each
side of the petiole, as a leaf or frond.
Martyn.
BIPET'ALOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and Gr.
TtBTaT-ov, a leaf.]
Consisting of two flower leaves ; having two
petals.
BIPIN'NATIFID, ) [h.Us, mice, pinna,
BIPEN'NATIFID, S a wing or feather,
and/)irfo, to divide.]
Doubly-pinnatifid ; having pinnatifid leaves
on each side of the petiole. Martyn
BIQUaD'RATE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quad
ratus, squared.]
In mathematics, the fourth power, arising from
the multiplication of a square number or
quantity by itself. Thus 4X4=16, whicli
is the square of 4, and 16 X 16=256, the bi-
quadrate of that number.
BIQUADRATIC, Ji. The same as biquad-
rate. Encyc
BIQUaDRAT'IC, a. Pertaining to the bi-
quadratic or fourth power.
Biquadratic equation, in algebra, is an equa-
tion raised to the fourth power, or where
the unknown quantity of one of the terms
has four dimensions.
Biquadratic parabola, in geometry, is a curv
Une of the third order, having two infinite
legs tending the same way.
Biquadratic root of a number, is the square
root of the square root nf that numbe
Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the
square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquad-
ratic root of 81. Encyc
BIQUIN'TILE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quin-
tus, fifth.]
An aspect of the planets, when they are dis-
tant from each other, by tidce the fifth part
of a great circle, that is 144 degrees or
twice 72 degrees.
BIRA'DIATE, } „ [L. his, twice, and
BIRA'DIATED, I diatus, set with rays.]
Having two rays ; as a biradiate fin. Encyc.
BIRCH, n. burch. [Sax. birce ; D. berken, or
berkeboom ; Ger. birke ; Dan. birk.]
A genus of trees, the Belula, of which there
are several species ; as the white or com-
mon birch, the dwarf birch, the Canada
birch, of which there are several varieties,
and the common black birch.
Birch nf Jamaica, a species of the Pistacia or
turpentine tree. Fam. of Plants
BIRCH, I Made of birch ; consisting
BIRCH'EN, S "■ of birch.
BIRD, n. burd. [Sax. bird, or hridd, a chick-
en ; from the root of dear, or W. bridau',to
break forth.]
1. Properly, a chicken, the young of fowls,
and hence a small fowl.
9. In modem use, any fowl or flying animal.
It is remarkable that a nation should lay
aside the use of the proper generic name
of flying animals, fmvl. Sax. fugel, D. vo-
gel, the flyer, and substitute the name of
the young" of those animals, as the generic
term. The fact is precisely what it woukh
be to make lamb, the generic name of
sheep, or colt, that of the equine genus.
BIRD, V. t. To catch birds. Shak
Bird of paradise, a genus of birds, found ir
the Oriental isles, and in New Guinea
some of them remarkably beautiful. The
beak is covered with a belt or collar of]
downy feathers at the base, and the feath
ers on the sides are very long. The lar
B I R
gest species is two feat four inches in
length. The head and back part of the
neck are lemon-colored ; the neck of the
brightest emerald green, soft like velvet ;
the breast is black ; the wings of a ches-
nut color. The back part of the body is
covered with long straight narrow feath-
ers, of a pale brown color, similar to the
plumes of the ostrich. These are spread
when the bird flies, for which reason he
cannot keep long on the wing. From the
rump proceed two long stiff shafts, feath-
ered at the extremities. Encyc.
BIRD'BOLT, n. [bird and bolt.] An arrow,
broad at the end, for shootuig birds.
Shak.
BIRD'-CAgE, 71. [bird and cage.] A box or
case with wires, small sticks, or wicker,
forming open work, for keeping birds.
BIRD'€ALL, 71. [bird and call.] A little
stick, cleft at one end, in which is put a
leaf of some plant for hnitating the cry of
birds. A laurel leaf counterfeits the voice
of lapwings ; a leek, that of nightingales :
&c. Encyc.
BIRD'-€ATCHER, 7!. [bird and catch.] One
whose eniploynient is to catch birds ; a
fowler.
BIRD'-€ATCHING, n. [bird and catch.]
The art of taking birds or wild fowls, either
for food, for pleasure, or for their destruc-
tion, when pernicious to the husbandman.
BIRD'-CHERRY, 7t. [bird and cherry.] A
tree, a species of Prunus, called padus ;
there are other sjiecies called by the same
iijinip. Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BIRD'ER, n. A bird-catcher.
BIRD'-EYE, I [bird and eye.] Seen from
BIRD'S-EYE, S "■ above, as if by a flying
as a bird-eye landscape. Burke.
BIRD'EYED, a. Of quick sight.
BIRD ING-PIECE, 71. [bird and piece.] A
fowling-piece. Shak.
BIRD'-LIKE, a. Resembling a bird.
BIRD'-LIME, 7j. [bird and lime.] A viscous
substance, usually made of the juice of
holly-bark, extracted by boiling, mixed
with a third-part of nut oil or thin grease,
used to catch birds. For this purpose, the
twigs of a bush are smeared over with tliis
viscid substance. Encyc.
BIRD'-LIMED, a. Smeared with bird-lime ;
spread to ensnare. Hoivell.
BIRD'-MAN, ?!. [bird and man.] A fowler
or bird-catcher.
BIRD'-PEPPER, 77. [bird and pepper.] A
species of Capsicum or Guinea-pepper ; a
shrubby plant, bearing a small oval fruit,
more biting than the other sorts.
Encyc.
BIRDS'EYE, 71. [bird and eije.] A genus of
plants, called also pheasant's eye, knovva
ill botany by the generic term Adonis.
There are several species, some of which
produce beautiful flowers. Encyc.
BIRDS'FQQT, ti. [bird and foot.] A plant,
the Ornithopus, whose legumen is articu-
lated, cylindrical, and bent in the form of
a bow. Encyc.
BIRDSFOOT-TREFOIL, 7i. A genus of
plants, the Lotus, of several species.
Encyc.
BIRDS'NEST, 7i. [bird and nest.] The nest
in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her
young.
B I R
BIS
BIS
2. A plant, a species of Opliij s or Uvyblade ;
also a species of Orchis. Encyc.j
3. In cookery, the nest of a small swallow, of]
China, and the neighboring countries, dcl-|
icately tasted, and mixed with soups. Tliis
nest is found in the rocks ; it is of a hem
iaphcrical figure, of the size of a goose
egg, and in substance resembles isinglass.
In the East, these nests are esteemed a
great luxury, and sell at a very high price.
Encijc.
BIRDSTARES and BIRDSTONGU:
names of plants.
BIRD'-VVITTED, a. Not having the faculty
of attention. Bneon.
BI'REME, n. [L. biremis,bis and remus, an
oar.]
A vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.
M'tford.
BIRG'ANDER, n. Tlie name of a wild
srooso. Ciu. Derf^ander.
BIRIIOMBOID'AL, a. [bu and rhomboid.]
Having a surface composed of twelve
rhombic faces, which, being taken six and
six, and prolonged in idea, till they inter-
cept each other, would form two difl'erent
rhombs. Cleaveland.
BIRK'EN, V. t. [from birch, Sax. birce, byre]
To beat with a birch or rod. Obs.
Ch. Jielig. Appeal.
BIROS'TR.\TR, ) [L. bis, twice, and
BIROS'TRATl'.n, ^ "" rostrum, a beak '
Having a double beak, or process resembling
a beak.
The capsule is bilocular and birostrated.
Encyc.
BIRT, n. buH. A fish, called also tiirbot.
BIRTH, n. berth. [Sax. byrd, beorth ; D.
geboorte ; Ger. geburt ; Ir. beirthe ; L. par-
tus, the participle of pario, to bear.]
1. The act of coming into life, or of being
born. Except in poetry, it is generally
applied to human beings; as the birth of
a son.
2. Lineage ; extraction ; descent ; as, Gre-
cian birth. Denham
It is used of high or low extraction ; but
is often used by way of distinction for a
descent from noble or honorable jjarents
and ancestors ; as a man of birth.
3. The condition in which a person is born.
A foe by birth to Troy. Dryden.
4. That which is born ; that wliich is pro-
duced, whether animal or vegetable.
Milton. Mdison.
.J. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two
children at a birth.
6. In a theological setise, regeneration is call-
ed the new birth.
7. Origin ; beginning ; as the birth of an
empire.
BIRTH, BERTH, n. A station in which a
ship rides. [See Berth.]
BIRTH'DAY, n. [birth and day.] The day
in which any person is born.
2. The same day of the month, in wliich a
person was born, in every succeeding
year ; oflcn celebrated as a joyful anniver
sary. It sometimes has tlie form of ar
attribute ; as a birlh-day ode.
BIRTH'DOM, n. [birth and dom. See Don
and Z>oom.] Privilege of birth. [ATot used.]
Shak.
BIRTH'ING, n. Any thing added to raise
the sides of a ship. Ash. Bailey.
BIRTH'NIGHT, n. [birth and night.] The
Vol. I.
night in which a person is bom ; and the
anniversary of that night in succeeding
years.
BIRTH'PLACE, n. [birth and place.] The
town, city or country, where a person
born ; more generally, the particular town,
city, or other local district.
BIRTH'RIGHT, n. IMrth and right.] Any
right or privilege, to which a person is en-
titled by birtl), such as an estate des-
cendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty
under a free constitution.
Esau, for a morsel, sold his birthright. Hob.
xii.
It may be used in the sense of primogeni-
ture, or the privilege of the first born, but
is applicable to any right which results
from descent.
BlRTll'-SONG, n. A song sung at the birtl
of a- person.
BIRTH-STRANGLED, a. [birth and strati-
gle.'] Strangled or suflbcuted in being
boru. " Shak
BIRTH'WORT, n. [birth and wort.] A ge-
nus of plants, Aristolochia, of many ape-,
cies. Of these are the snake root of
America, and the contrayerva of Jamaica,
Encyc,
BISA, } AcoinofPegu,ofthe value of lial
BIZA, J ■ a ducat ; also, a weight. Encyc.l
BIS'€OTIN, n. [Fr.] A confection, made
of flour, sugar, nianuelade and eggs.
BISCUIT, )i. Iiis'/iil. [Fr. compounded oi
L. bis, twice, and cuil, baked ; It. biscotto ;'
Sp. bizcocho.]
1. A kind of bread, formed into cakes, andi
baked hard for seamen.
2. A cake, variously made, ("or the use o
private families. "The name, in Eugland
is given to a composition of flour, eggs
and sugar. With us the name is given to
a composition of flour and butter, made
and baked in private families. But the
compositions under this denomination are
very various.
3. The body of an earthem vessel, in dis-
tinction from the glazing. Thomson.
BISE€T', J', t. [h.bis, twice, and seco, sec-
tum, to cut. See Section.]
To cut or divide into two parts. In geome
try, one line bisects another when it crosses
it, leaving an equal part of the fine on each
side of the point where it is crossed.
BISECTED, pp. Divided into two equal
parts.
BISECT'ING, ppr. Dividing into two equal
parts.
BISECTION, n. The act of cutting into
two equal parts ; the division of any fine
or quantity into two equal parts.
BISEG'MENT, n. [bis and segment.] One
of the parts of a line,- divided into two
equal parts.
BISEX'OUS, a. Consisting of both sexes.
Broien
BISH'OP, n. [L. episcopus; Gr. j7t<«orto5, of]
fjtt, over, and u*o«o{, ins])ector, or visitor:
cxontu, to view, or insjiect; \Vhence im-
axfrtTojuoi, to visit or irspcct ; also iXiaxoKfu,
to view. This Greek and Latin word ac-
companied the introduction of Christianity
into the west and north of Europe, and
has been corrupted into Saxon biscop, bis-
obispo, Port. bispo,\V. f.<!gob, and Ir. easgob.
InAr.andPcrs. t_iji«< oskof. This ti-
tle the Athenians gave to tliose whom
they sent into the j)rovinces subject to
them, to inspect the state of afiairs ; and
the Romans gave the title to those who
were inspectors of provisions.]
1. An overseer; a spiritual superintendent,
ruler or director ; applied to Christ.
Yo were as sheep going astray, but are now
returned to the shei)hcr<I and biihop of your
souls. 1 Pet. ii.
2. In the primitive church, a spiritual over-
seer ; an elder or presbyter ; one who ha<l
the pastoral care of a cinirch.
The same persons are in this chapter called
ciders or presbyters, and overseers or Ifishops.
Scott, Comm. Acts xx.
Till the churches were multiplied, the bish-
ops and presbytei-s were the same. lb. Phil. i. I .
1 Tim. iii. I. Tit. i. 7.
Both the Greek and Latin fathers do, \ritli
one consent, declare, that bishops were called
presbyters, and presbyters bishops, in apostolic
times, tlie name being then common.
IFhilby.
3. In the Greek, Latin, and some Protestant
churches, a prelate, or person consecrated
for the spiritual goverimient and direction
of a diocese. In Great Britain, bishops
are nominated by the king, who, upon re-
quest of the dean and chapter, for leave to
elect a bishop, sends a cong'e d'elire, or
license to elect, witli a letter missive, nom-
inating the person whom he would have
chosen. The election, by the chapter,
nnist be made within twelve days, or the
king has a right to appoint whom lie
pleases. Bishops are consecrated by an
archbishop, with two assistant bishops.
A bishop must be thirty years of age; and
all bishops, except the bishop of Man, arc
peers of the reahn. Blackstone.
By the canons of the Protestant Episco-
pal church in the United States, no dio-
cese or state shall proceed to the election
of a bishop, unless there are at least six
officiating presbyters residing therein, who
shall be qualified, according to the canons,
to vote for a bishop ; a majority of whom
at least must concur in the election. But
the conventions of two or more dioceses,
or states, having together nine or more
such presbyters, may join in the election
of a bishop. A convention is composed of
the clergy, and a lay delegation, consisting
of one or more members from eacli par-
ish. In every state, the bishop is to be
chosen according to such rules as the con-
vention of that state shaU ordain. The
mode of election, in most or all of the
states, is by a concurrent vote of the cler-
gy and laity, in convention, each body
voting separately. Befort
bisl
lop can
be consecrated, he must receive a testimo-
nial of approbation from the General Con-
vention of the church ; or if that is not in
session, from a majority of the standijig
committee in the s^everal dioceses. The
mode of consecrating bishops and ordain-
ing priests and deacons differs not essen-
tially from the practice in England.
Bishop Brotcnell.
and Dan, biskop, D. *iw^op,i,BISH'OP, n. A cant word for a' mixture of
Ger. bischof, It. rescovo, Fr. evique, Sp.ll wine, oranges, and sugar. Sipiji.
BIS
BIT
B I T
BISHOP, »•. t. To confirm ; to admit s>ol-
ojiinly into tl'C church. Johnson.
2. Among horse-dealers, to use arts to make
an old horse look like a young one, or to
give a good appearance to a bad horse.
.Ml. Ennjc.
tUSH'OPLIKE, a. Resembling a bishop;
l)('l(in<;iiig to a bisliop. Fulke.
BISH'(JPRI€, 71. [bishop and j-ic, jurisdic
tion.]
1. A diocese ; the district over which the
Jurisidiction of a bishop extends. \n Eng
land, arc twenty-four bishoprics, beside;
that of Sodor and Man ; in Ireland, eigh-
teen.
2. The charge of instructing and governinc
in si)iritual concerns ; office. Acts i. 20.
J?ISiI'OPSWEED, n. [bishop and weed.[
A genus of plants, with the generic name
,1mmi.
BISH'OPSWORT, n. A plant.
BISK, n. [Fr. bisque.] Soup or broth, made
by boiling several sorts of flesli together.
King.
BISK'ET,n. A bisciiil. This orthograj)liy
isadopti-d bv iiiaiiy respectable writer
BIS'MUTll, »'.s;is:; [d.wissmuth.] A metal
of a yellowish or reddish white color, anc
a lamellar texture. It is somewhat hardei
than lead, and scarcely, if at all, niallea
ble, being so brittle as to break easily un
der the hammer, and it is reducible to
powder. Its internal face or fracture ex-
hibits large shining plates, variously dis-
posed. It melts at 476° Fahr. and may
be fused in the flame of a candle. It is
often found in a native state, crystalized iiil
rhombs or octahedrons, or in the form of
dendrites, or thin lamens investing the
ores of other metals, particularly cobalt.
JVicholsoii. Encyc.
BIS'MUTHAL, a. Consisting of bismuth, oi
containing it. Cleaveland.
T.IS'MUTHIe, a. Pertaining to bismuth ;
blsmuthic acid. Lavoisier.
BIS'ON, n. [L.] A quadruped of the bovine
genus, usually but improperly called the
buffalo. The proper buffalo is a distinct
species, peculiar to the warmer climates
of the Eastern Continent. The bison is a
wild animal, with short, black, rounded
horns, with a great interval between their
bases. On the shoulders is a large hunch,
consisting of a fleshy substance. The
head and hunch are covered with a .-..^
undulated fleece, of a rust-color, divided
into locks. In winter, the whole body is
covered in this manner ; but in summer,
the hind part of the body is naked, and
wrinkled. The tail is about a foot long,
naked, except a tuft of hairs at the end,
The fore parts of the body are very thick
and strong ; the hind parts are slender
and weak. These animals inhabit the in
terior jiarts of North America, and some
of the mountainous parts of Europe and
Asia. Pennant.
Pennant alledges that the bison of America
is the same species of animal as the bison
and aurochs of Europe, the bonasus of
Aristotle, the urits of Cesar, the bos ferus or
wild ox of Strabo, the bison of Pliny, and
the bistoti of Oppian.
Cuvier has not separated the bison of Ameri
ca from that of Europe. He considers
their identitv as doulnful. The former has
the legs and tail shorter, and the hairs of
its head and neck longer than in the latter.
Regne Anim.
BISSEXTILE, n. [L. bissexlilis, leap year,
from bissextus, [6is and seitus] the sixth of
the calends of March, or twenty-fourth
day of February, which was reckoned
twice every fourth year, by the intercala-
tion of a day. ./linstvorth.]
Leap year ; every fourth year, in which a day
is added to the month of February, on ac-
count of the excess of C hours, which the
civil year contains, above 365 days. This
excess is 11 minutes 3 seconds too much ;
that is, it exceeds the real year, or annual
revolution of the earth. Hence at the end
of every century, divisible by 4, it is neces-
sary to retain the bissextile day, and to sup-
press it at the end of those centuries which
are not divisible by 4. Encyc.
BISSEX'TILE, a. "Pertaining to the leap
year.
BIS'SON,a. [Sax.fcisen.] Blind. [JVotused.]
Shak.
BISTER, n. [Fr. bistre, from bis, brown.]
Among painters, the burnt oil extracted
from the soot of wood ; a brown pigment.
To prepare it, soot [that of beach is the
best] is put into water, in the proiiortimi of
two pounds to a gallon, ancl lioilrd hall'
an hour; after standing to setih', iiod « liilf
hot, the clearer part of the fluid must be
poured oft" from the sediment, and evapo-
rated to dryness ; the remainder is bister.
Enci/c.
BIS'TORT, ?!. [L. bistorta, bis and tortus,
isted.j
A plant, a species of polygonum, or many
knotted or angled. In'po[iular language,
it is called snake-weed.
BIS'TOURY, n. bis'tury. [Fr. listouri, from
Pistoia, a city.]
A surgical instrument for making ii
It is either straight and fixed in a handle
like a knife, or its blade turns like a Ian
cet, or it is crooked, with the sharp edge
on the inside. Encyc.
BISUL€'OUS, a. [L. bisulcus, of bis and
sulcus, a furrow.] Cloven footed, as swine
or oxen. Brown.
BISUL'PHURET, n. [bis and sulphuret.]
In chimistry, a sulijhuret, with a double pro-
portion of sulphur. Silliman.
BIT, n. [Sax. bitol, gebxte, gebcetel, a bit
bcetan, to bit or curb.]
The iron part of a bridle which is inserted
in the mouth of a horse, and its appenda
ges, to which the reins are fastened. I
includes the bit mouth, the branches, tli(
curb, the sevel holes, the tranchefil anc
cross chains. Bits are of various kinds,
as the musrol, snaffle, or watering bit ;
the canon mouth, jointed in the middle
the canon or fast mouth, all of a piece
kneed in the middle ; the scateh-mouth ;
the masticador, or slavering bit ; &c.
Johnson. Encyc.
BIT, V. t. To put a bridle upon a horse ; to
put the bit in the mouth.
BIT, pre/, and pp. of bite. Seized or wound-
ed by the teeth.
BIT, n. [Sax. bita, a bite or mouthful ; bitan,
to bite ; D. bit ; G. biss.] A small piece ;
a mouthful, or morsel ; a bite.
2. A small piece of any substance.
3. A small coin of the West Indies, a ha
pistareen, about ten cents, or five pence
sterling.
4. The point of an auger, or other borer ; the
bite.
This word is used, like jot and whit, to ex-
press the smallest degree ; as, he is not a
bit wiser or better.
BITCH, n. [Sax. ticca, tjcce, bice ; Dan. biUe.
Qu. Ger. betze ; Basque, 7)o<2oa. This word
probably signifies a female, for the French
biche is a hind.}
I. The female of the canine kind, as of the
dog, wolf, and fox.
12. A name of reproach for a woman.
Pope. Arbuthnot.
BITE, V. t. pret. bit ; pp. bit, bitten. [Sax.
bitan; Sw.bitn; Dan. bider ; Ger. beissen.
to bite.]
1. To break or crush with the teeth, as in
eating ; to pierce with the teeth, as a ser-
pent ; to seize with the teeth, as a dog.
:2. To pinch or pain, as with cold ; as a
biting north wind ; the frost bites.
13. To reproach with sarcasm ; to treat with
severity by words or writing ; as, one
poet praises, another bites.
4. To pierce, cut, or wound ; as a biting
faulchion. Shak.
."). To make to smart ; as, acids bite the
mouth.
(i. To cheat ; to trick.
The rogue was l}it. Pope.
[J^ot elegant, but common.]
7. To enter the ground and hold fast, as the
bill and palm of an anchor. Mar. Diet.
8. To injure by angry contention.
If ye bite and devour one another. Gal. 5.
BITE, n. The seizure of any thing by the
teeth of an animal, as the bite of a dog ;
or with the mouth, as of a fish.
2. The wound made by the teeth.
3. A morsel ; as much as is taken at once by
biting; a mouthful.
4. A cheat ; a trick ; a fraud. [A low word.]
5. A sharper ; one who cheats.
BI'TER, n. One who bites ; that which
bites ; a fish apt to take bait.
2. One who cheats or defrauds.
BITERN'ATE, a. [L. Ins and temus, three.]
In botany, doubly teruate, as when a petiole
has three ternate leaflets. Martyn.
Bl'TING, ppr. Seizing, wounding, or crush-
ing with the teeth ; pinching, paining,
causing to smart with cold ; reproaching
with severity, or treating sarcastically ;
cheating.
Bl'TING, a. Sharp; severe; .sarcastic.
BI'TINGLY, adv. In a sarcastic •
BIT'LESS, a. Not having a bit or bridle.
Fanshaw.
BIT'MOUTH, n. [bit and mouth.] The bit,
or that part of a bridle which is put in a
horse's mouth. Bailey. Ash. Encyc^
BIT'TA€LE, n. [Qu. Fr. boile d'aiguille,
needle box.]
The box for the compasses and lights on
board a ship. [See Binnacle.]
BIT'TEN, pp. of bite, bit'tn. Seized or
wounded by the teeth ; cheated.
BIT'TER, a. [Sax. biter ; Sw. D. Ger. and
Dan. bitter ; from bite.]
1. Sharp, or biting to the taste; acrid ; like
wormwood.
2. Sharp; cruel; severe; as bitter enmitv
1 Ileb. i.
BIT
B I T
B L A
■i. Sharp, as words ; reproachful; sarcastic,
1. Sliarp to the feeling ; piercing ; painful
that makes to smart ; as a bitter cold day,
or a hitter blast.
"). Painful to the mind ; calamitous ; poig-
nant ; as a bitter fate.
0. ASUcted ; distressed.
The Egjptians made their lives bitter. Ex. i.
7. Hurtful; very sinful.
It is an evil and bitter thing. Jer. ii.
8. Mournful; distressing ; expressive of mis-
ery ; as a bitter complaint or lamentation.
Job xxiii. Jer. vi. xxxi.
BIT'TER, n. A substance that is bitter.
[See Bitters.]
BIT'TER, n. [See BUls.] In marine lan-
guage,, a turn of the cable which is round
tlie hitts.
Bitter-end, that part of a cable which is
abaft the bitts, and therefore within board,
when the ship rides at anchor.
Mar. Diet.
BIT'TER-GOURD, n. [bitter and gourd.]
A |)lant, a species of Cucumis, called Col-
ocynthis, Colocynth, Coloquintada. The
fruit is of the gourd kind, having a shell
inclosing a bitter pulj), which is a very
drastic purgative. It is brought from the
Levant, and is tlie bitter apple of the shops
Encyc
BIT'TERISH, a. Somewhat bitter; bitter
in a moderate degree. Goldsmith.
BIT'TERISHNESS, n. The quahty of be-
ing moderately bitter. Encyc.
BIT'TERLY, adv. With a bitter taste.
2. In a severe manner ; in a manner express-
ing poignant grief; as, to \vee[) Utterly.
3. In a manner severely reproachful ; sharp-
ly ; severely ; angrily ; as, to censure bii-
terly.
BIT'TERN, n. [D. butoor ; Fr. butor;
Corn, klabitter.]
.\ fowl of the grallic order, the Jlrdea stella-
ris, a native of Europe. This fowl has
long legs and neck, and stalks among
reeds and sedge, feeding upon fish. It
makes a singular noise, called by Dryden
bumping, and by Goldsmith booming.
Encyc.
BIT'TERN, n. [from bitter.] In saU worh,
the brine remaining after the salt is con-
creted. This being laded olf, and the salt
taken out of the pan, is returned, and be-
ing again boiled, yields more salt. It is
used in the preparation of Epsom salt,
the sulphate of magnesia, and of Glauber's
salt, the sulphate of soda. Johnson. Encyc.
BIT'TERNESS, n. [from bitter.] A bitter
tuste ; or rather a quality in things which
excites a biting disagreeable sensation in
the tongue.
2. In a ftgurative sense, extreme enmity,
grudge, hatred ; or rather an excessive de-
gree or implacable ness of jjassions and
emotions; as the 6iWerne*« of auger. Eph.
iv.
3. Sharpness; severity of temper.
4. Keenness of reproach ; piquancy; biting
sarcasm.
5. Keen sorrow; painful affliction; vexa-
tion ; deep distress of mind.
Hannah was in bitterness of soul. 1 Sam. i.
.lob vii.
In the gall of bitterness, in a state of extreme
impiety |'r enmity to God. .\cts viii.
Root iif bitterness, a dangerous error, or
I schism, tending to draw persons to apos-
I tasy. Ileb. xii.
BIT'TERS, n. A liquor in which bitter
herbs or roots are steeped ; generally a
spirituous liquor, the bitter cause ofintem-
I perance, of disease, and ofpremalure death '
(BfT'TER-SALT, n. Epsom salt.
IBiT'TER-SPAR, n. Rhombspar, a mine
ral that crystalizes in rhomboids. It i;
the crystalized variety of magnesian lime-
atone. Ure,
BIT'TER-SWEET, n. [bUter and sweet.] A
species of Solanum, a slender climbing
plant, whose root, when chewed, produ-
ces first a bitter, then a sweet taste.
Encyc.
BIT'TERVRTCIf, n. [hitter am] vetch.] A
species of Ei-vimi, or lentil, cultivated for
fodder. Ettcyc.
2. A genus of plant.s, known by the generic
name Orolms, remarkable for their beau-
tiful papilionaceous flowers. The tuber-
cles of one species are in great esteem
among tlie Highlanders of Scotland, who
chew them, when dry, to give a better
relish to their liquors.
BIT'TER-VVORT, n. [hitter nnd wort.] Th
plant calird !;ciili:ni, Gentiana, which has
a remark.-ihlv I'iltrr taste.
BIT'TOl'K ur BIT TOR, n. The bittern.
Dnjden.
BITTS, n. phi. [from the same root asbite.]
A frame of two strong |)ieces of timber
fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a
ship, on which to fasten the cables, when
she rides at anchor. There are also top-\
sail sheet bitts, paul-bitls, carrick-biUs, &c.i
Mar. Did.
BITT, r. t. To put round the bitts ; as, toj
hitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to
slacken it out gradually, which is calledj
veering away. Mar. Diet.'
BITU'ME, n. Bitumen, so written for tliej
sake of the rhyme. May.]
BIT'UMEN, I ,, [L. ; Fr. bitume; Sp. betun ;i
BITU'.MEN, ^ "• h.bitume.] '
This name is used to denote various inflam
mal)le substances, of a strong smell, and ol"
different consistencies, which are found
in the earth. There are several varieties,
most of which evidently pass into eachj
other, proceeding from Naphtha, the most
fluid, to Petroleum, a viscid fluid. Maltha,
more or less cohesive, elastic bitumen or
mineral caoutchouc, and Asphalt, which
is sometimes too hard to be scratched by
the nail. JVicholson. Cleavetand.
BITU'JMINATE, v. t. To impregnate with
bitumen.
BITU'MINATED, a. Impregnated with
bitumen.
BITUMINIF'EROUS, a.- [bitumen and fero,
to produce.]
Producing bitumen. Kirwan.
BITU'MiNIZE, V. t. To form into, or im-
prcffnate with bitumen. Lit. Mug.
BITU'.^IINOUS, a. Having the qualities of
bitumen : conqjounded with bitumen ;
containing bitumen. Milton.
Bituminous Limestone is of a lamellar struc-
ture, susceptible of polish, of a brown or
black color, and when rubbed emitting an
uni)lea.«aiit .smell. That of Dalmatia is so
chariied with bitumen, that it may be rut
Uke soap. Urc.
BI'VALVE, n. [L. his, twice, and voice, 1.,
valva.]
An animal having two valves, or a shell con-
sisting of two parts which open and shut.
Also a pericarp in which the seed-case
oi)ens or splits into two parts. Encyc.
BI'VALVE, ^ Having two shells or
BIVALV'IjLAR, \ a. valves which open and
BIVALV'OLS, S shut, as the oyster and
the seed cases of certain plants.
Martyn. Coxe.
BIVAULT'ED, a. [L. 6u, twice, and vault.j
Having two vaults or archc.s. Barlow.
BIVENT'RAL, a. [L. bis and venter, belly.]
Having two belhes ; as a biventral muscle.
Bailty.
BIVIOUS, a. [h.bivius; bis and via, way.j
Having two ways, or Railing two ways.
Brown.
BIVOUAC, n. [Fr. This word is probably
composed of be and the Teutonic root of
icake, watch ; Sax. wacian, to wake, to
watch ; L. vigilo ; G. wache, a guard ; wa-
chen, to watch.]
The guard or watch of a whole army, as in
cases of great danger of surprise or at-
tack.
BIVOUAC, V. t. To watch or be on
guard, as a whole arm^'.
[This word anglici-sed would be bewatch.]
BIX' WORT, n. A plant.
BIZANTINE. [See Byzantine.]
BLAB, V. t. [W. llavaru, to speak ; D. lab-
bery, prattle ; Ir. clubaire, a babbler ; labh-
raim, to speak ; Chaucer, labbe, a Idabber.j
1. To utter or tell in a thoughtless manner ;
to publish secrets or trifles without discre-
tion. It implies, says Johnson, rather
thoughtlessness than treachery, but may
be used in either sense. Dryden.
Q. To tell, or utter ; in a good sense. Shak.
BLAB, V. i. To tattle ; to tell tales. Shak.
BL.\B, n. A babbler; a telltale; one who
betrays secrets, or tell things which ought
to lie kept secret.
BLABBER, n. A tattler; a tell-tale.
BLAB'BING, ppr. Telling indiscreetly what
ought to be concealed ; tatthng.
BLACK, a. [Sax. hlac, and blcec, black, pale,
w'an, livid ; blacian, blacan, to become pale,
to turn white, to become black, to black-
en ; hlac, u)k ; Sw. blek, pale, wan, livid ;
bleck, ink ; bleka, to insolate, to expose to
the sun, or to bleach; also to lighten, to
flash ; D. bleek, pale ; bleeken, to bleach ;
G. bleich, pale, wan, bleak ; hleichen, to
bleach ; Dan. blmk, ink ; hleeg, pale, wan,
bleak, sallow ; bleeger, to bleach. It is re-
markable that black, bleak and bleach are
all radically one word. The primary
sense seems to be, pale, wan or sallow,
from which has proceeded the present va-
riety of significations.]
1. Of the color of night; destitute of light;
dark.
2. Darkened by clouds ; as the heavens
black with clouds.
3. Sullen ; liaving a cloudy look or counte-
nance. Shak.
4. Atrociously wicked ; horrible ; as a black
deed or crime. Dryden.
5. Dismal ; mournful ; calamitous. Shak.
Black and blue, the dark color of a bruiso
in the flesh, which is accompanied with a
mixtui-e of blue.
BLACK, n. That which is destitute of light
B L A
B L A
B L A
or whiteness ; the darkest color, or rather!
a (lestiti-itioii of all color ; as, a cloth has a
good black.
•i. A negro ; a person whose skin is black.
8. A black dress, or mourning; as, to be
clothed in black.
BLACK, V. t. To make black ; to blacken ;
to soil. Boyle.
BLACK'-ACT, n. [black and act.] The
English statute 9. Geo. I. which makes it
felony to appear armed in any park or
warren, &c., or to hunt or steal deer, &c.,
with the face blacked or disguised.
Blackstone.
BLACK'-BALL, n. [black and ball.]
position for blacldng shoes.
BLACK'-BALL, v. I. To reject or negative
in choosing, by putting black balls into a
ballot-box.
BLACK'-BAR, n. [black and bar.] A plea
obliging the plaintiff to assign the place of
trespass. Ash.
BLACK'-BERRY, n. [Sax. blacberian, black
and berry.]
The berry of the bramble or rubus ; a popu-
lar name applied, in different places, to
different species, or varieties of this fruit.
BLACK'-BIRD, n. [black and bird..] In
England, the menila, a species ofturdus, a
singing bird with a fine note, but very
loucl. In America, this name is given to
ilifferent birds, as to the gracula quiscula
or crow black-bird, and to the oriohis
pheeniceus, or red winged black-bird.
nus predatorius, Wilson.]
BLACK'-BOOK, n. [black and book.] The
Black Book of the Exchequer in England,
is a book said to have been composed i
1175, by Gervais of Tilbury. It contains
^ description of the Court of Exchequer, it
officers, their ranks and privileges, wages,
perquisites and jurisdiction, with the reve-
nues of the crown, in money, grain and!
cattle. Encyc.
■i. Any book which treats of necromancy.
Encyc.
;i. A book compiled by order of the visitors
of monasteries, under Heniy VIII., con-
taining a detailed account of the enormi-
ties practised in religious houses, to black-
en them and to hasten their dissolution.
Encyc.
nLACK'-BROWED, a. [black and brow.]'
Having black eye-brov,'s ; gloomy ; dis-1
mal ; threatening; as a black-browed gust.
Dryden.\
BLACK-BRY'ONY, n. [black and bryony. ]\
A plant, the Tamus. Encyc.
15LACK-€AP, n. [black and cap.] A bird,;
the Motacilla atricapilla, or mock-nightin-j
gale ; so called from its black crown. It
is common in Europe. Encyc. Pennant.i
"2. In cookery, an apple roasted till black, to
be served up in a dish of boiletl custard.
Mason.
BLACK'-€ATTLE, n. [black and cattle.]
Cattle of the bovine genus, as bidls, oxen
and cows. [English.] Johnson.
BLACK-CHALK, n. A mineral of a bluish
black color, of a slaty texture, and soiling,
the fingers when handled; a variety ofl
argillaceous slate. Ure.\
BLACK' -COCK, n. [black and cock.] A
fowl, called also black-grous and black-
game, tiie Tetrao tetrix of Linne.
BLACK'-EAGLE, n. [black and eagle] In!
Scotland, a name given to the Falcofulmis,
the white tailed eagle of Edwards.
BLACK'-EARTH, n. Mold ; earth of a
dark color. Woodward.
BLACK'ED, pp. Made black ; soiled.
BLACK'EN, V. t. [Sax. blxcan. See Black.]
'1. To make black.
The importation of slaves that has blackened
half America. Franklin.
]2. To make dm-k ; to darken ; to cloud.
3. To soil.
4. To sully reputation ; to make infamous ;
1 as, vice blackens the character.
BLACK'EN, V. l To grow black, or dark.
BLACK'ENER, n. He that blackens.
BLACK'-EYED, a. Having black eyes.
Bryden.
BLACK-FACED, a. Having a black face
Shak.
BLACK'-FISII, n. [black anifsh.] A fish
in the Orontes, about twenty inches lon^
in shape resembling the sheat-fish. Its
eyes are jilaced near the corners of its
moiitu on the edge of the lower jaw.
Diet. ofjVat. Hist.
2. In the U. States, a fish caught on the
rocky shores of New-England.
BLACK-FOREST, n. [black and forest.] A
forest in Germany, in Swabia; a part of
the ancient Hercynian forest.
BLACK-FRIAR, ™. Black-fi-iars is a name
given to the Dominican Order, called also
Predicants and preaching friars ; in France,
Jacobins. Encyi
BLACK'-GUARD, n. [said to be of blackj
and guard ; but is it not a corruption of
black-ard, black-kind .']
A vulgar term applied to a mean fellow, who
uses abusive, scurrilous language,
treats others with foul abuse.
BLACK'ING, ppr. Making black.
BLACK'ING, n. A substance used for
blacking shoes, variously made ; any fac-
titious matter for making things black.
Encyc. Ash
BLACK'ISH, a. Somewhat black ; mode-
rately black or dark.
BLACk'-JACK, n. A name given by mi-
ners to blend, a mineral called also fals(
galena, and blend. It is an ore of zink, in
combination with iron and sulphur, sul
phiu-et of zink. Micholson.
A leathern cup of old times.
BLACK'-LEAD, n. A mineral of a dark
steel-gray color, and of a scaly texture,
composed of carbon, with a small portion
of iron. This name, black-lead, is
proper, as it contains.uo lead. It is called
plumbago, and technically graphite, i
is used for pencils. Cleaveland.
BLACK'-LEGS, n. In some parts of Eni^
land, a disease among calves and sheep.
It is a sort of jelly which settles in the
legs and sometimes in the neck. Encyc.
BLACK'LY, adv. Darkly ; atrociously.
BLACK'-MAIL,n. A certain rate of money,
corn, cattle or other thing, anciently paid,
in the north of England, to certain i
who were allied to robbers, to be by them
protected from pillage. Cowel. Encyc
2. Black rent, or rents paid in corn or flesh
Bailey. Encyc.
BLACK'-MONDAY, n. Easter Monday, ii;
34. Ed. III., which was misty, obscure
and so cold that men died on horseback.
Stowc.
BLACK'-MONKS, a denomination given to
the Benedictines. Encyc.
BLACK'-MOOR, n. [black and moor.] A
negro ; a black man.
BLACK'-MOUTHED,a. Using foul or scur-
rilous language. Killingbeck.
BLACK'NESS, n. The quality of being
black; black color; darkness; atrocious-
ness or enormity in wickedness.
BLACK'-PUDDING, n. A kind of food
made of blood and grain. Johnson.
BLACK'-ROD, n. [black and rod.] In Eng-
land, the usher belonging to the order of
the garter ; so called from the black rod
which he carries. He is of the king's
chamber and usher of Parliament.
Cmvel.
Black row grains, a species of iron stone or
ore, found in the mines about Dudley ii»
Staffordshire, England. Encyc.
BLACK' SEA, n. [black and jca.] The Eux-
ine Sea, on the eastern border of Europe.
BLACK'-SHEEP, n. [black and sheep.] In
oriental history, the ensign or standard of
a race of Turkmans in Armenia and Mes-
opotamia. Encyc.
BLACK'SMITH, n. [black and smith.] A
smith who works in u-on, and makes iron
utensils ; more properly, an iron-smith.
Black' -strak^s, in a ship, are a range of planks
immediately above the wales in a ship's
side, covered with tar and lamp-black.
Encyc.
BLACK'-TAIL, n. [black and tail.] A fish,
a kind of perch, called also a rtiffot pope.
Johnson.
BLACK'-THORN, n. [black and thorn.] A
species of prunus, called also sloe. It
grows ten or twelve feet high, very
branchy, and armed with sharp, strong
spines," and bearing small, round, black
cherries. It is much cultivated for hedg-
es. Encyc.
BLACK'-TIN, n. [black and tin.] Tin ore,
when dressed, stamped and washed ready
for mehing. It is the ore conuninuted by
beating into a black powder, like fine sand.
Encyc.
BLACK'-VISAgED, a. Having a dark vis-
age or appearance. Marston.
BLACK'- WaDD, n. [black and wadd.] An
ore of manganese, found in Derbyshire,
England, and used as a drying ingredient
in paints. It is remarkable for taking fire,
when mixed with linseed oil in a certain
proportion. Encyc.
BLACK'-WORK, n. [blctck and tvork.] Iron
wrought by black-smiths; so called in
distinction from that wrought by white-
smiths. Encyc.
BLAD'-APPLE, n. In botany, the cactus or
a species of it. Fam. of Plants.
BLAD'DER, n. [Sax. bla:dr, bhvdra, bleddra,
n bladder, and bla'd, a puft" of wind, also
a goblet, fruit, the branch of a tree ; W.
pledren, a bladder; Sw. and Dan. blad, a
page, a leaf, Eng. a blade ; D. blad, a leaf,
page, sheet, a board, a blade, a plate ; G.
blatf, a leaf; blatter, a blister, which is our
bladder. The Germans express bladder by
blase, D. blaas, which is our Maze. Hence
we observe that the sense is taken from
swelling, extending, dilating, blowing ;
Sax. blawan, to blow ; W. blot or blwth, a
puffor blast ; W. pled, extension, fromlled,
breadth ; L. Mus.]
B L A
B L A
B L A
i . A thin membranous bag in animals, whicli
serves as the receptacle of some secreted
fluid, as the urinary bladder, the gall blad-
der, &c. By way of eminence, the word,
in common language, denotes the urinary
bladder, either within the animal, or wlien
taken out and inflated with air.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. Any vesicle, blister or pustule, especially
if tilled with air, or a thin, watery hquor.
3. In botany, a distended membranaceous
pericarp. Martyn.
BLAD'DERED, a. Swelled like a bladder.
Drydcn .
BLAD'DER-NUT, n. [bladder and nut. ^ A
genus of plants, with the generic name ot
StaphyUEO. They have three capsules,
inflated and joined by a longitudinal
suture. Encyc.
3. The African bladder nut is the Royena.
3. The laurel-leaved bladder-nut is a species
of Ilex, holm or holly. Fam. of Plants.
BLAD'DER-SENNA, or bastard-senna, a
genus of plants, called in botany Colutea.
Fam. of Plants.
The jointed-podded bladder-senna is the Co-
ronilla. Fam. of Plants
BLAD'DERY, a. ResembUng a bladder
containing bladders.
BLADE, n. [Sax. ftterf, bled, a branch, fruit,
herbs, goblet, a phial, the broad part or
blade of an oar ; Gr. rfkatv;, broad. The
radical sense is to shoot, extend, dilate
See Bladder.}
1. The stalk or spire of a plant, particularly
of grass arjd corn; but apphcable to tht
stalk of atiy herbaceous plant, whether
green or dry.
•2. A leaf. In this sense much used in the
Southern States o/jV. Amenca, for tJie leat
of maize, tvhick are used as fodder.
3. The cutting part of an instrument, as the
blade of a knife, or sword, so named from
its length or breadth. Usually, it is made
of iron or steel, but may be of any other
metal, cast or wrought to an edge or point
.\lso, the broad part of an oar.
4. The blade of the shoulder, shoulder-blade, or
blade-bone, is the scapula, or scapular bone.
It is the broad upper bone of the shoulder
so called from its resemblance to a blade
or leaf.
5. A brisk man ; a bold, forward man ; a
rake.
BLADE, V. t. To furnish with a blade,
BLA'DE-BONE, n. The scapula, or upper
bone in the shoulder.
BLA'DED, pp. Having a blade or blades.
It may bo used of blade in the sense of a
leaf, a spire, or the cutting part of an
instrument.
2. In mineralogy, composed of long and nar
row plates, like the blade of a knife.
Cleaveland.
BLA'DE-SMITH, n. A sword cutler.
BLAIN, ». [Sax. blegene ; Tf.bkin.]
A pustule ; a botch; a blister. In farriery,
bladder growing on the root of the tongue
against the wind pipe, which swells so as
to stop the breath. Encyc
BLA'MABLE, a. [See Blame.] Favdty ;
culpable ; reprehensible ; deserving of cen-
sure. Dryden
BLA'MABLENESS, ji. Cnlpableness ; iault
the state of being worthy of censure.
Whithck
BLA MABLY, arfv. Culpably; in i
deserving of censure.
BLAME, V. t. IFr. bldmer, for blasmer ; It.
biasmare, to blame ; biasmo, for blasmo,
blame. The Greeks have the root of this
word in jixavfriniu, to blaspheme, and it
seems to be of the same family as Fr.
blesser, to injure, that is, to strike. See
Blemish. But it is not clear that the noun
ought not to be arranged before the verb.]
. To censure ; to express disapprobation
of ; to find fault with ; opposed to praife
or commend, and applicable most properly
to persons, but applied also to things.
1 withstood hill), because he was to be bla
med. Gal. ii.
I must [blame your conduct ; or I musi
blame you for neglecting business. Legiti-
mately, it cannot be followed by of.
3. To bring reproach upon ; to blemish ; to
injure. [See Blemish.]
.She had blamed her noble blood. [ Obs.]
Spenser
BLAME, n. Censure ; reprehension ; impu-
tation of a fault ; disapprobation ; an ex-
pression of disapprobation for something
deemed to be wrong.
Let nie bear the blame forever. Gen. xliii
3. Fault ; crime ; sin ; that which is desi
ving of censure or disapprobation.
That we should be holy and without blame
before him in love. Eph. i.
3. Hurt ; injury.
j\nd glancing down his shield, from blame
him fairly blest. Spenser.
The sense of this word, as used by Spen-
ser, proves that it is a derivative from the
root of blemish.
To blame, in the phrase, he is to blame, signi
fies blamablc, to he blamed.
Blame is not strictly a charge or accusation
of a fault; but it impUes an opinion in the
censuring party, that the person censured
is faulty. Blame is the act or expression of
disapprobation for what is supposed to be
wrong.
BLA'MED, ;;ip. Censured; disapproved.
BLAMEFUL, a. Faulty; meriting blame ;
reprehensible.
BLA'MELESS, a. Without fault ; innocent ;
guiltless ; not meriting censure.
A bishop then must be blameless. 1 Tim. iii
Sometimes followed by of.
We will be blameless of this thine oath
Josh. ii.
BL.A'MELESSLY, adv. Innocently ; with-
out fault or crime. Hammond.
BLA'MELESSNESS,n. Innocence ; a state
of being not worthy of censure.
Hammo7id.
BLA'MER, )!. One who blames, finds fault
or censure;;.
BLAMEWORTHINESS, n. The quahty
of deseri'ing censure.
BLA'MEWORTHY, a. [blame and woMy:
Deserving blame ; censurable ; culpable
reprehensible. Martin
BLA'MING, j);)r. Censuring ; finding fault,
BLAN€'ARD, n. [Fr. blanc, white, and ard,
kind.]
.\ kuid of hnen cloth, manufactured ui Nor-
mandy, so called because the thread is half
blanched before it is wove. Enct/i
BL>ANCH, I', t. [Fr. bUmchir ; It. bianchire,
the / suppressed as in blame ; Sp. blan
quear ; Port, branquear, I changed into r
Eng. blank. See Bleach.]
1. To whiten ; to take out the color, and
make white ; to obliterate. Drydm.
3. To slur ; to balli ; to pass over ; that is,
to avoid ; to make empty. Obs. Bacon.
3. To strip or peel ; as, to blanch almonds.
H'iseman.
BL'ANCH, V. i. To evade ; to shift ; to speak
softly. Johnson.
Rather, to fail or withhold ; to be re.served ;
to remain blank, or empty.
Books will sjieak plain, when counselors
hiatu-li. Bacon.
I'.L A\( lir.l), pp. Whitened.
I'll. A.Nrlll'.i;, II. One who whitens; also,
(Jill- who aiMioals, and cleanses money.
BLA.\C;ilLM ETER, n. [blanch, and Gr.
ftirpov, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the bleaching
liower of oxytnuriate [chloride] of hme,
and potash. Ure.
BL'ANCHING, ppr. Whitening. In coin-
age, the operation of giving brightness to
pieces of silver, by heating them on a peel,
and afterwards boiling them successively
in two pans of copper, with aqua fortis,
common salt, and tartar of Montpelier ;
then draining ofi" the water in a sieve :
sand and fresh water are then thrown
over them, and when drj-, they are rubbed
with a towel. Encyc.
The covering of iron plates with a thin coat
of tin is also called blanching. Encyc.
Blanch-ferm, or blank farm, in ancient law,
a white farm, was one, where the rent was
paid in silver, not in cattle. Encyc.
Blanch-holding, in law, a tenure by which
the tenant is bound to pay only an elusory
yearly duty to his superior, as an acknowl-
edgment to his right. Encyc.
BLANC-MANGER, pron. blomonge. [Fr.
white food.] In cookery, a preparation of
dissolved isinglass, milk, sugar, cinnamon,
&c., boiled into a thick consistence, and
garnished for the table with blanched
almonds. Encyc.
BLAND, a. [L. blandus ; Fr. blond ; G.
linde, gclinde, mild, soft ; Sw. lindra ; G.
lindem ; D. linderen ; Dan. lindrer ; to soft-
en or mitigate ; Dan. lind, sofl, mild, gen-
tle ; L. lenis, lentus ; Ar. ^ ^ lana, to be
mild, soft, gentle, placid, smootli, lenient.
See Relent^
Mild ; soft ; gentle ; as bland words ; bland
zephyrs. Milton. Thomson.
BLANblL'OQUENCE, n. [L. blandus, mild,
and loquor, to speak.] Fair, mild, flatter-
ing speech.
IBLAND'ISH, v.t. [L. blandior ; It. blandire;
Sp. hlandiar, blandir; Old Eng. blandise.
j Chaucer.]
jTo soften ; to caress ; to flatter by kind
words or aft'ectionate actions. Milton.
BLAND'ISHER, n. One that flatters with
! soft words.
BLAND'ISHING, ppr. Soothing or flatter-
ing with fair words.
BLAND'ISHING, n. Blandishment.
BLANDISHMENT, n. Soft words ; kind
speeches ; caresses ; expression of kind-
ness ; words or actions expressive of af-
fection or kindness, and tending to win the
heart. Milton. Dryden.
BL.-VNK, a. [Fr. blanc ; It bianco ; Sp.
bianco : D. and Ger. blank ; Dan. blank.
B L A
B L A
B L A
shilling; Sw. 6/ancA;, wliite, shining ; blan
Ida, to shine. See Bleach.\
1. Void ; eiiii)ty ; consequently white ; as i
blank paper.
2. White or pale ; as the blank moon.
MUlon
3. Pale from fear or terror ; hence confused
confounded; dispirited; dejected.
Adam — astonished stood, and blank. Milton
4. Without rhyme ; as 6/anA; verse, verse ii
wliich rhyme is wanting.
5. Pure ; entire ; complete. Beddoes.
6. Not containing balls or bullets ; as blank
cartridges.
This word is applied to various otlier ob-
jects, usually in the sense of destitution,
emptiness ; as a blank hne ; a blank space.
in a book, &c.
BLANK, n. Any void space ; a void space
on ])aper, or in any written instrument
2. A lot by which nothing is gained ; a ticket
in a lottery which draws no prize.
3. A pajier unwritten ; a paper without
marks or characters.
4. A paper containing the substance of a
legal instrument, as a deed, release, wi-it
or execution, with vacant sjiaces left to be
filled with names, date, descriptions, &c
5. The point to which an arrow is directed,
marked with white paper. [Little tised.']
Shak.
6. Aim ; shot. Obs. Shak.
7. Object to which any thing is directed.
Shak.
8. A small copper coin formerly current in
France, at the rate of 5 deniers Tournois.
There were also pieces of three blanks,
and of six ; but they are now become
moneys of account. Encyc.
9. In coinage, a plate or piece of gold or sil-
ver, cut and shaped, but not stamped.
Encyc.
Blank-bar, in law, a common bar, or a plea
in bar, which, in an action of trespass, is
put in to oblige the plaintiff to assign the]
place where the trespass was committed.
Encyc.
Point-blank, in gunnery, the shot of a
gun leveled horizontally. The distance
between the piece, and the point where
the shot first touches the ground, is called
the point-blank range ; the shot proceeding
on a straight line, without curving.
Encyc.
BLANK, V. t. To make void ; to annul.
Spenser.
2. To deprive of color, the index of health
and .spirits ; to damp the spirils ; to dis-
puit or confuse ; as, to blank the face of
jo v. Shak. TUlotson.
BLANK'ED,p;). Confused ; dispirited.
BLANK'ET, n. [Fr. blanchet, the blanket of
a printing press.]
1. A cover for a bed, made of coarse wool
loosely woven, and u.^ed for securing
against cold. Blankets are used also by
soldiers, and seamen, for covering.
2. A kinil of pear, sometimes written after
the French, blanquet.
3. Among printers, woolen cloth or white
baize, to lay between the tvmpans.
Print. Guide.
BLANK'ET, y. t. To toss in a blanket by
w;iy of punishment ; an ancient custom.
The Emperor Otlio used to sally forth inj
dark nights, and if he found a drunken
man, lie administered the disciphne of the
blanket. Encyc.
2. To cover with a blanket.
BLANK'ETING,;);)r. Tossing in a blanket.
BLANK'ETING, n. The punislunent of
tossing in a blanket.
2. Cloth for blankets.
BLANK'LY, rt(/r. In a blank manner ; with
paleness or confusion.
BLARE, V. i. [Old Belgic blaren ; Tent.
blairen ; L. ptoro, to cry out, to bawl, to
weep ; Ir. blor, or glor, a noise, or voice
The radical souse is to shoot or drive fortli
or to spread.]
1. To roar; to bellow. [Little used.]
Johnson.
2. To sweal or melt away, as a candle.
Bailey.
This is, I believe, usually called f^lre.
BLARE, n. Roar ; noise. ILittle used.]
And sigh for battle's blare. ' Barlow.
2. A small copper coin of Bern, nearly of the
same value as the ratz. Encyc.
BLASPHE'ME, v. t. [Gr. .JTia^^^^fu. The
first syllable is the same as in biame, blasme.
denoting injury ; probably, Fr. blesser, to
hurt, that is, to strike ; L. Icedo, lce.ms.
Hence in Sp. blasfemable is blamable. The
last syllable is the Gr. ^tifit, to speak.]
1. To speak of the Supreme Being in terms
of impious irreverence ; to revile or speak
reproachfully of God, or the Holy Spirit.
1 Kings xxi. Mark iii.
3. To speak evil of ; to utter abuse or cal-
umny against ; to speak reproachfully of
Pope.
BLASPHE'ME, v. i. To utter blasphemy.
He that shall blaspheme against the Holy
Spirit shall not be forgiven. Mark iii.
2. To arrogate the |>rerogatives of God
This man blasphemeth. Wlio can forgive
sins hut God ? Math. ix. Mark ii.
BLASPHE'MER, n. Onewhoblasph
vho speaks of God in imjiious and
rent terms. 1 Tim. i.
BLASPIIE'MING, p;)r. Uttering impious or
reproachful words concerning God.
BLAS'PHEMOUS, a. Containing blasph-
my ; calumnious ; impiously irreverent or
reproachful towards God. Sidney.
BLAS'PHEMOUSLY, adv. Impiously ; with
impious irreverence to God.
BLAS'PHEMY, n. An indignity offered to
God by words or writing ; rejiroacliful,
contemptuous or irreverent words uttered
impiously against Jehovah.
Blasphemy is an injury offered to God, by de-
nying that which is due and belonging to him, or
att.-ibuling to him that wliich is not agreeable to
hii natuie. Linwood.
In the middle ages, blasphemy was used
to denote simply the blaming or condemn-
ing of a person or thing. Among thej
Greeks, to blaspheme was to use words oft
ill omen, which they were careful to avoid.
EncycJ.
2. That which derogates from the preroga-
tives of God. Mark ii.
BL>AST, n. [Sax. hlw.'it, a puff of wind, a
blowing ; Sw. bl&st ; Dan. bla:st ; Ger.
blasen ; D. blaazen ; Dan. bla:ser ; Sw.
blusa, to blow ; whence Ger. blrLif. T>. blanf:.'
Sw. hlilia, a bladder. Tiei.i-. i'.i:' A ■.. ,
which is primarilv a hloici'i. ■ i .
Ice. blots, to blow! Uu. Fr. ' ' - \ : ' ■■
u]). to ( onsunio. The piirii.ii> .,i.j;, i: i.-. ii.,
1. A gust or puff of wind ; or a sudde
of wind.
gnst
The sound made by blowing a wind
instrument. Shak.
3. Any pernicious or destructive influence
upon animals or plants.
4. The infection of any thing pestilential ; a
blight on plants.
A" sudden compression of air, attended
with a shock, caused by the discharge of
(j. A forcible stream of air from the mouth,
" om a bellows or the like.
7. A violent explosion of gunpowder, m split-
g rocks, and the explosion of infiam-
ible air in a mine.
8, The whole blowing of a forge necessary
to melt one supply of ore ; a common use
of the word among worlunen in forges in
America.
BL^AST, V. t. [Literally, to strike.] To make
to wither by some pernicious influence,
as too much heat or moistine, or other
destructive cause ; or to check growth and
prevent from coming to maturity and pro-
ducing fruit ; to blight, as trees or plants.
2. To affect with some sudden violence,
plague, calamity, or destructive influence,
which destroys or causes to fail ; as, to blast
pride or hopes. The figurative senses of
this verb are taken from the blasting of
plants, and all express the idea of checking
growth, preventing maturity, impairing,
injuring, destroying, or disappointing of
the intended effect ; as, to blast credit, or
reputation ; to blast designs.
3. To confound, or strike with force, by a
loud blast or din. Shak.
4. To spht rocks by an explosion of gun-
powder.
They did not stop to blast this ore.
Forster's Kalm's Travels.
BL'ASTED, pp. Affected by some cau,se
that checks growth, injures, impairs, des-
troys, or renders abortive ; split by an ex
plosion of gunpowder.
BL'ASTER, n. He or that which blasts or
destrovs.
BL'ASTING, ppr. Affecting by a blast ;
preventing from coming to maturity ; frus-
tratuig ; sphtting by an explosion of gun-
powder.
j'ASTING, n. A blast ; destruction by a
pernicious cause ; explosion.
BL\\STMENT, n. Blast; sudden stroke of
some destructive cause. [Superseded by
blast and blasting.] Shak.
BLA'TANT, a. [See Bleat.] Bellowing as
alf [ATol used.] Dn/den.
BLAT'TER, t;. i. [from the root of bleat.]
'o make a senseless noise.
BLAT'TERER, n. A noisy blustering
boaster. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BLAY, n. [See Bleak.] A small river fish,
the bleak. Ainsxcorth. Johnson.
BLAZE, n. [Sw. bl&sa ; G. blasen ; 1). blaa-
zen ; Dan. blwser, to blow, and Dan. blu.'i-
ser; to burn, blaze, glisten ; Eng. to blush ;
Sax. blaze, a lamp or torch ; Dan. bins :
Fr. blaser. The word seems primarily to
express rushing or flowing, or violent
agitation, and expansion.]
! . Flame ; the stream of light and heat
from any body when burning, proceeding
from the coinbu.«tion of inflammable gas.
,2. Publication; wide diffusion of rcjiort. In
B L E
B L E
B L E
lliis sensp, we observe the radical sense of
dilatation, as well as that of light.
3. A white spot on the forehead or face of a
horse, descending nearly to the nose.
4. Light ; expanded light ; as the blaze of
day.
5. Noise ; agitation ; tumult.
HLAZE, V. I. To flame ; as, the fire blazes.
a. To send forth or show a bright and ex-
panded light.
The third fair mom now blazed upon the main.
Pope.
3. To be conspicuous.
BLAZE, V. t. To make pubUc far and wide.
To blaze those virtues which the good would
hide. Pope.
2. To blazon. [JVot used. See Blazon.]
Peacham.
3. To set a white mark on a tree, by paring
off a part of the bark. Todd.
BLA'ZED, pp. Published far and wide.
BLA'ZER, n. One who publishes and
spreads reports.
BLA'ZING, ppr. Flaming ; publishing far
aud wide.
BLA'ZING, a. Emitting flame, or light ; as
a blazing star.
BLA'ZING-STAR, 71. A comet; a star that
is accompanied with a coma or train of
light.
BLA'ZON, V. I. bla'zn. [Fr. blasonner : It.
blasonare ; Sp. blasonar, to blazon ; blaso7i
heraldry. It is a derivative o{ blaze.]
1. To explain, in proper terras, the figures on
ensigns armorial. Addison
2. To deck ; to embellish ; to adorn.
She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form
Garth
3. To display ; to set to show ; to celebrate
by words or writing. Shak.
4. To blaze about ; to make public far and
wide.
5. To display ; to exhibit conspicuously.
There pride sits blazon'd on th' unmeaning
brow. Trumbull.
BLA'ZON, n. The art of drawing, descri-
bing or explaining coats of arms ; perhajjs
a coat of arms, as used by the French.
Peacham.
2. Publication ; show ; celebration ; jjom-
pous display, either by words or by other
means.
BLA'ZONED, pp. Explained, decyphercd
in the manner of heralds ; published a
broad ; displayed pompously.
BLA'ZONER, n. One that blazons ; a her
aid ; an evil speaker, or propagator of
scandal.
BLA'ZONING, ppr. Explaining, descril
ing as heralds ; showing ; publishing ; bla
zing abroad ; displaying.
BLA'ZONRY, n. The art of describing
coats of arms, in proper terms.
BLEA, n. The part of a tree, which lies
immediately under the bark. [/ believe not
used.] Chambers
BLEACH, V. t. [Sax. bl(Ecan ; D. bleeken .
G. bleichen ; Sw. bleka ; Dan. bleeger ; tc
whiten or bleach ; D. blyken, to appear, to
show; Dan. blik, a white plate of iron, or
tin plate ; bleeg, pale, wan, Eug. bleak ;
Sw. blek, id.; bleka, to shine. Ar. ,_jjX.
balaka, to open or be opened, to shine
^X J balaja, id. It is not improbable that
blank and blanch are this same word, with
a nasal sound casually uttered and after-
wards written before the final consonant.]
To whiten ; to make white or whiter ; to
take out color ; applied to many things, but
particularly to cloth and thread. Bleach-
ing is variously performed, but in gener-
al by steeping the cloth in lye, or a solu-
tion of pot or pearl ashes, and then expo-
sing it to the solar rays.
Bleaching is now generally performed, on
the large scale, by means of chlorine or
the oxymuriatic acid, which has the prop-
erty of whitening vegetable substances.
Cyc.
BLEACH, V. i. To grow white in any man-
ner. Shak.
BLE'ACHED, pp. Whitened ; made white.
BLEACHER, n. One who whitens, or
whose occupation is to whiten cloth.
BLE'ACHERY, n. A place for bleaching ;
as a wax bleachery. Tooke.
BLE'ACHING, ppr. Whitening; makuig
white ; becoming wlihe.
BLE'ACHING, n. The act or art of whiten-
ing, especially cloth.
BLEAK, a. [Sax. blac, blwc, black, and pale,
or wan ; niger, pallidus, fuscus, pullus.
It appears that originally this word did
not denote perfect whiteness, but a wan
or brown color. This is from the same
root as black and bleach. See Bleach.]
I. Pale. [But not often used in this sense, in
America, as far as my observations ertend.]
Gower.
8. Open ; vacant ; exposed to a free cur-
rent of air; as a bleak hill or shore. This
is the true sense of the word ; hence cold
and cheerless. A bleak wind is not so
named merely from its coldness, but from
its blowing without interruption, on a wide
waste ; at least this is the sense in Amer-
ica. So in Addison. " Her desolation
presents us with nothing but bleak and
barren prospects."
BLEAK, n. A small river fish, five or six
inches long, so named from its whiteness.
It belongs to the genus Cyprinus, and is
known to the Londoners by the name of
white bail. It is called also by contraction
blay. Encyc.
BLE'AKNESS, n. Openness of situation ;
exposure to the wind ; hence coldness.
Addison.
BLE'AKY, a. Bleak ; open ; unsheltered ;
cold ; chill. Dnjden.
BLEAR, a. [D. blaar ; Ban. blcere, a bl'ister,
a bladder or bubble.]
Sore, with a watery rheum ; apjilied only to
the eyes ; as the blear-eyed owl.
L'Estrange.
To
ake the noise of a sheep; to cry
lee]).
BLEAT, n. The crj' of a sheep.
BLE'ATING, ppr. or a. Crying as a sheep.
BLE'ATING, n. The cry of a sheep.
BLEB, 71. [This word belongs to the root
of blab, blubber.]
A httle tumor, vesicle or blister.
Arsenic abounds with air blebs. Kirwan.
BLED, pret. aud pp. o{ bleed.
BLEED, v.i. pret. and pp. bled. [Sax.
bledan; D. blocden ; G. bliiten; to bleed;
allied i)erliaps to Gr. (ixvfu.]
1. To lose blood ; to run with blood, by
whatever means ; as, the arm bleeds.
3. To die a violent death, or by slaughter.
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to day.
Pope.
3. To issue forth, or drop as blood, from an
incision ; to lose sap, gum or juice ; as, a
tree or a vine bleeds.
For me the balm shall bleed. Pope.
The heart bleeds, is a phrase used to denote
extreme pain from sympathy or pity.
BLEED, V. I. To let blood; to take blood
I fniiii, liy opening a vein.
BLEE DJNG, ppr. Losing blood; letting
blood ; losing sap or juice.
BLEEDING, n. A running or issuing of
blood, as from the nose ; a hemorrhage :
the operation of letting blood, as in surge-
ry ; the drawing of sap from a tree or
plant.
BLEIT, I [Ger: blode ; D. bloode.] Bash-
r.LATl", S "■ ful ; used in Scotland and the
iinitliiiii ( oMuties of Ensland. Johnson.
WIA.M \<\\. v.t. [In Fr. Wcmir, is to grow
JmiIc, :iii(1 Utme, Irom the ancient blesme, is
pale, wan; Arm. blem; Normtin, blasme,
blamed ; blemish, and ble!>mys, broken ;
hlemishment, blemissment, infringement,
prejudice ; blesme, pale, wan ; from blesser,
to injure, or its root, from which was
formed the noun blesme, pale, wan, or
black and blue, as we should now say ; and
the s being dro|>i)ed, blamer and blemir,
were formed. See Blame.]
1. To mark with any deformity : to injure or
imi>air any thing which is well Ibrmed, or
excellent ; to mar, or make defective, ei-
ther the body or mind. Sidney.
2. To tarnish, as reputation or character ; to
defame. Dryden.
BLEM'ISII, n. Any mark of deformity;
any scar or defect that diminislies beauty,
or renders imperfect that which is well
formed.
2. Reproach ; disgrace ; that which impairs
reputation ; taint ; turpitude ; delbrmity.
Hooker.
BLEMISHED, pp. Injured or marred by
any mark of detbrraity ; tarnished; soiled.
BLEAR, V. t. To make sore; to affect witii lU.E^I ISIILNG, ppr. Marking with defor-
sorcness of eyes, or a watery humor; tcj miu : i.ii nisliiug.
make dim or partially obscure the sight. I'.l.l'.M ISIII.ESS, a. Without blemish;
Raleigh. Dryden. ^,„,il,-^.
BLE'AREDNESS, n. The state of being jjleM li^iniENT, n. Disgrace. [Uttle
bleared, or dimmed with rheum.
friseman.
BLEAR-EYED, a. Having sore eyes ; ha-
ving the eyes dim with rheum ; dim-sight-
ed. ■ Butler.
BLEAT, V. i. [Sax. bMan ; L. blatero ; D.
blaeten ; Sw. bladra, plnddra : Dan. plud-
rer. It coincides in elements with L.t
plaudo.] I
used.] Morton.
BLENCH, v.i. [This evidently is the i/ancfc
of Bacon [see Blanch,] and perhaps the
modern finch.]
To shrink ; to start back ; to give way.
Shak.
BLENCH, v.t. To hinder or obstruct, says
Johnson. But the etymology explains
the passage he cites in a different man-
B L E
uer. " Tlie rebels canied great trusses <
liay before them, to blench tlie defendant;
fight." Carew. That is, to render tlie
combat blank ; to render it ineffectual ; to
break the force of the attack ; to deaden
the shot. Obs.
BLENCH, n. A start. Shak.
BLENCH'ER, n. That which frus
BLENCH'-IIOLDING, n. A tenure of lands
upon the ijajanent of a small sum in sil
ver, blanch, that is, white money.
JBlackstone.
BLEND, n. [Ger. blenden, to blind ; blende,
a blind or skreen.]
An ore of zink, called also mock-lead, false
galena and black jack. Its color is most-
ly yellow, brown and black. 'I'here
several varieties, but in general, this
contains more than half its weight of
zink, about one foiu-th sulphur, and
ally a small portion of iron. In chimical
language, it is a sulphuret of zink.
Fourcroy. Cleaveland. Thomson
BLEND, V. t. [Sax. blendian, to blend and
to blind ; g;cUendan, to mix, to stain
dye; bUndan, to blind; D. blinden ; &
blenden, to blind ; Dan. blander, to blend
or mix ; blinder, to blind.]
1. To mix or muigle together ; hence to con-
found, so that the separate things mixed
cannot be distinguished.
2. To pollute by mixture ; to spoil or cor
rupt. 06s. Spenser.
3. To blind. Obs.
BLEND, t'. i. To be mixed ; to be united.
There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling
that blends with our conviviality. Irving.
BLEND'ED, pp. Mixed; confounded by
mixture.
BLEND'ER, n. One that mingles or con-
founds.
BLEND'ING, ppr. Mingling together ; con-
founding by mixture.
BLEND'OUS, n. Pertaining to blend.
BLEND'-WATER, n. A distemper incident
to cattle, called also more-hough. Encyc.
BLEN'NY, n. [Sax. blinnan, to cease.] A
genus of lishes, of the order of Jugulars,
in Ichthyology called Blennius. There
are several species ; the size from five in-
ches to a foot in length.
Encyc. Diet. ofJVut. Hist.
BLENT, the obsolete participle of blend.
Spenser.
BLESS, V. t. pret. and pp. blessed or blest.
[Sax, bledsian, bletsian, bletsigan and bles-
sian ; whence, bletsung, bledsnng, a bles-
suig or benediction. W. Had, a gift, e
favor, a blessing.]
1. To pronounce a wish of happiness to one ;
to express a wish or desire of happiness.
And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him.
Gen. xxviii.
2. To make happy ; to make successful ; to
))rosper in temporal concerns ; as, we are
blest with peace and plenty.
The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thou
doest. Deut. xv.
3. To make happy in a future life.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Rev. xiv.
4. To set apart or consecrate to holy purpos-
es ; to make and pronounce holy.
And God blessed the seventh day and sancti-
fied it. Gen. 2.
5. To consecrate by prayer ; to invoke a
blessing upon.
B L E
And Jesus took the five loaves and tlie two!
fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed\
them. Luke ix.
6. To praise ; to glorify, for benefits re-
ceived.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is
within me. Ps. ciii.
7. To praise; to magnify; to extol, for ex-
cellencies. Ps. civ.
To esteem or account happy ; with tlie re-
ciprocal pronoim.
The nations shall bless themselves in him.
Jer. iv.
!). To pronounce a solemn prophetical ben-
ediction upon. Gen. xxvii. Deut. xxxiii.
10. In this line of Spenser, it may signify to
throw, for this is nearly the primary s(
His sparkling blade about his head he blest.
Johnson supposes the word to signify to
wave or brandish, and to have received thi;
sense from the old rite of blessing a field
by directing the hands to all parts of it.
Bless in Spenser for bliss, may be so Avrit-
ten, not for rhyme merely, but because
bless and bliss are from the same root.
BLESS'ED, pp. Made happy or prosperous :
extolled ; pronounced happy.
BLESS'ED, a. Happy ; prosperous in world-
ly affairs ; enjoying spiritual happiness
and the favor of God ; enjoying heavenly
felicity.
Blessed-thistle. A plant of the genus
Cnicus, sometimes used in decoctions, for
a bitter.
BLESS'EDLY, adv. Happily ; in a fortunate
Skak
■ pros-
BLESS'EDNESS, n. Happiness ; felicity ;
heavenly joys ; the favor of God.
2. Sanctity.
BLESS'ER, n. One that blesses o:
pers ; one who bestows a blessing.
BLESS'ING, ppr. Making happy ; wishing
happiness to ; ])raising or extolling ; con-
secrating by praver.
BLESS'ING, n. Benediction; a wish ofl
happiness pronounced ; a prayer
ing happiness upon another.
2. A solemn prophetic benediction, in which
happuiess is desired, invoked or foretold,
This is the blessing wherewith Moses — bless-
ed the children of Israel. Deut. xxxiii.
3. Any means of happiness ; a gift, benefit
or advantage ; that which promotes tem-
])oral prosperity and welfare, or secures
iuunortal felicity. A just and jjious ma
gistrate is a public blessing. The divine
favor is the greatest blessing.
4. Among the Jeios, a present ; a gift ; either
because it was attended with kind wishes
for the ^^•clfare of the giver, or because it
was the means of increasing happiness.
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought
to thee. Gen. xxxiu.
BLEST, pp. of bless.
BLEST, a. Made happy.
2. Making happy ; cheering.
While these blest sounds my ravlsh'd ear as-
sail. Trumbull.
BLE'TONISM, n. The faculty of perceiv-
ing and indicating subterraneous springs
and currents by sensation ; so called from
one Bleton of France who possessed this
facidtv. Ency:
BLE'TONIST, n. One who possesses th
faculty of ijerceiving subterraneous springs
by sensation. Encyc
BhE^V, pret. of blow.
B L I
BLEYME, ji. An inflammation in the foot
of a horse, between the sole and the bone.
Farrier's Diet.
BLICE'A, n. A small fish caught in the
Gennan seas, somewhat resembling the
EngUsh sprat. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BLIGHT, n. [Qu. Sax. blcectha, scurf, lep-
rosy.]
1. A disease incident to plants, affecting
them variously. Sometimes the whole
plant perishes ; sometimes only the leaves
and blossoms, which will shrivel, as if
scorched.
2. Any thing nipping or blasting.
In America, I have often heard a cutaneous
eruption on the human skin called by the
name of blights.
BLIGHT, V. t. To aflfect with blight ; to
blast ; to prevent growth, and fertility ; to
frustrate.
BLIN, V. t. [Sax. blinnan.1 To stop or cease.
Obs. Spenser.
BLIND, a. [Sax. blind ; Ger. D. S^v. and
Dan. blind ; Sax. blendan, to blend and to
blind. This is the same word as blend,
and was so written by Spenser. Se«
Blend. Obscurity is from mixture.]
Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by
natural defect, or by deprivation ; not ha-
ving sight. ,
Not having the faculty of discerrmient ;
destitute of intellectual light; unable to
understand or judge ; ignorant ; as, au-
thors are blind to their own defects.
Blind should be followed by lo ; but it is
followed by of, in the phrase, blind of an eye.
3. Unseen ; out of public view ; private ;
dark ; sometimes implying contempt or
censure ; as a bli7id corner. Hooker.
4. Dark ; obscure ; not easy to be found ; not
sasily discernible ; as a blind path.
Heedless ; inconsiderate ; undeUberating.
This plan is recommended neither to blind
approbation nor blind reprobation.
Federalist, Jay.
6. In scnplure, blind implies not only want
of descernment, but moral depravity.
BLIND, V. t. To make blind ; to deprive of
sight.
To darken ; to obscure to the eye.
Such darkness blinds the sky. JJryden.
3. To darken the understanding ; as, to blind
the mind.
4. To darken or obscure to the understand-
ing.
He endeavored to blind and confound the
controversy. Stillingjieet.
5. To eclipse. Fletcher.
BLIND, or BLINDE, See Blend, an ore.
BLIND, n. Something to hinder the sight.
Civility casts a blind over the duty.
L'Esirange.
2. Something to mislead the eye or the nn-
derstanding; as, one thing serves as a
blind for another.
3. A skreen ; a cover ; as a blind for a win-
dow, or for a horse.
BLINDED, pp. Deprived of sight ; depri-
ved of intellectual discermnent ; made
dark or obscure.
BLINDFOLD, a. [blind and fold.] Having
the eyes covered ; having the mental eye
darkened.
BLINDFOLD, v. t. To cover the eyes ; te
hinder from seeing.
B L
B L O
B L O
BLINDFOLDED, fp. Having tho eyes cov
ered ; Itindered tVoni seeing.
BLINDFOLDING, ppr. Covering the eyes
liindeiiiig from seeing.
BLINDING, ppr. Depriving of sight, or of
understanding ; ohsouring.
BLINDLY, adv. Without sight, or under
standing.
^i. Without discerning the reason ; impheitly ;
witliout examination ; as, to be blindly led
by anuther. Drydtn.
3. Without judgment or direction. Dri/den.
BLINDMA^f'S BALL, n. A species of ftin-
gu.s, Lycoperdon, or puff-ball.
Fam. of Plants.
BLINDMAN'S BUFF, n. A play in wliich
one person is blindfolded, and hunts out
the rest of the company. Johtscju.
BLINDNESS, n. Want of bodily siirln ;
want of intellectual discernment : igi](i-
rance. Locke.
BLINDNETTLE, n. A plant
„, . . ... ^
made of osiers or branches interwoven,
and laid across two rows of stakes, four or
live feet asunder, of the highth of a man,
to shelter the workmen, and prevent their
being overlooked by the enemy. Eiicyc.
BLIND SERPENT, n. A reptile of the
Cape of Good Hoi)e, covered with black
scales, but spotted with red, wliite and
brown. Did. ofMit. Hist.
BLINDSIDE, n. [blind and side.] Tlie
-side which is most easily assailed ; or the
side on which the [larty is least able o:
disposed to see danger ; weakness ; foible
weak part. Sii>ijl
BLIND VESSEL, witli chiinists, a vessel
with an opening on one side only.
Johnson
BLINDWORM, n. [bliiid and leorm.]
small reptile, called also slow worm, a
species of Angiiis, about eleven inches
long, covered with scales, with a forked
tongue, but harmless. Did. of .V«<. Hist.
BLINK, y.i. [Sax. blican, to shine, to twin-
kle ; bliciend, clothed in white ; ahlican.
to appear, to whiten ; D. blikken
glance, to twinkle, and blinken, to shine,
to glitter ; blyken, to appear or show ; Swi
blincha, to wink, to connive ; bleka, to
shine, to twinkle ; Ger. blicken, to look,
to glance ; blinken, to glance, to shine,
to twinkle, to wink ; Dan. blinker, to blink,
to glance, to wink, to shine, to glitter.
This contains the same radical letters as
light.]
1. To wink; to twinkle with the eye.
2. To see obscurely. Johnson. Is "it not to
see with the eyes half shut, or with fre
quent winking, as a person with weak
eyes .•"
One eye was blinking and one leg wass lame.
Pope.
BLINK, ?i. A glimjjse or glance. Hall.
BLINK, n. Blink of ice, is the dazzling
whiteness about the horizon, occasioned
by the reflection of light from fields of ice
at sea. Mar. Did.
BLINK'ARD, n. [blink and ard, kind.] A
person who blinks or has bad eyes ; that
which twinkles, or glances, as a dim star,
■which appears and disappears. Hakewili
BLINK'ING, ppr. Winking; twinkhng.
BLISS, n. [Sax. bliss, joy, alacrity, exulta-
tion ; blissian, to rejoice, to exult, to con-
Vol. I.
grattdatc, to applaud ; also blithsian, to
rejoice. See Bless and Blithe.']
The highest degree of hap|)in<'ss ; bles.«ed-
ness ; felicity ; used of felicity in general,
when of .-ui exalted kind, but appropriately,!
of hcaveidy joys. Hooker. Pope.i
BLISS'FUL, a. Full of joy and felicity;
hai)pv in the highest degree. Spenser.l
BLISS'FULLY, mlv. In a blissful manner.!
Shertcood.
BLISS'FULNESS, n. Exalted happiness:
felicity; fulness of joy. Barrow.
BLISS'LESS, a. Destitute of bliss.
Hawkins
BLIS'SOM, V. i. [W. blys, btysiaw, to crave
that is, to reach forward.]
To he liL-itfii! ; t.) caterwaul. [T.Hltf vskL]
IU.IS"l'l':i{, ,1. [C.rv hl,,.-^,, »Ui\ bhitin: li \
is ni.lir.'.lU III,. .KiiHK- word as blnddrr, in a j
<lifi"ereni liialect. See BMder, ISIast
Blaze.]
1. A pustule ; a thin bladder on the skin,
containing watery matter or serum, wheth-
er occasioned by a burn, or other injury,
or by a vesicatory. It is formed by rais-
ing the cuticle.
2. Any tumor made by the separation of the
film or skin, as on plants; or by the swell
ing of the substance at the surface, as or
steel.
3. A vesicatory ; a ]>laster of flies, or other
matter, applied to raise a vesicle.
BLIS'TER, V. i. To rise in bUsters. Dnjden.
BLIS'TER, ti. t. To raise a blister, by any
hurt, burn or violent action upon the skin ;
to raise a blister by a medical ajjplication,
or vesicatory.
2. To raise tumors on iron bars in a furnace,
in the process of converting iron into steel.
BLISTERED, pp. Having bUsters or tu-
BLIS'TERING, ppr. Raising a blister ; ap-
plying a blistering plaster, or vesicatoi-y.
BLITE, n. [L. blitum ; Gr. iSxitov.] A ge
nus of plants, called strawberry spinach.
Ency(
2. A species of amaranth, or flower gentle.
Fnm. of Plants.
BLITHE, a. [Sax. blithe and blealha,bleathe,
?^y> .joy'iih Tliis is probably the same
word as bliss ; L. la^tjis ; Eng. glad. See
Bliss and Glad. The Ir. lith, happiness
seems to be the original word without the
prefix.]
Gay; merry ; joyous ; sprightly ; mirthful.
For that fair female tioop thou sawest, that
seemed
Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gav.
.miton.
BLI'THEFUL, a. Gay; full of gayety.
BLI'THELY, adv. In a gay, joyful manner.
BLI'THENESS, n. Gayety; sprightliness ;
the quahtv of being blithe.
BLl'THESOME, a. Gav ; merry ; cheerful.
Philips.
BLI'THESOMENESS, n. The quality of
beine blithesome ; gavety.
BLOAT, V. t. [This woVd may be allied to
bladder, from the sense of inflating, swell-
ing ; W. bhrth, a pufl", a blast ; blytha^, a fat
paunch, a bloated person.]
1. To swell or make turgid, as with air ; to
inflate ; to pufli" up ; hence, to make vain ;
followed by up, but without necessity. To
bloat up with praise is less elegant than to
bloat with praise. Dryden.l
24
2. To sw(!ll or make turgid with water, or
other means ; as a bloated limb. It is used
to denote a morbid enlargement, often ac-
companied with softness.
BLO.AT, V. i. To grow turgid ; to dilate.
Jlrbuthnot.
BLOAT, a. Swelled ; turgid. [.Vot used.]
BLOATED, pp. Swelled ; grown turgid :
inflated.
BLOATEDNESS, n. A turgid state ; tur
gidncss; dilatation from inflation, debility,
or any morbid cau.se. Arbulhnol.
|BLO,\TlNG,/);)r. Swelling; inflating.
.| BLOB'BIOR, n. [Ir. plub, or pluibin, from
swelling, pushing out, as in bleb, blubber ;
j W. //ii'6, a bulging out. tin. bulb, by trans-
(losition. See Blubber.]
lo : pronounced by the common peo-
ple in America, blubber. It is a legitimate
« (ud, but not elegant. Carew.
BLOB'BERLIP, n. [blabber and lip.] A
thick lip. Dryden.
BLOB'BERLIPPED, a. Having thick lij^.
VEstrange.
BLOCK, 77. [D.blok; Ger. block; Fr. bloc ;
W. ploc, from Hoc, a mound ; plociaw, to
\)\ock,lo plug; Rus.s. nfecfta, a block. The
primary sense is, set, fixed, or a mass.]
1. A heavy piece of timber or wood, usually
with one plain surface ; or it is rectangu-
lar, and rather thick than long.
2. Any mass of matter with an extended sur-
face ; as a block of marble, a piece rough
from the quairy.
\ A massy body, solid and heavy ; a mass
of wood, iron, or other metal, with at least
one plaiti surface, such as artificers use.
4. The wood on which criminals are be-
headed.
5. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction :
a stop ; hindrance ; obstacle.
6. A piece of wood in which a pulley runs ;
used also for the pulley, or the block it-
self and the sheaves, or wheels.
7. A blockliead ; a stupid fellow.
8. Among cutters hi wood, a form made of
hard wood, on which they cut figures in
relief with knives, chisels, &c. Encyc.
9. In falconry, the perch whereon a bird of
prey is kept. Ena/c.
BLOCK, V. t. [Fr. bloquer; Port, and ^p.
uear; It. 6/occare.]
To inclose or shut up, so as to hinder egress
or passage ; to stop up ; to obstruct, by
placing obstacles in the way : ol'ten follow-
ed by up ; as, to block up a town, or a
road.
BLOCKA'DE,n. [h.bloccato ; Port, bloquea-
do, blocked up ; Sp. bloqueo ; Fr. hlociis.]
The siege of a place, formed by surround-
ing it with hostile troops or ships, or by
posting them at all the avenues, to pre-
vent escape, and liinder supplies of pro-
visions and annnunition from entering,
with a view to com|)el a surrender, by
hunger and want, witliout regidar attacks.
To constitute a blockade, the investing pow-
er must be able to apply its force to every
point of practicable access, go as to ren-
der it dangerous to attempt to enter ; and
there is no blockade of that port, where its
force cannot be brought to bear.
Kent's Commentaries.
BLOCKA'DE, v. t. To shut up a to%vn or
fortress, by posting troops at all the ave-
nues, to compel the garrison or inbabi-
B L O
B L O
L O
tants to smrender by means of liunger and
want, without regular attacks ; also, to sta-
tion ships of war to obstruct all intercourse
with a town or nation.
BLOCKA'DED, pp. Shut up or inclosed by
an eiieni)'.
BLOCKA'DING, ppr. Besieging by a block
adc.
BLOCK'HEAD, n. [block and head.'] A stu
pid fellow ; a dolt ; a person deficient in
understanding.
BLOCK'HEADED, a. Stupid ; dull.
Shah
BLOCK'HEADLY, a. Like a blockhead.
BLOCK'HOUSE, n. [block and house.] A
house or fortress, erected to block up
pass, and defend against the entrance of
an enemy.
BLOCK'ISH, a. Stupid ; dtdl ; deficient in
understanding. Shak
BLOCK'ISHLY, adv. In a stupid manner.
Harmar.
BLOCK'ISIINESS, n. Stujudity ; dullness.
BLOCK'LIKE, a. Like a block ; stupid.
Hnlieunll.
BLOCK'-TIN, n. [block and tin.] Tin wliich
is pure, unmixed, and unwrought.
Johnson, jlsh.
BLO'MARY, n. [See Bloom, a mass of iron.]
The first forge through which iron passes,
after it is melted from the ore.
BLONK'ET, a. Gray. [JVot used.]
Spensei:
BLoOD, n. [Sax. Sw. and Dan. blod ;
Ger. blut, blood ; blulen, to bleed ; D. bloed,
blood ; bloeden, to bleed ; allied perhaps to
Gr. (3?.v?co.]
I. The fluid which circulates through the
arteries and veins of the human body, and
of other animals, which is essential to the
preservation of life. This fluid is gene-
rally red. If the blooil of an animal is
not red, such animal is called exsangui-
nus, or white-blooded ; the blood beinj
white, or white tinged with blue.
^. Kindred ; relation by natural descent fron
a common .nncestor; consanguinity.
God hath made of one blood, all nations of
t!ie earth. Acts xvii.
Hence the word is used for a child ; a
family ; a kindred ; descent ; lineage ;
progeny ; descendants ; &.c.
'X Royal lineage ; blood royal ; as a prince
of the blood.
4. Honorable birth ; high exlracrion ; as a
gentleman of blood. Shak.
5. Life.
Shall I not require his blood at your hands .'
2 Sam. iv.
6. Slaughter ; murder, or bloodshedding.
1 will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the
house of Jehu. Hosea i.
The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to
me from the ground. Gen. iv.
7. Guilt, and punishment.
Your blood be upon your own heads. Acts
xviii.
S. Fleshly nature ; the carnal part of man ;
as opposed to spiritual nature, or div'
life.
Who were bom, not of flesh and blood, noi
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God. John i.
9. Man, or human wisdom, or reason.
Flesh and blood ha(h not revealed it to thee
but my Father who is in heaven. Matt. xvi.
10. A sacramental symbol of the blood of
Christ.
Tliis is my blood of the New Testament
which is shed for the remission of sins. Matt
XX vi.
11. The death and sufferings of Christ.
Being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved trom wrath through him. Rom. v
Eph. i.
12. The price of blood ; that which is ob-
tained by shedding blood, and seizing
goods.
Wo to him that buildeth a town with blood
Hab. ii. Acts i.
13. Temper of mind ; state of the passions ;
but in this sense, accompanied with cold
or wai~m,, or other qualifying word. Thus
to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it
deliberately, and without sudden passion.
Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or
irritated ; to ivarm or heat the blood, is to
excite the passions.
14. A hot spark ; a man of fire or spirit ; a
rake.
15. The juice of any thing, especially if red ;
a.s, " the blood of grapes." Gen. xlix.
Whole blood. In law, a kinsman of the lohole
blood is one who descends from the same
coui)le of ancestors ; of the half blood, one
who descends from either of them singly,
by a second marriage. Encyc.
BLOOD, V. t. To let blood; to bleed by
opening a vein.
2. To stain with blood. Addison. Dri/den.
3. To enter ; to inure to blood ; as a hound.
Spenser.
4. To heat the blood ; to exasperate. [Un-
usual.] Bacon.
BLOOD-BESPOT'TED, a. Spotted with
" Odd. Shak.
BLOOD-BOLTERED, a. [blood and bolter.]
Sprinkled with blood. [.Yot used.]
Macbeth.
BL0OD-€ONSU'MING, a. Wasting the
blood. Shak.
BLOOD'ED, pp. Bled ; stained with blood ;
ured to blood.
BLOOD'-FLOWER, 7i. [blood an<\ flower.]
Hsemauthus, a genus of plants, natives of
the Cape of Good Hope. Encyc.
BLOOD-FROZEN, a. Having the blood
chilled. Spenser.
BLOOD-GUILTINESS, n. [blood aud guilt.]
The guilt or crime of shedding blood.
BLOOD-HOT, a. [blood and hot.] As warm
as blood in its natural temperature.
BLOOD'-HOUND, n. [blood and hoimd.]
A species of canis or dog, with long,
smooth and pendulous ears, remarkable
for the acuteness of its smell, and employ-
ed to recover game which had escaped
wounded from the hunter, by tracing; the
lost animal by the bloo(l it had sjjilt :
whence the name of the dog. Encyc.
BLOOD'ILY, adv. In a bloody maimer;
cruelly ; with a disposition to shed blood
Shak.
BLOOD'INESS, n. The state of being
bloody ; disposition to shed blood.
BL0OD'IN(J, ppr. Letting blood ; staining
with blood ; inuring to blood, as a hound.
BLOODLESS, «. Without blood ; dead
2. Without shedding of blood or slaughter ;
as a hUiodless vict(jry. Shak. If'allcr
3. Without spirit or activity. Shd:
BLOOD-LET, v. t. To bleed; to let blood.
Jlrbuthnot.
BLOOD'-LETTER, n. One who lets blood,
as in diseases ; a phlebotomist.
Wiseman.
BLOOD'LETTING, n. [blood and let.] The
act of letting blood, or bleeding by open-
ing a vein.
BLOOD'PUDDING, n. [blood andpudding.]
A ]iudding made with blood and other
materials.
BLOOD-RED, n. Red as blood.
BLOOD -ROOT, n. A plant so named from
its color ; a species of sanguinaria, called
also puccoon, turmeric and red root.
Bigelow.
BLOOD'SHED, n. [blood and shed.] The
shedding or spilling of blood ; slaughter ;
waste of life ; the crime of shedding blood.
Spenser.
BLOOD'SHEDDER, n. One who sheds
blood ; a murderer.
BLOODSHEDDING, n. The shedding of
blood ; the crime of shedding blood.
Homilies.
BLOOD'SHOT, a. [blood and shoot.] Red
and inflamed by a turgid state of the
blood vessels, as in diseases of the eye.
Garth.
BLOOD'SNAKE, n. A species of snake, the
haemorrhus. j}sh.
BLOOD'-SPAVIN, n. [blood and spavin.]
A dilatation of tlie vein that runs along
the inside of the hock of a horse, forming
a soft swelling. Encyc.
BLOOD'-STAINED, a. Stained with blood ;
also, guilt v of murder.
BLOODSTONE, n. [blood and stone.] A
stone, imagined, if worn as an amulet, to
be a good preventive of bleeding at the
nose. [See Hematite.]
BLOOD'-SUCKER, n. [blood and suck.]
Any animal that sucks blood, as a leech, a
fly, &c. A cruel man ; a murderer.
BLOOD'-SUCKING, a. That sucks or
Iraws blood. Shak.
BLOOD'-THIRSTY, a. [blood and thirst.]
Df'sirous to «hcd blood ; murderous.
BLOOD'-VESSEL, n. [blood and vessel]
Any vessel in which blood circulates in an
animal body ; an artery or a vein.
BLOOD'-WARM, a. Warm as blood ; juke
arm. Addison.
BLOOD'-WITE, n. [blood and mte, a fine
or penalty.]
In ancient law, a fine or amercement, paid
as a compositon for the shedding of blood.
BLOOD'-WQOD, n. [blood and wood.] A
name civen to log- wood, from its color.
BLOOD'-WORT, n. [blood and wort.] A
ant, a species of Rumex.
BLOOD'Y, a. Stained with blood.
2. Cruel ; murderous ; given to the shed-
ding of blood; or having a cruel, savage
disposition ; applied to animals.
3. Attended with bloodshed ; marked by
cruelty ; applied to things ; as a bloody bat-
tle.
BLOOD'Y, I', t. To stain with blood.
Overbury.
BLOODY', arfi). Very; as bloody sick, bloody
drunk. [This is very vulgar.]
BLOOD'Y-EYED, a. Having bloody or
cruel eves.
BLOOD'V-FaCED, a. Having a bloody face
or appearance. Shak.
B L O
B L O
B L O
BLOOD' Y-FLUX, n. [blood i,m\Jlur.] Tlir
dysentery, a disease in wliii-,h the dis-
ciiarges from the bowels have a mixture
of blood. Arhuthnot.
BLOOD'Y-HAND, n. [Mood and liand.] A
hand stained with the blood of a deer,
which, in the old forest laws of England,
was sufficient evidence of a man's tres-
pass in the forest against venison. Ash.
BLOOD' Y-IIUN TING, «. Hunting for blood.
Shak.
BLOOD'Y-MINDED, a. [blood aiid mhul.]
Having a cruel, ferocious disposition ; bar-
barous ; inclined to shed blood.
Dryden.
BLOOD'Y-RED, a. Having the color of
blood.
BLOODY-SCEP'TERED, a. Having a
scepter obtained by blood or slaughter.
Shak.
BLOOD'Y-SWEAT, n. [blood and sweat.
A sweat, accomi)anied by a discharge of
blood ; also a disease, called sweating
sickness, wliich formerly prevailed in Eng
land and other countries.
BLOOM, ». [Goth, bloma; D. bloem ; G.
blume ; Sw. blommc ; Dan. blomsler ; W.
bloden, blawd, from tlie root of blow ; Sax
blowan, contracted from blodan, or bloihan.
Blossom is a dialectical form of the word,
from the same root. See Blossom.]
\. Blossom; the flower of a plant; an ex-
panded bud.
While opening blooms diffuse their sweets
around. Pope.
•2. The opening of flowers in general ; flow-
ers open, or in a state of blossoming ; as.
the trees are clothed with bloom.
."). The state of youth, resembling that of
blossoms ; a state of opening manhood,
life, beauty, and vigor ; a state of health
and growth, promising higher perfection ;
as the bloom of youth.
4. The blue color upon plums and grapes
newly gathered. Johnson.
BLOOM, V. i. To produce or yield blos-
soms ; to flower.
2. To be in a state of healthful, growing
youth and vigor ; to show the beauty of
youth ; as blooming graces.
BLOOM, V. t. To put forth as blossoms.
Charitable affection bloomed them.
lJ\/'ot in use.] Hooker
BLOOM, n. [Sax. bloma, a mass or huiip ;
W. plwm ; Arm. plom, plowm, or bloum ;
Fr. plonib ; Sp. plomo ; It. piombo ; L
phimbum, lead, properly a lump.]
A mass of iron tliat has passed the blomary,
or midergone the first hammering.
BLOOM'ING, ppr. Opening in blossoms ;
flowering; thriving in the health, beauty,
and vigor of youth ; showing the beauties
of youth.
His blooming laurels graced tlie muse's seat.
Trumbxdl
BLOOM'INGLY, adv. In a blooming man-
BLOOM'Y, a. Full of bloom ; flowery
flourishing with the vigor of youth ; as a
bloomy sprav ; bloomy beauties.
BLORfi, n. [This is a different orthography
of blare, which see.]
The act of blowing ; a blast. [.Vo/ used.]
Chapman
BLOS'SOM, n. [Sax. blosm, blosma, blosim,
blostma, and blosan, a blossom; blosmian,
blostmian, to lilossom ; D. bloessem, a bios
som ; G. blxdhe, a blossom ; allied perhaps to
G. bloss, Dan. blot, naked ; G. blossen, Dan.
blottrr, to uncover; W. Woden, a flower,
blodtuaw, to blossom, from blawd, meal,
bloom ; Gr. jiKa^ijua, a bud, jirobably
from the same root; Syr. -Xii '" g'^'"
niinate, to flourish, to put forth leaves.]
1. The flower or corol of a plant ; a general
term, applicable to every species of tree
or plant, Itiit more generally used than
flo«.'iorl.lo(,„i, wlicM we Iimvc rcfi'n
to llic Hint «lll.-hi,s|..MHTr,.,|. TIlU,-
tiM.t.'ilforiiniaiMCiil ; and W«r,m, in a ir
general sense, as flowers in general, or in
reference to the beauty of flowers.
2. This word is used to denote the color of a
horse, that has his hair white, but inter-
mixed with sorrel and bay hairs ; other-
wise, peac/i-coiorerf. Encyc.
BLOS'SOM, V. i. To put forth blossoms oi
flowers ; to bloom ; to blow ; to flower.
2. To flourish and prosper.
The desert shall blossom as llie rose. Is
BLOS'SOMING, ppr. Putting forth flow-
ers; blowing.
BLOS'SOMING, ji. The blowing or flower-
ing of plants.
BLOT, V. t. [Goth, hlauthjan ; Sw. plottra
Van. plet, a spot, stain, blot ; plelter, to bloi
or stain ; L. litura, [whence tituro, obli-
tero,] without the prefix ; and D. kladden,
with a different one.]
1. To spot with ink ; to stain or bespatter
with ink; as, to blot a j)aper.
2. To obliterate writing or letters with ink,
so as to render the characters invisible, or
not distinguishable ; generally with out ;
as, to blot out a word or a sentence.
3. To efface ; to erase ; to cause to be un
seen, or forgotten ; to destroy ; as, to blot
out a crime, or the remembrance of any
thing.
4. To stain with infamy ; to tarnish ; to dis-
grace ; to disfigure.
Slot not thy innocence wth guiltless Wood.
Rotcc
5. To darken.
He sung how earth blots the moon's a;ilded
wane. Cowlri/
6. In scripture, to blot one out of the book of
life, is to reject him from the number of
those who are to be saved. To blot out a
name, a person or a nation, is to destroy
the person or nation ; to exterminate
consume. To blot out sins, is to forgi
tliem. Sins are compared to debts, which
are recorded in God's book of remem
brance, and when paid, are crossed or
cancelled.
BLOT, n. A spot or stain on paper, usually
applied to ink.
a. An obhteration of something written oi
printed. Dryden.
3. A spot in reputation ; a stain ; a disgrace ;
a reproach ; a blemish. Shak.
4. Censure ; scorn ; reproach.
5. In backgammon, when a single man lies
open to he taken up. Johnson
BLOTCH, ?!. [Sax. blwcthc, a scab or lep-
rous afl^ection.1
.A))usiulc u|)on the skin; antrupiioii, usually
of a large kind.
BLOTCH, V. t. To blacken. Harmar.
BLOTE, V. t. [The afiinities of this word are
not clearly ascertained. InSax. 6Wan is
to sacrifice ; in Golh. to serve or worship;
in Arm. bloda is to soften ; W. plyz, soft ;
plyzaw, to soften ; Dan bidder, Sw. biota,
to soften.]
To dry and smoke ; as, to blole herrings.
BLO'TED, pp. Smoked and dried.
BLOTTED, ;)p. Stained; spotted; erased.
ni.OT'TER, n. In counting houses, a waste
1 k.
Iil.( cr'TING, ppr. Spotting with ink ; ob-
liiriating; staining.
BLOW, n. [This j)roI)ahly is a contracted
word, and the ])rimary sense must be, to
strike, thrust, push, "or throw, that is,
to drive. I have not found it in the cog-
nate dialects. If g or other palatal letter
is lost, it corresjjonds in elements with the
L. plaga, Gr. «>.>;y»?, L. fligo, Eng. fog.
But blow, a stroke, is written liUc the verb
to blow, the Latin/o, and Woic, lo blossom.
The letter lo.st is prnhalily .i dental, and
the original was blod or blolh, in which
case, the word has the elements of loud,
laudo, elaudo, lad, &c.]
The act of striking; more generally the
stroke ; a violent aj)i>lication of the hand,
fist, or an instrument to an object.
2. The fatal stroke ; a stroke that kills ;
hence, death.
3. An act of hostility ; as, the nation which
strikes the first blow. Hence, to come to
blows, is to engage in combat, whether by
individuals, armies, fleets or nations ; and
when by nations, it is war.
4. A sudden calamity ; a sudden or severe
evil. In like manner, plaga in Latin gives
rise to the Eng. plague.
5. A single act ; a sudden event ; as, to gain
or lose a province at a blow, or by one blow.
At a stroke is used in like manner.
6. An ovum or egg deposited by a fly, on
flesh or other substance, called a fly'-blow.
BLOW, V. i. pret. blew ; pp. blown. [Sax.
blawen, blowan, to blow as wind ; hlowan,
to blo.ssom or blow, as a flower ; D. bloe-
yen, to blossom ; G. bldhen, to swell or in-
flate ; h.flo, to blow. This word probably
is from the same root as bloom, blossom,
6/oi(', a flower ; W. bloden. See Blossom.]
1. To make a current of air ; to move as air ;
as, the wind blows. Often u.sed with it ;
as, it blows a gale.
2. To pant ; to puff" ; to breathe hard or
quick.
Here is Mrs. Page at the door, sweating and
blowing. Shak.
3. To breatlie ; us, to blow hot and cold.
V Estrange.
To sound with being blown, as a horn
or trumpet. Milton.
5. To flower ; to blossom ; to bloom ; as
plants.
How blows tlie citron grove. .Wilton.
To blow over, to pass away without effect ;
to cease or be dissipated ; as, the storm or
the clouds are bloion over.
To blow up, to rise in the air ; also, to be bro-
ken and scattered by the explosion of giui-
powder.
BLOW, V. t. To throw or drive a current of
air upon ; as, to bloio the fire ; also, to fan.
B L O
B L U
B L U
2. To iliivc by a current of air; to impel ;
as, tlie tempest blew the ship ashore.
3. To breathe upon, for the purpose of warm-
ing ; as, to blote the fingers in a cold day.
Shak.
4. To sound a wind instrument ; as, bloiv the
trumpet.
5. To spread by report.
And tliiough the court his courtesy was hlmtm.
Dryden.
G. To deposit eggs, as flies.
7. To form bubbles by blowing.
8. To swell and inflate, as veal ; a practice of
butchers.
!«. To form glass into a particular shape by
the breath, as in glass manufactories.
10. To melt tin, after being first burnt to
destroy the mundic. Eiicyc,
To blow away, to dissipate ; to scatter with
wind.
To blow down, to prostrate by wind.
To blow off, lp shake down" by wind, as to
blow off fruit from trees; to drive from
land, as to bloip off' & ship.
To blow out, to extinguish by a current of
air, as a candle.
To bloio up, to till with air ; to swell ; as,
to blow up a bladder or a bubble.
1*. To inflate ; to puft'up ; as, to blow up one
with flattery.
3. To kindle ; as, to blow up a contention.
4. To burst, to raise into the air, or to scat
ter, by the explosion of gunpowder. Figu
ratively, to scatter or bring to naught sud
denly ; as, to blow up a scheme.
To blow upon, to make stale ; as, to blow
upon an author's works. Addison.
BLOW, n. A flower ; a blossom. Tliis word
is in general use in the U. States, and le-
- gitimate. In the Tatier, it is used for blos-
soms in general, as we use blowth.
'1. Among seamen, a gale of wind. This
also is a legitimate word, in general use in
the U. States.
BLOW-BALL, «. [blowawAbalL] The flow-
er of the dandelion. B. Jonson.
BLOWER, n. One who blows ; one who is
employed in melting tin.
5. A plate of iron for drawing up a fire in a
stove chimney. Mason.
BLOWING, ppr. Making a current of air;
breathing quick ; sounding a wind instru-
ment ; inflating ; impelHng by wind ; melt-
ing tin.
BLOWING, n. The motion of wind or act
of blowing.
BLOWN, pp. Driven by wind ; fanned ;
sounded by blowing ; spread by report ;
swelled ; inflated ; expanded as a blossom.
BLOW-PIPE, n. [blow and pipe.'] An in-
strument by which a blast or current of
air is driven through the flame of a lamp
or candle, and that flame directed upon a
mineral substance, to fuse or vitrify it.
Blow-pipe of the artist, a conical tube of brass,
glass or other substance, usually a quarter
of an inch in diameter at one end, and cap-
illary or nearly so at the other, where it is
bent nearly to a right angle. This is used
to propel a jet of air from the lungs, through
the flame of a lamp or candle, upon the
substance to be fused.
Blow-pipe of the mineralogist, the same in-
Ktiiiment substantially as the foregoing,
but usually fitted with an ivory or silver
mouth-piece, and with Bcvcral movable
jets to produce flames of different sizes.
Its ottice is to produce instantly a furnace
heat, on minute fragments of mineral sub-
stances, supported on charcoal, by platiua
forceps, &c.
Compound Blotv-pipe of Dr. Hare, invented
in 1821, an instrument iu which oxygen
and hydrogen, propelled by hydrostatic or
other pressure, coming from separate res-
ervoirs, in the proportions requisite to form
water, are made to unite in a capillary ori-
fice, at the moment when they are kindled.
The heat produced, when the focus is
formed on charcoal or any non-conducting
substance, is such as to melt every thingj
but the diamond, to burn the metals,!
and to dissipate in vapor, or in gaseous
forms, most known substances.
The blow-pipe of Newman, Clarke, &,c., it
the compound blow-pipe of Dr. Ilare, witl
some unimportant modifications.
Siitiman
BLOW-POINT, ra. [blow and point.'] A kind
of play among children. Johnson
BLOWTH, n. [Ir. blath, blaith, a flower oi
Ijlossom ; D. bloeizel ; Ger. bliithe.]
Bloom, or blossom, or that which is expand
ed. It signifies bloom or blossoms in gen
eral, or the state of blossoming. Thu.s we
say, trees arc now in their blowth, or they
have a full blowth.
BLOWZE, n. blowz. [From the same root
as blush, ^vllich see.]
\ ruddv fat-faced woman. Hall.
BLOWZ'Y, a. Ruddy faced ; fat and ruddy ;
high colored.
BLUB, V. f. To swell. [.\ot in use. See
Bleb.]
BLUB'BER, n. [See Blobber, Blob and Bleb.]
A blobber, or bubble ; a common vulgar
word, but kgitimale.
The fat of whales and other large sea ani-
mals, of which is made train-oil. It lies
inunediately under the skin and over the
nmscular flesh.
3. Sea nettle, or sea blubber, the medusa.
Encyc.
BLUB'BER, V. i. To weep in such a man-
ner as to swell the cheeks. Johnson.
If I mistake not, this word carries with
it the idea of weeping, so as to slaver.
BLUB'BER, V. t. To swell the cheeks or
di.sfigurc the face whh weeping,
PP-
as a blubhered lip.
BLUB'BERING, ppr. Weeping so as to
swell the checks.
BLUD'gEON, »i. [Goth, blyggwan, to strike.]
A short stick, with one end loaded or thicker
and heavier than the other, and used as au
offensive weapon by low persons.
BLUE, o. bhi. [Sax. bleo, bleoh, Meow, color ;
D. blaaute ; Ger. blau ; Dan. blaae ; Sw.
bla, blue ; Sw. bly, Dan. blye, Ger. blei,
load, so named from its color ; Slav, plavu ;i
Fr. bleti ; Corn, hlou.] j
One of the seven colors, into which the rays!
of light divide themselves, when refructeil
through a glass prism. There are various'
sliadesof blue, as sky-blue, ot azure, Prus-\
pan blue, indigo blue, smalt blue, &c. i
Kirwan. Etiajc]
Prussian blue, a combination of the oxyd of
iron with an acid called ferro-prussic.
Ure.l
BLU'E. V. t. To make blue : to dye of a blue!
color ; to make blue by heating, aa metals.
&c.
BLU'E-BIRD, n.[Uae and bird.] A small bird,
a species of Motacilla, very common in the
U. States. The upper part of the body is
blue, and the throat and breast, of a dirty
red. It makes its nest in the hole of a
tree.
BLU'E-BONNET, n. [blue and bonnet.] A
plant, a species of Centaurea.
Fam. of Plants.
BLU'E-BOTTLE, n. [blue and botUe.] A
l)lant, a species of Centaurea, called Cya-
nus, which grows among corn. This and
the former plant receive their names from
their blue funnel-shaped flowers.
2. A fly with a large blue belly. Johnson.
BLU'E-€AP, ,1. [blue and cap.] A fish of
tlie salmon kind, with blue spots on its
head. Did. of J\lat. Hist.
BLUE-EYED, a. Having blue eyes.
Dryden.
BLU'E-FISH, n. [blue andfsh.] A fish, a
species of Corvphaena, of the order of (Ao-
racics, found al)out the Bahamas, and on
the coast of Cuba. Encyc.
BLUE-HAIRED, a. Having hair of a blue
'lor. Milton.
BLU'E-JOHN, n. Among miners, fluor spar,
a mineral, found in the mines of Derby-
shire, and fabricated into vases and other
ornamental fisures. Encyc.
BLU'ELY, «rf«: With a blue color. Swr%
BLU'ENESS, n. The quahty of being blue ;
blue color. Boyle.
BLU'E-THROAT, n. [blue and throat.] A
bird with a tawny breast, marked with a
sky-blue crescent, inhabiting the northern
parts of Europe and Asia.
lAl'E-VKlNED, a. Having blue veins or
streaks. Shak.
LUFF, a. [Perhaps allied to W. Ihvf, Eng.
leap, from shooting forward.] Big ; surly ;
blustering. Dryden.
BLUFF, n. A high bank, almost perpendicu-
lar, projecting into the sea; a high bank
presenting a steep front.
Belknap. Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'-BOWED, a. [bluff and bow.] Hav-
g broad and flat bows. Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'-HEADED, a. [bluff and head.]
Having an upright sten). Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'NESS, n. A swelling or bloated-
ss ; surliness. fVorld.
BLU'ISH, a. Blue in a small degree.
Pope.
BLU'ISHNESS, n. A small degree of blue
color. Boyle.
BLUN'DER, V. i. [This word seems to be
allied to the Gr. iCUmoiu,, to err, and to floun-
der. The sense of the latter is to move
with siulden jerks, and irregular motions.
In Dan. blunder is to wink, twinkle or dis-
semble ; allied to Fr. loin.]
. To mistake gro.ssly ; to err widely or
stupidly. Johnson.
2. To move without direction, or steady
guidance ; to plunge at an object ; to
move, speak or write with sudden and
blind preci|)itanee ; as, to blunder \ipon a
reason ; to blunder round a meaning.
Pope.
■3. To stumble, as a horse ; a common use of
the tvord.
BLUN'DER, Ji. A mistake through precipi-
B L U
BOA
BOA
tance, or without due exercise of judg-
ment ; a gross mistake.
Bl.UN'DERBUSS, n. [blunder, and D. bus..
a tube ; Dan. bOsst ; Sw. bbssa, a. gun.]
A short gun or fire-arm, with a large bore,
capable of holding a number of balls, and
intended to do execution without e.xact
BI.UN'DERER, n. One who is apt to blun-
der, or to make gross mistakes ; a careless
BjtoN'DERHEAD, n. [btunderixnd head.]
A stupid fellow; one who blunders.
L'Estrange.
BLUN'DERINU, ppr. Moving or acting
with blind precipitance ; mistaking gross-
ly ; stumbling.
BLUNDERINGLY, adv. In a blundering
manner. Lewis.
BLUNT, a. [from the root of Gr. u.u9kvvu,
to dull.]
1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instru-
ment; dull ; not sharp.
2. Dull in understanding; slow of discern-
ment. Shak.
3. Abrupt in address ; plain ; unceremoni-
o\is ; wanting the forms of civility ; rough
in manners or speech. Bacon.
4. Hard to penetrate. [Unusual.] Pope.
BLUNT, V. t. To dull the edge or point, by
making it thicker.
2. To repress or weaken any appetite, dr-ui'
or power of the mind ; to impair the fm ii-
of any passion which aflects the mind, or,
of any evil or good which affects ili'^
body ; as, to Utint the edge of love, of pain,
orof suft'ering.
Your cea-<eless endeavors will be exerted to
blunt the sdngs of paiu. DwigM.
BLUNT' ED, pp. JVIade dull ; weakened ;
impaired ; repressed.
BLU'NT'ING, ppr. Making dull ; repressing;
Taylor.
BLUNT'LY, adv. In a blunt manner;
coarsely ; plainly ; abruptly ; without deli-
cacy, or the usual forms of civility.
BLUNT'NESS, n. Want of edge or point ;
dullness ; ohtuseness ; want of sharpness.
2. Coarseness of address ; roughness of man-
ners ; rude sincerity or plainness.
BLUNT' WITTED, o. [blunt onAimt.] Dull;
stupid. Shak.
BLUR, n. [I have not found this word in
any other language, but probably it is al-
lied to the W. llur, black and blue, livid,
L. luridus.]
A dark spot ; a stain ; a blot, whetlier upon
paper or other substance, or upon repu-
tation. South.
BLUR, V. t. To obscure by a dark spot, or by
any foul matter, without quite eftacing.
2. To sully ; to stain ; to blemish ; as, to
blur reputation. Butler.
BLURRED, ;j;j. Darkened or stained ; ob-
scured.
BLUR'RING, ppr. Darkening or staining ;
spotting.
BLURT, V. t. [Allied probably to flirt, to
throw.]
To throw out, or throw at random, hastily,
or unadvisedly ; to utter suddenly or inad-
vertently ; commonly with out, and applied
to words. Young.
BLUSH, r.t. [D.bloozen; Sw. 6??/a», to blush
blushing ; D. fefca, a blush ; Sw.6/os*,- Dan
blus, a torch ; Dan. blues ved, to blush or be
ashamed; Ir. loise, loisi, fliiiue. It implie
a throwing out, or spreading. Flash may
be from the same root. See Blaze."
. To redden in the cheeks or face ; to be
surUienly sufliised with a red color in the
cheeks or laic, from a sense of guilt, shame,
coMl'iisioii, modesty, diffidence or surprise ;
followed by al or for, before the cause of
blushing ; as, blush at your vices ; btushjor
your degraded country.
In the presence of the sliameless and unblush-
ing, the young offender is ashamed to blush.
Buckminater
2. To bear a blooming red color, or any soft
bright color ; as the blushing rose.
He bears his blushing honors thick upon him
Shak
Shakspeare has used this word in a transi
tive sense, to make red, and it may be
allowable in poetry.
RLIISH, n. A red color suffusing the cheeks
only, or the face generally, and excited by
confusion, which may spring from shame,
guilt, modesty, diffidence or surprise.
The rosy blush of love. Trumbull.
2. A red or reddish color.
3. Sudden appearance ; a glance ;
taken from the sudden suffusion of the face
in blushing ; as, a proposition appears ah-
siM-d ;it first 4/U.5A. Locke
r. I . I S 1 1 ' ET, n. A young modest girl. LVof
us..l.\
lilJ ^11 ING, ppr. Reddening in the cheeks
or i'iu-o ; bearing a bright color.
BLUSH'LESS, a. Unblushing; past blush-
ing; impudent. Marston
BLUSH' Y, a. Like ablush ; having the color
of a blush. Harvey.
BLUS'TER, V. i. [Probably allied to blaie,
blast ; Dan. blusser, to blaze, to rage.]
1. To be loud, noisy or swaggering ; to bully
to puff; to swagger ; as a turbulent or
boasting person.
2. To roar, and be tumultuous, as wind; to
be boisterous ; to be windy ; to hurry.
BLUS'TER, n. Noise ; tumult ; boasting
boisterousness ; turbulence ; roar of a tem
pest ; violent wind ; hurry ; any irregular
noise and tumult from wind, or from
vanity.
BLUS'TERER, n. A swaggerer ; a bully
a noisy, tumultuous fellow, who makes
great pretensions from vanity.
BLUSTERING, ppr. Making a noise ; puff-
ing; boasting.
.US'T
Noisy ; tumultuous ;
BLUSTERING,
windy.
BLUS'TROUS, o. Noisy ; tumultuous ;
boastful. Hudibras.
BO, exclam. [ W. bw.] A word of terror ; a
customary sound uttered by children to
frighten their fellows.
BO' A, n. A genus of serpents, of the class
Amphibia, the characters of which are,
the belly and tail are furnished with scuta.
It includes tlie largest species of serjjent,
the constrictor, sometimes 30 or 40 feet
long. Cyc
BOAR, n. [Sax. bar; Corn, torn, a boar ; D.
beer, a bear or boar ; Ger. eber, a boar, and
a gindet or auger; also, eberschwein, boar-
swine. Qu. L. aper, and verres ; Sans.
varaha "
Dan. blusser, to blaze or glisten ; 6/i(ss«/,l|The male of swine not castrated
BOAR-SPEAR, n. A .spear used in limiting
boars. Spen.ser.
BOAR, r. i. In the manege, a horse is said to
boar, when he ^loots out his nose, raising
it as high as his ears, and tosses his nose iu
the wind. Encyc.
BOARD, n. [Sax. bord and bred, a board, or
table ; Goth, baurd ; Sw. bord, and brlide ;
D. hoord, a board, a hem, border, m.irgin ;
Ger. bord, a botird, a brim, bank, border ;
and brel, a board, or plank ; Dan. bord, a
board, a tabli- ; lircede, a board, or plank ;
and bred, a border ; W. burz, a board or
table : Ir. bord, a table, a border. This
worti anci broad seem to be allied in origin,
and the primary sense is to open or spread,
whence broad, dilated.]
1. A piece of limber sawed thin and of consid-
erable length and breadth, compared with
the thickness, used for building and other
purposes.
2. A table. The table of our rude ancestors
was a piece of board, perhaps originally
laid upon the knees. " Lauti cibuni capi-
unt : separata singulis sedes, et suacuique
mensa." The Germans wash before they
eat, and each has a separate seat, and his
own table. Tacituji. De Mor. Germ. 22.
3. Entertainment ; food ; diet : as, the price
of board is two, five, or seven dollars a
week.
4. A table at which a council or court is
held ; hence a council, convened for busi-
ness, or any authorized assembly or meet-
ing ; as a ioarrf of directors.
. The deck of a ship ; the interior part of a
ship or boat ; used in the phrase, on board,
aboard. In this phrase however the sense
is primarily the side of the ship. To go
aboard is to go over the side.
. The side of a ship. [Fr. bord; Sp. borda.]
Now board to board, the rival vessels row.
Di-yden
To fall over board, that is, over the side ;
the mast went by the board.
Board and board, side by side.
7. The line over which a ship runs between
tack and tack. T'o make a good board, is
to sail in a straight line, when close hauled.
To make short boards, is to tack frequently.
Mar. Diet.
A table for artificers to sit or work on.
A table or frame for a game ; as a chess
board, &i:
10. A body of men constituting a quorumin
session ; a coiut, or council ; as a board of
trustees ; a board of officers.
BOARD, I', t. To lay or spread with boards ;
to cover with boards.
2. To enter a ship by force in combat, which
answers to storming a city or fort on land.
3. To attack ; to make the first attempt upon
a man. In Spenser, to accost. [Fr. ahor-
der.] Obs. Bacon. Shak.
4. To place at board, for a compensation, aa
a lodger.
5. To furnish with food, or food and lodging,
for a compensation ; as, a man boards ten
students.
BOARD, V. i. To receive food or diet as a
lodger or without lodgings, for a compen-
sation ; as, he boards at the moderate price
of two dollars a week.
BOARDABLE, a. That may be boarded^
ship.
B O A
BOB
BOD
BOARDED, pp. Covered with boards; en-
tered by armed men, as a sliip ; furnished
with food for a compensation.
BOARDER, n. One who. has food or diet
and lodging in anotlier's family for a re-
ward.
3. One who boards a ship in action ; one
who is selected to board shi])S. Mar. Did.
BOARDING, ppr. Covering with boards ;
entering a ship by force ; furnishing or
receiving board, as a lodger, for a reward.
BOARDING-SCHOOL, n. A school, the
scholars of which board with the teacher.
BOARD-WAGES, n. Wages allowed to
servants to keep themselves in victuals.
Dryden.
BOARISH, a. [from hoar.] Swinish ; bru-
tal ; cruel. Shak.
BOAST, V. i. [W. hostiaw, to boast, to
toss or throw ; G. pausten, to blow, swell,
bounce ; Sw. posa, Dan. paster, id. Qu.
Gr. ?vBau, to inflate ; Russ. chvasluyu,
to boast ; L.fashis.]
1. To brag, or vaunt one's self; to make an
ostentatious display, in speech, of one's
own worth, property, or actions.
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. ii. 9.
2. To glory ; to speak with laudable pride
and ostentation of meritorious persons or
things.
I 'boast of you to them of Macedonia. St.
Paul. 2 Cor. ix.
Usually, it is followed by of; sometimes
by in.
3. To exalt one's self.
With your mouth you have boasted against
me. Ezek.
BOAST, V. I. To display in ostentatious Ian
guage ; to speak of with pride, vanity oi
exultation, with a view to self-conimenda
the multitude of
Lest men should boast their specious deeds
Milton
'Z. To magnify or exalt.
They boast tliemselves
their riches. Ps. xlix.
3. To exult in confident expectation.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov
BOAST, n Expression of ostentation, pride
or vanity ; a vaunting.
Thou makest thy boast of the law. Rom. i
'i. The cause of boasting; occasion of pridi
vanity, or laudable exultation.
Trial l)y peers is the boast of the British ni
tion.
BOASTER, 11. One who boasts, glories or
vaunts ostentatiously. Boyle.
BOASTFUL, a. Given to boasting ; osten-
tatious of personal worth or actions.
Shak.
BOASTING, ppr. Talking ostentatiously:
glorving ; vaunting.
BOASTING, 71. Ostentatious display of
personal worth, or actions ; a glorying or
vaunting.
Where is boasting then ? Rom. iii,
BOASTINGLY, adv. In an ostentatious
manner; with boasting.
BOASTIVE, a. Presumptuous. [Umtsual.]
Shenstone
BOASTLESS, a. Without ostentation.
Thomson.
BOAT, n. [Sax. and Sw. bat ; Dan. haad ;
W. bad : Ir. bad ; D. boot ; G. hot, a boat ;
It. dim. battello, a little boat, whence Fr.
bateau : Sp. bote, a boat.]
ipen vessel, or water craft, usual-
ly moved by oars, or rowing. The forms,
dimensions and uses of boats are very va-
rious, and some of them carry a hght sail.
The different kinds of boats have different
names ; as,long-boat, tanch, barge, pinnace,
jolly-boat, cutter, yawl, ferry-boat, wherry,
Moses-boat, pimt, felucca, fishing-boat, pe-
rogve, &c.
2. A small vessel can-ying a mast and sails ;
hut usually described Iiy another word,
as a packet-boat, passage-boat, advice-
boat, &c. Johnson.
BOAT, V. t. To transport in a boat ; as, to
boat goods across a lake.
Report on Canals. Ash.
BOA TABLE, a. Navigable for boats, or
small river craft. Ramsay.
BOAT-BILL, n. [boat and bill.'] A genus
of birds, the Cancroma, of two species, the
crested and the brown ; but by some orni-
thologists, they are considered as varieties
of the same species. They are of the gral
lie order, with a bill four inches long, no'
unlike a boat with the keel uppermost, oi
like the bowls of two spoons, with the hoi
low parts placed together. Encyc.
BOAT-FLY or B0AT-INSE€T, n. A ge-
nus of insects, hemipters, known in zool-
ogy by the generic term Notonecta.
Encyc.
BOAT-HOOK, n. [boat and hook.] An iron
hook witli a point on the back, fixed to a
long pole, to pull or push a boat.
Mar. Diet.
BOATING, ppr. Transporting in boats.
BOATING, n. The act or practice of trans
porting in boats.
2. In Persia, a punishment of capital offend-
ers by laying them on the back in a boat
which is covered, where they perish
Encyc.
BOA'TION, 71. [L. boo.] A crying out ; f
roar. [JVot used.] Derham
BOATM/VN, ? [boat and man.] A man
BO.\TSMAN, S "■ who manages a boat ; a
of a boat. Dryden. Prior.
BOAT-ROPE, 71. [boat and rope.] A rope
to fasten a boat, usually called a painter.
BOAT-SHAPED, a. Having the shape of
boat; navicular; cyinbiforin ; hollow like
a boat ; as the valve of some pericarps.
Martt/n.
BOATSWAIN, Ji. In seamen's langueige,
bosn. [Sax. batswein, from bat, boat, and
swein, swain, a boy or servant.]
An officer on board of ships, who has charge
of the boats, sails, rigging, colors, anchors
cables and cordage. His office is also, to
summon the crew to their duty, to rel:
the watch, assist in the necessary business
of the ship, seize and punish ofienders,
&c. He has a mate who has charge of the
long-boat, for setting forth and weighing
anchors, warping, towing and mooring,
Mar. Diet. Encyc. Johnson.
OB, 71. Any little round thing, that pi
loosely at the end of a string, cord, or
movable machine ; a little ornament
pendant that hangs so as to play loosely
Dryden
Our common people apply the word to
a knot of worms, on a string, used in fisli
ing for eels.
2. The words repeated at the end of a star
UEstraiigt
3. A blow ; a shake or jog ; a jeer or flout.
jlinsworth. Ascham.
4. The ball of a short pendulum. Encyc.
A mode of ringing. Johnson.
A bob-wig, Shenstone.
OB, v.l. To beat; to shake or jog. Shak.
2. To cheat ; to gain by fraud. Shak.
!3. To mock or delude. Ainsworlh.
To cut short.
BOB, V. i. To play backward and forward :
to play loosely against any thing. Dryden.
2. To angle, or fish for eels, or to catch eels
ith a bob. Encyc.
BOBANCE, 71. bobans'. A boasting. [JVo<
Ml use.] Chaucer.
BOB'BED, pp. Beat or shaken ; cheated ;
gained by fraud ; deluded.
BdB'BIN, 71. [Fr. bohine ; D. habyn.] A
small pin or cylindrical piece of wood,
with a head, on which thread is wound for
mailing lace. A similar instrument, bored
through to receive an iron pivot, and with
a border at each end, is used in spinning,
to wind thread or silk on ; a spool.
BOB'BING, ppr. Playing back and forth ;
striking ; cheating ; angling for eels.
BOB'BINWORK, ti. ibobUn and work.]
Work woven with bobbins. Grew.
BOB'-CHERRY,7i. [bob smA cherry.] Among
children, a play in which a cherry is hung
so as to bob against the mouth. Johnson.
BO'BO, 71. A Mexican fish, two feet long, ia
! high esteem for food. Clavigero.
BOB'STAYS, 71. [bob and stay.] Ropes to
confine the bow.sprit of a ship dovFiiward
to the stem. Mar. Diet.
BOB'TAIL, 71. [bob and tail.] A short
tail, or a tail cut short. Shale. ■
2. Tlie rabble ;u.sed in contempt. Bramsfon.
BOB'-TAILED, a. Having the hair cut
short. L' Estrange.
BOB-WIG, 71. {bob and wig.] A short wig.
Spectator.
BOCAQUE or BO€AKE, 7i. An animal
found on the banks of the Nieper, resem-
bling a rabbit, except that its ears are
I shorter, and it has no tail.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
'BOC'ASINE, 71. [Fr.] A sort of fine linen
or buckram. Johnson.
BOCE, 71. The spams, a beautiful fish.
I Ash.
JBOCK'ELET, ) A kind of long-wmged
BOCK'ERET, (, "• hawk. Johnson.
BOCKLAND. [See Bookland.] Encyc.
BODE, V. t. [Sax. bodian, bodigan, to fore-
tell, to utter or announce ; bod, an order,
mandate or edict ; boda, a messenger, or
preacher ; Sw. bod, a message, an embas-
.sy; fteioda, to tell or relate ; Sax. gebodian,
to offer or bid, to relate, tell or announce,
to conunand, to show, to promise. Radi-
cally, this is the same word as bid, which
see. The radical sense is, to utter, to drive
out the voice.]
To portend ; to foreshow ; to presage ; to
indicate something future by signs ; to be
the omen of; most generally applied to
things ; as, our vices bode evil to the coun-
try.
BODE, V. i. To foreshow ; to presage.
i Tins bodes well (o you. Dryden.
jBODE, 71. An omen. Chaucer.
2. A stop. [See Abide.]
jBO'DEMENT, 7i. An omen ; portent ; prog-
I iiostic ; a fore-showing. Obs. Shak
BOD
BOG
B O I
BOD(iE, V. i. [See Boggk.] To boggle ; to
stop. [JVot used.] Shak.
BODOE, 11. A botch. [Ao< used.]
miitlock.
BOD'ICE, n. Stays; a waistcoat, quilted
with whalebone ; worn by women.
Johnson.
BOD'IED, a. [Iroiii 6orfy.] Having a body.
Shak.
BOD'ILESS, n. [See Body.] Having no
body or material form ; incorporeal.
Davies.
BOD'ILY, a. Having or containing a body
or material form; corporeal ; as bodily di-|
niensions. South.\
2. Relating or pertainin" to the body, in dis-i
tiiiction from the mind ; as bodily defects ;
bodily pain. Locke.
3. Real ; actual ; as bodily act. Shak.
BOD'ILY, adv. Coqjoreally ; united with ii
body or matter.
It is his human nature, in which the Godlicail
dwells bodily. Jf'nltn.
BO'DING, ;>jp)-. [fromiorfe.] Foreshow iiii; ;
presaging.
BO'DING, n. An omen. Bp. Ward.
BOD'KIN, n. [Ir. hod, a limb, that is, a
point, a shoot, with the termination kin,
used as a diminutive ; Gr. jioToj, a thorn.]
1. An instrument of steel, bone, ivory or the
like, with a small blade, and a shaqj point,
for making holes by piercing. A hke in-
strument with an eye, for drawing threati,
tape, or ribin through a loop, &c. An
instrument to dress the hair. Johnson.
2. A dagger. [JVo« in use.] Chaucer.
BOD'LEIAN, a. Pertaining to Sir Thomas
Bodley, who founded a celebrated Ubrary
in the 16th century. I
BOD'Y, n. [Sax. bodig, stature, trunk, spine,^
body; that which is set or fixed.]
1. The frame of an animal ; the material
substance of an animal, in distinction from,
the hving principle of beasts, and the sold
of man.
Be not anxious for your body.
Matthew. Luke.
2. Matter, as opposed to spirit. Hooker.
a. A person; a human being; sometimes
alone ; more generally, » ith some or no ;'
as, somebody ; nobody.
4. Reality, as opposed to representation. I
A sliadow of things to come, but tlie body is,
of Christ. Col. ii.
5. A collective mass; a number of individu-
als or particulars united ; as the body o{"
mankind. Christians united or the Churclij
is called the body, of which each Chris-|
tian is a member, and Christ the head. Ii
Cor. xii. 12. 27.
6. The main army, in distinction froin the'
wings, van or rear. Also, any number of
forces under one commander. Clarendon}
7. A corporation ; a number of men, united^
by a common tie, by one form of govern-|
ment, or by occupation ; as the legislative^
body ; the body of the clergy ; body corpo-
rate ; body politic. j
8. Tlie main part ; the bulk; as the body of
;i tree ; the body of a coach, of a ship,
'.K Any extended solid substance; matter:'
;iiiy substance or mass distinct from oth-,
<i- ; as a metaline body : a floating body :
;i moving body ; a light body ; a hea\ y body.
10. A pandect : a general collection ; a code ;;
, ^lu. [body and chlh,
lor "
a system ; as a body of laws ; a body oi
divinity.
11. Strength ; as whie of a good body.
12. Among painters, colors bear a body, when
they are capable of being ground so fine
and of being mixed so entirely with oil, as
to seem only a very thick oil of tlie same
color. Encyc.
13. The unrenewed part of man, or sensual
affections.
But I keep under my body. 1 Cor. ix.
14. The extent ; the hmits.
Cause to come here on such a day, twelve
free and lawful men — from the body of youi
county. Form of a venire facia;
BODY, I'. /. To produce in some form.
Imagination bodies forth the forms of thing;
BOD'Y-CLOTHES,
Clothing or covering for the body, as for
a horse. Addison
BOD V-GUARD, n. The guard that pro
ti'cis or defentis the person ; the life guard
I lenco, security. Porleus
BOG, n. [Ir. bog, soft; bogach, a nrrarsh
bogha, a bow ; boghaim, to bend ; Sax. bu
gun ; D. boogen, to bend. Sojl is flexible,
yielding to pressure, bending. See Bow.'
1. A quagmire covered with grass or other
plants. It is defined by marsh, and »io
TOSS, but differs from a marsh, as a part
from tlie whole. Wet grounds are bogs,
which are the softest and too soft to bear
a man ; marshes or fens, which are less
soft, but very wet ; and swamps, which are
soft spongy land, upon the siu'face, but
sustain man and beast, and are often
mowed,
2. A little elevated spot or clump of earth, in
marshes and swamps, filled with roots and
grass. [This is a comvion use of the word
in JVew- England.^
BOG, V. t. To whelm or plunge, as in mud
and mire. Jonson
BOG'-BEAN, n. [bog and bean ; called buck-
bean.]
Menyanthes, a plant, the marsh-trefoil.
which grows in moist and marshy places,
Fam. of Plants.
BOG'-BERRY, n, [bog and berry.] Vaccin-
ium, a name of the cranberry growuig in
low lands and mai'shy places.
Fam. of Plants.
BOGGLE, V. i. [Qu. W. bwgwl, a teiTify-
1. To doubt; to hesitate; to stop, as if afraid
to proceed, or as if impeded by unforeseen
difficulties ; to play fast and loose.
We boggle at every unusual appearance.
Granville.
2. To dissemble. Howell.
BOG'GLE, V. t. To embarrass with difficul-
ties ; a popular or vidgar use of the ivord i
'\d St;
the United States.
BOG'GLED, pp. Perplexed and impeded by
sudden difficulties ; embarrassed.
BOG'GLER, H. A doubter ; a timorous
Shak
BOG'GLING, ppr. Starting or stopping at
difficulties ; hesitating.
BOGGLISII, a. Doubtful. [JVoi used.]
Taylor.
BOG GY, a. [from bog.] Containing bogs
full of bogs.
BOG'HOLSE, n. [6og' and /loiise.] A house
of office.
BOG'-LAND, a. [bog and land.] Living m
or pertaining to a marshy country.
Dryden.
BOGLE or BOG'GLE, )i. [VV. bwg, a bug-
bear or goblin.] A bugbear.
BOG'-ORE, n. An ore of iron found in bog-
gy or swanqiy land.
BOG'-RL'SII, n. [bog and rush.] A rush
that gro%vs in hogs, the Schoenus.
Pennant.
2. A bird, a species of warbler, of the size of
a wren, of a testaceous brown color, seen
among the bog-rushes of Schonen in Swe-
'len. Pennant.
BOG'-SPAVIN, n. [bog and spavin.] In
horses, an encysted tumor on the inside of
the hough, containing a gelatinous mat-
ter. Encyc.
BOG-TROTTER, n. [bog and trot.] One
who lives in a boggy countrj'. Johnson.
BOG'-WIIORT, /!. [bog and whort.] The
bilberry or whortleberry growing in low
h-md.s. Fam. of Plants.
BOIiE'A, )i. [Grosier informs us that this
is named from a mountain in China, call-
ed Vou-y or Voo-y. Vol. i. 4<37.]
A species of coarse or low priced tea from
China ; a species of black tea.
BOI'AR or IBOY'AR, n. In the .
Empire, a nobleman ; a lord ; a person of
quality ; a soldier. This word answers
nearly to Baron in Great Britain, and oth-
er countries in the west of Europe.
Tooke. Eton.
BOI'ARIN, n. In Russia, a gentleman; a
person of distinction ; the master of a fam-
ily. Tookc. Russ. Did.
BOIGU'ACU, n. The largest of the serpent
kind, and said to be forty feet long.
Bailey.
BOIL, r. I. [Fr. bouHlir; L. bullio ; M.bol-
lire ; Sp. bidlir, to boil ; L. bulla, a bubble ;
Russ. bul, the noise of boiling water; It.
bolla, a bubble or bUster; Eth. ^^^
Anili. <jl ^ to boil ; W. balau, to spring. Qu.
Sax. weallan, to well, to boil.]
1. To swell, heave, or be agitated by the ac-
tion of heat; to bubble ; to rise in bubbles ;
as, the water boils. In a chimical sense, to
pass from a liquid to an aeriform state or
vapor, with a bubbling motion.
2. To be agitated by any other cause than
heat ; as, the boiling waves which roll and
foam.
3. To be hot or fervid ; to swell by native
heat, vigor or irritation ; as tlie boiling
blood of youth ; his b\ood boils with anger.
4. To be in hoihng water ; to suffer boiling
heat in water or other hquid, for cookery
or other purpose.
.5. To bubble ; to effervesce ; as a mixture
of acid and alkali.
To boil away, to evaporate by boihng.
To boil Ofer, is to run over the top of a
vessel, as liquor when thrown into vio-
lent agitation by heat or other cause of
effervescence.
BOIL, i;. t. To dress or cook in boiling wa-
ter ; to seethe ; to extract the juice or
quality of any thing by boiling.
2. To prepare for some use in boihng liquor ;
as, to boil silk, thread or cloth. To tbrm
by boiling and evaporation. This word
is applied to a variety of processes for
different purposes ; as, to boil salt, or su-
B O L
B O L
B O i.
jjai-, &c. In general, toiYmg- is a violent
agitation, occasioned by heat ; to boil a
liquor is to subject it to heat till it bubbles,
and to boil any solid substance is to sub-
ject it to heat in a boiling liquid.
l>OIL, n. [D. buil ; Ger. beule ; Dan. bylde ;
Sax. bite ; Arm. bvil, a bUster ; Sw. bula,
a i>rotuberance ; D. bol, plump ; Ger. bolle.
a bud, a gem ; Ir. butle, rage, madness
Pers. pallo, a wart, an idcer, a boil ; W.
bal, a prominence.]
A tumor upon the flesh, accompanied with
soreness and inflammation ; a sore angry
swelling.
BOIL'ED, pp. Dressed or cooked by boil-
ing; subjected to the action of boihng
liquor.
BOIL'ER, n. A person who boils.
'i. A vessel in which any thing is boiled. A
large pan, or vessel of iron, copper or
brass, used in distilleries, pot-ash works
and the like, for boiling large quantities of
hquor at once.
BOIL'ERY, n. A place for boiling and the
apparatus.
BOIL'ING, ppr. Bubbling; heaving
bubbles ; being agitated as boiling liquor ;
.swelling with heat, ardor or passion ;
dressing or preparing for some purpose
by hot water.
BOIL'ING, n. The act or state of bubbling ;
agitation by heat ; ebullition ; the act of
dressing by hot water; the act of prepar-
ing by hot water, or of evaporating by
heat.
BOIO'BI, 71. A green snake, found in Amer-
ica, an ell in length, called by the Portu-
guese, cobra de verb. It is harmless, unless
provoked ; but its bite is noxious. Encyc.
BOIS'TEROUS, a. [Dan. pust, a puff, a
blast ; puster, and Sw. pusta, to blow ;
D. byster ; Dan. bister, furious, raging ;
W. btvyst, wild, savage, whence, beast]
1. Loud ; roaring ; violent ; stormy ; as
boisterous wind.
3. Turbulent ; furious ; tumultuous ; noisy ;
as a boisterous man.
3. Large ; unwieldy ; huge ; clumsily vio-
lent ; as a boisterous club. Obs. Spenser.
4. Violent ; as a boisterous heat. Woodward.
BOIS'TEROUSLY, adv. Violently; furi-
ouslv ; with loud noise ; tuniultuousl}-.
B0IS'TEROUSNESS,n. The state or qual-
ity of being boislei-ous ; turbulence ; dis-
order ; tumultuousness.
BOITPAPO, n. A Brazilian serpent, about
eight feet long, covered with triangular
scales, of an olive or yellowish coloi
whose bite is mortal. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BO'LARY, a. [See Bole.] Pertaining tu
bole or clay, or partaking of its nature
and qualities. Broum.
BOL'BITINE, a. An epithet given to one
of the channels of the Nile, by which it
waters are discharged into the Mediter
ranean. It is the second from West ti
East, but nearly filled with sand.
D''AnviUe. Encyc.
BOLD, a. [Sax. bald, beald; D. bout, con-
tracted ; It. baldo, bold ; baldanza, pre-
simiption ; imualdanzire, to embolden,
The sense is, open, forward, rushing tor-
ward.]
1. Daring; courageous; brave; intrepid
fearless ; applied to men or other aniinah ;
as, bold as a lion.
2. Requiring courage in the execution ; ex-
ecuted with spirit or boldness ; planned
with courage and spirit ; as a bold enter-
prise.
3. Confident ; not timorous.
We were bold in our God to speak to you.
Thess. ii.
4. In an ill sense, rude, forward, impudent.
Licentious ; showing great liberty of fic-
tion or expression ; as, the figures of an
author are bold.
Standing out to view ; striking to the eye ;
as bold figures in painting, sculpture and
architecture.
7. Steej) ; abrupt ; prominent ; as a bold
shore, which enters the water almost per-
pendicularly, so that ships can approach
near to land without danger.
Where the bold cape its warning forehead rear=.
Trumbull.
To make bold, to take freedoms; a common,
but not a correct phrase. To be bold is
better.
BOLD, V. t. To make daring. [JVot used.]
Hall.
BOLDEN, V. t. To make bold ; to give con
fideuce. This is nearly disused ; being
superseded by embolden. Ascham.
BOLD-FACE, n. [bold and face.] Impu-
dence ; sauciness ; a term of re]ireheu-
sion, and reproach. L'Estrange.
BOLD-FACED, a. Impudent. Bramhall.
BOLDLY, adv. In a bold manner; courage-
sly ; intrepidly ; without tiinidity or fear;
th confidence. Sometimes, perhaps, in
lad sense, for impudently.
BOLDNESS, n. Courage ; bravery ; mtre
idity ; spirit ; fearlessness. I cannot, with
Johnson, interpret this word by fortitude
or magnanimity. Boldness does not, 1
think, imply the firmness of mind, which
constitutes fortitude, nor the elevation and
generosity of magnanimity.
Prominence ; the quality of exceeding the
ordinary rules of scrupulous nicety and
caution ; applied to style, expression, and
metaphors in language ; and to figures in
painting, sculpture and architecture.
3. Freedom from timidity ; liberty.
Great is mv boldness of speech towards you.
2 Cor. vii.
4. Confidence ; confident trust.
We have boldness and access with confi-
dence. Eph. iii.
5. Freedom from bashfulness; assurance;
confident mien. Bacon
G. Prominence ; steepness ; as the boldness
of the shore.
7. Excess of freedom, bordering on impu
dence. Hooker
BOLE, re. [Sw. bol; Dan. but]
1. The body, or stem of a tree. [JVot in use.
Dryden
2. A measure of corn, containing six bush
els. Mortimer.
BOLE, n. A kind of fine clay, often highly
colored by iron. Its color is reddish yel
low of various shades, often with a tingi
of brown, sometimes passing to reddish
yellowish, or blackish brown, flesh red, or
yellowish white. It is opake or a little
translucid, especially at the edges, in the
red and yellow varieties. It is com])act
and its fracture conchoidal. It is brittle
smooth, a little unctuous, and receives a
polish from the finger nail. It adheres to
the tongue, melts by degrees in the
mouth, and impresses a shght sense of as-
tringency. Cleavelartd.
Armenian bole is of a bright red color, with
a tinge of yellow, harder than the other
kinds, and of a rough dusty surface.
Bole ofBlois is yellow, hghter than the othe;
kinds, and it effervesces with acids.
Bohemian bote is of a yellow color, with a
ast of red, and of a flaky texture.
French bole is of a pale red color, variegated
with sjiecks of white and yellow.
Lemnian bole is of a pale red color.
SUesian bole is of a pale yellow color. Encyc.
BOLET'l€, a. Boletic acid is the acid of
Boletus, a genus of mushrooms.
BOLETUS, n. [L.] A genus of mush-
rooms, containing many species.
BO'LIS, n. [L. from Gr. |ioj.ts, a dart; ^ox-
Xu, to throw.]
A fire-ball darting through the air, followed
by a train of light or sparks.
BOLL, n. [W. but, a seed vessel ; Sax. bolla,
a howl.]
The pod or capsule of a plant, as of flax; a
pericarp. Bole, a measure of six bushels,
is sometimes written in this manner.
BOLL, V. i. To form into a pericarp or seed-
vessel.
The badey was in the ear and the flax was
balled. Exodus ix.
Heb. hy2i, Gr. ortfpfioTtJov, as translated
by the seventy.
Bollard timbers, in a ship, or knight-heads,
are two timbers, rising just within the
stem, one on each side of the bowsprit, to
secure its end. Mar. Did.
In docks, bollards are large posts set in the
ground on each side, to which are lashed
large blocks, through which are reeved
the transporting hawsers for docking and
undocking sliips. Encyc.
BOLO'GNIAN STONE, bolo'nian stone.
Radiated sulphate of barytes ; found in
roiui.dish masses, composed of radiating
fibers ; first discovered near Bologna. It
is phosphorescent, when calcined.
BOLSTER, n. [Sax. and Sw. bolster ; Ger.
polster ; Dan. bolster-dyne, a feather bed ;
Pers. t^^Uj hahsht. In Dutch, bolster
is a husk, cod or shell.]
1. A long pillow or cushion, used to .support
the head of persons lying on a bed ; gen-
erally laid under the pillows.
2. A pad, or quilt, used to hinder pressure,
sujiport any part of the body, or make
a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part
a compress.
j3. In sadlery, a part of a saddle raised upon
the hows'or hinder part, to hold the rider's
thigh. Farrier''s Diet.
4. hi ships, a cushion or bag, filled with tar-
red canvas, used to preserve the stays
from being worn or chafed by the masts.
Mar. Diet.
jBOLSTER, V. t. To sujjport with a bolster,
pillow or any sort pad or quilt.
\2. To support ; to hold uj) ; to maintain.
1 Hooker. South.
3. To afford a bed to. [Unusual.] Sha!:.
BOLSTERED, a. Swelled
BOLSTERER.
|)I)ort
B O L
BOM
15 O N
BOLSTERING, n. A prop or support.
r<,ylo,
BOLT, n. [Dan. bolt ; Riiss. holt ; D. houf
G. bolzen; Sax. bolta, ciitapiilla, that wliicli
is driven, from tlie root of Gr. ,i3o?.x«, L.
petlo.]
1. An arrow ; a dart ; a pointed shaft.
Dryden.
'2. A strong cylindrical pin, of iron or other
metal, used to fasten a door, a i)lank, a
chain, &c. In ships, bolts are used in
the sides and decks, and have different
names, as rag-bolts, eye-bolts, ring-bolts,
chain-bolts, &c. In gunnery, there arc
prise-bolts, transom-bolts, traverse-bolts,
and bracket-bolts.
3. A thunder-bolt; a stream of lightning, so
named from its darting like a bolt.
4. The f|uantity of twenty-eight ells of can-
vas. Encyc.
BOLT, V. i- To fasten or secure with a bolt,
or iron pin, whether a door, a plank, fet-
ters or any thing else.
2. To fasten ; to shackle ; to restrain. Shak.
3. To blurt out ; to utter or throw out pre-
cipitately.
I hate when vice can bolt her avguincnt-s.
Milton
In this sense it is often followed by out
4. [Norm, bulter, a bolting sieve. Qu. Fr,
btuter.'] To sift or separate bran from flour,
In America this term is applied only to the
operation performed in mills.
5. Among sportsmen, to start or dislodge,
used of coneys.
6. To examine by sifting ; to open or sepa-
rate the parts of a subject, to tin<l the
truth ; generally followed by out. " Ti
and nature will bolt out thetruth of things."
[fnelegant.] UEslrange.
7. To purify ; to purge. {Unusual.'] Shak.
8. To discuss or argue ; as at Gray's inn,
where cases are privately discussed by
students and barristers. Encyc.
BOLT, V. t. To slioot forth suddenly ; 'to
spring out with speed and suddenness ; to
start forth hkeabolt; commonly follow-
ed by out ; as, to bolt otit of the house, oi
out of a den. Dryden.
BOLT-AUGER, n. [boll and auger.] A
large borer, used in sliip-buildini;. Ash
BOLT-BOAT, n. [bolt and boat.] A strong
boat that will endure a rough sea. Ash
BOLTED, pp. Made fast with a bolt ; sho
forth ; sifted ; examined.
BOLTER, n. An instrument or machine
for separating bran from flour or the coar-
ser part of meal from the finer.
I 2. A kind of net. Johnson
I BOLT-HEAD, n. [boU and head.] A long
' straight-necked glass vessel for chimical
distillations, called also a matrass or re-
ceiver. Johnson
BOLTING, ppr. Fastening with a bolt, or
bolts ; blurting out ; shooting forth sud
denly ; separating bran from flour ; sift
ins ; examining ; discussing ; dislodging.
BOLTING, n. The act of fastening with i
bolt or bolts ; a sifting ; discussion.
B0LTING-€LOTH, n. [bolt and cloth.] A
linen or hair cloth of which bolters are
made for sifting meal. Encyc.
BOLTING-HOUSE, n. [holt and house.]
The house or place where meal is bolted.
Johnson.
Vol. I.
BOLTING-HUTCH, n. A tub for l.olt.cl
I Hour.
[bolting-mill, n. [bolt and mill.] A
machine or engine for sifting meal. Encyc.
BOLTING-TUB, n. A tub to sift meal in.
BOLT-KOI'K, 71. [bolt and rope.] A rope
to whirli the edges of sails are sewed to
»lrti]i;lli(n llicni. That part of it on tin-
pcipindli-iilar >ide is called the leech-ropt :
that al ihc lidUnm, the foot-rope; that at
Ma
the Ici|), llic hi(i(l-rope.
BOLT-SI'KIT, n. [From the univ.-isal
popular pronunciation of this word, this
may have been the original word ; but I
doubt it. See Boiosprit.]
BO'LUS, n. [L. ioiits ; Gr. >3uXoj, a mass.]
A soft mass of any thing medicinal to be
swallowed at once, like a pill. It may be
of any ingredients, made a little thicker
than honey. Encyc.
BOM, n. A large serpent found in America,
of a harmless nature, and remarkable for
uttering a sound like bom.
Did. ofXal. Hilt.
BOMB, n. [L.bombus ; Gr. liofiSoi.] A great
noise. Hacon..
2. A large shell of cast iron, roimd and hol-|
low, with a vent to receive a fusee, which
is made of wood. This being filled with
gunpowder and the fusee driven into the
vent, the fusee is set on fire and the bomb
is thrown from a mortar, in such a dire<-
tion as to fall into a fort, city or enemyV
camp, when it bursts with great violence
and often with terrible effect. The in-
ventor of bombs is not known ; they
came into common use about the year
1(>M. Encyc.
3. The stroke upon a bell.
BOMB, V. t. To attack with bombs ; to bom-
bard. [JVol used.] Prior.
BOMB, V. i. To sound. B. Jonson.
BOM'BARD,n. [bomb and ard, kind. Fr.
bombarde ; Sp. It. bombarda.]
1. A piece of short thick ordnance with a
large mouth, formerly used ; some of them
carrying a ball of three hundred pounils
weight. It is called also basilisk, aiul by
the Dutch, donderbuss, thunder-gim. But
the thing and the name arc no longer in
use. Encyc.
2. An attack with bombs ; bombardment.
Barlou:
3. A barrel ; a drinking vessel. Oi*.
Johnson. Ash.
BOMB'ARD, V. t. To attack with bombs
throw M from iiiurtars.
Bo:MI; AKhKI), ii[). Attacked with bombs.
liO.AIliAUlHr. I!, (i. One whose business is
to alt( iiil Uie loading and firing of mor-
tars.
2. Carabus, a genus of insects of the beetle
kind. Encyc.
BOMB>ARDING, ppr. Attacking with shells
or bombs.
BOMBARDMENT, n. An attack with
bombs ; the act of throwmg bombs into a
town, fort or ship. Addison.
BOMB^ARDO, n. A mu.sical instrument of
the wind kind, much like the bassoon, and
used as a base to the hautboy. Encyc.
BOMBASifN, n. s as z. A name gi^ en to
two sorts of stuffs, one of silk, tlie other
crossed of cotton. Encyc.
BOM'BAST, n. Originally a stuff of soft
loose textme, used to swell garments.
25
Hence, high sounding words ; an iiiila
ted style ; fustian ; a serious attempt, h\
strained description, to raise a low or fa-
miliar subject beyond its rank, which,
instead of being sublime, never fails to be
ridinilous. Encyc.
iM i;\S'l', a. High-sounding; inflated;
I'l'j "III 1 njcaning. Su-ifl.
iMIiAS Tit, a. Swelled ; high sounding ;
Shaflesbtm;.
/>/-■/, |{O.Mi;\s'
I! V, n. Swelling words without
ining; fustian. Swift.
BOMB -(■llEST, n. [bomb and chest.] A
chest filled with bombs or only with gun
])owder, placed under ground, to make
destruction by its displosion.
BOM'BIAT, n. A salt formed by the bom-
bic acid and any base saturated.
Lavoisier.
BOM'BIC, a. [L. bombyx, a silk worm.]
Pertaining to the silk worm ; as bombic
BOMBILA'TION, n. [L. hombilo.] Sound;
icport : iiriisc. [lAttle used.] Brown.
l'.(i\ll'. Kl/I'cn, ) A small ship or vcs-
r.dMi; \I>-.~|;L, ^ ■ sel, constructed for
iliioHiiii; liombsinto a fortress from the
sea, and built remarkably strong, in order
to sustain the shocks produced by the dis-
charge of the mortars. They generallv
are rl^riri'd ns ketches. Mar. Diet.
lt()Air>A(' I.NOU?*, a. [h. bomhyciniis, from
l,niii/:i/r. :\ -ilk worm.]
2. Being of the color of the silk Avorm ;
transparent, with a vellow tint. Darwin.
BO'NA-FIDE, [L.] AVith good faith ; with-
out fraud or deception.
BoNA-RoBA, ?!. [It. a fine gown.] A showy
wanton. Shak.
BONA'IR, a. [It. bonario, from L. bonus.]
Complaisant ; yielding. [jYot used.]
BONA'SUS, n. [L.] A species of Bos, or
wild ox, with a long mane : a native of
Asia and Africa. It is of the size of a
bull. Encyc.
BoN €HRETiErf, n. [Fr. good christian.]
A species of pear.
BOND, n. [Sax. bond. See Band and Bind.]
1. Any thing that binds, as a cord, a chain,
a rope ; a band.
2. Ligament; that which holds things to-
gether.
Union ; connection ; a binding.
Let walls be so constructed as to make a good
bond. Mortimer.
4. In the plural, chains ; imprisonment ; cap-
tivity.
He hath done nothing worthy of death or
of bonds. Acts.
5. Cause of union ; cement which unites ;
link of coimection ; as the boTids of affec-
tion.
Charity is the bond of perfcctness. Col. 3.
6. An obUgation imposing a moral duty, as
by a vow, or promise, by law or other
means.
In law, an obligation or deed by which a
person binds himself, his heirs, executors,
and administrators, to pay a certain sura,
on or before a future day appointed.
This is a single bond. But usually a con-
dition is added, that if the obhgor shall do
a certain act, or pay a certain sum of mo-
ney, on or before a time specified, ilie
obligation shall be void ; otherwise it shall
BON
BON
BON
leinain in full force. If the condition is
uot perfornied, the bond becomes forfeit-
ed, and the obhgor and his heirs are hable
to the payment of the wliole sum.
Blackstone.
BOND, a. [for bound.] In a state of servi-
tude, or slavery; captive.
Whetlier we be Jews or Gentiles ; whether
we be bond or free. 1 Cor. xii.
BOND, V. t. To give bond for, as for duties
or custom.s at a custom house ; to secure
payment of, by giving a bond.
clearances were g
was made that the cargo consisted ol' bonded or
debentured goods. H or in disguise.
In the U. States, it is applied to the goods on
which the customs arise, and to the duties
secured by bond.
BOND' AGE, n. Slavery or invohmtary
vitude ; captivity ; iinprisonnient ; restraint
of a person's liberty by compulsion. In
ancient English law, villenage.
a. Obligation; tie of duty.
He must resolve not to be Ijrought under the
bondage of observing oaths. South.
3. In scripture, spiritual subjection to sin and
corrupt passions, or to the yoke of the
ceremonial law ; servile fear. Heb. ii. Gal.
ii. Rom. viii.
BOND'ED, pp. Secured by bond, as duties.
Bonded goods are those for the duties on
which bonds are given at the custom
BOND'MAID, n. [bond and maid.-\ A fe-
male slave, or one bound to service with-
out wages, in opposition to a hired ser-
vant.
BOND'MAN, n. [bond and man.] A man
slave, or one bound to service without
wages. In old English law, a villain, or
tenant in villenage.
BOND'SERVANT, n. [bond and servant]
A slave ; one who is subjected to
thority of another, or whose person and
libertv are restrained.
BOND'SERVICE, n. [bond and service.'
The condition of a bond-servant; slavery
BOND'SLAVE, n. [bond and slave.] A per
son in a state of slavery ; one whose
person and liberty are subjected to the
authority of a master.
BONDS'MAN, n. [bond and maii.] A slave.
Obs. Derham.
2. A surety ; one who is bound, or who
gives security, for another.
BONDS'WOMAN, \ [bond and woman.']
BOND'-WoMAN, \ "' A woman slave.
B. Jonson.
^ON'DUe, n. A species of Guilandina, or
nickar tree, the yellow nickar, a climbing
plant, a native of the West Indies, bearing
a pod containing two hard seeds of the
size of a child's marble. Encyc.
BONE, n. [Sax. ban ; Sw. hen ; D. been,
bone or leg ; Ger. bein, a leg ; Dan. been,
leg or bone. These
which is set or fixed. ,
.1. A firm hard substance, of a dull white
color, composing some part of the frame
of an animal body. The bones of aJi ani-
mal support all the softer parts, as the
flesh and vessels. They vary in texture
in different bones, and in different part
of the same bone. The long bones are
compact in their middle portion, witli
a central cavity occupied by a network of
jilates and fibers, and cellular or spongy
at the extremities. The flat bones are
compact externally, and cellular internal-
ly. The bones in a fetus are soft and
cartilaginous, but they gradually harden
with age. Tlie ends of the long bones
are larger than the middle, which renders
the articulations more firm, and in the fe-
tus are distinct portions, called epiphyses.
Bones are su])plied with blood vessels,
and in the fetus, or in a diseased state, are
very vascular. They are probably also
furnished with nerves and absorbents,
though less easily detected in a sound
state. They are covered with a thin,
strong membrane, called the periosteum,
which, together with the bones, has very
little sensibility in a sound state, but when
inflamed, is extremely sensible. Their
cells and cavities are occupied by a fatty
substance, called the medulla or marrow.
They consist of earthy matter, rather more
than half, gelatin, one sixteenth, and car-
tilage, about one third of the whole. The
earthy matter gives them their solidity,
and consists of phosphate of lime, with a
small ])ortion of carbonate of lime and
phosphate of magnesia.
Cyc. Wislnr. Thomson.
ii. A piece of bone, with fragments of meat
adhering to it.
To be upon the bones, is to attack. [Liltle
used, and vulgar.']
To make no bones, is to make no scru])le ; a
metaphor taken from a dog who greedily
swallows meat that has no bones.
Johnson .
Bones, a sort of bobbins, made of trotter
bones, for weaving lace ; also dice.
Johnson
BONE, V. t. To take out bones from tin
flesh, as in cookery. Johnson
2. To |iut whale bone into stays. Ash
BO'NE-ACE, 71. [bone and ace.] A game a
cards, in which he who has the highest
card turned up to him, wins the bone, thai
is, one half the stake. Encyc
BO'NE-ACHE, n. Pain in the bones. Shot
BO'NED, pp. Deprived of bones, as ii
cookery.
BO'NED, a. Having bones ; used in com-
position ; as high-boned ; strong-boned.
BO'NELACE, n. [bone and lace.'] A lace
made of linen thread, so called because
made witli bobbins of bone, or for its stiff-
ness. Obs.
BO'NELESS, a. Without bones ; wanting
bones ; as boneless gums. Shak.
BO'NE-SET, V. t. [bone and set.] To set a
dislocated bone ; to unite broken bones.
Wiseman
BO'NE-SET, n. A plant, the thorough-
wort, a species of Eupatorium.
BO'NE-SETTER, n. [bone and set.] One
whose occupation is to set, and restore
broken and dislocated bones.
BO'NE-SETTING, n. That branch of sur-
gery which consists in replacing broken
and luxated bones ; the practice of setting
bones.
BO'NE-SPAVIN, n. [bone and spavin.] A
bony excrescence, or hard swelling, on the
inside of the hock of a horse's leg ; usu-
ally cured by blistering and firing, or
caustic blisters. Encyc.
BONET'TA, n. A sea fish. Qu. boaito.
Herbert.
BON'FIRE, n. [Fr. bon, good, and Jire.]
A fire made as an expression of pubhc
joy and exultation.
BON'GRACE, n. [Fr. bonne, and grace.]
A covering for the forehead. [JVot used.]
Beaum.
BO'NIFy, V. t. To convert into good. [JVot
used.] Cudworth.
BONlTO, n. [Sp.] A fish of the tunny kind,
growing to the length of three feet, and
found on the American coast, and in the
tropical climates. It has a greenish back,
and a white silvery belly.
Hawksworth. Pennant. Diet. JVat. Hist.
BON'MOT, 71. [Fr. bon, good, and mot, a
word.]
A jest ; a witty repartee. This word is not
anglicized, and mav be pronounced 6omo,
BON'NET, n. [Fr. bonnet; Sp. bonete ; Ir.
boinead ; Arm. boned.]
1. A covering for the head, in common use
before the introduction of hats. The word,
as now used, signifies a cover for the
head, worn by females, close at the sides,
and projecting over the forehead.
2. In fortification, a small work with two
faces, having only a parapet, with two
rows of palisades about 10 or 12 feet dis-
tant. Generally it is raised above the
salient angle of the counterscarp, and com-
municates with the covered way.
Encye.
Bonnet a prelre, or priest's bonnet, is an
outwork, having at the head three sahent
angles and two inwards. Johnson.
3. In sea language, an addition to a sail, or
an additional part laced to the foot of a
sail, in small vessels, and in moderate
winds. Mar. Diet.
BONNET-PEPPER, n. A species of Cap-
sicum, or guinea pepper.
Fam. of Plants.
BON'NIBEL, n. [Fr. bonne, and belle.] A
handsome girl. Spenser.
BON'NILASS, n. [bonny and lass.] A
beautiful girl. Spenser.
BON'NILY, adv. [See Bonny.] Gayly :
handsomely ; plumply.
BON'NINESS, n. Gayety ; handsomeness ;
plumpness. [Little used.]
BON'NY, a. [Fr. bon,bonne, good ; L. bomts.
See iSoon.]
1. Handsome ; beautiful.
Till bonny Susan sped across the plain.
Gay.
2. Gay ; merry ; frolicksome ; cheerful ;
blithe.
Blithe and bonriy. Shak.
3. In familiar language, plump, as phmip
and healthful persons are most inclined to
mirth.
[This word is much used in Scotland.]
BON'NY, n. Among miners, a bed of ore,
differing from a squat in being round,
whereas a squat is flat ; or a distinct bed
of ore, that communicates with no vein.
Bailey. Encyc.
BON'NY-€LABBER, n. [Qu. bonmj, or
Ir. haine, milk, and clabber; Ar. \,xl
biestings ; G. lab, D. kb, rennet.]
A word used in Ireland for sour buttermilk.
Johnsoit.
BOO
BOO
BOO
turned or become thick in the i)rocess of
souring, and appUed only to that part
which is thick.
BON'TEN, n. A narrow woolen stufF.
Bo.NUM MAGNUM, [L.] A spccics of plum.
Johiison.
BO'NY, a. [fromione.] Consisting of bones
full of bones ; pertaining to bones.
'i. Having large or prominent bones; stout
strong.
BON'ZE, n. bon'zu. An Indian priest ; i
name used in China, Tunkin and the
neigboring countries. In China, the Bon
zes are the priests of the Fohists, or sect
of Folii. They are distinguished from the
laity by their dress. In Japan, they are
gentlemen of family. In Tunkin, every
pagoda has at least two bonzes belonging
to it, and some have thirty or forty. In
China, the number of bonzes is estimated
at fifty thousand, and they are represented
as idle dissolute men. Encyc
BOO'BY, n. [Sp. bobo, a dunce or ideot, a
rutr for the neck, a buffoon, the bird
bobo. ]
I. A dunce ; a stupid I'ellow ; a lubber; one
void of wisdom, or intellect. Prior.
3. A fowl of the pelican genus, of a brown
and white color, nmch varied in different
individuals. This fowl is found among
the Bahama isles, feeds upon fish and lays
its eggs on the bare rocks. It has a joint
in the upper mandible, by which it car
raise it without opening the mouth. Encyc
BOQK, n. [Sa.\. boc, a book and the beech
tree ; Goth, boka ; Icelandic book ; D. boek,
a book, and the mast of beech ; beuke, a
beech tree.; G. buck, a book, and buche, a
beech; Dan. 6og-; 8w. bok ; Russ. buk ; Gyp-
sey, buchos. Like the Latin liber, book sig-
nifies primarily bark and beech, the tree
being probably named from its bark.]
A general name of every literary composi
tion which is printed ; but appropriately, i
printed composition bound ; a volume.
The name is given also to any number of
written sheets when bound or sewed to-
gether, and to a volume of blank paper,
intended for any species of writing, as for
memorandums, for accounts, or receipt;
% A particular part of a literary composi-
tion ; a division of a subject in the same
volume.
3. A volume or collection of sheets in which
accounts are kept ; a register of debts and
credits, receipts and expenditures, &c.
In books, in kind remembrance ; in favor.
I was so much in his books, that at his de-
cease he left me his lamp. .Addison.
Without book, by memory; without read-
ing ; without notes ; as, a sermon was de-
livered tvithout book. This phrase is used
also in the sense of without authority ; as, a
man asserts without book.
BOOK) »• '• To enter, write or register in a
book.
BOOK-ACCOUNT', n. [book and account.]
An account or regi.^ter of debt or credit in
a book.
BOOK'BINDER, n. [book and bind.] One
whose occupation is to bind books.
BOOK'BINDING, n. The art or practice of
binding books ; or of sewing tlie sheets,
and covering them with leather or otlier
material.
BOOK'ED, nn. Written in a book; registered.
ByOK'FUL, a. [book and fuU.] Full of
tions gleaned from books ; crowded with|
undigested learning. Pope.
BOOK'INii, ppr. Registering in a book.
BOOK'ISH, a. Given to reading; fond o
study; more acquainted with books thai
with men. Shak
BOOK'ISHLY, adv. In the way of being]
addicted to books or much reading.
Thurlow.
BOOK'ISHNESS, n. Addictedness to books ;|
fonilness for study. Whitlock
BOOK'-KEEPER, n. [book and keep.] On(
who keeps accounts, or the accounts oi
another ; the officer who has the charge
of keeping the books and accounts in
public office.
BOOK'-KEEPING, n. [book unA keep.] Tl
art of recording mercantile transactions i
a regular and systematic maimer ; the art
of keeping accounts in such a manner
that a man may know the true state of
his business and property, or of his debts
and credits, by an inspection of his books.
The books for this purpose are, 1. a Waste
Book, or blotter, in which are registered all
accounts or transactions in the order in
which they take place ; 2. the Journal,
which contains the accounts transferred
from the waste book, in the same order
but expressed in a technical style ; 3. tl
Leger, in which articles of the same kind
are collected together, from the journal,
and arranged under proper titles.
In addition to these, several others are used
as cash-book ; book of charges of merchan-
dize ; book of house-expenses ; invoice-book ;
sales-book ; bill-book ; receipt-hook ; letter-
book ; pocket-book ; the use of which may
be uiulerstood from the names. Encyi'
BOOK'LAND, } [book and land.] In old
BOCK'LAND, $ "• English laivs, charter
land, held by deed under certain rents and
free-services, which differed nothing from
free socage lands. This species of tenure
has given rise to the modern freeholds.
Blackstone.
BOOK'LEARNED, a. [book and learn.]
Versed in books ; acquainted with books
and literature ; a term sometimes imply-
ing an ignorance of men, or of the com
mon concerns of life. Dn/den
BOOK'LEARNING, n. Learning acquired
by reading ; acquaintance with books and
literature ; sometimes implying want of
practical knowledge. Sidney.
BOOK' LESS, a. [book and less.] Without
books ; unlearned. Shenstonc
BOOK'MAKING, n. The practice of writing
and publishing books.
BOOK'MAN, n. [book and man.] A man
whose profession is the study of books.
Shak.
BOOK'MATE,n. [book and mate.] A school-
fellow. Shak.
BOOK'OATII, n. The oath made on the
book, or Bible. Shak
BOOKSELLER, n. [book and sell] One
whose occupation is to sell books.
BOOK'WORM,)!. [book and ivorm.] A worm
or mite that eats holes in books.
2. A student closely attached to books, or
addicted to study; also, a reader without
judgment. Pope.
BOO'LEY, n. In Ireland, one who has no
settled habitation, but wanders li-oiu plact:
to place, with his flocks and herds, living
on their milk, like the Tartars. Spenser.
BOOM, n. [D. boom, a tree, a pole, a beam, a
bar, a rafter ; Goth. bag7ns ; Ger. baum;
Eng. 6enm ; D. boomen, to push forward
with a pole ; Dan. bom, a rail or bar.]
.\ long pole or spar, run out from various
parts of a ship, or other vessel, for tho
jjurpose of extending the bottom of par-
ticular sails ; as the jib-boom, sludding-saH
boom, main-boom, square-saU boom. &c.
Mar. Did.
2. A strong iron chain, fastened to spars, and
extended across a river, or the mouth of
a harbor, to prevent an enemy's ships
from i)assing.
•"}. A pole set up as a mark to direct sen-
men how to keep the channel, in shallow
water.
BOOM, ti. i. [Sax. byma, byme, a trumpet ;
bymian, to blow or sound a trumpet ; D.
bomme, a drum; bommen, to drum; W.
btomp, a hollow sound. We see the senses
of sounding, uttering the voice, swelling
and rushing forward, are connected.]
1. In marine language, to rush with vio-
lence, as a ship under a press of sail.
2. To swell ; to roll and roar, as waves.
The hoarse waves booming to the ocean shore.
Hillhouse.
3. To cry as the bittern. Goldsmith.
The Dutch use bom for the sound of an
emptv barrel, and bommen is to drum.
BOON,"/!. [L. bonus; Vr.bon; Norm. 6ooJi ;
It. iuojio ; Sp. bueno ; Port, bom, good.]
1. A gift ; a grant ; a benefaction ; a present ;
a favor granted. Addison.
2. [Dan. bon, Sw. bon, a petition.] A
prayer, or petition. Ash.
OON, a. [Ft. bon ; L. bonus.] Gay ; merry ;
kind ; bountiful ; as a Joon companion.
Milton.
BO'OPS, n. The pike-headed whale, with a
double pipe in its snout, and a hard horny
ridge on its back ; so named from its sharj)
pointed nose. Encyc.
BOOR, n. [Sax. gebur, a countryman or
farmer ; D. boer, a rustic, or farmer ; G.
bauer, a countryman and a builder, from
bauen, to build, to cultivate; Sax. byan, or
bugian, and gcbugian ; D. bouwen ; Dan.
bygger ; Sw. byggia, to build. Boor is a
contracted word.]
A countryman ; a peasant ; a rustic ; a plow-
man ; a clown ; hence, one who is rude in
manners, and ilUterate. Dryden.
BOORISH, a. Clownish ; rustic ; awkward
in manners ; illiterate. Shak.
BOOR'ISHLY, adv. In a clownish manner.
BOOR'ISHNESS, n. Clownishness ; rusti-
ty ; coarseness of manners.
BOOSE, 71. [Sax. bosig, bosg ;^ Heb. Ch.
OiaN, a stall or crib ; Ar.
..\
ut up or imprison.]
A stall or inclosure for an ox, cow or other
cattle. [.Yot iised or local.]
BOOSE, > . , r«r . ■ .
BOUSF \ v. 1. 0002. [\\ . 6o«, to immerse.]
To drink hard; to guzzle. [Vulgar.]
BOO'SY, a. boo'zy. A Uttle intoxicated ; mer-
rv with liquor. [Vulgar.]
BOOST, V. t. To lift or raise by pushing ; to
push up. [A common vulgar uvrd in J^.
England.]
BOO
B O R
B O R
BOOT, V. t. [Sax. bot, bote, reparation, sat-j
isfactioii, a making good, amends ; GothJ
boti/an, to profit or help ; S\v. bot, a fine ;
n.'boete, fine, penalty, repentance ; boeten,
' to amend, or repair ; G. busse, boot, fine,
jienaiice ; bii-ssen, to amend ; Dan. bodder,
to repair, or requite ; boder, to expiate, or
make atonement ; W. in:, profit; buziaw,
to profit. We observe this word is from
the root ot' better, denothig more, or ad-[
\ ance ; Eiig. but. The primary sense ofi
llie root is to advance, or carry forward.]
I. To ])rofit ; to advantage.
It shall not boat them. Hooker. \
But more generally followed by it, what
boots it '/ Indeed it is seldom used, except
in the latter phrase,
'i. To enrich ; to benefit.
1 will boot thee. Ob.i. .S'/mfr.
BOOT, n. Profit ; gain ; advantage ; tliat}
which is given to make the exchange
equal, or to supply the deficiency of value
in one of the things exchanged. Shi:k.
12. To boot, in addition to; over and above:
besides; a compensation for the dificrence
of value between things bartered ; as, I
will give my house for yours, with one
hundred dollars <o too*. [Sax. /oto(e. Tlie
phrase is pure Saxon.]
;i. Spoil ; plunder. [See Booty.] Shnk.
BOOT, 11. [I''r. botte, a boot, a bunch ; Ir.l
butais; W.botasm, botas ; Sp.bota,a.boot,\
a butt, or cask, a leather bag to carry]
li(|uors ; Port, bota ; It. botte, boots, a cask.]
1. A covering for the leg, made of leather,
and united with a shoe. This garment
was originally intended for horsemen, butj
is now generally worn by gentlemen on
foot. The difterent sorts are Jishhig-boots,'
worn in water ; hunting-boots, a thinner
kind for sportsmen ; jack-boots, a strong
kind for horsemen ; and half-boots.
•i. A kind of rack for the leg, formerly used
to tortiu'e criminals. This was made of
boards bound fast to the legs by cords ; or
a boot or buskin, made wet and drawn
upon the legs and then dried by the fire,
so as to contract and squeeze the legs,
Encyc.
'■i. A box covered with leather in the fore
part of a coach. Also, an apron or leath-
ern cover for a gig or chair, to defend
persons from rain and mud. This latter
application is local and improper.
BOOT, V. t. To put on boots.
BOOT'€ATCHER, n. [boot and eatch.] The
person at an inn whose business is to pull
oft" boots. Obs. Sivifl.
BOOT'ED, pp. Having boots on. Dryden.
BOOTEE', rt. A word sometimes used for
a half or short boot.
BOO'TES, n. A northern constellation,
consisting, according to P'lamstead's cata-
logue, of fifty-four stars.
BOOTH, n. [W. bwth ; Ir. hoith or both ; G
bude ; Russ. budka ; Ch. n'3, bith, a house,
and to lodge for a night ; also in the Ar.
Sam. Syr.^th. and Heb. beth, a house or
booth, a nest for birds. Probably the
sense is, a dwelling, from lodging, abiding."
A house or shed built of boards, boughs of
trees, or other slight materials, for a tem-
porary residence. Bible. Camden.
BOOT'-HOSE, n. [boot and hose.] Stocking-
hose or spatterdashes, in lieu of boots.
Shak
BOOT'LEG, n. [boot and leg.] Leather cm
out for the leg of a boot. .4s/t.
BOOT'LESS, a. [from boot.] Unavailing;
unprofitable; useless; without advantage
or success. IShak.
BOOT'LESSLY, adv. Without use or profit.
BOOT'-TOPPING, n. [boot and top.] The
operation of cleansing a ship's bottom,
near the surface of the water, by scraping
oft' the grass, slime, shells, &c., and daub-
ing it with a mixture of tallow, sidpliur
and rosin. Mar. Diet.
BOOT'-TREE, or BOOT'-LAST, n. An
instrument to stretch and widen the leg of
a boot, consisting of two pieces, sliaped
like a leg, between which, wlien put into
the boot, a wedge is diHven. Encyc.
BOOT'Y, n. [Sw. byte; Dan. byUe ; D
buit ; G. beute ; It. bottino ; Sp. botin :
Fr. butin ; D. buiten, to rove. See Buf.j
S])oil taken from an enemy in war ; plun-
der ; pillage. Milton.
That which is seized by violence and rob-
bery. Shak.
To play booty is to play dishonestly with an
intent to lose. Johnson.
BOPEEP, n. [bo, an exclamation, iindpeep.]
The act of looking out or from behind
something and drawing back, as children
iu play, for the purpose of frigliteuing eacli
other." Shale. Dryden.
BO'RABLE, a. [See Bore.] That may be
bored. [Little tised.]
BORAOH'IO, n. [Sp. borraeho, drunk.] A
drunkard. Congreve.
2. A bottle or cask. [JVol used.] Dryden.
BORAC'le, a. [See Borax.] Pertaining to
or produced from borax.
iracic acid, a compound of a peculiar base,
boron, with oxygen. It is generally ob-
tained from borax, by adding sulphuric
acid. It it also foimd native, in certain
mineral springs in Italy. Webster.
BO'RACTTE, n. Borate of magnesia ; mag-
nesian earth combined with boracic acid.
It is generally of a cubic form, and remark-
able for its electrical properties when heat-
ed. Cleaveland.
BO'RACITED, a. Combined with boracic
acid.
BO'RA€OUS ACID, the base of boracic
acid, partially satm-ated with oxygen.
BORATE, n. bur' rage. A jilant of the ge-
nus Borago.
BO'RATE, ?!. A sait formed by a combina-
tion of boracic acid with any base satura-
ted. Fourcroy.
BORAX,
[Pcrs.
; Ar.
O ^j baraka, to si
'J-^
borakon, fron
Russ. bura.]
Sub-borate of soda ; a salt formed by the
combination of boracic acid with the ma
rine alkali or soda. It is brought from tiv
East Indies, where it is said to be found
at the bottom or on the margin of certain
lakes, particularly in Thibet. It is saiil to
be artificially prepared in Persia, like niter.
It comes in three states. 1. Crude borax,
tinkal, or chrysocolla, from Persia, ir
greenish masses of a greasy feel, or ii
opake crystals. 2. Borax of China, some
what jiurer, in small plates or masses,
irregularly crystalized, and of a dirty
white. 3. Dutch or purified borax, in
portions of transparent crystals, which is
the kind generally used. It is an excel-
lent flux in docimastic operations, a styp-
tic in medicine, and usefid in sodering
metals. Encyc. Cleaveland. Hooper.
B0RDA6E, n. [See Bordlands.]
BORD'EL, > „ [Fr. bordel, a brothel ; D.
BORDEL'LO, ^ bordeel ; Ger. bordeU; It.
bordello ; Sp. burdel ; Arm. bordell ; from
hord, a house. Tliis is the Eng. brothel.]
A brothel ; a bawdy-house ; a house devo-
il to ])rostitution. B. Jonson.
BORD'ELLER, n. The keeper of a brothel.
Gower.
BORD'ER, n. \¥r.bord; Arm. id; Sp. ior-
do ; Port, borda ; It. bordo. See hoard.]
The outer edge of any thing ; the extreme
part or surroimding line ; the confine or
exterior limit of a country, or of any region
or tract of land ; the exterior part or edge
of a garment, or of the corol of plants ;
the rim or brim of a vessel, but not often
applied to vessels ; the exterior part of a
garden, and hence a bank raised at the
side of a garden, for the ctdtivation of
flowers, and a row of plants ; in short,
the outer part or edge of things too nu-
merous to be specified.
BORD'ER, V. i. To confine; to touch at the
edge, side or end ; to be contiguous or ad-
jacent ; with o?i or upon ; as, Connecticut
on the tiuith borders on or upon Massachu-
setts.
To approach near to.
Wit, which borders upon profaneness, de-
serves to be branded as folly. Tlllotaon.
BORD'ER, V. t. To make a border ; to
adorn with a border of ornaments ; as, to
border a garment or a garden.
2. To reach to ; to touch at the edge or end ;
to confine upon ; to be contiguous to.
Sheba and Raamah border the Persian gulf.
Raleigh.
.3. To confine within bounds ; to limit. [JVot
used.] Shak.
BORD'ERED, pp. Adorned or furnished
with a border.
BORD'ERER, n. One who dwells on a
border, or at the extreme part or confines
of a country, region cr tract of land ; one
who dwells near to a place. Bacon.
BORD'ERING, ppr. Lying adjacent to ;
forming a border.
BORD-IIALFPENNY, n. Money paid for
setting up boards or a stall in market.
Burn.
BORD-LA\D, n. [hord and land. See
Board.]
In old law. the domain land which a lord
kept in his hands for the maintenance of
hi^ bord, hoard, or table. Spelman.
BORD-LODE, ) [bord and had.] The
BOARD-LOAD, ^ "" service required of a
tenant to carry timber from the woods to
the lord's house ; also, the quantity of pro-
vision paid by a bord-man for bord-land.
Bailiy.
BORD-MAN, n. [bord and man.] A tenant
of bord-land, who supplied his lord with
provisions. Encyc.
BORD'-RAGING, «. An incursion upon
the borders of a country. Obs. Spenser.
BORD'-SERVICE, u. [board and service.]
The teniu-e by which bord-land was held,
B O li
B O R
B O R
whicli was the payment of a certain quan
tity of provisions to the lord. In lieu ol
this, the tenant now pays six pence an
acre. Encyc.
IJOKD'UIIE, n. In heraldry, a tract or com-
pass of metal, color or fur, within the es-
cutcheon, and around it. Bailey.
BORE, V. I. [Sax. boriaii ; tiw. bura ; D. boor-
en; Ger. bohren; Dnii. borer, to bore; i).
boor; Ger. bohrer ; Dan. borre, a borer;
h.J'oro ami perforo, to bore, to perforate;
Russ. burav, u borer ; Gr. «f tpu>, to picrc
or transfix ; also, to pass over, hi which
sense it coincides witli ferry. The Celtic
ber, bear, a spit, L. veru, irom thrusting
piercing, coincide in elements »vith tl
root. Pers. s.aj aborer.]
1. To perforate or penetrate a solid body and
make a round hole by turning an uuge
gimlet, or other instrument. Hence, to
make hollow ; to form a round hole ; as, to
bore a cannon.
2. To eat out or make a hollow by gnawing
or corroding, as a worm.
3. To penetrate or break through by turning
or labor; as, to 6ore through a crowd. Gay.
BORE, V. i. To be pierced or i)enetrated by
an uistrumcnt that turns ; as, this timber
does not bore well or is hard to bore.
1. To pierce or enter by boring ; as, an au-
ger bores well.
3. To push forward toward a certain point.
Boring to the west. Ihyden.
4. With horsemen, a horse bores, when he
carries his nose to the ground. Did.
5. In o transitive or intransitive sense, to
pierce the earth with scooping irons,
which, wlien drawn out, biiiij,' uith them
samples of the difiercnt stratuius, through
which they pass. This is a method of dis-
covering veins of ore and coal without
opening a mine. Encyc.
BORE, n. The hole made by boring. Hence,
the cavity or hollow of a gun, cannon, ])is-
tol or other fire-arm ; the caliber ; wheth-
er formed by boring or not.
2. Any instrument for making holes by
boring or turning, as an auger, gimlet or
wimble.
BORE, n. A tide, swelling above another
tide. Burke.
A sudden influx of the tide into a river
or narrow strait. Cyc.
BORE, pret. of bear. [See Bear.]
lJO'RE-€OLE, 71. A species of Br.issica
or cabbage. Fam. of Plants.
BO REAL, a. [L. borealis. See Boreas.]
Northern ; pertainhig to the north or the
north wind. Pope.
BO'REAS, n. [L. horcas; Gr. .3optas, the
north wind ; Russ. boria, boreas, and ii(-
ria, a storm or tempest; buran, a tempest
with snow. The Russ. gives the radical
sense.]
The northern wind ; a cold northerly wind.
'Mittoti.
BO'RED, pp. Perforated l>y an auger or
other turning instrument; made hollow.
BOREE', n. [F'r.] A certain dance, or move-
ment in common time, of four crotchets
in a bar ; always beginning in the last qua-
ver or las-t crotchet of the measure.
Busby.
BO'RER, )i. One who bores ; also an in-
strument to make holes with by turning
3. Terebella, the piercer, a genus of sea
worms, that pierce wood.
BORN, pp. of bear, baurn. Brought forth-
as an animal. A very useful distinction
is observed by good authors, who, in the
sense of produced or brought forth, write
this word born ; but in the sense of
ricd, write it borne. This dirterence of
orthography renders obvious the difler
eiice of pronunciation.
1. To be born, is to be produced or brought
into life. " Man is bom to trouble." A
man bom a prince or a beggar. It is follow-
ed by of, before the mother or ancestors.
Man that is bom of woman is of few days
and full of trouble. Job xiv.
2. To be born, or 6or/j again, is to be
rated and renewed ; to receive spiritual
life. John iii.
BORNE, /)/>. of 6ear. Carried; conveyed;
ipported ; defrayed.
BORNE, n. The more correct orthography
of bourn, a hmit or boundary. [See
Bourn.]
BORON, n. The combustible base of bora-
•ic a(-id. Ure
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [Golh. bairgs ; Sax.
burg, burh, beorh, l)eorg, byrig ; Ir. brog ;
I'V. bourg ; It. borgo ; Sp. 6urg-o ; D. burg
and icrg- ; Dan. 6org ; Arm. bourg ; G.
burg and berg; Gr. xupyoj; Ar.
Z^^
Sans. bura. This word, in Saxon,
terpreted a hill, heap, mountain, fortifica-
tion, castle, tower, city, house and tomb.
Hence Perga, in Paiiiphyha, Bergen, in
Norway, Burgos, in Spain, and probably
Prague, in Bohemia. In \V^. bwr, bierc,
signifies a wall, rampart, or work for de-
fense, and bwrdais is a burgess. But the
original sense probably is found in the verb.
Sax. beorgan, D. and G. hergen, Russ.
beregu, to keep, or save, that is, to make
close or secure. Hence it coincides with
park, and L. parous, saving. See the next
word. If the noun is the primary word,
denoting hill, this is from throwing to-
gether, collecting ; a sense allied to that of
making fast or close.]
Oriffinally, a fortified city or town ; hence a
hill, f(]r hills were selected for places of
(iifiiisc. But ill later times, the term city
was substinilcd to denote an episcopal
town, in which was the see of a bishop,
ami that of borough was retained for the
rest. At iiresent, the name is given appro-
I)riately to such towns and villages as
send representatives or burgesses to Par-
liament. Some boroughs are incorjiora-
fed, others are not. Blackstone. Enri/c.
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [Sax. borhoe, a sino-
ty ; borgian, to borrow ; borg, interest ;
borga, a debtor, a surety ; borgwed, a pro-
mise or bond for appearance, a pledge ;
borg-bn/ce, burg-break, violation of pledge ;
borgha'nd, borhhand, a surety or bail ; beor-
gan, to keep, guard or preserve ; G. bor-
gen, D. id., to borrow. See the preceding
word.]
In Saxon times, a main pledge, or associa-
tion of men, who were sureties or free
pledges to the king for the good behavior
of each other, andif any offense was com-
mitted in their distri<-t, they were bound
to have the oflender fonhcomiiig. Tlie
association of ten men was called a tithing,
or decenary; the presiding man was called
the tithing man, or head-borough; or iu
some places, borsholder, borough's elder.
This society was called also friburg, free
burg, frauk pledge. Ten tithings formed a
hundred, consi.-tiiig of tliat number of
surciir.-. :ui(l ilii- rli-iioiiDiiatioti is still giv-
en to till ill II 1. Is, (oniprehended in the
a.ssori.iiinii. Ill, iiiiii seems to have been
used liutli li-r the society and lor each sure-
ty. The word main, hand, wliich is at-
tached to this society, or their mutual as-
surance, indicates tliat the agreement was
ratified by shaking hands.
Spelman. Blackstone. Cowel.
Some writers have suggested that the
application of this word to towns sprung
from these associations, and of course
was posterior to them in time. See Encyc.
Art. Borough. But the word was used
for a town or castle in other nations, and
in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of
t\>e frank pledge.
In Connecticut, this word, borough, is used
for a town or a part of a town, or a village,
incorporated with certain privileges, dis-
tinct from those of other towns and of
cities ; as the Borough of Bridgeport.
In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate,
consisting of the inhabitants of a certain
district, erected by the Sovereign, with a
certain jurisdiction.
Boroughs are erected to be held of the
sovereign, as is ^'enerally the case of royal
boroughs; or of the superior of the lands
included, as in the case of boroughs of re-
gahty and barony. Royal boroughs are
generally erected for the advantage of
trade. JSnc^c.
Borough English, is a customary descent
of lands and tenements to the youngest
son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner
leaves no son, to the youngest brother.
Blackstone. Cowel.
Borough-head, the same as head-borough, the
chief of a borough. ^sk.
BOROUGH-HOLDER, n. A head-bo-
rough : a borsholder. ^/,.
BOROUGH-MASTER, n. The mayor,
governor or balift'of a borough. M.
BORRACH'IO, n. The caoutchouc, India
ibbcr, or elastic gum. [See Caoutchouc]
BOR'RELISTS, n. In church history, a
.sect of Christians in Hollaiul, .so called
from Borrel, their fouiuler, who reject the
use of the sacraments, public prayer and
all external worsliii). They lead a veiy
austere life. Encyc.
BOR'ROW, V. t. [Sax. borgian, to borrow ;
D. borgen, to borrow, lend or trust ; Ger.
borgen, the same; Dan. borger, to bor-
row ; borgen, bail, surety, pledge, war-
ranter, main-pernor ; horg, trust, credit: Sw.
horgan, a giving bail ; borg, a fortress.
The primary sense is, to malve fast or se-
1. To take from another by request and con-
sent, with a view to use the thing taken
for a time, and return it, or if the thing
taken is to be consumed or transferred in
the use, then to return an equivalent in
kind ; as, to borrow a book, a snm of money,
or a loaf of bread. It is opposed to ?enrf.
BOS
BOS
B O T
2. To take from aiiotlier, for one's own use ;[
to copy or select from the writings ofj
another author ; as, to ion-oMJ a passage
from a printed book; to borrow a title.
■3. To take or adopt for one's own use, sen-
timents, principles, doctrines and the Uke;!
as, to borrow instruction.
4. To take for use something that belongs
to another ; to assume, copy or imitate ;
as, to borrow a shape ; to borrow the man-
ners of another, or his style of writing.
BOR'ROW, n. A borrowing ; the act of
borrowing. [JVot used.]
Butof your royal presence I'll adventure
The borrow of a week. Shak
BOR'ROWED, pp. Taken by consent of
another, to be returned or its equivalent in
kind; copied; assumed.
BOR'ROWER, n. One who borrows; op-
posed to lender. [See the verb.]
U. One who takes what belongs to another
to use as one's own.
BORROWING, ppr. Taking by consent to
use and return, or to return its equivalent ;
taking what belongs to another to use as
one's own; copying; assuming; imita-
ting.
BtHJ'ROWING, n. The act of bon-owing.
[See the verb.]
IJORiS'llOLDER, n. [A contraction of
iitc/i's ealdor, borough's elder, the elder
or chief of a borough.]
The head orchief of a tithing or burg of ten
men ; the head-borough.
Lambert. Spclman.
BOS, n. [L.] In zoology, the technical name
of a genus of quadrupeds. The charac-
ters are, the horns are hollow within
and turned outward in the form of cres-
cents ; there are eight fore teeth in the
under jaw, but none in the upper ; there
are no dog teeth. The species are, the
Taurus or common ox, the Urus, aur-
ochs or bison of Europe, the Bison or buf-
falo of North America, the Bubalus or
proper buffalo of the Eastern continent,
the Caffer or Cape buffalo, the Grunniens
or yak of Thibet, and the Moschatus or
musk ox of Arctic America.
Encyc. Cuvier.
BOSCAGE, n. [Fr. boscage, now bocage, a
grove ; It. bosco ; Dan. busk ; Ger. busch
a wood, or properly a thicket or under-
wood ; Eng. bush.]
1. Wood ; under-wood ; perhaj)s, sometimes
lands covered with underwood ; also, a
thicket.
2. In old laws, food or sustenance for cattle,
which is yielded by bushes and trees.
Cowei
3. With painters, a landscape, representing
thickets of wood. Encyc
BOS'CHAS, n. The common wild duck, or
mallard, belonging to the genus Anas.
Encyc.
BOSH, n. Outline ; figure. Todd.
BOSK'ET, i [It. boschetto, a little wood,
BOS'QUET, > Ji. from bosco. See Bos
BISK'ET, ^ cage.-]
In gardening, a grove ; a compartment form-
ed by branches of trees, regularly or irreg
ularly disposed, according to fancy.
Encyc.
BOSK'Y, a. [See Boscage.] Woody ;
ered with thickets. Milton
BO'SOiM, n. s as z. [Sax. bosm, bosum ; U.
boezem ; G. busen. Qu. Ch. r\r2 or am,
the breast, uber, mamma.]
1. The breast of a human being and the jiarts
adjacent.
The folds or covering of clothes about the
breast.
Put thy hand in thy bosom. Ex. iv.
3. Embrace, as with the arms; inclosurc ;
compass; often implying friendship or af-
fection ; as, to Uve in the bosom of a churcli.
4. The breast, as inclosing the heart ; or the
interior of the breast, considered as the
seat of the passions.
Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Eccles.
5. The breast, or its interior, considered as a
close place, the receptacle of secrets.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by
hiding my iniquity in my bosom. Job xxxi.
6. Any inclosed place ; the interior ; as the
bosom of the earth or of the deep.
7. The tender affections ; kindness ; favor ;
as the son of his bosom ; the wife of thy
bosom.
He shall cany the lambs in his bosom. Is. xl.
8. The arms, or embrace of the arms. Ps.
9. Inclination ; desire. [JVol used.} Shak.
Bosom, in composition, implies intimacy,
affection and confidence ; as a bosom-friend,
an intimate or confidential friend; bosom-
lover, bosom-interest, bosom-secret, &e. In
such phrases, bosom may be considered as
an attribute eiiuivalent to intimate, con-
fidential, dear.
i)'SO.M, v. t. To inclose in the bosom ; to
keep with care.
Bosom \ip my counsel. Shak.
2. To conceal ; to hide from view.
To happy convents bosom'd deep in vines
Pope.
BO'SOMED, pp. Inclosed in the breast ;
concealed.
J'SON, n. A boatswain ; a popular, but
corrupt pronunciation.
The merry boson. Dryden
BOSPO'RIAN, a. [from Bosporus.] Per-
taining to a bosporus, a strait or narrow
sea between two seas, or a sea and a lake
The Alans forced the Bosporian kings to pay
them tribute, and exterminated the Taurians.
Tooke.
BOS'PORUS, )i. [Or. ,301!, an ox, and Ttopoj, a
passage.]
A narrow sea or a strait, between two
or between a sea and a lake, so called, it
is supposed, as being an ox-passage,
strait over which an ox may swim. So
our northern ancestors called a strait
sound, that is, a swim. The term Bospo-
rus has been particularly applied to the
strait between the Propontis and the Eux
ino, called the Thracian Bosporus ; and to
the strait of Caffa, called the Cimmerian
Bosporus, which connects the Palus Ma^o-
tis or sea of Azof, with the Euxine.
D'Anille
BOSS, n. [Fr. bosse ; Arm. 6of:. In D. bos h
a bunch, a bundle, a truss, a tuft, a bush, i
sheaf, whence bosch, G. busch, a bush, 01
thicket. In W. both is the boss of a buck
ler, the nave of a wheel, and a bottle, and
hence W. bothel, a rotundity, a bottle or
any round vessel, a wheal or blister. A
boss is a protuberance, either from shoot-
ing, projecting, or from collecting and
forming a mass.]
1. A stud or knob ; a protuberant ornament,
of silver, ivoty, or other material, used on
bridles, harness, &c.
2. A protuberant part ; a prominence ; as
the boss of a buckler.
3. A round or swelhng body of any kind; a»
fcossofwood. Moxon.
4. A water-conduit, in form of a tun-bellied
figure. Ash. Bailey.
BOSS'AGE, n. [from boss ; Fr. bossage.]
1. A stone in a building which has aprojec-
ture, and is laid rough, to be afterwards
carved into moldings, capitals, coats of
arms, &c. Encyc.
2. Rustic work, consisting of stones which
advance beyond the naked or level of the
building, by reason of indentures or chan-
nels left in the joinings ; chiefly in the
corners of edifices, and called rustic quoins.
Tlie cavities are sometimes round, some-
times beveled or in a diamond form,
sometimes inclosed with a cavetto, and
sometimes with a listel. Encyc.
BOSS'ED, pp. Studded ; ornamented with
bosses. Shak.
BOSS'I VE, a. Crooked ; deformed. Osborne.
BOSS' Y, a. Containing a boss; ornamented
His head recUning on his bossy shield.
Popf
BOS'TRVeHITE, n. [Gr. 0o;pvxos.] A
gem in the form of a lock of hair. Jlsh.
BOS'VEL, n. A plant, a species of crow-
foot. Johnson .
BOT. [See Bots.]
BOTAN'le, I [See Botany.] Pertain-
BOTAN'l€AL, $ "' ing to botany ; relating
to plants in general ; also, containing plants,
as a botanic garden.
BOTAN'l€ALLY, adv. According to th«
system of botany.
BOT'ANIST, n. One skilled in botany ; one
versed in the knowledge of plants or vege-
tables, their structure, and generic and
specific differences.
The botanist is he who can affix similar names
to similar vegetables, and difTerent names to dif-
ferent ones, so as to be intelligible to every one
Linne
BOT'ANIZE, V. i. To seek for plants ; to
investigate the vegetable kingdom ; to
study plants.
He could not obtain pennission to botanize
upon mount Sabber. A'iebuhr, Trans.
B0TAN0L'06Y, n. [Gr. iiotwvr,, a plant,
and ?ioyos, discourse.] A discourse upon
plants. Diet.
BOTANOM'ANCY, ?^. [fiotwr;, a plant,
and itavTtM, divination.]
An ancient species of divination by means of
plants, especially sage and fig leaves. Per-
sons wrote their names and questions on
leaves, which they exposed to the wind,
and as many of the letters as remained in
their places were taken up, and being
joined together, contained an answer to
the question. Encyc.
BOT'ANY, n. [Gr. jSoravr, a plant ; Pers.
* J ^ J " shrub ; probably allied to bud, to
shoot.]
That branch of naturul histoid which treats
of vegetables ; a science which treats of
B O T
B O T
B O T
the (lift'erent plants, and of the distinguish-
ing marks by which each individual spe-
cies may be known from e%ery other.
Martyn. Encyc.
Or, botany is the science of the structure,
functions, properties, habits and arrange-
ment of plants, and of the technical cliar-
acters by which they are distinguished.
Cyc.
BOTAR'GO, n. [Sp.] A relishing .sort ol
food, made of the roes of the mullet, much
used on the coast of the Mediterranean, at
an incentive to drink.
Johnson. Chambers.
BOTCH, n. [It. *02:a, [botza,] a swelling,
or rather »ez2o, a piece ; the latter is the
F,ng. patch.]
1. A swelling on the skin ; a large ulcer-
ous affection.
Botches and blains must all his flesh iiiiboss,
Aliltoii.
a. A patch, or the part of a garment patchcil
or mended in a clumsy manner ; ill-finish
cd work in mending.
3. Tliat which resembles a botch ; a part
added clumsily ; adventitious or ill-applied
words.
If those words are not notorious botches, I am
deceived. Dryden.
BOTCH, V. t. To mend or patch with a nee-
dle or awl, in a clumsy manner, as a gar-
ment ; to mend or repair awkwardly, as a
system of government. Hudibras.
2. To put together unsuitably, or unskilfully ;
to make use of unsuitable pieces.
For treason botched in rhyme will be thy li;ine.
Dry den .
3. To mark with botches.
Younc; Hvlas botched with stains. Garth.
BOTCH'ED,';?^. Patched clumsily ; mended
unskilfully ; marked with botches.
nOTCH'ER, n. A clumsy workman at
mending ; a mender of old clothes, wheth-
er a tailor or cobler. Eltjot.
BOTCH'Y, a. Marked with botches ; full of
botches.
BOTE, n. [The old orthography of 6oo(, but
retained in law, in composition. See
Boot.']
1. In /au', compensation ; amends; satisfac-
tion ; as manbote, a compensation for a
man slain. Also, payment of any kind.
'2. A privilege or allowance of necessaries,
u.sed in composition as equivalent to the
French estovers, supplies, necessaries ; as
house-bote, a sufficiency of A^ood to repair
a house or for fuel, sometimes called J?re-
hote ; so plow-bote, cart-botc, wood for ma-
king or repairing instruments of husband-
ry ; hay-bote or hedge-bote, wood for hedges
or fences, &c. These were privileges en-
joyed by tenants under the feudal system.
Blackstonc.
BO'TELESS, a. In vain. [See Bootless.]
BOTET'TO, n. A small thick fish of Mexico,
about eight inches long, whh a flat belly,
and convex back. When taken out of tlie
water it swells, and if kicked, will burst.
Its liver is deadly poison. Clavigero.
BOTH, a. [Sax. butic, bulwu, or batwa, (qu.
Goth, bayolhs ;) Ir. beit ; Svv. b&da ; Dan.
baade ; D. and Ger. fceirfc ; in Ancient Af-
rican, na bet, beth, two. Buxt. 18(50.]
Two, considered as distinct from others or
by themselves ; the one and the other ; Fr.
tous les deux ; l' un et P autre ; as, here
are two books, take them both.
This word is often placed before the nouns
with which it is connected.
He understands how to manage both public
and private concerns. Guth.Quintilian, p. 4
It is often used as a substitute for nouns.
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave
them to Abimelech : and both of them made <
covenant. Gen. .\xi.
Both often represents two members of a sen-
tence.
He will not bear the loss of his rank, because
he can bear the loss of his estate ; but he will
bear both, because he is prepared for both.
Bolingbroke on Exile
Both often pertains to adjectives or attri-
butes, and in this case generally precedes
them in construction ; as, he endeavored
to render commerce both disadvantagei
and infamous. Mkkie's Lusiad.
BOTH'ER, the vulgar pronunciation of
yother. [See Pother.]
BOTll'Nl€, ? Pertaining to Bothnia,
BOTH'NIAN, P' province of Sweden, an
to a gidf of the Baltic sea, which is so
called from the province, which it pene
trates. I'inkerton uses Bolhnic, as a noui
for the gulf, and Barlow uses Bothnian, in
the same manner.
Pink. Art. Sweden. Columb. 9. 564
BOTO'TOE, n. A bird of the parrot kiiid,
of a fine blue color, found in the Philippine
isles. Did. ofjyat. Hist.
BO'TRYOID, I [Gr. fSorpvj, a bunch
BOTRYOI'DAL, S of grapes, and uSof,
form ; Fr. botle, a bunch or bundle ; Arm.
bod, hot, a grape.]
Having the form of a bunch of grapes; hke
grapes ; as a mineral presenting an aggre-
gation of small globes. Kirwan. Phillips.
BO'TRYOLITE, re. [Gr. jSorpvs, supra, and
7.t9o5, Stone.]
Literally, grai)e-stone. This mineral occurs
in mammillary or botryoidal concretions,
in a bed of magnetic iron in gneiss, near
Arendal in Norway. Its colors are pearl-
gray, grayish or reddish white, and pale
rose-red, and form concentric stripes.
Cyc.
BotiTolite is a variety of siliceous borate of
lime. It is found near the Passaic falls in
New- Jersey. Cleavdand.
BOTS, n. generally used in the plural. [Qu.
Pers. pot, teredo, a worm that eats wood.]
A species of small worms foimd in the intes-
tines of horses. They are the larvas of a
species of (Estrus or gad-fly, whicli depos-
its its eggs on the tips of the haii-s, gener-
ally of the fore-legs and mane, whence
they are taken into the mouth and swal-
lowed. This word is also applied to the
lai-vas of other species of CEstrus, found
under the hides of oxen, in the nostrils of
sheep, &c. , Cyc.
BOTTLE, n. [Fr. bouteille ; Arm. boulailh ;
Ir. boiii, buideal ; W. both, a boss, a bottle,
the nave of a wheel ; bot, a round body ;
botas, from bot, a boot, a buskin ; botwm, a
button ; and from both, the W. has also
bothell, a bottle, a round vessel, a wheal or
blister ; Sp. botella, a bottle, and botilla, a
small wine bag, from bota, a leather bag
for wine, a butt or cask, a boot ; It. bottigl-
ia, a bottle ; botle, a butt, a cask, and boots ;
Russ. bulilka, a bottle. In G. beutel, a bag,
a purse, seems to be the Sp. botilla. In
Fr. bottc is a boot, a bunch or bundle, bolle]
defoin, a bottle of hay. It wouldseem that!
bottle is primarily a bag, and from the sense
of swelling, bulging, or collecting into a
bunch ; if so, the word was originally ap-
plied to the bags of skins used as bottles
in Asia. Yet the primal-)- sense is not
easily ascertained. The Arabic 1 as Jaj
a duck, Sp. palo, and urceus coriaccus in
<pio lirjuidiora circumferunt viatores.
Cast.]
. A hollow vessel of glass, wood, leather or
other material, with a narrow mouth, tor
holding and <-:irning liquors. The orien-
tal n^itiun- ii-r -kms or leather for the con-
ve\aiiri .il' |].|u.ii> : arid of this kind are
the Iji.til.-. nil iiiiuMid in scripture. " Put
new wine into new bottles." In Europe
and America, glass is used for liquors of all
kinds ; and farmers use small cags or hol-
low vessels of wood. The small kinds of
glass bottles are called vials or phials^-
. The contents of a bottle ; as much as a
bottle contains ; but from the size of bot-
tles used for wine, porter and cyder, a bot-
tle is nearly a quart ; as a bottk of wine or
of porter.
3. A quantity of hay in a bundle ; a bundle
BOT'TLE, V. t. To put into bottles; as, to
bottle wine or porter. This includes the
stopping of the bottles with corks.
BOTTLE-ALE, «. Bottled ale. Shak.
BOT'TLE-eOWPANION, ) A friend or
BOTTLE-FRIEND, ^ "• companion
in drinking.
BOT'TLED, pp. Put into bottles ; inclosed
in bottles.
2. Having a protuberant belly. Shak.
BOT'TLE-FLOWER, n. A plant, the cya-
nus, or blue bottle, a species of Centaurea.
Fam. of Plants.
BOTTLE-SCREW, «. A screw to draw
corks out of bottles.
BOT'TLING, ;?;»•. Putting into bottles.
BOTTLING, n. The act of putting into
bottles and corking.
BOT'TOM, n. [Sax. 6ote; Sw. 6o/;i; D.
bodem ; G. boden. It seems to be allied to
Gr. ^aSoi, and to the Russ. pad, a valley,
padauu, to fall. The sense is from throw-
ing down, setting, laying or beating down ;
a dialect perhaps of basis. Class Bd.]
1. The lowest part of any thing ; as the bot-
tom of a well, vat or ship; the bottom of a
hill.
2. The groimd under any body of water ; as
the bottom of the sea, of a river or lake.
3. The foundation or ground work of any
thing, as of an edifice, or of any system or
moral subject ; the base, or that which sup-
ports any superstructure.
4. A low ground ; a dale ; a valley ; applied
ill the U. States to the flat lands adjmning
rivers, Ifc. It is so used in some parts of
England. Mitford.
5. The deepest part ; that which is most re-
mote from the view ; as, let us examine
this subject to the bottom.
6. Bound ; limit.
There is no bottom in ray voluptuousness.
Shak.
7. The utmost extent or depth of cavity, or
of intellect, whether deep or shallow.
I do see the bottom of justice Shallow.
Shak.
8. The foundation, considered as the causp.
B O U
spring or origin ; the first moving cause ;
as, a foreign prince is at tlie bottom of tlie
confetlerncy.
9. A sliip or vessel. Goods imported in for-
eign bottoms pay a liigher duty, than tliose
imported in our own. Hence, a state of
li:i/.ir(l. rli.iiice or risk ; but in this sense
it i~ II (il rim ily or solely in the singular.
\Vi .:i\, Miiiiui' not too much in one bot-
tom ; tliul Is, ilo not hazard too much at a
single risk.
10. A ball of thread. [W. botwm, a button :
Corn.irf. See Bottle.]
11. The bottom of a lane or alley, is the low-
est end. Tliis phrase supposes a declivity ;
but it is often used for the most remoti'
part, when there is very little declivity.
V2. Tlie bottom of beer, or other liquor, is the
grounds or dregs.
13. In the language of jockeys, stamina, na-
tive strength ; as a horse of good bottom.
BOT'TOM, V. I. To found or build ui)on ;
to fix upon as a support ; followed by on ;
as, sound i-easoning is bottomed on just
as, to
bottom a chair.
3. To wind round something, as in making
a b;ill of thread. Shak.
BOT TOJI, V. i. To rest upon, as its ulti-
mate support.
Find on what foundation a proposition bot-
toms. Locke.
BOT'TOMED, pp. Furnished with a bot-
tom ; having a bottom.
This word is often used in composition, as
ajlat-liottomed boat, in which case the com-
pound becomes an adjective.
BOT'TOMING, ppr. Founding; building
upon ; furnishing with a bottom.
BOT'TOM LESS, a. Without a bottom ;
applied to water, caverns &c., it signifies
fathomless, whose bottom cannot be found
by sounding ; as a bottomless abyss or ocean.
BOT'TOMRY, n. [from bottom.] The act
of borrowing money, and pledging the
keel or bottom of the ship, that is, the ship
itself, as seciu-ity for the repayment of the
money. The contract of bottonuy is in
the nature of a mortgage ; the owner of a
ship borrowing money to enable him to
carry on a voyage, and pledging the shiji
as security for the money. If the ship is
lost, the lender loses the money ; but if the
ship arrives safe, he is to receive the money
lent, with the interest or premium stipula-
ted, although it may exceed the legal rate
of interest. The tackle of the ship also is
answerable for the debt, as well as the per-
son of the borrower. When a loan is made
upon the goods shipped, the borrower is
said to take up money at respondentia, as
he is bound personally to answer the con-
tract. Blackstone. Park.
BOT'TONY, ?i. [from the same root as
bud, bxition.]
lu heraldry, a cross bottony terminates at
each end in three buds, knots or buttons,
resembling in some measure the three-
leaved grass. Encyc.
BOUCHET', n. [Fr.] A sort of pear.
BOUD, n. An insect that breeds in malt or
other grain ; called also a weevil. Did.
B0U6E, V. i. booj. [Fr. bouge, a lodge, the
bilge of a cask ; from the root of bow,
which see.J To swell out. [Little !(.?ff/.]
B O U
BOUGE, »!. Provisions. [M,t in use.J
Jonson.
BOUGH, n. bou. [Sax. bog, boh or bogh, iht:
shoulder, a branch, an arm, the body of a
tree, a stake, a tail, an arch, or bow"; Sw.
bog ; Dan. bov ; from the same root as boiv,
to bend, to throw ; Sax. bugan.]
The branch of a tree ; applied to a branch of
.size, not to a small shoot.
BOUGHT, bau4, pret. and pp. of buy. [See
riuy.]
I!< )I'GHT, n. bawt. [D. bogt, a bend, a coil :
li-om lioogen to bend. See Bight.}
I. A twist ; a link ; a knot ; a flexure, or
bend. Milton. Brown.
1. The part of a sling that contains the stone.
B01:GHT'Y, a. haw'ty. Bending. Sherwood.
Bougie, n. boogee'. [Fr. a wax-candle;
S]i. bugia.]
In Surgery, a long slender instrument, that is
introduced thmiiLrh the in-cthra into the
bladder, to rv<wi\r ..i>>tiii(tions. It is
usually madiMil'-li|>- < 'I' w II \cd linen, coiled
into a slightly cniiiciii I'luin by rolling them
on an\ hard smooth surface. It is also
made of catgut, elastic gum and metal ;
but those of waxed linen are generally
preferred. Hooper. Dorseij.
Bouillon, n. [Fr. fi-om bouHUr, to boil.
See Boil.] Broth ; soup.
BOULDER-WALL, n. [rather boivlder-
wall. See Bowlder.]
A wall liiiill of round flints or pebbles laid in
a strong mortar, used where the sea has a
biaih cast up, or where there is a plentv
of flints. Builder's Diet.
B6ULET', ?!. [from the root of ball, or
bold ; Fr. boule.]
In the manege, a horse is so called, when the
fetlock or pastern joint bends forward, and
out of its natural position. Encyc.
BOULT, an incoirect orthography. [See
Bolt.]
BOULTIN, n. [from the root of W/ ; Sp.
bulto, a protuberance.]
Ill architecture, a molding, tlie convexity of
which is just one fourth of a circle, being
a member just below the plinth in the
Tuscan and Doric capital. Encyc.
BOUNCE, V. i. [D. bonzen, to bounce ; bons,
a bounce; alhed probably to bound; Arm.
houndirza; Fr. boiidir.]
1. To lefip or spring; to fly or rush out sud-
denly.
Out bounced the mastilT. Swift.
"3. To spring or leap against any thing, so as
to rebound ; to beat or thump by a spring.
Against his bosom 6oMncc(i his heaving heart.
JJryden.
3. To beat hard, or thump, so as to make a
sudden noise.
Another bounced as hard as he could iinock.
Swift.
4. To boast or bully ; itsed in familiar speech.
Johnson .
.5. To be bold or strong. Shak.
BOUNCE, n. A heavy blow, thrust or thumi)
with a large solid body.
The bounce burst open the door. Dn/den.
2. A loud heavy sound, as by an explosion.
Shak. Gay.
3. A boast ; a threat ; in low language.
Johnson.
4. A fish ; aspeciesofsqualus or shark.
Encyc.
BOU
BOUN'CER, 71. A boaster; a bully; in fa-
miliar language. 'Johnson.
BOUN'CING,^^r. Leaping; bounding with
violence, as a heavy body ; springing out ;
thumping with a loud noise ; boasting ;
moving with force, as a heavy bounding
body.
BOUN'CING, a. Stout ; strong ; large and
heavy ; a customary sense in the U States ;
as a bouncing lass.
BOUN'CINGLY, adv. Boastinglv.
BOUND, n. [Norm, bonne, boune, a bound ;
bond, limited ; bundes, limits ; from bind,
bond, that which binds ; or from French
bo7idir, to spring, and denoting the utmost
extent.]
1. A limit ; the line which comprehends the
whole of any given object or space. It
differs from boundary. See the latter.
Bound is applied to kingdoms, states, cities,
towns, tracts of land, and to territorial
jurisdiction.
2. A limit by which any excursion is re-
strained ; the limit of indulgence or desire ;
as, the love of money knows no bounds.
3. A leap; a spring;" a jump; a rebound:
[Fr. bondir, to spring.]
4. In dancing, a spring from one foot to the
other.
BOUND, V. t. To hmit ; to terminate ; to fix
the furthest point of extension, whether
of natural or moral objects, as of land, or
empire, or of passion, desire, indulgence.
Hence, to restrain or confine ; as, to bound
our wishes. To bound in is hardly legit-
imate.
2. To make to bound. Shaks.
BOUND, v.i. [Vr. bondir: Arm. boundit-za.]
To leap; to jump; to spring; to move
forward by leaps.
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds.
Pope.
2. To reboimd — but the sense is the same.
BOUND, pret. and pp. otbind. As apaHi-
ciple, made fast by a band, or by chains
or fetters ; obliged by moral ties ; confin-
ed ; restrained.
2. As a pailiciple or perhaps more properly
an adj., destined ; tending ; going, or in-
tending to go ; with to or for; as, a ship is
bound to Cadiz, or for Cadiz.
The application of this word, in this use,
is taken from the orders given for the
government of the voyage, implying obli-
gation, or from tending, stretching. So
destined implies being bound.
Bound is used in composition, as in ice-
bound, unnd-bound, when a ship is confi-
ned or prevented from sailing by ice or
by contrarv winds.
BOUND'AR'Y, n. A limit ;.a bound. John-
son. This word is thus used as synony-
mous with bound. But the real sense is,
a visible mark designating a limit. Bound
is the limit itself or furthest point of exten-
sion, and may be an imaginary hne ; but
boundary is the thing which ascertains the
limit ; terminus, noxfinis. Thus by a .stat-
ute of Connecticut, it is enacted that the
inhabitants of every town shall procure
its bounds to be .set out by such marks and
hounilaries as may be a plain direction for
the fiitiui' .- wliicii marks and boundaries
hliiill 111- a i;ii'nt licap of stones or a ditch
(ifsix fret loni;, tV(-. This distinction is
observed also in the statute of Massachu-
B O U
B O V
B O \\
setts. But the two words are, in ordinary
usp, confounded.
B0CND-BAI1.IKF, n. An officer appointed by
asheriflTto execute process; so deiiomi
natcd from the bond given for tlie faithful
discharge of his trust. Blackstone
BOUND'ED, pp. Limited ; confined ; res-
trained.
BOIIND'EN, pp. of bind. [See Bind, and
pp. Bound.]
BOUNDER, n. One that Hmits; a boun-
dary. Herbert
BOUND'ING, ppr. Limiting; confininjj
restraining ; leaping ; springing ; rebound
ing ; advancing with
BOIND ING-STONE,
mg ; ailvancing witn leaps.
A stone to play
R(»IMI STONE, 5"- with. Drydt'
BOI'.ND'l.l'.SS, a. Unlimited; uncontino
inmioasurable ; illimitable ; as boundless
S))aco ; boundless power.
BOUND'LESSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing without limits. Sotith.
BOUN'TEOUS, a. [See Bounty.] Liberal
in charity ; disposed to give freely ; gener-
ous; immificent; beneficent; free in be-
stowing gifts ; as bounteous nature. It is
used chiefly in poetry for bountiful.
Johnson.
BOUN'TEOUSLY, adv. Liberally; gene
rously ; largely ; freely.
BOUN'TEOUSNESS, n. Liberality in be
stowing gifts or favors; munificence; kind
BOUN'TIFUL,
a. [bouni;/
au(
full] Free
to give ; lilicr.
ing
gifts and fa-
vors; munific
ent ; generij
us.
God.theioto
liful author
of 0
ur being.
Locke
It is followed by of before the thing given,
and to before the person receiving.
BOUN'TIFIJLLY, adv. Liberally ; largely
in a bountiful manner.
BOUN'TIFULNESS, n. The quality of be
ing bountiful; liberality in the bestow
ment of gifts and favors.
BOUN'TIHEDE, ? ^ , ^,
BOUN'TIHEAD^ \ "• Goodness. Obs.
BOUN'TY, n. [Fr. bonte, goodness, excel
lence, favor ; It. bonta ; L. bonitas, li-om
bomts, good.]
1. Liberality in bestowing gifts and favors
generosity ; munificence. The word in
eludes the gift or favor and the kindness
of disposition with which it is bestowed;
or a favor bestowed with a benevolent
disposition. This distinguishes it fi-om a
mere gift. It is also observed by Johnson,
that it differs from charitij, as a present
trom an alms, in not beuig bestowed upon
persons absolutely necessitous. This is
often the case ; but bounty includes char-
ity, as the genus comprehends the species ;
charity however does not necessarily in-
clude bounty, for charity or an alms may
be given \vith reluctance.
The word may he used also for a free
gift, 2 Cor. i.\. 5 ; or a disposition to give,
without the gift ; goodness in general.
■S^e»i.9er.
9. A premium offered or given, to induce
men to enlist into the public service ; or
to encourage any branch of industry, as
husbandry, manufactures or commerce.
Bouquet, n. booka'y. [Fr. a plume, a
Vol. I.
nosegay; Ann. boged ; It. boschctto. See
Bush.]
A nosegay; a bunch of flo\ver.s.
BciURl), 71. A jest. Obs. Spenser.
BoURD'ER, n. A jester. Obs.
BOURGEOIS', n. burjois'. [It appears to
be a French word, but I know not the
reason of its application to types.]
A small kind of jjrinting types, in size be-
tween long primer and brevier. The
type on which the mahi body of this work
is printed.
BOUR'GEON, V. i. bur'jun. [Fr. bourgeon,
ud ; Arm. bourgeon, a button, or a bud.]
To sprout ; to put tbrth buds ; to shoot fortlj
a,s a branch. Goldsmith.
BOURN, rather BORNE, n. [Fr. borne, a
limit ; bomer, to bound. In the sense of a
stream. Sax. burn ; Sw. brunn ; D. bron ;
G. brunnen ; Dan. brand.]
1. A bound: a limit.
That undiscovered co\intrj-, from whose bourn
No traveller returns. Shak.
2. A brook ; a torrent ; a rivulet. [In this
sense obsolete ; but retained in many names
oftou<ns, seated on the banks of streams. In
Scotland, it is still used in the sense of a
brook, but they write it burn.]
B6URNONITE, n. Antinionialsulphuret of
lead. Ure
BoUSE, I „ . .„„. [Arm. beuzi, to over-
BOOZE, \ '-•'•"OO" flow, to drown; \V
bozi ; Old D. buysen. In Russ. busa
drink brewed from millet. Tooke.]
To drink freely ; to tope ; to guzzle. [.'?
ul^ar word.'] SpenMr.
BoUh'Y, o. booz'y. Drunken ; intoxicated
[ Fulgar.] Dn/den.
BOUT, n. [Fr. bout, end, or It. bot'ia, i
stroke.]
A turn ; as much of an action as is perform-
ed at one time ; a single part of an action
carried on at successive intervals ; essay
atteniiJt. Sidney. Dryden.
BOUT, ;i. [It. beuita, or bevuta, a drinking,
from bere, or bci'crc, to drink ; L. libo ; Fr
boire ; Sp. bcber.]
We u.se this word tautologically in the
phrase, a drinking-ioJt< ; or the word
the same as the preceding.
BOUTA'DE, n. [Fr. from bouter, Sp. botar,
h. biittare, to thrust; Eng. put; allied tc
bud.]
Properly, a start ; hence, a whim. [.Vo< En-
glish!] Sivift
BoUTEFEU, n. [Fr. from ioiifcr, to throw^
and feu, fire ; or according to Thomson,
from boute, a match. Qu. from the root of
Eng. bate or better.]
An incentUary ; a inakc-bate. [J^'ot English.
B6UTISALE, n. [Qu. sale, of booty, or iron
boute, a match. Thomson.]
A cheap sale ; or accorduig to others, a sale
by a lighteil match, during the burning of
which a man may bid. [JVot used.]
Hayward.
BO'VATE, n. [In Law L. bovaia, from bos,
bovis, an ox.]
An ox-gate, or as much land as an ox can
plow in a year ; Cowell says 28 acres.
BO'VEY-COAL, n. Brown "lignite, an in-
flammable fossil, resembling, in many of
its properties, bituminous wood. Its struc-
ture is a little slaty ; its cross fractm-e, even
or couchoidal, w'ith a resinous luster,]
26
.shining. It is brittle, buju.-
with a weak flame, and exhales an odor,
which is generally disagreeable.
Cleaveland.
BO'VINE, a. [Low L. bovimts, from bos,
bovis, an ox ; VV. bu, biiw, bur, buw;, and
the verb, bui,inu', to bellow.]
Pertaining to oxen and cows, or the quad-
rupeds of the genus Bos.
This animal is the strongest and fiercest of
the bovine genus. Barrow's Trav.
The ox-born souls mean nothing more
than the eight living souls, wlio issued from
their allegorical mother, the bovine ark. Faber.
BOW, V. t. [Sax. bugan, bygan ; W. bwan,
and bacu, to bond, to grapple; G. bie-
gen, beugen ; D. boogen, buigen ; Sw. 66-
ya ; Dan. boyer, to bend.]
1. To bend ; to inflect ; as, to 4oic vines.
2. To bend the body in token of respect or
civility ; as, to boiv the head.
3. To bend or incline towards, in condescen-
sion.
Sow down thine ear to the poor. Eccles.
4. To depress ; to crush ; to subdue.
His heavy hand hath boived you to tlie
grave.
He bows the nations to his will.
BOW, V. i. To bend ; to curve ; to be inflec-
ted ; to bend, in token of reverence, res-
pect or civility ; often with down.
This is the idol to which the world bows.
2. To stoop ; to fall upon the knees.
The people bowed upon their knees. Judges.
3. To sink under pressure.
They stoop : tliey bow down together. Isa-
BOW, n. An inclination of the head, or a
bending of the body, in token of reverence,
respect, civility, or submission.
BOW, n. [See bow, to bend.] An instru-
ment of war, and hunting, made of wood,
or other elastic matter, with a string fas-
tened to each end. The bow being bent
by drawing the string, and suddenly re-
turning to it.s natural state by its elastic
force, throws an arrow to a great distance,
and with force sufficient to kill an ani-
mal. It is of two kinds, the long-bow, and
the cross-bow, arbalet or arbalest. The
use of the bow is called archery.
2. Any thing bent, or in form of a curve ;
the rainbow ; the doubling of a string in a
knot; the part of a yoke which embraces
the neck ; &c.
.3. A small machine, formed with a stick
and hairs, which being drawn over the
strings of an instrument of music, causes
it to sound.
4. A beam of wood or brass, with three long
screws that direct a lathe of wood or steel
to any arch ; used in forming drafts of
ships, and projections of the sphere, or
wherever it is necessary to draw large ai--
ches. Harris.
3. An instrument for taking the sun's alti-
tude at sea, consisting of a large an-h of
ninety degrees graduated, a shank or
staff", a side-vane, a sight-vane, and a
horizon-vane ; now disused. Encyc.
(1. An instrimient in use among smiths for
turning a drill ; with turners, for turning
wood ; with hatters, for breaking fiir and
wool.
Bows of a saddle, are the two pieces of
wood laid archwise to receive the upper
B O W
BOW
BOX
pail of a horse's back, to give the satldlf
its due form, and to keep it tight.
Farrier's Did.
S. Bozo of a ship, is the rounding part of her
side forward, beginning where the planks
arcli inwards, and terminating wliere they
close, at the stem or prow. A narrow
bow is called a kan bow ; a broad one, a
bold or bluff bow.
On the bow, in navigation, is an arch of the
liorizon, not exceeding 45 degrees, com
prehended between some distant object
and that point of the compass which i;
right ahead. Mar. Did.
BOW-BEARER, n. [boio and bear.] An
under officer of the forest, whose duty
inform of trespasses. Cowel.
BOW-BENT, a. [bow and bend.] Crooked.
Milton.
BOW-DYE, n. A kind of scarlet color, su
perior to madder, but inft linr to the true
scarlet grain for li.xednis:^, diid duration ;
first used at Bow, near l.on<loii. Encyt
BOW'-GRACE, 11. In sea language, a frame
or composition of junk, laid out at t'
sides, stem, or bows of ships to secnre
them from injury by ice. Encyc.
BOW-IIAND, 11. [bownnAhrtnd.] The hand
tliat draws a bow. Spei
BOW-LEGGED, a. [bow and leg.] Ha-
ving crooked legs. John
BOWMAN, n. [how and man.] A nian who
uses a bow ; an archer. Jeroni. iv. 39.
BGW'MAN, n. Tlie man who rows the
foremost oar in a boat. Mar. Did.
BOWNET, n. [bow and nd.] An engine
for catching lobsters and crawfish, called
also bow-wheel. It is made of two roinid
wicker baskets, pointed at the end, one of
which is thrust into the other, and at the
mouth is a little rim bent inwards. Enajc.
BOW'-PIECE 11. [bow and piece.] ^X piece
of ordnance carried at the bow of a ship.
BOW-SHOT, 11. [how and shot.] The space
whicli an arrow may pass \vlicn shot from
a bow. Gen. xxi, 16. Boyle.
BOWSPRIT, 11. [bow and sprit ; D. boeg-
spriet ; Dan. houg-sprid ; G. bugspriet. See
Sprit.]
A large boom or spar, which iirojects i
the stem of a ship or other ves.'^el, tn lairx
sail forward. [This is probably tin Irur or-
thography.] Mar. Dirt.
BOW-STRING, n. [bow and string.] Tlie
siring of a bow.
BOW-WINDOW. [See Bay-u>indow.]
BOW'ABLE, a. Of a flexible disposition.
[.N'ot in use.]
BOWED, pp. Bent; crushed; subdued.
BOWED, pp. Bent ; like a bow.
BOWELS, n. plu. [G. bauch ; D. buik ; Sw.
buk; Dan. bug; Fr. boyau; W. bog, a
swelling ; bogel, the navel. The sense is
protuberance.]
1. The intestines of an animal ; the entrails,
especially of man. The heart. 9. Cor. vi.
12.
'i. The interior part of any thing ; as the
bowels of the earth.
3. The seat of pity or kindness ; hence, ten-
derness, compassion, a scriptural sense.
Bowel, iti the sinaiilar. is somefimos used for
BOW'EL, V. t. To take out the bowels ; to
eviscerate ; to penetrate the bowels.
Ainsworlh. Jish.
BOWELLESS, a. Without tenderness or
BOVV'ER, n. [from boio.] An anchor car-
ried at the bow of a ship. There are gen-
erally two bowers, called first and second,
great and little, or best and small. Encyc.
BOW'ER, n. [Sax. bur, a chamber or pri-
vate apartment, a hut, a cottage ; W.
bwr, an inclosure.]
1. A shelter or covered place in a garden,
made with boughs of trees bent and twined
together. It differs from arbor in that it
may be round or square, whereas an arbor
is long and arched. Milton. Encyc.
2. A bed-chamber ; any room in a house ex-
cept the hall. Spenser. Mason.
3. A country scat ; a cottage.
Shenstone. B. Jonson.
4. A shady recess ; a plantation for shade.
W. Broivn.
BOWER, V. t. To embower to inclose.
Shaks.
BOWER, V. I To lodge. Spenser.
BOWERS, I [from boio.] Muscles that
BOWRS, ^ "• bend the joints.
Spenser. Mason.
BOWERY, «. Covering ; shading as a
bower ; also, containing bowers.
Thomson.
BOWESS, BOWET, n. A young hawk,
when it begins to get out of the nest ; a
term in falconry. Encyc. Jlsh.
BOWGE, v.i. To swell out. [See Bovge.]
BOWgE, v. t. To i>erforate ; as, to bowge a
ship. Ainsworth.
[I do not find this word in any other author.]
BOWING, ppr. Bending ; stooi)ing ; ma-
king a bow.
BOWINGLY, adv. In a bending manner.
BOWL, n. [Sax. bolla. In hatm^vola is the
hollow of the hand.]
1. A concave vessel to hold liquors, rather
wide than deep, and thus distinguished
from a cuji. Which is rather deep thai
wide.
2. The hollow part of any thing ; as the bowl
of a spoon.
:l A basin ; a fountain. Bacon
r>OWL, n. [D. bol ; Fr. boiile; Sp. bola;
Ann. boul, a ball; W.pd.]
A liidl of wood used for play on a level pi;
of ground.
BOWL, V. i. To play with bowls, or at bov
I 'ill?;-
BOWL, V. I. To roll as a bowl ; also, to pelt
with anv thing rolled. Shak
BOWLDER, n. [from bowl] A small stone
of a roundish form, and of no determinate
size, found on the sea shore and on the
banks or in the channels of rivers, &c.
worn smooth or rounded by the action ol
water ; a pebble. Johnson. Ewjjr
The term bowlder is now used in Geulo?;>
for rounded masses of any rock, fomid oui
of place, and apparently transported IVon
their original bed by water. Bowlders of
Granite, often of great size, are very com-
mon on the surface of the most recent
formations.
BOWLDER-STONE. [See Bowlder.]
BOWLDER-WALL, n. A wall constructed
of pebbles or bowlders of flint or other sili-
ceous stones, which have been rounded by
the action of water. Builder's Diet.
BOWLER, n. One who plays at bowls.
BOWLINE, n. [Sp. and Port, bolina; Arm.
bouline, " voile de biais pour recevoir le
vent de c6t6," a slanting sail to receive
a bide wind, Gregoire ; Fr. bouline, a
tack ; boxdiner, to tack, to turn one way
and the other, to dodge or shift. But iii
Danish it is bougline, the line of the bow
or bend.]
A rope fastened near the middle of the leech
or perpendicular edge of the square sails,
by subordinate parts, called bridles, and
used to keep the weather edge of the sail
tight forward, wlien the ship is close haul-
ed. Mar. Diet.
Bowline-bridles, are the ropes by which the
bowline is fastened to the leech of the sail.
Encyc.
BOWLING, ppr. Playing at bowls.
BOWLING-GREEN, n. [bowl and green.]
A level piece of ground kept smooth for
bowhng.
2. In gardening, a parterre in a grove, laid
with fine turf, with compartments of di-
vers figures, with dwarf trees and other
decorations. It may be used for bowling :
but the French and Italians have sucii
greens for ornament. Encyc.
BOWSE, V. i. In seaman's language, to pull
or haul ; as, to loicse upon a tack ; to botose
away, to j)ull all together. Encyc.
BOWSS'EN, V. t. To drink ; to drench.
[.Yot used.] Qu. boxise.
BOWYER, n. [from bow, a corruption of
bower, like sawyer.]
An archer; one who uses a bow; one who
makes bows. [Little used.] Johnson.
BOX, n. [Sax. box, a cofler and the box-
tree ; Lat. buxus, the tree, and pyxis, a
box ; Gr. nvii;, a box, and rtvloj, the tree ;
rtv?, the fist ; Ir. bugsa, buksa ; Sw. bux-
bom ; Ger. huchshaum ; Dan. buxhom, the
box tree ; Ger. biichse, a box ; It. bosso,
the box tree ; bossolo, a box ; Sp. box, the
tree ; Port, buxo, the tree ; buxa, a stop-
ple ; Pers.
buxus, box tree: Ar.
the same. Box may be from closeness, ap-
plied to the shrub, the fist and the case.]
A coffer or chest, either of wood or metal. In
general, the word box is used for a case of
rough boards, or more slightly made than
a chest, and used for the conveyance of
goods. But the name is applied to cases
of any size and of any materials; as a
woollen box; a tin box, an iron box, a
strong box.
2. The quantity that a box contains ; as a
box of quicksilver ; a box of rings. In some
cases, the quantity called a box is fixed by
custom ; in others, it is uncertain, as a
box of tea or sugar.
:?. A certain seat in a play-house, or in any
1 public room.
4. The case which contains the mariner's
com])ass.
.5. A money chest.
(j. A tree or shrub, constituting the genus
buxus, used for bordering flower-beds.
The African box is the myrsinc.
7. A blow on the head with the hand, orou
the car with the open hand.
BOY
BRA
B 11 A
^. A cylindrical hollow iron used in wheels,
in vvliich the axle-tree runs. Also, a liol-
low tube in a pump, closed with a valve
BOX, V. i. To fight with the fist; to combat
with the hand or fist.
BOX, V. t. To inclose in a box ; also, to fur-
nish with boxes, as a wheel or block.
2. To strike with the hand or fist, especially
th(! ear or side of the head.
3. To rehearse the several points of the com-
pass in their proper order. Encyc.
4. To make a hole or cut in a tree, to pro
cure the sap ; as, to box a maple.
5. To sail round. [Sp. boxar.]
BOX' ED, pp. Inclosed in a box ; struck on
the head with the fist or hand ; furnished
with a box or hollow iron, as a wheel
BO,\'liN,a. Made of box-wood; resemblmg
l)(>x. Diydni. Gay.
BO.X'ER, n. One who fights with his fist.
BOX'-llAUL, V. t. To veer a ship in a par-
ticular manner, when it is impracticable
to tack. Chambers.
BOX'ING, ppr. Inclosing in a box ; striking
witli the hst ; furnishing with a box.
BOX'ING, n. The act of fighting with the
fist ; a combat with the fist.
BOX'-TUORN, n. [box and thorn.] A plant,
the Lycium, or a species of it.
Fam. of Plants.
BOY, n. [Pers. bach, a boy ; W. bargen, from
bar, little ; Arm. buguel, a child, biigalc,
boyish ; Sw. poike, a. young boy ; Dan. pog ;
Fr. page. See Beagle and Pug. Boy is
a contracted word, and probably the L,
puer for puger, for we see by puclla, that r
IS not radical. So the Or. "rtaij probably
is contracted, for the derivative verb,
rtouju, forms rtai^u), rtaizSfis. The radical
letters probably are Bg or Pg.]
A male child, from birth to the nge of pu
herty; but in general, applied to males
under ten or twelve years of age ; a lad
Sometimes it is used in contempt for a
young man, indicating immaturity, want
of vigor or judgment.
BOY, V. t. To treat as a boy. Johnson.
Rather, to act as a boy ; to imitate a hoy
in action. The passage in Shakspeare, in
wliich this word is found, is sup])osed to
allude to the practice of boys acting wo-
men's parts, on the stage.
I shall see some squeaking Cleopatra boy mv
greatness. See Mason's Sup. to Johnson
BOY'AR, n. A Russian nobleman. [See
Boiar.]
BOY'AU, n. boy'o. [Fr. boyau, a gut, and t
branch of a tree.]
In fortif cation, a ditch covered with a (Jara
pet, serving as a communication between
two trenches. Encyc
BOY -BLIND, a. Blind as a boy ; undiscern-
ing. Ohs. Beaum.
BOY'ER, n. A Flemish sloop, with a castle
at each end. Encyc.
BOY'HOOD, n. [boy and hood.-] The stite
of a boy, or of immature age. Swift
BOY'ItSIl, (I. B-'loiiging to a boy ; childish ;
trifliiii; ; rcscuililiii!: a bov in mannei
o|.iui.iiis : pu.Tllr. " " Shnk.i
BOYISHLY, wli: Childishly; in a trifling
manner. " Sherwood.]
BOY'ISHNESS, n. Childishness ; the man-
ners or behavior of a bov.
BO\"ISM, n. Childishness; puerilitv. '
'Dnjde,,.'
2. The state of a boy. H'ar!oii.
BOYS-PLAY, n. Childish amusement ; any
thing tritliiig.
BOYli'NA, n. A large serpent of America,
black and slender, liaving an intolerable
smell. Also, a harmless reptile.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BP. An abbreviation of Bishop.
BRABANT'INE, a. Pertaining to Brabant,
a province of the Netherland.s, of wliich
Brussels is the capital.
State Papers, V. ii.
BRABBLE, n. [D. brabbekn, to stammer.]
A broil ; a clamorous contest ; a wrangle.
06s. Shak.
BRAB'BLE, v. i. To clamor ; to contest
noisily. Obs. Beaum. and Fletcher.
BRAB'BUiR, n. A clamorous, f|uarrelsome,
noisy follow ; a wrangler. 06*. Shak.
BliAB'BLING,;>;)r. Clamoring; wranghng.
Obs.
BRACE, n. [Fr. bras ; Sp. brazo ; Port,
brai-o ; Arm breach, or breh ; Ir. 6/ac and
raigh ; \V. braic ; Corn, breck, or breh ; L.
brachium ; Gr. |3()a;j:i.ut, the arm. This
word furnishes clear and decisive evidence
of the change of a palatal letter into a sib-
ilant. The change comes through the
Spanish or other Celtic dialect, brach,
brazo, the Sp. z being originally a palata'
or guttural ; thence to the Fr. bras, and
Eng. 6raee. In like manner, Durazzo is
formed from Dyrrachium. The Greek
verbs furnish a multitude of similar chan-
ges. This word fiirnishes also a proof]
that 6 is a prefi.x, for in Irish 6rac is writ-
ten also raigh. The sense of arm is, that
which breaks fortli, .a shoot. From bras.
the French have etnbrasser, to embrace.
and in Sp. brazas is braces, and bracear
is to 6r«ce, and to swing the arms. Brace,
in naval affairs, is in D. bras; Dan. bras,
and braser, to brace. Qu. is this the same
word as the Fr. bras, an arm.]
1. In architecture, a piece of timber framed
in with bevel joints, to keep the budding
front swerving either way. It extends
like an arm from the post or main timber.
2. That which holds any thing tight ; a cinc-
ture or bandage. The braces of a drum
arc not bands.
3. A pair ; a couple ; as a brace of ducks. I
is used of persons only in contempt, or in
the style of drollery.
4. In music, a double curve at the beginning
of stave.
.5. A thick strap, which sujiports a carriage
on wheels.
6. A crooked line in printing, connecting two
or more words or lines ; thus, {,^^^1 >
It is used to connect triplets in poetry.
7. In marine language, a rope reeved througl
a block at the end of a yard, to square oi
traverse the yard. The name is givei
also to pieces of iron which are used as
supports; such as of the poop lanterns, &c
Mar. Diet.
8. Brace, orbrasse, is a foreign measure an-
swering to our fathom.
9. Harness ; warUke preparation ; as we
say, girded for battle. Shnk.
10. Tension ; tightness. Holder.
IL Braces, p/it., suspenders, the straps that
su.?tain pantaloons, &c.
12. The braces of a drum, are the cords on
the sides of it, for tightening the heaiis
I and snares.
jBRACE, V. t. To draw tight ; to tighten ;
to bind or tie close ; to make tight and
I firm.
2. To make tense ; to strain up ; as, to brace
a drum.
3. To furnish with braces ; as, to 6race a
I building.
4. To strengthen ; to increase tension ; as, to
brace the nerves.
5. In marine language, to bring the yards tB
either side.
To brace about is to turn the yards round for
the contrary tack.
To brace sharp is to cause the yards to have
the smallest possible angle with the keel.
To brace to is to check or ease off the lee
braces, and round-in the weatlier ones, to
assist in tacking. Mar. Diet.
BR.\'CEI), pp. Furnished with braces;
drawn close and tight; made tense.
HJ{A'CELKT,»!. [Fr. brassdet, and bracelet;
It. bracciale, braccialello ; Sj). brazalete. See
Brace.]
1. An ornament for the wrist, worn by la-
dies. This ornament seems anciently to
have been worn by men as well as woinen.
2. A piece of defensive armor for the arm.
Johnson.
BRACER, n. That which braces, binds or
makes firm ; a band or bandage ; also,
armor for the arm. Chaucer.
2. An astringent medicine, which gives ten-
sion or tone to any part of the body.
BRA€H, n. [Fr. brague ; D. brak ; It. bracco,
a setting dog ; Sp. braco, pointing or set-
ting as a pointer.] A bitch of the hound
kind. Shak.
BRA€II'IAL, a. [L. brachium, from the Cel-
tic braic, brae, the arm.] Belonging to the
arm ; as the brachial arterv. Hooper.
BRACH'IATE, a. [See Brachial] In bot-
any, having branches in jiairs, decussated,
all nearly horizontal, and each pair at
right angles with the next. Martyn.
BRACH'MAN, ) An ancient philosopher
BRAM'IN, I "• of India. The brach-
mans are a branch of the ancient gymnos-
ophisls, and rciiMikable for the severity of
their li\c,« ami ni.iiincrs. Encyc.
BRAfllVt; HAl'llER, n. [See the next
word.] A writer in short hand. Gaylon.
BRACllYG RAPHY, n. [Gr. 3pa;tv5, short,
and Tpouj));, a writing.]
The art or practice of writing in short hand ;
stenography. B. Jonson.
BRA€HYL'0(iY, n. [Gr. ^paxvs, short, and
?Loyoj, expression.]
In rhetoric, the expressing of any thing in the
most concise manner. Encyc.
BRACK, 71. [G. bruch; Dan. brak; Norm.
brek ; from break, which see.]
An opening caused by the parting of any
solid bodv ; a breach ; a broken part.
BRACKEN, n. Fern. [See Brake.]
BRACK'ET, 11. [Fr. braquer, to bend. Qu.
Oriental p3, Ar. Ch. Heb. Syr. Sam. and
Eth., to bend the kuee ; hence it signifies
the knee.]
1. Among workers in timber, an angular
wooden stay, in form of the knee bent, to
support shelves, scafTolds and the like.
2. The cheek of a mortar carriage, nia'e of
I strong i>lank. Encyc.
3. In ;jn'?i/ing-, hooks; thus, [].
BRA
B R A
BRA
KRACK'ISH, a. [D. icat, overflowed ; qii
tVuni bnak or Gr. lif^X'-', to water. Per-
liajis applied to land on which salt water
has flowed.]
Salt, or salt in a moderate degree ; it is ap-
plied to any water partially saturated witli
salt. Bacon.
BR.\CK'ISHNESS, n. The quality of being
brackish ; saltness in a small degree.
Cheyne
BR.\CK'Y, a. Brackish. [ATot used.]
BRAC'TE.'V, ? [L. Ainsworth writes,
BRA€TE, i"- braclea, or braltea.]
In botany, a floral leaf, one of the seven fid-
crums or props of plants. It diflers from
other leaves in shape and color, and is gen-
erally situated on the peduncle, so near the
coroi, as easily to be mistaken for the
calyx. Maiti/n
In the Asiatic Researches, iv. 354, this word
i.ii anglicized, and written bract.
BRA€'TEATE, a. [from bractea.] Furnish-
ed with bractes. Barton.
BRA€'TED, «. Furnished with bractes.
Marti/n.
BRA€ TEOLE, n. A little bract.
De Candolle.
BK At; TEOLATE, «. Furnished with brnc-
tcolcs.
BK AD, ill Sax., is broad, and occurs in names ;
as ill Bradford, hroadford.
BR.'VD, n. [Arm. broiid, a point ; Ir. brad, or
braid ; Dan. braad, a goad or sting ; Ch.
£313 a dart, a borer.]
A particular kind of nail, used in floors and
other work, where it is deemed proper to
drive nails entirely into the wood. For
this purpose, it is made without a broad
head or shoulder over the shank.
Moxon
BRAD'YPUS, n. The sloth, which see.
BRAG, V. i. [W. bragiaw, to swell, to shoot
up, to brag ; brap;, a sprouting, malt
bragu, to malt. It coincides witli Dan
hrager, to crackle, Gr. lipaxi^, Eng. to
brag, and many other words signifying to
break or shoot forth. See Brave.]
To boast; to display one's actions, merits or
advantages ostentatiously ; to tell boastful
stories; followed by of; as, to brag of a
good horse, or of a feat. Skbiey. Sliak.
To brag on is vulgar ; indeed the word itself]
is become low, and is not to be used in el
egant composition.
r.RAG, n. A boast, or boasting; ostenta
tious verbal display of one's deeds, or ad-
vantages ; the thing boaste^l.
Milton. Bacon
Spenser has used this word as an adverb
for proudly.
BRAG,)!. A game at cards. Chesterfield.
BRAGGADO'CIO, n. A puffing, boasting
icUow. Dryden.
F.RAG'GARDISM, n. Boastfulness ; vain
fistontation.
BRAG'GART, n. [irag- and art, arrf, kind.]
A boaster ; a vain fellow. Shak.
BRAG'GART, a. Boastful ; vainly ostenta-
tions. Bonne.
BRAG'GER, n. One who brags ; a boaster.
RRAG'GET, n. [W. bragawd. See Brag.]
A liquor made by fermetuing the wort of
ale and mead. Owen.
BRAG'GING, ppr. Boasting.
BRAG'GINGLY, udv. Boastingly.
BRAGLESS, a. Without bragging, or os-
tentation. [Unusual.] Shak,
BRAG'LY, adv. Finely ; so as it may be
bragged of. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BRAHMAN'le, a. Pertaining to the Brach-
mans or Bramins of India. Vallancey.
BRAID, I', t. [Sax. bredan, to braid ; Old
Eng. brede ; Dan. breider, to upbraid.]
1. To weave or infold three or more strands
to form one.
2. To reproach. 06s. [See Upbraid.]
BRAID, n. A string, cord or other texture,
formed by weaving together different
strands.
2. A start. Sackville.
BRAID, a. Deceitful. Shak..
Chaucer used the Saxon word brede, to
deceive. This is the figurative sense of
braid. Obs.
BRAIL, n. [Fr. brayer, a brail, or truss, a
contracted word.]
1. A piece of leather to bind up a hawk's
wing. Bailey.
In navt'rrafion, brails are ropes passing
through piilliy:^, on the mizen mast and
yard. :niil IJistcnnl to the aftmost leech of
of the sail in ditii-rent places, to truss it upj
close. Also, all ropes emploj'ed to haul!
up the bottoms, lower corners and skirts
of the other great sails, for the more reiidy
furling of them. Mar. Diet.
BRAIL^r. t. To brail up, is to haul up into
the brails, or to truss up with the brails.
Mar. Diet.
BRAIN, n. [Sax. brmgan, bregen, bragen ; D.
brein ; Gr. lipiyua, ])roi)erly the fore part
of the head or sinciput, also the brain.]
1. That soft whitish mass, or viscus, in-
closed in the cranium or skull, in which
the nerves and spinal marrow terminate,
and which is supposed to be the seat of
the soul or intelligent principle in man.
It is divided above into a right and left
hemisphere, and below into six lobes. It
is composed of a cortical substance, which
is external, and a medullary, which is in-
ternal. From llie hriiiii jirocecd nine pair
of nerves, which an- ilistributed princi-
pally to the head and neck.
Hooper. Encyc.
9. The understanding. Hale.
3. The affections ; fancy ; imagination. [Un-
usual.] Shak. Sandys.
BRAIN, V. f. To dash out the brains ; to kill
by beating out the brains.
Pope. Dryden.
To conceive ; to understand. [JVot used.]
Sliak.
BRA'INISH, a. Uot-headed ; furious ; as
L. ccrebrosiis. Shak.
BRA'INLESS, a. Without understanding ;
silly ; thouglitless ; witless.
Ticket. Shak.
BRA'INPAN, n. [brain and pan.] The
skull which incloses the brain. Dryden.
BRA'INSICK, a. [brain and sick.] Dis-
ordered in the understanding ; giddy ;
thoughtless. Shak. Knolh
BRA'INSICKLY, adv. Weakly; with
disordered understanding. Shak.
BRA'INSICKNESS, n. Disorder of; the un-
derstanding ; giddiness ; indiscretion.
BRAIT, ?!. Among jetvelers, a rough dia-
BRAKE, pp. of break. Obs. [!iee Break.]
BRAKE, n. [W. bnvg ; h: fraoch; Port.
brejo ; Sp. brezo ; Dan. bregne ; G. breche ;
L. erica ; Gr. tpixu, tpftxu, to break. So
named probably from its roughness or
broken appearance.]
1. Brake is a name given to fern, or rather
to the female fern, a species of cryptogam-
ian plants, of the genus Pteris, whose
fructification is in lines under the margin
of the leaf or frond.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
2. A place overgrown with brake. Encyc.
3. A thicket ; a place overgrown with shrubs
and brambles. Johnson.
4. In the U. States, a thicket of canes, as a
cane-brake ; but I believe used only in com-
l)osition. Ellicott.
BRAKE, 71. [See Break.] An instriuncnt to
break flax or hemp.
1. The handle or lever by which a pump is
worked ; that is, hrac, brachium, an arm.
3. A baker's kneading trough.
4. A sharp bit, or snaffie.
5. A machine for confining refractory horses,
while the smith is shoeing them.
Johnson.
G. That part of the carriage of a movable
battery or engine which enables it to turn.
Faiifar.
7. A large heavy harrow for lireaking clods
after plowing ; called also a drag.
BRA'KY, a. Full of braises ; abounding with
brambles or shrubs ; rough ; thorny.
B. Jonson.
Tlie bream, a fish. [See
[B)ou»i,Piromis. Herodo-
. tus. tii\. L. primus, Ir.
priomh, first, chief, Goth.
, origin, beginning.]
The chief deity of the Indian nations, con-
sidered as the creator of all things.
.is. Researches.
BR AM'BLE, n. [Sax. brembel, brembr, bremd,
a bramble, rubus, vepres; D. braam, braain-
bosch, braamstruik, bramble ; Ger. brom-
heer, blackberry ; brombecrstaude, bram-
ble. This plant probably is named from
its berry or its prickles. See Broom.]
The raspberry bush or blackberry bush ; a
general name of the genus rubu^, of which
tliere are several species. They are arm-
ed with prickles ; hence in common lan-
guage, anv rough, prickly shrub.
BRAM'BLEBUSH, n. [bramble and bii.^h.]
The bramble, or a collection of biaiiiliU s
growing together. . /<A
BRAM'BLED, a. Overgrown with bran.lilrs.
BRAM'BLE-NET, n. [bramble and net.]
A hallicr, or a net to catch bu'ds.
Encyc. Ash.
A bird, a species of
fringilla, the mountain
Encyc.
[See Brarhnan.]
BRAM'BLING, }
BRAMBLE, <,
finch.
BRAM'IN, I
BRAH'MIN, S "
A ])riest among the Hindoos and other na-
tions of India. There arc several orders
of Bramins, many of whom are very cor-
rupt in their morals; others live seques-
tered from the world devoted to supersti-
tion and indolence. Tliev are the only
person
who understand the Sa
ancient langtiagc of the country, in which
BRA
BRA
B R A
n. The wife of a Bramin.
>heir sacred books are written ; and to
them are European nations indebted for
their knowledge of the language. Tlicy
worship Urania, the supposed creator ol
the world, but have many subordinate <
ities.
BRAMIN ESS,
BRAMINEE',
BRAM1N'I€AL; a. Pertaining to tlie Bra
niins, or their doctrines and worship ; as
the Braminical system.
Asial. Researches.
BRAM'INISM, n. The religion, or system
of doctrines of the Bramins.
BRAN, n. [W. bran, composed of b and
rhan, a piece, from rhunu, to rend or tear ;
Arm. brenn ; Ir. and Fr. bran. In ItaUan
brano, is a piece or bit. Arm. ranna ; Ir.
rannam, to tear.]
Tlie outer coat of wheat, rye or other fari-
naceous grain, separated from the flour by
grinding.
BRAN-NEW, properly brm\d-new, a. [Q.
brennen, to burn ; brand, burning.] Quite
new, [fire new] ; bright or shining
BRAN€'ARD,n. [Fr.] A horse htter. [.Yot
in use.]
BR'ANCH, n. [Fr. branche ; Arm. brnncg.
li n is not radical, this word coincides with
W. braic, the arm, a shoot. Tins is prob-
ably tlie fact.]
1. Tlic shoot of a tree or other plant; a
liiiil); a bougli shooting from the stem, or
Irom another branch or bough. Johnsun
restricts the word to a shoot from a main
bough ; but the definition is warranted
neither by etymology nor usage.
A division of a main stem, supporting tli€
leaves and fructitication. Martyn
An arm of a tree sprouting from the stem.
Kiicyc
2. Any arm or extended part shooting oi
e.vteuded from the main body of a thing ;
as the branch of a canillpslick or of an ar-
tery. Hence, from simiiituilc, a smallci
stream running into a larger one, or pro-
ceeding from it. Also, the shoot of a stag'.s
lioru ; an antler.
;t. Any member or part of a body, or sys-
tem ; a distinct article ; a section or sub-
division ; as, charity is a branch of christian
duty.
4. Any individual of a family descending in
a collateral line ; any descendant from a
common parent or stock.
-">. Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent
iron which' bear the bit, the cross cliains
and the curb. Encijc.
t!. In architecture, branches of ogives are the
arches of Gotliic vaults, traversing from
one angle to another diagonally, and form-
ing a cross between the otlier arches,
which make the sides of the square, of
which these arches are diagonals.
Hams.
7. A warrant or commission given to a pilot.
Laws of Massachusetts.
Ash.
To shoot or spread in
nify, as a ])lanl, or as
8. A chandelier.
BRANCH, V. i.
branches ; to i
horns.
2. To divide into
sparate parts, or subdi-
visions, as a mountain, a stream, or a mor-
al subject ; to ramify.
3. To speak diffusively ; to make many dis-
tinctions or divisions in a discourse.
|4. To have horns shooting ouu MUion.
BR'ANCH, r.<. To divide as into branch-
I es ; to make subordinate divisions.
Baron.
2. To adorn with needle work, representing
branches, flowers, or twigs. Spenstr.
BR'ANCHED, pp. Divided or spread into
branciics ; separated into subordinate
parts ; adorned with branches ; furnished
with branches.
BR-ANCHER, n. One that shoots forth
1 branches.
|3. A yoimg hawk when it begins to leave
the nest and take to the branches. !
lBR>ANCHERif, n. The ramifications ..i
! ramified vessels dispersed tiirough tlic
pulpy part of fruit. Enct/c. .Isli
liot irc
reproacl
; fi.\i;
I'ma
lark of
BRAND -IRON, ) An iron to brand
BRAM)I.\(;-IR(JN,^"- whh.
BltANJJ ISII, ,■./. [I'r. brandir; Pon.bran-
1 dir ; l^p. tila ndir, r changed into / ; It. brand-
ire ; probably allied to Fr. branler, to
shake]
[l. To move or wave, as a weapon ; to raise,
I and move in various directions ; to shake
or flourish ; as, to brandish a sword or a
I cane. It often indicates threatening.
2. To jilay with ; to flourish ; as, to brandish
>>!!-;;, Ml. >. Locke.
ISi; \.\l) ISIII:D, pp. Raised and waved in
U..- ,iir Willi a flourish.
15R.\.M) l.-lli;i{. H. One N\ ho brandishes.
BR'ANCHINESS, n. Fulness of branches. LBRAND ISHiNG, /-/.r. Raising and waving
Johnson.ll intli<'air; fiourisliinir.
BR".\NCHING,;)/)r. Shooting in branches:
(li\iiliMg iiitcj ^oM'i'ul subordinate parts.
Bl! A .\( ' II I \( ;, (/. I 'ill iiislied with branches;
sli,M,nh-..iit hiaiirhrs.
BKA.Nt lll()STi;(;<)l S, a. [Gr )3poy;^«i.,|
gills, and fsyos, a covering.] Having gill-
covers, or covered gills, as a branchioste-
gous fish; covering the gills, as the; bran-
chiostegous membrane. The branchiostegil
are an order of fish in the Linnean system,
the rays of whose tins are bony, but whose
gill-covers are destitute of bony ravs.
BRANCH-LEAF, n. A leaf growi'ng on a
branch. Marl,/,,.
BU ANCHLESS, a. Destitute of l.r,iiirlir>,
or shoots; without any valuable product:
barren ; naked. Shak.
BR'ANCHLET, n. A little branch ; a twig ;
the subdivision of a branch.
Martyn. Jisiat. Researches.
BR\ANCH-PEDUN€LE, n. A peduncle
springing from a branch. Mart,/
BR'ANCH-FH.OT, n. A pilot who has a
branch or public commission.
Laws of.Mus.iiichusetts and .V. York.
BR'ANCHV, a. Full of branches ; having
wiile spreading branches. Pope.
BRAND, n. [Sax. brand; D. brand ; G.
brand ; Dan. brmnde ; Sw. brand ; from
brfmna, brennen, to burn. See Burn.']
1. A burning piece of wood ; or a stick or
piece of wood partly burnt, whether burn-
ing or after the fire is extinct.
2. .\ sword, either from brandishing,- Fr.
brandir, or from its glittering brightness ;
note obsolete, unless in poetry. Milton.
3. A thunder-bolt. Granville.
4. A mark made by burning with a hot iron,
as upon a criminal, or upon a cask ; a
stigma : any note of infamy.
Bacon. Dryden.
BRAND, V. t. To burn or impress a mark
with a hot iron ; as, to "brand a crinjinal, by
way of punishment ; or to brand a cask or
any thing else, for the purpose of fixing a
mark upon it.
2. To fix a mark or character of infamy, in
allusion to the branding of criminals ; to
stigmatize as infamous ; as, to brand a vice
with infamy. Rowe. Addison.
BRAND' ED," pp. Marked with a hot iron ;
stigmatized.
BRAND'-GOOSE, n. A species of Anas, or
the goose kind ; usually called in America
brant or brent.
BRAND'ING, ppr. Impressing a mark w itli
BRANDLING, n. A kind of worm.
ffallon.
BRAND-NEW, a. Quite new ; bright as a
brand of fire. Tatter.
BRAN'DY, n. [D. branden ; Ger. brennen,
to distil; branden, to boil; brenner, a dis-
tiller ; G. branntwcin ; Fr. brandevin, bran-
dy. See Burn.]
An ardent sjiirit distilled from wine. The
same iiaiiii- i> iio\\ ■;j\eij to s|iirit distilled
from oiher liiimas, ami in tlie L'. States
p.irliciihirlv to tli.it »lii.'li is distilled fi-om
e.v,ler,-,„diM-ael,es.
I!|{\.\ l)V-\\iNE, n. Brandy. Wiseman.
I!i; AN (;i.l",, >,. [Rus.s. bran, war, strife,
noise, broil ; branyu, to hinder, to scold ;
h.frtndeo. Qu. wrangle. Brangle, in Scot-
tish, signifies to shake, or to threaten ; Fr.
branler.]
A wrangle ; a squabble ; a noisy contest or
disi)ute. Swift.
BRAN'GLE, i'. i. To wrangle ; to dispute
contentiouslv ; to squabble. Swift.
BRAN'GLEMENT, n. Wrangle ; brangle.
BRAN'GLING, n. A quarrel. JVhitlock.
BRANK, n. [So named probably from its
joints, breaks. " Gallia; (|uoque suuni
genus farris dedere ; quod iUic branee vo-
cant, apud nos sandalum, nitidissimi
grani." PUn. 18. 7.]
1. Buckwheat, a species of polygonum ; a
grain cultivated tuostly for beasts and
poultry : but in the U. States, the flour is
much used for making breakfast cakes.
2. In some parts of England and Scotland, a
scolding-bridle, an instrument for correct-
ing scolding women. It consists of a head-
piece, which incloses the head of the of-
fender, and of a sliar|) iron which eaters
the mouth and restrains the tongue.
Plott. Encyc.
BRANK'URSINE, n. [brank and ursus, a
bear.]
Bear's-breech, or acanthus, a g«>nus of plante,
of several species. The leaves of the com-
mon sort are said to have furnished the
model of tlie Corinthian capitals.
BRAN'LIN, n. A species of fish of the
salmon kind, in some places called the
fingry, from five or six black lines or marks
on each side resembling fingers. It is
foimd in rapid streams.
Did. of Mat. Hist.
BRAN'NY, a. [from bran.] Having the
appearance of bran ; consisting of bran.
Wiseman.
B R A
BRA
BRA
BRAX'.SLE, n. A brawl, or Juucc. [jVol
ustd.] Spenser.
BRANT, n. [Qii. brand, burnt or brown.]
A species of anas or the goose kind ; called
also hrent and brand-goose, which see.
!!RANT, 0, Stcej). Todd.
BRA'SEN, a. briizn. Made of brass. [Sec
Brass and Brazen.]
BKA'SIER, ?). brdzhur. An artificer who
works in brass. Franklin.
'i. A pan for holding coals. [See Brass.]
BRASIL. [See Brazil]
BR' ASS, n. [Hsix-brms; W.pres; Corn.
bresl ; Ir. pras. In Welsh, pres signifies
brass and wliat is quick, ready, sharp,
smart, also haste, fuel, atidpresu, to render
innninent, to hasten, to render present.
Till! latter sense indicates that it is from
the Latin. But I see no connection be-
tween these senses and brass. This word
may be named from its bright color, and
be allied to Port, braza, Sp. brasas, live
coals, abrazar, abrasar, to burn or inflame ;
l)ut the real origin and primary sense are
not evident.]
1. An alloy of copper and zink, of a yellow
color ; usually containing about one third
of its weight of zink, but the proportions
are variable. The best brass is made by
cementation of calamine or the oxyd of
zink with granulated copper.
Thomson. Encxje.
U. Impudence ; a brazen face.
BR'ASSE, n. The pale spotted perch, witl
two long teeth on each side ; the lacio-
perca. Ash
BRAS'SIeA, ?i. [L.] Cabbage. Pope
BR'ASSINESS, re. A quality of brass ; the
appearance of brass.
BRASS-PAVED, a. Hard as brass.
Spenser.
BR ASS-VISAgED, a. Impudent. Todd.
BR ASSY, a. Pertaining to brass ; jiartaking
of brass ; hard as brass ; having the color
of brass.
CJ. Impudent ; impudently bold.
BRAST, a. Burst. [JVotinuse.] Spen.ter.
BRAT, n. A child, so called in contempt.
2. OflLspring : progeny.
BRAUL, n. Indian cloth with blue and white
stripes, called twhants. Encyc.
BRAVA'DO, n. [Sp. bravata ; Fr. bravade.
See Brave.]
\ boast or brag ; an arrogant menace, in-
tended to intimidate.
BRAVE, a. [Fr. brave ; Arm. brao ; Sp. Port.
h. bravo; U.braaf; Sw. braf; tfau.brav;
Ger. trail, whence braviren, to look big, to
bully or hector. In Sp. and Port, bravo
signifies 6raiie, valiant, strenuous, bullying,
fierce, wild, savage, rude, unpolished,
cellent, fine ; bravear, to bully, to menace
in an arrogant manner ; brava is a swell of |
the sea ; bravezn, valor, and fiiry of the!
elements. The word brave expresse;
.■I shnwy ih-c,=s ; Arm. bniscal, Xci be
ilrcsvcil, line. >|inii-e, of wliicii brao seems
lu l,r .-, ,-.„,ir:.ctinii. The word bears the
>i-iisr ol'(i|ieii, lidld, expandinir, and ru;
ing, vaunting. It is doubtless contracted,
and probably from the root of brag.]
I. Courageous ; bold ; daring; intrepid ; fear-
less of danger; as a lirave warrior. It
usually unites the sense of court
generosity and dignity of mind ; qualities
often united. Bacon.
The brave man mil not deliberately do an
injury to his fellow man. Anon.
2. Gallant ; lofty ; graceful ; having a noble
len. Shak.
3. 3Iagnificent ; grand ; as a brave place.
Denham.
4. Excellent : noble ; dignified. But in mod-
ern usage, it has nearly lost its application to
things.
. Gaudy ; showy in dress. [Ar. o »j
to adorn.] Obs. Spenser.
BRAVE, n. A hector ; a man daring beyond
discretion or decency.
Hot braves like these may fight. Dryden.
i. A boast ; a challenge ; a defiance. Skak.
BRAVE, V. t. To defy ; to challenge ; to en-
counter with courage and fortitude, or
without being moved ; to set at defiance.
The ills of love I can brave.
The rock that braves the tempest. Dryden.
2. To carry a boasting appearance of ; as, to
brave that which they believe not.
Bacon.
\{.\.'VED, pp. Defied ; set at defiance ; met
without dismay, or being moved.
[lA'VELY, «(/('. Courageously; gallantly;
splendidly : in a brave manner ; heroically.
In Spenser, finely ; gaudily.
BR A' VERY, re. Courage ; heroism ; undaun-
ted spu'it ; intrepidity ; gallantry ; fearless-
ness of danger ; often united with generos-
ity or dignity of mind which despises
meanness and cruelty, and disdains to
take advantage of a vanquished enemy.
The duellist, in proving his bravery, shows
that he thinks it suspected. Anon.
2. Splendor ; magnificence ; showy aiipear-
auce.
The bravery of tlieir tinkling ornaments. Is.
iii. Spenser.
3. Show; ostentation; fine dress. Bacon.
Bravado ; boast. Bacon. Sidney.
A sho\vy jierson. Spenser.
[In the laM four senses, this word is nearly
antiquated.]
1? A'VING, ppr. Setting at defiance ; chal
lenging.
BRA'VO, re. [It. and Sp.] A daring villain ;
a bandit ; one who sets law at defiance ;
an assassin or murderer.
Gov't of the Tongue.
BRAWL, V. i. [G. britUen; D. brullen ; Dan,
vraaler and briiler ; Sw. vrala, to roar or
bellow ; Fr. brailler ; Arm. brailhat, to
brawl or be noisy ; L. prcelior ; W. bro
Haw, to boast, to brag ; brawl, a shooting
out, a boast.]
1. To quarrel noisily and indecently.
fVafts
2. To speak loud and indecently. Shak
3. To roar as water ; to make a noise.
Shak.
BRAWL, v. t. To drive or beat away.
'Shak.
BRAWL, n. [Norm, braul] Noise ; quar-
rel ; scurrility ; uproar. Hooker.
2. Formerly, a kind of dance.
Shak. B. Jonson. Gray.
BRAWL'ER, re. A noisy fellow ; a wran-
gler. Ayliffe.
BRAWLING, )!. The act of quarreling.
BRAWL'INGLY, adv. In a quarrelsome
manner. Hi
BRAWN, n. [L. aprugnus, earn uprugna.]
1. The flesh of a boar, or the animal.
2 The fleshy, protuberant, muscular part of
the body. Peacham.
3. Bulk ; mu.scular strength. Dryden.
4. The arm, from its muscles or strength.
Shak,
BRAWN'ED, a. Brawny ; strong.
Spenser.
BRAWN'ER, re. A boar killed for the table.
Johnson. King.
BRAWN'INESS, re. The quaUty of beufg
brawny ; strength ; hardiness. Locke.
BRAWN' Y, a. Musculous ; fleshy ; bulky ;
having large, strong muscles ; strong.
Dryden.
BRAY, V. t. [Sax. bracan ; Fr. broyer, to
pound, or bruise ; hraire, to roar, or bray
as an ass ; Arm. bregui, to roar; N'.nii.
brair, to cry, to brag ; Gr. »3po;tu ; W. bri-
waw, to break in pieces, to rub, or grind ;
breyan, a quern ; Ir. bra, a bandmiU. See
Brag and Break.]
To pound, beat or grind small ; as, to bray
a fool in a mortar. Prov. xxvii.
2. To make a harsh sound, as of an ass.
Dryden.
3. To make a harsh, disagreeable grating
sound. Milton.
BRAY, re. The harsh soimd or roar of an
ass ; a harsh grating soimd.
2. Shelving ground. Fairfax.
BRAY, n. [W. hre, a mount or peak.] A
bank or moimd of earth. Obs. Herbert.
BRA'YER, re. One that brays like an ass.
Pope.
2. A instrument to temper ink in printing
offices. Bailey. Johnson.
BRA'YING, ppr. Pounding or grinding
small ; roaring.
BRA'YING, re. Roar ; noise ; clamor.
Smith.
BRAZE, V. t. [Fr. braser.] To soder with
brass. Moxon.
2. To harden to impudence ; to harden as
with brass. Shak.
BRA'ZEN, a. brazn. Made of brass ; as
a brazen helmet. Dryden.
Pertaining to brass ; proceeding from
brass ; as a brazen din. Shak.
3. Impudent ; having a front like brass.
Brazen age, or age of brass, in mythology,
the age which succeeded the silver age,
when men liad degenerated from primi-
tive purity.
Brazen dish, among miners, is the standard
by which other dishes are guaged, and is
kept in the king's hall. England.
Brazen sea, in Jewish antiquity, a huge ves-
sel of brass, cast on the plain of Jordan,
and placed in Solomon's temple. It was
ten cubits from brim to brim, five in
height, thirty in cu-cumference, and con-
tahied 3000 baths. It was designed for the
priests to wash themselves in, before they
pertbrmed the service of the temple.
Encyc.
BRA'ZEN, V. i. brazn. To be impudent : to
bully. Ariuthnoi.
BRA'ZEN-FACE, re. [brazen and/«fc] An
iniiaident perscm ; one remarkable fi)r
ertrnntcrv. Shak.
BRA'ZEN-FACED, a. Impudent; hold to
excess; shameless. Dri/den.
BRA'ZENLY, adv. In a bold impudent
iiiauner.
B R E
B R E
B R E
BRAZENNESS, n. Appearance like brass.
In tliis sense, brassmess is the more correct
word.
2. Impudence; excess of assurance.
BRAZIER. [See Brasier.]
BRAZIL', } [Port, braza, a live
BRAZIL-WQOD, S "" coal, or glowing
fire. This name was given to the wood
for its color, and it is said that King Eman-
uel of Portugal gave this name to the e-oun-
try in America on account of its producing
this wood. It was first named Santa Cniz,l
by its discoverer, Pedro Alvares Cahnil.
Lindleij's ATarrative of a voyage to Brazil.
Med. Rep. Hex. 2. vol. 3. 200.]
Brazil, or brazil-wood, or braziletto, is a very
heavy wood of a red color, growing in
Brazil, and other tropical countries. It is
used in manufactures for dyeing red. It
is a species of Coesalpina.
BRAZILETTO, J^. The same as Brazil-
W(>0(h
BRAZILIAN, a. Pertaining- to Brazil ; as,
Brazilian strand. Barlow.
BREACH, n. [Fr. brecke; D. Ireuk ; Ger.
bruch ; Sw. br&ck ; Dan. br(ck ; Sp. and
Port brecha. See Break.]
1. The act of breaking ; or state of being
broken; aruiiiure; a break ; a gap; the
s])a(!e between [lie severed parts of a solid
body pnrted by violence ; as a breach in a
garment, or in a wall.
2. The viohition of a law ; the violation or
non-fultilmentof a contract : the non-per-
<!)rmance of a moral duty ; non-perform-
ance of duty being a breack of obligation,
as well as a positive transgression or vio-
lation.
Every breach of the public engagements is
Iiuitful to |)ublic credit. Hamilton.
3. An opening in a coast. [^Vo< wsim/.]
Spenser.
1. Separation between friends by means of
enmity ; difference ; quarrel. Clarendon.
5. Infrai:tion; injury; invasion; a.s a breach
upon kingly power. Clarendon.
C. Beniiviinciit ; loss of a friend and its con-
sequent atllictioM.
7. A viohitiim of the public peace, as by a
riot, ;iniay, or any tunnilt which is con-
trary to law, and destructive to the public
tr;ui(|uillity,is called a breach of the peace.
BRE-\CH, t). /. To make a breach, or open-
ing. Life of Wellington.
BREAD, n. bred. [Sax. bread ; G.brot; D.
brood ; Sw. brod ; Dan. brod. Qu. Gr. tipuros,
any thing escident. If the word signifies
fofxl in general, or that which is eaten,
probably it is the Heb. and Ch. nn2, from
ni3 barah, to eat or feed. But in Ger-
man, it signifies loaf as well as bread.
" Zehen brot," ten loaves. It may there-
fore signify i)rimj(rily a lump or portion.]
J . A mass of dough, made by moistening and
kneading the flour or meal of some species
of grain, and baked in an oven, or pan.
'?. Food in general.
In tlie sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Gen. iii.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Lord's Prayer.
3. Support of life in general ; maintenance.
Is the reward of virtue, bread ? Pupe.
Bee-bread. [See Bee.]
Ship-bread, biead for ships : hard biscuits.
Cassuda-bread. [See Cassada.]
BREAD, t'.<. l^iix. brcedan. See Broad.]
To spread. [J\i~ot used.] Bay.
BREAD -CHIPPER, n. [b,-ead and chip.]
One w ho cliips bread ; a baker's servant ;
an uiidur butler. Shak
BREAD'-tORN, n. [bread and corji.] Corn
of which bread is made. This in mos
countries is wlieat and rye ; but in some
countries bread is made of other grain, as
of maize in some parts of America.
BREAD'EN, a. Made of bread. [Little
used.] Rogers
BREAD'LESS, a. Without bread ; destitute
of food.
BREAD'-ROOM,n. An apartment in a ship
hold, where the bread is kept.
BREAD'-TREE, n. [bread and tree.] The
bread-fruit tree, or Artocarpu.s, a tree which
grows in the isles of the Pacific ocean, of
tlie size of an apple-tree, producing a fruit
shaped like a heart, and as large as a small
loaf of bread, which is eaten as food.
£7lC^C.
BREADTH, ji. bredth. [Sax. brad and bred.
See Board and Broad]
The measure or extent of any plain surface
from side to side ; a geometrical dimen-
sion, which, multipUed into the length,
constitutes a surface ; as, the length of a
table is five feet, and the breadth, three ;
5 X a = l.T feet, the whole surface.
BREADTH'LESS, a. Having no breadth.
More.
BREAK, V. t. pret. broke, [brake. 06s.]; jjp.
broke or broken. [Sax. brmcan, brecan, to
break, and bracan, to bray, as in a mortar ;
Sw. briikd ; Dan. brcekker ; D. braaken,
breeken ; G. brechen ; W. bregu, to break ;
breg, a rent or rupture ; brer, a breaking
out, a freckle ; Goth, brikan ; Ir. bracaim,
to break, to harrow ; Sp. and Port, brecha,
a breach ; L./rajig-o,/reg-i, n casual ; Arm.
fncga; Fr. fracas ; Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Ar.
p"\3 to break, to free or deliver, to sepa-
rate ; Gr. ifipaoffu, $payf<a. These words
seem also to be allied to J\2 and pa. If
the first consonant is a prefix, which is
probable, then connected with the.se words
are the Gr. pjjyrou, and ipiixu, W. rhuygaie,
Arm. roga, rega, to rend. M'reck is prob-
ably of the same family. The primary
sense is to strain, stretch, rack, drive ;
lience, to strain and burst or break. It
should be noted that the Greek pijyj?, in the
jEolic dialect, is iifrrjyTj.]
, To part or divide by force and violence,
as a solid substance ; to rend apart ; as, to
break a band ; to break a thread or a cable.
2. To burst or open by force.
The fountains of the earth were broke open.
3. To divide by piercing or penetrating ; to
burst forth ; as, the hght breaks through the
clouds. Dnjden.
4. To make breaches or gaps by battering,
iin a wall. Shak.
5. To destroy, crush, weaken, or impair, as
the hiunan body or constitution. .Wdton.
6. To sink ; to appall or subdue ; as, to break
le spirits, or the passions. Philips.
7. To crush; to shatter; to dissipate the
strength of, as of an army. Dn/den.
8. To weaken, or impair, as" the faculties.
Shak.
\). To tame : to train to obedience ; to make
tractable; as, to 6r«aA; a horse. Addison.
JO. To make bankrupt. ."?oi(//i.
11. To discard, dismiss or cashier ; as, to break
an officer. Swift.
12. To crack, to part or divide, as the skin ;
to open, as an aposteme.
13. To violate, as a contract or promise, ci-
ther by a i)ositive act contrary to the
promise, or by neglect or non-liilfilment.
14. To infringe or violate, as a law, or any
moral obligation, either by a positive act
or by an omission of what is required.
Dryden.
15. To stop ; to inteiTupt ; to cause to cease ;
as, to break conversation ; to break sleep.
Shak.
16. To intercept; to check; to lessen the
force of; as, to break a fall, or a blow.
Bacon.
17. To separate ; to part ; as, to break com-
jiany or liiendship. Atterbun/.
18. 'I'o dissolve any union; sometimes with
off ; as, to break off a. connection.
I'J. To cause to abandon ; to reform or
cause to reform ; as, to break one of ill
habits or practices. Grew.
20. To ojien as a purpose ; to propound
something new ; to make a first disclosure
of opinions ; as, to break one's mind.
Bacon.
21. To frustrate ; to prevent.
If plas>ie8 or earthquakes break not heaven's
design. Pope.
22. To take away ; as, to break the whole
staff of bread. Ps. cv.
23. To stretch ; to strain ; to rack ; as, to break
one on the wheel.
To break the back, to strain or dislocate the
vertebers with too heavy a burden ; also,
to disable one's fortune. Sliak.
To break bulk, to begin to unload.
Mar. Diet.
To break a deer, to cut it iq) at table.
Johnson.
To breakfast, to cat the first meal in the day,
but used as a conqmund word.
To break ground, to plow. Carew.
To break ground, to dig ; to open trenches.
Encyc.
To break the heart, to afilict grievously ; to
cause great sorrow or grief; to depress
with sorrow or despair. Dryden.
To break a jest, to utter a jest unexpected.
Johnson.
To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of
the neck. Shak.
To break off, to put a sudden stop to ; to in-
terrupt ; to discontinue.
Break off thy sins by righteousness. Dan.
iv.
2. To sever ; to divide ; as, to break off a
To break sheer, in marine language. When a
ship at anchor is in a position to keep
clear of the anchor, but is forced by wind
or current out of that position, she breaks
her sheer. Mar. Diet.
To break up, to dissolve or put an end to ;
a.s, to break up house-keeping.
2. To open or lay open ; as, to break up a
bed of earth.
3. To plow groimd the first time, or after
Iving long unplowed ; o common use in the
U. Stfiles.
4. To separate ; as, to break up a company
13 R E
B 11 E
B R E
"i. 'J'li (lisliaiid ; as, to break up an army.
To breiik upon the wheel, to stretch and break
tlie bones by torture upon tlie wheel.
To break wind, to give vent to wind from the
body backward.
BREAK, I'. {. To part; to separate ; to di
vide in two ; as, the ice breaks ; a band
breaks.
•.'. To burst : as, a storm or deluge breaks
Dry den.
:i. To burst, by dashing against something ;
as, a wave breaks upon a rock. Pope.
4. To open, as a tumor or aposteine.
Harvey.
5. To open, as the morning ; to show the
first Hght ; to dawn. Addison
(J. To burst forth ; to utter or exclaim.
Shak.
7. To fail in trade or other occupation ; to
become bankrupt. Pope.
8. To declhie in health and strength ; to be-
gin to lose the natural vigor. Swijl.
0. To issue out with vehemence. Pope.
10. To make way with violence or sudden-
ness; to rush : often with a particle; as,
to break in ; to break in upon, as calami-
ties ; to break over, as a flood ; to break nut,
as a fire ; to break forth, as liglit or a
sound.
11. To come to an explanation.
I am to break with thee upon some afl'aiis.
[/ beliei^e, antiquated.'] Shak.
12. To sufler an interruption of friendship ;
to fall out.
Be not afraid to break witli traitor?.
J}. Jonson.
13. To faint, flag or pant.
My soul brcaketh for longing to (hy judg-
ments. Ps. cxix.
To break away, to disengage itself from ; to
rush from ; also, to dissolve itself or dissi-
pate, as fog or clouds.
To break forth, to issue out.
To break from, to disengage from ; to depart
abruptly, or with vehemence.
Roscommon.
To break in, to enter by force ; to enter un-
expectedly ; to intrude. Addison.
To break loose, to get free by force ; to es-
cape from confinement by violcijce ; to
shake off restraint. Milton. Tillotson.
To break off, to part ; to divide ; also, to de-
sist suddenly. Bacon.
To break off from, to part from with violence.
Shak.
To break out, to issue forth ; to discover it-
self by its efl!ccts, to arise or spring up;
as, a fire breaks out ; a sedition breaks out ;
a fever breaks out. Dryden. Milton.
'.'. To appear in eruptions, as pustules ; to
liave jHistules, or an efflorescence on the
the skin, as a child breaks out. Hence we
liaveyrccA/e from the root of break ; Welsh
brer.
':}. To throw ofl' restraint, and become disso-
lute. Dryden.
To break up, to dissolve itself and separate ;
as a company breaks up ; a meeting breaks
up ; a fog breaks up ; but more generally
we say, fog, mist or clouds break aiDuy.
To break with, to part in enmity ; to cease to
be frifiuls ; as, to break with a friend or
coMipanion. Pope.
This verb Cannes with it its primitive
sense oi' straining, parting, severing, burst
1/ig, oifcn «iib violence, with the conse
qiiential senses of injury, defect, and
firmitij.
BREAfv, n. A state of being open, or the
act of separating ; an. opening made by
force ; an open place. It is the sani(
word as brack, differently written and pro
nounced.
9. A pause ; an interruption.
3. A line in writing or printing, noting a sus
jjension of the sense, or a stop in the sen
tence.
4. In a ship, the break of the deck is the part
where it terminates, and the descent on to
the next deck below commences.
5. The fir.st appearance of light in the morn
ing ; the dawn ; as the break of day. Ar.
Owi farakon, id.
C. In architecture, a recess.
BREAKAGE, »?. A breaking ; also, an al
lowance for things broken, in transpor
tation.
BREAKER, n. The person who breaks
any thing ; a violator or transgressor
as a breaker of the law. South.
2. A rock which bi-eaks the waves ; or the
wave itself which breaks against a rock,
a .sand bank, or the shore, exhibiting a
white foam. Mar. Diet. Johnson
3. A pier, mound or other solid matter, pla-
ced in a river, to break the floating ice,
and prevent it from injuring a bridge be-
low ; called also ice-breaker.
4. One that breaks up ground.
5. A destroyer. Micali^ii.
BREAK'FAST, n. brekfast. [break and
fa^t.]
1. The first meal in the day ; or the thing
eaten at the first meal.
2. A meal, or food in general. Dryden.
BREAK'FAST, v. i. brekfast. To eat the
first meid in the da}'.
BREAK'FASTING, ppr. Eating or taking
the first meal in the day.
BREAK'FASTING, n. A party at break-
fast. Chesterfield.
BREAKING, ppr. Parting by violence :
rending asunder ; becoming bankrupt.
BREAKNECK, n. [break anA neck.] A fill 1
that breaks the neck ; a steep place endan-
gering the neck. Shak.
BREAKPROMISE, n. [break and promise.]
One who makes a practice of breaking his
promise. \Xot used.] Shak.
BREAKVOW, »i. [break and vow.] One
who habitually breaks his vows. [J^Tot
used.] Shak.
BREAKWATER, n. [break and water.] The
hull of an old vessel sunk at the entrance
of a harbor, to break or diminish thefiircc
of the waves, to secure the vessels in har-
bor. Mar. Diet.
2. A small buoy fastened to a large one,
when the rope of the latter is not long
enough to reach the surface of the water.
Mar. Diet.
3. A mole, at the mouth of a harbor, intend-
ed to break the force of the waves.
BREAM, n. [Fr. 6remf ,• Ch. nnn3N, abru-
mah ; Sp. brema.]
A fish, the Cyprinus brama, an inhabitant oi
lakes and deep water, extremely insipid
and little valued. Encyc. fValton.
BREAM, v.t. In sea language, to burn ofl'
the filth, such as grass, sea weed, ooze.
&c., from a sliip's bottom. Mar. Diet.
BREAST, n. brest. [Sax. breast ; Sw. bi-i>st ;
D. borst, the breast, a lad, a notch ; G.
brust, breast, and briisten, to hold up the
head, to look big ; Dan. brost, breast ; also
default, defect, Wemish ; also, bryst,hTeast,
pap ; brysier sig, to strut ; brisler, to burst.
The scii.^e seems to be, a protuberance.]
1. The soft, protuberant body, adhering to
the thorax, which, in females, furnishes
milk for infants.
His breasts are full of ii>ilk. Job xxi. 24.
2. The fore part of the thorax, or the fore
part of the human body between the neck
antl the belly.
3. The part of a beast which answers to the
breast in man. This, in quadrupeds, is
between the fore legs, below the neck.
4. Figuratively, the heart; the conscience ;
the disposition of the mind ; the affections :
the seat of the aftectionsand passions.
Cowley. Dryden.
5. Formerly, the power of singing. Tusser.
BREAST, V. t. brest. To meet in front ; to
oppose breast to breast.
Goldsmith. Dwight.
The court breasted the popular current by
sustaining the demurrer. Wirt.
BREAST' BONE, ?i. [breast und bone.] The
bone of the breast ; the sternum.
Peaeham.
BREAST'-€'ASKET, n. [breast and cask-
et.]
One of the largest and longest of the caskets
or strings on the middle of the yard of a
shii>. Johnson. [I do not find this word ii).
the Mariner^s Dicttonarij.]
BREAST'DEEP, o. Breast high ; as high
as the breast.
BREAST'ED, a. Having a broad breast;
having a fine voice. Fiddes.
BREAST'F'AST, n. [breast and fast.] A
large royje to confine a ship sidewise to a
wharf or key. Mar. Diet.
BREAST'IIIGH, a. [breast smA high.] High
as the breast. Sidney.
BREAST'HQOK, n. [breast and hook.-\ A
thick yjiece of timber placed directly across
the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore
])art and unite the bows on each side.
Mar. Diet.
BREASTING, ppr. Meeting with the
breast ; opposing in front.
BREAST'KNOT, n. [breast and knot.] A
knot of ribins worn on the breast.
Addison.
BREAST'PLATE, n. [breast and plate.]
1. Armor for the breast. Cotrley.
2. A strap that runs across a horse's breast.
Ask.
3. In Jetvish antiquity, a part of the vestment
of the high priest, consisting of a folded
piece of the rich embroidered stuff ol
which the ephod was made. It was set
with twelve precious stones, on which
were engraved the names of the twelve
tribes. Enci/c.
BREAST'PLOW, n. [breast and plow.] A
plow, driven by the breast, used to cut or
|)are tiu'f. Johnson.
BREAST'ROPE, n. [breast and rope.] In
a ship, breast ropes aie used to fasten the
yards to the parrels, and with the parrels,
to hold the yards fast to the mast ; now
called parrel rapes.
B H E
B R E
B R E
nUEAST'-WORK, n. [breast and worl,:] In
fortificfitiov, a work thrown up for dofense ;
a parapet, wliidi sie.
BREATH, n. birlli. [Sax. brcelh, odor, scent
breath ; G. broikm, steam, vapor, breath."
1. Tlie air inhaled and expelled in iho res-
piration of animals.
2. Life.
No man has more contempt than I of breath.
Iky den
■3. Tlie state or power of breathing freely :
opposed to a state of exhaustion from vio-
lent action ; as, I am out of breath ; I am
scan-e in breath. Shak.
4. Respite ; pause ; time to breathe ; as, let
me take breath : give nie some breath.
Shak.
5. Breeze; air in gentle motion.
Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea,
Wlien not a breath of wind flics o'er its sur-
face. Addison .
0. A single respiration ; as, he swears at ev-
ery breath.
7. An instant ; the time of a single respira-
tion ; a single act.
He smiles and he frowns in a breath.
Dry den.
». A word.
A breath can make them, a^ a breath has
made. Goldsmith.
BREATHABLE, a. Tliat may be breathed.
BREATHE, v. i. To respire ; to inspire and
expire air. Hence, to live. Pope. Shnk.
f2. To take breath ; to rest from iiction ; as,
let them have time to breathe.
3. To pass as air.
To whose foul mouth no wholesome air
breathes in. Shak.
BREATHE, v. t. To inhale as air into the
lungs and expel it ; as, to breathe vital air.
Dniden.
% To inject by breathing; to infuse; follow-
ed by into.
And the Lord God breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life. Gen. ii.
3. To eifpire ; to eject by breathing ; follow-
ed by out ; as, to breathe out threatenings
and slaughter. Acts.
4. To exercise ; to keep in breath.
The greyhounds are as swift as breathed stags.
Shak.
.5. To inspire or blow into ; to cause to sound
by breathing ; as, to breathe the flute.
Prior.
C. To exhale ; to emit as breath ; as, the
flowers breathe odors or perfume.
7. To ultei softly or in private; as, to breathe
a vow. Shak.
t-. To give air or vent to ; to open ; as, to
breathe a vein. [W. brathu, to pierce.]
Johnson. Dryden.
!>. To express ; to manifest.
Other articles breathe tlie same severe spirit.
.Milner.
liRE'ATHED, pp. Inhaled and exhaled;
respired ; uttered.
BRE'ATHER, n. One that breathes or
lives ; one that utters ; an inspirer, oi
who animates or infuses by inspiration.
BREATH'FUL, o. breth'ful. "Full of breath :
full of odor. Spenser.
BUE'ATHING, /)pr. Respiring giving ; ut-
tering.
;!. a. Exhibiting to the life ; as breathing
paint. Pope.
BRE'ATHING, n. Respiration; tlio act ofl spread; D. Arocrfeti, to brood ; Ger
inhaling and e.xhaUng air.
Vol. L
2. Aspiration ; secret prayer. Prior.
',i. Breathing-place ; vent. Dryden.\
14. Accent ; aspiration.
BRE'ATHING-PLACE, n. A i)ause. |
'2. A vent.
jBRE'ATIHNG-TIME, n. Pause; relaxa-
tion. Hall.]
BREATH'LESS, a. breth'less. Being out
of breath ; spent with labor or violent ac-
1 tion.
I2. Dead ; as a breathless body. Shak
BREATH'LESSNESS, n. The state of be-
ing exhausted of breath. Hall
BRE€'CIA, n. [It. a breach.] In mineralogy,
an aggregate composed of angular fra^
ments of the same mineral, or of different
minerals, united by a cement, and jnesent-
ing a variety of colors. Sometimes a few
of the fragments are a little roimded. The
varieties are the siliceous, calcarious and
trap breccias. Cleaveland.
When rounded stones and angidar frag-
ments are united by a cement, the aggre-
gate is usually called coarse conglome-
rate.
BREC'CIATED, a. Consisting of angular
fragments, cemented iiii;eil]er.
BRECH'ITE, n. A Io-mI ^,11,. ,1 t<. the Al
cyons. It is c_\ liihliH-.il. -in,.ic(l, and its
thick end conical, inrn-cd wnh holes, and
crested. Fr. Dirt. A''at. Hist.
15RED, pp. of breed. Generated ; produced ;
contrived ; educated.
BREDE, n. A braid. [Mf vsed.] Mdison.
BREECH, n. brich. [See Breach and Break.]
The lower part of the body behind,
2. Breeches ; but rarely used in the singular.
Shak.
3. The hinder part of any thins. Johnson.
BREECH, V. t. To put into breeches.
Johnson.
2. To whip on the breech. JMassinger.
.3. See Britch.
BREECHES, 7t. plu. brich'es. [Sax brae,
brwccee ; D. broek ; Arm. braga, brages ; It,
brace, brachesse or braghesse ; Port. Sp.
bra gas ; Fr. braies; Ir. brog ; Low L.
braccce ; Dan. brog^ breeches, and broged.
of various colors, mixed, variegated; VV,
bryran, a spotted covering, scotch plaid
bryc, variegated with colors. "Sarmatse
totuni braccati corpus." Mela, 2. 1. See
Plin. a 4. Herod. Lib. 7. Strabo, Lib.
15. Ovid. Tri.-^t. 5. 7. Cluv. Germ. Ant
1. 10. Pelloutier, Hist. Celt. 1. 30. The
word seems to be fi-om the root of break,
and to denote, diverse in color, variegated,
like freckled. See Freckle.]
A garment worn by men, covering the hips
and thighs. It is now a close garment
but tlie word formerjy was used for a
loose garment, now called trowsers, laxa:
bracc(E. Ovid.
To wear the breeches is, in the wife, to usurp
the authority of the husband. Johnson
BREECHING, ppr. hrich'ing. Furnishing
with breeches, or with a breech. [See
Britch.]
2. Whi])ping the breech ; and as a noun, a
whipping. Marlow.
BREECHING, in gunnery on board of
ships. [See Britching.]
BREED, V. t. pret. and pp. bred. [Sax. bre-
dan, bradan, to warm, to dilate, to open, to
to brood ; Dan. breder, to spread, dilate,
27
unlijld ; W. brud, warm ; brydiaw, lu
warm, to heat. Class Ku. See broad.]
1. To generate ; to engender; to hatch ; to
produce the young oi" any species of ani-
mals. I think it is never used of plants,
and in animals is always applied to the
mother or dam.
2. To [iroduce within or ujion the body ; as.
to breed teetli ; to breed worms.
3. To cause ; to occasion : to produce ; to
originate.
Intemperance and lust breed infirmities.
Tillotson.
Ambition breeds factions. Anon .
4. To contrive; to hatch; to produce by
plotting.
Had he a heart and a brain to breed it ui ?
Shak.
.5. To give birth to ; to be the native place
of; as, a pond breeds fish ; a northern
country breeds a race of stout men.
(J. To educate ; to instruct ; to form by edu-
cation ; often, but unnecessarily, followed
by lip ; as, to breed a son to an occupation ;
a man bred at a university. To breed up
is vulgar.
7. To bring up ; to inirse and foster ; to take
care of in infancy, and through the age
of youth ; to provide for, train and con-
duct ; to instruct the mind and form the
manners in youth.
To bring thee forth with pain, with care to
breed. Dryden.
BREED, V. i. To jiroduce, as a fetus ; to
bear and nourish, as in pregnancy ; as, a
female breeds with pain.
2. To he formed in the parent or dam ; to
be generated, or to grow, as young before
birth ; as, children or young breed in the
matrix.
3. To have birth; to be produced ; as, fish
breed in rivers.
4. To be increased by a new production.
But could youtli last and love still breed.
Raleigh.
5. To raise a breed ; as, to choose the best
species of swine to breed from.
REED, n. A race or jirogeny from the
same parents or stock.
2. A cast ; a kind ; a race of men or other
animals, which have an alliance by nativi-
ty, or some distinctive qualities in com-
mon ; as a breed of men in a particular coun-
try ; a breed of horses or sheep. Applied
to men, it is not elegant. We use race.
3. Progeny ; offspring ; applied to other
;hings than animals. Shak.
4. A number produced at once ; a hatch ;
a brood ; but for this, brood is generally
used. Grew.
BREED-BATE, n. One that breeds or
originates quarrels. [.Vo? in use.] Shak.
BREE'DER, n. The female that breeds or
produces, whether human or other ani-
mal.
2. The person who educates or brings up ;
that which brings up.
Italy and Rome have been the best breeders
of worthy men. Aseham.
3. That which produces.
Tune is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Shak.
4. One who raises a breed ; one who takes
care to raise a particular breed, or breeds,
as of horses or cattle. Temple.
BREEDING, ppr. Bearing and nourishing,
B R E
B R E
B R E
as a fetus ; engendering ; producing ; edu-
cating.
l^REE'DING, 71. The act of generating or
of producing.
'J. Tlie raising of a breed or breeds; as, the
farmer attends to the breeding of slieep.
:!. Niature ; education ; instruction ; forma-
tion of manners.
She had her breeding at my father's charge.
Shak.
1. By ivciy of eminence, manners; knowl-
edge of ceremony ; deportment or behav-
ior in the external offices and decorums
of social life. Hence good breeding is po-
liteness, or the qualifications which con-
stitute genteel deportment. Encyc.
BREEZE, )i. [Sax. briosa, from its sound,
resembling a breeze.]
\ genus of flies or insects, technically called
Tabanus. There are many species, but
the most noted is the bovinus, great horse
fly, whose mouth is armed with two hooks
wliich penetrate the skin of an animal
while with a proboscis, like a sting, ii
sucks the blood.
BREEZE, n. [It. brezza, a cold, windy mist
Sp. brisa, a breeze ; Sw. brusa, to be fervid,
to boil, to murmur ; Dan. bruser, to rush,
roar or foam, to rise in waves ; bruusen,
tlie rustling of the wind, a humming
buzzing, fermentation. In French s
language, biise, a breeze ; Gr. |3pai^u, and
(Spoffiju, to boil ; Fr. brasser, to brew ; W.
brys hasty, from rkys, a rushing. These
words seem all to have a common root.
See Rush.]
1. A light wind ; a gentle gale.
From land a sentle breeze arose at nioht.
Drydi
•?. A shifting wind, that blows from the s
or from the land, for a certain time, by
night or by day. Such breezes are com
mon in the tropical regions, and in a good
degree regular. The wind from the
is called a sea breeze, and that from the
land, a land breeze. In general, the sea
breeze blows in the day time, and the land
breeze at night. The like breezes are
common, in the sunnner months, in the
temperate latitudes.
BREEZE, V. i. To blow gently ; a ivord
common among seamen.
For now the breathing airs, from ocean born
Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn
Barlow
BREE'ZELESS, o. Motionless; destitute
of breezes. Shenstone
BREE'ZY, a. Fanned with gentle winds or
breezes ; as the breezy shore. Pope.
^. Subject to frequent breezes. Gray
BRE'HON, n. In Irish, a judge. In an-
cient times, the general laws of Ireland
were called Brelion laws, unwritten like
the common law of England. These law?
were abolished by statute of Edward III
Encyc. Blackslone
BRE'ISLAKITE, n. A newly discovered
Vesuvian mineral, resembling a brownisl
or reddish brown down, which lines the
small bubbles found in the lava of Scalla,
and is found in cavities of the lava of Oleba-
no ; named from Breislak, a celebrated
Italian naturalist. Journal of Science,
BRKME, o. [Snx. bremman, to murmur, t
fret ; L. fnmo.] Cruel ; sharp. [JVo< used.
Chaucer.
BREN, I', t. [Sax. brennan, to burn.] To
- irn. Obs. Spenser.
BREN'NAGE, j?. [from bran.] In the mid-
dle ages, a tribute or composition which
tenants paid to their lord, in lieu of bran
which they were obUged to furnish for his
hounds. Encyc.
BRENT or BRANT, a. [W. bryii, a hill.]
Steep ; high. Obs. Ascham.
BRENT, n. A brant, or brand-goose, a fowl
with a black neck and a white collar or
line round it. [See Brnnl.]
3. Burnt. [See Bren. Obs.] Spenser.
BREST or BREAST, n. In architecture, the
member of a column, more usually called
torus or tore. [See Torus.] Encyc.
BREST'-SUMMER, n. In architecture, a
piece in the outward part of a vvoodei
building, into which the girders are fra
med. This, in the ground floor, is called
a sill, and in the garret floor, a beam. Encyc.
BRET, n. A local name of the turhot, called
also burt or brut.
BRET'FUL, a. Brimful. Obs. Chaucer
BRETH'iiEN, n. plu. of brother. It is used
almost exclusively in solemn and script-
ural language, in the place of brothers.
[See Brother.]
BREVE, n. [h. breve; L. brei-is; Sp.irere;
Fr. bref short. See Brief]
1. In music, a note or character of time,
equivalent to two semibreves or four min
ims. When dotted, it is equal to three
semibreves.
3. In law, a writ directed to the chancellor,
judges, sherifls or other oflicers, whereby
a person is summoned, or attached, to an-
swer in the king's court. Encyc.
This word, in the latter sense, is more gen
erallv written brief.
BREVET', n. [from breve.] In the French
customs, the grant of a favor or donation
from the king, or the warrant evidencing
the grant ; a \\ srrant ; a brief, or commis-
sion. 3Iore particularly, a commission
given to a subaltern oflicer, written on
parchment, without seal. Encyi
9. A commission to an oflicer which entitles
I him to a rank in the army above his pay.
Thus a brevet major serves as a captain
and receives pay as such. Such c
missions were given to the officers of the
American Army at the close of the war,
giving them a grade of rank above that
which they had held during service.
Eniyc. Marshall's Life of Wash
BRE'VIARV, n. [Fr. breviaire ; L. hrevia-
rium, from brevis, short. See Brief]
1. An abridgment ; a compeud ; an epit-
ome. '^yHfe-
2. A book containing the daily service of thi
Romish church. It is composed of matins,
lauds, first, third, sixth and ninth vespers,
and the compline or post communio. The
Greeks alao liave a breviary. Encyc.
BRE'VIAT, n. [See Breve and Brief] A
short compend ; a sunnnary.
Decay of Piety.
BRE'VIATE, v.t. To abridge. [JVot used.]
[See ./Ihbreriate.]
BRE'VIATURE, n. An abbreviation. [See
Brief] Johr
BREVIE'R, n. [Fr. breviaire; so called,
says Johnson, from being originally used
in printing a breviary.]
A small kind of printing types, in size be
tween bourgeois and minion. It is miicfi
used in printing marginal notes.
BREV'IPED, a. [L. brevis, short, and pes,
foot.] Having short legs, as a fowl.
BREV'IPED, n. A fowl having short legs.
BREVITY, n. [L. brevitas, from brevis,
short. See Brief]
1. Shortness; applied to time; as the brevity
of human life.
9. Shortness ; conciseness ; contraction into
few words ; applied to discourses or wri-
tings. Dryden.
BREW, V. t. [Sax. hriwan, to brew ; briu;
broth ; D. brouwen, to brew, to contrive,
to mix ; G. brauen. These seem to be
contractions of the Gothic ; Sw. briggia :
Dan. brygger, to brew. The Russ. has
burchu. Tlie Welch has brwc, a boiling,
stir, tumult, from rhwc, something rough ,-
and it has also benvi, to boil, or bubble,
whence berwezu, to brew, from bar, fury,
imjmlse. Our word brew seems to be di-
rectly from the Saxon. The sense is, to
stir, boil, or agitate with violence.]
1. In ageneral sense, to boil, and mix ; hence
in Saxon, it signifies broth or pottage :
Old Eng. brewis.
2. In a more restricted sense, to make beer,
ale or other similar liquor from malt ; or
to pi-epare a liquor from malt and hops,
and in private families, from other mate-
rials, by steeping, boiling and fermenta-
tion.
•3. To mingle.
Brew rae a pottle of sack. Shak.
4. To contrive ; to plot ; as, to fcrfiu mis-
chief.
5. To put in a state of preparation. Qu.
BREW, V. i. To be in a state of prepara-
tion ; to be mixing, forming or collecting ;
as, a storm brews in the west. In this sense
I do not recollect the use of the verb, in a
transitive sense, and generally the partici-
ple only is used ; as, a storm is breunng.
2. To perform the business of brewing or
making beer ; as, she can breiv, wash and
bake.
BREW, n. The mixture formed by brewing ;
that which is brewed. Bacon.
BREW'AgE, n. Malt liquor ; drink brewed.
Shak.
BREWED, pp. Blixed, steeped and fermen-
ted ; made by brewing.
BREW'ER, n. One whose occupation is to
prepare malt liquors ; one who brews.
BREWERY, w. A brew-house ; the house
and apparatus where brewing is carried
on.
BREW-HOUSE, n. [brew and house.] A
brewery ; a house appropriated to brew-
ing.
BREWING, ppr. Preparing malt liqUor.
2. In a state of mixing, forming or prepar-
ing; as, a storm is breunng. Pujn .
3. Contriving; preparing; as, a schcnic ii
brewing. ft'otton.
BREW'ING, n. The act or process of pre-
paring liquors from malt and hops.
2. The quantity brewed at once. Bacon.
Vi. Among seamen, a collection of black
I clouds ijortending a storm. Mar. Did.
BREWIS, n. Broth ; pottage. 06s.
2. A piece of bread soaked in boiling fat
pottage, made of salted meat.
I Bailey. Johnson.
BR I
BRIAR, [See Brier.]
BRIBE, n. [Ir. brtab. In Pers. ^^ij parah,
is a bribe, a half, piece, bit, segment, a
morsel. F*. bnbe, a piece of bread.]
1. A price, reward, gift or favor bestowed or
promised with a view to pervert the judg-
ment, or corrupt the conduct of a judge,
witness or other person. A bribe is a
consideration given or promised to a per-
son, to induce liim to decide a cause, give
testimony, or perform some act contrary
to what he knows to be trutli, justice or
rectitude. It is not used in a good sense,
unless in fainihur language.
2. That which seduces.
Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce
to leave these ever blooming sweets. Alcenside.
BRIBE, V. t. To give or promise a rewaid
or consideration, with a view to pervert
the judgment, or corrupt the conduct. To
hire for bad purposes ; to purchase the de-
cision of a judge, the testimony of a wit
ness, or the performance of some act con-
trary to known truth, justice or rectitude.
9. To gain by a bribe.
Xn familiar language, it is sometimes used in
a good sense ; as, to bribe a child to take a
medicine. Dryden has used the word in
a good sense, in solemn language ; but
such use is rare, and hardly legitimate.
BRIBE-DEVOUR'ING,o. Greedy of bribes
or presents ; as bribe-devouring kings.
Mitford.
BRl'BER, n. One who bribes, or pays for
corrupt practices. South
BRI'BERY, n. The act or practice of giv-
ing or taking rewards for corrupt practi-
ces ; the act of paying or receiving a re-
ward for a false judgment, or testimony,
or for the performance of that which
known to be illegal, or unjust. It is a
plied both to him who gives, and to him
wlio receives the compensation, but ap-
propriately to the giver.
BR I BE- WORTHY, a. [bribe and worthy.'
Worth bribing to obtain. Mason.
BRICK, n. [_Fr. biique, a brick, and a little
loaf; Ir. bnce, or brike ; Arm. brigen ; sup-
posed to be a contraction of L. imbrex, t
giitter-tile, from imber, a shower, which is
probably a compound, of which the last
syllable is from ^fiX'^, whence It. imbria-
carsi, to get drunk. See Ebriety.]
A mass of earth, chiefly clay, first moistened
and made fine by grinding or treading, then
formed into a long square in a mold, dried
and baked or burnt in a kiln ; used in build-
ings and walls.
2. A loaf shaped like a brick.
BRICK, II. t. To lay or pave with bricks.
Swift.
2. To imitate or counterfeit a brick wall on
plaster, by smeaiing it with red ocher and
making the joints with an edge-tool, filling
ihem with fine plaster. Encyc.
BRICK'BAT, n. [brick and bat.] A piece
or fragment of a brick. Bacon.
BRICK-BUILT, o. Built with bricks.
Dniden.
BRICK'CLAV, 7!. [bAck and day.] Clay
used or suitable for making bricks.
IVoodward.
BRICK DUST, n. [brick and dust.} Dust
of pounded bricks. Spectator.
B R 1
BRICK'EARTH, n. [bHck a.aA earth.] Clayj
or earth used, or suitable for bricks.
BRICK'KILN, n. [bAck and kiln.] A kiln,|
or furnace, in which bricks are baked or
burnt, or a pile of bricks, laid loose, vvitli
arches underneath to receive the wood or
fuel.
BRICK'LAYER, n. [brick and lay.] One
whose occupation is to build with bricks ;
a mason.
BRICKLE, a. [from break.] Brittle ; easi-
ly broken. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BRICK'MAKER, n. [brick and make.] One
who makes bricks, or whose occupation
is to make bricks.
BRICK'WORK, n. The laying of bricks,
a wall of bricks.
BRICK'Y, a. Full of bricks, or formed of
bricks. Spenser.
BRI'DAL, o. [See Bride.] Belonging to a
bride, or to a wedding ; nuptial ; connubi-
al ; as bridal ornameiits.
Milton. Pope.
BRI'DAL, n. The nuptial festival. Dryden.
BRIDAL'ITY, n. Celebration of the nuptial
feast. [JVol iised.] Jonson.
BRIDE, n. [Sax.bryd; Sw. brud ; D. bruid ;
Ger. braut; Dan. brud; Aim. /"■'/'</, jiritd
W. priod-verch, priodns-\ II i\\. ;i lunlc ; !i
brideog ; W.priodi o vci-(-li, in l^r m.Mrn-il
Ar. prietaat, to marry; r,.rn. I.riun-jiriut
a bride-; W. priod-vah, a bride-mab, bride
goom ; Arm. pridolidh, wedlock. It seems,
by the Celtic dialects, that bride is prima
rily an adjective used with the name ofl
maid or woman, as bridegoom is the same
word with the name of a man. In V\^
priawd, the root of priodas, signifies ap
jiropriate, proper, fit ; priodi, to render
appropriate, to espouse, to marry.]
1. A woman new married. Johnson
But the name is applied to a woman a:
the marriage festival, before she is mar-
ried, as wetl as after the ceremony.
3. A woman espoused, or contracted to bt
married. The case of Lewellyn, prince of
Wales. Henrifs Hist, of Britain, B. iv. oh,
sect. 2. [This is the true original sense of
the ivord.]
BRl'DEBED, n. [bride and bed.] The mar-
riage bed. Prior.
BRI'DE€AKE, n. [bride and cake.] The
cake which is made for the guests at a
wedding; called, in the U. States, wed-
ding cake.
BRl DECHAMBER, n. The nuptial apart-
ment. Malt. \x.
BRIDEGOOM, n. [Sax. brydguma; Sw.
brudgumme ; D. bruidegom ; Ger. brduti-
gam ; Dan. brudgoni ; a comjiound of bride,
and gum, guma, a man, which, by our an-
cestors, was pronoimced g-oom. This
word, by a mispronouncing of the last
syllable, has been corrupted into bride
groom, which signifies a bride's hostler
groom being a Persian word, signifiying i
man who has the care of horses. Such e
gross corruption or blunder ought not to
remain a reproach to philology-.]
A man newly married ; or a man about
be married. The passage of Shakspeare
cited by Johnson proves that the last defi
nition is just.
As are those dulcet sounds in break of day,
Tliat creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear,
And summon him to marriage.
B R 1
BRIDEGROOM, n. [See Bridegoom.]
BRI'DEIMAID, n. [bride and maid.] A wot
niauwlm attends on a bride at her wedding.
Bl!rDi;.M\\, ?i. [tj-iVc and jn</?i.] A man
wliii ailriids uj)on a bridegoom and bride-
at llicir iimrriage. I have generally heard
these uordfi pronounced bride's man and
bridv's mulil.
BRIDl'.STAKE, n. A stake or post set in
the ground to dance round. B. Jonson.
BRl DEWELL, n. A house of correction,
for the confinement of disorderly persons ;
so called from the palace built near St.
Bride's or Bridget's well, in London, which
was turned into a workhouse. Johnson.
BRIDGE, n. [Sax. brie, bricg, brigg, or bryc.
hrycg ; Dan. broe ; S w. bryggia, bro; D. brug ;
Ger. briicke ; Prus. brigge.]
1. Any structure of wood, stone, brick, or
iron, raised over a river, pond, or lake, for
the |)assage of men and other animals.
Among rude nations, bridges are some-
times formed of other materials ; and
sometimes they are formed of boats, or
logs of wood lying on the water, fastened
together, covered with planks, and called
floating bridges. A bridge over a niarsk
is made of logs or other materials laid up-
on the surface of the earth.
/'( mil III in- hanging bridges are not sup-
|)orteil by posts, but by the peculiar struc-
ture of the frame, resting only on the
abutments.
A draio bridge is one which is made with
hinges, and may be raised or opened.
Such bridges are constructed in fortifica-
tions, to hinder the passage of a ditch or
moat ; and over rivers, that the passage
of vessels need not be interrupted.
A flying bridge is made of pontoons, light
boats, hollow beams, empty casks or tlie
like. They are made, as occasion requires,
for the passage of armies.
A flying bridge is also constructed in such
a manner as to move from one side of a
river to the other, being made fast in the
middle of the river by a cable and an an-
chor. Encyc.
2. The upper part of the nose. Johnson.
3. The part of a stringed instrument of mu-
sic, over which the strings are stretched,
and by which they are raised.
4. In gunnery, the two pieces of timber
which go between the two transums of a
gun-carriage. Encyc.
BRID6E, v.^ To build a bridge or bridges
over ; as, to bridge a river.
2. To erect bridges on ; to make a passage
by a bridge or bridges. Milton.
BRIDGED, pp. Covered or furnished with
a bridge.
BRIDG'lNG, ppr. Erecting a bridge ; build-
ing a bridge over.
BRIDg'Y, a. FuU of bridges. [Xot ttsed.]
Sherwood.
BRIDLE, n. [Sax. bridl, or bridet ; Fr.
bride ; Arm. brid ; D. breidel, a bridle ; Sp.
brida, the reins of a bridle ; Port, brida.]
1. The instrument with which a horse is
governed and restrained by a rider ; con-
sisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with
other appenda'ges, according to its parti-
cular form and uses.
2. A restraint ; a curb ; a check. Watts.
3. A short piece of cable well served, at-
tached to a sw^ivel on a chain, laid in a
B R 1
hailjor, ;iir1 Ujc iippci' end drawn into a
,-liip and secured to the bitts. The use is
to iiiahle a ship, when moored, to veer
witli the wind and tide. Mar. Did.
ISowlinc bridles are short legs or pieces of
rope, ruiuiing through iron thimbles, by
wliich the bowline attaches to different
places on the leech or edge of a large sail,
Mar. Diet
liRl'DLE, V. t. To put on a bridle ; as, to
bridle a horse.
'}. To restrain, guide or govern ; to check
curb or control ; as, to bridle the passions;
" to bridle a muso." Pope.
Bridh- the excvirsions of youth. Dwight.
r.RIDLE, V. i. To hold up the Lead, and
ihaw in the rliiii.
1;RI'DLED, pp. Having a bridle on; re-
strained.
I'.RI'DLE-HAND, n. [bridle and hand.] The
liand which holds the bridle in riding.
Sidney.
BRI'DLER, n. One that bridles; one that
restrains and governs. Milton.
IJRI'DLING, ppr. Putting on a bridle ; re
straining ; curbing.
:l. Holding up the head, and drawing in the
chin.
Tlie bridling frown of wiinklcd brows.
Tnimbull.
BRIEF, a. [Fr. bref; It. Sp. Port, breve; L.
brevis, whence brevio, to sliorten, abbre-
viate. Brevis, in Latin, is doubtless con-
tracted from the Gr. iifazvs, whence to
abridge. The Greek word coincides in
elements with break.]
Short ; concise ; it is used chiefly of lan-
guage, discourses, writings and time ; as
a bnef space, a brief review of a book.
Shakspeare applies it to wars, to na-
ture, &c. A little brief authority, is aii-
ihoritv very limited.
BRIEFJ»?. [in tliis sense the word has been
received into most of the languages of
Europe.]
1. An epitome; a short or concise writing.
This is the general sense of the word,
explained by Zonaras on the council of
Carthage. It was thus used as early
the third century after Christ. Spelman.
In modern tiriies, an apostolical brief is a
letter which the pope dispatches to a prince
or other magistrate, relating to public af-
fairs. A brief is distinguished from a bull,
in being more concise, written on paper,
sealed with red wax, and impressed with
the seal of the fisherman or Peter in a
boat. A bull is more ample, written
parchment, and sealed with lead or green
wax. Encyc.
i. In law, an abridgment of a client's case,
made out for the instruction of council on
a trial at law. Encyc. Johnson
Also, a writ summoning a man to an
swer to any action ; or any precept of the
king in writing, issuing from any court
whereby he commands a thing to be done
Cowel.
In Scots law, a writ issuing from the
chancery, directed to any judge ordinary,
commanding and authorizing that judge
to call a jury to inquire into the case, and
uijon their verdict to pronounce sentence.
Encyc,
3. A letter patent, from proiier authority,
authorizing a public collection or charita
B R I
ble contribution of money for any public
or private purpose.
JVetv- England.
A writing in general. Slutk.
In music, the word, if I mistake not, is
now written breve.
BRIE'FLY, adv. Concisely ; in few word;
Baco)
BRIE'FNESS, n. Shortness ;
discourse or writing. Camden.
BRI'ER, n. [Sax. brwr ; Ir. bi-iar, a prickle;
Fr. bniyere, heath ; Arm. brug. The latter
shows this word to be from the root of
rough.]
In a general sense, a prickly plant or
shrub. Is. V. (i. Judges viii. 7.
2. In a limited sense, the sweet-brier and
the wild-brier, species of the rose.
BRI'ER Y, a. Full of briers ; rough ; thorny.
Johnso7i.
BRIG, the termination of names, signifies a
briilge, or perhaps, 'in some cases, a town,
or burg.
BRIG, n. [from brigantine.] A vessel with
two masts, square rigged, or rigged nearly
like a shijj's mainmast and foremast. Tin
term however is variously appUed by
the mariners of different nations.
Mar. Did.
BRIG.A'DE, n. [Fr. brigade ; It. brigata
). anil Port, brigada; perhaps from Ar.
jij »i farikon, agmen, turba hominum
major, that is, a division, from
faraka, to break. This word comes to us
from the south of Europe, and may hav
been introduced into Spain by the Moors.
If this conjecture is not well founded, I
know not the origin of the word. Sec
Cast. Hept. Col. 3084.]
A party or division of troops, or soldiers,
whether cavalry or infantry, regular or
militia, commanded by a brigadier. It
consists of an indeterminate number of
regiments, squadrons, or battalions,
brigade of horse is a body of eight or ten
squadrotis ; of infantry, four, five, or six
battalions, or regiments.
BRIGA'DE, V. t. To form into a brigade, or
into brigades.
BRIGA'DE- MA.IOR, n. [See JV/aJor.] An
officer appointed by the brigadier, to assist
him in the management and ordering of
his brigade.
BRIGADIE'R, n. [¥r. from brigade.'] The
general officer who commands a brigade,
whether of horse or foot, and in rank
next lielow a major-ffeneral.
BRIG'AND, n. [Fr. brigand ; W. brigant, a
mountaineer, a plunderer, from W. brig.
a top or summit.]
A robber ; a fi-ee hooter ; a lawless fellow
who lives by plunder, or who belongs to a
band of robbers. iVarlurton.
BRIG'ANDAGE, n. Theft ; robbery ; phm
der. Warburlon
BRIG'ANDINE, n. [Qu. the origin of this
word. In Pers. praghe is a helmet."
Anciently, a coat of mail. The name has
ceased to be used, with the disuse of the
thing. It consisted of thin jointed scale
of plate, pliant and easy to the body.
Encyc.
B R I
BRIG'ANTINE, n. [Fr. brigantin ; Am,,
bringantine ; It. briganlino ; Sp. bergan-
tin ; Port, bargantim ; D. berkanlyn. Uu.
from L. aphradum, Gr. o^poxToj, a \ essel
without a deck, uncovered. It is usually
derived from brigand.] fSeS Brig.]
BRIGHT, a. brUe. [Sax. biorht, briht, byrhl,
or bryht, clear, shining, whence beorhtnes,
brightness, beorhtian, Goth, bairtiyan, to
shine or be clear, or to manifest ; Ar. Ch.
Heb. Syr. Eth. pn3 to shine, or more
probably, Eth. flCU bareah,to shine,as
the Eth. participle 'fl C 9 "1" berht or
bereht, corresponds exactly with the Sax-
on. I have not found this word in any
other Teutonic or Gothic language, and
the original verb is lost in the Saxon. In
Saxon, beorhthieile, or brihthwile, signifies a
moment, the twinkling of an eye. This
directs us to the primary sense of the verb
to shine, which is, to shoot, to dart, to
glance. That this is the primary sense,
we have evidence from the Sax. bryhtm,
which is a derivative from bryht, and which
signifies a moment, that is, the time of a
shoot, or darting, like glance.}
1. Shining; lucid ; luminous ; splendid; as a
bright Sim or star ; a bright metal.
9. Clear ; transparent ; as liquors.
Thomson.
3. Evident ; clear ; manifest to the mind, as
hglit is to the eyes.
Tlie evidence of this truth is bright. Watts.
Res])lendent with charms ; as a bright
beauty ; the brightest fair. Pope.
Illuminated with science ; sparkling with
wit ; as the brightest of men. Pope.
C. Illustrious; glorious; as the brightest pe-
riod of a kingdom. Cotton.
7. In popular language, ingenious ; possess- ,
ing an active mind.
8. Promising good or success ; as bright
prospects.
9. Sparkling ; animated ; as bright eves.
BRIGHT-BURNING, a. Burning" with a
bright fiame.
BRIGHTEN, v. t. briln. To make bright or
brighter ; to make to shine ; to increase
luster.
2. To make luminous by light firom with-
out, orby dispelhnggloom; as, to brighten
sorrow or prospects. Philips.
3. To cheer; to make gay or cheerful,
.foy brightens his crest. Milton.
4. To make illustrious, or more distinguish-
ed ; as, to brighten a character. Swift.
5. To make acute or witty. Johnson.
BRIGHTEN, v. i. britiK To grow bright,
or more bright ; to clear up ; as, the sky
brightens.
2. To become less dark or gloomy ; as, our
(irospects brighten.
BRIGHT-EYED, a. Having bright eyes.
Gray.
BRIGHT-HAIRED, a. Having bright hair.
Milton.
BRIGHT-HARNESSED, a. Having glh-
tering armor. Milton.
lARlGinhY, adv. britely. Splendidly; with
luster.
BRIGHTNESS, n. brilencss. Splendor ;
luster ; glitter. South.
2. Acuteness, appUed to the faculties; sharp-
ness of wit ; as the brightness of a mai.'f;
parts. Prim\
B R I
B R I
B R I
URFGIIT-SHINING, a. Sliining with sploii-
(liir. Spenser.
BRIGO'SE, a. [from brigue.] Contentious.
[j\ot used.] Puller.
IJRiGUE, 71. breeg. {Fr. brigue; Sp. brega
It. briga, strife, rlipquiet ; Ir. brtaghean, to
debate, to quarrel.]
A cabal ; intrigue ; faction ; contention. [lAl-
tle used.] Chaucer. Chesterfield.
BRlGUE, I', i. breeg. To canvass ; to solicit.
[LilUe used.] Hurd.
BKILL'IANCY, n. [See Brilliant.] Splen-
dor ; glitter ; great brightness.
BRILL'IANT, o. [Fr. brillant, sparkling,
from brillcr, to shine or sparkle ; It. brit-
lanle, sparkling ; brUlo, joy, gladness, also
tipspy ; Sp. brillar, to glitter ; brillador,
briljiiiiit ; brillo, splendor ; Ger. and Dan.
britle, n pair of si)ectacles ; hence Eng.
ben/l and pearl.]
1. Sparkling with luster ; glittering ; as a
hrUliant gem ; a brilliant dress.
2. Splendid ; shining ; as a brilliant achieve-
ment.
Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal
mistakes, than to perform brilliant exploits.
JImes.
BRILL'IANT, n. A diamond of tlic finest
cut, formed into angles, so as to refract the
light, by which it is rendered more glit-
tering. Dryden. Enajc.
2. In the manege, a brisk, high-spirited horse,
with a stately carriage. Encyr.
BRILL'IANTLY, adv. Splendidly.
If'arton.
BRILL'IANTNESS, n. Brilliancy ; splen-
dor^ glitter. Johnson.
BRILLS, n. The hair on the eyelids of a
horse.
BRIM, n. [Sa.\. brymm ; Sw. bram ; Dan.
bramme ; probably the extent or extreme.]
I. The rim, lip or broad border of any vessel
or other thing ; as the brim of a hat, or of
a ves.sel.
■.'. The upper edge of a vessel, whether
broad or not ; as the brim of a cup or
glass.
3. The top of any liquor ; the edge or that
next the border at the top.
The feet of the priests were clipped in the
brim of the water. Josh. Hi.
4. The edge or brink of a fountain ; the
verge. Drayton.
BRIM, a. [Sax. bn/me.] Pid)lic ; well known
celebrated, [^i'ot in use.] Warnet
BRIM, D. t. To fill to the brim, upper edge,
or top. Milton.
BRIM, V. i. To bo full to the brim.
Philips.
BRIM'FUL, a. [brim and fidl.^ Full to the
top ; completely full ; as a glass brimful ;
a heart brimful of tears.
BRIM'FULNESS, n. Fulness to the top.
[.Vo< used.] S7icwt,
BRIM'LESS, a. Having no brim.
1 BRIM'MER, n. A bowl full to the top.
I Dn,d,
' BRIM'MING, a. Full to the top or brim ;
as a brimming pail. Drydi
BRIM'STONE, n. [Sax. bn/ne, combustic
and stone, bum-stone, or burning stone. See
Brand and Burn.]
Sulphur ; a hard, brittle, imflammable sub-
stance, of a lemon yellow color, which has
«o smell, unless heated, and which be
comes negatively electric by heat and
friction, ft is found, in great quantities,
and sometimes pure, in the neighborhood
of volcanoes. It is an ingredient in a va-
riety of minerals and ores. The sulphur
of commerce is procured fi-om its natural
beds, or artificially extracted from pyrites.
Hooper. JVicholson.
BRIM'STONY, a. Full of brimstone, or
-Hnitaining it ; rcserabhng brimstone ; sul-
jihuroiis.
BRIND'ED, a. [It. ftrinato, spotted.] Mark-
d with spots ; tabby ; having different
olors. Milton.
BRIN'DLE, n. [from brind, the root of
brinded.]
The state of being brinded ; spottedness.
Richardson.
BRIX'DLED, a. Spotted ; variegated with
pots of dilferent colors. Addison.
BRINE, n. [Sax. bryne, brine, and a burning,
froin brennan, to burn.]
1. Water saturated or strongly impregnated
with salt, like the water of the ocean. Ar-
tificial brine is used for the preservation of
the flesh of animals, fish, vegetables, &.c.
2. The ocean or sea. Milton.
3. Tears, so called from their saltness.
Shak.
Leach brine is brine which drops from corned
salt in drying, which is preserved to be
boiled again. Eneyc.
BRINE, V. t. To steep in brine, a.s corn to
prevent snmt ; also, to mix salt with, as to
brine hay. Enctjc.
BRI'NE-PAN, n. [brine and pati.] A pit'of
salt water, where, by the action of the
sun, salt is formed by crystalization.
BRI'NE-PIT, n. [brine and pit.] A brine-
pan, or a salt spring from which water is
taken to be boiled or evaporated for ma-
king salt. Encyc.
BRI'NE-SPRING, n. [brine and spring.] A
spring of salt water. Encyc.
BRING, V. f. pret. and pp. brought. [Sax.
bringan ; Sw. bringa ; Dan. bringer ; D.
brengen; G.bringen; Goth, briggan. VVe
see by brought, D. bragt, and the Gothic
briggan, that n is not radical.]
1. To fetch ; to bear, convey or lead from a
distant to a nearer place, or to a person ;
as, bring me a book from the shelf; bring
me a morsel of bread. In this sense, it is
opposed to carry, and it is applied to the
person bearing or leading, in opposition to
sending or transmitting by another.
2. To produce ; to procure as a cause ; to
draw to.
Nothing brings a man more honor than to be
invariably just.
3. To attract or draw along.
In distillation the water brings over wiUi it
another substance.
4. To cause to come ; to cause to proceed
fi"Otn a distant place, in company, or at the
same time ; as, to bring a boat over a river ;
to bring a horse or carriage ; to bring a
cargo of dry goods.
5. To cause to come to a point, by moral
influence; used of the mind, and implying
previous remoteness, aversion, alienation,
or disagreement ; as, to firing- the mind to
assent to a proposition ; or to bring a man
to terms, by persuasion or argument. In
this sense, "it is nearly equivalent to per-
suade, prevail upon, or induce. The same
process is effected by custom, and other
causes. Habit brings us to relish things
at first disagreeable; reflection brings a
man to his senses, and whether the pro-
cess is slow or rapid, the sense of the verb
is the same. To bring to the mind any
thing before and forgotten, is to recall ;
but the sense of bring is the same.
The primary sense is to lead, draw or cause
to come ; the sense of conveying or bearing
is secondary.
The use' of this verb is so extensive, and in-
corporated into so many peculiar phrases,
that it is not easy to reduce its significa-
tions within any precise limits. In gen-
eral, the verb bnng implies motion from a
place remote, either in a literal or figura
tive sense. It is used with various modi
fyiiig words.
To bring back is to recall, implying previous
departure, either in a literal or figurative
sense.
To bring about, to bring to pass ; to effect ;
to accomplish ; to Iiring to the desired
issue.
To bring forth is to produce, as young or
fruit ; also, to brin^ to light ; that is, to
make manifest ; to disclose.
To bring forward, to cause to advance ; to
produce to view.
To bring in, to import ; to introduce ; to bear
fi-om a remote place within a certain pre-
cinct ; to place in a particular condition ;
to collect things dispersed ; to reduce
within the limits of law and government ;
to produce, as income, rent or revenue ; to
induce to join ; &c.
To bring off, to bear or convey fi-om a dis-
tant place, as to bring off men from an
isle ; also, to procure to be acquitted ; to
clear from condemnation ; to cause to es-
cape.
To bring on, to cause to begin, as to bting
on an action ; also, to originate or cause to
exist, as to bring on a disease ; also, to
bear or convey from a distance, as to
bring on a quantity of goods; also, to at-
tend, or to aid in advancing, as to bring
one on his way.
To bring over, to bear across, as to bring
over dispatches, to bring over passengers
iii a boat ; also, to convert by persuasion
or other means ; to draw to a new party ;
to cause to change sides, or an opinion.
To bring out, to expose ; to detect ; to bring
to light from conceabnent ; as, to bring out
an accomplice or his crimes.
To bring under, to subdue ; to repress ; to
restrain ; to reduce to obedience : also, to
bring beneath any thing.
To bring up, to nurse ; to educate ; to iu-
.struct ; to feed and clothe ; to form the
manners, and furnish the miiid with
knowledge. The ])hrase may compre-
hend all these pai-ticulars. Also, to intro-
duce to practice, as to bring up a fashion
or ceremony ; also, to cause to advance
near, as to bring up forces, or the body of
reserve : also, to bear or convey upwards.
In navigation, to cast anchor.
To bring doum, to cati.se to come down ;
also, to humble or abase, as to bring down
high looks.
To bring to, in navigation, to check the course
of a ship, by arranging the sails in such a
manner, that they shall counteract feach
B R I
B R O
B R O
oilier, and keep her nearly stationary.
She is then said to lie to. The phrase is
rised also in applying a rope to the cap-
stan.
To bring by the lee, to incline so rapidly to
leeward of the course, when a ship sails
large, as to bring the lee side suddenly to
the windward, and by laying the sails
aback, expose her to the danger of over-
setting. Mar. Did.
iJRING'ER, n. One who brings, or con-
veys to.
Bringer in, the person who uUroduces.
Bnnger up, an instructor ; one who feeds,
clothes, and educates ; also, one who is in
the rear of an army. Ascham.
BRING'ING, p/)r. Bearing to; conveying;
persuading ; causing to come.
BKING'ING FORTH, n. Production.
Shak.
BRI'NISH, a. [from hnne.'] Like brine ;
salt ; somewhat salt ; saltish.
BRI'NISHNESS, n. Saltness ; the quality
of being saltish.
BRINK, n. [Dan. Sw. brink ; W. bryncyn ;
Ir. breach, bruach ; from break.]
The edge, margin or border of a steep ])lace,
as of a precipice, or the bank of a river.
BRI'NY, a. [from brine.] Pertaining to
brine, or to the sea ; partaking of the na-
ture of brine ; salt ; as a briny taste ; the
briny flood. Dryden. Addison.
BRISK, a. [This word may be of tlie same
family with frisk, and fresh, which see.
W. brysg, from brys, quick ; brysiaw, to
hasten, coinciding with press ; from W.
rhys, a rushing. See Rush.]
1. Lively; active; nimble ; gay; sprightly;
vivacious ; applied to animals ; as a brisk
young man ; a biisk horse.
2. Full of spirit or life ; effervescing, as
liquors ; as brisk cyder.
3. Lively ; burning freely ; as a brisk fire.
4. Vivid ; bright ; as, a glass makes an ob-
ject appear SrisA:. [JVot used.] JVeicto7i.
BRISK UP, V. t. To make lively ; to enli-
ven ; to animate.
BRISK UP, V. i. To come up with Me and
speed ; to take an erect, or bold attitude.
BRISK'ET, n. lQ,u.Fr. brcchet.] The breast
of an animal ; or that part of the breast that
lies next to the ribs. The fore part of the
neck of a horse, at the shoulder down to
the fore legs. Bailey.
BRISK'LY, adv. Actively ; vigorously ; with
life and spirit. Boyle. Ray.
BRISK'NESS, 71. Liveliness ; vigor in ac-
tion ; quickness ; gayety ; vivacity ; effer-
vescence of limfors. South. ■ Dryden.
BRIS'TLE, n.Jris'l. [Sax. bristl, and byrst ;
Sw. borst ; D. borstel, a bristle, a briisl
G. borste, bristle ; borslen, to bristle up ;
Dan. bryster, to strut. The sense is, a
shoot.]
1. The stiff" glossy hair of swine, especially
that growing on the back, used for making
brushes ; similar hair on other animals.
9. A species of pubescence on plants, in form
of stiff" roundish hair. Martyn.
BRIS'TLE, V. t. To erect in bristles ; to erect
in defiance or anger, like a swuie ; as, to
bristle the crest. Shak.
2. To fix a bristle ; as, to bristle a thread.
Johnson.
BRIS'TLE, V. i. To rise or stand erect ; as,
the hair bristles. Dri/dcn.
2. To raise the head and strut, as in anger
or defiance ; as, a man bristles up to anoth-
er. In this sense the word is common in
the U. States, but generally pronoimced
brustle.
BRIS'TLE-SHAPED, a. [bristle and shape.]
Of the thickness and length of a bristle, as
a leaf. Martyn.
BRIS'TLY, a. bris'ly. Thick set with bris-
tles, or with hau-s lilie bristles ; rough.
Bacon.
BRIS TOL-FLOWER, n. A .species of
Lychnis, bachelor's button or catch fly.
Fam. of Plants.
BRISTOL-STONE, n. Rock crystal or
crystals of quartz, foimd in a rock near the
city of Bristol in England.
BRIS'TOL- WATER, n. The water of a
wann spring near the city of Bristol in
England. Ash. Encyc.
BRIT, n. A fish ; probably a diff"erent or-
tliography of bret, or hurt. Carew.
BRITAN'NI€, a. Pertaining to Britain ; or
in its present use, to Great Britain. It
applied almost exclusively to the title of
the king ; as his Britannic Majesty. In
the Encyclopedia, article Argo JVavis, it
is applied to catalogue, the Britannic cat-
alogue.
BRITCH, n. [G. britsche, a club or mace.]
The large end of a cannon or of a musket
the club or thick part of the stock of a
musket or other fire arm.
BRITCH', V. t. To fasten with britching.
BRITCH'ING, n. A strong rope, fastened
to the cascabel or pummelion of a cannon,
by a thimble, and clinched to ring bolts in
the ship's side, to prevent it from recoiling
too much in battle. Mar. Did.
BRITE, or BRIGHT, v. i. To be or become
over ripe, as wheat, barley or hops.
Johnson.
[I know not that this wordis used in the U.
States.]
BRIT'ISII, a. Pertaining to Great Britain
or its inhabitants. It is sometimes applied
to tlie language of the Welsh.
BRIT'ON, n. A native of Britain.
BRIT'ON, a. British. Spenser.
BRITTLE, a. [Sax. briltan, brytan, to
break ; Sw. bryta ; Dan. bryder, id.; W.
iirorf, a breaking ; Sam. A'\S;Ch. mS;
Ar. i i ; Syr. L ^.3 ; Hcb. nns, to part, to
break. See Part.]
Easily broken, or easily breaking short, with-
out splinters or loose parts rent from the
substance ; fragile ; not tough or tena-
cious ; as brittle stone or glass.
Arbuthnol.
BRIT'TLELY, adv. In a brittle manner.
Slierwood.
BRIT'TLENESS, n. Aptness to break
fragility ; opposed to toughness and tena
city. Boyle.
BRIZE, n. The gad fly. [See Breeze.]
BROACH, 71. [Fr. hroche, a spit, faucet or
quill ; \N.proc, a thrust, a stab; It. brocco,
a peg ; brocciare, to prick ; Sp. broca, i
drill,"a tack. It denotes a shoot, a shar|
pointed thing.]
1. A s])it, and in some parts of the English
iloniinions, an awl, and a lioiUvin. Encyc.
2. A musical instrument played by turning
a handle. Johnson.
3. A clasp or small utensil to fasten a vest.
[See Brooch.]
4. A start of the head of a young stag.
Johnson .
BROACH, V. t. [W. prociaw, to thrust or
stab.]
1. To spit ; to pierce as with a spit.
Shak. HakewUl.
2. To tap ; to pierce, as a cask, in order to
draw the liquor ; hence, to let out.
Hudibras.
3. To open, as a store. [Unusual.]
Knolles.
4. To utter ; to give out ; to publish fii-st ; to
make public what was before unknown ;
as, to broach an opinion. Swifl.
To broach to, in navigation, to incUne sud-
denly to \yindward, so as to lay the sails
aback and expose the Vessel to the danger
of oversetting. Mar. Diet.
BROACHED, pp. Spitted ; tapped ; opened ;
uttered ; first pubUshed.
BROACHER, n. A spit ; one who broaches,
opens or utters ; a first publisher.
Dryden. UEstrange.
BROAD, a. brawd. [Sax. brad; Sw. bred;
D. breed ; Ger. breit ; Dan. breed, broad ;
Arm. brudi, brudein, to publish. This
word and spread seem to be fdrmed on the
root mi or rm to open, expand, spread ;
in Syr. to go, L. gradior ; a root of exten-
sive use.]
1. Wide ; extended in breadth, or from side
to side, as distinguished from long, or ex-
tended from end to end. It is opposed to
narrow ; as a broad street ; a broad table.
Dryden. Temple.
2. Wide ; extensive ; vast ; as the broad ex-
panse of ocean.
3. Large ; as a broad mixture of falsehood.
Locke.
4. Open ; clear ; not covered, confined or
concealed ; as in broad simshine.
5. Gross ; coarse ; as broad mirth ; broad
nonsense. Pope. Dryden.
6. Plain ; tending to obscenity ; as a broad
comment. Dryden.
7. Bold ; not delicate ; not reserved ; as broad
ords. Shak.
8. Comprehensive.
It may be urged that the words in the con-
stitution are broad enough to include the case .
Z>. Daggett, Wheaton's Rep.
Broad as long, equal upon the whole.
Lt'Estrange.
BROAD-AX, n. [broad and ax:] Formerly,
a military weapon. In modern usage, an
ax till- lii'wiiii; timber.
BROAI)-I!\(Ki;i), o. [broad and back.]
UiwwiX a bn.ad hack. Barlow.
BROAli-BLOWN, a. [broad and blow.]
Fidl blown. Shak.
BROAD-BREASTED, a. Having a broad
breast.
BROAD-BRIMMED, a. [broad and brim.]
Having a broad brim. flrnm.ilon.
BROAD-€AST, 71. [broad -dudcn.il.] Aiimng
farmers, a casting or throwing sued from
the hand for dispersion in sowing.
BROAD-€AST, adv. By scattering or throw-
ing at large from the hand ; as, to sow
broad-cast.
BROAD-€AST, a. Cast or dispersed upon
B R O
B R O
B R O
the ground with the hand, as seed in s
iiig; o|)posed to planting in hill.s or row
BROAD-€LOTH, ?i. A species of woolen
cloth, so called from its breadth.
BROADEN, V. i. brawd'n. To grow broad,
[Unusual.] Thomson,
BROAD-EYED, a. [broad and eye.] Having
a wide \ievv or survey ; as broad-eyed day,
Shak.
BROAD-FRONTED, a. Having a broad
from ; (Wjilitd to cattle. Chapman.
BROAD-HORNED, a. Having large horns,
Huloet.
BROAD'ISH, a. Rather broad. Ruasel.
BROAD-LEAVED, ) [broad and lea/.]
BROAD-LEAFED, I "' Having broad
leaves. Woodward.
BROADLY, adv. In a broad manner.
BROADNESS, n. Breadth; extent from
side to side ; coarseness ; grossness ; fid-
sonieness. Dryden.
BROAD-PIECE, n. [broad and piece.] A
piece of gold coin broader than a guinea.
Encyc.
BROAD-SEAL, n. The great seal of Eng-
land ; a.s a verb, not used.
BROAD-SHOULDERED, a. [broad and
shoulder.] Broad across tlie shoulders.
Spectator.
BROAD-SIDE, n. [broad and side.] A dis-
charge of all the guns on one side of asliip;
above and below, at the same time.
Mar. Diet.
2. The side of a ship, above the water, from
the bow to the quarter. Mar. Diet.
3. In printing, a sheet of paper containing
one large page, or printed on one side
only. Ash. Johnson.
BROAD-SPREADING, a. Spreading wid
ly. Shak.
BROAD-SWORD, n. [broad and sword.]
A sword witii a bi-oad blade, and a cutting
edge. Ash. Wiseman.
BROAD-TAILED, a. Having a broad tail.
Sandys.
BRO A D-W I S E, adv. [broad and iiise.] I ii
the dircition of the breadth. Boyle.
BRO€A Dl::, n. [i'p. hrocado ; probably froi
broche, the iii.struiucnt used in embroidery
so Fr. brochure, a pamphlet or stitched
book.]
Silk stuff, variegated with gold and silver, or
raised and enriched with flowers, foliage
and other ornaments.
Encyc. Span. Diet.
BROCA'DED, a. Woven or worked, as bro
cade, with gold and silver.
S. Drest in brocade. Johnson.
BROCADE-SHELL, n. The trivia! name of
the Conus geographicus. Cyc
BRO'CAgE, n. [See Broke, Broker.]
1. The premium or commission of a broker ;
the gain or profit derived from transacting
business for other men, as brokers, either
in a good or bad sense. Spenser.
2. The hire given for any unlawful office.
Bacon.
3. The trade of a broker; a dealing m old
things.
4. The business of a broker ; the transac-
tions of commercial business, as buying
and selling, for other men. [See Broke,
Broker.]
5. The act of pimping. Ash.
BRO'CATEL, } [Sp. irocofeZ.] A cal-
BROCATEL'LO, J "• carious stone or spe-
cies of marble, composed of fragments of
four colors, white, gray, yellow and red.
Fourcroy. JVicholson. Sp. Diet
2. A kind of coarse brocade, used chiefly for
tajic'stry. Newman saj's it is made of
hemp and silk.
Encyc. JVe«))(ian's Sp. Diet.
BROCCOLI, 71. [It. broccolo, sprouts ; Fr.
brocoli.]
A variety of cabbage or Brassica.
BROCHE, the true, but not the common
orthography of broach.
BROCK, n. LSax. broc ; Ir. broc ; Corn, id
W. broc, a badger, and noise, din, tumult,!
foam, anger ; brori, to chafe, fume, waxj
fierce, from rkoc, a rough sound ; rhoca'
to grunt. Owen.]
A badger ; an animal of the genus Ursus,
found in the northern parts of Europe
Asia. The Russians call it barsuk. In Ir.
brech is a wolf, a wild savage and a badger,
BROCK'ET, n. [See Brock.] A red deer
two years old. Bailey writes this brock or
brocket. Tlie French write it brocard.
BRO'DEKIN, n. [Vv.brodequin.] A bus-
kin or half boot. Echard.
BROG'GLE, V. i. To fish for eels. [Not
used.]
BROGUE, n. brig. [Ir. brag, a shoe, a
house.]
1. A shoe. " Clouted brogues,^' in Shaks-
peare, signify shoes whose soles are stud-
ded with nails, or clouts.
2. A cant word for a corrupt dialect or man-
ner of pronunciation. Farquhar.
3. Brogues is used by Shenstone for breeches,
from the Irish brog.
BROGUE-MAKER, n. A maker of brogues.]
Johnson:
BROID, V. t. To braid. 06s. [See Braid.]
BROID'ER, V. t. [Fr. broder ; Sp. and Port.
bordar, to embroider ; Arm. brouda, to prick ;
D. borduuren, to embroider ; W. hrodiaiv}
to make compact, to darn, to embroider ;I
brwyd, a broach, an embroidering frame.] [
To adorn with figures of needle work.
A robe, a ftroideied coat, and a girdle. Exod.
BKOID'ERER, n. One that embroiders. |
BROID'ERY, n. Embroidery; ornamental
needle work wrought upon cloth. [See'
Embroider.] Ticket.
BROIL, n. [Fr. brouillerie, from brouUler, to
mix, confound, embroil ; It. broglia,
mult ; brogliare, to embroil. From this
verb, we have roil, to disturb, as lees. See
Roil. The primary sense is, to stir, to agi-
tate. It may be allied to brawl and the
French bnder.]
Vtmnult; a noisy quarrel ; contention; dis-
cord, either between individuals or in the
state. Shak. Granville.
BROIL, V. t. [Qu. Fr. bruler. I beUeve this
is from brouiller.']
To agitate with heat ; to dress or cook over
coals, before the fire ; but more generally'
upon a gridiron over coals. Dryden.
BROIL, V. i. To be subjected to the action
of heat, like meat over the fire ; to be
greatly heated or to sweat with heat.
Where have you been broiling? Shak.
BROTL'ED, pp. Agitated or dressed by heat.
BROILER, n. One that excites broils ; that
wliicli dresses by broiling.
BROILING, ppr. Agitating by heat ; sweat-
nis
BROKE, V. i. [Sax. bnican, to use, employ,
enjoy; to cat or chew ; lo brook ; toprolii.
broce, use ; brec, use, gaiji ; bryce, gain,
profit, fruit,/rud«« ; a violation, or break-
ing ; Sw. 6ritA:a ; G. brauchen ; Dan. bru-
ger ; D. gebruiken, to use or employ; L.
fruor, ibr frucor, whence fruetus, fniil ;
Gr. npaaaui, «po|u, npayfta. See Practice.]
To transact business for another in trade ;
to act as agent in buying and selling, and
other commercial business ; to transact
business by an agent. Bacon. Shak.
[This word is little used, at least in Amer-
ica ; and English writers seem lo have used
it in a low sense.]
BROKE, ore/, and pp. o{ break.
BRO'KEN, pp. of break, bro'kn. Part-
ed by violence ; rent asunder ; infirm ;
m.ide bankrupt.
BRO'KEN-BACKED, a. A broken-backed
ship is one which is so weakened in her
frame as to droop at each end. Mar. Did,
BRO'KEN-BELLIED,a. Having a ruptur-
ed belly. Sandys.
BliO'KEN-llEARTED, a. [break and
h<(frl.] Having the spirits depressed or
iriislicil liy grief or despair.
BRO K EN l,Y, adv. Iii a broken interrupted
manner ; without a regular series.
Hakeu'Ul.
BRO'KENNESS, n. A state of being bro.
ken ; imevenncss.
i. Coiitritidii ; as brokenness of heart.
BRO KEN WIND, 7!. [break and icind.] A
disease in horses, often accompanied with
a preternatural enlargement of the lungs
and heart, which disables them from bear-
ing fatigue. Encyc.
BRO'KENWINDED, a. Having short
breath, as a horse.
BRO'KER, n. [from broke.]
An agent or negotiator, who is employed by
merchants to make and conclude bargains
for them, for a fee or rate per cent., or who
transacts other business for his employers.
Brokers are of several kinds.
1. Exchange-brokers, who make and con-
clude bargains for others in matters of
money or merchandize, learn the rate of
exchange and notify their employers-
2. Stock-brokers, who are emploj-ed to biij'
and sell shares in the stocks, whether of
the public funds, of banks or of other cor-
porations.
3. Pawn-brokers, who make it their busi-
ness to lend money upon pawns, that is,
property deposited in pledge.
4. Insurance-brokers, whose business is
to procure the insui-ance of vessels at sea
or bound on a voyage.
In the U. States, tlie business of a stock-
broker and an insiu-ance-broker is often
or generally carried on by the same person.
2. One who deals in old household goods.
Johnson.
3. A |)inip or procurer. Sliak. Johnson.
[In the two latter senses, the word, I believe,
is never used in America, urdess in cant
language.]
BRO'KERAGE, n. The fee, reward or
commission given or charged foi; transact-
ing business as a broker.
Anderson''s Comm-
BRO'KERLY, a. Mean; servile. Jonson.
BRO'KERY, n. The business of a broker.
[jVot used.] Hall
B R O
B R O
B R O
BRO KTNG, ppr. Transacling b
liioki^i- ; i)iacticoil by brokers. .STiaA".
BK03IK, n. [Gr. |5pu/»o{, foetor.] A li-
quid of a deep red-brown color, very vola-
tile, and having an ill smell, obtained from
tlio niotlicr-water of salt-works, and from
tlic lixivia of the ashes of sea plants, by
treating these solutions with chlorine. It
lias three times the density of water.
joum. of Science-
BROME-GRASS, n. A plant, the Bromus.
Mwhlenherg
BRONCH'IAL, a. [Gr. (ipoyjroj, the wind-
[lipe.] Belonging to the bronchia, or rami-
fications of the wind-pipe in the lungs.
The bronchial arteries are branches of the
superior descending aorta accompanyin
the bronchia, or branches of the trachea.
Bronchial glands, glands at the division of
the bnin< hia. Quincy. Core
BRONCiriC, o. The same as bronchial.
liROXfH'OCELE, n. [Gr. /3poy;to5, the
wiud-iiipr, iiiiil xrj\ri,a tumor."
An I'liliiiiriil lh\ ruid gland ; a tumor on the
fi.ri' part nf ihc neck, called goiter; tlie
l)crli\shire neck. Quincy. Coxe
BKOXCIIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. t3poy;to5, the
wind-pipe, and rofiri, a cutting.]
An incision into the wind pipe or larynx, be-
tween the rings ; called also tracheotomy.
Quincy. Coxe.
BROND, n. A sword. [See Brand.]
BRONTOL'OtiY, n. [Gr. l3?ovr^, thunder,
and >.oyo{, discourse.]
A discourse or dissertation upon thunder
containing an explanation of its causes
and phenoniena. Encyc.
BRONZ, I [Fr. hronze; Arm. hi-ow~~
BRONZE, S It. hronzo ; Sp. bronct. In
Ital. bronzino is sun burnt. It may take its
name from its color, from burn, broivn.]
1. A compound of copper and tin, to which
otlier metallic substances are sometimes
added, especially zink. It is brittle, liard.
and sonorous, and used for statues, bells
and cannon, the proportionsof the respec-
tive ingredients being varied to suit the
particular purposes. ^Nicholson. Encyc.
2. A color prepared for the purpose of imi-
tating bronze, of two kinds, the yellow
and the red. Tlie yellow is made of fine
cn|>ppr-(tu<t ; ihi' icil, of copper-dust with
a linle puhni/cil nil ocher. Encyc.
3. Ainoiij; tniliiiunrii.'!. iuiy figure of men,
beasts, urns, or otlier ])iece of sculpture,
which the ancients made of bronze
Encyc.
4. Any statue or bust cast of bronze, wheth-
er original or a copy of an antique.
Encyc.
5. Among medalists, any copper medal.
jE)?n/c,
BRONZE, V. t. To imitate bronze,by means-
of copper-dust or leaf fastened on the out-
side, as gold-leaf is in gilding. Encyc.
2. To harden, or make like brass. Yonng.
BRONZ'ING, ppr. Imitating bronze.
BRONZ'ING, n. The act or art of imita
ting bronze, by means of copper-dust o
leaf. Encyc.
BRONZ'ITE, n. [from bronze.] A mineral,
called by HaOy dialluge melalloide, nearly
allied to Labrador hornblend, or hyper
stene. It has a vellowish brown coloi
and scmi-nietallic luster, approaching lo
that of bronze. Did.
ronzite is regarded by Cleaveland as a
subspecies of diallage.
BROOCH, n. hroche. [Slav, obrutsh, or ob-
rnch, a ring, a circle, a bracelet.]
1. An ornamental utensil for fastening the
vest, or the bosom of a shirt, as formerly
used in America. It is usually made of
silver, often round, with a tongue crossing
its diameter, sometimes with two tongues
It formerly was used in England, as it was
in America, and is still in the highlands of
Scotland. Encyc
A jewel.
•3. With ^oin/cr,9, a painting all of one color.
Diet.
BROOCH, II. t. To adorn or furnish with
brooches or jewels. Shak.
BROOD, V. i. [Sax. brod, a brood; and
brcedan, bredan, to dilate or extend, to
warm, to divulge, to spread ; D. broeden.
to brood ; Ger. briiten, to broofl ; brut,
brood ; W. brwd, warm ; brydiaw, to warm.
The sense is, to warm, or to cover, to spread
over.]
1. To sit on and cover, as a fowl on her eggs
for tiie jun-pose of warming them and
hatching chickens, or as a hen over her
chickens, to warm and protect them.
2. To sit on ; to spread over, as with wings
to sit brooding over the vast abyss.
Milton
3. To remain a long time in anxiety or so-
licitous thought ; to have the mind unin-
Serruptedly dwell a long time on a sub-
ject ; as, the miser broods over his gold.
Dryden.
4. To mature any thing with care. Bacon.
BROOD, V. t. To sit over, cover and cherish ;
as, a hen broods her chickens.
2. To cherish.
You'll brood your sonows on a throne.
J}ryden.
BROOD, n. [Sax. brod.] Of!spring ; proge-
ny ; formerly used of human beings in el-
egant works, and we have brother, from
this word ; but it is now more generally
used hi contempt.
2. A hatch ; the yoimg birds hatched at
once ; as a brood of chickens or of ducks.
3. That which is bred ; species generated ;
that which is produced.
Lj!iia'.-i broods of ])oi«on. Jlddison.
4. The act of covering the eggs, or of brood-
ing. [Unusual.] Shak.
BROOD'ED, pp. Covered with the wings;
cherished.
BROODING, ppr. Sitting on; covering
and warming ; dwelling on with an.xiety.
BROOD'Y, a. In a state of sitting on eggs
for hatching; inclined to sit. [Unusual.]
Ray.
BROOK, "• [Sax. broc, or brooc. As the
sense is a stream or flowing, it may be
the D. broek, G. bruch, a marsh, and allied
to Gr. |i5p£;t", or .i3pvu, to rain, to pour, to
flow, Eolic f3pva|, a brook. Near the site
of ancient Troy is a stream called Thym-
brec, Thymbrius.]
A small natural stream of water, or a cur-
rent flowing from a spring or fountain less
than a river. In some parts of America
run is used in a like sense ; but run is also
applied to larger streams than brook.
BROOK, V. t. [Sax. brdcan, to v.^p, employ
or perform, to eat or chew ; brtecan, bre-
can, to break ; Gr. jSpvx^, to eat, to grind
the teeth.]
Literally, to chew or digest, as the Fr. rfi'o-e-
rir. Hence,
To bear ; to endure ; to support ; as, young
men cannot brook restraint.
Hooker. Dryden.
BROOK'-LIME, n. [brook and lime.) A
plant, a species of Veronica, called beca-
bunga, with blue flowers in loose lateral
spikes. Encyc.
BROOK'-MINT. n. The water mint.
BROOK -WEED, n. A plant, water pim-
pernel, the Samolus. Muhlenberg.
BROOK'Y, a. Abounding with brooks.
Dyer.
BROOM, 71. [Sax. bnim; D. brem,braam;
Ir. brum. This is the simple root of bram-
ble.]
A plant of several species, called dyer's
weed, being used by dyers to give a yel-
low color, dyer^s broom, green wood, or
ivood loaxen, dwarf broom, all belonging
to the genus Genista. Broom rape is Oro-
banche, and with large purple flowers,
Lathrcea. Fam. of Plants.
Spa7iish Broom is a species of Spartium, and
Butcher''s broom is the Riiscus.
A besom, or brush with a long handle for
sweeping floors ; so called from being
originally made of the broom-plant. In
America, brooms are made of the fops of
broom-corn, or of some species of wood
splintered, chiefly ash. The latter spe-
cies of broom is furnished by the natives
of the countrj'. The original broom, made
of shrubs or twigs, is still used in stables.
BROOM. [See Bream.]
BROOM'€ORN, n. [broom and corn.] A
species of Holcus or Guinea-corn, with a
jointed stem, like a reed, or the stem of
maize, rising to the higlith of eight or ten
feet, bearing a head of which brooms are
made.
BROOMING a ship. [See Bream.]
BROOM'LAND, n. [broom and land.] Land
producing broom. MoHimer.
BROOx^I'RAPE, n. [See Broom.]
BROOM'STAFF, \ [See Staff anA Stick.]
BROOM'STICK, \ The staff or handle,
of a broom. Shak. Sivift.
BROOM'Y, a. Full of broom ; containuig
broom. .Mortimer. Sioifl.
BROTH, n. braulh. [Sax. broth ; _U. brodo ;
Ir. broth ; S]>. brodio ; Ir. bruithim, to boil.
Qu. D. broaden, to roast ; W. broth, a stir-
ring (tr tumult.]
Liiiuor in wliicli flesh is boiled and ma-
cerated, usually with rice and herbs, or
some ingredient to give it a better relish.
2. In ..Imeiica, the word is often applied to
foaming water, and especially to a mix-
ture of snow and water in the highways
^^ hich is called snotf-hroth.
BROTH'EL, n. [A dialectical orthography
ofbordel, which see.]
A house of lewdness ; a house appropriated
to the purposes of prostitution ; a bawdy
liotise ; a stew.
BROTH'ELER, n. One that frequents
brothels.
BROTH'EL-HOrSE, n. A brothel.
BROTH'ELRY, n. Lowdness ; obscenity.
Hall. Jonsov.
B R O
B R O
B R U
BROTHER, n. phi. brothers or brethren
[Goth, brofhar ; Sax. brother, or brether ;
Sw. and Dan. broiler ; D. broeder, from
broeden, to ftroorf, to breed ; G. bruder ; Sans.
6rarfer ; Russ. brat ; Dalmatian brath ; L.
frater ; Gr. $pa7>jPi ^raVup ; Pers. •i ? »
borailar; Corn, frrcrfor; Ir. brathair ; W.
iraiiirf ; Sam. aiirat ; Fr. /we, from L
frater; Sp. /mi//e, a friar; It. fratello,
brotlier, and /ra<e, friar; Arm. breuzr. By
the Dutch, it appears that this word signi
fies one of the brood or breed. The com
ition plural is brothers ; in the solemn style
brethren is used.]
1. A human male born of the same father
and mother. A male by one of the pa-
rents only is called a half-brother, or
brother of the half blood. Blackslonc.
2. Any one closely united ; an associate ; as
a band of brothers.
3. One that resembles another in manners.
He that is slothful in his work is brother to
him that is a great waster. Proverbs xvi
In scripture, the term brother is applied to
kinsman by blood more remote than a sc
of the same parents ; as in the case of
Abraham an<l Lot, Jacob and Laban.
Persons of the same profession call each
other brother, as judges, clergymen, ]iro
fessors of religion, members of soeit'tie;
united in a common cause, monks and the
like.
Kings give to each other the title of|
hrothe-r.
Clergymen address their congregations
by the title of brethren. In a more gene-
■ral sense, brother or brethren is used for
man in general ; all men being children of
the same primitive ancestors, and forming
one race of beings.
Brother-german is a brother by the father
and mother's side, in contradistinction to
a uterine brother, or by the mother only.
Encyc.
BROTH'ERHOOD, n. [brother and Aoo(/.]
The state or quality of being a brother.
Loeke.
1. An association of men for any purpose,
as a society of monks ; a fraternity.
Da vies.
3. A class of men of the same kind, profes-
sion, or occupation. Addison.
BROTH'ERLESS, a. Without a brother.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLIKE, a. Becoming a brother.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLOVE, n. Brotherly affection.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLY, o. Pertaining to brothers ;
such as is natural for brothers ; becoming
brothers ; kind ; affectionate ; as brotherly
love. Bacon.
Shakspeare uses this word as an ad-
verb. " I speak but brotherly." But the
use is not authorized.
BROUGHT, pret. and pp. of fcring- ; pro-
nounced hraut. [See Bring.]
BROW, 71. [Sax. brwiv, brtiwa ; D. braauw ;
G. braue ; Russ. brov ; Ir. bra, brni, eye-
brow, and afcftra, the eyelid ; Sans, bruwan,
bru ; Gr. o^pvj;, o^iptij ; Pers. . . j or . j,j 1
and the last syllable of L. paJvebra. It if
Vol. I.
probably contracted from hrg, and sign
fies an edge, border or projection.]
1. The prominent ridge over the eye, form
ing an arch above the orbit. The skin of ernment.
this arch or ridge is moved by muscles,
which contract it in a frown and elevate
it in joy or sur])rize. Hence, to knit the
brows, is to frown. Encyc.
2. The hah- that covers the brow forming
arch, called the ewe brow.
3. The forehead. Hence, the general air of
the countenance. Shak. Waller.
4. The edge of a steep place, as the brink
of a river or precipice ; as the brmv of
hill. Bacon
5. A fringe of coppice, adjoining to the hedg
of a field. Mason.
BROW, V t. To boimd; toUmit; to form
I the edge or border of. Milton.
iBROW '-ANTLER, n. [brow and antler.]
The first start that grows on a deer's head.
Bailey.
2. The branch of a deer's horn next the tail.
Encyc.
BROW'-BEAT, v. t. [brmo and beat.] To
depress or bear down with haughty, stern
looks, or with arrogant speech and dog-
matic assertions ; or in general to bear
down by impudence.
BROWBEATEN, pp. Overborne by im
ptiileni-c.
BROW BEATING, ppr. Overbearing with
severe brows, stern looks, or positive as-
BROWBEATING, n. A bearing down
with stern looks, supercilious manners, o
confident assertions.
BROW'BOUND, a. [brmv and ftoujirf.
Crowned ; having the head encircled as
with a diadem. Shak
BROW'LESS, a. Without shame.
Mdison
BROW'-POST, n. [brow imd post] Among
builders, a beam that goes across a build-
ing. Encyc
BROW-SICK, a. [brow and sick] Deject-
ed ; hanging the head. [A'oi tiserf.]
Sucklijig.
BROWN, a. [Sax. brun ; D. bruin ; Ger,
braun ; Dan. bruun ; Fr. brun ; Sp. and
It. bnmo ; from the verb, to bum.]
Dusky; of a dark or dusky color, inclining
to redness ; but the shades are vaiious, as
Spanish brown, London brown, clove brown,
tawny brown. Brown results from a mix-
tiue of red, black and yellow. Kirwan.
BROWN, V. t. To make brown or dusky.
A trembling twilight o'er the welkin moves,
Broums the dim void, and darkens deep the
groves. Barlow.
BROWN'-BILL, n. [brown and bill] A
weajion formerly used by the English foot
soldiers. The origin of the name
stated ; but from it broum musket is i
have derived its appellation. Johnson.
BROWN'ISH, a. Somewhat brown; in-
chned to brown. Kinvan.
BROWN'ISM, n. The doctrmes or reU-
gious creed of the Brownists, who main-
tained that any body of professing Chris-
tians united under one pastor, or com-
miming together, constitute a church in-
dr|)rndent of any other. Ennjc.
BROWN'IST, n. A follower of Robert
Brown, a puritan, or dissenter from th<>
Church of England, who left England j
28
with his congregation and settled at 51id-
dleburgh in Zealand. He was the head of
a party of Independents in Church gov-
Encyc.
BROWN'NESS, n. A brown color.
Sidney.
BROWN-SPAR, n. Pearl spar, or sidero-
calcite. Ure.
BROWN-STUDY, n. [broum and study.]
Gloomy study; dull thouglitfulness; med-
itation directed to no certain object.
JVorris.
BROWN'- WORT, n. [brown and wort.] A
plant, prunella.
2. A species of Scrophularia, the vernaUs, or
yellow figwort, with brown stalks.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BROWN'Y, a. Brown. [AW used.] Shak.
BROWSE, V. t. s as :. [Gr. ^fuaiw, to eat
or browse, fJp«5ts, food, hut probably these
words may be from sprouts ; Arm. brouz,
brouez, or broust, sprouts, buds ; Fr. broul,
brouter ; Arm. brousta, or iroitza, to browze.
It is aJlied to brush; W. bru<ys, luxuriant
growth ; rhwys, vigor, luxuriance, wanton-
ness.]
To eat the ends of branches of trees and
shrubs or the young shoots, as cattle, or
deer. Spenser. Shak.
BROWSE, V. i. s as z. To feed on the ten-
der branches or shoots of shrubs and
trees, as cattle, sheep and goats.
Arbuthnot. Shalt.
BROWSE, n. brows. The tender branches
or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the
food of cattle and other animals.
BROWS'ING, ppr. s as z. Feeding on
branches, shrubs, or shoots of trees.
BRU'CIA, \ A new vegetable alkali, ex-
BRU CINE, \ "• tracted from the bark of
the false angustura. Ure.
BRU'CITE, n. A mineral, the chondrodite
of Berzelius, which sometimes occurs in
grains or imperfect crystals, sometimes
in four-sided prisms with rhombic bases.
It is so named from the late Dr. Bruce, a
distinguished mineralogist of New York.
Cleaveland.
BRCISE, V. t. s as :. [Sax. brysan, to bruise ;
Fr. briser, to break or bruise ; froisser, to
bruise ; Arm. brousta.]
To crush by beating or pounding with an in-
strument not edged or pointed. When
applied to animal flesh or to vegetables, a
bruise is a contusion that impairs the nat-
ural soUdity and texture of the part, but
ofl;en without breaking the skin. When
applied to minerals and similar substances,
it signifies to break them, and often to re-
duce them to a coarse powder.
BRUISE, n. A contusion ; a hurl upon the
flesh of animals, upon plants or other
bodies, with a blunt or heavy instnmient.
BRUISED, pp. Crushed; hurt or broken
by a blunt or heavy instrument.
iBRriSER, n. A concave tool for grinding
I the specula of telescopes. Chambers.
;2. In ru>zar language, a boxer.
BRf ISEWORT, n. [bruise and icoii.] A
plant : comfrey. Johnson.
BRCISING, ppr. Crushing; breaking or
wounding by a blunt or heavy instrument.
BRTISING, n. In popular language, a beat-
ing or boxin?.
BRCIT, fi. [JFr.] Report; rumor; fame.
Obs. Shak.
B R U
B R U
B U C
BllClT, V. t. To report; to noise abroad.
Obs. Rakish.
BRU'MAL, n. [L. bruma, winter, bni malts ;
Span, brunia, winter, fog or mist.]
Belonging to the winter. Brown.
BRUME, n. [Fr. brume; Sp. bnma. See
Brumal]
Mist ; fog ; vapors. [Little used.] Barlow.
J5RUN, BURN. A river or stream. Obs.
BRUNET', I [Fr. from brun, brown.
BRUNETTE, ^ "' See Broivn.] A woman
witli IX brown or dark complexion.
BRUN'ION, n. [Fr. briigno7i.] A sort of]
liuit between a plum and a peaclj.
Trevoux.
Brunswick green. An ammoniaco-niuriate of
copper, used for paper hangings and in oil
])aiiitii]g. Ure.
BRUNT, n. [Dan. In/rerfe, and frrujis^, ardor,
ardency, burning heat. It is the Dutch
brand, fire, flame, ardor, from the com-
mon root of burn, brennan, brand. This
shows the radical sense of burn. See
Burn.]
i. The heat, or utmost violence of an onset
the strength or violence of any couten
tion ; as the brunt of a battle.
2. The force of a blow ; violence ; shock of
any kind. Hudibras
3. A sudden eftbrt. Bp. Hall
BRUSH, n. [Fr. brosse ; It. brusca ; tip
brusca, bruza; probably allied to browze,
W. brwys, thick, branching, from rhwys,
vigor, luxuriance, or prys, brushwood.
A brush is primarily sprouts, shoots.]
I. An instrument for cleaning any thing of
dust and dirt by light rubbing, as floors,
furniture, boots, &c. Brushes originally
were made of shrubs or small branches of
trees tied together, and such are yet used
for coarse purposes. But the materials
most used are bristles set in wood. Paint
ors use a small brush to lay colors on their
large pieces. Silver smiths use a wire
brush for scrubbing silver, copper or brass
in order to gilding ; and there is a method
of staining leather by rubbing the color
on the skin with a brush. Encyc.
'i. Branches of trees lopped off"; brush-
wood ; a sense common in the U. States.
^1. The small trees and shrubs of a wood
or a thicket of small trees. Encyc
1. A skirmish ; a slight encounter ; also, an
assault ; a shock, or rude treatment, from
collision ; as we say a scouring, a rub.
3. In electricity, the luminous appearance of
electric matter issuing in diverging rays
from a point. Encyc
6. A tail ; as the brush of a fox.
BRUSH, V. t. To sweep or rub with a brush
as, to brush a hat.
2. To strike as with a brush ; to strike lightly,
by passing over the surface, without inju
ry, or impression ; as, to brush the arm ir
passing ; to brush the briny flood.
Dryden.
3. To paint with a brush ; hence, to brush
vp is often used for cleansing in genei
Pope
4. With off, to remove by brushing
brush o^dust ; also, to carry away by an
act like that of brushing, or by passing
over lightly, as by wind. Bentley.
5. To move as a brush ; to pass over with a
liglit contact. Dryden.
BRUSH, V. i. To move nimbly in haste ; to
I hghtly
to brush by.
scarcely to be perceiv-
Prior.
2. To move or skim over, with a slight con-
tact, or without much impression.
Dryden.
BRUSIl'ED, pp. Rubbed with a brush ;
struck hghtly.
BRUSH'ER, ?i. One who brushes.
BRUSHING, ppr. Sweeping or rubbing
with a brush ; striking gently ; moving
nimbly in haste ; skimming over lightly.
BRUSH'ING, a. Brisk; light; as a brush-
ing gallop. Encyc.
BRUSH-LIKE, a. [brush and like.] Resem-
bling a brush Jlsiat. Res.
BRUSH' WQOD, n. [brush and wood.]
Brush ; a thicket or coppice of small trees
and shrubs ; also, branches of trees cut off.
Dryden.
BRUSH'Y, a. ResembUng a brush ; rough ;
shaggy ; having long hair. Boyle.
BRUSK, a. [Fr. brusque.] Rude ; rough.
Wotton.
BRUS'TLE, V. i. hrus'l. [Sax. brastlian, to
crackle ; G. brausen ; Dan. bruser ; Sw.
brusa; from the root of rustle.]
To crackle ; to make a small crackUng
noise ; to rustle, as a silk garment ; to va-
])or, as a bidly.
BRUS'TLING, ppr. Crackling ; rustUng
vai)oring.
BRUT, V. i. [Fr. brouler.] To browse, [^rot
in use.] Evely:
BRU'TAL, a. [See Brute.] Pertaining to
brute ; as brutal nature.
2. Savage ; cruel ; inlmmau ; brutish ; ui
feeling like a brute ; merciless ; as brutal
courage ; brutal manners.
BRUTAL'ITY, 7i. Inhumanity ; savage-
ness ; churlishness ; insensibility to pity
or shame. Locke.
BRU'TALIZE, v. t. To make brutal, churl-
ish or inhuman.
All crael punisliinents brutalize the heart.
Z. Swift
BRU'TALIZE, v. i. To become brutal, in-
human, or coarse and beastly. Addison.
BRUTALLY, adt). Cruelly; inhumanly ; in
a coarse, churlish, or brutal manner.
Jlrbuthnot
BRUTE, a. [Fr. brut, from L. brutus,
senseless, irrational ; It. and Sj). bruto.
This word may be tin- < 'h. Nnnn I'nreign
strange, as the anciriit^ i \|,ic~-.i d wild
ncss and savageness |p\ m iIp> wliii.-li sig
nify to depart or be di^ianl.J
Senseless ; unconscious ; as the bi-ute
earth. Bentley.
2. Irrational ; ferine ; as a brute beast.
South.
3. Bestial ; in common with beasts ; as brute
violence. Milton.
4. Rough ; unciviHzed ; insensible ; as a
brute philosopher. Pope.
BRUTE, n. A beast ; any animal destitute
of reason, and of course the word com
prehends all animals except man, but ii
applied mostly to the larger beasts.
2. A brutal person ; a savage in heart or
manners; a low bred, unfeeling man.
BRUTE, V. t. for bruit, to re])ort. [.Vol
tised.]
BRU'TELY, adv. In a rude manner.
MUto^
BRU'TENESS, n. Brutahty. Obs. Spenser.
BRU'TIPY, V. t. To make a person a brute;
to make senseless, stupid or unfeeling.
Congreve.
BRU'TISH, a. Like a brute or beast ; as a
brutish form. Milton.
2 Insensible ; stupid ; as brutish men. Grew.
3. Uj] feeling; savage; ferocious; brutal.
4. Gross; carnal; bestial. Shak. South.
5. Ignorant ; uucivihzed ; imtaUght. Hooker.
BRU'TISHLY, adv. In the manner of a
brute ; grossly ; irrationally ; stupidly ;
^a
ied.] Sackville.
i'BLE, n. [p. bobbel; Sw. bubla; from
BRU'TISHNESS, n. Stupidity ; insensi-
bility ; brutahty ; savageness ; the quaU-
tiea of a brute. Sprait.
BRY'ONY, n. [L.bryonia; Gr. jifyvtMia.]
White jalap ; a genus of plants of several
species. The root of the rough or white
bryony is a strong irritating cathartic.
Encyc. Coxe.
Black-bryony is a genus of plants, called Ta-
mus. Encyc.
BUB, n. A cant word for strong malt liquor.
Pnor.
t. To throw out in bubbles. [^J'ot
used.] " ' '"
BUB'
swelling, inflation.]
1. A small bladder or vesicle of water or
other fluid inflated with air. J^ewton.
2. Any thing that wants firmness or solidi-
ty ; a vain i)roject ; that which is more
specious than real. Hence, a false show ;
a cheat or fraud. Bacon. Dryden.
3. A delusive scheme of speculation ; an
enqity project to raise money on imagina-
ry grounds ; as the South Sea bubble.
Sidfl.
A person deceived by an empty project.
Prior.
BUB'BLE, V. i. To rise in bubbles, as liquors
when boiling or agitated. Shak. Dryden.
2. To run with a gurgling noise ; as a
bubbling stream. Pope.
BUB'BLE, V. t. To cheat ; to deceive or im-
|)Ose on. Addison.
BUB'BLER, n. One who cheats. Digby.
BUB'BY, n. [from the same root as bub-
ble and bubo.] A woman's breast.
Arbutknot.
BU'BO, Jt. [Gr. fSouSw.-, L. bubo, a swelling.]
A tumor or abscess with inflannnation, w'niili
rises in certain glandular parts of the body,
as in the groin, or armpit. Encyc. Coxe.
BU'BONOCELE, n. [Gr. jimSuv, the groin,
and xTjXTj, a tumor.]
Hernia inguinalis, or inguinal rupture ; a
tumor in the groin, formed by a prolapsus
of the intestines or omentum or both,
through the processes of the peritoneum
and rings of the abdomuial muscles.
Encyc.
BU'BUKLE, n. A red iiimple. [.Vot used.]
Shak.
BUBUL'CA, n. A flat fresh-water fish, of a
circular form and a silvery color.
Diet, of.yat. Hist.
BUCANEE'R, I [Fr. boucaner, to broil
BU€ANIE'R, I "-fish or flesh, to hunt
oxen for their skins.]
Primarily, a bucaneer is said to be one who
dries and smokes flesh or fish after the
manner of the Indians. The name was
first given to the French settlers in Haiti
or Hispaniola, whose business was to hunt
wild cattle and swine. It was afterward?
B U C
BUG
BUD
applied to the piratical adventurers, En-U used to convey water by hand for extin-llBUCK'SKIN, n. The skin of a buck. Ah
^lish and French, who combined to make
depredations on the Spaniards in America.
En eye.
BU€A'0, n. A species of owl, in tlie Phil-
ippine isles, of a beautiful plumage, and
size of a peacock, but remarkable for a
hideous nocturnal scream.
Did. o/ATat. Hist.
BU€'€AL, a. [L. bucca, the cheek ; W.
toe]
Pertaining to the clieek. The huccal glands
are the small glands of the mouth, under
the cheek, which secrete saliva. Hooper.
BU€CELLA'TION,n. [L. bueeella, buccea,a.
mouthful.]
The act of breaking into large pieces.
BUe'CINITE, n. Fossil remains or petri-
factions of the shells called buccinnm.
Jameson.
BITCENT'AUR,n.Thestate barge of Venice.
BUCEPH'ALUS, n. An animal of the ga-
zelle tribe, of the size of a hind.
BU'CEROS, n. The honibill or Indian ra-
ven ; a genus of birds, common in the East
Indies.
BUell'OLZITE, n. A newly discovered
mineral, whose colors are white and black,
appearing iu spots. Cteaveland.
BUCK, n. [G. bauche, beucke ; Sp. bugada.]
1 the pri)
Lye in which clothes
operation of bleaching; the liquor ir
wliich clothes are washed.
Enci/c. Johnson
2. The cloth or clothes soaked or washed
in lye. Shak.
BUCK, V. i. [G. beuchen ; Dan. boger ; Sw
byka ; Arm. bugad ; Norm. buer. This
verb is retained in the L. imbuo, for imbuco
or imbtigo, to steep, tinge, imbue.]
To soak or steep in lye, a process in bleach-
ing ; to wash or steep in lye or suds.
Encyc. Shak
BUCK, n. [Sax. buc, hucca ; D. bok ; Ger. Sw
bock ; Sp. boque ; W. bw(; ; It. becco. This
Italian word signifies a bill or beak, the
mouth, the helm of a ship, the pipe of
a still and a buck. We see it is the
same word as beak, from thrusting ;
Dan. buk, whence bukker, to ram or
thrust piles. Ir. boc or poc; Corn, byk;
Ft. bouc ; Arm. bouch ; Kalmuc, bugn, a
stag. Qu. Eth. (IrhTlbahak, the male
of sheep or goats.]
The male of the fallow deer, of the goat
the sheep, the rabbit and hare. It is aj)
plied only to the smaller quadrupeds.
BUCK, V. i. To copidate as bucks and does.
Mortimer.
BUCK'-BASKET, n. [buck and basket.] A
basket in which clothes are carried to the
wash. Shak.
BUCK'BEAN, n. This is properly bog-
bean, which see.
BUCK'ED, pp. Soaked in lye. .^sh
BUCK'ET, n. [Sax. buc ; Fr. baquet ; Ir.
buiccad ; Sw. buc ; Dan. bak.]
1. The vessel in which water is drawn out
of a well ; it is nearly in the form of a
pail.
2. A vessel or ptiil used at sea to draw wa-
ter up at the side of a ship, for wasliing
~ the decks, &c. Mar. Did.
3. A vessel made of leather, nc:iily in the
form of a pail, but narrower and deeper
guishing fires.
BUCK'ING, ppr. Soaking in lye,
cess of bleaching; washing.
BUCK'ING, n. The act or process of soak
ing cloth in lye for bleaching; also, the HI
Ive or liquor ; a washing. Encuc. ^sh.
BlfCK'ING-STOOL, n. A wasliing block,
BUCK'LE, re. [Fr. boucle, a buckle, a ring,
a knocker; boucler, to curl, to ring, to
buckle ; Ir. bucla ; Arm. boucL In Sp. bu-
ck is hair curled. In W. ba^u, bagtllu,
and baglu signify, to bend, hook or
pie. Sax. bugan, to bow.]
1. An in.strunient made of some kind of
metal, for fastening together certain parts
of dress, as the straps of shoes, kneebands
&c., or other straps and bands, as in a
harness. The forms are various, but
consists of a ring or rim with a chape and
tongue.
2. A curl, or a state of being curled or crisp-
ed, as hair. Spectator.
j.3. In coats of arms, a token of the surety,
faith and service of the bearer. Ena/c
BUCK'LE, V. I. To fasten with a buckle
or buckles.
2. To prepare for action ; a metaphor, taken
j from buckling on armor. Spenser
3. To join in battle. Hayward.
a.lje
soaked in the! 4. To confine or limit.
A span buckles in his sum of age. Shak
BUCKLE, V. i. To bend ; to bow ; as, tc
buckle imder life. Skak
To buckle to, to bend to ; to apply witli
vigor ; to engage with zeal. Locke.
To buckle in, to close in ; to embrace or
seize the body, as in a scuffle ; a popular
use in .America.
To buckle loith, to encounter with embrace ;
to join in close ccnnbat. Dryden.
BUC'K'LER, n. [W. bwccled; Fr. bouclier ;
Ir. buicleir.]
A liind of shield, or piece of defensive armor,
anciently used in war. It was composed
of wood, or wickers woven together, cov-
ered with skin or leather, fortified with
plates of brass or other metal, and worn
on the left arm. On the middle was an
umbo, boss or prominence, very useful in
causing stones and darts to glance off.
The buckler often was fom' feet long, and
covered the whole body. Encyc.
BUCK'LER, ti. t. To support ; to defend.
[.Yot used.] Shak.
BUCKLER-THORN, n. Christ's thorn.
Johnson.
BUCK'MAST, n. [buck, that is, beach, and
mast.]
The mast or fruit of the beach tree.
Johnson.
BUCK'RAM, n. [Fr. bougran ; It. buche-
ratne ; qu. from It. bucare, to make holes.]
A coarse linen cloth, stiffened with glue,
used in garments to keep them m the
form intended, and for wrappers to cover
cloths, and other mi^rcliiindi/.e. Encyc.
BUCK'RAM, a. Stiff; precise. Fitlke.
BUCK'RAMS, n. The same as wild garlic.
Johnson.
BUCKS'HORN, n. [buck and h>m.]
ics of Ptanta,
pin lit, a spec
called crcropus-
The wife J buckihorn is
Icaria, or scurvy grass
ntago, or pla
si>ecies of Coch-
Fam. of Plants.
ive, made of leather prepared
111 skin of a buck. ^h.
-lAI.!., n. [buck and staU.] .\ toil
1" i.ike deer. ■ Encyc.
rilOKN, „. [buck and thorn.] A
genus of plants, called Rhamnus, of many
species. The common purging buck-thorn
grows to the height of 12 or 14 feet, and
bears a black berry, which, when green,
is used to dye yellow, and when ripe,
green. The "bark also dyes yellow. The
sea buck-thorn is a genus of plants, called
Hippophae. Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BUCK'WHEAT, n. [D. boek-weit; Ger.
buchweitzen.]
A plant and a species of grain ; called also
brank. It belongs to the genus poly-
gonum, or knot-grass. It is cultivated
as food for beasts, and the flour is much
used in America for breakfast cakes.
BUCOL'IC, a. [Gr. ;5oi.xo>.o;, a herdsman ;
fimxoXixof, pastoral ; L. buculus, an ox ;
bticolicus, pertaining to cattle, pastoral ;
\V. and Corn, bugail or bygel ; Ir. buachail,
a shepherd. See Bovine]
Pastoral ; relating to country affairs and to
a shepherd's hfe and occupation.
Johnson.
BUCOL'IC, n. A pastoral poem, represent-
ing rural affairs, and the life, manners
and occupation of shepherds ; as the bjt-
colics of Theocritus and Virgil.
Dryden. Encyc.
2. A writer of pastorals. Warton.
BUD, n. [D. bot ; Fr. bouton ; It. botlone, a
bud or button ; Ir. abaidh, a bud ; S|). 60/011 :
Ann. bouton, literally a push ; Sp. iotar, to
push or thrust, to vow ; Gr. $vtw ; ^vu, to
plant or beget, contracted from ^tu ; Ch.
B3J ; Ar. J^kx J nabata ; allied to pout,
Fr. bonder. See class Bd, No. .34.]
A gem; the shoot of a plant ; a small protu-
berance on the stem or branches of a
plant, containing the rudiments of future
leaves or a flower. It is called by bota-
nists the hybcrnacle, the winter lodge or
receptacle of the leaves or flowers of
plants, and is an epitome of a flower, or
of a shoot, which is to be unfolded the
succeeding summer. It is covered with
scales, which are intended to defend the
inclosed rudiments from cold and other
external injuries.
Buds are of three kinds ; that containing the
flower; that containing the leaves; and
that containing both flower and leaves.
Milne. Martyn.
BUD, V. i. To put forth or produce buds or
gems. Job xiv. !).
2. To put forth shoots ; to grow as a bud
into a flower or shoot. Dryden.
3. To begin to grow, or to issue from a
stock in the manner of a bud, as a horn.
Dryden.
4. To be in bloom, or growing like a young
plant. Sh)ik.
BUD, !'. /. To inoculate a plant ; to insert
the bud of a plant under the bark of anoth-
er tree, for the j)urpose of raising, upon
any stock, a species of fruit different from
that of the stock.
B U F
B U F
BUG
BUDDED, pp. Put (brth in Inuls ; inocula-
ted.
BUD'DIIISM, n. The doctrines of the Bud-
dhists in Asia.
]5UD'DING, ppr. Putting forth buds ; iuoc-
idating.
BUD'DILE, n. In mining, a large square
frame of boards, used in washing tin ore.
wJsA. Encyc.
BUD'DLE, V. i. Among miners, to wash
oie. Bailey. Ash.
BUDliE, V. t. [Fr. and Norm, hoxiger, to
stir or wag.]
To move of}'; to stir; to wag. In America,
u'ag is much used as equivalent to hudge ;
but the use of both words is vulgar.
Shak.
BUDtiE, n. The dressed skin or fur of
lambs. Bailey.
BUDtJE, a. Brisk ; jocund. Bailey.
2. Surly; stiff; formal. Obs. Johnson.
BUDGE-BACHELORS, a company of
men clothed in long gowns lined with
lamb's fur, who accompany the Lord K
or of London at his inauguration.
Bailey. Ash.
BUDgE-BARREL, n. A small barrel with
only one head ; on the other end, a piece
of leather is nailed, which is drawn to-
gether upon strings like a purse. It is
used for carrying powder, with a gun or
mortar. " Encyc.
BUDgENESS, n. Sternness ; severity. [JVot
used.]
BUDG'ER, n. One who moves or stirs from
his place. Shak
BUDdi'ET, n. [Fr. bougette ; Arm. 6oi(g-e
den ; Norm, bouge ; perhaps from the root
of bag.}
1. A bag ; a little sack, with its contents.
Hence, a stock or store ; as a budget of in-
ventions. UEstrange.
•2. The papers respecting the finances of
the British nation.
To open the budget, to lay before a legisla
live body the papers of the Ej^ecutive
Government. Price.
HUDG'Y, a. Consisting of fiir. \JVot used.]
BUD' LET, rt. [from bud.] A little bud
sprmging from a parent bud.
We have a criterion to distinguish one but
from another, or the parent bud from the nu
merous budlets which are its oftspring.
Darwin
BUFF, n. [contracted fi-om buffalo, or
buffskin.]
I. Buffskin; a sort of leather, prepared fi-om
the skin ol' the buffalo, dressed with oil,
like shammy. It is used for making ban
doliers, belts, pouches, gloves and other
articles. The skins of oxen, elks and
other anunals, dressed in like manner, are
also called buffs. Encyc.
fi. A military coat made of buff-skin or simi-
lar leather. Shak.
3. The color of buff ; a light yellow.
4. A yellow viscid substance formed on the
surface of blood drawn in inflammatory
diseases. Parr.
BUFF, V. t. To strike. [See Buffet.]
BUPF'ALO, n. [It. and Sp. bufalo ; Fr. huf-
fie ; L. bubalus.]
The Bubalus, a species of the bovine genus,
originally from India, but now found in
most of the warmer countries of the East-
ern Continent. It is larger and less docile
than the common ox, and is fond of marshy
places and rivers. The name is also ap-
plied to wild oxen in general, and particu-
larly to the Bison of North America. [See
Bison.] Cyc. Cuvier.
BUFF'EL, n. Buffel's head duck, anas bu-j
cephala, a bird with a short blue bill, and
a head whose apparent size is greatly in-
creased by the fulness of its feathers, found
in winter in the rivers of Carohna.
Catesby. Pennant.
BUFF'ET, n. [Fr. buffet ; It. buffetto ; Sp.
bufete.]
A cupboard, or set of shelves, for plates,
glass, cliina and other like furniture. It
was formerly and is still in some parts of
the country, an apartment erected on one
side of a room ; but in more fashionable
houses, it lias been laid aside, and a side
board substituted, which is now consider-
ed as the buffet. But as far as my knowl-
edge extends, the name has become, in a
great measure, obsolete, excei>t among
the common people, by whom it is pro-
nounced bofat.
BUFF'ET, n. [It. buffetto ; Sp. Port, bufar,
to blow, to ]mff; Norm, buffe, a blow ; W.
pnfiaiv, to thump. See Biffoon and Puff.]
A blow with the fist ; a box on the ear or
face ; a slap. Milton.
BUFF'ET, V. t. To strike with the hand or
fist ; to box ; to beat.
They spit in his face and buffetted Mm. Math,
xxvi.
2. To beat in contention ; to contend against ;
as, to buffet the billows. Otwny.
BUFF'ET, V. i. To exercise or play at box-
ing. Shak.
BUFF'ETED,;?;?. Struck; beaten. 1 Cor.
iv. II. 1 Pet. ii. 20.
BUFF'ETER, n. One who buffets ; a boxer.
Johnson.
BUFFETING, ppr. Striking with the hand ;
boxing ; contending against.
BUFF'ETING, n. A striking with the hand
2. Contetition ; attack ; opposition.
He seems to have been a plant of slow growth;
but fonned for duration, and titted to endure the
biiffetings of the rudest storm. IVirt.
BUFF'IN, n. A sort of coarse stuff; as, buf-
fin gowns. Massinger.
BUFF'LE.w. [Fr.] The buffalo.
BUFF'LE, V. i. To puzzle ; to be at a loss.
Siviji.
This is probably the same word as baflle
BUFF'LE-HEAD, n. [baffle and head.] One
who has a large head.
BUFF'LE-HEADED, a. Having a large
head, like a buffalo ; dull; stupid; fooli.sh.
BUFF'ON, n. The Numidian crane, an
African fowl. Diet. ofJ\'at. Hist.
BUFFOON', n. [Fr. bouffon; It. buffo ; Sp.
bufon, a buffoon, comical ; It. beffare and
bxiffare, to trifle, joke, play the fool ; Sp.
befar, to mock or ridicule ; bufar, to blow,
or puff with anger, to snort ; Port. id.
These verbs indicate the origin of buffoon-
ery. The root of buffet, puff, signifies to
drive, to push, to strike. See Puff.]
1. A man who makes a practice of amusing
others by low tricks, antic gestures anil
postures, jokes and other vulgar pleasant-
ries. A droll ; a mimic.
Johnson. En rye.
2. He that uses indecent raillery. Gaith.i
BUFFOON', V. I. To make ridiculous.
Glanvitlt.
BUFFOON'ERY, n. The arts and practices
of a buffoon ; low jests; ridiculous pranks;
vulgar tricks and postures. Johnson.
Dryden has placed the accent improperly on
the first syllable.
BUFFOON'ING, n. Buffoonery.
Dryden. Guihrie''s Quint.
BUFFOON'ISH, a. Like a buffoon; con-
sisting in low jests or gestures.
BUFFOON'ISM, n. The practices of a
buffoon.
BUFFOON'-LIKE, a. Resembling a buf-
foon. Sherwood.
BUFFOON'LY, a. Consistuigof low vidgar
tricks. (Little used.]
BU'FONITE, n. [L. iu/o, a toad.] Toad-
stone, or fossil-teeth of the anarrhicas or
sea-wolf, formerly much esteemed for its
imaginary virtues and worn in rings. It
was named from an opinion that it was
found in the head of a toad. Encyc.
BUG, 71. [Qu. W. baf, bygan, small.] In
common language, the nanie of a vast mul-
titude of insects, which infest houses and
plants. In zoology, this word is applied to
the insects arranged under the genus Ci-
mex, of which several himdred species are
described. Bugs belong to the order of hem-
ipters. They are furnished with a rostrum
or beak, with antennae longer than the
thorax, and the wings are folded together
crosswise. The back is flat, the throat
margined, and the feet are formed for run-
ning. Some s))ecies have no wings. The
house-bug, or bed-bug, is a troublesome
and disgusting insect. Encyc.
BUG, or BUG' BEAR, n. [W. J-icg-, a hob-
goblin or scarecrow ; Intgadu, to terrify ;
lluss. buka, a sprite or gobhn. In Pers
J-L, is fear.]
A frightful object ; a walking specter ; any
thing imaginary that is considered as
frightful. Locke. Pope.
BUG'BEAR, V. t. To alarm or frighten with
idle phantoms. ArchVp. King.
BUgEE', n. A species of monkey found in
India, of a beaver color.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BU'GELUGEY, n. A large species of liz-
ard, four feet long. Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
BUG'GER, n. [Fr. bougre; Sp. bujarron ;
D. boggeren, verb.]
One guilty of the crime against nature. A
vile wretch ; a term of reproach.
BUG'GERY, n. The unnatural and detesta-
ble crime of carnal intercourse of man or
woman with a beast ; or of human beings
unnaturally with each other. Sodomy.
E7icyc.
BUG'GINESS, ?!. [from titg-g-^.] The state
of being infected with bugs.
BUG'GY, a. [from bug.] Abounding with
bugs. Johnson.
BU'GLE, I [W. bugail, a shep-
BU'GLE-HORN, ^ "' herd. See Bucolic.
The shepherd's horn, or from the same
root as the Fr. beugler, to bellow, from its
sound.] A hunting horn.
Spenser. Shak.
2. A military instrument of music.
BU'GLE, n." A shining bead of black glass.
B U L
B U L
B L L
BU'GLE, n. [L. bugula, or ftugiZto.] A ge
iius of plants, Ajuga, of several species,
Encyc.
BU'GLE, n. [L. buculus, an ox.] A sort of
wild ox. Philips.
BU'GLE- WEED, n. A plant, the lycopus
virginicus, valued as a remedy for hsemoi
tysis, or spitting of blood.
BU'GLOSS, n. [L. bughssus ; Gr. /3«y>^(joos,
of )3oi)j, an ox, and yjAjana, tongue.]
A genus of plants, called alkanet ; in botany
anchusa.
The small wild bugloss, is the Aspemgo.
The viper's bugloss, is the Echium.
BUG' WORT, n. A plant, the Ciniicifuga.
Muhlenberg.
BUHR'STONE, n. A subspecies of silex or
<iuartz, occurring in amorphous musses
partly compact, but containing many irreg-
ular cavities. It is used for mill-stones.
CkfivelnnJ.
This word is often written burr-ston
BUILD, I V. I. bUd; pret. built ; p|i. built,
BILD, \ pronounced bill. The rcgiil:ii
pret. and pp. builded, is sometimes used,
[Sax. byldan, to confirm ; hyld, bylde, byldo.
constancy, firmness ; bilith, a model, an
image ; Sw. bilda ; D. afbeelden, verbedd-
en ; Ger. bilden, abbilden ; Dan. bilder, af-
bilder, to shape, form, design, deUneate.
represent, counterfeit ; Sw. and Ger. bild ;
D. becld, image, statue, figure, representa
tion. The primary sense is to set, fix or
make, and the true orthography is bild.]
1. To frame, construct, and raise, as an edi-
fice or fabric of almost any kind, as a
house, barn, shop, ship or vessel, a wall.
or other structure of art ; to unite mate-
rials into a regular structure for use ot
convenience.
2. To raise by art ; to frame or shape into a
particular form ; as, to build up a head
dress in a cone. Spectator.
3. To raise any thing oi> a support or foun-
dation ; as, to build our hopes on air.
4. In scripture, to increase and strengthen ;
to cement and knit together ; to settle or
establish and preserve. Acts xx. 32. Eph
ii. 22. 1 Sam. ii. 35.
BUILD, 11. i. bild. To exercise the art, oi
practice the business of building.
To build, to plant, whatever you intend.
Pope.
:2. To construct, rest or depend on as a foun-
dation ; as, to build on the opinions of
others. Addison
BUILD'ER, n. bild'er. One who builds ; one
whose occupation is to build ; an archi-
tect, a sliip-wright, a mason, &c.
fj. A creator.
Whose builder and maker is God. Heb. xi
BUILD'ING, ppr. bild'ing. Framins and
erecting ; resting on.
BUILD'ING, n. bild'ing. A fabric or edifice
constructed for use or convenience, as a
house, a church, a shop, &c.
BUILT,;);?, bilt. Framed and raised; con-
structed.
BUILT, n. bilt. Form ; shape ; general fig-
ure of a structure; as the built of a ship.
Dryden. Mar. Diet
2. Species of building. Temple.
BUL, ». Tiie conunon flounder.
Chambers.
BULB, n. [Gr. »3ox5os ; L. bulbus, a bulb oi
round root ; Fr. bulbe ; It. bulbo ; Sp
bvlbo, an onion, or bulbous root ; \\ . bat,
bol, protuberance.]
A round body, applied to many objects. But
in botany, it is appropriately a bud formed
under groimd, upon or near the roots of
certain herbaceous plants, which are hence
called bulbous plants, as the tulip, onion
and lUy. The bulb under ground is what
the bud is upon tlie stem or branches, a
hybt rnacle or winter receptacle of a fu-
ture plant, containing the plant in embrj'o,
covered with a bark or rind, generally
consisting of scdes placed over each other,
to defend the tender rudiments of the
plant from cold and other external injuries.
A bulb is scaly in the lily, solid in the
tulip, coated in the onion, and jointed in
the tuberous moschatel.
Milne. Martyn
BULB, V. i. To bulb out is to project or be
protuberant. [Little used.] Evelui
T?IL15A'CEOUS,a. Bulbous. [I believe, not
ii.'icd. J Johnson.
BULB' ED, a. Round headed.
BULBIF'EROUS, a. Producing bulbs
bvlbijerous stems. Eaton
BULB'OtJS, a. Containing bulbs or a bidb:
growing from bulbs ; round or roundish.
Martyn. Milne
12. Containing a knob, or protuberant part
swelling out; presenting rounded eleva-
tions. Kirwan
BULCHIN, n. A young male calf.
Dekker. Marston
BULGE, n. A different orthography ofl
bilge. [W. hivlg, bulk ; bale, prominent ;
Sax. bulgian, to bellow, from swelling out.]
The bilge or protuberant part of a cask ;
protuberance.
BUL6E, V. i. To swell out ; to be protubor
MoX07l.
2. To bilge as a ship. [See Bilge.]
Dryden
BULg'ING, ppr. or a. Swelling out ; bil-
gi'ig-
As an adjective, protuberant.
BU'LIMY, n. [Gr. ^ii\ifiu),, lis, great, and
xi^oj, hunger.]
A voracious appetite ; a disease in which the
patient has a perpetual and insatiable ap-
petite for food, and often faints, if not in-
dulged. It is attended with various symp-
toms ; sometimes with heart burn ; some-
times with vomiting or convulsions.
Encyc. Coxe.
BULK, n. [W. helg, bulk ; balciaw, to swell,
to be proud ; Ir. bide, great, strong ; Russ,
bulikayu, to boil, to bubble ; D. bulken, to
low or bellow ; Dan. bulk, a bunch on the
back ; Sax. bulgian, to low.]
1. Magnitude of material substance ; whole
dimensions; sizeofathjng ; as an ox or
ship of great bulk.
2. The gross ; the majority ; the main ma;
or body ; as the bulk of a debt ; the bulk
of a nation. Swift. Addison.
3. Main fabric. Shak.
4. The whole content of a ship's hold for the
stowage of goods. Encyc.
5. A pan of a building jutting out. Shak.
To break bulk, in seamen's language, is tc
begin to unload. Mar. Diet
Laden in bulk, having the cargo loose in the
hold, or not inclosed in boxes, bales oi
BULK'-HEAD, n. [bulk and head.] A par-
tition in a ship made with boards, to form
separate apartments. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BULK'INESS, n. Greatness in bulk, size or
stature. Locke.
BULK'Y, a. Large ; of great dimensions;
of great size. Dryden.
BULL, n. [G. bull; W. bwla ; Russ. vol.
Q.U. from his sex, or from bellowing ; Sw.
bola, or biila ; Dan. boler.]
1. The male of the Bos, or bovine genus of
quadrupeds, of which cow is the female.
2. in a scriptural sense, an enemy, powerful,
fierce and vioh'iit.
Many bulls have compassed me. Psalms.
3. Taurus, one 'of the twelve signs of the
zodiac.
BULL, n. [It. bolla, a bubble, a blister, a
seal or stamp, the Pope's bull ; Fr. buUe ;
L. bulla, a boss, and an ornament worn on
a child's neck. Thi,s name was given to
the seal which was appended to the edicts
and briefs of the Pope, and in process of
tiirie, applied to theeiUct itself. Spelman.]
A letter, edict or rescript of the Pope, pub-
Ushed or transmitted to the churches over
which he is head, containing some decree,
order or decision. It is used chiefly in
matters of justice or of grace. If the for-
mer, the lead or seal is hung by a hempen
cord ; if the latter, by a silken thread.
The lead or bull is impressed on one side
with the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul ;
on the other with the name of the Pope
and the year of his pontificate. The wri-
ting is in the old, round Gothic letter; and
the instrument has about it a cross with
some text of scripture, or religious motto.
Lunier. Emyc.
The Golden Bull, so called from itsgolden
seal, is an edict or imperial constitution,
made by the Emperor Charles V., contain-
ing the fundamental law of the German
Empire.
Leaden Bulls were sent by the Emperors
of Constantinople to patriarchs and prin-
ces ; and by the grandees of the Empire,
of France, Sicily, &c., and by patriarchs
and bishops.
Waxen bulls were in frequent use with the
Greek Emperors, who thus sealed letters
to their relations. Encyc.
2. A blunder or contradiction. Pope.
BULL, a prefix, signifies a bull, or large, or
having a large head.
BULL'-BAlTfNG, n. [bidl and bait.] The
jiractice of baiting or exciting bulls with
dogs. Addison.
BULL'-BEEF, n. [buU and beef.] The flesh
of a bull; coarse beef. Shak.
BULL'-BEGGAR, n. [buU and beggar.]
Something terrible, or frightful. Ayliffe.
BULL'-C^ALF, n. [bull and calf] A male-
calf; a stupid fellow. Shak.
BULL'-DOG, n. [bull and dog.] A species of
dog of a particular form and of i-emarka-
ble courage ; so named probably fi-om
being employed in baiting bulls, or from
the size of the head.
BULL'S-EYE, 7!. [bull and eye.] Among
seamen, a piece of wood in tlie form of a
ring, answering the purpose of a thimble.
Mar. Diet.
2. Aldebaran, a star of the first magnitude
in the constellation Taurus. .^h.
i. A small obscure cloud, ruddy in the mid-
dle, portending a great storm. Encyc.
B U L
BUM
BUN
BULL'-FACED, a. Having a large face.
Dryden.
BULL-FEAST, n. [See Bull-fight.]
BLTLL'-FIGIIT, n. [bull and fight.-] A com-
bat vvitli a bull ; an amusement among the
Spaniards and Portuguese. A horseman,
called a toreador or picador attacks a bull
in a circus or inclosed arena, in presence
of multitudes of spectators, irritating him
with a spear, till the bull rushes upon the
horseman, and perhaps dismounts the
rider. After the bull has been tormented
a long time, tlie horseman leaves him, and
some persons on foot attack him and
plunge darts mto his neck ; and at a signal
given by the president, the barbarous sport
is endeil by tlie dagger of a matador.
Eneijc.
BULL'-FINCH, n. [Indl &n<X finch.] A bird
of the Sparrow kind, whose breast, cheeks
and throat are of a crimson color ; the
rubicilla. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BULL-FLY, or BULL'-BEE, n. An insect.
Philips.
BULL'-FROG, n. [bull and frog.] The raua
ocellata, a large species of frog, found in
North America, of a dusky brown color,
mixed with a yellowish green, and spotted
with black. These frogs live in stagnant
water, and utter a loud croaking sound,
from which they probably received tliei
name.
BULL'-HEAD, n. [bull and head.] A genus
of fishes, the Cottiis, with a head broade
than the body, whence the name. This
fish is called by some the Miller's thumb.
Encyc.
2. A stupid fellow ; a lubber. Johnson
3. A small black water vermin. Philips
BULL'-TROUT, n. [bull and trout.] A large
species of trout, called also sea-trout, thick-
er than the common sort, and weighing
about three pounds. Its back has a bluish
green gloss, and there are several black
spots on the sides. Did. of JStat. Hist.
BULL'- WEED, n. Knap weed. Johnson.
BULL'-WORT, n. Bishopsweed. Johnson.
BULL' ACE, n. The buUy-tree, or Chry-
sophyllum, a plant of two species, nativ"
of the West Indies.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
2. The wild plum, a species of Prunus.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
BULLAN'Tle, a. [from ML] Designating
certain ornamental capital letters, used in
ApostoUc bulls. It is used also as a noun,
Fry.
B tLL'ARY, n. A collection of Papistical
hulls. South.
BUL'LATE, a. [L. butlatus.] Having eleva-
tions, like blisters ; as a bullate leaf
Martyn
BULL'ET, n. [Fr. bould, dim. of boule, a
ball. See Ball.]
A ball of iron or lead, called also shot, used
to load guns for killing man or beast.
Balls for cannon are made of iron ; mus-
ket-balls are made of lead.
BULL'ETIN, n. [Fr. bulletin, a ballot, a
packet, a certificate ; Sp. holetin, a ticket
ov warrant ; boleta, a ticket, a hillet ; Port
bolrt'i ; It. buUetta, bullettino ; properly, a
roll.]
A Fn n 'h word denoting
I. All official report from an oflicer to his
commander or superior.
2. An ofiicial report of a physician respect-
ing the king's health.
A little note given by a banking com-
pany.
It is sometimes used for a notice, or ]iub-
lic announcement ; as a bibliographical
bulletin.
BULL'ION, n. [Fr. billon, base coin.] Un-
coined gold or silver in the mass. The
precious metals are called bullion, when
smelted and not perfectly refined, or when
refined, but in bars, ingots, or in any form
uncoined, as in plate. Encyc.
BULL'ISH, a. Partaking of the nature of a
bull or blunder. Milton.
BULL'IST, n. A writer of papal bulls.
Harmar.
BUL'LITE, n. A petrified shell, or the fossil
emains of shells, of the genus Bulla.
Jameson.
BULLI"TION, n. [L bullio, to boil. See
Boil.]
The act or state of boihng. Superseded by
ebullition. Bacon.
BULL'OCK, n. [Sax. bulluca ; G. butlochs.]
An ox, or castrated bull. In America, it
is applied to a full grown ox.
BULL' Y, n. [Sw. bUa, to bellow ; buller, a
tumuU; Dan. bullen, swelled, puffed U|i ;
or more directly from Sax. hidgian, to
belloio.]
A noisy, blustering, overbearing fellow, more
distiiiguished for insolence and empty me-
naces, than for courage, and disposed to
provoke quarrels. Addison
BULL'Y, V. t. To insult and overbear with
and blustering menaces. King.
BULL'Y, V. i. To be noisy and quarrelsome.
Johnson.
BUL'RUSH, n. [bole, or boll, and rush.] A
large kind of rush, growing in wet land or
water, and without knots, says Johnson
but Dryden calls it, the knotty bulrush. It
is not a technical word.
BULTEL, n. [See Bolt.] A boiler or bolt
ing cloth ; also, bran. [Al'ot used.]
BUL'WARK, M. [Sw. bolvhrck; D. holtverk ;
Ger. bollwerk ; Dan. bolvark ; from D.
bol, plump and a ball, Sw. hula, W. bal, a
protuberance, and umrk; a projecting or
outwork. Fr. boulevard; Sp. and Port.
balunrte ; It. baluardo.]
1. In fortification, a bastion, or a rampart ; a
mound of earth round a place, capable of
resisting cannou shot, and formed with
bastions, curtains, &c. Encyc.
2. A fortification ; also, any means of de-
fense ; as, a navy is the bulwark of a na-
tion.
3. That which secures against an enemy or
external annoyance ; a screen or shelter
means of protection and safety.
Salvation will God appoint for walls and bul-
warks. Is. xxvi.
BUL'WARK, V. t. To fortify with a ram-
part ; to secure by a fortification ; to pro-
tect. Addison. Barlow.
BUM, n. The buttocks ; the part on which
we sit. Johnson
BUM, V. i. To make a noise. Marston.
BUMBA'ILIFF, n. [A corruption of iowrerf
haUiff.]
In England, an under-bailift'; a suhordi
civil officer, appointed to .serve writs,
to make arrests and executions, and bound
with sureties for a faithful discharge of
his trust. [A vulgar word.]
Blackstone.
BUM'BARD,n. [See Bombard.]
BUM'BAST, II. [A different orthography of
bombast, which see.]
1. A cloth made by sewing one stuff upon
another: patchwork. Gretr.
3. Linen stuffed with cotton ; stuffing ; wad-
ding. Shak.
BUMBLE BEE, n. [L. bomhis, a buzzing.]
A large bee, sometimes called humble
bee ; so named from its sound.
BUM'BOAT, n. A small boat, for carrying
provisions to a ship at a distance from
shore. Mar. Did.
BUM' KIN, n. [See Bumpkin.] A short boom
projecting from each bow of a ship, to ex-
tend the clue of the foresail to windward.
2. A small out-rigger over tlie stern of a boat,
to extend the mizen. Mar. Did.
BUMP, n. [W. piomp, a round mass ; ptmnp-
iaw, to thump: allied to L. bombus, and
Eng. pomp, from swelling, thrusting out.]
1. A swelling or protuberance. Dryden.
2. A thump ; a heavy blow.
BUMP, V. i. To make a loud, heavy or hol-
low noise, as the bittern. It is also writ-
ten boom. [W. brmnp.] Dryden.
BUMP, V. t. To strike as with or against any
thing large or solid, as to bump the head
against a wall ; to thump.
BUMP'ER, n. A cup or glass filled to the
brim, or till the liquor runs over.
Dryden.
BUMP'KIN, n. [bump, large, swelling, and
kin. Sax. cyn, kind, genus.]
An awkward heavy rustic ; a clown, or coun
trv lout. Locke.
BUMP'KINLY, n. Clownish. [JVotused.]
Richardson.
BUNCH, n. [W. pwng ; Dan. hunke, hynke,
a heap or heaped measure.]
1. A protuberance ; a hunch ; a knob or
lump ; as the bunch on a camel's back.
Isaiah.
2. A cluster ; a number of the same kind
growing together ; as a bunch of grapes.
Dryden.
.3. A number of things tied together ; as a
hunch of keys ; a bunch of rods. Locke.
A collection of things; a knot; as a bunch
of hair ; a bunch of trees. Spenser.
BUNCH, V. i. To swell out in a protube-
rance ; to be protuberant or round.
H'oodward.
BUNCH, ti. t. To form or tie in a bunch or
bunches.
BUNCH'-BACKED, a. [bunth and back.]
Having a bunch on the back ; crooked.
Shak.
BUNCH'INESS, n. The quality of being
bunchy, or growing in bunches.
Johnson.
BUNCH'Y, o. Growing in bunches; like a
bunch ; having tufts. Grew.
BUN'DLE, n. [Sax. h/ndel ; D. bondd ; G.
bund,,hundel ; Sw. blndel and bunt. This
word is formed from the root of bind, band,
bond.]
1. A number of things put together.
2. A mil ; any thing bound or rolled into a
convenient form for conveyance ; as a
bundle of lace ; a bundle of hay.
Spectator.
BUG
BUR
B U li
BUN'DLE, V. t. To tie or bind in a bundle
or roll ; often followed by up; ns, to bundle
up clothes. Locke. Su-ift.
BUNG, n. [Fr. hondon ; G. spund ; 1). sponjs ;
W. bwng, a bung hole.]
1. The stopple of the orifice in the bilge of a
cask. Mortimer.
% The hole or orifice in the bilge of u cask.
BUNG, V. t. To stop tlie orifice in the bilg
of a cask with u bung ; to close up.
BUNG'-HOLE, n. [bung; and hole.] The
The hole or orifice in tlie bilge of a cask
BUNG'LE, V. i. bung'gl. To perform in
cluinsv, awkward manner ; as, to bungle
in making shoes. Dri/dtn.
BUNG'LE, V. t. To make or mend cliunsily;
to botch ; to manage awkwardly ; with
up. Dryden
BUNG'LE, n. A botch ; inaccuracy ; gross
blunder ; clumsy performance. Ray.
BUNG'LER, n. A clumsy awkward work-
man ; one who performs without skill.
Peaeham.
BUNG'LING, ppr. Performing awkwardly.
BUNG'LING, a. Clumsy ; awkwartUv done.
briidi
BUNG'LINGLY, adv. Clumsily ; awkwai
ly. ■ BertUerj.
BUNK, n. [Dan. hynke, a meal tub ; Sw
miolk-bunek, a milk pan.]
A case or cabin of boards for a bed ; a loord
used ill some parts of America.
BUNN or BUN, n. [Scot, bun, lunn ; Ir.
bunna ; Gr. jjotiroj, a hill, and a cake of-
fered to deities. It signifies a mass or
collection.]
A small cake, or a kind of sweet bread.
Gay.
BUN'SING,7^. An nuininl fuuiul .it the Cape
of Good Hope, reseiulilina tin- lijict, hut
twice as large. WIiimi piiisucil. It I'inits
an intolerable stench. Did. ajWul. Hist.
BUNT, n. The middle part, cayity, or belly
of a sail. Mm: Diet.
BUNT, V. i. To syvell out ; as, the sail bunts.
% In popular language, to push with the
horns; to butt. [See Point.]
BUNT'ER, n. A cant word for a woman
who picks uj) rags in the streets ; hence, a
low vulgar woman. Johnson.
BUNTING, n. A bird of the genus Embe-
riza. The name is apjdied to dillerent
species, as the English bunting and tlie
rice bunting.
BUNT'ING or BUN'TINE, n. [Ger. bunt, D.
bont, streaked, or of different colors.]
A thin woolen stuff, of which the colors or
flags and signals of ships are made.
Mar. Diet.
BUNT'LINES, n. Ropes fastened to crin-
gles on the bottoms of square sails, to draw
Them up to their yards. Mar. Diet.
BUOY, 71. [Fr. bouie, a buoy ; D. boei, a
buoy, a lodge or hut, a fetter, or sliackle,
a handcuft" ; boeijen, to fetter, to buoy
Ger. boy ; Dan. boy ; Russ. 6m ; Sp. boya,
a buoy ; probably from the root of Sax.
. byan, to dwell, that is, to set, be fixed, or
stationary ; Dan. boe, boende-]
A close empty cask, or a block of wood or
cork, fastened by a rojie to an anchor, and
floating on the water, to show where th
anchor is situated. Buoys are of various
kinds, as can-buoys, in the form of a cone
nun-buoys, whicli are large in the middle
and tapering nearly to a point at each
end ; cable-buoys, empty casks, employed
to buoy up the cable, in rocky anchorage.
Buoys are used also as marks, to point
out tin; situation of rocks, shoals, c
chaiiiiei.
To stream the buoy, is to let it fall by the
ship's side into the water, before letting
go the anchor. Mar. Diet.
BUOY'ROPE, n. f buoy and rope.^ The rope
which fastens a buoy to an anchor.
BUOY, V. t. To ke<j> afloat in a fluid ; to
bear up, or keep from sinking in a fluid,
as in water or air ; yvith up. H'oodward.
2. To support, or sustain ; to keep from
sinking into ruin or despondency.
King Charles.
3. To fi.\ buoys, as a direction to marinei-s.
BUOY, V. i. To float ; to rise by specific
liplitness. Pope
BUOY'ANCY, n. The quality of floating on
the surface of water, or in the atrnosjihe;
specific lightness.
BUOY'ANT, a. Floating ; light ; that will
not sink ; having the quality of rising or
floating in a fluid. Thomson.
2. Bearing up, as a fluid ; sustaining another
body. <^ Unusual.] Dryden.
BUPR'ES'TES, n. A species of cantharides
of a nauseous scent, and biting severely.
Diet. of.Yat. Hist
BOUR > ^^^' *"'■' signifies a chamber or a
HOR, ' S ''""^^^•
BUR, n. [Sax. burre, burdock; W. bar, i
bushy head or bunch ; Ir. borr, a bunch oi
knob ; Fr. bourree, bush.]
I. A rough prickly covering of the seeds oi
certain plants, as of the chesnut, and bur
dock.
i. A broad ring of iron behind the place for
the hand on a spear, used in tilting.
Eneyt
BUR'BOT, n. [from L. barbatus, so named
from its beard.]
A fish of the genus Gadus, shaped like an
eel, but sliorter, with a flat head, and on
the nose it has two small beards, and an-
other on the chin. It is disgusting in ap-
pearance, but delicate food. It is called
also eel-pout. Encyc.
BURD'ELAIS, n. A sort of grape.
Johnson
BURD'EN, n. burd'n ; written also burthen
[Sax. byrden, byrthen ; Sw. bordri ; Dan,
byrde ; G. biirde ; Ir. heart or beirt ; Gr.
fH^"! ; F'"- fardeau ; Arm. fard ; from
tJ-V-
bear ; L. fem, or poiio ; Pers.
burdan, to carry. See Bear.]
. That which is borne or carried ; a load
Hence,
2. That which is borne with labor or diffi-
culty ; that which is grievous, wearisome
or oppressive. Milton.
3. A birth. Shak.
4. [Fr. bourdon, a drone.] The verse re-
peated in a song, or the return of the
theme at the end of each verse ; the cho-
rus ; so called from the application of this
word to the drone or base, and tlie j)ipe or
string which plays it, in an instrument.
A chord which is to be divided, to perform
the intervals of music, when open and un-
divided, is also called the burden.
Encyc.
5. In common language, tliat which is ollfH
repeated ; a subject on which one dwells.
6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities ;
i a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.
7. The contents of a ship ; the quantity or
number of tuns, a vessel will carry ; as a
ship of a liundrcd tuns burden.
8. A club. [Kot in rise.] Spenser.
BURDEN, V. t. burd'n. To load ; to lay on
a heavy load ; to incumber with weight.
Hence,
i2. To oppress with any thing grievous ; as,
to burdin a nation yvith taxes.
3. To surcharge ; as, to burden the memorj".
BURD'ENED, pp. Loaded with weight ; in-
cuiiil.crcd : oppressed.
BURD'ENER, n. One who loads; an op-
pressor.
BURD'ENOUS, a. Grievous ; heavy to bo
borne ; 0|)pressive. Sidney.
2. Cunilirrsome ; useless. Milton.
BURDENSOME, a. Heavy ; grievous to be
borne ; causing uneasiness or fatigue : op-
pressi\e. Dryden.
BURD'ENSOMENESS, n. The quality of
being burdensome ; heaviness ; oppress-
iveness.
BUR'DOCK, n. [bur and dock.] A genus of
plants, called Arctium. They are trouble-
some yveeds.
The lesser burdock is a species of xanthium.
BU'REAU, n. biiro. [Fr. bureau, an office, a
table, a court, a chest of drawers ; Sp.
bureo, a court of justice ; Arm. burell ; Fr.
bure, a cloth. The primary sense is a cloth
covering a table, like exchequer. Lunier.]
1. A chest of drayvers, for keeping papers or
clothes.
2. An embassador's or secretary's office.
In Spanish, this word bureo is a court of jus-
tice for the trial of persons belonging to the
king's household.
BURG, 71. [This is the same word as borough,
the only difi'erence being in the pronunci-
ation of the final letter.]
A borough ; originally a fortified toyvn, but
noyv a city or town, yvhich sends members
to parliament, yvhether incorporated or
not. [See Borough.]
BURG'AOE, 71. [from burg.] In English
law, tenure in burgage, or burgage tenure,
is tenure in socage, applied to cities or
towns, or where houses, or lands yvhich
were formerly the site of houses, in an an-
cient borough, are held of some lord in
common socage by a certain established
rent ; a remnant of Saxon liberty.
Blackstone.
BURG'AMOT, n. A species of pear. [See
Bergamot.]
2. A kind of perfume. [See Bergamot.]
BURG'ANKT, ) [Fr. bourguignote, from
BURG'ONET, S burg, in the sense of
covering or guarding.]
A Ivind of helmet, the Spanish murrion.
Spenser. Shak.
BURgEOIS', n. [Fr. bourgeois, pronounced
boorzhiva, from bourg, burg.] A burgess.
BURGEOIS', I , . . , A species of
BOURt>EOIS , <, "■ ""'"■''"* • type, or print-
ing letter, smaller than long primer, and
larger than brevier.
LJRgEON. [See Bourgemi.]
BURGER-MASTER, 7i. An aquatic foyvl
yvhich builds its nest on cliffs near the
yvater. Did. o/Aa(. Hist.
BUR
"BURu'ESS, n. [Fr. bourgeois, from bourg.
burg.]
1. An inhabitant of a borough, or walled
town; or one who possesses a tenement
therein ; a citizen or freeman of a bor
ough. Blackstone.
3. A representative of a borough in parlia-
ment. ]b
3. A magistrate of certain towns. Encyc
4. Before tlie revolution, the representatives
in the popular branch of the legislature of
Virginia, were called burgesses, as the
House of Burgesses. It is now called tlie
Hoxise of Delegates.
BUR6'ESS-SHIP, n. The state or quality
of a burgess. Soiith
BURGH, 11. burg. A different orthography
of burg, borough, which see.
BURGH'-BOTE, n. [burgh and bote.] In old
laws, a contribution towards the building
or repairing of castles, or walls, for the
defense of a city or town. Encyc.
BURGH'-BRECH, n. [burgh and break.] A
fine imposed on a burgh, for a breacli of|
the peace. English
BURGH'ER, n. [from burg.] An inhabitant
of a burgh or borough, who enjoys the
privileges of the borough of which he is a
freeman. In America, it is applied to any
native citizen, especially in the state of
New-York.
BURGH'ER-SHIP, n. The state or privi-
lege of a burgher.
BURGH'-M'ASTER, n. [burgh and master.]
A burgomaster ; also, an officer in the tin-
mines, wiio directs and lays out the meers
for the workmen, called also bailiff and
bar-master. Encyc.
BURGH'MOTE, n. [burgh and mote, meet-
ing.] The court of a burgh or borough.
Enqjc.
BURG'LAR, n. [burgh or hirg, a house, and
Arm. laer, a tliief ; whence Fr. lan'on.]
One guilty of nocturnal house breaking ; one
who breaks and enters a mansion house,
with intent to commit a felony. Coke.
BURGLARIOUS, a. Pertaining to burg-
lary ; constituting the crime of burglary.
To come down a chimney is held a burglari-
ous entry. Blackstone.
BURGLA'RIOUSLY, adv. With an intent
to commit burglai-y; in the manner of a
burglar. Blackstone.
BURG'LARY, n. The act or crime of noc-
turnal house breaking, with an intent to
commit a felony. To constitute this
crime, the act must be committed in the
night, or when there is not day-light
enough to discern a man's face. It must
be in a mansion house, or in an adjoining
building which is a part or parcel of the
mansion. There must be an actual break-
ing and an entry ; but an opening made
by the offender, as by taking out a pane of
glass, or lifting a window, raising a latch,
picking a lock, or removing any fastening,
amounts to a breaking ; and a putting in
of the hand, after such breaking, is an en-
try. The act must also be done with an
intent to commit felony. Blackstone.
BURG'OM'ASTER, n. [burg and mast)^.]
A burgh-master ; a magistrate or one em-
ployed in the government of a city. The
burgomasters are the chief magistrates of
the great towns, m Holland, Flanders and
German^'.
BUR
BUR' GRAVE, n. [burg and G. graf D.
graaf an earl.]
In some European countries, an hereditary
governor of a town or castle.
BUR'GUNDY, n. A kind of wine, so called
from Burgundy in France. Shensl
Burgundy pitch is turpentine boiled down to
a firmer consistence.
BURH, is the same as burg, burgh, with the
aspirate. It is Saxon, and signifies a city
a castle, a house, or tower. Hence in
composition it signifies defense, protection ;
as cwtnburh, (queen-burh) a woman ready
to assist ; Cuthburh, eminent for assist-
ances. Gibson's Camden.
BURIAL, n. ber'rial. [See Bury.] The acl
of burying a deceased person ; sepulture :
interment ; the act of depositing a dead
body in the earth, in a tomb or vault
in the water.
2. The act of placing any thing under earth
or water ; as, to bury seed in the earth.
3. The church service for funerals. Johnson.
BURIAL-PLACE, n. A place appropriated
to the burial of the dead ; a grave-yard.
BURIER, n. ber'rier. One who buries a de-
ceased person. Shak.
BU'RIN, n. [Fr. burin ; Port, boril ; It. bu-
lino.]
A graver ; an instrument for engraving.
Jolmson.
BURL, V. t. [See Burly.] To dress cloth as
fullers do. Johnson
2. To pick knots and loose threads off fi-oni
cloth. Ash.
BUR'LACE, n. [A contraction of bmdelais.]
A sort of grape. Johnson.
BURL'ER,r!. A dresser of cloth.
RLESQUE, } [Fr. ; It. burlesco, from
BURLESK', \ "■ hurlare, to ridicule ; tur-
la, mockery, raillery ; Port, and Sp. burlar.
to jest or scoft'; burlesco, a wag, a jester.
The termination esque answers to Eng.
ish.]
Jocular ; tending to excite laughter by ludi-
crous images, or by a contrast between the
subject and the manner of treating it, as
when a trifling subject is treated witl
gravity.
[JRLESQUE, I Ludicrous representa-
BURLESK', S "• tion ; a contrast be
tween the subject and the manner of]
treating it, wliich tends to excite laughter
or ridicule.
2. A composition in which a trifling subject
or low incident is treated with great grav-
ity, as a subject of great dignity or impor-
tance ; or a composition in which the
contrast between the subject and the man-
ner of considering it renders it ludicrous
or ridiculous ; as in Virgil Travestie, the
Lutrin of Boileau, Butler's Hudihras and
Trumbull's McFingal.
BURLESQUE, ) . To turn into ridicule ;
BURLESK', \ "• '• or to make ludicrous
by representation ; as by treating a low or
trifling subject with great gravity.
BURLESQ'UER, ) , One who burlesques,
BURLESK'ER, ^ or turns to ridicule.
BURLET'TA, n. [Italian. See Burlesque,
Burly.]
A comic opera ; a musical entertainment
BIJR'LINESS, n. [See Burly.] Bulk ; hi
ter. Johnson.
BURL'Y, «. [The sense probably is swelhd.
Hence it accords with Russ. hurlyu, to be
BUR
noisy, to swell as sound. Qu. W. broliaw.
See Burlesque.]
Great in size ; bulky ; tumid ; falsely great ;
boisterous. Dryden. Cowley.
This word is obsolete or nearly so in
America; but hurly-burly is common in
vulgar use, for noise, con'fusion, uproar.
BURN, V. t. pret. and pp. burned or burnt.
[Sax. bernan, bcernan or byman, to bum ;
bryne, a burning, fire, ardor ; Sw. brinna,
brhnna; G. brennen ; D. hranden ; Dan.
bra:nder, from brand ; L. pruna, and per-
ha\^s,fumus,fornar, a furnace. The pri-
mary sense is, to rage, to act with violent
excitement.]
1. To consume with fire ; to reduce to ash-
es by the action of heat or fire ; frequent-
ly with up ; as, to bum up wood.
|2. To expel the volatile pans and reduce te
charcoal by fire ; as, to hum wood into
coal. Hence, in popular language, to burn
I a kiln of wood, is to char the wood.
:3. To cleanse of soot by burning ; to inflame ;
as, to burn a chimney ; an extensive use of
j the word.
,4. To harden in the fire ; to bake or harden
by heat ; as, to bum bricks or abrickkiln.
5. To scorch ; to affect by heat ; as, to bum
the clothes or the legs by the fire ; to 6«rn
meat or bread in cookery.
6. To injure by fire ; to affect the flesh by
7. To dry up or dissipate ; with up ; as, to
bum up tears. Drt/den.
8. To dry excessively ; to cause to viith'er by
heat ; as, the sun bu7-ns the grass or plants.
9. To heat or inflame ; to aflfect with exces-
sive stimulus ; as, ardent spirits bum the
stomach.
10. To affect with heat in cookery, so as to
give the food a disagreeable taste. Hence
the phrase burnt to.
11. To calcine with heat or fire; to expel
the volatile matter from substances, so
that tliey are easily pulverized ; as, to hum
oyster shells, or lime-stone.
12. To affect with excess of heat ; as, the fe-
ver burns a patient.
1.3. To subject to the action of fire ; to heat
or dry ; as, to bum colors. Encyc.
To bum up, to consume entirely by fire.
To bum out, to burn till the fuel is all con-
sumed.
BURN, V. i. To be on fire ; to flame ; as,
the mount burned with fire. Exodus.
2. To shine ; to sparkle.
0 prince ! 0 wherefore burri your eyes .'
JRowe.
3. To be inflamed with passion or desire; as,
to bum with anger or love. Thomson.
4. To act with destructive violence, as fire.
Shall tliy wrath burn like fire ?
Psalm Ixxxix.
5. To be in commotion ; to rage witli de-
structive violence.
The groan still deepens and the combat hums.
Pope.
G. To be heated ; to be in a glow ; as, the face
hums.
7. To be affected with a sensation of heat,
pain or acidity; as, the heart 6«nis.
8. To feel excess of heat; as, the flesh bums
by a fire ; a patient bums with a fever.
To 'bum out, to burn till the fuel is exhaust-
ed and the fire ceases.
BUR
BUR
BUR
BURN, n. A hurt or injury of tiic flesii
caused by the action of fire.
3. The operation of burning or baking, as in
brickniaking ; as, they have a good hum.
BURN'ABLE, a. That may be burnt.
[Littk used.]
BURN'-€OW or BURST'-€OW, n. A ge-
nus of insects, with filiform feelers, of
several species ; very obnoxious to cattle.
Did. o/JVat. Hist.
BURNED, BURNT, pp. Consumed with
fire ; scorched or dried with fire or heat ;
baked or hardened in the fire.
BURN'ER, n. A person who burns or sets
fire to any thing.
BURN'ET, n. A plant, Poterium or garden
bnrnct.
BURNET-SAXIFRA(iE, n. A plant, Pim-
pinella.
BURN'ING, ppr. Consuming with fire ;
flaming ; scorching ; hardening by fire ;
calcining ; charring ; raging as fire ; glow-
BURN'ING, n. Combustion; the act of ex-
pelling volatile matter and reducing to
ashes, or to a calx ; a fire ; inflammation ;
the heat or raging of passion. In surgery,
actual cautery ; cauterization.
BURN'ING, a. Powerful ; vehement ; as a
burning shame ; a burning scent. Shak.
3. Much heated ; very hot ; scorcliing.
The burning plains of India. S. S. Smith.
BURN'ING-GLASS, n. [hum and g-tes*.]
A convex glass which, when exposed to
the direct rays of the sun, collects them
into a small space, called a /octts, pniilii-
cing an intense heat. The name is f^ivcii
also to a concave mirror which condenses
the sun's rays. Enciic.
BURNING-THORNY-PLANT. A species
of Euphorbia or s|)urgo. Fam. of Plants.
BURN'ISH, I', f. [Fr. brunir; D. bruineeren ;
It. brunire; Sp. hrunir. This word un
doubtedly is of secondary formation, from
the color of flame. See Bum.]
To polish by friction ; to make smooth,
bright and glossy ; as, to burnish steel.
Dryden.
BURN'ISH, V. i. To grow bright or glossy.
Smjl.
BURN'ISH, 71. Gloss ; brightness ; luster.
Christ. Observ.
BURN'LSHED, pp. Polished ; made glossy.
BURN'ISHER, n. The person who pohsh-
es, or makes glossy.
2. An instrument used in pohshing, of dif-
ferent kinds. It may be a piece of round
polished steel, a dog's or wolf's tooth, a
piece of copper, agate or pebble, &c. It is
used for giving a gloss or smoothness to
metals, to the edges of books, &c.
BURN'ISHING, ppr. Polishing; making
smooth and glossy.
BURN'OOSE, > re. ,, n ,
BURN'OS, < "■ ^ P' "''""■""^ '■ "<"■'• «'-
bemoz; Ptrs. ^^^^j ; Syr. ^jo ;.aO bi-
runn.]
An upper cloke or garment. Parkhurst
BURNT, />p. of iurn. Consumed ; scorch-
ed ; heated ; subjected to the action ol
fire.
BURNT-OFFERING, n. [burnt and offer.]
Something offered and burnt on an altar,
as an atonement for sin : a sacrifice ; call
Vol. r.
ed also humt-sacrifice. The oflferings of the
Jews were a clean animal, as an ox, a
calf, a goat, or sheep ; or some species of
vegetable substance, as bread and ears of
wheat or barley. Brown.
BURR, n. The lobe or lap of the ear.
Did.
2. The round knob of a horn next a deer's
head. Encyc.
3. The sweetbread.
Burr-pump, or bilge-pump. A pump, having
a staff of (), 7 or b feet long with a bar of
wood to wliich the leather is nailed, which
serves instead of a box. This staff is
worked by men who pull it up and down,
with a rope fastened to the middle of it.
Encyc.
BUR'RAS-PIPE, n. An instrument or ves-
sel used to keep corroding powders in.
Johnson.
BUR'-REED, n. A plant, the Sparganium.
Muhlenberg.
BUR'REL, 71. A sort ofpear, called also the
red butter pear, from its smooth, delicious,
soft pulp. Philips.
BURREL-FLY, ti. The ox-fly, gad-bee, or
breeze. Johnson.
BURREL-SHOT, ji. [Fr. bourreler, to tor-
ment, and shot.]
Small shot, nails, stones, pieces of old iron,
&c., put into cases, to be dischaj-ged among
enemies.
BUR'ROCK, n. A small wier or dam where
wheels are laid in a river, for catching fish.
Philips.
m;R ROW, n. A different orthography of
huriih, liorovgh, which see.
I!l K'KOW, 71. [Sax. byrgen, a sepulcher,
byrian, to bury, or beorgan, to keep.]
A hollow place in the earth or in a warren,
where small animals lodge, and sometimes
deposit their provisions. Some animals
excavate the earth, by scratching, and
form these lodges.
BUR'ROW, V. i. To lodge in a hole exca-
vated in the earth, as coneys or rabbits.
In a more general sense, to lodge in any
deep or concealed place. The word
seems to include the idea of excavating a
hole for a lodge, as well as lodging in it ;
but the verb is not often used transitively,
as toburroiv the earth.
BUR'ROWING, ppr. Lodging in a burrow.
BURS'AR, n. [See Burse.) A treasurer, or
cash-keeper, as the bursar of a college, or
of a monastery ; a purser.
2. A student to whom a stipend is paid out
of a bur.se or fund appropriated for that
purpose, as the exhibitioners sent to the
universities in Scotland by each presbyte-
ry. Enaic. Johnson.
BURS'AR-SHIP, n. The oflice of a bursar.
Hales.
BURS'ARY, n. The treasury of a college,
or monastery.
2. In Scotland, an exhibition. Encyc.
BURSE, 71. 4m?'*. [Fr. bourse, a purse, the
vesicle of the gall, the hull or skin of
seeds, an exchange ; D. beurs, a purse,
an exchange, scrotum ; Ger. horse, a purse,
an exchange ; D. bars, the same ; It. borsa ;
Sp. and Port, bolsa, a pm'se or bag, r be-
ing changed into I.]
1. A public edifice in certain cities, for the
meeting of merchants to consult on mat-
ters of trade and money, and to negotiate
29
bills of exchange. This is the name used
in many cities in Eiu-ope, but in England
and America, such building is called an
exchange. The new Burse in Paris is one
of the most elegant buildings in the city.
2. In /VoJice, a fund or foundation for the
maintenance of poor scholars in their
studies. In the middle ages, it signified
a little college, or a hall in a university.
Encyc.
BURST, V. i. prcl. and pp. hurst. The old
participle hursten is nearly obsolete. [Sax.
hjrstan, hursian ; D. barsten ; G. bersten ;
Dun. brister ; Sw. brista, to burst. The
word b)-istle seems to belong to burst, de-
noting a shoot.]
1. To fly or break open with force, or with
sudden violence ; to sufter a violent dis-
ru])tion. The peculiar force of this word
i.s, in expressing a sudden rupture, with
violence, or expansion, or both. Hence it is
generally used to signify the sudden rup-
ture of a thing by internal force, and a
liberation from confinement ; as, to burst
from a prison ; the heart bitrsts with ^rief.
Mtlton.
2. To break away ; to spring from ; as, to
burst from the arms. Pope.
3. To come or fall upon suddenly or with
iolence ; to rush upon unexpectedly ; as,
sound bursts upon our ears.
4. To issue suddenly, or to come from a
hidden or retired place into more open
view ; as, a river hursts from a valley ; a
spring hursts from the earth.
5. To break forth into action suddenly ; as, to
burst into tears.
6. To break or rush in with violence ; as, to
burst into a house or a room.
It is often followed by an intensive par-
ticle ; as, out, forth, away, from, or ajtunder.
BURST, V. t. To break or rend by force or
violence ; to open suddenly ; as, to burst a
chain or a door; to burst a cannon.
BURST, 7!. A sudden disruption ; a violent
rending ; more appropriately, a sudden ex-
plosion or shooting forth ; as a hurst of
thunder ; a burst of applause ; a hurst of
passion.
2. A rupture, a hernia, or the unnatural
protrusion of the contents of the abdomen.
BURST, or BURST'EN, pp. or a. Affected
with a rupture or hernia.
BI'RST, pp. Opened or rent asunder by vio-
lence.
BURST'ENNESS, n. The state of having
a ruptuje ; the hernia.
BURST'ER, n. One that bursts.
BURST'ING, ppr. Rending or parting by
violence ; exploding.
BURST'-WORT, n. The Hemiaria, a
plant said to be good against hernia or
. ruptures.
BURT, 71. A flat fish of the turbot kind.
Johnson.
BURTHEN. [See Burden.]
BUR'TON, n. A small tackle formed by two
blocks or pulleys, used to set up or tight-
en the to])most shrouds, and for various
other purposes; called also top-hurton-
tackle. Mar. Did.
BURY, 77. ber'ry. This word is a different
orthography of hurg, hurh, borough. It
signifies a house, habitation or castle, and
is retained in many names of places, as in
BUS
B U
BUS
Shreu'sbwy, Danhury, Aldtrmanhury. Tlie
word is used by Grew, for burrow.
liURY, V. t. ber'ry. [Sax. byrian, burgan, U
bury ; byrgen, a tomb or sepulcher ; alii
ed to beorgan, to save.]
1. To deposit a deceased person in the
grave ; to inter a corpse ; to entomb.
2. To cover with earth, as seed sown.
3. To hide ; to conceal ; to overwhelm ; to
cover with any thing ; as, to bury any one
in the ruins of a city.
4. To withdraw or conceal in retirement
as, to biiry one's self in a monastery or in
solitude.
5. To commit to the water ; to deposit in tlie
ocean ; as dead bodies buried in the deep.
6. To place one thing within another.
Thy name so buried in her. Shak.
7. To forget and forgive ; to hide in oblivion ;
as, to bury an injury.
To bury the hatchet, in tlie striking metaphor-
ical language of American Indians, is
to lay aside tlie instruments of war, forget
injuries, and make peace.
BURYING, ppr. Interring ; hiding ; cover-
ing with earth ; overwhelming.
BURYING, n. The act of interring the
dead ; sepulture. John xii. 7.
BURYING -PL ACE, n. A grave-yard; a
place ajipropriated to the sejiultuie of the
dead ; a church-yard.
BUSH, n. [D.bosch; G. busch ; Dan. busk;
Sw. bitska ; It. bosco ; Sp. bosque ; Port.
bosque ; whence Sp. boscage, Fr. bocage,
It. boscala, a grove or cluster of trees.
Q.U. Gr. (Soffxu, L. pasco, originally, to feed
on sprouts.]
1. A shrub with branches ; a thick shrub ;
also, a cluster of shrubs. With hunters, a
fox tail. Spenser. fValler. Encyc. .fish.
2. An assemblage of branches interwoven.
, Encyc.
3. A branch of a tree fixed or hung out as a
tavern sign. Hence, since the branch has
been discontinued, a coronated frame of
wood hung out as a tavern sign, is so call-
ed. Hence the English proverb, "Good
wine needs no bush." Encyc.
[I knoro not that this word is thus xised in
the U. States.]
4. A circle of metal let into the sheaves ol'
such blocks as have iron pins, to jirevent
their wearing. Mar. Diet.
This word when applied to sheaves is
called bush, but when apjilied to the cir-
cular iron of a cart wheel is, in America,
called a box. Qu. It. bosso, the box-tree ;
bossolo, a little box. Johnson writes
bushel.
BUSH, V. i. To grow thick or bushy.
Milton.
BUSH, V. t. To furnish a block with a busl
BUSH'EL, n. [Fr. boisseau ; Arm. bocsel;
Norm, bussel ; probably from hoiste, boite,
a box ; It. iossoZo, that is, a little box.]
A dry measure, containing eight gallons, ot
four pecks. The standard English bushel,
by Stat. 12. Henry VII., contains eight
gallons of wheat, each gallon eight pound
of wheat, troy weight, the pound, twelv
ounces troy, the ounce, twenty sterlingi
and the sterling, thirty two grains of wheat
growing in the middle of the ear. The
contents are 2145. 6 solid inches, equiva
lent to 1131 ounces and 14 pennyweights
troy. Encyc.
The Enghsh bushel is used also in the
U. States.
Bushel signifies both the quantity or ca-
pacity, and the vessel which will contain
the quantity.
2. In popular language, a large quantity in-
definitely. Johnson.
3. The circle of iron in the nave of a wheel ;
in America, called a box. [See Bush.]
BUSII'ELAgE, n. A duty payable on com-
modities by the bushel. [JM'ot used in the
U. States.]
BUSH'INESS, 7!. [from bush, bushy.] The
quahty of being bushy, thick or intermix-
ed, like the branches of a bush.
BUSH'-MAN, n. [D. bosch-man.] A woods-
man ; a name which the Dutch give to
the wild and ferocious inhabitants of Af-
rica, near the Cape of Good Hope.
BUSH'MENT, n. [from htsh.] A thicket ;
a cluster of bushes. [M>t used.]
Raleigh.
BUSH'Y, a. [from fcttsZi.] Full of branches;
thick and spreading, lilce a bush ; as a
bushy beard or brier. Bacon.
2. Full of bushes ; overgrown with shrubs.
Dryden.
BUSIED, ;;p. of busy; pran. biz'zied.
BUSILESS, a. biz'iitess. [See Busjj.] With-
out business ; at leisure ; unemjiloyed.
Shak.
BUSILY, adv. biz'zily. With constant oc-
cupation ; actively ; earnestly ; as, to be
busily employed.
2. With an air of liurn' or im])ortance ; with
too much curiosity ; importunately ; offi-
ciously. Dryden.
BUSINESS, n. biz'ness. [See Busy.] Em-
ployment ; that which occupies the time,
attention and labor of men, for the pur-
pose of profit or improvement — a word
of extensive use and indefinite signification.
Business is a particular occupation, as
agriculture, trade, mechanic art, or pro-
fession, and when used of a particular
employment, the word admits of the i)lu-
ral number, businesses. Bitsiness is also
any temporary employment.
2. Affairs ; concerns ; as, a man leaves his
business in an unsettled state.
3. The subject of employment ; that which
engages the care and attention.
Vou ate so inucli the bttsiness of our souls.
Dryden.
4. Serious engagement ; important occupa-
tion, in distinction from trivial affairs.
It should be the main business of life to serve
God, and obey his commands.
5. Concern ; right of action or interposing.
" What hisiness has a man with the dis-
putes of others?"
6. A point; a matter of question: something
to be examined or considered.
Fitness to govern is a perplexed business.
Bacon.
7. Something to be done; employment ol
importance to one's interest, opposed to
amusement; as, we have no buMness in
town.
They were far from the Zidonians and had
no business with any one. Judges.
8. Duty, or employment that duty enjoins.
A lawyer's business is to do justice to his
clients.
To do the business for a man, is to kill, des
troy or ruin him.
BUSK, n. [Fr. busque.] A piece of steel oi
whale bone, worn by women to strengthen
their stays; a word dependent on fashion.
Donne.
BUSK, n. A bush. [JVot used.]
BUSK, V. i. To be active or busy. This is
probably the Saxon word bysgian, to busy,
or the Sp. buscar, to search. Busk is still
used in America. [See Busy.] Fairfax
uses it in the sense of prepare, transitively,
" to busk them for the battle."
BUSK'ET, n. A small bush, or a compart-
ment of shrubs in a garden. Spenser.
BUSK'IN, M. A kind of half boot, or high
shoe, covering the foot and leg to the mid-
dle and tied underneath the knee, worn
by actors in tragedy on the stage. The
buskins of the ancients had very thick
soles, to raise the actors and actresses to
the stature of the persons they represent-
ed. Encyc.
2. In classic authors, the word is used for
tragedy.
BUSK'INED, a. Dressed in buskins.
Milton. Pope.
BUSK'Y, a. Bushy; wooded; shaded or
overgiown with trees or shrubs ; generally
written bosky. [See Bush.] Shak.
BUSS, n. [Per. ^ J.a*«j.j bosidan ; Ar.
(j„ Lj bausa, to kiss ; L. basio ; Fr. baiser ;
Norm, beser ; Sp. iesar; Port, beijar; It.
baciare ; D. poezen ; to kiss. Tiie verb
may be from the noun, and perhaps from
the name of the lip ; at any rate, fi-oin the
same i-adical sense, to push ; Per. puz, the
lip ; W. and Ir. bus, the lip ; D. poes, a
kiss, a iiuss, a fur-tip]iet, a girl ; Sp. beso, a
kiss ; Port, beiro, the lip ; beijo, a kiss ; It.
bacio. This \vord, so venerable for its an-
tiquity and general use, has fallen into
disrepute.]
A kiss ; a salute with the lips.
2. [D. btiis ; G. biise ; Russ. busa.] A small ves-
sel, from 50 to 70 tons burthen, carrying
two masts, and two sheds or cabins, one
at each end ; used in the herring fishery.
Encyc. Mar. Did.
BUSS, V. t. To kiss ; to salute with the lips.
Shak.
BUST, n. [It. and Sp. busto ; Fr. buste ; L.
bustu7n.]
In sculpture, the figure of a jierson in relief,
showing only the head, shoulders and
stomach ; ordinarily placed on a pedestal
or console. In speaking of an antique,
we say the head is marble and the bust
porphyry or bronze ; that is, the shoul-
ders and stomach. The Italians use the
word for the trunk of ttie body from the
neck to the hijis. " Encyc.
BUST'ARD, n. [bus and tarda ; It. otarda ;
Fr. outarde. Ancient Celtic, tarda. Plin.
10. 22.]
The tarda, a .species of fowl of the gral-
lic order, and genus Otis. This fowl
grows to the wcij;lit Mr'.'.' nr 27 pounds,
with a breadth nl' \\in- ■!' m\ nr seven
feet. It inhabii.< r.iiL'l.m.l. I'rcHing on
green corn and dtln r ml;( i.ililes, and on
earth-worms. It ruiis'^last and takes
flight with diflicultv. Encyc.
BUS'TLE, V. i. bus'l. [This word may be
allied to busy, or to "[j. festino.]
To stir quick: to be very active; to bt
BUT
very quick in motion, often or usually
with the sense of noise or agitation.
And leave the world for nie to bustle in.
Skak
BUS TLE, 71. biis'l. Hurry ; great stir; rapiti
motion with noise and agitation ; tumult
from stirring or agitation ; combustion.
All would have been well without this btislle
Spectator
BUS'TLER, Ji. bus'ter. An active stirring
person.
BUS'TLING, ppr. bus'ling. Stirring ; mo-
ving actively with noise or agitation
BUST'O, n. A bust ; sometimes perliaps
used for a statue. Ashmole.
BUSY, a. biz'zy. [Sax. bysi, bysig; whence,
bifseg, business, byagian, to busy ; D. be
:ig, busy ; bezigen, to busy, to use. Tliis
word appears, from the Dutch, to be com
posed of 6c, the prefix, and zig, the root of
see, contracted in Inf. to zicn, but retained
in the pret. zag, and in the derivatives, zigt,
sight, ziglbaar, visible. We find bezigti
gen signifies to view. If this opinion i
correct, the primary sense is seeing, or
closely inspecting.]
1. Employed with constant attention ; enga-
ged about something that renders
ruption inconvenient ; as, a man is busy
in posting his books.
My misliess is buKy aiul cannot come.
Shalt
2. Actively employed ; occupied without ces-
sation ; constantly in motion ; as a busy
bee. Shak.
3. Active in that which does not concern tli
person ; meddling with or prying into the
affairs of others; officious; importunate
hence, troublesome ; vexatious. Waller.
4. Much occupied with employment ; as a
busy day.
BUSY, i>. t. biz'zy. To employ with con-
stant attention ; to keep engaged ; to make
or keep busy ; as, to busy one's self with
books.
To be busied with genus and species.
Locke.
BUSY-BODY, II. Uz'zy-body. [busy and
body.'\
.\ meddling person ; one who officiously
concerns himself with the affairs of others.
TayloA
BUT, part, for butan. [Sax. butan, butonl
buta, bule, without, on the outside, abroad ;
hence, except or excepting, besides; that
, separated, not included. The verb is
BUT
Lycon being separated, or excepted, \vho
can it be ?
And but intirmity.
Which waits upon worn times, hath something
seized
His wish'd ability, he liad liimself
The lands and waters measured. Shak,
That is, except, unless, separate this fact,
that infii-mity had seized his ability, he
had measured the lands and waters.
In this use but, butan, is a participle equiv
alent to excepting, and may be referred tc
the person speaking, or more naturally, it
equivalent to excepted, and with the
following words, or clause, forming the
case absolute.
Who can it be, Lycon being excepted
And but my noble Moor is true of mind, it
were enough to put him to ill thinking.
the Saxon ; but in Dutch we have
the verb in its primary sense, buiten, to
rove, or wander, to go freebooting ; bmt,\
booty ; buiten, out, without, abroad, be-
sides, except ; buiten board, over board ;[
buiten deur, out of doors; buiten kuis,
out-house ; buiten man, an out-man,
stranger ; G. beiUe, booty ; Sw. byte, booty ;
byta, to exchange ; Dan. bytte, booty, a
parting, division, distribution ; bytter, to
part, divide, exchange, barter ; Sp. botin ;
It. botiino ; Fr. irnh'n, booty. The primary
sense of booty is to rove or wander, to
part or separate from ; applied to persons,
it is to wander ; applied to things, it may
include stripping. But then is a contrac-
tion of butan, and primarily a participle.]
1. Except; besides; unless.
Who can it be, but perjured I^ycon .' Smith.
■fliat is, removed, separated, excepted.
It cannot be but nature hath some directoi
infinite power, to guide her in all her ways.
Hoo
There is no question but the King of Spain
will reform most of the abuses. Addison
It is not impossible but I may alter the com-
plexion of my play. Dryden
In the last three examples, that is oniitted
after but.
It is not impossible but that I may alter the
complexion of my play.
In these and all similar phrases, but de-
notes separation, exception.
2. Only.
A formidable man, but to his friends. Dryden
There is but one man present.
This use of but is a modern innovation
but perhaps too firmly established to bt
corrected. In all such ])hrases, a negative,
not, nothing, or other word, is oniitted. He
is not a formidable man, but to his ene
mies, that is, except. There is not but one
one man present, that is, there is not ex-
cept or besides one present. So also, " Oui
light affliction is but for a moment." 2 Cor
iv. Our affliction is not, except for a mo
ment.
If they kill us, we shall but die. 2 Kings vii.
The common people in America retain
tlie original and correct phrase ; usual!
employing a negative. They do not say, I
have but one. On the other hand, they
say, I have not but one, that is, I ha^e not
except one ; except one, and I have none
This word but for butan is not a conjunc-
tion, nor has it the least affinity to that
part of speech.
BUT, conj. [Sax. iofe, reparation, satisfac
tion, compensation, and adverbially, more-
over, further, that is, something added
to make good, to supply what is wanted
from betan, to make better, or more, tc
amend, that is, to advance ; D. boete ; Sw,
bote ; Dan. baade ; W. buz, advantage. So
in Ger. aber, but, is the Eng. over. In
some of these languages it denotes a fine
or penance, that which makes satisfaction.
In Danish, profit ; baader, to gain or profit ;
W. buziaw ; Goth, botyan, id ; G. busse.
biissen. We use this word as a noun,
in the phrase, he gives a guinea to 6oof,
that is, to make good, to satisfy, or by way
of addition ; and as a verb, in the phrase,
what boots it, what gain or profit is it.
radically the same word as bet in
B U T
More; further; noting an addition to sup
ply what is wanting to elucidate, or mod-
ify the sense of the preceding part of a
sentence, or of a discourse, or to continue
the discourse, or to exhibit a contrast.
Now abide faith, hope, charity, these three ;
but, the greatest of these is charily. 1 Cor. .xiii.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame ; but
with the lowly is wisdom. Prov. xi.
It
better ; ;
vancc.]
the radical sense is to ad-
Tlie house of representatives were well agreed
in pa.s3ing the bill ; but the senate dissented.
This word ia in fact a noun equivalent to ad-
dition or supply ; but in grammatical con-
struction, no inconvenience results from
considering it to be a connective.
BUT, n. [Fr. bout, end, extremitv, and but,
end, aim, design ; Arm. but or baut. It is
sometimes written butt, especially when
applied to the end of a plank. It coin-
cides, in sense and elements, with h.peto,
Sp. 4ofe, a thrust, botar, to cast, It. botta,
botto, botare, Fr. botte, bonder, Eng. pout,
and many other words. See Butt.]
1. An end ; a limit ; a bound. It is used
particidarly for the larger end of a thing,
as of a piece of timber, or of a fallen tree;
that which grows nearest the earth. It is
not often applied to the bound or limit of
land ; yet butted, for bounded, is oflen
used.
2. The end of a plank in a ship's side or bot-
tom, which unites with another ; generally
written butt.
BUT, V. i. To be bounded by ; to lie contig-
)us to ; a word used in America. [See
ijut.]
BUT-EXD, n. [but and end.] The largest
or blunt end of a thing ; as the but-end of
a musket or of a piece of timber. This
word is tautological, but and end signify-
ing the same thing ; unless but is consid-
ered as equivalent to swelling, protuberant.
BUTCH'ER, n. [Fr. boucher; Arm. boczer.
a butcher ; Fr. boucherie ; It. becch'eric,
butchery, shambles. The primary sense
probably is to stick or stab, as the Fr. bou-
cher signifies to stop, that is, to set, to
thrust.]
1. One who slaughters animals for market :
or one whose occupation is to kill animals
for the table. The word may and often
does include the person who cuts up and
sells meat.
2. One who kills men, or commands troops
to kill them ; one who sheds, or causes
to be shed human blood in abundance ;
applied to princes and conquerors tcho de-
light in war, or are remarkable for destroy-
ing human life. Lockf.
BUTCHER, V. t. To kill or slaughter ani-
mals for food, or for market.
2. To murder ; but emphatically applied to
murder committed with unusual cruelty,
or circumstances of uncommon barbarity
BUTCHER-BIRD, n. The shrike ; a gentjs
of birds, called Lanius. One species of
this genus is called king-bird, from its
courage in attacking hawks and crows.
Encyr.
The king-bird is now arranged under the
genus Mu.<!cicapa. Ed. Encuc
BUTCH ERLINESS, n. A cruel, savage,
butcherly manner. Johnson,
B U T
BUTCH'ERLY, a. [from butcher.] Cruel ;
savage ; murderous ; grossly and clumsily
barbarous. Ascham. Shak.
BUTCHER'S- BROOM, n. Ruscus; a ge-
nus of plants, called also knee-holly. It is
used by butchers for brooms to sweepj
their blocks. EncycS
BUTCH'ERY, n. The business of slaugh-
tering cattle for the table or for market.
Pope.
'>. Murder, especially murder committed
with unusual barbarity ; great slaughter.
Shak. Dryden.
■i. The place where animals are killed for
market ; a shambles, or slaughter-house :
also, a place where blood is shed. Shak.
BUT'LER, n. [Fr. houteillier, from bouteille,
a bottle, that is, the bottler ; Ir. buit-
leir, a butler, from buidel, boide, a bot-
tle.]
A servant or officer in the houses of princes
and great men, whose principal business
is to take charge of the liquors, plate, &c.
Formerly, an officer in the court of France,
being the same as the grand echanson or
great cup-bearer of the present times.
Encyc.
BUT'LERAgE, n. A duty of two shilUngs
on every tun of wine imported into Eng-
land by foreigners or merchant strangers.
It was a composition for the privileges
granted to them by king John and Ed
ward I., and originally received by the
crown ; but it has been granted to certain
noblemen. It was called butlerage, be
cause originally paid to the king's butler
for the king. Blackstone. Enci/c.
BUT'LERSHIP, n. The office of a butler.
Gen. xl. 21.
BUT'MENT, 11. [Old Fr. aboutement, from
bout, but, end.]
1. A buttress of an arch; the supporter, or
that part which joins it to the upright pier.
Johnson. Encyc.
2. The mass of stone or solid work at the
end of a bridge, by which the extreme
arches are sustained. The mass of stone
at the end of a timber bridge, without
arches, is called by the same name. It '
written also abutment.
BUT'SHAFT, 11. \but and shaft.] An arrow
to shoot at butts with. B. Jonson.
BUTT, n. [See But] Literally, end, fur
thest point. Hence, a mark to be shot at
the point where a mark is set or fixed to
be shot at. Dryden
?3. The point to which a purpose or effort is
directed. Shak
3. The object of aim ; the thing against
which an attack is directed. Clarendon
Hence,
4. The person at whom ridicule, jests or
contempt are directed; as the butt of ridi-
cule. Spectator.
5. A push or thrust given by the head of an
animal, as the butt of a ram ; also, a
thrust iu fencing.
6. A cask whose contents are 126 gallons of|
wine, or two hogsheads ; called also a pipe.
A butt of beer is 108 gallons, and from
1500 to 2300 weight of currants is a butt.
[Sax. butte or bytt ; Sp. bota.] Johnson.
7. The end of a plank in a ship's side or bot-
tom. Mar. Diet.
8. A particular kind of hinge for doors, &c.
BUT
BUTT, V. i. [W. pwtiaw, to butt, to thrust ;
It. buttare ; Sp. botar ; Port, botar, to thrust,
or throw ; Fr. botte, a thrust ; from the
same root probably as but, bout, L. peto.]
To thrust the head forward; to strike by
thrusting the head against, as an ox or a
ram. Wotton. Dryden.
BUT'TER, n. [Sax. buler, butera ; D. boter ;
Ger. butter ; L. butyrum ; Gr. fiouTvfiov.''
An oily substance obtained from cream oi
milk by churning. Agitation separate:
the fat or oily part of milk from the thii
or serous part, called butter-milk.
Butter, in the old chimistry, was applied t(
various preparations ; as,
Butter of a7itimoni/, now called the sublirna
ted muriate of antimony, and made by
distilling a mixture of corrosive sublimate
and the regulus.
Butter of arsenic, sublimated muriate of
arsenic, made by a like process.
Butter of bismuth, subUmated muriate of
bismuth.
Butler of tin, sublimated muriate of tin.
Butter of zink, sublimated muriate of zink,
Fourcroy
Butter of cacao, is an oily concrete white
matter obtained from the cacao nut, made
by bruising the nut and boiling it in wa
ter. J^icholson.
Butter of tvax, the oleaginous part of wax
obt.iined by distillation, and of a butyra-
ceous consistence. J^icholson
BUT'TER, V. t. To smear with butter.
2. To increase the stakes at every throw or
every game ; o cant term among gamesters
Johnson
BUTTER-BUMP, n. The bittern.
Johnson
BUT'TER-BURR, n. A plant, a species of
Tussilago, or Colt's-foot, called petasites,
growing in wet land, with large leaves
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
BUT'TER-eUPS, 11. A name given to
species of Ranunculus or crow-foot, with
bright yellow flowers ; called also golden-
cup. Fam. of Plants. Lee
BUT'TER-FLOWER, n. A yellow flower.
Gay
BUT'TERFLY, n. [fi-om the color of a
yellow species.]
Papilio, a genus of insects, of the order of
lepidopters. They have four wings im
bricated with a kind of downy scales; the
tongue is convoluted in a spiral form ; and
the body is hairy. The species are
merous. Butter-flies proceed from the
crysalids of caterpillars ; caterpillars pro
ceed from eggs deposited by butterflies
they then change into crysalids, which
produce butterflies, which again deposit
their eggs.
BUTTERFLY-SHELL, n. Agenusoftei
molluscas, with a spiral unilocu-
hell ; called valuta. Encyc.
BUT'TERIS, n. An instrument of steel set
wood, for paring the hoof of a horse.
Farrier's Diet.
BUT'TER-MILK, n. The milk that remains
after the butter is separated from it. John
son calls this whey ; but whey is the thii
part of the milk after the curd or cheese
is separated. Butter-milk in America i;
not called whey.
BUT'TERNUT, n. [butter and nut.]
The fruit of an American tree, the Juglans
B U T
, 30 called from tlie oil it contains.
The tree beai-s a resemblance, in its gen-
eral appearance, to the walnut, or black
walnut, so called. It is sometimes called
oihiut and white walnut. The tree is cal-
led also butternut or butternut-tree. Dr.
M. Cutler calls it Juglans Cathartica.
Belknap.
BUTTER-PRINT, ^ A piece of caived
BUTTER-STAMP,^"- wood, used to
mark cakes of butter.
BUTTER-TOOTH, n. A broad fore tooth.
Johnson,
BUTTER-WIFE, ) A woman who
BUT'TER-WoMAN, J "• sells butter.
Johnson.
BUT'TERWORT, n. A species of Pinguic-
ula, a plant growing on bogs or soft
grounds. The leaves are covered with
soft pellucid pnrkl.-s, which secrete a glu-
tinous liquor ; and milk, in which these are
steeped, or washed, acquires, in a day or
two, consistency, and is an agreeable food,
used in the north of Sweden. Encyc.
BUT'TER Y, a. [from 4u«£r.] Having the
quaUties or appearance of butter.
Harvey.
BUT'TERY, 11. An apartment in a house,
where butter, milk, provisions and utensils
are kept. Iu some colleges, a room where
liquors, fruit and refreshments are kept for
sale to the students.
BUT'TOCK, n. The rump, or the protuber-
ant part behind.
2. The convexity of a ship behind, under
the stern. Mar. Diet.
BUT'TON, n. but'n. [Fr. bouton, a button, a
bud; W. buttun, or botwm ; Corn, bottum;
It. bottone ; Sp. boton, a button or bud ;
from the root of bud, that is, a push or
protuberance. See Butt.]
1. A knob ; a small ball ; a catch, used to
fasten together the different parts of dress,
made of metal, silk, mohair, wood, &c.
2. Any knob or ball ftistened to anothejr
body ; a small protuberant body.
Boyle. Pope.
3. A hud ; a gem of a plant. Shak.
4. The button of the reins of a bridle, is a
ring of leather, with the reins passed
through, which runs along the length of
the reins. Encyc.
A flat piece of wood, turning on a nail or
screw, to fasten doors.
A small round mass of metal, found at the
bottom of a crucible, in chimical experi-
ments. J^cholson.
The sea-urchin, an animal which has
prickles instead of feet. Ainsworfh.
BUT'TON, V. t. but'n. To fasten with a but-
ton, or buttons ; to inclose, or make secure
with buttons ; often followed with up, as
to button up a waistcoat.
2. To dress or clothe. [J^ot used.]
BUT'TON-HOLE, n. The hole or loop in
which a button is caught.
BUTTON-MAKER, n. One whose occu-
pation is to make buttons.
BUT'TON-STONE, n. A species of figured
stone, or hard flint, resembling a button,
consisting of two bodies which appear to
be the filling up of holes in a shell. A
species has been fotind finely striated, like
a mohair button. This name is given also
to a species of slato found in the manpii-
sate of Bareith. Encyc.
BUY
B Y
B Y
BUT'TON-TREE, n. The Conoca.p.is, call
eU also button-wood, a genus «l' plants,
natives of the West-Indies.
Fani. of Plants. Encyc.
BUT'TON-WEED, n. A genus of plants,
the Sperniacoce. Fam. of Plants.
BUT'TON-WOOD, n. The Cephalanthus, a
shrub of N. America, growing five or six
feet high. Encyc.
9. The Platanus Occidentalis, Western
plane-tree, a large tree growing in N.
America, producing rough balls, from
which it is named. The wood is liard,
and used for windlasses, wheels and
blocks. Belknap. Mease.
BUT'TRESS, 71. [This word appears to be
composed of but, end, and truss, or some
word of that family.]
1. A prop ; a wall or abutment built arch-
wise, serving to support another wall on
the outside, when very high or loaded with
a lieavy superstructure. Encyc.
2. Any prop or support. South.
BUT'TRESS, V. t. To support by a buttress ;
to prop.
BUT'TRESSED, «. Supported with u but-
tress, ff'ard.
BUTTS, re. plu. [from butt.] A place where
archers meet to shoot at mark. Also, short
pieces of land in arable ridges and fur
rows. Eticuc.
BUT'- WINK, n. A bird. Johnson.
BUTYRA'CEOUS, ) [from butyrum, but-
BUT'YROUS, I "• ter.] Having the
qualities of butter; resembling butter.
Encyc. J\/ichobon. Flayer.
BUX'OM, a. [Sa.\. bocsum, from bog, a bow,
bugan, to bend, and sum, some.J
1. Obedient ; obsequious ; ready to obey,
Obs. Milton.
2. Gay ; lively ; brisk. Milton.
3. Wanton ; jolly. Druden.
BU.\;'OMLY, adv. Obediently. Obs.
2. Wantonly ; amorously. Johnson
BUX'OMNESS, n. Meekness; obedience
Obs. Chaucer.
2. Briskness ; ani;»rousncss.
BUY, V. t. pret. and pp. bought, pron. bawt
[Sax. bigan, or bycgan, bygan ; Goth, bug-
yan, to buy.]
1. To acquire the property, right or title to
any thing, by paying a consi<leration or an
equivalent in money. It differs from baHe,
only in this, that in barter the consideration
or equivalent is some species of commodi
ty ; \i\purchase, the consideration is money
paid or promised. To purchase ; to acquire
by paying a price to the satisfaction of the
seller ; opposed to sell.
% To procure by a consideration given, or
by something that is deemed worth the
thing bought ; to procure at a price ; as, to
bray ])leasure with praise ; to buy favor
with flattery. Denham.
3. To bribe ; to corrupt or pervert the judg-
ment, by paying a consideration.
To buy off, to influence to compliance ; to
cause to bend or yield by some considera
tion, as to buy off conscience ; to detach
by a consideration given, as to iitt/ q/T one
from a party.
To buy out, to buy off", or detach from. Shak
2. To purchase the share or shares of s
person in a stock, fund, or partnership, by
which tlie seller is separated from tlie con
pany, and the pin-chaser takes his place ;
as, A buys out B. To purcha.'ie slock in
any fund or partnersliip, is to buy in.
To buy on credit, is to purchase a tiling, on a
promise in fact or in law, to make pay
mcnt at a future day.
To buy the refusal, is to give money for the
right of purchasing at a fixed price at
future time.
To buy the small pox, in South Wales, is to
receive it by inoculation. Encyc.
In popular language, to buy is to pay dear
for, as in Chaucer.
BUY, V. i. To negotiate, or treat about a
purchase.
I will buy with you and sell with you.
Shak.
BU'PER, n. One who buys ; a purchaser.
Wotton.
BUYING, ^pr. Purchasing.
BUZZ, V. I. [It. buzzicare, to whisper ; Pers,
• Ok A y J bazidan, to blow as wind.]
1. To make a low hissing sound, as bees ; to
make the sound of z, with an expiration of
breath between the tongue and the roof
of the mouth or upper teeth.
2. To whisper ; to speak with a low hissing
voice ; to make a low hissing soimd.
Shak. Hayward
BUZZ, V. t. To whisi>er ; to spread, as re-
port, by whispers, or to spread secretly.
Benllcy.
BUZZ, n. The noise of bees; also, a whisper.
South. Bacon.
BUZZ'ARD, n. [D. buzaard ; G. bussaar,
busshard ; It. bozzago ; Fr. buze, buse or
1 . A species of falco, or hawk, the buteo ; a
rapacious, but sluggish bird ; the breast
usually of a yellowish white ; the upper
parts of a deep brown. In some parts of
America, it is called the great Hen-hawk
from its feeding on poultry.
Pennant. Encyc.
2. A block-head ; a dunce. Johnson
BUZZ'ARD, a. Senseless ; stupid. Milton
BUZZARDET', n. A species of Falco or
hawk, resembling the buzzard in most res-
pects ; but its legs are in proportion rather
longer. Pennant.
BUZZ'ER, re. A whisperer; one who is busy
in telling tales secretly. Shak.
BUZZ'ING, ppr. Making a low hiss
sound ; whisperuig ; tattling iu secret.
BY, prep. [Sax. be or big ; Goth, bi; Sw.
and Dan. be ; D. by ; G. bei ; all contracted
from big. This w(jrd in composition is
often written be, as in because, besiege. In
Sw. and Dan. it is used only in compo-
sition. The Sw. and Dan. paa, and Russ
po, may be from a different root, although
they are nearly allied in signification, and
may be the same word diffi^rently written.
This preposition occurs as a prefix in all
the Shemitic languages, contracted indeed
into 3. See the Introduction. The pri-
mary sense 'is,jpressing, clo.oe, near, at ; but
in Goth, and Sax. it signifies also, about,
according to, on, with, against, after, &c.
In .some of these senses, it coincides with
the Russ. po. The original verb to which
this word belongs, most probably signifies
to pass, to go, or come, to drive, to press '
. Near; close; as, sit by me; that house
stands by a river. So in It. presso, from
L. pressus ; Fr. pres, aupres.
2. Near, in motion ; as, to move, go or pass
by a church. But it seems, in other phra-
ses, or with a verb in the past time, to sig-
nify past, gone beyond. " The procession
is gone hy ;" " the hour is gone by ;" " John
went by." We now use past as an equiva-
lent word. The procession is gone past.
Gone by is in strictness tautology, as now
used ; but I apprehend by signifies prima-
rily near.
3. Through, or with, denoting the agent,
means, instrument or cause ; as, " a city is
destroyed by fire ;" " profit is made by
commerce ;" " to take by force." This use
answers to that of the Latin per, through,
denoting a passing, acting, agency, or iii-
strinnentallty.
4. " Day by day ;" " year by year " " article
by article." In these phrases, by denotes
])assing from one to another, or "each par-
ticular separately taken.
" By the space of seven years." In this
phrase, by denotes through, ])assing or con-
tinuing, (luring.
G. " By this time, the sun had risen." The
word here seems to denote, at, present or
come to.
7. According to ; as, " this appears by his
own account ;" " these are good rules to
live by.
On ; as, " to pass by land or water ;"
" great battles by sea and land." In the
latter phrase, at or on might be substituted
for by.
9. It is placed before words denoting quan-
tity, measure or proportion ; as, to sell by
the pound ; to work by the rod or jierch ;
this line Is longer by a tenth.
10. It is used to represent the means or in-
strument of swearing, or aflirming ; as, to
swear by heaven, or by earth ; to aflirm by
all that is sacred.
11. In the phrase, " he has a cask of wine by
him," by denotes nearness or presence.
12. " To sit by one's self," is to sit alone, or
without company.
13. " To be present 61/ attorney." In this
phrase, 6^ denotes means or instrument ;
through or in the presence of a substitute.
14. In the phrase, " North by ^yest," the
sense seems to be north passing to the
west, inclining or going westward, or near
west.
As an adverb, by denotes also nearness,
or presence ; as, there was no person by,
at the time. But some noun is understood.
So in the phrase, " to pass or go 6^," there
is a noun understood.
By and 4^ is a phrase denoting nearness in
time ; iu a short time after ; presently ;
soon.
Wicn persecution arisetli, because of the
word, by and by, he is offended. Math. xiii.
By the by signifies, as we proceed or pass,
[Fr. en passant,] noting something interpo-
sed in the progress of a discourse, which
is distinct from the main subject. The old
phrase, " on the by," on the passage, is now
obsolete.
To stand by, is to stand near, or to support.
By, in lullaby, and in the nursery, a word
used in lulling infants to sleep, is evidently
allied to words foimd in many languages,
signit'yiiig to rest, or be quiet, or to ap
pease ; that is, to press, to stop, as the Gr
rtcwju, L. paco. It is used in Russia,
witli us, bayu, bai. This probably is the
saine word as the foregoing.
liy or bye, in by-law, Sax. bilage, is probably
the &w. by, Dan. bye, a vilhtge, town,
borough or city, from Sw. byggia, Dai
bygger, G. bauen, D. bouwen, to buil<
Sax. byan, to inliabit ; that is, a town-la«
a municipal law.
fa the common phrase, good-bye, bye sig
nilies passing, going. The phrase signi
fies, a good going, a prosperous passage,
and it is precisely equivalent to fareioell,
Sax. famn, to go, go well, may you have
a good going, equivalent to good speed, in
tlie phrase, " to bid one good speed."
[Not God speed, as is generally read and
understood.]
By is used in many compound words, in
most of which we observe the sense of
nearness, closeness, or a withdrawing or
seclusion.
BY-€OFFEE-HOUSE, n. A coffee house
in an obscnre place. Addison.
BY-€ONCERN'MENT, n. An affair dis-
tinct from the main business. Dryden
BY'-€ORNER, n. A private corner.
BY-DEPEND'ENCE, n. An appendage;
that which depends on something else, or
is distinct fi-om the main dependence.
Shall.
BY-DESI'GN, n. An incidental design, or
puqjose. Hudibras.
BY'-DRINKING, n. A private drinking.
BY'-END, 71. Private end ; secret purpose
or advantage. L'Estrange.
BY'-GONE,"a. Past ; gone by. {Scots dia-
lect.) ' Grew.
CAB
BY'-L\TEREST, n. Self interest : private
advantage. Atterbury.
BY'-LANE, 11. A private lane, or one out of
the usual road.
BY'-LAW, n. A town law ; the law of a
city, town or private corporation. Bacon.
BY'-MATTER, n. Something incidental.
Bacon.
BY'-NAME, n. Nickname ; an incidental
appellation. Camden.
BY'-PAST, a. Past ; gone by. [Scots dia-
lect.) Chcyne
BY'-PATH, n. A private path ; an obscure
way. Shak.
BY-RESPECT', Ji. Private end, or view.
Bacon. Dryden.
BY'-ROAD, n. A private or obscure road.
Stvifl.
BY-ROOM, n. A private room or apart-
ment. Shak.
BY'-SPEECII, n. An incidental or casual
S])eech, not directly relating to the point.
Hooker.
BY'-SPELL, n. [Sax. bigspelL] A proverb.
[Ao« used.] Coles.
Y'-STANDER, n. [Sax. Ugstandan, to
stand by.] One who stands near ; a spec-
tator ; one who has no concern with the
business transacting. Locke.
BY'-STREET, n. A separate, private or
obscure street. Gay.
BY'-TURNING, n. An obscure road.
Sidney.
BY'-VIEW, n. Private view ; self interested
purpose. Atterbury.
Y'-WALK, n. A secluded or private walk.
Dryden.
BY'-WAY, n. A secluded, private or nb-
nre way. Addison.
BY-WEST', adv. Westward ; to the west
of. Davies.
CAB
BY'-WIPE, n. A secret stroke or sarcasm.
Milton.
BY'-WORD, n. [Sax. bi, or big, and tDord,
as in bigcwid, and bigspell. Either a pass-
ing word, or a town-saying.]
A common saying ; a proverb ; a saying
that has a general currency. Bacon
BYE, n. [Sax.] A dwelling^ Gibson.
BYS'SIN, I ,, [Gr. tivam,, infra.] A silk
BYS'SUS, ^"- or linen hood. [JVotinuse.]
Goiver.
BYS'SINE, a. Made of silk. Coles.
BYS'SOLITE, n. [Gr. livaaos, fine flax, and
t.tSos, stone ; so called from its resemblance
to moss.]
A rare mineral, occurring m very delicate
filaments, short, flexible and elastic. Their
color is ohve green, or brownish yellow,
and their luster a little silky. Jameson
places byssolite under actinoUte ; HaOy
arranges it under amianthoid.
Hausman. Saussure. Cleaveland.
BYS'SUS, n. [L. byssus ; Gr. jSvaao;, fine
linen, or cotton.]
The asbestns, composed of parallel fibers, is
by some called by this name. JVicholson.
BYZ'ANT, I [from Byza7itium.] A
BYZ'ANTINE, ( "• gold coin of the value
of fifteen pounds sterling, so called from
being coined at Byzantium. Also, a piece
of gold offered by the king on certain
festivals. Johnson. Camden. Ash.
BYZAN'TINE, ) „ Pertaining to Byzanti-
BYZAN'TIAN, ^ "' um, an ancient city of
Thrace situated on the Bosporus. In the
year 3;W, Constantine the Great took pos-
session of Byzantium, enlarged and em-
belUshed it, and changed its name to
Constantinople. D^Anville. Encyc.
C the third letter in tlie English alphabet,
and the second articulation or consonant,
is a palatal, nearly corresponding in sound
with the Greek x, kappa, and ^vith the
Hebrew 3, caph. It bears a middle place
in pronunciation, between the aspirate n,
and the palatal J. It is a Roman charac-
ter, borrowed from the Gr. x, or from the
oriental 3, which was used in languages
written from right to left, and when in-
verted and the corners rounded, becomes
C. In the old Etruscan, it was written 3,
with the corners rounded, but not inverted ;
in Arcadian, C, as now written. That its
sound in Latin was the same, or nearly
the same, as that of kappa, may be known
from the fact, that the Greeks, while the
Latin was a living language, wrote kap])a
lor the Roman C. Perhaps the same char-
acter may be the basis of the Arabic ^ •
As an abbreviature, C stands for Caius, Car-
olus, Cfesar, condemno, &c., and CC for con-
sulibus. As a numeral C stands for 100;
CC for 200 ; &c. In music, C after the cliff,
is the mark of common time. Encyc.
In English, C has two sounds, or rather
represents two very different articulations
of the organs ; one close, like K, which
occurs before a, o and u ; the other, a sib-
ilant, precisely like s, which occurs be
fore e, t and y. The former is distinguish
ed in this vocabulary by G, which may be
called ke. In Russ. C is precisely the
English s, as it was in the old Greek al
phabet.
€AB, n. [Heb. Ch. 3p kab.] An oriental dry
measure, being the sixth part of a seah or
satum, and the eighteenth of an ephah ;
containing two pints and five sixths Eng-
lish and American corn measure.
€ABAL', n. [Fr. cabale, a club, society or
combination ; It. cabala, knowledge of se-
cret things ; Sp. cabala, secret science ;
cabal, perfect, just, exact; Heb. Sap to take,
receive, accept ; Ch. to cry out, 'to bawl ;
also to take or receive ; also to be dark, to
obscure ; Syr. to accuse, oppose, or cen-
sure, to cavil ; Eth. to accept, to pour
out ; Sam. to accejit, and to darken ; Ar.
to admit or accept, as agreeable ; to come ;
to be surety ; to give bail. See Class BI.
This word seems to include the significa-
tions of several biliteral roots. Qu. W.
cafael, to get or obtain ; or gavaelu, to
hold. The primary sense of the root
seems to be to catch or seize by rushing
on, or in general, to press, to drive ; hence
the sense of collection, combination and
accusation.]
A number of persons united in some close
design ; usually to promote their private
views in church or state by intrigue. A
junto. It is sometimes synonymous with
faction, but a cabal usually consists of few-
er men than a party, and the word gene-
rally implies close "union and secret in-
trigues. This name was given to the
ministry of -Charies II., Clifford, Ashley,
Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale,
the initials of whose names compose thf
word.
2. Intrigue ; secret artifices of a few men
united in a close design. Dryden.
€ABAL', )^ [See the preceding word.
CABALA, J ■ It is from the sense of re-
ception.]
CAB
Traditiou, or a mysterious kind of science
among Jewish Rabbins, pretended to have
been delivered to the ancient Jews by rev
elation, and transmitted by oral tradition
serving for the interpretation of difficult
passages of scripture. This science con
gists chiefly in understanding the combi
nation of certain letters, words and num-
bers, which are alledged to be significant
Every letter, word, number and accent of
the law iM supposed to contain a mystery,
and tlie calialists pretend even to foretell
future events by the study of this science.
Encyc. Buck.
CABAL', v.i. To unite in a siiiall party to
promote private views by intrigue ; to in-
trigue ; to unite in secret artifices to effect
some design. Dn/den.
€AB'ALISM, n. The secret science of the
cabalists.
CAB'ALEST, n. A Jewish doctor who pro-
fesses the study of the cabala, or the mys-
teries of Jewish traditions.
2. In French commerce, a factor or agent.
Encyc.
€ABALIST'I€, i Pertaining to the
€ABALIST'I€AL, S "' cabala, or mysteri-
ous science of Jewish traditions ; contain-
ing an occult meaning.
€ABALIST'ICALLY, cidv. In the manner of
tlie cabalists. Herbert.
CAB'ALIZE, V. i. To use the maimer or
language of the cabalists. [JVot much used.]
CABAL'LER, n. One who unites with oth-
ers in close designs to eftcct an object by
intrigue ; one who cabals.
€AB'ALLINE, a. [L. caballinus, from ca-
bctltus, a horse ; Russ. kohila, kobiela, a
mare ; Ir. capall ; Fr. cheval, a horse ; ca-
vale, a mare ; It. cavallo ; Sp. cahaUo.']
Pertaining to a horse ; as caballine aloes, so
called from its being given to horses as a
purge. Encyc.
■eABAL'LING,;)/)r. Uniting in a cabal; in-
triguing in a small part\-.
CAB'ARET, n. [Fr. allied probably to
cabin.]
A tavern ; a house where hquors are re-
tailed. Bramhall.
CAB'BAgE, n. [It. cappuccio ; Corn, kavatsh ;
It. gabaisde, gabaiMe. This word is prob-
ably from tiie root of caput, a head ; It.
capuccio, a head ; Sp. cabexa ; Fr. caboche,
a head. Hence D. kabuis-kool, head-cole,
or headed-cole. In Fr. choux-cabus, is cab-
bage-headed, or cabbage-head. See Cap,
Core.]
A geiuis of plants, called in botany Brassica,
of several species ; some of which are cul-
tivated for food. The leaves are large and
fleshy, the pods long and slender, and the
seeds globular. The kinds most culti-
vated are the common cabbage, called
■with us the drum-head, the Savoy, the
broccoli, the cauliflower, tlie sugar-loaf, and
the cole-wort.
Dog's cabbage, a name given to the Thelygo-
num ct/nocrambe. Fatn. of Plants.
Sea-cabbage, n. The sea-beach kale, or sea-
colewort, a genus of plants, called crambe.
They are herbaceous esculents, with |)er-
ennial roots, producing large leaves like
those of cabbage, spreading on the ground,
Encyc.
€AB'BA6E, 11. i. To form a head in gro"w-
ing ; as, a plant cabbages. Johnson.
CAB
€AB'BAgE, d. t. [D. kabassen, to steal ; ka
bos, a hand basket ; Old Fr. cabasser.]
To purloin or embezzle, as pieces of cloth
after cutting out a garment. Arbuthnoi.
€AB'BAuE-NET, n. A small net to boil
cabbage in. Shenstone.
€AB'BA(iE-TREE, n. The cabbage-palm,
a species of Areca, the oleracea, a native of
warm climates. This tree grows with a
straight stem to the highth of 170 or 200
feet. Its branches grow in a circular man-
ner, and the lowermost ones spread hori-
zontally with great regularity. The fibers
of the leaves are used for making cordage
and nets. On the top grows a substance
called cabbage, lying in thin, snow-white,
brittle flakes, in taste resembling an al-
mond, but sweeter. This is boiled and
eaten with flesh, hke other vegetables.
When this is cut out, the tree is destroyed.
Encyc.
€AB'BA0lE-\VORM, n. An insect.
Johnson.
eABTAI, n. An animal of South America
resembling a hog, living on the margins of
lakes and rivers, and feeding on fish. It
is a species of Cavy, called also thick-
nosed tai)ir. Diet, of JS/'at. Hist. Encye.
CAB' IN, n. [Fr. cabane, a cabin, a cottage ;
caban, a cloke ; It. capanna, a cottage ; Sp.
and Port, cabana, a hut or cottage; Ir.
cabnn ; W. caban, from cab, a hut, cot, or
booth made in the form of a cone, with
rods set in the ground, and tied at the lop ;
Gr. xartavr,, from xanij, a stable or inclosed
place.]
1. A small room ; an inclosed place.
Spenser.
2. A cottage ; a hut, or small house. Swift.
3. A tent ; a shed ; any covered place for a
temporary residence. _ Fairfax.
4. An apartment in a ship for oflicers and
passengers. In large ships there are sev-
eral cabins, the principal of which is oc-
cupied by the commander. In small ves-
sels, there is one cabin in the stern for the
acconmiodation of the officers and passen-
gers. The bed-places in ships are also
called cabins. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
CAB IN, I', i. To live in a cabin ; to lodge.
Shak.
CAB'IN, V. t. To confine in a cabin. Shak.
CAB'IN-BOY, n. A boy whose duty is to
wait on the officers and passengers on
board of a ship.
CAB'INED, pp. Inclosed ; covered.
MUton.
CAB'INET, js. [Fr. cabinet; It. gabinetto ; Sp.
gabinete. See Cabin.]
1. A closet ; a small room, or retired apart-
ment. Bacon.
2. A private room, in %vliicli consultations
are held. Drydt
3. The select or secret council of a |)rince or
executive government ; so called from the
apartment in which it was originallv held.
Encyc.
4. A piece of furniture, consisting of a chest
or box, with drawers and doors. A pri-
vate box. Swift.
5. Any close place where things of value are
reposited for safe keeping. Taylor.
G. A hut ; a cottage ; a small house. Obs.
Spenser.
CAB'INET, V. t. To inclose. [Little tised.]
Howcl.\
CAB
CABINET-COUNCIL, n. A council held
with [irivacy ; the confidential council of
a prince or executive magistrate.
Bacon.
2. The members of a prii-y council ; a select
number of confidential counselors. Gay.
CVB'INETED, pp. Inclo.scd in a private
apartment, or in a cabinet.
CABINET-MAKER, n. A man whose oc-
cupation is to make cabinets, tables, bu-
reaus, bed-steads, and other similar fur-
niture.
CABIN-MATE, n. One who occupies the
same cabin with another. Beaum.
CABIRE'AN, n. [See the ivords below.]
One of the Cabiri. Faber.
CABIR'IAN, i [Oriental "I3J to be strong
CABIR IC, > a. or powerful, to be great ;
CABIRIT'IC, ) whence it signifies man,
a lord, and in some languages, a giant. It
is common to all the Shemitic dialects.
Perhaps L. vir, with a prefix.]
Pertaining to the Cabiri, certain deities
greatly venerated by the ancient Pagans,
in Greece and Phenicia. The accounts
of these deities are confused and contra-
dictory. Some authors limit their num-
ber to four; some to three ; others to two ;
while Sanchoniathon makes them to bi;
eight. They were worshiped with jiarti-
cular honors in the isle of Samothrace ;
and their worship and mysteries are said
to have been introduced into Greece by
the Pelasgians. They were supposed to
have a particular influence over the sea
and maritime affairs.
In truth, the name which signifies frea/,
or the mighty ones, seems to have been ap-
plied to the supposed beings that presided
over the more striking operations of na-
ture. Herod, ii. 51. Pans. ix. 25.
Bryant. Faber. Asiat. Researches.
CABLE, n. cabl. [Sp. Fr. cable; D. Dan. G.
kabel ; Arm. chabl ; Ir. rabla or gabla ;
Russ. kabala, a bond ; Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar.
^33 a chain ; as a verb, to tie or bind ; or
S3n to tie or make fiist, and a rope. If
the first letter of the oriental word is a
prefix, this coincides with bait, a package,
that is, a tie.]
A large strong rope or chain, used to retain
a vessel at anchor. It is made usually of
hemp or iron, but may be made of other
materials. Cables are of different sizes, ac-
cording to the bulk of the vessel for which
they are intended, from three to twenty
inches in circumference. A cable is com-
posed of three strands : each strand of
three ropes ; and each rope of three twists.
A ship's cable is usually 120 fathom, or
720 feet, in length. Hence the expres-
sion, a cablets length.
Stream cable is a hawser or rope, smaller
than the bower cables, to moor a ship in
a place sheltered from wind and hea\-y
seas.
To pay out, or to veer out the cable, is to slack-
en it that it may rini out of the ship.
TTj serve the cable, is to bind it round with
ropes, canvas, &c., to jirevent its being
worn or galled in the hawse.
To slip the cable, is to let it run out end for
end. Mar. Diet.
CA'BLED, a. Fastened with a cable.
Dyer.
C A C
OAB'LKT, n. A little cable. Mar. Did.
€A'BLE-TIER, n. The place where the ca-
bles are coiled away. Mar. Did.
CABO'CHED, ? „ In heraldiy, having the
CABO'SHED, \ "■ head cut close, so as to
have no neck left. Did.
CABOOSE', n. [G. kahv.se, a little room oi
hut ; Dan. kahjse, a cook's room in a ship
Qu. Ch. 033 to hide or cover, or Heb. Ch.
W22 a kiln or furnace. In Dutch, kombuis
is an oven, furnace or cook's room.] |
1. The cook-room or kitchen of a ship. In]
smaller vessels, it is an inclosed fire-place,
hearth or stove for cooking, on the main
deck. In a ship of war, the cook room is
caUed a galley. Mar. Did.
•2. A box that covers the chimney m
CAD
A fish which is said to void excrements
when pursued. Others say, a fish which
eaten produces lax bowels.
Skinner. Johnso
CACK'LE, V. i. [D. kaakekn, to chatter ;
Ger. gackern, to cackle, to gaggle ; D. g-o^-
felen, to chatter ; Eng. gaggle and giggle ,
>an. kagler, to cluck, as a hen ; Sp. cacar-
ear, to cackle or crow.]
1. To make a particular noise, as a goose oi
a hen. Dryden. Shak.
2 To laugh with a broken noise, like the
cackling of a goose; to giggle, which is a
"■•ord from the same root. Arbutknot.
talk in
3. To prate ; to prattle ; to tattle ;
'. inci.\ a silly manner. Johnson.
a ship. CACK'LE, n. The broken noise of a go.
Encyc\ or hen.
.LI. A.„., .„- €ACK'LING, ppr. Making the no.se of
Dryden
Johnson
CAB'RIOLE, } „ [Fr. cabriolet, from ca-
€AB'R10LET, ^ hnole, a goat-leap; L..
■apra.]
Johnson
noise of a
ved by the
goose or lien.
€ACK'LING, n. The broke
goose or hen. Rome was
cackling of a goose.
€A€0€HYM'I€, ?„ [See Cacoehymy.]
€A€0€HYM'I€AL, ^ "' Having the fluids
of the body vitiated, especially the blood.
Encyc.
of xaxos,
, xoxoj;v/iii<
A "fg ; a one horse chair, a light carriage
€AB'URE, n. A Brazilian bird of the owl
kind, of the size of a thrush, of a beautitu
umber color, spotted with white.
DictofJVat. Hist.
€AB'URNS, n. Small Unes made of spun |^^^,ocHYMY, n. [G
yarn, to bind cables, seize tackles, and he €At ^^^ ^^^^^^ ,^,^^l
like. „, , -^"vy<^- U vicious state of the vital humors, espe
€Ae>AO or €0'€OA, «. The chocolate- pj^,,^ ^fj^g blood, arising from a disorder
tree, a species of the Iheobroma, a native ^ secretions or excretions, or from
of the West Indies. This tree grows about .,„;„„ Encyc.
twenty feet high, bearing pods which are Uv^qj5j.,j^iON n. [Gr. xaxoj, evil, and
oval and pointed. The nuts o^^seeds are p^^^ ^_^ ^ ^^^^^^;^^ ^L^ ^^i, ^^■^■^_ ghak
€A€OE'THES, n. [Gr. xaxo^flna ; xaxo,,
CAD
€ADE, n. [L. cadus ; Gr. xoSoj, a cask;
xaiim, a purse or Uttle cask ; allied per
haps to W. cadw, to hold, to keep.]
jA baiTcl or cask. A cade of herrings is the
quantity of five hundred ; of sprats, a
thousand. Encyc.
ICA'DE-OIL,n. In the materia medico, an oil
used m Germany and France, made of the
friut of the oxycedrus, called in those
countries, cada. Encyc.
€ADE-WORM, n. The same as caddis.
€A'I)ENCE, ? [Fr. cadence; Sp. Port.
eA'DENCY, ii cadencia ; L. cadens, from
cado, to fall ; W. cwyzaw ; Corn, kodha ;
Arm. kuedha, or kueza ; Ir. cadam, cudaim :
It. cadere ; Sp. caer ; Port, cahir ; Fr.
cheoir.]
1. A fall : a decline ; a state of sinking.
Milton.
3. A fall of the voice in reading or speaking,
as at the end of a sentence ; also, the fall-
ing of the voice in the general modulation
of tones in reciting. In reading or speak-
ing, a certain tone is taken, which is called
the key, or key-note, on which most of the
words are pronounced, and the fall of the
voice below this tone is called cadence.
Encyc.
The ordinary cadence is a fall of the
last syllable of a sentence only.
3. The general tone of reading verse. The
cadence of one line must be a rule to that
of the next ; as the sound of the former
must slide sently into that which follows.
Drydeiu
4. Tone ; sound : as, hoarse cadence.
Milton
numerous, and lodged in a white pithy
substance. hncyc.
€A€COONS', n. A plant called in botany
Flevillea. ^ .^"'^f ■
CACH'ALOT, n. A cetaceous hsli, the
physeter or spermaceti whale. The prin-
cipal species are, the black headed with a
dorsal fin, and the round-headed, with-
out a fin on the back, and with a fistula in
the snout. From this whale is obtained
the spermaceti. Encyc.
CA€HE€'Tle, I „ [See Cachcry.] Hav
CACHEC'TIeAL, <, ' ing an ill habit of
body ; of a deranged or vitiated state of
the body without fever. Core.
€\€HEX'Y, n. [Gr. xaxiba, from xaxoi, ill.
and f|i5, habit, from f jru, to have.
A vicious state of the powers of the hotly ; a
deranged state of the consthution, without
fever or nervous disease. Encyc. Coxe.
€A€HINNA'TION, n. [L. cachimiatto.
Loud laughter. [Uttle used.]
CACH'OLONG, n. [said to be from Cach,
the name of a river in Bucharia, and cho-
lon, a Calmuc word for stone.]
A variety of chalcedony, which is a subspe
cies of quartz, usually milk %vhite, some
times grayish or yellowish white; opak.
or slightly translucent at the edges. Its
fracture is even, or conchoidal with large
cavities, sometimes dull, sometimes pearly
or glossy. It often envelops common chal-
cedony ; the two minerals being united by
insensible shades. It also associates with
flint and semi-opal. Cleavelanxl.
€ACK, V. i. [L. caco.] To ease the body by
stool. ^ PV''^
GACK'EREL, n. [said to be from L. cnco.J
icious, and >;9o5, manners.]
1. A bad custom or habit ; a bad disposition,
2. In medicine, an incurable ulcer. Co.re.
CAeOPH'ONY, 71. [Gr. xaxof, ill, and $wr^,
voice.]
L In rhetoric, an uncouth or disagreeable
sound of words, proceeding from the meet-
ing of harsh letters or syllables. Encyc.
2. In medicine, a depraved voice ; an altered
state of the voice. Coxe. Encyc.
13. In music, a combination of discordant
sounds.
€AD'AVER, n. [L.] A corpse.
CADAVEROUS, a. [L. cadaver, a dead
carcase.]
1 Having the appearance or color of a dead
human body ; pale ; wan ; ghastly ; as a
cadaverous look.
2. Having the qualities of a dead body.
Arbuthnot.
€AD'DIS, n.
of tape or ribin.
2. A kind of worm
of straw.
€AD'DOW, ji. A cliougl
Qu. L. cadus, a cask.] A kind
,;„. Shak
grub found in a case
Johnson.
a jack daw.
Jlay.
CAD'DY, n. A small box for keeping tea.
€ADE. a. [Qu. W. cadw, to keep or guard
or Ar. ili" to lead or govern, to h
led, to be submissive.]
Tame ; bred by hand ; domesticated ; as
cade lamb.
€ADE, 11. t. To bring up or nourish by hand,
or with tenderness ; to tame.
[5. In music, repose ; the termination of ,
harmonical phrase on a repose o"" on
perfect chord. Encyi -
Also, the manner of closing a song ; ein
bellishment at the close. Bushj.
G. In horsemanship, an equal measure or ])ro
portion observed by a horse in all his mo-
lions. ^^ Encyc.
j7. In heraldry, the distinction of families.
€A'DENCE, V. t. To regulate by musics:
measure. SmiH.
CA'DENCED, pp. or a. Having a partici,
lar cadence ; as well cadenced music.
Rousseau.
CADE'NE, n. A species of inferior car|irt
imported from the Levant. Encyr.
CA'DENT, a. [L. cadens.] FaUing down ;
sinkin" Johnson.
CADEN-ZA, n. [It. See Cadence.] The fall
or modulation of the voice in singing.
CADET', n. [Fr. cadd ; It. cadetto ; Sp.
cadde. In French properlv the second
son. Gebelin. But in general, the younger
or brother, or the youngest.]
1. The younger or youngest son. Brown.
2. A gentleman who carries arms in a regi
ment, as a private man, with a view to ac-
quire military skill, and obtain a commis-
sion. His service is voluntary, but he re-
ceives pay, and thus is distinguished from
a volunteer. Encyr.
,3. A young man, in a miUtary school.
CADEW, n. A straw worm. [See Cutl-
CADgE, v. I. To carry a burden. [JVW in
CADG'ER, n. One who brings butter, eggs
OAF
and poultry to tlie market, from the coun-
try; a huckster. Johnso7i
[I believe not it^ed in the U. States.]
€A'DI, n. [Ar. JvjLi' a governor, from
2,\.3 to lead, rule or govern ; Eiig. guide.
Hence Mcaide.]
In the Turkish dominions, a judge in civil
affairs ; usually the judge of a town or
village, for the judge of a city or province
is called Mould. Encyc.
€AUlL'LAe, n. A sort of pear. Johnson.
€ADME'AN, f Relating to Cadmus, a re-
CAD'MIAN, J puted prince of Thebes,
who introduced into Greece, the sixteen
simple letters of the alphabet — a, «, y, *, i,
I, X, %, fi, V, 0, rt, p, 0, r, V. These are called
Cadmean letters. Bn/ant.
This personage may be a fabulous be
ing, or if such a person ever existed, he
may have been named from his knowledge
of letters, for in the ancient Persian, ka
deem signified language ; Ir. cuadham, tc
tell or relate ; ceadach, talkative ; ceadal, i
story. Or he may have been named from
his eminence or antiquity, Dip kadam, to
precede ; Arabic, to excel ; vvlicnce the
sense of priority and antiquity ; or his
name may denote a man iioni tlie East.
•CAD'MIA, n. An oxyd of zink which col-
le< ts on the sides of furnaces where zink
is sublimed, as in brass founderies. Tliis
substance is readily volatilized on char-
coal, by the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe, and
it burns with the usual beautiful combus-
tion of zink. Pulverized, mixed with char-
coal powder, wTapped in sheet copper, and
heated with the compound blowpipe, it
readily forms brass. Sitliman.
eAD'MiUM, n. A metal discovered by M.
Stromeyer, in 1817, in carbonate of zink, at
Hanover. Its color is a fine white, with a
shade of bluish gray, resembling that of
tin. Its texture is conqiact, its fracture
hackly, and it is susceptible of polish. It
is ductile and malleable, and when fused,
crystalizes in octahedrons. It melts be-
low a red heat, and suffers no change in
air. Ure. Clcnveland.
€ADU'CEUS, n. [L.] In antiquilij, Mercu-
ry's rod ; a wand entwisted by two ser-
pents, borue by Mercury as an ensign of
quality and office. On medals, the Cadu-
ceus is a symbol of good conduct, peace
and prosperity. The rod represents pow-
er ; the seri)ents, wisdom ; and the two
wings, diligence and activity. Encyc.
CADU'CITY, n. [L. caducus, from cado, to
fall.] Tendency to fall. [LHUe used.]
Chesterfield.
€ADU'€OUS, a. [L. supra.] In botany,^'
falling early ; as caducous leaves, which fall
before the end of sinnmer, A caducous
calyx falls before the corol is well unfold-
ed. Martyn.i
CiE'CIAS, n. [L.] A wind from the north-j
east, [and in Latin, according to Ains-l
worth, from the north-west.] Jifilton.'
CvESARIAN. [vSce Cesarian.]
C.ESURA. [See Cesura.]
CAF FEIN, !i. A substance obtained from
an infusion of unroasted coffee, by treating
it with the muriate of tin. Urc.
Vol. I.
C A K
CAF'TAN, n. [Persic] A Persian or Turk
ish vest or garment. Johnson
CAG, n. [Fr. caque ; Dan. kag ; alUed
probably to cage, that which holds.]
A small cask, or barrel, differing from the
barrel only in size, and containing a few
gallon.s, but not of any definite capacity
It is generally written Keg.
eA(ilE, n. [Fr. cag-e; D. kouio and kooi
See Cag.]
1. A box or inclosure, made of boards, or
with lattice work of wood, wicker or wire,
for confining birds or beasts. For the
confinement of the more strong and fero
cious beasts, a cage is sometimes made of
iron. Encyi
2. An inclosure made with pallisades for
confining wild beasts. Johnson
.3. A prison for petty criminals. Johnson
4. In carpentry, an outer woi-k of timber, in
closing another within it ; as the cage of a
wind mill or of a stair case. Encyc.
€AgE, v. t. To confine in a cage ; to shui
up, or confine. Donne.
eA'GIT, n. A beautiful green parrot of the
Phili))pine isles. Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
€AG'UI, n. A monkey of Urazil, of two
species, one of them called the pongi, the
otiier not more than six inches long.
They are called also jacclius and oedipus.
Encyc. Did. ofJVaf. Hist.
CMC or CAIQUE, n. [Fr.] A skiff belong-
ing to a galley.
CAIMAN. [See Cayman.]
CAIRN, n. [Welsh, earn.] A heap of stones.
CA'ISSON, or CAISSOON', n. [Fr. from
caisse, a chest. See Case.]
1. A wooden chest into which several bombs
are put, and sometimes gunpowder, to be
laid in the way of an enemy, or under
some work of which the enemy intend to
possess themselves, and to be fired when
they get possession. Encyc.
2. A wooden frame or chest used in laying
the foimdation of tlie pier of a bridge.
Encyc.
.3. An atnmunition chest, or waggon.
CA'ITIFF, 71. [It. caHJDO, a captive, a slave,
a rascal ; caitivare, to master, to enslave.
This word is from the L. captimis, a cap-
tive, from capio or capio, to take. The
sense of knavery is from the natural con
nection between tlie degradation of a
slave and vice.]
A mean villain ; a despicable knave : it im-
pUes a mixture of wickedness and misery
Johnson
CAJ'EPUT, n. An oil from the East Indies,
resembling that of cardamoms, obtained
from the Melaleuca leucodendron. Enci/c.
CA.IO'LE, V. t. [Fr. cajoler, enjoler; Arm.
cangeoli. See Gull.]
To flatter ; to soothe ; to coax ; to deceive
or delude by flattery. Hudibras.
CAJO LER, n. A flatterer ; a whecdler.
CAJO LERY, n. Flattery ; a wheedling to
delude. Burke.
CAJO'LING, ppr. Flattering ; wheedling ;
deceiving.
CAJO'TA^". A Mexican animal resembling
a wolf and a dog. Clavigero.
CAKE, 71. [D. kock ; G. kuchen ; Dan. kage :
Sw. kaka: Ch. ■]y3: Pers. ^\^;Svr.
30
C A L
(.a OS- The sense seems to be, a mass
or lump.]
A small mass of dough baked ; or a com-
position of flour, butter, sugar, or other in-
gredients, baked in a small mass. The
name is apjilied to various compositions,
baked or cooked in different shapes.
12. Something in the form of a cake, rather
flat than high, but roundish ; as a cake on
a tree. Bacon.
3. A mass of matter concreted ; as a cake of
ice. Dryden.
In jVeu) England, a piece of floating ice
in a river or lake.
4. A hard swelling on the flesh ; or rather a
concretion without such swelling.
CAKE, V. t. To form into a cake or mass.
CAKE, V. i. To concrete, or form into a
hard mass, as dougli in an oven, or as
flesh or any other substance. Addison.
CAKE, V. i. "To cackle. [Xot used.] Ray.
CAL'ABASH, n. [Sp. cn/aia:a, a pumpkin,
a gourd, a calabash ; Port, calahaca. Qu.
Gr. xa.-f.7tri, a water-pot or pitcher.]
1. A vessel made of a dried gourd-shell or of
the shell of a calabash tree, used for con-
taining hquors, or goods, as pitch, rosin
and ihe like. Encyc.
2. A popular name of the gourd-plant, or
Cucuibita. Fam. ojf Plants.
CALABASH-TREE, n. A tree of two spe-
cies, known in botany by the generic name
Crescenlia. The cujete has narrow leaves,
but a large round or oval fruit. The lati-
folia has broad leaves. The shell of the
fruit is used for cups, bowls, dishes and
other utensils. Encyc.
CALA'DE, Ji. The slope or declivity of a
rising manege-ground. Encyc.
CALA'lTE, n. A name given to the tur-
quois ; which see.
CALAMANCO, n. [Fr. eallimanque, cal-
mande ; D. kalmink ; G. kalmank ; Sp. cal-
amaco. Qu. Sp. »naca, a spot.]
A woolen stuff', of a fine gloss, and checker-
ed in the warp. Encyc.
CAL'AMAR, n. [Sp. id.; It. calamaia, an
ink-horn, and this animal.]
An animal, having an oblong body and ten
legs. On the belly are two bladders con-
taining a black fluid, which the animal
emits when pursued. It is called also
sea-sleeve and cuttle-fish.
Sp. Diet. Diet. ofXat. Hist.
CAL'AMBAC, n. [Sp. calambuco.] Aloes-
wood, xyloe-aloes, a drug, which is the
product of a tree growing in China and
some of the Indian isles. It is of a light
spungy texture, very jwrous, and the pores
so filted with a soft fragrant resin, that it
may be indented by the fingers and chew-
ed like mastich. It is also called tambac.
The two coarser kinds are called lignum
aloes, and calambour. Encyc.
CAL'AMBOUR, »i. A species of the aloes-
wood, of a dusky or mottled color, of a
light, friable texture, and less fragrant
than calambac. This wood is used by
cabinet-makers and inlayers. Encyc.
CALAMIF'EROUS, a. [calamus and fero.]
Producing plants having a long, hollow,
knotted stem. Chambers.
CAL' AMINE, or CAL'AMIN, n. Lapis cal-
aniinaris, or cadmia fossiUs; an ore of
zink, much used in the composition of
C A L
C A L
C A L
Ijrass. This term is applied botli to tliej
siliceous oxytl and the native carbonate of
ziiik. They can scarcely be distinguished
by their external characters. They are
generally compact, often stalactilic, and
sometimes crystalized. Most of the ca-
lamines of England and Scotland are said
to be carbonates. Encyc. Ckaveland.
CAL'AMINT, ji. [L. calaviintha ; Gr. xa-
jMftivdtj; fiwSa, mentha, nienta, mint]
A plant, a species of Melissa, or bauni, an
aromatic plant, and a weak corroborant.
Encyc.
Waler-calamint is a species of Mentha, or
mint.
CAL'AMISTRATE, v. t. To curl or frizzle
the hair. [JVot used.] Cotgrave.
CALAMISTRA'TION, n. The act of curl-
ing the hair. [JVbi used.]
€AL'AMIT, n. [L. calamus, a reed.] A
mineral, probably a variety of Tremolite.
It occurs in imperfect or rounded prisma-
tic ci^stals, longitudinally striated, and
sometimes resembling a reed. Its struc-
ture is foliated ; its luster vitreous, and
more or less shining.
Cleaveland. Werner,
CALAM'ITOUS, a. [Fr. calamiteux. See
Calamity.]
1. Very miserable ; involved in deep dis
tress ; oppressed with infelicity ; wretched
from misfortune ; applied to men.
Johnson. Calamy
2. Producing distress and misery; making
wretched ; applied to external circumstan-
ces ; as a calamitous event. Milton.
3. Full of misery ; distressful ; wretched ;
applied to state or condition. South.
CALAM'ITOUSLY, adv. In a manner to
bring great distress.
€ALAM'ITOUSNESS, n. Deep distress;
wretchedness; misery ; the quality of pro-
ducing misery.
CALAM'ITY, n. [L. calamitas. Qu. Ar.
*,Xr kalama, to wound ; Heb. Ch. dSo to
make ashamed. Under this root, the Syr
iac has calamity. The sense of the verb
is, to strike, to beat down. But the origin
of the word is uncertain.]
Any great misfortune, or cause of misery
generally applied to events or disasters!
which produce extensive evils, as loss of
crops, earthquakes, conflagrations, defeat
of armies, and the like. But it is ap|)lie(
also to the misfortunes which bring great
distress upon individuals. Milton. Prior.
The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise
Burke
€AL'AMUS, n. [L. from Gr. xaxa^o;, a
stalk or stem, a reed, stubble ; Eth. and Ar
^Xi" calamus scriptorius, a writing reed
or pen. The verb in Arabic signifies to
cut or pare. But qu., for it would seem
to be allied to culmus.]
1. The generic name of the Indian cane
called also rotang. It is without branch
es, has a crown at the top, and is beset
with spines. Encyc.
2. In antiquity, a pipe or fistula, a wind i
strument, made of a reed or oaten stalk,
Encyc
•3. A rush or reed used anciently as a pen to
write on parchment or papyrus. Encyc.
A sort of reed, or sweet-scented cane, used
by the Jews as a perfume. It is a knotty
root, reddish without and white within,
and filled with a spungy substance. It
has an aromatic smell. Brown. Calmet.
The sweet flag, called by Linne Scorns.
Encyc.
€ALAN'DRA, n. A species of lark, with
a thick bill, the upper part of the body of
a reddish brown, spotted with black, with
a body thicker than the sky-lark.
Pennant.
CALAN'DRE or €AL'ANDER, n. The
French name of a species of insect of tlie
beetle kind, very destructive in granaries.
Encyc.
eALAN'GAY, n. A species of white parrot.
Ash.
CALASH', n. [Fr. caleche ; D. kales; Sp.
calesa ; Russ. koliaska.]
A light chariot or carriage with very low
wheels, used for taking the air in parks
and gardens. It is open, or covered with
mantlets of cloth, that are let down at
pleasure. Encyc.
9. A cover for the head sometimes used by
ladies.
€AL€'AR, n. In glass works, a kind of
oven, or reverberating furnace, used for
the calcination of sand and salt of potash,
and converting them into frit. Encyc.
€AL€'ARATE, a. [L. calcar, a spur ; calx,
the heel; Ir. calg, a sting or goad.]
Furnished with a spur ; as a calcarale corol,
in larkspur ; a calcarate nectary, a nectary
resembling a cock's spur. Martyn.
€AL€A'RIO-SUL'PHUROUS, a. [See Calx
and Sulphur.]
Having lime and sulphur in combination, or
partaking of both. Kirwan.
CAL€A'RIOUS, a. [L. calcarius. See Calx.]
Partaking of the nature of lime ; having
the qualities of lime ; as calcarioxis earth
or stone. Encyc. Kirwan
€AL€AVAL'LA, n. A kind of sweet wine
from Portugal. Mason
€AL'CEATED, a. [L. calceatus, from cal
ceus, a shoe.]
Shod ; fitted with or wearing shoes.
Johnson.
€AL'CEDON, n. [See Chalcedony.] Witl
jewelers, a foul vein, like chalcedony, in
some precious stones. Ash.
€ALCEDON'l€, ) re i-.i. ; j t
€ALCEDO'NIAN, \ "• ^^^^ Chalcedony.]
Pertaining to or resembling chalcedony.
Encyc. Kinvan.
€ALCEDONY. See Chalcedony, the more
correct orthography.
CALCIF'EROiJS, a. [of co7.r,hme, and /ero,
to produce.] Producing calx or lime.
€AL'CIFORM, a. [of calx, Ihne, and forma.
form.] In the form of calx.
€ALCIMU'RITE, n. [of co/r, lime, and mu-
ria, salt water.]
A species of earth, of the muriatic genus, oi
a blue or olive green color, of the consist-
ence of clay. It consists of calcarious
earth and magnesia tinged with iron.
Kirwmi.
€ALCI'NABLE, a. [See Calcine.] That
may be calcined ; capable of being redu-
ced to a friable state by the action of fire.
Encyc.
CAL'CINATE, v. t. To calcine. [See Cal.
c^ne.] Bacon.
CALCINA'TION, n. [from calcine.] The
operation of expelling from a substance
by heat, some volatile matter with which
it is combmed, or which is the cementing
principle, and thus reducing it to a friable
state. Thus chalk and carbonate of lime
are reduced to lime by calcination, or the
expulsion of carbonic acid.
2. The operation of reducing a metal to an
oxyd, or metallic calx. This in modern
chimistry is called oxydation.
€AL'CINATORY, n. A vessel used in cal-
cination.
€AL'CINE, ti.f. [Ft. caleiner ; It. calcinare ;
Sp. calcinar ; from calx. See Calx.]
1. To reduce a substance to a powder or to
a friable state, by the action of heat ; or
to expel from a substance some volatile
matter, combined with it, or forming its
cementing principle, as the carbonic acid
from limestone, or the water of crystali-
zation from salts.
2. To oxydize, as a metal ; to reduce to a
metallic calx.
3. To dissolve ; to destroy the principles
which unite. Denham.
€AL'CINE, V. i. To be converted into a
powder or fi-iable substance, or into a
calx, by the action of heat. JVetcfon.
CAL'CIUM, n. [from L. calx.] The metallic
basis of lime. Davy.
€AL€OGRAPH'l€AL, a. [See Calcogra-
phy.] Pertaining to calcography.
€AL€OG'RAPHY, n. [L. calx, chalk, and
Gr. 7pa$u, to engrave.] An engraving in
the hkeness of chalk.
€AL€-SINTER, n. Stalactitic carbonate
of lime. Ure.
€AL€-TUFF, n. An alluvial formation of
carbonate of lime. Ure.
€AL€'ULABLE, a. [See Calculate.] That
may be calcidated, or ascertained by cal-
culation.
€AL€'ULARY, n. [L. calculus, a pebble.]
A congeries of little stony knots dispersed
through the parenchyma of the pear and
other fruits, formed by concretions of the
sap. Encyc.
€AL€'ULATE, v. t. [Fr. calculer ; It. calcu-
lare ; Sp. calcular ; Lat. calculo ; from
calculus, a pebble. Ar. Syr. ^ jJiXi'
gravel.]
To compute; to reckon; to add, subtraci,
multiply or divide any sums, for the pur-
pose of finding the amount, difference, or
other result. Thus, to calculatethe expen-
ses of erecting a house, is to estimate and
add together the several sums which eacl-
part of the materials and the work \\i\'
cost.
2. To ascertain by the use of tables or niuii-
bers ; as, to calculate an ecUpse.
.3. To form tables upon mathematical prin
ciples, as logarithms, ephemerides, &c.
4. To compute the situation of the planets
at a certain time, for astrological pur-
poses ; as, to calculate the birth of a person.
Shak.
5. To adjust by computation ; to fit or jire-
pare by the adai)tation of the means to
the end; as, to calculate a system of laws
for a free people.
C A L
CAL€'ULATE, v. i. To make a coniputa
tion ; as, we calculate better for ourselves
than for otiiers.
Ill popular use, this word is often equivalent
to intend or purpose, that is, to make ar-
rangements, and form a i)lan ; as, a niai)
calculates to go a journey. This use of
the word spring's from the practice oi' com-
puting or estimating the various circum-
stances which concur to influence the
mind in forming its determinations.
€AL€'ULATED,jo/>. Computed ; reckoned ;
suited ; adapted by design.
€AL€'ULAT1NG, ppr. Computing; reck-
oning ; adapting by design ; adjusting.
€AL€ULA'TION, n. The art, practice or
manner of computing by numbers. The
use of numbers, by addition, subtraction,
nudtiplication, or division, for the purpose
of arriving at a certain result. Thus coin-
putations in astronomy and geometry for
making tables of numbers are called cal-
culations. Eniyc.
2. The result of an arithmetical operation ;
computation ; reckoning. Hooker.
3. Estimate formed in the mind by compar-
ing the various circumstances and facts
which influence its determination.
€AL€'ULATIVE, a. Pertaining to calcula-
tion ; tendin" to calculate. Burke.
CALCULATOR, n. One who computes or
reckons ; one who estimates or considers
the force and effect of causes, with a view
to form a correct estimate of the effects.
€AL€'ULATORY, a. Belonging to calcu-
lation. Johnson.
€ALC'ULE, n. Reckoning; computation.
Ohs. Howel.
CALCULOUS, a. [Supra.] Stony ; gritty ;
hard like stone ; as a calculous concretion
Brown.
2. Affected with the gravel or stone ; as a
ralculous person. Sharp.
CAL€'ULUS, n. [L. See Calculate.] The
stone in the bladder or kidneys. The cal-
culus ill the bladder is called lithiasis; in
the kidneys, nephritis. Encyc.
'i. In mathematics ; Differential calculus, is
the arithmetic of the infinitely small differ-
ences of variable quantities ; the method
of diflferencing quantities, or of finding an
infinitely small quantity, which, being ta-
ken infinite times, shall be equal to a giv-
en quantity. This coincides with the doc-
trine of fluxions. Encyc.
'■i. Exponential calculus, is a method of differ-
encing exponential quantities ; or of find-
ing and summing up the differentials or
moments of exponential quantities; or at
least of bringing them to geometrical con-
structions. Encyc.
4. Integral calculus, is a method of integra-
ting or sunnning up moments or differen-
tial quanlities ; the inverse of the differen-
tial calculus. Encyc.
,■). Literal calculus, is specious arithmetic or
algebra. Encyc.
CALDRON, n. cawl'dron. [Old Fr. chaul-
dron, now chaudron; Basque, galda, to
lieat ; galdarea, a great kettle ; It. caldaia,
or caldaro, a caldron ; caldo, heat and hot ;
Sp. calda, heat ; caldear, to heat, to weld
iron; caldera, a caldron; Port. c(ddeira, i
caldron ; L. caldarium, id : calda, hot wa
C A L
ter; calidus, hot; from caleo, to be hot.
This is from the root of Eng. scald.]
A large kettle or boiler, of copper, or otlier
metal, furnished with a movable handle
or bail, with which to hang it on a chim-
ney hook. Addison
CALECIIE, [See Calash.]
C A LE DON IAN, «. Pertaining to Caledonia,
111 ancient name of Scotland. The ter
nination in, signifies a country, and was
Killed by (lie Humans. Caledon signifies
iriilmlily, the hill or town of the Gaels, or
Vdds, tiie primitive inhabitants.]
CALEUO'NIAN, n. A native of Caledonia,
>w Scotland.
CALEEA'CIENT, a. [See Cole/action, Cal
A'CIENT, n. That which warms
f/u.] Warming ; heating,
ALEF A'CIENT, n. Th
or heats,
CALEF ACTION, n. [L. calefaclio, from
calefacio, to make warm. See Calefy.]
The act or operation of warming or heating ;
the production of heat in a body by the
action of tire, or by the communication of
liriil liiiin nilirr bodies. Encyc.
'i. Till' suite of being heated. John.ion.
CALI'lKAfl'lVE, I [See Calefaction.]
CALEFACTORY, S "' That makes warm
or hot ; that communicates heat.
C.'VL'EFY', v. i. [L. calejio, to become warm,
or hot ; from caleo &iu\/io ovfacio.]
To grow hot or warm ; to be heated.
Brown
CAL'EFY, v. I. To make warm or hot.
Johnson
CAL'ENDAR, n. [L. calendarium, an ac-
count book. See Calends.]
1. A register of the year, in which the
months, weeks, and days are set down in
order, with the feasts observed by tli
church, &-C. ; an almanack. It was so
named from the Roman Calendce, the
name given to the first day of the month,
and written, in large letters, at the head of'
each month. [See Calends.] Encyc.
■2. A list of prisoners in the custody of the
sheriff". Eng.
An orderly table or enumeration of jier-
sons or things. Encyc.
Calendar-montli, a solar month as it stands
Almanacks.
CAL'ENDAR, v. t. To enter or write in a
calendar.
CAL'ENDER, v. t. [Fr. calendrer ; Sp. cal
enlar, to heat, to urge or press forward ;
from caleo, to be hot.]
To press between rollers, for the purpose
of making smooth, glossy and wavy;
woolen and silk stuflTs and linens.
CAL'ENDER, n. A machine or hot press,
used in manufactories to press cloths, for
the purpose of malting them smooth, even-
and glossy, laying the nap, watering tliemi
and giving them a wavy appearance. It
consists of two thick rollers or cylinders,
placed between boards or planks, the low-
er one being fixed, the ujiper one mova-
ble, and loaded with a great weight. Encyc.
CAL'ENDRER, n. The person who calen-
ders cloth.
CAL'ENDS, n.plu. [L. caZeiirfoe, from calo,
Gr. xoTifu, Eng. to call. See Call]
Among the Romans, the fii'st day of each
month. The origin of this name is differ-
ently related. Varro supposes it to have
originated in the practice of notifying the'
C A L
time of the new moon, by a piicfft who
called out or proclaimed the fact, to the
peo]ile, and the number of the calends, or
the day of the nqnes. Others alledge that
the people behig convened, the pontifex
proclaimed the several feasts or holidays
in the month ; a custom which was dis-
continued in the year of Rome 450, when
the fasti or calendar was set up in public
places, to give notice of the festivals.
Encyc. AdanVs Ram. Ant.
CAL'ENTURE, n. fSp. calentura, heat, a
fever with irregular pulse ; calentar, to
heat ; from L. caUo, to be hot. Russ.
kalyu, to heat, to make red or red hot.]
A violent ardent fever, incident to persons
in hot clhnates, especially natives of cooler
climates. It is attended with delirium,
and one of the symptoms is, that the
person affected imagines the sea to be a
green field, and sometimes attempting to
walk in it, is lost. Enajc. Coxe.
CALF, n. c'aff, phi. calves, jiron. c'avz.
[Sax. cealf; Sw. kalf; Dan. kalv ; D. kalf;
and the verb kalven, to calve, to vomit ;
G.kalb; kalben. The primary sense is is-
sue, from throwing out. Hence the word
is applied to the protuberant part of the
leg, a push, a swell.]
1. The young of the cow, or of the bovine
genus of quadru])eds.
2. In contempt, a dolt ; an ignorant, stupid
person ; a weak or cowardly man.
Drayton.
3. The thick fleshy part of the leg behind;
so called from its protuberance. Wiseman.
4. The calves of the lips, in Hosea, signify the
pure offerings of prayer, praise and thanks-
giving. Broivn.
C^ALF-LIKE, a. Resembling a calf. Shak.
C^ALF-SKIN, n. The hide or skin of a
calf: or leather made of the skin.
CAL'IBER, n. [Fr. and Sp. calibre.]
1. The diameter of a body ; as the caliber of
a colunm, or of a bullet. Encyc.
2. The bore of a gun, or the extent of'its
bore.
Caliber-compasses, calibers, or callipers, a sort
of compasses made with arched legs, to
take the diameter of round bodies, as
masts, shot, &c. The legs move on an
arch of brass, on which are marked the in-
ches and half inches, to show how far the
points of the compasses are opened asun-
der. Encyc.
Caliber-rule, Gunner's Callipers, an instru-
ment in which a right line is so divided
as that the fii'st part being equal to the
diameter of an ii-on or leaden ball of one
pound weight, the other parts are to the
first as the diameters of balls of two,
three, four, &c. pounds, are to the diame-
ter of a ball of one pound. It is used by
engineers, to determine, from a ball's
weight, its diameter or cahber and I'lce
versa. Encyc.
CAL'ICE, «. [L. calix; Fr. calice ; Sax. ca-
lic, a cup ; Gr. xi'?.i|. It is usually written
chalice ; but incorrectly.]
A cup ; appropriately, a communion cup, or
vessel used to administer the wine in the
sacrament of the Lord's supper. It is used
by the Roman Catholics in the mass.
CAL'ICO, n. [said to be from Calicut, in
India.] Cotton cloth. In England, wliite
or imprinted cotton cloth is called calico.
C A L
C A L
C A L
In tlie United States, calico is printed
cotton cloth, having not more than two
colors. I have never heard this name
given to the imprinted cloth. Calico vras
originally im])orted from India, but is now
nianufactHreil In Europe and the United
States.
<;AL'I€0-PRINTER, 11. One whose occu-
pation is to print calicoes.
CAL'ID, a. [L. calidus, {romcaleo, to be hot.]
Hot; burning; ardent. Johnson.
GALIDITY, n. Heat. Brown.
CAL'IDU€T, 11. [L. caleo, to be hot, color,
heat, and duco, to lead.]
Among the Ancients, a pipe or canal used
to convey heat from a furnace to tlie apart-
ments of a house.
CA'LIF, n. written also caliph and kalif.
[from Ar. i_iX-L calafa, to sue
Hence a calif is a successor, a title j
■ced.
5opm oi rersia. jL,ncyc.
i The office or dignity of
i, > n. a calif; or the govern-
5 ment of a calif. Harris.
to the successors of Mohammed.]
A successor or vicar; a repre-sentative of Mo-
hammed, bearing the same relation to him
as the Pope pretends to bear to St. Peter.
Among the Saracens, or Mohammedans, a
calif is one who is vested with supreme
dignity and power in all matters relating
to religion and civil pohcy. This title is
borne by the Grand Signior in Turkey,
and by tlie Sophi of Persia. Encyc.
€A'LIFATE, - - .. . .
CALIPHATE.
KA'LIFATE,
CALIGA'TION, n. [L. caligalio, dimne
from caligo, to be dark.] Darkness ; dim-
In medical authors, caligation or caligo, is an
opakeness or cloudiness of the anterior
surface of the crystahne lens, causing dim-
ness of sight ; impaired sight from obstruc-
tion to the passage of light, or cataract.
Coxe. Encyc.
eALI(5TNOUS, a. Dim ; obscme ; dark.
CALlG'INOUSNESS,n.Dimness;obscurity.
€ALIGRAPH'Ie, a. [Infra.] Pertaining to
elegant penmanship. Jfarton.
€ALiG RAPHY, ) [Gr. xaxa, fair, and
€ALLIG'RAPHY, ^ yp"$w, to write ; xax-
Fair or elegant writing, or penmanship.
Pridcaux.
CA'LIN, n. A compound metal, of which the
Chinese make tea canisters and the like.
The ingredients seem to be lead and tin.
Encyc.
CAL'IVER, n. [from caliber.] A kind "of]
handgun, musket or arquebuse. Shak.
€A'LIX, n. [h.calix;Gr.xvXit]
1. A cup.
2. Tlie membrane which covers the papillae
in the pelvis of the human kidney. Coxe.
But it seems to be erroneously used for
calyx, which see.
€ALK, V. t. cauk. [Qu. the connection of this
word with the Sp. calafetear ; It. rnlafa-
tare ; Port, calafetar ; Arm. calefcli ; Fr
calfater, to smear with cement or mortar ;
Ar. (_JiXa kalafa, to stop the seams of ships
with fine moss, &c., and pay them over
with pitch ; Sam. id. It may be corrupted
from this word ; if not, it may be from the
Dan. WJ:, calx, lime or mortar; but
seems not probable. The Germans and
Danes have borrowed the Spanish and
French word to express the idea. Skinner
deduces the word from Fr. calage, tow.]
1. To drive oakum or old ropes untwisted,
into the scams of a ship or other vessel,
to prevent their leaking, or admitting wa-
ter. After the seams are filled, they are
covered with hot melted pitch or rosin,
keep the oakum from rotting.
'. In some parts of America, to set upon
horse or o.\ shoes armed with sharp points
of iron, to prevent their slipping on '
that is, to stop from shpping.
CALK, n. cauk. In JVew-Eugland, a sharp
pointed piece of iron on a shoe for a horse
or an ox, called in Great Britain calkin :
used to prevent the animal from slipping
CALK'ER, n. cauk'cr. A man who calks;
sometimes perhaps a calk or pointed iron
on a horse-shoe.
CALK'ED, /)/). cauk'ed. Having the seams
stopped ; furnished with shoes with iron
points.
CALK'IN, n. A calk.
CALKTNG, ppr. cauk'ing. Stopping the
seams of a ship; putting on shoes with
iron points.
CALK'ING, n. cauk'ing. In painting, the
covering of the back .side of a design with
black lead, or red chalk, and tracing lines
through on a waxed plate or wall or oth-
er matter, by passing lightly over each
stroke of the design with a point, which
leaves an impression of the color on the
plate or wall. Chambers.
CALK'ING-IRON, n. cauk'ing-iron. An in-
strument like a chisel, used in calking
ships.
CALL, V. t. [L. calo ; Gr. xa\f« ; Sw. kalla ;
Dan. holder ; W. galw, to call ; D. kallen,
to talk ; Ch. lh2 in Aph. to call, to thun-
der ; Heb. to hold or restrain, which is the
Gr. xuxiiu, L. cavla ; Syr. Sam. Eth. to
hold, or restrain ; Ar. to keep ; L. celo.
The primary sense is to press, drive or
strain. We find the like elements and sig-
nification in San. giellan, or giillan, to yell ;
Dan. g-aZer, to crow. Class Gl. Tlie W.
galiv is connected in origin with gallu, to
be able, to have power, may, can, Eng.
could, the root of gallant, L. gnllus, &c.]
In a general sense, to drive ; to strain or force
out sound. Hence,
1. To name ; to denominate or give a name.
And God called the light day, and the dark-
ness he called night. Gen. i.
2. To convoke ; to summon ; to direct or
order to meet ; to assemble by order or
public notice ; often with togetluer ; as, the
king called his council together ; the presi-
dent called together the congress.
3. To request to meet or come.
He sent his servants to call them that were
bidden. Math. xxii.
4. To invite.
Because I have called and ye refused.
Prov. i.
5. To invite or summon to come or be pres-
ent ; to invite, or collect.
Call all your senses to you.
6. To give notice to come by authority ; to
command to come ; as, call a servant
7. To proclaim ; to name, or publish the
Nor parish clerk, who calls the psahi
Gai/
8. To appoint or designate, as for an office,
duty or employment.
See, I have called byname Bezaleel. Est
KXXi.
Paul called to be an aposUe. Rom. i.
9. To mvite ; to warn ; to exhort. Is. xxii. 12.
Cruden.
10. To invite or draw into union with Christ :
to bring to know, beUeve and obey the
gospel. Rom. viij. 28.
11. To own and acknowledge. Heb. ii. li.
12. To invoke or appeal to.
I call God for a record. 2 Cor. i.
13. To esteem or account. Is. Iviii. 5. Mat.
iii. 15.
To call down, to invite, or to bring down.
To call back, to revoke, or retract ; to recall ;
to summon or bring back.
To call for, to demand, require or claim, as
a crime calls for punishment ; or to cause
to grow. Ezek. xxxvi. Also, to speak
for ; to ask ; to request ; as, to call for a din-
ner.
To call in, to collect, as to ccdl in debts or
money ; or to draw from circulation, as
to call in clipped coin ; or to summon to-
gether ; to invite to come together ; as, to
call in neighbors or friends.
To call forth, to bring or summon to action;
as, to call forth all the faculties of the mind.
To call off, to summon away ; to divert ; as, to
call off the attention ; to ccdl off workmen
from their employment.
To call up, to bring into viewer recollection;
as, to call up the image of a deceased
friend ; also, to bring into action, or dis-
, cussion ; as, to ccUl up a bill before a legis-
lative body.
To call over, to read a list, name by name ;
to recite separate particidars in order, as
a roll of names.
To call out, to summon to fight ; to challenge ;
also, to summon into service ; as, to call out
the iTiilitia.
To call to mind, to recollect ; to revive in
memory.
CALL, V. i. To utter a loud sound, or to ad-
dress by name ; to utter the name ; some-
times with to.
Tlie angel of God called to Hagar. Gen. xxi.
2. To stop, without intention of staying r to
make a short stop ; as, to call at the inn.
This use Johnson supposes to have origin-
ated in the custom of denoting one's pres-
ence at the door by a call. It is common,
in this phrase, to use at, as to call at thp. inn ;
or on, as to call on a friend. This applica-
tion seems to be equivalent to speak, D.
kallen. Let us speak at this place.
To call on, to make a short visit to ; also, to
solicit payment, or make a demand of a
debt. In a theological sense, to pray to or
worship : as, to call on the name of the
Lord. Gen. iv. To repeat solemnly.
Dryden.
To call out, to utter a loud voice ; to bawl ;
a popular use of the phrase.
CALL, 11. A vocal address, of summons or
' invitation ; as, he will not come at a call.
2. Demand ; requisition ; public claim ; as,
listen to the calls of justice or humanity.
3. Divine vocation, or suunnons ; as the call
of Abraham.
4. Invitation ; request of a public body or
society ; as, a clergyman has a call to settle
ill the ministry.
A summons (iom heaven ; impulse.
C A L
C A L
C A L
St. Paul believed he had a call, when he per-
secuted tlie christians. Locke.
('). Autliority; command. Denham.
7. A short visit ; as, to make a call ; to give
one a call ; that is, a speaking to ; D.
kallen. To give one n call, is to stop a
motnent and speak or say a word ; or to
have a short conversation with.
8. Vocation ; employment. In this sense
ccdlmg is generally used.
9. A naming ; a nomination. Bacon.
10. Among hunters, a lesson blown on tlic
horn, to comfort the hounds. Encyc.
11. Among seamen, a whistle or pipe, used
by the boatswain and his mate, to summon
the sailors to their duty. Encyc.
12. The English name of the mineral called
by the Germans tungsten or wolfram.
Encyc.
13. Among/oio/er*, the noise or cry of a fowl,
or a pipe to call birds by imitating their
voice. Encyc. Bailey.
14. In legislative bodies, the call of the house,
is a calling over the names of the uieni
bers, to discover who is absent or for othe
purpose ; a calling of names with a view to
obtain answers from the jiefsons named.
eALL'ED, pp. Invited ; summoned ; address-
ed ; named ; appointeil ; invoked ; assem-
bled by order ; recited.
-CALL'ER, n. One who calls.
CAL'LET, I A trull, or a scold. [JVot
€AL'LAT, I "• used.] Shnk
CAL'LET, V. i. To rail ; to scold. [ATot ii
use.]
eALL'ING, ppr. Inviting ; summoning ; na
ming ; addressing ; invoking.
€ALL'ING, n. A naming, or inviting ; i
reading over or reciting in order, or a call
of names with a view to obtain an answer,
as in legislative bodies.
2. Vocation ; profession ; trade ; usual occu-
pation, or emplovment.
Pope. Simjl. 1 Cor. vii. 20,
3. Class of persons engaged in any profession
or employment. Hammond,
4. Divine summons, vocation, or invitation,
Give all diligence to make your calling and
election sure. 2 Pet. i.
€AL'LIOPE, n. cal'Uopy. In Pagan my
tliology, the muse that presides over elo
qiience and heroic poetry.
CAL'LIPERS. [See Caliher.)
CALLOS'ITY, n. [Fr. callosite ; L. callositas
See Callous.]
Hardness, or bony hardness ; the hardness of
the cicatrix of ulcers. Coxe.
CAL'LOUS,a. [L. crtito,hardness ; calleo, to
be hard, to know or be skilled ; Eng.
could, which see.]
1. Hard ; hardened ; indurated ; as an ulcer
or some part of the body. Wiseman.
2. Hardened in mind ; insensible ; unfeehng,
I Dryden.
CAL'LOUSLY, adv. In a hardened or un-
feeling manner.
CAL'LOUSNESS, n. Hardness, induration
applied to the body ; insensibility, applied
; to the mind or heart. Cheyne. Bentley.
I CAL'LOW, a. [Ir. calbh ; L. calvus, bald
G. kahl ; D. kaal ; Fr. chauve ; Pers. V^
kal ; Russ. golei, bald, naked ; goleyu, tc
be stripped.]
« Destitute of feathers ; naked ; unfledged ; as
hi a young bird. Milton
CAL'LUS, n. [L. callus, from calleo, to be
liard ; Sans, kalla, stone.]
Any cutaneous, corneous, or bony hardness,
but generally the new growth of osseous
matter between the extremities of fractur-
ed bones, serving to unite them ; also, a
hardness in the skin ; a hard, dense, insen-
sible knob on the hands, feet, &c.
Encyc. Coxe.
CALM, a. cam. [Vr. calme ; Sp.calma; It.
cahna ; D. kalm. Q,u. Gr. ;to».aco ; It. calare,
to decrease or abate ; Sp. calar, to sink.]
Still ; quiet ; being at rest ; as the air.
Hence not stormy or tempestuous ; as a
calm day.
2. Undisturbed ; not agitated ; as a ccdm
sea.
3. Undisturbed by passion ; not agitated or
excited ; quiet ; tranquil ; as the mind
temper, or attention.
CALM. ». Siilliioss;tranquillity;quiet;frce
(loin iVuiii iMciiion, agitation, or distm-b-
jiiice ; (ijij)liiit to the elements, or to the mind
and jiassiuns. Sotdh.
G'ALM, V. I. To still ; to quiet; as the wind,
or elements ; to still, appease, allay or
pacify, as the mind, or passions.
Dryden. Atterhury.
CALMER, ji. The person or thing that
calms, or has the power to still, and make
quiet ; that which allays or pacifies.
CALMING, vpr. Stilling; appeasing.
e'ALMLV, adv. In a quiet manner; with-
out disturbance, agitation, tumult, or vio-
lence ; without passion ; quietly.
e^ALMNESS, n. Quietness; stillness; tran-
quillity ; applied to the elements.
2. Quietness ; mildness ; unruffled state ; ap-
plied to the mind, passions or temper.
CALMY, o. Calm ; quiet ; peaceable.
Spenser. Cowley.
€AL'OMEL, n. [Qu. Gr. xaXoj, fair, and
ftfXof, black, or JEthiops mineral.]
A preparation of mercury, much used
medicine. It is called the submuriate or
protocliloride of mercury, and is prepared
in various ways, by sublimation or precipi-
tation, and al-so in the dry way. The fol-
lowing are the directions given in the last
London Pharmacopaia. Take of muriated
quicksilver one pound, and of purified
quicksilver, nine ounces ; rub them togeth-
er till the globules disappear ; then sub-
lime, and repeat the sublimation twice
more successively. Webster.
€ALOR'I€, n. [L. calor, heat.] The prin-
ciple or matter of heat, or the simple ele-
ment of heat. Lavoisier.
Caloric may be defined, the agent to which
the phenomena of heat and combustion
are ascribed. Ure..
Caloric expands all bodies. Henry.^
€ALOR'I€, a. Pertaining to the matter of
heat.
€ALORIF'l€, a. That has the quality of
|iroduriiig heat ; causing heat; heating.
eALORlM'ETER, n. [L. co/or, heat, aiid
Gr. fitrpov, measure.]
An apparatus for measuring relative quanti-
ties of heat, or the specific caloric of bod-
ies ; or an instrument for measuring the
heat given out by a body in cooling, from
the quantity of ice it melts, invented by
Lavoisier and Lapla
€AL'ORIMOTOR, J!, [caloric and L. motor,
mover.]
A galvanic instrument, in which the calorilic
influence oreffects are attended by scarcely
anv electrical power. Hare.
€ALb'TTE, I [Fr. caloUe.] A cap or
€ALO'TE, I"- coif, of hair, satin or other
stuff, worn in popish countries, as an eccle-
siastical ornament.
2. In architecture, a round cavity or depress-
ion, in form of a cup or cap, lathed and
plastered, used to diminish the elevation of
a chapel, cabinet, alcove, &:.c., which would_
otherwise be too high for other pieces of
the apartment. Harris. Encyc.
CALOY'ERS, or€ALO(iERI, n. Monks
of the Greek church, of three orders ;
archari, or novices ; ordinary professed,
or mierochemi ; and the more perfect, called
megalochemi. They are also divided into
cenobites, who are employed in reciting
their offices, from midnight to sunrise ;
anchorets, who retire and live in hermita-
ges ; and rec/u»e*, who shut themselves up
in grottos and caverns, on the mountains,
and live on alms furnished to them by the
monasteries. Encyc.
€ALP, n. A subspecies of carbonate of lime,
of a bluish black, gray or grayish blue, but
its streak is white, called also argillo-fer-
ruginous limestone. It is intermediate
between compact limestone and marl.
Kirwan. Cleaveland. Phillips.
CAL'TROP, n. [Sax. coltrappe, a species
of thistle, rendered by Lye, rhamnus, and
carduus stellatus. The French has chausse-
trape. The Italian calcatreppolo is from
calcare, to trea<l, and tribolo, a thistle ; L.
Iribulus.]
1. A kind of thistle, the Latin trilmltis, with
a roundish prickly pericarp ; on one side,
gibbous, often armed with three or four
daggers ; on the other side, angular, con-
verging with transverse cells. It grows
in France, Italy and Spain, among corn,
and is very troublesome, as the prickles
run into the feet of cattle.
Fam. of Plants. Miller.
2. In military affairs, an instrument with four
iron points, disposed in a triangular form,
so that three of them beingon tlie ground,
the other points upward. These are scat-
tered on the ground where an enemy's
cavalry are to pass, to inijiede their prog-
ress by endangering the horses' feet.
Encyc. Dr. Addison.
€AL'UMET, n. Among the aboriginals of
America, a pipe, used for smoking tobacco,
whose bowl is usually of soft red marble,
and the tube a long reed, ornamented with
feathers. The calumet is used as a sym-
bol or instrument of peace and war. To
accept the calumet, is to agree to thetemis
of peace, and to refuse it, is to reject them.
The calumet of jjcace is used to seal or
ratify contracts and alUances, to receive
strangers kindly, and to travel with safety.
The calumet of war, differently made, is
used to proclaim war.
€ALUM'NIATE, v. t. [See Calumny.] To
accuse or charge one falsely, and know-
ingly, with some crime, offense, or some-
thing disreputable ; to slander.
CALUM'NIATE, v.i. To charge falsely
and knowingly with a crime or offense;
to propagate evil re))orts with a design to
injure the reputation of another.
C A L
CALUMNIATED, pp. Slandered ; falsely
and maliciously accused of what is crimi-
nal, immoral, or disgraceful.
■CALUMNIATING, ppr. Slandering.
CALUiMNIA'TION, n. False accusation of
a crime or offense, or a malicious and false
representation of the words or actions of
another, with a view to injure his good
name.
CALUM'NIATOR, n. One who slanders ;
one who falsely and knowingly accuses
another of a crime or offense, or malicious-
ly propagates false accusations or reports.
€ALUM'NIATORY, a. Slanderous.
Montagu.
CALUM'NIOUS, a. Slanderous ; bearing or
implying calumny ; injurious to reputation.
CALUM'NIOUSLY, adv. Slanderously.
€ALUM'NIOUSNESS, n. Slanderousness.
Bp. Morton.
CAL'UMNY, n. [L. calumnia ; Tr. calomnie ;
It. calunnia. If m is radical, this word
may be allied to calamity, both from the
sense of falling upon, rushing, or throwing
on. If m is not radical, this word may be
the Gothic holon, to calumniate, Saxon
holan, to rush upon. The word is found in
Ir. guilimne, calumny, guilimmghim, to
calumniate or reproach].
Slander ; false accusation of a crime or of-
fense, knowingly or maliciously made or
reported, to the injury of another; false
representation of facts reproachful to an-
other, made by design, and with knowl-
edge of its falsehood ; sometimes followed
by on.
Neglected calumnij soon expires.
.Murphy's Tacitus.
PAL'VARY, n. [L. calvaria, from calva, a
skidl or scalp ; Ir. calb, the liead ; Sp. cal-
vario, calva ; It. calvo.]
I. A place of .skulls; particularly, the place
where Christ was crucified, on a small hill
west of Jerusalem. In catholic countries,
a kind of chapel raised on a hillock near a
city, as a place of devotion, in memoi'y of
the place where our Savior suffered.
1. In heraldry, a cross so called, set upon
steps, resembling the cross on which our
Saviour was crucified.
C'ALVE, V. i. cav. [from calf; Sax. calfian.]
To bring forth young, as a cow.
'i. In a metaphorical sense, and sometimes by
way of reproach, a,i when applied to the hu-
man race, to bring forth ; to produce.
CALVES-SNOUT, n. A i)lant, snap-drag-
on, antirrhinum.
CAL'VER, V. t. To cut in slices. [jYot in
use.'] B. Jonson.
€.\L'VER, V. i. To shrink by cutting, and
not fall to pieces. [Not in use.] Cotton.
CAL'VILLE, n. [Fr.] A sort of apple.
CAL'VINISM, n. The theological tenets or
doctrines of Calvin, who was born in Pic-
ardy in France, and in 1536, chosen pro-
fessor of divinity, and minister of a church
in Geneva. The distinguishing doctrines
of this system are, original sin, particular
election and reprobation, particular re-
demption, effectual grace in regenerat'
or a change of heart by the spirit of God,
justification by free grace, perseverance of
the saints, and the trinity.
■CAL'VINIST,n. A follower of Calvin ; one
who embraces the theological doctruies ofi
Calvin.
C A L
€ALVIN1ST'I€, ) Pertaining to Cal-
CALVINIST'IeAL, S "• vin, or to his opin-
ions in theology.
€'ALVISH,a. [iromcalf] Like a calf. [More
rly, catfish.] Sheldon.
eALX, n. '(Aa. calxes or calces. [L. caij; Sax.
cealc, a stone, calculus, and chalk ; D. kalk ;
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck; Dan. kalk ; Fr. chaux.
The same word signifies chalk, lime, mor-
tar, and the heel, and from that is formed
calculus, a little stone. TheVord then sig-
nifies primarily, a lump, or clod, or hard
mass, and is allied to callus. If calx is
from ;tax,tS, the usual orthography was not
observed by the Latins. See Calculate.]
Properly liine or chalk ; but more appropri-
ately, the substance of a metal or mineral
which remains after being subjected to
violent heat, burning, or calcination, solu-
tion by acids, or detonation by niter, and
which is or may be reduced to a fine pow-
der. Metallic calxes are now called oxyds.
They are heavier than the metal from
which they are produced, being combined
with oxygen. Coxe. Encyc.
Calx nativa, native calx, a kind of marly
earth, of a dead whitish color, which, in
water, bubbles or hisses, and without burn-
ing, will make a cement, like hme or
gypsum.
Calx viva, quick-lime, is hme not slaked.
€ALYC'INAL, f Pertaining to a calyx ;
CAL'YCINE, 5 "• situated on a calyx.
Martyn.
CAL'Y€LE, n. [L. calyculus. See Calyx.]
'n totally, a. row of small leaflets, at the base
of the calyx, on the outside. The calycle
of the seed is the outer proper covering
or crown of the seed, adhering to it, to fa-
cihtate its dispersion. Martyn.
€ALY€'ULATEor €AL'Y€LED, a. Hav-
ing a calycle at the base on the outside ;
used of the calyx.
€ALYP'TER, n. [Gr. xa.Xv7ttr,f, a cover.]
The calyx of mosses, according to Linne ;
but not properly a calyx. It is a kmd of
vail, or cowl, which covers or is suspended
over the tops of the stamens, like an extin-
guisher. Mine.
The calyptra of mosses is an appendage of
the capsule or female flower. It at first
closely invests the capsule, and its summit
is the stigma. As the capsule approaches
maturity, the calyptra is detached below,
and appended to the stigma hke a hood.
Cyc. Smith.
CA'LYX, ti. plu. calyxes. [L. calyx ; Gr.
j£oJ,u|, a flower not opened, a husk or shell.
It has been confounded with xvy^, calix,
a cup.]
The outer covering of a flower, being the
termination of the cortical epidermis or
outer bark of the plant, which, in most
plants, incloses and supports the bottom of
the corol. In Linne's system, it compre-
hends the perianth, the involucrum, the
ament, the spath, the glume, the calyptra,
and the volva. But in general it signifies
the perianth, and the leaves are generally
green. Milne. Martyn. Encyc
The opinion of Linne that the calyx is the
continuation of the epidermis is now con-
sidered erroneous. Ed. Encyc. Smith.
€ALZOONS', 71. [Sp. cakones.] Drawers,
[Not English.] Herbert
C A M
€AM'BER, 7^. [Fr.cambrer, to arch, to Vault,
to bend, from L. camera, a vault, a cham-
ber.]
Among builders, camber or camber-beam is
a piece of timber cut archwise, or with an
obtuse angle in the middle, used in plat-
forms, where long and strong beams are
required. As a verb, this word signifies to
bend, but I know not that it is used.
A cambered-deck, is one which is higher in
the middle, or arched, but drooping or de-
chning towards the stem and stern ; also,
when it is irregular.
jeAM'BERING, ppr. or a. Bending ; arched ;
as, a deck lies cambering.
€AM'BIST, n. [It. cambista, from cambio,
exchange ; Sp. id.]
A banker ; one who deals in notes, and bills
of exchange. Christ. Obs.
[cambric, n. A species of fine whhe linen,
I made of flax, said to be named from Cam-
bray in Flanders, where it was first manu-
factured.
iCAME, ^ref. of co;ne, which see.
CAME, n. A slender rod of cast lead, of
which glaziers make then- turned lead.
Encyc.
CAM'EL, 71. [Ucameltis; Gr. xa/xTfljir, T>.
Dan. kameel ; G. kamel ; Heb. Syr. Eth.
SaJ ; Ch. nSdJ ; Ar. y^^ The Arabic
verb, to which this word belongs, signifies
to be beautiful or elegant, to please or to
behave with kindness and humanity. In
Sa.x. gamele, or gamol, is a camel, and an
old man ; gamol-feax, one that has long
hair; gamol-ferhth, a man of a great mind.
In W. the word is cammarc, a crooked
horse.]
1. A large quadruped used in Asia and Af-
rica for carrying burdens, and for riders.
As a geiuis, the camel belongs to the order
of Pecora. The characteristics are ; it has
no horns ; it has six fore teeth in the under
jaw ; the canine teeth are wide set, three
in the upper and two in the lower jaw ;
and there is a fissure in the upper lip.
The dromedary or Arabian camel has one
bunch on the back, fimr callous pro-
tuberances on the fore legs and two on
the hind legs. The Bactrian camel has
two bunches on the back. The Llama of
South America is a smaller animal, with
a smooth back, small head, fine black eyes,
and very long neck. The Pacos or sheep
of ChiU lias no bunch. Camels constitute
tlie riches of an Arabian, without which
he could neither subsist, carry on tr»<le
nor travel over sandy desarts. Their milk
is his cofiimon food. By the camel's p.iw-
er of sustaining abstinence from drink, fur
many days, and of subsisting on a I'.w
coarse shrub.s, he is pecidiarly i'mt'd
for the parched and barren landsof Asia
and Africa.
2. In Holland, Camel, [or Kameel, as Coxe
writes it,] is a machine for litlitig ships, and
bearing them over the Pampus, at the
mouth of the river Y, or over other bars.
It is also used in other places, and particu-
larly at the d ock in Petersburg, to bear
vessels over a bar to Cronsta<lt.
Coxe. Encyc.
CAM'EL-BACKED, a. Having a back like
a camel. Fulkr
CAM
CAM
C A M
Came'leon mineral. [See Chameleon.] A com
pound of pure potash ami black oxyd of
manganese, fused together, whose solution
in water, at first green, passes spontane
ously through the whole series of colored
rays to the red ; and by the addition of
potash, it returns to its original green.
Ure.
CAM'ELOPARD, n. [camelus and pardalis.]
The giraff, a species constituting the genus
Camelopnrdalis. This animal has two
straight horns, without branches, six inch-
es long, covered with hair, truncated at
the cnil and tufted. On the forehead, is
a tubiMcle, two inches high, resembling
another horn. The fore legs are not much
longer than the hind ones, but the should-
ers are of such a vast length, as to render
the fore part of the animal much higher
than the hind part. The head is like'th
of a stag ; the neck is slender and elegant,
furnished with a short mane. The color
of the whole animal is a dirty white mark-
ed with large broad rusty spots. Tl
animal is found in the central and eastern
parts of Africa. It is timid and not fleet.
£?ic^c.
€AM'EO, CAMA'IEU, or €AMAY'EU, n
[It. cammeo; Vr. camayeu ; Sp. and Port
camafeo.]
A peculiar sort of onyx; also, a stone on
which are lomid various figures and rep
reseiitations of landscapes, a kindoflusus
naturae, exhibiting pictures without paint
ing. The word is said to be the oriental
camehuia, a name given to the onyx, when
they find, in preparing it, another color
as who should say, another color.
The word is applied by others to those
precious stones, onyxes, carnelians and
agates, on which lapidaries employ their
art, to aid nature and perfect the figures
The word is also applied to any gem
which figures may be engraved.
The word signifies also a painting ...
which there is only one color, and where
the lights and shadows are of gold,
wrought on a golden or azure ground,
When the ground is yellow, the French
call it ciraee ; when gray, grwaUle. Tliis
work is chiefly used to represent basso-
relievos. These pieces answer to the
Hovoxfuifiata, of the Greeks.
Encyc. Cliambers. Imnier.
Camera obscura, or dark chandler, in optics,
an apparatus representing an artificial
eye, in which the images of external ob-
jects, received through a double convex
glass, are exhibited distinctly, and hi their
native colors, on a white rnatter, placed
■within the machine, in the focus of the
glass.
€AM'ERADE, n. [L. camera, a chamber.]
One who lodges or resides in the same
apartment ; now comrade, which see.
€AMERALIS'TI€, a. [Infra.] Pertaining
to finance and public revenue.
CAMERALIS'TICS, n. [G. cameralht, a
financier. In Sp. camarista, is a minister
of state ; camarilla, a small room. The
word seems to be from L. camera, a cham-
ber.]
The science offinance orpublic revenue,
comprehending the means of raising and
iisiiosingofit. Grimke.
CAM'ERATE, v. t. [L. camera, from camera.
a chamber, properly an arched roof.]
To vault ; to ceil. [Little tised.]
CAM'ERATED, a. [L. cameralus, from
camera.} Anhed ; vaulted.
€AMERA'TION, n. An arching or vaulting,
€A3I'IS, n. [It. camtce.] A thin dress. [JVo/
English,]
€AMISA'DE, n. [Fr. from chemise, a shirt ;
It. camicia ; Sp. camisa.]
An attack by surprise, at night, or at break
of day, when the enemy is supposed to be
in bed. This word is said to have taken
its rise from an attack of this kind, in
which the soldiers, as a badge to distin-
guish each other by, bore a shirt over their
arms. Encyc.
€AM'ISATED,o. Dressed with a shirt out-
wards. Johnson.
CAM'LET, n. [from camel, sometimes writ-
ten cameloL]
A stuff" originally made of camel's hair. It is
now made, sometimes of wool, sometimes
of silk, sometimes of hair, especially that
of goats, with wool or silk. In some, the
warp is silk and wool twisted together,
and the woof is hair. The pure oriental
camlet is made solely from the hair of a
sort of goat, about Angora. Camlets are
now made in Europe. Encyc.
€AM'LETED, a. Colored or veined.
Herbert.
€AM'MO€, n. [Sax. cammoc, or cammec]
A plant, petty whin or rest-harrow, On-
onis.
€AM'OMILE, n. [Fr. camomUle ; Arm,
cramamailh ; D. kamille ; G. id.; Dan. kam-
eel-blomster ; L. clmmwmelon, which seems
to be the Gr. a;"^*', earth, and i";>.oi', an
apple.]
A genus of plants, Anthemis, of many spe
cies. It has a chaff"y receptacle ; the calyx
is hemispheric and subequal, and the
florets of the ray are more than five. The
common sort is a trailing perennial plant,
has a strong aromatic smell, and a bitter
nauseous taste. It is accounted caniiina-
tive, aperient, and emollient.
CAM'OUS, I [Fr. camiis ; W. ,
€AMOyS', I "■ crooked.]
Flat; de|>ressed; applied only to the nose, &nA
little used.-]
€AM'OUSED, a. Depressed ; crooked.
B. Jonson
€AM'OUSLY, adv. Awry. Skelton.
€AMP', n. [L. campus; Fr. camp a.r\A champ ;
Arm. camp ; It. Sp. Port.
camp. The sense is, an open level field or
plain. See Champion and Game.]
1. The ground on which an army pitch their
tents, whether for a night or a longer
time.
3. The order or arrangement of tents, or
disposition of an army, for rest ; as, to
pitch a camp. Also, the troops encamped
oir the same field.
|;i. An aimy. Hume.
CAMP, V. t. or i. To rest or lodge, as an army,
usually in tents; to pitch a camp; to fix
tents : but seldom used. [See Encamp.]
CAMP -FIGHT, J!. In lata ivriters, a tr\ii\hy
duel, or the legal combat of two champi-
ons, for the decis'on of a controversv.
[Ciimp in W. is a game, and campiaw is to
contend.]
CAMPA'IGN,? ,„„,„„, [,Vy.campagaf.
CAMPA'IN, \"- '""V""'- It. campaina ;
Sp.compaiia ; Port, campanha ; from camp.
This should be written campain, as Mit-
ford writes it.]
1. An open field ; a large open plain ; an
extensive tract of ground without consid-
erable hills. [See Champaign.]
2. The time that an army keeps the field,
either in action, marches, or in camp, with-
out entering into winter quarters. A cam-
paign is usually from spring to autumn or
winter ; but in some instances, armies
make a winter campaign.
CAMPA'IGN, I', t. To serve in a campaign.
Musgrave.
CAMPAIGNER, n. One who has served
CAMPA'NA, n. [L.] The pasque-flower.
CAMPAN'IFORM, a. [L. cam;)ana, a bell,
and forma, form.]
In the shape of a bell ; applied to flowers.
Botany.
CAMPANULA, n. [L.] The bell-flower.
CAMPAN'ULATE, a. [L. campanula, a little
hell.] In the form of a bell. Botany.
CAMPE'ACHY-WOOD, from Campeachy
in Mexico. [See Logu-ood.]
CAMPES'TRAL, ) [L. campestris, from
CAMPES TRIAN, I "' campus, a field.]
Pertaining to an open field ; growing in a
field or open ground. Mortimer.
CAM PIIOR, n. projierly cafor. [Low L.
c amphora ; Fr. camphre ; It. canfora; Sp.
alcanfor ; Port, canfora ; D. and G. kamfer ;
Ar. -JL,^ kafor, kaforon, from .j «=,
kafara, Heb. Ch. Syr. "ea kafar, to drive
off", remove, separate, wipe away ; hence,
to cleanse, to make atonement. " It seeitis
to be named from its purifying effects, or
from exudation. It will be seen that the
letter m in this word is casual.]
A solid concrete juice or exudation, from the
laurus caniphora, or Indian laurel-tree, a
large tree growing wild in Borneo, Suma-
tra, &c. it is a whitish translucent sub-
stance, of a granular or foliated fracture,
and somewhat unctuous to the feel. It
has a bitterish aromatic taste, and a very
fragrant smell, and is a powerful diapho-
retic. Enctjc. Lunier. Jlikin.
CAMPHOR, V. t. To impregnate or wash
with camphor. [Little used.]
CAM'PHORATE, n. In chimistry, a com-
pound of the acid of camphor, with differ-
CAM'PHORATE, a. Pertaining to camphor,
or impregnated with it.
CAMPHORATED, a. Impregnated with
caniphiT.
CAMPHORIC, a. Pertaining to camphor,
or partaking of its qualities.
CAMPHOR-OIL. rSee Camphor-tree.]
CAMPHOR-TREE, n. The tree from which
camphor is obtained. According to Mil-
ler, there are two sorts of trees that pro-
duce camphor; one, a native of Borneo,
which produces the best species ; the other,
a native of Japan, which resembles the
bay-tree, bearing black or purple berries.
But the tree grows also in Sumatra. The
stem is thick, the bark of a brownish
color, and the ramification strong, close
CAN
CAN
CAN
anfl extended. The wood is soft, easily
worked, and usefiil for domestic purposes.
To obtain camphor, the tree is cut down,
and divided into pieces, and the camplior
talien out ; it being found in small whitish
flakes, situated perpendicularly, in irregu-
lar veins, in and near the center of the
tree. It is then repeatedly soaked and
washed in soapy water, to separate fron
it all extraneous matter. It is then passed
through three sieves of different textur
to divide it into three sorts, head, belly and
foot camphor. Camphor oil is camphor,
before the operations of nature have re-
duced it to a concrete form ; and concrete
camphor may be reduced to oil, by the ni-
tric acid. .Ssiat. Res. iv. 1,
CAMPIL'LA, n. A plant of a new genus,
used by dyers. Jlsiat. Res.
CAMP'ING, ppr. Encamping.
■CAMP'ING, n. A playing at football.
Bryant.
CAMPION, ji. A plant, the jjopular name
of the lychnis.
CAM'US, I [L. ctimisa.] A thin dress,
CAM'IS, ^ "• [JVol Eng.] Spenser.
CAN, n. [D. kan ; Sax. can7ia ; G. lumne ;
Dan. kande ; Svv. kanna ; Corn, hannaih ;
Sans, kundha ; probably from holding,
containing, W. cannu or ganu, to contain,
gan, capacity, a mortise, Eng. gain, in
carpentry. Hence W. cant, a circle, a
hoop, a fence round a yard, a hundred, L
centum, Teut. hind, in hundred. See Cent
and Hundred, and Can, infra.]
A cup or vessel for hquors, in modern times
made of metal ; as a can of ale.
€AN, V. i. pret. could, which is from another
root. [See Could.] [Can is from the Sax.
cennan, to know, to bear or produce ; Goth
kunnan. Sax. cunnan, to know, to be able ;
cunnian, to try, to attempt, to prove ; cind,
cyn,gecynd, kind ; L. genus ; D. kunnen, to
know, to understand, to hold, to contain,
to be able, like the Fr. savoir ; Dan. kan,
to be able ; kiender, to know ; Sw. kan-
na, to know ; kunna, to be able ; G. kennen
to know ; kiinnen, to be able. Hence cun-
ning, that is, knowing, skilful, experien-
ced ; G. ftoimen, a being able, ability, knowl-
edge ; kund, pidilic ; kunde, knowledge,
acquaintance. The Teutonic and Gothic
words unite with the Greek ytmuo, to
get, as a male, and to bear, as a female,
which is connected witli yixo^t, to be born
or produced. Can, cennan, and ycwau, are
probably the same word ; and the Sax. gin-
nan, in the compounds, aginnan, heginnan,
onginnan, to begin, is from the same root
The primary sense is, to strain, to stretch
to urge or thrust with foi-ce, whicli gives
the sense of producing, and of holding,
containing, which is t!ie primary sens
knotving, comprehending ; and straining
gives tiie sense of power. The Sax. cun-
nian, to try, is to strain. See Ken. Ar
• Lf to be, the substantive verb ; also, to
become, to be made, to endure ; also,
to create, to generate, to form ; jij
to know ; Heb. and Ch. ]D, to fit or pre-
pare, to form or fashion : whence right.
fit ; as we have right, Sax. reht, L. recius,l
from rego, to rule, that is, to strain, stretch,
make straight ; Syr. _a to begin to be,
and its derivatives, to plant or estabhsh,!
to create, to be prepared; Eth. Tl®^!
kuu, to be, to become, to be made ; Ch.i
Sam. as the Hebrew. See Class Gn. No.!
aa 38. and 58. 42. 45. &c. Can in English I
is treated as an auxiUary verb, the signl
of the infinitive being omitted, as in the
jihrases, / can go, instead of, / can to go ,-!
thou canst go ; he can go.] |
To be able ; to have sufficient strength:
or physical power. One man can hft a
weight which anotlier can not. A horsei
can run a certain distance in a given time.
2. To have means, or instruments, whichj
supply power or ability. A man can buildi
a house, or fit out a ship, if he has the re-
quisite property. A nation cannot prose-
cute a war, without money or credit. I
will lend you a thousand dollars, if I can.\
3. To be possible.
Nicodemus said, How can these things be .'
John ili.
4. To have adequate moral power. A man
can indulge in i)leasure, or he can refrain.
He can restrain his appetites, if he will.
5. To have just or legal competent power,
that is, right ; to be free from any restraint
of moral, civil or political obligation, or
from any positive prohibition. We can
use a highway for travel, for this is per-
mitted hy law. A man can or cannot hold
an office. The Jews could not eat certain
kinds of animals which were declared to
be unclean. The House of Commons in
England can impeach, but the House of
Lords only can try impeachments. In
general, we can do whatever neither the
laws of God nor of man forbid.
How can I do this great wickedness and sin
against God. Gen. xxxix.
I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, my
God, to do less or more. Numb. xxii.
C. To have natural strength, or capacity ; to
be susceptible of; to be able or free to un-
dergo any change, or produce any effect,
by the laws and constitution of nature, or
by divine appointment. Silver can be melt-
ed, but cannot be changed into gold.
Can the rush grow witliout mire ? Job viii.
7. To have competent strength, ability, for-
titude, patience, &c., in a passive sense.
He cannot bear reproof. I cannot endure
this impertinence.
This is a hard saying ; who can hear it .' John
vi.
8. To have the requisite knowledge, experi-
ence or skill. Young men are not admit-
ted members of college, till they can trans-
late Latin and Greek. A]i astronomer can
calculate an echpse, though he can not
make a coat.
9. To have strength of inchnation or tnotives
sufficient to overcome obstacles, impedi-
ments, inconvenience or other objection.
I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
come. Luke xiv.
I cannot rise and give thee — yet because of
his importunity, he will rise and give him.
Luke xi.
10. To have sufficient capacity ; as, a vessel
can not hold or contain the whole quuu-
tity.
€AN, V. t. To know. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
CAN'-BUOY, n. In seamanship, a buoy in
form of a cone, made large, and sometimes
painted, as a mark to designate shoals.
&c. Mar. Diet.
eAN'-HQOK, n. An instrument to sling a
cask by the ends of its staves, formed by
reeving a piece of rope through two flat
hooks, and splicing its ends together.
Mar. Diet.
€ANA'DIAN, a. Pertaining to Canada, an
extensive country on the north of the
United States.
€ANA'D1AN, n. An inhabitant or native of
Canada.
€ANA'IL, 71. [Fr. canaille ; Sp. eanalla ; Port.
canalha ; It. canaglia.]
The coaiser part of meal ; hence, the lowest
people; lees; dregs; offscouring.
CAN'AKIN, n. A little can or cup. Shak.
CANAL', n. [L. canalis, a channel or kennel :
these being the same word differently
written; Fr. canal; Arm. can, or canol;
Sp. Port, canal ; It. cancde. See Cane,
It denotes a passage, from shooting, or
passing.]
1. A passage for water ; a water course :
properly, a long trench or excavation in
the earth for conducting water, and con-
fining it to naiTOW limits ; but the term
may be apphed to other water courses.
It is chiefly applied to artificial cuts or
passages for water, used for transporta-
tion ; whereas channel is applicable to a
natural water course.
The canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie is
one of the noblest works of art.
2. In anatomy, a duct or passage in the bodj
of an animal, through which any of the
juices flow, or other substances pass ; as
the neck of^ the bladder, and the aUmenta-
ry canal.
3. A surgical instrument ; a splint. Coxe.
€ANAL-C0AL. [See Cannel-coal.]
CANALICULATE, \ [L. canalicula-
CANALIC'ULATED, ^ "• tus, from canal-
iculus, a little ]>ipe, from canalis, canna, a
pipe.]
Channelled ; furrowed. In botany, having a
deep longitudinal groove above, and con-
vex underneath ; applied to the stem, leaf,
or petiole of plants. J\Iart}/n.
€/ "
icles.
2. An old dance. Shakspeare has tiscd the
word as a verb in a kind of cant phrase.
€ANA'RY-BIRD, n. A singing bird fi-om
the Canary isles, a species of Fringilla.
The bill is conical and straight ; the body
is yellowisli white ; the prime feathers of
the wings and tail are greenish. These
birds are now bred in other countries.
CANA'RY-GRASS, n. A plant, the Phala-
ris, whose seeds are collected for canary-
birds.
C.\N'CEL, V. t. [Fr. canceller ; Port, can-
cellar ; L. cancello, to deface, properly to
make cross bars or lattice-work, hence
to make cross fines on writing, from can-
celli, cross bars or lattice-work ; Gr. xi^xUf ;
Syr. Ch. Spjp kankel, id.]
1. To cross the lines of a writing, and de-
face them ; to blot out or obliterate.
or petiole of plants. Marti/n.
;ANA'RY, n. Wine made in the Canary
CAN
CAN
CAN
'*. To annul, or destroy ; as, to cancel an ob
ligation or a debt.
CAN'CELATED, o. [L. cancellalus, can
ceUo.] Cross-barred ; marked with cross
lines. Grew. Martyn.
CANCELA'TION, n. The act of delacnig
by cross lines ; a canceling.
CAN'CELED, ;//>. Crossed ; obliterated
annulled.
CAN'CELING,;);>r. Crossing; obliterating
annulling.
CAN'CER, n. [L. cancer; Sixx.cancre; Fr.
cancre; D.kanker; S}!. cangrejo, cancro
It. cancro, canckero ; Gr. xayxn- This
seems to be the same word, though ap-
plied to the shell ; xofxivoi, a cancer, is i
different word. From the Greek, the
Latins have concha, Eng. conch. But n is
not radical ; for this is undoubtedly the
W. cocos, Eng. cockle, Fr. coquille, coque,
It. coccia. These words are probably from
the same root as Sp. cocar, to wrinkle,
twist, or make wry faces ; Ir. cuachaim, to
fold ; Eng. cockle, to shrink or i)ucker ;
verbs which give the primary sense. It is
to be noted that cancer and canker are the
same word ; ca?i*er being the original pro-
niuiciation.]
1. The crab or crab-fish. This genus of ani-
mals have generally eight leg.s, and twd
claws which serve as hands ; two distant
eyes, supported by a kind of peduncles,
and they are elongated and movable.
They have also two clawed palpi, and the
tail is jointed. To this genus belong the
lobster, shrimp, cray-fish, &c.
% In astronomy, one of the twelve signs of
tlie zodiac, represented by the form of a
crab, and limiting the sun's course north-
ward in summer ; hence, the sign of the
summer^ solstice.
3. In medicine, a roundish, hard, unequal,
scirrous tumor of the glands, which usu-
ally ulcerates, is very painful, and gene-
rally fatal.
€AN'CERATE, v. i. To grow into a can-
cer ; to becoTne cancerous. L'Eslrangc.
CANCERA'TION, n. A growing cancer-
ous, or into a cancer.
•eAN'CEROUS, a. Like a cancer; having
the qualities of a cancer. Wiseman.
€AN'CEROUSNESS, n. The state of being
cancerous.
C.\N'CRIFORM, a. Cancerous.
2. Having the form of a cancer or crab.
I'AN'CRINE, a. Having the quahties of a
crab.
lAN'CRITE, n. [ft-om cancer.] A fossil or
l»iriiied crab. Fourcroy.
< \.\ DENT, a. [L. candens, from candeo,
to be white or hot. See the verb, to cant~
Very hot ; heated to whiteness ; glowing
with heat.
€AN'DI€ANT.a. Growing white. Diet.
i,'AN'DID, o. [L. Candidas, white, from can-
deo, to be white ; W. canu, to bleach. Set
Cant] White. Drydcn.
[But in this sense rarely used.]
9. Fair ; open ; frank ; ingenuous ; free fi-om
undue bias; disposed to think and judge
according to truth and justice, or without
partiality or prejudice ; applied to persons.
3. Fair ; just ; impartial ; applied to things; as
a candid view, or construction.
€AN'DIDATE, n. [L. candidatiis, from can
didus, white ; tliose who sought offices in
Vol. I.
Rome being obliged to wear a white
gown.]
A man who seeks or aspires to an offii
one who offers himself, or is proposed for
l)referment, by election or appointment
usually followed by for; as a candidate
for the office of sherift'.
2. One who is in contemplation for an office,
or for preferment, by those who have
power to elect or appoint, though he does
not offer himself
3. One w^ho, by his services or actions, will
or may justly obtain preferment or re-
ward, or whose conduct tends to secure
it ; as a candidate for praise.
A man who is qualified, according to the
rules of the church, to preach the gospel,
and take the charge of a parish or reli-
gious society, and j)roposes to settle in the
ministry. U. States.
5. One who is in a state of trial or probation
for a reward, in another life ; as a can-
didate for heaven or for eternity.
eAN'DIDLY, adv. Openly ; frankly ; with-
out trick or disguise; ingenuously.
€AN'U1DNESS, n. Openness of mind;
fraid<noss ; fairness ; ingenuousness.
€AN'DIED, pp. or a. [from candy.] Pre-
served with sugar, or incrusted with it ;
covered with crystals of sugar or ice, or
with matter resembling them ; as candied
raisins.
GAN'DLE, 71. [L. Sp. It. candela ; Fr. chan-
delle ; Sa.\. candel ; Pers. knndil ; Arm.
cantol ; W. camvyll ; Ir. cainneal ; from L.
candeo, to shine, to be white, or its root.
The primary sense of the root is, to shoot,
to throw, to radiate. See Cant and
Ownt.]
1. A long, but small cylindrical body of tal-
low, wa.x or spermaceti, formed on a wick
composed of linen or cotton threads,
twisted loosely ; used for a portable light
of domestic use.
3. Alight.
3. A fight; a luminary. In scripture, the
candle of tlie Lord is the divine favor and
blessing. Job xxix. 3. ; or the conscience
or understanding. Prov. xx. 27.
Excommunication by inch of candle, is when
the offender is allowed time to repent,
while a candle burns, and is then excom-
municated.
Sale by inch of candle, is an auction in which
persons are allowed to bid, only till a small
piece of candle burns out.
Medicated candle, in medicine, a bougie.
Rush-candles are used in some countries ;
they are made of the pith of certain rushe.i,
peeled except on one side, and dipped in
grease. Encyc.
€AN'DLE-BERRY TREE, n. The Mynca
cerifera, or wax-bearing myrtle ; a shrub
conunon in North America," fi-om the ber-
ries of which a kind of wax or oil is pro-
cured, of which candles are made. Th«
oil is obtained by boiling the berries in
water ; the oil rising to the surface is
skimmed off, and when cool, is of the con-
sistence of wax, and of a dull green color.
In jiopular language, this is called bay-
berrii tallow.
CAN'DLE-BOMB, n. A small glass bubble,
filled with water, placed in the wick of a
candle, where it bursts with a report.
CANDLE-HOLDER, n. [candle ani hold.]
31
A person that holds a candle. Hence, one
that remotely assists another, but is oth-
erwise not of importance. Shak.
CAN'DLE-LIGHT, n. [candle and light.]
The light of a candle ; the necessary can-
dles for use. MolinevT.
CAN'DLEMAS, n. [candle and mass. Sax.
massa ; candle-feast.]
The fea.st of the church celebrated on the
second day of February, in honor of the
purification of the Virgin Mary ; so called
fiorn the great miniber of lights used on
that occasion. This feast is supposed to
have originated in the declaration of Sim-
eon, that our Savior was "to be a light to
lighten the Gentiles." On this day, the
Catholics consecrate all the candles and
tapers which are to be used in their
churches diu'ing the whole year. In
Rome, the ])ope performs the ceremony
himself, and distributes wax candles to
the cardinals and others, who carry them
in procession through the great hall of the
{lope's palace. The ceremony was pro-
libited in England by an order of coun-
cil in 1548. But candlemas is one of the
four terms for paying and receiving rents
and interest ; and it gives name to a law
term, beginning Jan. 15, and ending Feb. 3.
Encyc.
CAN'DLE-STICK, «. [candle and stick;
Sax. candel-sticea.] An instrument or uten-
sil to hold a candle, made in different
forms and of different materials ; origi-
nally a stick or piece of wood.
€AN'bLE-STUFF, n. [candle and «/»/.]
A material of which candles are made, as
tallow, wax, &c. Bacon.
CAN'DLE- WASTER, n. [candle and waste.]
One who wastes or consumes candles ; a
hard student, or one who studies by can-
dle-fight; a spendthrift.
B. Jonson. Shak.
€AN'DLES-ENDS, n. Scraps ; fragments.
Beaum.
CAN'DOe, n. A plant or weed that grows
in rivers. Walton.
€.\N'DOR, n. [L. candor, from candeo, to
be white.]
Openness of heart ; frankness : ingenuous-
ness of mind ; a disposition to treat sub-
jects with fairness ; fi-eedom from tricks
or disguise; sincerity. Watts.
CAN'DY, V. t. [It. candire, to candy, to pre-
serve ; candito, candied ; Fr. candir. This
seems not to be the Latin condio, for the
Italian has also condire. Possibly it may be
from L. candeo, to be white. But in Ar.
<j o -
j^^'i kand, kandon, is the saccharine mat-
ter of the sugar cane, or concrete sugar,
and it is tlie same in Persian; Sans.
khand.]
1. To conserve or dress with sugar ; to boil
in sugar.
2. To form into congelations or crj-stals.
Shak.
3. To cover or incrust with congelations, or
crystals of ice. Dryden.
€AN'DY, V. i. To form into crystals, or be-
come congealed ; to take on the form of
candied sugar.
€.\N' DYING, ppr. Conserving with sugar.
CANDYING, n. The act of preserving
CAN
simples in substance, by boiling then in
sugar. Encyc.
€AJV'DY-TUFTS, n. A plant, the Ibeiis.
Fam. of Plants.
2. A Cretan flower. Tale.
CANE, n. [L. canna ; Gr. xowro ; Fr. canne ;
W. cawn ; Sp. caha ; Port, cana or canna ;
It. canna; Arm. canen ; Heb. Ch. Syr.
Ar. nJp- In the Arabic, a word of this
family signifies a subterraneous passage
for water, or canal. It probably signifies
a shoot.]
1. In botany, this term is applied to several
species of plants belonging to different
genera, such as Arundo, Calamus, Sac-
charum, &c. Among these is the 6am-
boo of the East Indies, with a strong stem,
which serves for pipes, poles, and walk-
ing sticks. The sugar cane, a native of
Asia, Africa and America, furnishes the
juice from which are made, sugar, melas-
ses and spirit. [See Sugar Cane.]
2. A walking stick.
3. A lance, or dart made of cane. Dryden
4. A long measure, in several countries of
Europe ; at Naples, the length is 7 feet Hi
inches ; in Thoulouse in France, 5 feet 8^
inches ; in Provence, &c., 6 feet 5J inches
€ANE, V. t. To beat with a cane or walk
ing stick.
GA'NE-BRAKE, n. [cane and brake.] A
thicket of canes. Ellicotl.
GA'NE-HOLE, n. [cane and hole.] A hole
or trench for planting the cuttings of cane,
on sugar ])lautations. Edivards' fV. Indies
€A'NE-TRASH, n. [cane and trash.] Re-
fuse of canes, or macerated rinds of cane,
reserved for fuel to boil the cane-juice.
Edwards' }V. Indies
CANES'CENT, a. [L. canescens.] Growing
white or hoary.
CANIC'ULA, I [L. canicula, a little dog,
CA'NieULE, S "• from cayiis, a dog.]
A star in the constellation of Canis Major,
called also the dog-star, or Sirius ; a star
of the first magnitude, and the largest and
brightest of all the fixed stars. From the
rising of this heliacally, or at its emersion
from the sun's rays, the ancients reckoned
their dog-days.
€ANI€'ULAR, a. [L. canicularis.] Pertain
ing to the dog-star.
CANINE, a. [L. caninits, from canis, a dog.
Pertaining to dogs ; having the properties
or qualities of a dog ; as a canine appetite,
insatiable hunger ; canine madness, or hy
drophobia.
Canine teeth are two sharp pointed teeth in
each jaw of an animal, one on each side,
between the incisors and grinders ; so na-
med from their resemblance to a dog's
teeth.
■eA'NING, n. A beating with a stick or
cane.
CAN'ISTER, n. [L. canistrum; Gr. xaraypov,
xavrii or xowtw ; Fr. canastre ; Port, canas-
tra ; Sp. canasta.]
Properly, a small basket, as in Dryden ; but
more generally, a small box or case, for
tea, coffee, &c.
€ANK'ER, n. [L. cancer; Sax. cancere or
cancre ; D. hanker ; Fr. chancre ; It. cai
chero. This is the Latin cancer, with tl
Roman pronunciation. See Cancer.]
1. A disease incident to trees, which causes
the bark to rot and fall.
CAN
2. A popular name of certain small eroding
ulcers in the mouth, particularly of child-
ren. They are generally covered with a
whitish slough. Cyc.
3. A virulent, corroding ulcer ; or any thing
that corrodes, corrupts or destroys.
Sacrilege may prove an eating canker.
Mterbury.
And tlieir word will eat as doth a canker. 2
Tim. ii.
4. An eating, corroding, virulent humor;
5. A kind of rose, the dog rose.
Peacham. Shak
6. In farriery, a running thrush of the worst
kind; a disease in horses' feet, discharging
a fetid matter from the cleft in the middle
of the frog. Encyc.
CANK'ER, V. t. To eat, corrode, corrupt,
consume, in the manner that a cai
fects the body. Herbert.
2. To infect or pollute. Addison.
CANK'ER, V. i. To grow corrupt ; to de-
cay, or waste away by means of any nox-
ious cause ; to grow rusty, or to be oxy-
dized, as a metal. Bacon.
CANK'ERBIT, a. Bitten with a cankered
or envenomed tooth. Shak
CANK'ERED, pp. Corrupted.
Crabbed ; uncivil. Spciiser
CANK'EREDLY, arfy. Crossly; adverselv.
CANK'ER-FLY, n. A fly that preys on
fruit. Walton
CANK'ER-LIKE, a. Eating or corrupting
ranker.
CANK'EROUS, a. Corroding like a canker.
Tliomsoru
CANK'ER-WORM, n. A worm, destruc
tive to trees or plants. In America, tliis
name is given to a worm that, in some
years, destroys the leaves and fruit of ap
pie trees. This animal springs from ai
egg deposited by a miller, that issues from
the ground.
CANK'ERY, a. Rusty.
CAN'NABINE, a. [L. cannahinus. from can-
nabis, hemp.] Pertaining to hemp ; hemp-
en.
CAN'NEL-COAL, CAN'DLE-COAL, n. A
hard, opake, inflammable fossil coal of]
a black color, sufliciently solid to be cut
and polished. On fire it decrepitates ant!
breaks into angular fragments. It is some-
times used for hikholders and toys.
Ckaveland
CAN'NEQUIN, n. White cotton cloth from
the East Indies, suitable for the Guinea
trade. Encyc.
CAN'NIBAL, n. A human being that eats
human flesh ; a man-eater, or anthropoph-
agite. Bacon. Bentley.
CAN'NIBALISM, n. The act or practice 6f|
eating human flesh, by mankind.
2. Murderous cruelty ; barbarity. Burk
CAN'NIBALLY, adv. In the manner of a
cannibal. Shak
CAN'NON, n. [Fr. canon ; Arm. canon or
canol ; D. kanon ; G. kanone ; Sp. canon
Port, canham ; It. cannone. Probably from
L. canna, a tube. See Cane.]
A large military engine for throwing balls,
and other instruments of death, by the
force of gunpowder. Guns of this kind
are made of iron or brass and of differ
ent sizes, carrying balls from three or four
poiuids, to forty eight povinds weight. In
CAN
some countries, they have been made of
much larger size. The smaller guns of
this kind are called field pieces.
CANNONA'DE, n. The act of discharging
cannon and throwing balls, for the purpose
of destroying an army, or battering a town,
ship or fort. The term usually implies an
attack of some continuance.
CANNONA'DE, v. t. To attack with heavy
artillery ; to throw balls, or other deadly
weapons, as chain-shot or langrage, against
an enemy's army, town, fortress or ship :
to batter with cannon shot.
CANNONA'DE, v. i. To discharge cannon ;
to plav with large guns.
CAN'NON-BALL, n. A ball, usually made
of cast iron, to be thrown from cannon.
Cannon bullet, of the like signification, is
not now used. Cannon balls were origi-
nally of stone.
CANNONEE'R, \ A man who manages
CANNONIE'R, ( cannon; an engineer.
CAN'NON-PROOF, a. Proof against can-
non shot.
CAN'NON-SHOT, n. A ball for cannon;
also, the range or distance a cannon will
throw a ball.
CANNOT, [can and not.] These words are
usually united, but perhaps without good
reason ; canst and not are never united.
CAN'NULAR, a. [L. cawna, a tube.] Tubu-
lar; having the form of a tube. Encyc.
CAN6E, n. canoo'. [Fr. canot ; Sp. canoa ;
It. canoe or canon ; from L. canna, a tube
or cane, or the same root.]
1. A boat used by rude nations, formed of
the body or trunk of a tree, excavated, by
cutting or burning, into a suitable shape.
Similar boats are now used by civihzed
men, for fishing and other purjioses. It is
impelled by a paddle, instead of an oar.
2. A boat made of bark or skins, used by
CAN'ON, n. [Sax. Fr. Sp. Port, canon ; It.
canone ; L. canon ; Gr. xawi-. Dr. Owen
deduces the word from the Heb. rup a
cane, reed or measuring rod. In Eth.
^'I'l kanan, signifies to set, to establish,
to form a rule, whence canon, a rule. But
this verb is probably from the noim. The
word is from one of the roots in Class Gn,
which signifies to set, or to strain. The
Welsh unites it with the root of can, L.
cano, to sing, W. canon, a song, a rule, a
canon, from canii to sing, L. cano. The
sense of canon is that which is set or es-
tablished.]
. In ecclesiastical affairs, a law, or rule of
doctrine or discipline, enacted by a coun-
cil and confirmed by the sovereign; a^ de-
cision of matters in religion, or a regula-
tion of policy or disciphne, by a general oi
provincial council.
A law or rule in general.
3. The genuine books of the Holy Scrip
tures, called the sacred canon, or genci.il
rule of moral and religious duty, given by
inspiration.
A dignitary of the church; a person who
possesses a prebend or revenue allotted
for the performance of divine service in a
cathedral or collegiate church.
A cardinal canon is one attached to a
church, incardinatus, as a priest to a parish.
DomiceUary canons, arc young canons.
CAN
CAN
CAN
not in orders, having no riglit in any par-
ticular cliapters.
Expedahve canons, having no revenue or
prebend, but having the title and dignities
of canons, a voice in the chapter and a
place in the choir, till a prebend should
full.
Foreign canons, such as did not officiate
in their canonries ; opposed to mansionary
T)r residentiary canons.
Lay, secular or Itonorary canons, lay
men admitted out of honor or respect, int(
SDtxiB chapter of canons.
Regular canons, who hve in monasteries
or in coniinunity, and who, to the practice
of their rules, have added the profession of
vows.
Tertiary canons, who have only the third
part of the revenue of the canonicate.
Encyc.
5. In monasteries, a book containing the
rules of the order.
G. A catalogue of saints acknowledged and
canoniy.ed in the Romish Church.
7. The secret words of the mass from the
preface to the Pater, in the middle of whirl
the j)riest consecrates the host. The peo-
ple are to rehearse this part of the service,
on their knees, and in a voice lower than
can be heard. Romish Church.
8. In ancient music, a rule or method for de-
termining the intervals of notes, invented
by Ptolemy. Encyc.
9. In modem tnusic, a kind of perpetual
fugue, in which the different parts, begin
ning one after another, repeat incessantly
the same air. Busby
10. In geometry and algebra, a general rule
for the solution of cases of a like nature
with the present inquiry. Every last step
of an equation is a canon.
11. In pharmacy, a rule for con]j)ounding
medicines.
12. In surgery, an instrument used in sev
up wounds.
Canon-law, is a collection of ecclesiastical
laws, serving as the rule of church govern
ment.
CANON-BIT, n. That part of a bit let into
a horse's mouth.
€AN'ONESS, n. A woman who enjoys a
prebend, affixed, by the foundation
maids, without obliging them to make
any vows or renounce the world. Enci/c
C.\NON'l€AL, a. [L. canonicus.] Pertain
ing to a canon ; according to the canon or
rule.
Canonical books or canonical scriptures, are
those books of the scriptures which
admitted by the canons of the church, to
be of divine origin. The Roman catholic
church admits the Apocryphal books to
be canonical ; the Protestants reject them.
Canonical hours, are certain stated times of
the day, fixed by the ecclesiastical laws,
or appropriated to the offices of prayer
and devotion. In Great Britain, these
hours are from eight o'clock to twelve in
the forenoon, before and after which mar-
riage cannot be legally performed in the
church. Encyc.
Canonical obedience, is submission to the
canons of a church, especially the submis-
sion of the inferior clergy to their bishops,
and other religious orders to their superi-
ors.
Canonical punishments, are such as the
church may inflict, as excommunicatiou,
degradation, penance, &c.
Canonical ltfe,'\9 the method or rule of living
prescribed by the ancient clergy who liv-
ed in community, a course of living pre-
scribed for clerks, less rigid than the mo-
nastic and more restrained than the secu-
lar.
Canonical sins, in the ancient church, were
those for which capital punishment was
inflicted ; as idolatry, murder, adultery,
heresy, &.C.
Canonical letters, anciently, were letters
which passed between the orthodox cler
gy, as testimonials of their faith, to keep
up the catholic communion, and to distin
guish them from heretics.
Canonical epistles, is an appellation given to
those epistles of the New Testament
which are called general or catholic.
Encyc.
CANONICALLY, orfr. In a manner agree-
able to the canon.
CANON'ICALNESS, n. The quality of be-
ins canonical.
€ANON'ICALS, 71. plu. The full dress of
the clergy, worn when they officiate.
€ANON'l€ATE, n. The office of a ca
Encyc.
CAN'ONIST, n. A professor of canon law
one skilled in the study and practice of
errlesiastical law.
€ANONIS'Tle, a. Having the knowledge
of a canonist.
€ANONIZA'TION,7!. [See Canonize.) The
act of declaring a man a saint, or rather
the act of ranking a deceased person in
the catalogue of saints, called a canon.
This act is preceded by beatification, and
by an examination into the life and mira-
cles of the person ; at^er which the Pope
decrees the canonization.
Addison. Encyc.
2. The state of being sainted.
CAN'ONIZE, V. t. [from canon.] To de-
clare a man a saint and rank him in the
catalogue, called a canon.
€AN'ONRY, I An ecclesiastical bene-
€AN'ONSHIP, I "• fice, in a cathedral or
collegiate church, which has a prebend or
stated allowance out of the revenues of
the church commonly annexed to it. The
benifice filled by a canon. A prebend
may subsist without a canoiiry ; but a can-I
onicate is inseparable from a prebend. !
Ayliffe. Encyc]
€AN'OPIED,a. [See Canopy.] Covered witi
a canopv. Milton
€AN'OPY, n. [Gr. *ururt»or, a pavihon oi
net spread over a bed to keep off gnats
from xMvu-i-, a gnat.]
1. A covering over a throire, or over a bed ;
more generally, a covering over the head,
So the sky is called a canopy^ and a cano-
py is borne over the head in processions.
2. In architecture and sculpture, a magnifi-
cent decoration serving to cover and
crown an altar, throne, tribunal, pulpit,
chair or the like. Encyc.
eAN'OPY, V. t. To cover with a canopy.
Dry den.
eANO'ROUS, a. [L. canorua, from cano, to
sing.] Musical ; tuneful. Broum.
CANO'ROUSNESS, n. Musicalness.
CANT, V. t. [L. canto, to sing ; Sp. cantar.
Port, id., to sing, to chant, to recite, to
creak, to chirp, to whistle ; It. cantare, to
sing, to praise, to crow ; Fr. chanter :
Arm. cana ; from L. cano, to sing. The
primary sense is to throw, thrust or drive,
as in can ; a sense retained in the phrase,
to can* over any thing. In singing, it im-
plies a modulation or inflexion of voice.
In Welsh, can, with a different sound of
the vowel, signifies a song and white, L.
cano, canus, and canco. These are from
the same root and liave the same radical
sense, to throw or shoot as rays of light,
to shine, probably appUed to the sun's
morning rays. W. canu, to sing ; Sans-
crit, gana ; Persic, kandam.]
1. In popular usage, to turn about, or to turn
over, hy a sudden push or thrust ; as, to
cant over a pail or a cask. Mar. Diet.
2. To toss ; as, to cant a ball.
3. To speak with a whining voice, or an af-
fected singing tone.
[In this sense, it is usually intransitive.]
4. To sell by auction, or to bid a price at
auction. Swijl.
CANT, n. A toss; a throw, thrust or push
with a sudden jerk ; as, to give a ball a
cant. [This is the literal sense.]
2. A whining, singing manner of^ sjieech ; a.
quaint, affected mode of uttering words
cither in conversation or preaching.
3. The whining speech of beggars, as in
asking alms and making complaints of
their distresses.
4. The peculiar words and phrases of pro-
fessional men ; phrases often repeated, or
not well authorized.
5. Any barbarous jargon in speech.
6. Whining pretension to goodness.
Johnson .
7. Outcry, at a public sale of goods ; a call
for bidders at an auction. SwiJl.
This use of the word is precisely equiv-
alent to auction, auctio, a hawking, a crj'-
ing out, or in the vulgar dialect, a singing
out, but I beUeve not in use in the L.
States.
CANT, n. [D. kant, a corner.] A nich ; a
corner or retired place. B. Jonson.
Cant-timbers, in a ship, are those which are
situated at the two ends. Mar. Diet.
CANTA'BRIAN, a. Pertaining to Canta-
bria, on the Bay of Biscav, in Spain.
CAN'TALIVER; n. [cantfe and eaves.] In
architecture, a piece of wood, framed into
the front or side of a house, to suspend
the moldings and eaves over it. Encyc
CAN'TAR, \ An eastern weight ; at
CAN'TARO, J "• Acra in Turke>, 603
poimds ; at Tunis and Tripofi, 114 pounds.
In Egypt, it consists of 100 or 150 roto-
los ; at Naples, it is 25 pounds ; at Genoa,
150 ; at Leghorn, 150, 151, or 160. Encyc.
At Alicant in Spain, the cantaro is a li-
quid measure of 3 gallons. In Cochin, a
measure of capacity, of 4 rubies ; the rubi,
32 rotolos. '
CANTA'TA, n. [Italian, from cantare, to
sing ; L. canto.]
A poem set to music ; a composition or song,
' ' " ■ if-
ly intended for a single voice.
intermixed with recitatives and airs, chief
CANTA'TION, a. A singing. [.Vo< used.]
CANTEE'N, 71. [It. cantina.] A tin vessel
used by soldiers for carrying liquor for
di-ink. Chambers
CAN
tJAN'TELEUP, 11. A variety of muskmel-j
eANT'ER, V. i. [Arm. canlreal or cantrenS
to run, to rove or ramble, from tossing or
leaping, canting. See Cant]
To move as a horse in a moderate gallop,
raising the two fore feet nearly at the
same time, with a leap or spring.
CANT'ER, V. t. To ride upon a canter.
€ANT'ER, »;. A moderate gallop.
2. One who cants or whines.
CANTERBURY BELL, n. A species of
Campanula. [See Bell-Flower.]
CANTERBURY TALE, n. A fabulous sto
ry ; so called from the tales of Chaucer
€A"NT'ERING, ppr. Moving or riding with
a slow gallop.
CANTHAR'IDIN, n. [Infra.] Tliat pe-
culiar substance existing in the Meloe ves
icatorius, or cantharides, which causes
vesication. Thomson.
€ANTHA'RIS or plu. CANTHARIDES,
n. [Gr. xorSaptj.] Spanish flies; a species
of Meloe. This fly is nine or ten hues in
length, of a shining green color, mixed
with azure, and has a nauseous smell. It
feeds upon the leaves of trees and shr
preferring the ash. These flies, when
bruised, are imiversally used as a vesica-
tory, or blistering plaster. The largest
come from Italy, but the best from Spain.
CANTH'US, n. [Gr. xwSoj; D. kant, a
corner.]
An angle of the eye ; a cavity at the extrem
ities of the eyelids ; the greater is next to
the nose ; the lesser, near the temple.
Encyc.
CAN'TICLE, n. [Sp. and It. canlico; L.
canticwn, from canto. See Cant]
\. A song. Ill the plural, canticles, the Son
of Songs or Song of Solomon, one of the
books of the Old Testament.
% A canto ; a division of a song. Obs.
Spe7iger.
CAN'TILLATE, v. t. [L. cantillo. See
Cant.] To chant ; to recite with musical
tones. M. Stuart
CANTILLA'TION, n. A chanting ; recita-
tion with nmsical modulations.
(JANTTNG, ppr. Tlu-owing with a sudden
jerk ; tossing.
'I. Speaking with a whine or song-like tone
CANT'INGLY, arfv. With a cant.
CAN'TION, n. A song or verses. [JVoi
used.] Spe7}
CAN'TLE, n. [Arm. chantell ; Fr. chanteau,
whence echantillon ; Eng. scantling.]
A fragment ; a piece ; a portion. 06s.
CAN'TLE, V. t. To cut into pieces ; to cut
out a piece. Obs. Dri/den.
CANT'LET, n. A piece ; a little corner ; a
fragment. Dryden
CAN'TO, n. [It. canto, a song ; L. cantus.
See Cant.)
A part or division of a poem, answering to
what in prose is called a book. In Ital-
ian, canto is a song, and it signifies also
the treble part, first treble, or highest vo-
cal part.
CAN'TON, n. [It. eantone, a corner-stone,
and a canton ; Sp. canton ; Port, canto.
a corner ; Fr. canton, a corner, a part of al
country, a district ; Arm. canton ; D. kant ;,
G. kante ; Dan. kandl, a eorner, point,'
edge, border. The Welsh unites canton^
CAN
with canl, a hundred, L. centum. Sax. hund,
for cantrev is a circuit or division of a coun-
try, from canl, a hundred.]
1. A small portion of land, or division of ter-
ritory ; originally, a portion of territory on
a border ; also, the inhabitants of a canton.
3. A small portion or district of territory,
constituting a distinct state or government ;
as in Switzerland.
3. In lieraldry, a corner of the shield.
4. A distinct part, or division ; as the cantons
of a painting or other representation.
Burnet.
CAN'TON, V. t. [Sp. acantonar.] To divide
into small parts or districts, as territory :
to divide into distinct portions.
Locke. Addison
2. To allot separate quarters to each regi-
ment of an army or body of troops.
Marshall. Encyc.
CAN'TONAL, a. Pertaining to a canton ;
divided into cantons.
CAN'TONED, pp. Divided into distinct
parts, or quarters ; lodged in distinct quar-
ters, as troops.
CAN'TONING, ppr. Dividing into distinct
districts ; allotting separate quarters to
each regiment.
CAN'TONIZE, V. t. To canton, or divide
into small districts. Davits.
CAN'TONMENT, n. A part or division of
a town or village, assigned to a particular
regiment of troops ; separate quarters.
Marshall.
CAN'TRED, I [L. centum.] A hundred
CAN'TREF, \ "■ villages, as in Wales.
Encyc.
CAN'VAS, n. [Fr. canevas, canvas, and
chanvre, hemp ; Arm. canavc^; Sp. caha-
mazo ; Port, canamo ; It. canavaccio, canvas
and canapa, hemp ; D. kanefas, canvas, and
hennep, hemp; G. kanefass, canvas, and
hanf, hemp; Dan. canefas ; L. cannabis
hemp ; Gr. xanaSts ; Ir. canbhas, canvas,
and cniiaib, hemp ; Russ. kanephas. It i;
from the root ofcanna, cane ; perhaps adi
minutive.]
1. A coarse cloth made of hemp, or flax, used
for tents, sails of ships, painting and other
purposes.
2. A clear unbleached cloth, wove regularly
in little squares, u.sed for working tapestry
with the needle.
3. Among the French, the rough draught or
model on which an air or piece of music
is composed, and given to a poet to finish.
The canvas of a song contains certain
notes of the composer, to show the poet
the measure of the verses he is to make.
4. Among seamen, cloth in sails, or sails
general ; as, to spread as much canvas as
the ship will bear.
CANVAS-CLIMBER, n. A sailor that goes]
aloft to handle sails. Shak
CAN'VASS, I', t. [Old Fr. cannaba.sser, to
boat about or shake, to examine. Junius
Skinner.]
1. To discuss; Uterally, to beat or shake out,
to open by beating or shaking, like the
L. discutio. This is the common use of
the word, as to canvass a subject, or the
policy of a measure.
2. To examine returns of votes ; to search
or scrutinize ; as, to canvass the votes for
CAN'VASS, v. i. To seek or go about to
CAP
solicit votes or interest ; to use efforts to
obtain ; to make interest in favor of; fol-
lowed by for; as, to canvass for an oflice,
or preferment ; to canvass for a friend.
CAN'VASS, n. Examination; close inspec-
tion to know the state of; as a canvass of
2. Discussion ; debate.
3. A seeking, solicitation, or efforts to ob-
tain.
CAN'VASSED, pp. Discussed ; examined.
CAN'VASSER, n. One who solicits votes,
or goes about to make interest. Burke.
9. One who examines the returns of votes-
for a public oflicer.
CAN'VASSING, ppr. Discussing ; examin-
ing ; sifting ; seeking.
CAN'VASSING, n. The act of discussing,
makii
1 cam
or abounding with canes. Milton.
ig interest.
CA'NY, a. [from cane.] Consisting of cane
CAN'ZONE, n. [It. a song. See Cant.] A
song or air in two or three parts, with pas-
sages of fugue and imitation ; or a poem
to which music may be composed in the
style of a cantata. When set to a piece of
instrumental music, it signifies much the
same as cantata ; and when set to a sona-
ta, it signifies allegro, or a brisk move-
ment. Bailey. Busby.
CAN'ZONET, n. [It. canzonetta.] A httle
or short song, in one, two or three parts.
It sometimes consists of two strains, each
of which is sung twice. Sometimes it is a
species of jig. Encyc. Busby.
CAP, n. [Sax. cceppe, a cap, and a cape, a
cloke ; D. kap ; G. kappe and haube ; Dan.
kappe, a robe or coat ; Sw. kappa, id ; It.
cappa, a cap, a cloke ; W. cap ; Fr. chape,
chape.au; Arm. ehap or cap. The sense is
probably that which is put on. Class Gb.
No. 70. also 31.36.]
1. A part of dress made to cover the head.
2. The ensign of a cardinalate. Shak.
3. The to]), or the uppermost ; the highest.
Thou art the cap of fools. Shak.
4. A vessel in form of a cap. Wilkins.
5. An act of respect, made by uncovering the
head. VEstrange.
Cap of cannon, a piece of lead laid over the
vent to keep the priming dry ; now called
an apron.
Cap of maintenance, an ornament of state,,
carried before the Kings of England at
the coronation. It is also carried before
the mayors of some cities.
In ship-building, a cap is a thick strong block
of wood, used to confine two masts to-
gether, when one is erected at the head of
another.
CAP, v. t. To cover the top, or end ; to
spread over ; as, a bone is capped at the
joint with a cartilaginous substance.
The cloud-capped towers. Shak.
2. To deprive of the cap, or take off a cap.
To cap verses, is to name alternately verses
beginning with a particular letter ; to name
in opposition or emulation ; to name al-
ternately in contest. Johnson.
CAP, v. i. To uncover the head in reverence
or civility. [.Vo* used.] Shak.
Cap-a-pie, [Fr.] From head to foot ; all over ;
as, armed cap-a-pie.
Cap-paper, n. A coarse paper, so called fi-om
CAP
CAP
CAP
being used to make caps to hold commod
ities. Boyle
Cap-aheaf, n. The top sheaf of a stack
grain ; the crowner.
CAPABIL'ITY, n. [See Capable.] The
quality of being capable ; capacity ; capa
bleness. SItak. Lavoisier, Trans.
CA'PABLE, a. [Vr. capable, from L.capio,
take. See Class Gb. No. 68. 69. 75. 83.]
1. Able to hold or contain ; able to receiv
sufficiently capacious ; often followed by
of; as, the room is not caj3a6/e o/ receiv
ing, or capable of holding the company.
2. Endued with power competent to the ob-
ject; as, a man is capable of judging, oi
he is not capable.
3. Possessing mental powers ; intelligent
able to understand, or receive into the
mind ; having a capacious mind ; as a ca-
pable judge ; a capable instructor.
4. Susceptible ; as, capable of pain or grief.
Prior
5. Qualified for ; susceptible of; as, a thin"
is capable of long duration ; or it is capable
of being colored or altered.
6. Qualified for, in a moral sense ; having
legal power or capacity ; as, a bastard is
not capable of inheriting an estate.
7. Hollow. UVot now used.]
CA'PABLENESS, n. The state or quality
of being capable ; capacity ; power of un-
derstanding ; knowledge. Killingbeck.
CAPAC'IFY, V. t. To qualifv. [Unusual.]
Barrow. Good.
€APA'CIOUS, a. [L. capax, from capio, to
take or hold.]
1. Wide ; large ; that will hold much ; as a
capacious vessel.
2. Broad ; extensive ; as a capacious bay or
harbor.
.'!. Extensive ; comprehensive ; able to take
a wide view ; as a capacious mind.
CAPA'CIOUSNESS, n. Wideness ; large
ness ; as of a vessel.
2. Extensiveness ; largeness ; as of a bay.
3. Comprehensiveness ; power of taking f
wide survey ; applied to the mind.
CAPACITATE, V. t. [See Capacity.] To
make capable ; to enable ; to furnish with
niitiirnl power ; as, to capacitate one for
understanding a theorem.
!2. To endue with moral qualifications ; to
quaUfy ; to furnish with legal powers ; as,
to capacitate one for an office.
CAPACITATED, pp. Made capable;
qualified.
CAPACITA'TION, n. The act of making
capable.
CAPACITY, 71. [L. capacitas, from capax,
capio ; Fr. capaciti.]
1. Passive power ; the power of containing,
or holding ; extent of room or space ; as
the capacity of a vessel, or a cask.
2. The extent or comprehensiveness of the
mind ; the power of receiving ideas or
knowledge.
Let instruction be adapted to the capacities of
youth.
3. Active power ; ability ; applied to men or
things ; but less common, and correct.
The world does not include a cause endued
with such capacities. Blackmore.
4. State ; condition ; character ; profession ;
occupation. A man may act in the capa-
city of a mechanic, of a friend, of an attor-
ney, or of & statesman. He may have
natural or a political capacity.
5. Ability, in a moral or legal sense ; qual
ification ; legal power or right ; as, a man
or a corporation may have a capacity to
give or receive and hold estate.
6. In geometry, the solid contents of a body,
7. In chimistry, that state, quality or consti-
tution of bodies, by which they absorb
and contain, or render latent, any fluid
as the capacity of water for caloric.
.'ISON, n. [Sp. caparazon ; Port
CAPAR
caparazam, a cover put over the saddle of]
a horse, a cover for a coach ; Fr. capara
gon.]
A cloth or covering laid over the saddle oi
furniture of a horse, especially a sumptcr
horse or horse of state. Milton
CAPAR' ISON, V. t. To cover with a cloth
as a horse. Dryden
2. To dress pompously ; to adorn with rich
dross. Shah
CAP'CASE, n. A covered case. [Little
used.] Burton
CAPE, n. [Sp. Port, cabo; It. capo; Fr
cap ; D. haap ; Dan. kap ; L. caput ; Gr
xf^aJj; ; Sans, cabala, head. It signifie;
end, furthest point, from extending, shoot
■ng-]
1. A head land; properly the head, point or
termination of a neck of land, extending
some distance into the sea, beyond the
conunon shore, and hence the name is a))-
plicd to the neck of land itself, indefinitely,
as in Cape-Cod, Cape-Horn, Cape of Good
Hope. It differs from a promontory in
this, that it may be high or low land
but a promontory is a high bold termina
tion of a neck of land.
2. The neck-piece of a cloke or coat.
CAP'ELAN, n. A small fish, about six in
ches in length, sholes of which appear ofl"
the coasts of Greenland, Iceland and New
foundland. They constitute a large part
of the food of the Greenlanders. Pennant
CAPEL'LA, n. A bright fixed star in the
left shoulder of the constellation Auriga.
Encyc.
CAP'ELLET, n. A kind of swelling, like a
wen, growing on the heel of the hock on
a horse, and on the point of the elbow.
Encyc
CA'PER, i>. i. [Fr. cahrer, to prance ; cabri-
ole, a goat-leap, a caper ; It. capriola, a
wild goat, a caper in dancing ; Sp. cabrio-
la ; L. caper, a goat. But probably caper
is from the root of capio, which signifies
not merely to seize, but to shoot or reach
forward, or to leap and seize. Hence it is
probable that this word coincides in ori-
gin with Dan. kipper, to leap, whence Eng.
to skip.)
To leap; to skip or junrp; to prance; to
sprmg.
Shak
CA'PER, n. A leap ; a skip ; a spring ; as i
dancing or mirth, or in the frolick of
goat or lamb.
CA'PER, n. [Fr. capre ; Arm. capresen ; Sp.
Port, alcaparra ; It. cappero ; L. capparis ;
D. kapper; G. kaper ; Syr. kapar ; Ar.
j.x^3 kabaron. The Ar. verb signifies
to increase.]
The bud of the caper-bush, which is much
used for pickling. The buds are collected
betbrc tlie flowers expand, and preserved
ill vinegar. The bush is a low shrub, gen-
erally growing from the joints of old
walls, from fissures in rocks and amongst
rubbish, in the southern parts of Europe.
Enciic.
CA'PER-BUSH. [See Caper.]
CA'PER-CUTTliVG, n. A leaping or dan-
cings in a frolicksome manner. Beaum.
CA'PERER, n. One who capers, leaps and
skips about, or dances.
CA'PERING, ppr. Leaping ; skipping.
CA'PIAS, n. [L. capio, to take.] In law, a
writ of two sorts ; one before judgment,
called a capias ad respondendum, where
an original is issued, to take the defendant,
and make him answer to the plaintiff; the
other, which issues after judgment, is of
divers kinds; as a capiasad satisfaciendum,
or writ of execution ; a. capias pro fine; a
capias utlagatum ; a capias in withernam.
Blackslone.
CAP'IBAR, n. An animal partaking of the
form of a hog antl of a rabbit, the cabiai.
CAPILLA'CEOUS, a. [L. capillaceus,ba\ry.]
Hairy ; resembling a hair. [See Capillary.]
CAPILLA'IRE, n. [Fr.] A kind of^sirrup,
extracted from maiden-hair. Mason.
CAPIL'LAMENT, n. [L. capillamenlum,
from capiltus, hair, probably ahttle shoot.]
1. The filament, a smaU fine thread, like a
hair, that grows in the middle of a flower,
with a little knob at the top ; a chive.
2. A fine fiber, or filament, of which the
nerves are composed.
CAP'ILLARY, a. [L. capUlaris, from capU-
lus, hair.]
1. Resembling a hair, fine, minute, small iu
diameter, though long : as a capillary tube
or pipe ; a capillary vessel in animal bodies,
such as the ramifications of the blood ves-
sels. ^'Irbuthnot.
2. In botany, capillary plants are hair-sha-
ped, as the ferns ; a term used by Ray,
Boerhaave and Morison. This class of
plants corresponds to the order of Filices,
in the Sexual method, which bear their
flower and fruit on the back of the leaf or
stalk. Milne.
This term is applied also to leaves which are
longer than the setaceous or bristle-sha-
ped leaf, to glands resembling hairs, to
the filaments, to the stjde, and to the pap-
jius or down affixed to some seeds.
Martyn.
CAP'ILLARY, n. A fine vessel or canal.
Danvin,
CAPILLA'TION, n. A blood vessel like a
hair. [JVot in xise.] Brotim.
CAPIL'LIFORM, a. [L. eapillus, a hair,
ai\A forma, form.]
In the shape or form of a hair, or of hairs.
CAP'ITAL, a. [L. capitalis, from caput, the
head. See Cape.]
1. Literally, pertaining to the head ; as a
capital bruise, in Milton, a bruise on the
head. [This use is not comnwn.]
2. Figuratively, as the head is the highest part
of a man, cliief ; principal ; first in impor-
tance ; as a capital city or town ; the cap-
ital articles of religion.
. Punishable by loss of the head or of hfe ;
incurring the forfeiture of life ; punishable
with death ; as, treason and murder are
capital ofl'enses or crimes.
CAP
CAP
CAP
4. Taking away life, as a capital punishment
or affecting life, as a capital trial.
5. Great, important, though perhaps not
chief; as, a town possesses capital advan
tages for trade.
6. Large ; of great size ; as capital letters,
which are of different form, and larger
than common letters.
Capital stock, is the sum of money or stock
which a merchant, banker or manufact-
urer employs in his business ; either the
original stock, or that stock augmented.
Also, the sum of money or stock whith
each i)artner contributes to the joint fund
or stock of the ])artnership ; also, the com-
mon fund or stock of the company, wheth-
er incorporated or not.
A capital city or town is the metropolis or
chief city of an empire, kingdom, state or
province. The application of the epithet
indicates the city to be the largest, or to
be the seat of government, or botli. In
many instances, the capital, that is, the
largest city, i
the seat of government.
CAP'ITAL, n. [L. capitellum.] The upper-
most part of a column, pillar or pilaster,
serving as the head or crowning, and pla-
ced immediately over the shaft, and imder
the entablature. Encyc.
By the customary omission of the noun, to
which the adjective, capital, refers, il
stands for,
1. The chief city or town in a kingdom or
state ; a metropolis.
9. A large letter or type, in printing.
3. A stock in trade, in manufactures, or in
any business requiring the expenditure of
money with a view to profit.
€AP'ITALIST, n. A man who has a capi-
tal or stock in trade, usually denoting a
man of large property, which is or may be
emjjloyed in business. Burke. Stephens.
€AP'ITALLY, adv. In a capital manner;
nobly ; finely.
2. With loss of life ; as, to punish capitally.
CAP'ITALNESS, n. A capital offense.
[Little used.] • Shertvood.
€AP'ITATE, a. [L. capitafus, from caput,
a head.]
In botany, growing in a head, applied to a
flower, or stisma. Martyn. Lee.
CAPITA'TION, n. [L. capitatio, from caput,
the head.]
1. Numeration by the head ; a numbering
of persons. Brown.
2. A tax, or imjjosition upon each head or
person ; a poll-tax. Sometimes written
Capitation-tax. Encijc.
CAP'ITE. [L. caput, the head, abl.] In
English law, a tenant in capite, or in chief,
is one who holds lands immediately of the
king, caput, the head or Lord Paramount
of all lands in the kingdom, by knight's
service or by soccage. This tenure is
called tenure in capite ; but it was abol-
ished in England, by 12 Cliarles II. 24.
Blackstone.
eAP'ITOL, n. [L. capitolium, from caput,
the head.]
1. Tlie temple of Jupiter in Rome, and a
fort or castle, on the Mons Capitolinus.
In this, the Senate of Rome anciently as-
sembled ; and on the same place, is still
the city hall or town-house, where the
conservators of the Romans hold their
meetings. The same name was given to
the principal temples of the Romans ir
their colonies. Encyc.
2. The edifice occupied by the Congress of
the United States in their deliberations.
In some states, the State-house, or house
in which the legislature holds its sessions
a government house.
€APITOLIAN, a. Pertaining to the capi
I in Rome. D'^nville
€AP'ITOLINE, a. Pertaining to the capitol
in Rome. The Capitoline Games were
annual ^ames instituted by Camillus in
honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, and in com-
memoration of the preservation of the
capitol from the Gauls, and other games
instituted by Domitian and celebrated ev-
ery five years. Encyc.
CAPIT'ULAR, > [L. capitulum, a head
CAPITULARY, I "• or chapter.]
An act passed in a chapter, either of
knights, canons or religious.
The body of laws or statutes of a chap-
ter, or of an ecclesiastical council. This
name is also given to the laws, civil and
ecclesiastical, made by Cljarlemagne, and
other princes, in general councils and as
semblies of the peo])le. Some indeed
have alledged that these are supplements
to laws. They are so called, because they
are divided into chapters or sections. Encyc.
3. The member of a chapter.
CAPIT'ULARLY, adv. In the form of an
ecclesiastical chapter. Swift.
€APIT'ULARY, a. Relating to the chap-
ter of a cathedral. Warton.
eAPIT'ULATE,t).i. [bomcapitulum, supra.]
1. To draw up a writing in chapters, heads
or articles. Shak.
[But this sense is not usual.]
2. To surrender, as an army or garrison, to
an enemy, by treaty, in which the terms
of surrender are specified and agreed to
by the jjarties. The term is applicable to
a garrison or to the inhabitants of a be-
sieged place, or to an army or troops in
any situation in wiiich they are subdued or
compelled to submit to a victorious enemy.
€APITULA'TIOi\, ii. The act of capitula-
ting, or surrendering to an enemy upon
stipulated terms or conditions.
2. The treaty or instrument containing the
conditions of surrender.
3. A reducing to heads. [M>t much used.]
In German polity, a contract which the
EmiJeror makes with the electors, in the
names of the princes and states of the em-
pire, before he is raised to the imperial
dignity.
€APIT 'ULATOR, n. One who capitulates.
Sherwood.
CAP'ITULE, n. A sunnnarv. [Mot in use.]
Wickliffe.
CAPi'VI, n. A balsam of the Spanish West-
Indies. [See Copaiba.]
€AP'NOM\NCY,n. [Ov. xarcvo;, smoke, and
ftairsia, divination.] Divination by the
ascent or motion of smoke. Spenser.
CAPO'CH, n. [Sp. capucho, a hood; Fr.
capuce.] A monk's hood.
CA'PON, n. [Sp. capon ; Port, capam ; It. cap-
pone ; Fr. chapon ; L. capo ; Ir. cabun ; D. ka-
poen ; G. kapaun ; Arm. cabon ; Svv. Dan.
kapun ; Gr. xaxuv. Qu. the root of Fr.
couper.] A castrated cock ; a cock-chick-
en gelded as soon as he quits his dam, or
as soon as he begins to crow.
CA'PON, V. t. To castrate, as a cock. Birch..
CAPONiVIE'RE, n. [Fr., Sp. caponera, It.
capponiera, a little cut or trench, and it
seems to be allied to capon, Sp. caponar,
to cut or curtail.]
Infortification, a covered lodgment, sunk four
or five feet into the ground, encompassed
with a parapet, about two feet high, serv-
ing to support several planks, laden with
earth. It is large enough to contain 15 or
20 soldiers, and is placed in the glacis, at
the extremity of the counterscarp, and in
dry moats, with embrasures or loop holes,
through wliich the soldiers may fire.
Harris. Encyc.
CAPO'T, n. [Fr., probably from L. capio, to
seize.]
A winning of all the tricks of cards at the
game of piquet. Johnson.
CAPO'T, V. t. To wm all the tricks of
cards at picquet.
CAP'PER, n. [from cap.] One whose bu-
siness is to make or sell caps.
CAP'REOLATE, «. [L. capreolm, a tendril,
properly a shoot, from the root of capra, a
goat.]
In botany, having tendrils, or filiform spiral
claspers, by which plants fasten them-
selves to other bodies, as in vines, peas, &c.
Harris. Martyn.
CAPRICE, n. [Fr. caprite ; Sp. Port, ca-
pricho ; It. capriccio, a shaking in fever,
rigors ; also, whim, freak, fancy. I sus-
pect this word to be formed, with a pre-
fix ca, on the root of freak, break ; deno-
ting primarily a sudden bursting, breaking,
or starting. So we see in Italian, inaglio,
and camaglio, a mail. In early English
writers, it is written, according to the
Spanish, co^ric/io. If formed from the root
of capio, caper, the primary sense is the
same.]
A sudden start of the mind ; a sudden
change of opinion, or humor ; a whim,
freak, or particular fancy.
CAPRP'CIOUS, a. Freakish ; whimsical ;
apt to change opinions suddenly, or to
start from one's purpose ; unsteady ;
changeable ; fickle ; fanciful ; subject to
change or irregularity ; as a man of a ca-
priciuus temper.
CAPRI-'CIOUSLY, adv. In a capricious
manner ; whimsically.
CAPRI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being led by caprice ; whimsicalness ; un-
steadiness of purpose or opinion.
2. Unsteadiness ; liableness to sudden chan-
ges ; as the capriciousness of fortune.
CAP'RICORN, n. [L. capricornus, caper, a
goat, and cornu, a horn.]
One of the twelve signs of the zodiac, the
winter solstice ; represented on ancient
monuments, by the figure of a goat, or a
a figure having the fore part like a goat
and the hind part like a fish. Encyc.
CAPRIFICA'TION, n. [L. caprificatio.]' \
method of ripening figs by means of a
gnat or insect that pricks the bud. Encyc.
CAP'RIFOLE, n. [L. caprifulium.] Hon-
eysuckle ; woodbine. Spenser.
CAP'RIFORM, a. [L. caper, a goat, and
forma, form.] Having the form of a goat.
Eclectic Review.
CAP'RIOLE, n. [Fr., now cabriole ; Sp. Port.
cabriola ; It. capriola, a caper.]
In the 7nanege, capriole* are leaps that a
CAP
CAP
CAP
horse makes in the same place without
ailvaiiciijg, ill such a manner that when
he is at the highth of the leap, he jerks
out witii his hind legs, even and near. It
differs from the croupade in this, that, in a
croupade, a horse does not show his shoes,
and from a balotade, in which he does not
jerk out. Farrier's Did.
€AP'UIPED, a. [L. caper, a goat, and pes.
foot.]
Having feet like those of a goat.
CAP'SICUM, 71. Guinea pepper. Chambers.
€APSI'ZE, V. t. To upset or overturn ; a
seaman's phrase. Mar. Diet.
€AP'STAN, n. sometimes written cap-
stern. [Fr. cabestan ; Sp. cabestrante ; Port.
cabrestante, from cabresto, Sp. cabestro, a
halter ; L. capistrum ; Sax. cmpster, or cab-
estr, a halter. The Spanish has also calria,
an a.\le-tree, and cabrio, a rafter. Capstan
is probably from L. capio, to hold, with
some other word.]
A strong massy column of timber, formed
like a truncated cone, and having its upper
extremity pierced to receive bars or levers,
for winding a rope round it, to raise great
weights, or perform other extraordinary
work, that requires a great power. It
may be let down through the decks of a
ship, and so fixed that the work is per-
formed by a horizontal motion. Mar. Did.
€AP'iuLi^V, \ «• """"- '"^« ^ '■'"^«'-
2. Capsular ligament, is that which sur-
rounds every movable articulation, and
contains the synovia like a bag. Hooper.
€AP'SULATE, ) Inclosed in a capsule,
CAP'SULATED, i "' or as in a chest or
box. Botany.
€AP'SULE, n. [L. caps^da, a little chest,
perhaps from capio, to take.]
The seed vessel of a plant; a dry membra-
naceous hollow pericarp, opening differ-
ently in different plants. It is composed
of valves or outer covering, partitions,
the columella or central pillar, and cells.
Marlyn. Milne.
CAP'TAIN, n. [Fr. capilaine ; Sp. capitan:
Port, capitam ; It. capilano ; from L. caput,
the head. In the feudal laws of Europe,
the term was applied to tenants in capite,
who were bound to attend their prince in
his wars, at the head of soldiers, and from
this practice the name had its origin, or
from their command.]
J. l/uerally, a head or chief officer; appro-
priately, the military officer who com
mands a company, "whether of infantry,
cavalry, artillery or matrosses.
3. The commander of a ship of war, or of a
merchantman. But the latter is often
called a master.
3. The commander of a military band, a
sense that occurs in the scriptures ; as a
captain of fifty.
4. A man skilled in war or military affairs ;
as, Lord Wellington is a great captain.
5. A chief commander. Shak. But in this
sense rarely used, but in composition.
Captain-general, is the commander in chief
of an army, or of the militia. The gover-
nor of a state is Captain- General of the
militia. U. States.
Captain- Lieutenant, is an officer, who with
the rank of captain and pay of lieutenant,
commands a company or troop. Thus
the colonel of a regiment being the cap-
tain of the first company, that company is
commanded by a Captain-Lieutenant.
Captain- Bashaw, or Capudan Bashaw, in
Turkey, is the High Admiral.
CAP'TAIN, a. Chief; valiant. Shak
CAP'TAINCY, n. The rank, post or com
mission of a captain. H'ashington
2. The jurisdiction of a captain, or comman-
der, as in South America.
CAP'TAINRY, n. The power or command
over a certain district ; chieftainship.
Spenser. Johnson
CAP'TAINSHIP, n. The condition or posi
of a captain or chief commander. Shak.
2. The rank, quahty or post of a captain.
In lieu of this captaincy is now used.
3. The command of a clan, or government
of a certain district. Davies
4. Skill in military affairs.
CAPTA'TION, n. [L. captatio, from capto,
to catch.]
The act or practice of catching favor or ap-
plause, by flattery or address.
King Charles.
CAP'TION, n. [L. captio, from capio,
seize.]
1. The act of taking, or apprehending by
judicial process. [Little used.]
2. A certificate signed by commissioners in
Chancery, declaring when and where the
commission was executed. Ash.
3. A preamble.
4. In Scots law, a writ issued at the instance
of a creditor, commanding an officer
take and imprison the debtor, till he pays
the debt.
CAP'TIOUS, a. [L. captiosus, from capto,
to catch.]
1. Disposed to find fault, or raise objections ;
apt to cavil, as in popular language, it '
said, apt to catch at ; as a captious man.
2. Fitted to catch or ensnare ; insidious; as
ptious question. Locke.
3. Proceeding from a caviling disposition
as a captious objection or criticism.
CAP'TIOUSLY, adv. In a captious manner
with an inclination or intention to object
or censure. Locke
CAP'TIOUSNESS, n. Disposition to find
faidt ; inchnation to object ; peevishness.
Locke.
CAP'TIVATE, V. t. [L. captivo, from capti-
vus, a prisoner, from capio, to take ; Fr,
captiver ; Sp. cautivar ; Port, cativar ; It.
cattivare.]
To take prisoner ; to seize by force ; as
an enemy in war.
Shak. Locke. B. Trumbull.
2. To subdue ; to bring into bondage
King Charles.
I. To overpower and gain with excellence
or beauty ; to charm ; to engage the affec-
tions ; to bind in love. Addison
. To enslave ; with to ; as, captivated to error
Locke
CAP'TIVATE, a. Taken prisoner. Shak.
CAP'TIVATED, pp. Made prisoner
harmed.
€AP'TIVATING, ppr. Taking prisoner;
engaging the affections.
2. a. Havinc power to engage the affe
eAPTIVA'TION, n. The act of taldng a
prisoner; a taking one captive.
€AP'TIVE, n. [Fn captif; Sp. cautiio ; It.
eattivo, whence Eng. caitiff; L. captivuf,
from capto, to seize.]
1. A prisoner taken by force or stratagem in
war, by an enemy ; followed by to ; as a
captive to the victor.
2. One who is charmed or subdued by beauty
or excellence ; one whose affections are
seized, or who is held by strong ties of
love.
3. One who is ensnared by love or flattery,
I or by wiles. 2 Tim. ii, 26.
4. A slave. Anciently captives were ensla-
ved by their conquerors. But in modem
times, they are not made slaves in christian
countries ; and the word captive, in a lite-
ral sense, rarely signifies a slave.
CAP'TIVE, a. Made prisoner in war ;
kept in bondage, or confinement ; as
captive souls. Dryden.
2. Holding in confinement ; as captive
chains.
CAP'TIVE, V. t. To take prisoner ; to bring
into subjection. Obs. Dryden. Prior.
CAPTIVITY, n. [Fr. captiviU ; L. captivi-
tas, from capto to seize.]
1. The state of being a prisoner, or of being
in the power of an enemy by force or the
fate of war. Dryden.
[2. Subjection to love. Addison.
3. Subjection ; a state of being under con-
trol.
Bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. x.
4. Subjection ; servitude ; slavery.
But I sec another law in my members — bring-
ing me into captivity to the law of sin. Rom.
To lead captivity captive, in scripture, is to
subdue those who have held others in sla-
very, or captivity. Ps. Ixviii.
CAP'TOR, 71. [L. capio, to take.] One who
takes, as a prisoner or a prize. It is ap-
propriately one who takes a prize at sea.
CAP'Tl'RE, n. [L. captura ; Fr. capture;
from L. capio, to take.]
1. In a general sense, the act of taking or
seizing; as the capture of an enemy, of a
ship, or of booty, by force, surprise or
stratagem.
2. The thing taken ; a prize ; prey taken by
force, surprise or stratagem.
3. Seizure; arrest; as the ca/)t«re of a crim-
inal or debtor.
CAP'TL'RE, V. t. To take or seize by force,
surprise or stratagem, as an enemy or his
properly ; to take by force under the au-
thority of a commission ; as to capture &
ship.
CAP'TURED, pp. Taken as a prize.
CAP'TlRIiN'G, ppr. Seizing as a prize.
CAPT'CCIO, 71. [It.] A capuchin or hood.
CAPU'CHED, a. Covered with a hood.
[Little used.] Brown.
CAPUCHlN, n. [Fr. capucine, from capuce,
a hood or cowl.]
1. A garment for females, consisting of a
cloke and hood, made in imitation of the
dress of capuchin monks. Johnson.
2. A pigeon whose head is covered with
feathers.
CAPUCHINS, n. Monks of the order of
St. Francis, who cover their beads with
a capuce, capuchon, a stuff-cap or cowl.
They are clothed in brown or gray, go
bare-footed, and never shave their faces.
£71 eye.
C A R
CAR
CAR
eAP'UCINE, n. A species of monkey, the
sagoo or sai.
€AP'IJLIN, n. The Mexican cherry.
CAR, €AER, CHAR, in names of places, is
sometimes the Celtic Caer, a town or city,
as in Caermarlhen.
CAR, Ji. [W. car; Ir. carr, carra, or cairt ;
Arm. qarr ; D. and G. karre ; Sw. khrra ;
Dan. karre ; Sp. It. Port, carro ; L. carrus, or
nirrus; Fr. char, whence chariot; Sax.
cra:t, a cart. The sense is probably taken
from running on wheels. See Current]
1. A small veliicle moved on wheels, usually
drawn by one horse. Johnson.
2. In poetical language, any vehicle of dig-
nity or splendor ; a chariot of war, or of tri-
umph. Milton. Prior.
3. The constellation called Charles's wain or
the bear. Dryden.
CAR'ABINE, I [Fr. carabine ; Sp. carabi-
€ARBINE, y^-na; It. id.]
A short gun or fire arm, carrying a ball of
24 to the pound, borne by light horsemen,
and hanging by a belt over the left shoul-
der. The barrel is two feet and a half
long, and sometimes furrowed.
CARABINEE'R, n. A man who carries a
carabine ; one who carries a longer car-
abine than others, which is sometimes
used on foot. Encyc.
CAR' AC, ) [Port, carraca ; Fr. caraque ;
CAR'ACK, S "'Sp. carraca; aUied to It. car-
ico, a burden, cargo.]
A large ship of burden ; a Portuguese In-
diaman.
C-\R'ACOL, n. [Fr. caracole, a wheeling
about ; Sp. caracal, a small cone, a wind-
ing staircase, a snail ; It. caracollo, a
wheeling.]
1. In the manege, a semi-round, or half turn
which a horseman makes, either to the
right or left. In the army, the cavalry
make a caracol after each discharge, iii
order to pass to the rear of the squadron.
Encyc.
2. In architecture, a staircase in a helix or
spiral form. Encyc.
CAR'ACOL, V. i. To move in a caracol :
to wheel.
CAR'ACOLY, n. A mixture of gold, silver
and copper, of which are made rings, pen-
dants and other toys for the savages.
CAR'AT, n. [It. carato ; Fr. carat ; D. ka-
raut; G. karat; Gr. xipattov, a little horn,
a pod, and the berry of a pod, used
for a weight of four grains. From tlie
Greeks, it is said, the Arabians borrowed
their isj.a karat, a weight used in Mec
ca, equal to the twenty-fourth of a deua
rius, or denier. See Castell, Col. 3448,
and Ludolf, 199.]
1. The weight of four grains, used by gold
smiths and jewelers in weighing precious
stones and pearls. Encyc.
2. The weight that expresses the fineness of
gold. The whole mass of gold is divided
into 24 equal parts, and as many 24tl
parts as it contains of pure gold, it is cal
led gold of s-o many carats. Thus gold o
twenty-two parts of pure metal, is gold
of twenty-two carats. The carat in Great
Britain is divided into four grains ; among
the Germans into twelve parts ; and
among the French into thirty-two.
Encyi
3. The value of any thing. Obs. B. Jonson.
karau, to stretch along, to follow, to pro-
ceed from place to place. Sp. caravana ;
Fr. caravane. Pers. as Ar.]
A company of travellers, pilgrims or mer-
chants, marching or proceeding in a body
over the deserts of Arabia, or other region
infested with robbers.
CARAVAN' SARY, n. A place appointed
for receiving and loading caravans ; a kind
of inn, where the caravans rest at night,
being a large square building, with a spa-
cious court in the middle. Encyc.
CAR'AVEL, I [Sp. caravela ; It. caravello ;
C'ARVEL, S F»- caravelle.]
1. A small vessel on the coast of France,
used in the herring fishery. These vessels
are usually from 25 to 30 tons burden.
2. A light, round, old-fashioned ship.
Johnson.
CAR'AWAV, 71. [Gr. xopoj, xapw ; h. caros,
Fr. carii ; Sp. alcaravea or alcar-
ahueya; D.kerwe; Ar. Lj, ^.J" karawia.]
A plant of the genus Carmn, a biennial plant,
with a taper root like a jjarsnip, which,
when young, is good eating. The seeds
have an aromatic smell and a warm pun-
gent taste. They are used in cakes, in-
crusted with sugar, and distilled with
spirituous liquors. Encyc.
CARBON, n. [L. carbo, a coal ; Sp. carbon ;
It. carbone ; Fr. charbon. Qii. Gr. xap$w,
to dry, or the root of c/iar, Russ. charyu, to
burn.]
Pure charcoal ; a simple body, black, brittle,
light and inodorous. It is usually the re-
mains of some vegetable body, from which
all its volatile matter has been expelled by
heat. When cr}'stalized, it forms the
diamond ; and by means of a galvanic
apparatus, it is fomid to be capable of
fusion.
CARBONA'CEOUS, a. Pertaining to char-
coal. [See Carbonic]
C'ARBONADE, ? [from carbo, supra.] In
CARBONA'DO, S "' cooke/y, flesh, fowl or
the like, cut across, seasoned and broiled
on coals. Obs. Shak.
C^ARBONADE, ? „ , To cut or hack. Obs.
CARBONA'DO, (, "■ '■ Shak.
C'ARBONATE, n. In chimistry, a compound
formed by the union of carbonic acid with
a base ; as the carbonate of hme ; a carbon-
ate of copper.
C'ARBONATED, a. Combined with car-
bon. Lavoisier.
CARBON'IC, a. Pertaining to carbon, or
obtained from it. The carbonic add is i
saturated combination of carbon and oxy
gen. It has been called Jixed air, aerial
acid, mephitic gas, and cretaceous acid, or
acid of chalk. It is found, in some places,
in a state of gas ; it exists in the atmos-
phere, and is disengaged from fermenting
liquors, and from decomposing vegetable
and animal substances. It is heavier than
air, and subsides into low places,
vaults and wells. Hooper
CARBONIFEROUS, a. [carbo and fero, to
bear.] Producing carbon, or coal.
Kirwan, Geol
CARBONIZATION, n. The act or proce^?
of carbonizing.
CARBONIZE, V. t. To convert into carbon
by combustion or the action of fire ; to ex-
pel from wood or other substance all vola
tile matter.
CARBONIZED, pp. Converted into carbon
or cliarcoal.
CARBONOHY'DROUS, a. [carbon and
Gr. ii&uf, water.] Composed of carbon
and hydrogen.
C^ARBONOUS, a. Carbonous acid is carbon
not fully saturated with oxygen.
Lavoisier.
C*ARBUNCLE, n. [L. carbunculus, a little
coal, from carto.]
An anthrax ; an inflammatory tumor, or
painful gangrenous boil or ulcer.
Coxe. Hooper.
2. A beautiful gem, of a deep red color, with
a mixture of scarlet, called by the Greeks
anthrax, found in the East Indies. It is
found pure, and adhering to a heavy ferru-
ginous stone, of the emery kind. It is
usually a quarter of an inch in length, and
two-thirds of that in diameter, of an angu-
lar figure. When held up to the sun, it
loses its deep tinge, and becomes exactly
of the color of a burning coal. Encyc.
The carbuncle of the ancients is suppo-
sed to have been a garnet. Cleaveland.
3. In heraldry, a charge or bearing consistuig
of eight radii, four of which make a com-
mon cross, and the other four, a saltier.
Encyc.
C'ARBUNCLED, a. Set with carbuncles ;
spotted.
CARBUNC'ULAR, a. Belonging to a car-
buncle ; resembling a carbuncle ; red ;
inflamed.
CARBUNCULA'TION, n. [L. carbuncula-
iio, from carbunculo, to burn to a coal, to
blast. See Carbon.]
The blasting of the young buds of trees or
plants, by excessive heat or cold. Harris.
C^ARBURET, n. A combination of carbon
with a metal, earth or alkali. Lavoisier.
A combination of carbon with a simple in-
flammable or a metal. Webster.
CARBURETED, a. Combined with car-
bon, or holding carbon in solution ; as
carbureted hydrogen gas.
Carbureted hydrogen consists of one prime
equivalent of each. Ure.
Carbureted hydrogen gas is called hydro-car-
bonate, being resolvable into carbonic acid
and water, by combustion with oxygen.
Aiken.
Carbureted is applied to gaseous compounds.
Thus we say carbureted hydrogen, instead
of carburet of hydrogen. Silliman.
CAR CA JO, n. The glutton, a voracious
carnivorous animal.
C^ARCANET, n. [Fr. carcan, a chain ; Ii.
carcame.] A chain or collar of jewels.
Shak. Hakewell.
C^ARCASS, Ji. [Fr. carcasse ; It. carcame ;
Norm, carkoys, a mast, and a carcass. Qu.
Gr. xa^ixr^niov.]
1. The body of an animal ; usually the body
when dead. It is not applied to the living
body of the human species, except in low
or ludicrous language.
2. The.decaying remains ofabidky thing, as
of a boat or ship.
3. The frame or main parts of a thnig, unfin
CAR
CAR
CAR
ished or without ornament. This scorns
to be the primary sense of the word. [See
the next word.] Hale.
€'AR€ASS, n. [\x. carcassa; Sp.carcajc;
Fr. carcaase ; D. karkas.]
An iron case or hollow vessel, about the size
of a bomb, of an oval figure, filled with
combustible and other substances, as
meal-powder, salt-peter, sulphur, broken
glass, turpentine, &c., to be thrown from
a mortar into a town, to set fire to build-
ings. It has two or three apertures, from
which the fire blazes, and the light some-
times serves as a direction in throwing
shells. It is equipped with pistol-barrels,
loaded with powder to the muzzle, which
explode as the composition biu-ns down to
them. This instrument is probably named
from the ribs of iron that form it, which
resemble the ribs of a human carcass.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
e>ARCELA{iE, n. [L. career.] Prison fees.
[Mot w use.]
C^ARCERAL, a. Belonging to a prison.
CARCINO'MA, 71. [Gr. xopxirw^ta, from
xafxu'ou, xopxH'05, a cancer.]
A cancer ; also, a lurgesence of the veins of
the eye. Core.
CARCINO'MATOUS, a. Cancerous ; like a
cancer, or tending to it.
e-ARD n. [Fr. cartt ; Sp. Port. It. carta :
L. charla ; Gr. X'^'^ni \ D. kaart ; G. kniie ;
Dan. kort ; Ir. cairt ; perhaps from bark,
L. cortex, Ir. coirt or cairt, or the same
root.]
1. A paper or pasteboard of an oblong figure,
on which are painted figures or points ;
used in games.
2. A blank piece of paper, or the like paper
with some writing' upon it, used in messa-
ges of civility, or business.
3. The paper on which the points of the
compass are marked.
Reason the card, but passion is the gale.
Pope.
CARD, V. i. To play much at cards ; to
gain. Johnson.
CARD, n. [D. kaard ; G. kardetsche ; Dan.
karde ; Sw. karda ; Fr. carde ; Arm. en-
cardoner ; Sp. earda, teasel, and a card ;
Fort, carda, a card, and cardo, a thistle ; L
carduus ; It. cardo, a thistle and a card ;
L. caro, w card ; Ir. cir, a comb. It seems
that card, and L. carduus, are the same
word, and probably the plant, teasel, is the
original word, or both are from ;i common
root. The French carde is a card, and the
stalks of the artichoke. AHichoke is so
written for cardichoke.]
An instrument for combing, opening and
breaking wool or flax, freeing it from the
coarser parts, and from extraneous matter.
It is made by inserting bent teeth of wire
in a thick piece of leather, and naihng this
to a piece of oblong board, to which a
handle is attached.
CARD, V. t. To comb, or open wool, flax.
1 lienip, &c., with a card, for the purpose of
cleansing it of extraneous matter, separa
ting the coarser parts, and making it fine
and soft for spinning.
C'ARDAMI\E,n. [Gr.] The plant, meadow
cresses, or cuckow flower.
C'ARDAiVlOM, ji. [Gr. jtapSa^uKoi'.] A plant
of the genus Jlmoinum, and its seeds, a
tive of India. The seeds of this plant,
Vol. 1.
which grow in a pod, have a warm a
matic flavor, and are used in medicine.
Eneye.
CARDED,;);?. Combed; opened; cleansed
with card.s.
CARDER, 71. One who cards wool ; also,
one who plays much at cards. Woiton.
€'ARDIA€, } ih.cardiacus;V,r.xafhi-
CARDIACAL, S axoj, from «op«io, the
heart.]
1. Pertaining to the heart.
2. Exciting action in the heart, through the
medium of the stomach ; having the quality
of stimulating action in the system, invig-
orating the spirits, and giving strength and
cheerfulness. Med. Diet.
CARDI.'VC, n. A medicine which excites
action in the stomach, and animates the
spirits.
€'ARDIAL(iy, n. [Gr. *opSta, the heart,
and a>.yoj, pain.]
The heart-burn, a violent sensation of heat
and acrimony in the upper or left orifice
of the stomach, seemingly at the heart,
but rising into the oesophagus. It is called
also the cardiac passion.
CARDINAL, a. [L. cardinalis, said to be
from carrfo, a hinge.]
Chief, principal, jirecminent, or fundamen-
tal ; as the cardinal virtues, which Pagans
supposed to be justice, prudence, temper-
ance and fortitude.
€'ARDINAL, »i. An ecclesiastical prince in
the Romish church, who has a voice in the
conclave at the election of a Pope, who is
taken from their number. The cardinals
are divided into three classes or orders,
containing six bishops, fifty priests, and
fourteen deacons, making seventy. These
constitute the sacred college, and compose
the Pope's council. Originally they were
subordinate in rank to bishops ; but they
have now the precedence. The dress of
a cardinal is a red soutaine or cassock, a
rocket, a short purple mantle and a red
hat. Encyc. Spclman.
2. A woman's cloke.
Cardinal-fower, a plant of the genus IjO-
belia, of many species. They are fibrous-
rooted perennials, rising from two to five
or six feet high, with erect stalks, orna-
mented with oblong, oval, sjiear-shaped
simple leaves, and sjjikes of beautifiil mo-
nopetaloiis flowers of scarlet, blue and
violet colors. The natives of this country
use a decoction of one species, the siphil-
itica, as a remedy in the venereal disease.
Encyc.
Cardinal nitvibers, are the numbers, one,tuo,
three, &c., in distinction from frst, second,
third, &c., which are called ordinal num-
bers.
Cardinal points, in cosmography, are
four intersections of the horizon with the
meridian, and the prime vertical circle, or
North and South, East and West. In
astrology, the cardinal points are the rising
and setting of the sun, the zenith and
nadir.
Cardinal signs, in astronomy, are Aries,
Libra, Cancer and Capricorn.
Cardinal icinds, are those which blow from
the cardinal points.
CARDINALATE, > The oflice, rank oi
€>ARDINALSHIP, J "• dignity of a cardi
nal.
32
€'ARDINALIZE, v. t. To make a cardinal
I [lAttle used.] Hheldon.
C^ARDING, ppr. Combing, as flax, woo),
&c.
2. The act of plaving at cards. [Little used.]
CARDlNG-MAcHlNE, n. A machine late-
ly invented, for combing, breaking and
cleansing wool and cotton. It consists of
cylinder!-, thick set with teeth, and moved
by die force of water, steam, &.c.
€ ARDIOID, n. [Gr. xopJ.a, heart, and €i«oj,
form.]
An algebraic curve, so called from its resem-
blance to a heart. Chambers.
€'ARDITE, n. Fossil or petrified shells of
the genus Cardium. Jameson.
CARD-MAKER, n. [card and maker.] A
maker of cards.
CARD-MATCH, n. [card and match.] A
match made by dipping pieces of card in
melted sulphur. Addison.
€ARDOON', n. [Sp. carrfon ; U carduus.]
A species of Cynara, resembling the arti-
choke, but larger. Chambers.
e^ARD-TABLE, n. The table appropriated
to the use of gamesters, or used for jilay ing
cards on.
€ARE, n. [Sax. car, cara ; Goth, kar, kara :
Ir. car ; L. cura. In Welch, cur is care,
anxiety ; also, a blow or beating, a throb ;
citrau; to beat, strike or throb, to fight ;
curiau; to trouble, vex, pine, or waste
away. In L. euro signifies to care, and
to cure. Ill Sp. curar is to jirescribe medi-
cine ; to salt or cure, as flesh ; to season,
as timber ; to bleach, as cloth ; intransi-
tively, to recover from sickness; and re-
ciprocally, to take care of one's self. In
Italian, curare is to cure, attend, protect,
defend, and to value or esteem. In French,
ciirer is to cleanse ; " curer les dens," to
pick the teeth ; cure is a benefice. The
primary sense is, to strain, or stretch, as in
care, attention, and curious is stretching
forward ; but the sense of separating, or
driving off", is comprehended, which gives
the French sense, and the sense of prying
into is included in curious. The sense of
healing is from that of care, or making
sound and strong. The Welch sense of
beating is from driving, thrusting, coinci-
ding with straming. See Carl and Cure.]
1. Concern ; anxiety ; sohcitude ; noting
some degree of pain in the mind, from ap-
prehension of evil.
They shall eat bread by weight and with care.
Ezek. iv.
2. Caution ; a looking to ; regard ; attention,
or heed, with a view to safety or protec-
tion, as in the phrase, " take care of your-
self."
A want of care does more damage than a want
of knowledge. Franklin.
3. Charge or oversight, implying concern for
safety and prosperity ; as, he was under
the care of a physician.
That which cometh upon me daily, the care
of all the churches. 2 Cor. xi.
|4. The object of care, or watchful regard and
attention ; as, " Is she thy care .'"
Dryden.
CARE, V. i. To be anxious or solicitous ; to
be concerned about.
Ma
( thou not that we perish ? Mark
2. To be inchned or disposed ; to have regard
CAR
CAR
CAR
io ; \vith/or before a noun, and to before a|
verb. " Not caring to observe the wind."
•' Great masters in painting never care for
drawing people in the fashion." In this
sense the word imphes a less degree of
concern. The different degrees of an.xiety
expressed by this word constitute the cliiei
differences in its signification or applica-
tions.
CA'RE-CRAZED, a. [care and craze.] Bro-
ken or disordered by care, or solicitude ;
as a care-crazed mother. Shak.
GARE-DEFY'ING, a. Bidding defiance to
care. Shenstone.
CA'RE-TUNED, a. Tuned by care
ful. Shak.
€A'RE-WOUNDED, a. Wounded with
care. May.
eAREE'N, V. t. [Fr. carener, from carene, the
side and keel of a ship, L. carina ; Sp
carenar ; Port, querenar ; It. carenare.]
1. In sea language, to heave or bring a ship
to lie on one side, for the purpose of calk
ing, repairing, cleansing, or paying over
with pitch, the other side. Mar. Did
CAREE'N, V. i. To incline to one side, as a
ship under a press of sail. Mar. Diet.
€AREE'NED, pp. Laid on one side ; in-
clined.
CAREE'NING, ppr. Heaving down on one
side ; inclining.
CAREE'NING, n. The act of heaving down
on one side, as a ship.
€AREE'R, 11. [Fr. carriere ; i .
Port, carreira ; It. carriera. It is from the
root of car, andL. curro, from the sense of
running.]
1. A course ; a race, or running ; a rapid
ruiming ; speed in motion.
Wilkins. Prior.
3. General course of action or movement:
procedure; course of proceeding.
Continue and proceed in honor's fair career.
Dry den.
3. The ground on which a race is run.
Johnson.
4. In the manege, a place inclosed with a
barrier, in which they run the ring.
Encijc.
5. In falconry, a fliglit or tour of the hawk,
about 120 yards. Encyc.
CAREE'R, 17. i. To move or run rapidly.
When a sidj) is decked out in all her canvas,
every sail swelled, and careering gayly over the
curling waves, how lofty, how gallant she ap-
pears ! Irving
CAREE'RING, pp. Running or moving
with speed.
GA'REFUL, a. [See Core.] Full of care ;
anxious ; solicitous.
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about
many things. Luke x.
% Provident ; attentive to support and pro-
tect ; with of or for.
Thou hast been careful for us witli all care
2 Kings iv.
What could a careful father more Iiave done
Dryden
In present usage careful is generally fol
lowed by of; as, careful q/" health.
3. Watchful; cautious; giving good heed
as, be careful to maintain good works
be careful of your conversation.
4. FiUing with care or solicitude ; exposing
to concern, anxiety or trouble ; full of
cares.
Raised to a careful height. ^hak.
eA'REFULLY, adv. With care, anxiety, or
solicitude.
Though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb. xii.
2. Heedfidiy ; watchfully ; attentively ; as,
consider these precepts carefully.
If thou carefully hearken to the Lord. Deut.
3. In a manner that shows care.
En\'y, how carefully does it look. Collier.
4. Providently; cautiously. Johnson.
CA'REFULNESS, n. Anxiety ; solicitude.
Drink thy water with trembling and with care
fulness. Ezek. xii.
Heedfulness ; caution ; vigilance, in guard-
ing against evil, and providing for safety.
€A'RE"LESS, a. [care and less, Sax. leas,
Goth. laus. See Loose.]
Having no care ; heedless ; negligent ;
unthinking ; inattentive ; regardless ;
mindful ; followed by of or about ; i
careless mother; a mother careless of or
about her children, is an unnatural parent,
2. Free fi'om care or anxiety ; whence, undis-
turbed ; cheerful.
Thus wisely careless, innocently gay.
Pope
Dune or said without care ; unconsidered ;
as a careless throw ; a careless expression
Not regarding with care ; unmoved by;
unconcerned for ; as, careless of money
careless q/" consequences.
Contrived without art. Bp. Taylo,
CA'RELESSLY, adv. In a careless manner
or way ; negligently ; heedlessly ; inatten-
tively ; without care or concern.
CA'RELESSNESS, n. Heedlessness ; inat-
tention ; negligence ; manner without care.
CAR'ENTANE, n. [Fr. quarantaine, forty.]
A papal indulgence, multiplying the remiss-
ion of penance l)y forties. Taylor
CARESS', V. t. [Fr. caresser ; Arm. chengza,
to caress, and to cherish ; W. caredigaw ; It
carezza, flattery, a caressing ; careggiare
to coax, flatter, esteem ; Sp. caricia, i
caress ; acariciar, to caress, cherish, fondle
Port. id. It may be from the common roo
of L. cartis, Fr. cher, cherir, W. car. But
some difficulties attend this hypothesis.]
To treat with fondness, affection, or kind
ness ; to fondle ; to embrace with tender
affection ; as a parent a child. Soiith.
CARESS', n. An act of endearment ; any
t or expression of afiection ; an embra
ng with tenderness ; as conjugal caresses.
Milton
CARESS'ED, pp. Treated or embraced
with affection.
eARESS'ING,^pr. Treating with endear-
ment, or affection.
CA'RET, n. [L. care<, there is wanting, from
careo, to want.]
In writing, this mark A, which shows that
something, omitted in the line, is interlined
above, or inserted in the margin, and
should be read in that place.
C'ARGASON, n. A cargo ; which see.
Howell.
CARGO, n. [W.fa)g,aload,c«j-^«, to loai
from car, a vehicle ; Port, cargo, Sp. ra
ga, a load, burden, charge ; Sp. cargo,
load ; cargazon, id. ; cargar, to load, i
charge ; It. carico, a load or charge ; caric-
are, to load, to charge ; Fr. cargaison.
cargo ; charge, a charge or load ; charger.
to load, burden, charge ; Arm. carg. See
Charge.]
The lading or freight of a ship ; the goods,
merchandize, or whatever is conveyed in
a ship or other merchant vessel. The la-
ding within the hold is called the inboard
cargo, in distinction from horses, cattle and
other things carried on deck. The person
employed by a merchant to proceed with,
oversee and dispose of the lading, is called
a supercargo.
ARGOOSE, n. A fowl belonging to the
genus Colymbus, called the crested diver.
The cheeks and throat are surrounded
with a long pendant ruff, of a bright
tawny color, edged with black. The
breast and belly are of a silvery white. It
weighs two pounds and a half
CA'RIATED, (7. Carious. [ATotused. Sec
Carious.]
CAR'IBOO, n. A quadruped of the stag
kind.
CAR'ICA, 71. The papaw, a tree bearing a
fleshy fiuit of the size of a small melon.
CAR'ICATURE, n. [It. caricatura, formed
from carica, a load, caricare, to load. See
Cargo.]
A figure or description in which beauties are
concealed and blemishes exaggerated, but
still bearing a resemblance to the object.
Encyc.
CAR'ICATURE, v. t. To make or draw a
caricature ; to represent as more ugly than
the life. Lyttelton.
CAR'1C.\TURIST, n. One who caricatures
others.
CARICOG'RAPHY, n. [earex, sedge, and
ypaijiu, to describe.]
A description of the plants of the genus Carex
or sedge. Dewey, Joum. of Science.
CAR'ICOUS, a. [L. caAca, a fig.] Resem-
bling a fig ; an epithet given to tumors
that resemble a fig, such as occur often in
the piles. Encyc.
CA'RIES, n. [L.] The corruption or morti-
fication of a bone ; an ulcerated bone.
Coie.
CAR'ILLON, ji. [Fr.] A little bell. Also, a
simple air in music, adapted to the per-
formance of small bells or clocks. [See
Carol.] Busby.
CAR'INATE, \ [L. carinatvs, from ca-
CAR'INATED, <, "' rina, a keel.]
In botany, shaped like the keel of a ship ;
having a longitudinal prominency on the
back like a keel ; applied to a calyx, leaf
or nectary. Martyn.
CARIN'THIN, n. A mineral from Carin-
thia, regarded as a variety of hornblend.
Cleaveland.
CARIOS'ITY, n. [See Caries.] Mortifica-
tion, or ulceration of a bone. Wiseman.
CA'RIOIIS, a. Mortified; corrupted; ul-
cerated ; as a bone. Wiseman.
C'ARK, n. [W. care, care, restraint; earcar,
a prison, L. career ; Sax. cearc, care ;
cearcian, to cark, to creak, to grumble.
The primary sense is, to strain.]
Care ; anxiety ; concern ; solicitude ; dis-
tress. Obs. Sidney.
C'ARK, V. {. To be careful, anxious, solicit-
ous, concerned. Obs. Sidney.
C'ARKING, pp. Distressing ; perplexing ;
giving anxiety. Obs.
CARLE, n. carl. [Sax. carl, a male, whence
Carolus, Charles. The word signifies pri-
CAR
CAR
CAR
jnarUy, strong, robust. Whence the Eng
lisli, carl-cat, and carl-hemp ; house-carl, a
domestic servant ; Ger. kerl, a fellow ; kerl-
hajl, masculine, stout. See ChurlJ]
1. A rude, rustic, rough, brutal man. Ohs.
[See Churl.-\
2. A kind of hemp. Tusaer.
€'ARLE, V. i. To act like a churl. [JVot in
use.] Burton
CARLINE, or €AR'OLlNE, n. A silver
coin in Naples.
C'ARLJNE, ) [Fr. carlingue, or escar-
e-ARLING, \ "• lingue.]
A piece of timber in a sliip, ranging fore and
aft, from one deck beam to another, di
rectly over the keel, sei-ving as a founda-
tion for the body of the ship. On thei
rest the ledges, on wliich the planks of the
deck are made fast. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
Carline-knees are timbers in a ship, lying
across from the sides to the hatchway,
and serving to sustain the deck. Encyc.
€'ARLINE-TII1STLE, n. A genus of plants
growing in the south of France, and one
a native of Great Britain.
CARLISH, CARLISHNESS. [See Churl-
ish.]
CHARLOCK, n. A sort of isinglass from Rus-
sia, made of the sturgeon's bladder, and
used in clarifying wine. Encyc.
CAR LOT, n. A countryman. [See Carle.
JVol used.] Shak.
CARLOVIN'GIAN, a. Pertaining to Char-
lemagne ; as the Carlovingian race of
kings.
€*ARMAN, n. [car and man.] A man whost
employment is to drive a cart, or to con-
vey goods and other things in a cart.
€*ARMELIN, > Belonging to the order
CARMELITE, $ °- of Carmehtes.
m
CARMELITE, n. [from Mount Carmel] A
mendicant friar. The Carmelites Ii;
four tribes, and they have now thirty-eiglit
provinces, besides the congregation ii
Mantua, in which are fifty-four monaste
ries, under a vicar general, and the con
gregations of barefooted Carmelites in It-
aly and Spain. Thoy wear a scapulary, or
small woolen habit, of a brown color,
thrown over the shoulders. Encyc
2. A sort of pear.
CARMIN'ATIVE, a. [Fr. carminatif; Sp,
carminative, from carminar, to expel wind
backward, from L. carmino, to card
tease.]
Expelling wind from the body ; warmin
antispasmodic.
CARMIN'ATIVE, n. A medicine, which
tend.s to expel wind, or to remedy colic
and flatulencies.
CARMINE, n. [Fr. carmin ; Sp. carmin
Port, carmim; It. carminio ; from the same
root as crimson ; Port, carmesim, crimson
Sp. carmesi, crimson and cochineal jiow-
iler ; It. chennisi, crimson, and chermes.
niizon, a berry, and an insect, used m dye
A powder or pigment, of a beautiful red oi
crimson color, bordering on purple, and
used by painters in miniature, though
rarely, on account of its great price. It is
prepared by dissolving cochineal in an al
kaJine lye, and precipitating it by ulum.
Encyc. hitcholson
CARNAuE, n. [Vr. carnage; Sp. caniiceria,
carnage, aud shambles ; It. carnaegio,
flesh-meat, and carnaccia, carrion ; Port.
camagem ; from L. caro, flesh.]
1. Literally, flesh, or heaps of flesh, as ii
shambles.
2. Slaughter ; great destruction of men
havoek ; massacre. Hayward.
€'ARNAL, a. [Fr. chamel ; L. camalis, from
caro, flesh.]
1. Pertaining to flesh ; fleshly ; sensual ; op-
posed to spiritual ; as carnal pleasure.
2. Being in the natural state ; unregenerate.
The carnal mind is enmity against God,
Rom. viii.
3. Pertaining to the ceremonial law ; as car-
nal ordinances. Heb. ix. 10.
4. Lecherous; lustful; libidinous ; given to
sensual indulgence. Shak
Carnal-knowledge, sexual intercourse.
CARNALIST, »i. One given to the indul-
gence of sensual appetites. Burton
C^ARNALITE, n. A worldly-minded man
Jinderson.
CARNAL'ITY, n. Fleshly lust, or desires,
or the indulgence of those lusts; sensu
ality. South.
2. Crossness of mind or desire ; love of sen-
sual pleasures. Tillotson
CARNALIZE, i-. t. To make carnal ; to de-
base to carnality. Scott.
CARNALLY, adv. In a carnal manner; ac-
cording to the flesh ; in a manner to grat-
ify the flesh or sensual desire. Lev. xviii
20. Rom. viii. 6.
CARNAL-MINDED, a. Worldly-minded.
More
CARNAL-MINDEDNESS, n. Crossness of
mind. Ellis.
CARNA'TION, n. [Fr. carnation, the naked
[lart of a picture, flesh color ; It. incarna-
tino ; carnagione, complexion ; Sp. car-
naza ; Vort. carnaz ; from L. caro, flesh.]
1. Flesh color ; the parts of a picture which
are naked, or without drapery, exhibiting
the natural color of the flesh. Encyc.
2. A genus of plants, Diunthus, so named
from the color of the flower. Among
these are the clove-gilliflower, sweet
ham, IiMhan pink, &c.
CARNA'TIONED, a. Made like carnation
color.
CARNE'LIAN, n. [Fr. cornaline; Sp.come
A siliceous stone, a variety of chalcedony, of
a deep red, flesh-red, or reddish white
color. It is tolerably hard, capable of a
good polish, and used for seals.
Encyc. Cleaveland.
Carnel-icork, in ship-buiUling, is the putting
together the timbers, beams and planks,
as distinguished from clin(!h-work. Encyc.
€>ARNEOUS, a. [L. carneus, from cdro.
^ flesh.]
Fleshy; having the qualities of flesh. Ray.
CARNEY, n. A disease of horses, iu which
the mouth is so furred that tliey cannot
eat. Chambers
€ARNlFl€A'TION, n. [Infra.] A turning
to flesh. _ Chambers.
CARNIFY, v.i. [from L. coro, caraw, flesh.]
To form flesh ; to receive flesh in growth.
Hah.
CARNIVAL, } [Sp. Port, carnaval ;'Vi.
CARNAVAL, i; "• camaval ; It. carr.ovale :
from L. caro, flesh.]
The feast or season of rejoicing, before Lent,
observed, in Catholic countries, with great
solemnity, by leasts, balls, operas, con-
certs, &r. Encyc.
CAHNIVORAC'ITY,)!. [Infra.] Greediness
of appetite for flesh. Pope.
CARNIVOROUS, a. [L. caro, flesh, and
voro, to eat.]
Eating or feeding on flesh ; an epithet ap-
plied to animals which naturally seek flesh
for food, as the lion, tiger, dog, wolf, &r.
CARNOS'ITY, n. [Fr. carnosite, from L.
caro, flesh.]
A little fleshy excrescence in the urethra, the
neck oflho bladder, &c.
C^ARNOrs, a. Fleshy. [Sec Carneous.]
CAR'OB, n. [Sp. algarroba ; It. carruba.]
The carob-tree, Ceratonia siliqua, a native
of Spain, Italy, and the Levant. It is an
evergreen, growing in hedges, and produ-
cing long, flat, brown-colored pods, filled
with a mealy, succulent j'ulp, of a sweetish
taste. In times of scarcity, these pods arc
eaten by poor people, but they are apt to
cause griping and lax bowels.
Miller. Eneyr.
CARO'CHE, n. [It. carrozza. See Car.-[ A
carriage of pleasure. Burton.
CARO'CIIED, a. Placed in a caroche.
Beawn.
CAR'OL, H. [It. carola ; W. carawl ; Arm.
coroll, a dunce ; VV. cor. Corn, karol, a
choir.]
A song of joy and exultation ; a song of de-
votion ; or a song in general.
Dryden. Spenser. Baton. MUton.
CAR'OL, V. i. [It. carolare ; W. caroli ; Ayw-
carolli, to dance, to sing love songs.]
To sing ; to warble ; to sing in joy or fes-
tivity. Prior. Shak-
CAR'OL, V. t. To praise or celebrate in song.
Milton.
CAROLI'NA, n. [from Carolus, Charies IL]
The name of two of the Atlantic States
in North America, called North Carohna
and South Carolina.
CAR'OLING, 71. A song of praise or devo-
tion. Spe7tser.
CAROLIN'IAN, a. Pertaining to Carolina.
CAROLIN'IAN, n. A native or inhabitant of
Carolina.
CAR'OMEL, ?i. The smefl exlialed by su-
gar, at a calcining heat. Ure.
CAROTID, a. [Gr. xapunSn.] The carotid
arteries, iu the body, are two arteries, the
right and left, wliich convey the blood
from the aorta to the head and brain. The
ancients sujiposed drowsiness to be seated
in these arteries. Gr. xopoj.
CAROUS'AL, n. s as z. [See Carouse.] A
feast or festival. Johnson.
But in America it signifies a noisy drink-
ing bout, or reveling.
CAROUSE, V. i. carouz'. [Fr. carrouse, hard
drinking. I know not the real original of
this wonl. In Pers. j j. T karoz signifies
hiliarity, singing, dancing. In Germ.
rauschen signifies to rush, to fuddle. In
Ir. craosal is drunkeimess, from craos, ex-
cess, revelling.]
'To drink hard : to guzzle. In the U. States,
CAR
CAR
as bacchana-
it signifies also to be noisy
lians.
CAROUSE, n. carouz'. A drinking match ;
a hearty drink or full draught of liquor ; i
noisy drinking match.
OAROUS'ER, n. A drinker; a toper; a noi-
sy reveler, or bacchanalian.
CAROUS'ING, ppr. Drinking hard; rev
eling.
€'ARP, V. i. [L. carpo, to seize, catch, pick
It. carpire ; Sp. Port, carpir, to tear or
scratch. See Carve.]
Literally, to snap or catch at, or to pick.
Hence, to censure, cavil, or tind fault, par-
ticularly without reason, or petulantly ;
followed by at.
No, not a tooth or nail to scratch
And at my actions carp and catcli. Herbert.
CARP, n. [Fr. Port, carpe; Sp. carpa; It,
carpione ; Arm. carpen ; Russ. karp ; D,
karper ; G. karpfen ; Dan. karpe ; Svv. karp ;
Low L. carpio, from carpo, to sieze.]
A fish, a species oi cypnnus, an excellent fisli
for ponds. These fishes breed rapidly
grow to a large size, and live to a greai
age. Encyc
C^ARPAL, a. [L. carpus, the wrist.] Per-
taining to the wrist. Enaic
CARPA'THIAN, a. Pertaining to the Car
pates, a range of mountains between Po
land, Hungary and Transylvania.
C^ARPENTER, n. [Fr. ckarpentier ; Sp,
carpintero; Port, carpenteiro ; It. carpen-
tiere, a cart-wright, or coach-maker; L,
carpentarius, from carpentuni, a chariot.]
An artificer who works in timber ; a framer
and builder of bouses, and of ships. Those
who build houses are called house-carpen-
ters, and those who build ships are called
ship-carpenters.
In New England, a distinction is often madi
between the man who frames, and the
man who executes the interior wood-work
of a house. The framer is the carpenter,
and the finisher is called a joiner. This
distinction is noticed by Johnson, and
seems to be a genuine English distinction.
But in some other parts of America, as in
New-York, the term carpenter includ—
both the framer and the joiner; and
truth both branches of business are often
performed by the same person. Tlic word
is never applied, as in Italy and Spain, to
a coach-maker.
C^ARPENTRY, »i. The art of cutting, fi-am-
ing, and joining timber, in the construc-
tion of buildings ; divided into house-car
pentry and ship-carpentry.
CARPER, n. One who carps; a caviler.
CARPET, n. [I know not the origin of this
word.]
1. A covering for floors, tables, stairs, &c.
This covering is usually made of wool,
wrought with a needle, or more generally
in a loom, but is sometimes made of other
materials. The manufacture is of Asiatic
origin, but has been introduced into many
parts of Europe, and into the U. States.
2. Level ground covered, as with grass ; as
a grassy carpet ; a carpet of green grass.
To be on the carpet, is to be under considera-
tion ; to be the subject of deliberation. The
French phrase, to be on the tapis, is used -
the Uke sense.
Carpet-knight, in Shakspeare, is a kmght
who enjoys ease and security, or luxury
and has not known the hardships of the
field.
Carpet-monger is used in a like sense.
C^ARPET, V. I. To cover with a carpet; to
spread with carpets. Bacon. Derham.
CARPETED, pp. Covered with a carpet.
C^ARPETING, n. Cloth for carpets; car-
pets in general.
€ ARPET-WALK, n. A walk on smooth
turf Evelyn.
CARPING, ;)/>r. Caviling ; captious ; censo-
rious. }Vatt^.
CARPING, n. The actof caviHng; a cavil;
unreasonable censure.
CARPINGLY, adv. Captiously ; in a carp-
ing manner. Camden.
CARPMEALS, n. A kind of coarse cloth
made in the North of England. Phillips.
C>ARPOLITE, n. [Gr. xajMo;, fruit, and
■KiBoi, stone.]
Petrified fruits, of which the most remarka
ble arc nuts converted into silex.
CARPOL'OtilST, n. [Gr. xaprtoj, fruit, and
Xeyu, to speak.] One who describes fruits
CARPOL'OGY, n. [Supra.] A description
of fruits. Cyc
CARPUS, n. [L.] The wrist, but not at
English word.
€AR'RAWAY,n. A kind of apple. Mason.
CARTJABLE, a. That may be carried.
[JVot in use.] Shenvood.
CAR'RIAGE, n. [Fr. charrlage, from char-
rier, to carry ; It. carreggio, or carriaggio.
See Carry.]
1. The act of carrying, bearing, transporting,
or conveying ; as the carriage of sounds.
Bacon.
2. The act of taking by an enemy ; conquest :
acquisition. Obs. Knolles.
3. That which carries, especially on wheels ;
a vehicle. This is a general term for a
coach, chariot, chaise, gig, sulkey, or otli
vehicle on wheels, as a cannon-carriage
on trucks, a block-carriage for mortars, and
atruck-camage. Appropriately the word is
applied to a "coach ; and carts and wag-
ons are rarely or never called carriages.
The price or expense of carrjing.
5. That which is carried ; burden ; as bag-
gage, vessels, furniture, &c.
And David left his carriage in the hands of
the keeper of the carriage. 1 Sam. xvii,
[Little used.] Spenser
6. In a moral sense, the manner of carrying
one's self; behavior ; conduct ; deport-
ment ; personal manners. Bacon. Dryden.
Measures ; practices ; management.
Shak.
CAR'RIBOO. [See Canboo.]
CAR'RICK-BEND, n. A particular kind of
knot.
CAR'RICK-BITTS, n. In a ship, tho bitts
which support the windlass. Mar. Diet
CAR'RIER, n. [See Carry.] One who car-
ries ; that which carries or conveys ; also
a messenger.
2. One who is employed to carry goods for
others for a reward ; also, one whose oc-
cupation is to carry goods for others, call
ed a common carrier ; a porter-
•3. A pigeon that conveys letters from place
to place, the letters being tied to the neck.
CAR'RION, n. [It. carogna ; Sp. carrona ;
Fr. charogne ; Arm. caroan ; D. karonje.]
The dead aud putrefying body or fieeh of
CAR
animals ; flesh so corrupted as to be un-
fit for food. Dryden. Pope,
2. A worthless woman ; a term of reproach.
Shak.
CAR'RION, a. Relating to dead and putre-
fyuig carcasses ; feeding on carrion, as a
carrion-croii: Shak.
CARRONA'DE, n. [It is said to be fiom
Cairon, in Scotland, where it was first
made.]
A short piece of ordnance, having a large
caliber, and a chamber for the powder,
like a mortar. This species of cannon is
carried on the upper works of ships, as
the poop and forecastle, and is very useful
in close engagements.
Mar. Diet. Encyc.
CARROON', n. In London, a rent received
for the privilege of driving a cart. Ash.
3. A species of cherry. Tooke, Russ.
CAR'ROT, n. [It. carota; Fr.carotte; Low
L. carota.]
An esculent root, of the genus Daucus, cul-
tivated for the table and for cattle.
CAR'ROTY, a. Like a carrot iu color ; an
pithet given to red hair.
CAR'ROWS, n. In Ireland, people who wan-
der about and get their living by cards and
dice ; strolling gamesters. Spenser.
CAR'RY, It. t. [W. cariatv, from car, a dray,
drag, or wagon ; Fr. charrier ; Arm. char-
reat or charreein ; Sp. af:arrear ; Dan.
kiiirer; Sw. kibra ; G.karren. These verbs
signify primarily to carry on a cart or car,
and are evidently from the noun. But the
EngUsh carry coincides also with the Latin
gero, our vulgar keri-y ; for the sense of
behavior can hardly proceed from the mo-
ving of a wheel-carriage, nor indeed can
some other senses of this word. But the
pruiiary sense, in both cases, is to move.}
To bear, convey, or transport, by sustain-
ing and moving the thing carried, either
by bodily strength, upon a beast,
hide, or in any kind of water-craft. In
general, it implies a moving from the
speaker or the place present or near, to a
place more distant, and so is opposed to
bring and fetch, and it is often followed by
from, away, off, out.
He shall carry the lambs in his bosons
Is. xl.
When he dieth, he shall carry nothing awa>
Ps. xlix.
2. To convey ; as, sound is carried iu the air.
;. To effect ; to accomplish ; to prevail ; to
gain the object ; as, to carry a point, meas-
ure, or resolution ; to carry a prize ; to
cany a fortified town by force of arms ;
sometimes followed by it.
Whose wills will carry it over the rest.
Locke. Burke.
4. To hear out ; to face through.
If a man carries it off, there is so much mon-
ey saved. L'Bstrange.
5. To urge, impel, lead or draw, noting mor-
al impulse.
Pride or passion will carry a man to great
lengths.
Men are carried away with imaginary pros-
pects. See Eph. iv. 14. Heb. xiii. 9.
To bear ; to have.
In some vegetables, we see something that
carries a kind of analogj' to sense. IJale.
To bear ; to show, display or exhibit to
view.
CAR
The aspect of every one in the family Ci
satisfaction. Mc
8. To'iinply or import.
To quit former tenets carries an imputation
ofignorance. Locke.
9. To contain or comprise.
He thought it carried something of argument
in it, to prove that doctiine. fVatts.
10. To extend or continue in time, as to
carry a historical account to the first ages
of the world ; but usually with a parti-
cle, as to carry up or carry back, to carry\
forward.
11. To extend in space, aa to carry a line
or a boundary ; or in a moral sense, as
to carry ideas very far.
12. To support or sustain.
Carry camomile on sticlcs. Bacon
13. To bear or produce, as trees.
Set them a reasonable depth, and they will
carry more shoots upon the stem. Baco?i
14. To manage or transact, usually with on
as, to carry on business.
15. To carry one's self, to behave, conduct oi
demean.
He carried Ai/nse/f insolently. Clarendon
Sometimes with it ; as, he carried it high
16. To remove, lead or drive.
And he carried away all his cattle. Gen,
xxxi.
17. To remove ; to cause to go.
And the kin^ of Assyria did carry away Israel
to Assyria. 2 Kings xviii.
18. To transport ; to afTect with extraordi-
nary impressions on the mind. Rev. xvii.
19. To fetch and bring.
Young whelps learn easily to carry.
Ascham
iO. To transfer ; as, to carry an account to
the ledger.
War was to be diverted from Greece by being
carried into Asia. Mitford.
To carry coals, to bear injuries. Mason
To carry off, to remove to a distance ; also, tc
kill, as to be carried off'hy sickness.
To carry on, to promote, advance, or help
forward ; to continue ; as, to carry on a
design ; to carry on the administration of
grace.
U. To manage or prosecute ;
husbandry.
3. To prosecute, continue or pursue ; as, to
carry on trade or war.
To carry through, to sujiport to the end ; to
sustain or keep from failing, or being sub-
dued.
to carry on
Grace will carry a man through all difficul-
'"^f- Hammond.
To carry out, to bear from within ; also, to
sustam to the end ; to continue to the end.
lo carry away, in seamanship, is to break :
to carry sail till a spar breaks ; as, to carni
away a fore-topmast.
€AR'RY, V. i. To run on rotten ground, ot
on frost, which sticks to the feet, as a hare.
n rr, , , , , Johnson.
i. To bear the head m a particular manner,
as a horse. When a horse holds his head
high, with an arching neck, he is said
carry well. When he lowers his head too
much, he is said to carry low.
3. To convey ; to propel ; as, a gun or mor
tar carries well ; hit this is elliptical.
CARRYING, ppr. Bearing, conveying, re
movnig, &c.
CAR'RYING, n. A bearing, eonveviue, re-
moving, transporting. ' "
CAR
Carrying trade, the trade which consists in
the transportation of goods by water froi
country to country, or place to place.
We are rivals with them in navigation and the
carrying trade. Federalist, Jay.
Carrying ivind, among horsemen, is a toss-
ing of the nose, as high as the horse's ears.
Encyc.
€AR'RY-TALE, n. A tale-bearer. [JVot
««^</-l Skak.
€'ART, n. [W. cart; Sax. crat, crat ; Ir.
cairt ; Russ. karet. See Car.]
1. A carriage with two wheels, fitted to be
drawn by one horse, or by a yoke of oxen,
and used in husbandry or commercial cit-
ies for carrying heavy commodities. In
Gieat Britain, carts are usually drawn by
horses. In America, horse-carts are used
mostly in cities, and ox-carts in the coun-
try.
2. A carriage in general.
r>ART ,. / T ^'""^''- ^^'"■
1/ AK I, v.t. lo carry or convey on a cart ;
as, to cart hay.
2. To expose in a cart, by way of punish-
ment.
CARTAGE, n. Tl
CAR
|€;ARTEL, v. i. To defy. Ohs. B. Jonson.
CARTER, n. The man who drives a cart,
or whose occupation is to drive a cart.
€ARTE'S1AN, a. carlizhun. Pertaining to
the philosopher Des Cartes, or to his phi-
losophy, which taught the doctrine of vor-
texes round the sun and planets.
CARTE'SIAN, „. One who adopts the
philosophy of Des Cartes.
CARTHAGINIAN, a. Pertaining to an-
cient Carthage, a celebrated city on the
Northern Coast of Africa, about twelve
miles from the modern Tunis. It was
founded by the Phenicians, and destroyed
by the Romans.
act of carrying in a
cart, or the price paid for carting.
C'ART-BOTE, n. In English law, wood
which a tenant is entitled for making and
repairing carts and other instruments of
husbandry
CARTED,
CART-HOI
^. Borne or exposed in a ca
sE, n. A horse that draws
CARTING, 2W- Conveying or exposing in
a cart.
CARTING, n. The act of carrying in a cart,
CART-JADE, n. A sorry horse; a horse
used in drawing, or fit only for the ca
CART-LOAD, 71. A load borne on a cart;
as much as is usually carried at once on a
cart, or as is sufficient to load it.
C>ART-ROPE, n. A rope for binding hay,
or other articles on a cart.
C>ART-RUT, n. The cut or track of a cart-
wheel. [See Route.]
CART-TIRE, n. The tire, or iron bands,
to bind the wheels of a cart.
CART- WAY, n. A way that is or may be
passed with carts, or other wheel carria-l
ges.
CART-WHEEL, n. The wheel of a cart
e^ART-WRIGHT, n. An artificer who'
makes carts. I
Carte-blanche. [Fr. white paper.] A blank!
paper, signed at the bottom with a per-
son's nanie, and sometimes sealed with
his seal, given to another person with per-
mission to superscribe what conditions he
I'leases Encyc.
CARTEL, n. [It. carteltoi Fr. Sp. Port, car-
tel ; from L. chartula.]
1. A writing or agreement between states at
war, for the exchange of prisoners, or for
some mutual advantage; also, a vessel em-
ployed to convey the messenger on this
occasion.
A letter of defiance or challenge ; a chal-
lenge to single combat. This sense thej
word has still in France and Italy; but
with us it is obsolete.
Cartel-ship, is a ship employed in the ex-l
change of prisoners, or in carrying propo-!
sitions to an enemv. ■
CARTHA6IN'IAN, n. An inhabitant or
native of Carthage.
C-ARTHAMUS, n. The generic name of
Bastard Saffron. [See SaMower.]
CARTHUSIAN, n. carthiAun. One of
an order of monks, so called from Char-
treuse, the place of their institution. Thev
are remarkable for their austerity. They
cannot go out of their cells, except to
church, nor speak to any person without
'e»vf. Enmic.
CARTILA6E, n. [h. caHilago ; Fr. car'til-
age. I suspect this and the English gris-
tle to be the same word ; the r being trans-
posed, carti7 for cratil.]
Gristle ; a smooth, solid, elastic substance,
softer than bone, of a pearly color and
homogeneous texture, without cells or
cavities. It is invested with a particular
membrane called perichondrium, which in
the articular cartilages, is a reflexion of
the synovial membrane. Cyc. tVistar.
CARTILAGINOUS, a. Pertaining to or
resembling a cartilage ; gristly ; consisting
of cartilage. Ray.
2. In ichthyology, cartilaginous fishes are
those whose muscles are supported by
cartilages instead of bones, or whose skel-
eton is cartilaginous. Many of these are
viviparous, as the ray and shark, whose
young are excluded from an egg hatched
within them. Others are oviparous, as
the sturgeon. Some of them have no eill-
covers, but breathe through aiiertures^ on
the sides of the neck or top of the head ;
others have gill-covers, but destitute of
bony rays. Encyc. Ed. Encyc
CARTOON', n. [It. cartone, paste-board;
Sp. Fr. carton ; from L. charta, pajier.]
In painting, a design drawn on strong paper,
to be afterward calked through and trans-
ferred on the fresh plaster of a wall, to be
painted in fresco. Also, a design colored
for working in Mosaic, tapestry &c.
CARTOITCH', „. [Fr. caHouche; Sp,^caHu.
cho ; Port, cartuxo ; It. cartuccia, a cart-
ridge, a bit of paper, from carta, paper 1
1. A case of wood, about three inches thick
at the bottom, girt with marlin, holding
about four hundred musket baUs, and sii
or eight iron balls of a pound weight, to
he hied out of a howitz, for defending a
pass. A cartouch is sometimes made of a
globular form, and filled with a ball of a
pound weight ; and sometimes for gun«
being of a ball of a half or quarter of a
pound weight, tied in the form of a bimoh
of grapes, on a tompion of wood and coat-
Enqic.
cd over.
CAR
CAS
CAS
!J. A portable box for charges. [See CaH-
ridge-box.]
3. A roll or scroll on the cornice of a column.
Coles.
CARTRIDGE, n. [a corruption ofcartoiich.]
A case of pasteboard or parchment, hold-
ing the charge of powder or powder and
ball, for a cannon, mortar, musket or pis
tol. The cartridges for small arms, pre
pared for battle, contain the powder and
ball ; those for cannon and mortars are
made of paste-board, or tin. Cartridges,
without balls, are called blank cartridges.
CARTRIDGE-BOX, n. A case, usually of
wood, covered with leather, with cells for
cartridges. It is worn upon a belt thrown
over tlie left shoulder, and hangs a little
below the pocket-hole on the right side.
CARTULARY, n. [Fr. cadulaire ; Sp. car-
tulario ; from carta, paper.]
A register-book, or record, as of a monas-
tery. Blackstone writes it chartulary ; and
primarily it signifies the officer who has
the care of charters and other public
papers.
€AR'U€ATE, n. [L. caruca.] As much
land as one team can plow in the year.
Eng. Law. Kelham.
CAR'UNCLE, n. [L. canmcula, from caro,
flesh.]
1. A small fleshy excrescence, either natural
pr morbid. Coxe.
2. The fleshy comb on the head of a fow
eARUNC'ULAR, a. In the form of a ca-
runcle.
CARUNC'ULATED, a. Having a fleshy
excrescence, or soft fleshy protuberance.
Encyc.
CARVE, V. t. c'arv. [Sax. ceorfan, cearfan ;
J), kerven ; G.kerben; Ttan.karver; L.car-
po. See Ar. <_.»;
and
Oj..
Heb.
and Ch. 313. Class Rb. No. 26. 27. 30.]
1. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat
at table.
2. To cut wood, stone or other material into
some particular form, with an instrument,
usually a chisel; to engrave; to cut fig-
ures or devices on hard materials.
3. To make or shape by cutting ; as, to carve
an image.
4. To apportion ; to distribute ; to provide
at pleasure ; to select and take, as to one's
self, or to select and give to another.
South.
5. To cut ; to hew. Shak.
To carve out, is to cut out, or to lay out, by
design ; to plan.
CARVE, V. I. c'arv. To cut up meat ; fol-
lowed sometimes by for ; as, to carve for
all the guests.
2. To exercise the trade of a sculptor.
3. To engrave or cut figures.
C>ARVE, n. A carucate. [JVot in use.]
CARVED, pp. Cut or divided ; engraved ;
formed by carving.
CARVEL, n. [See Caravel]
2. Tlie urtica marina, or sea blubber.
e ARVER, 71. One who cuts meat at table ;
a scidptor ; one who apportions or distrib-
utes at will, or one who takes or gives at
pleasure. Dryden. Shak.
2. A large table knife for carving.
CARVING, p;)!-. Cutting, dividing, as meat ;
cutting in stone, wood or metal ; appor
tioning ; distributing.
CARVING, n. The act of cutting, as meat ;
the act or art of cutting figures in wood
or stone ; sculpture ; figures carved.
CARYA'TES, ) In architecture, fig
CARYAT'IDES, J "• ures of women dress
ed in long robes, after the Asiatic manner
serving to support entablatures. The Athe
nians had been long at war with the Cary
aiis ; the latter being at length vanquishec
and their wives led captive, the Greeks, to
perpetuate this event, erected trophiei
which figures of women, dressed in the
Caryatic manner, were used to support
entablatures. Other female figures were
afterwards used in the same mariner, but
they were called by the same name.
Encyc
They were called Caryatides, from Carya, a
city in the Peloponnesus, which sided with
the Persians, and on that account was
sacked by the other Greeks, its males but-
chered, and its females reduced to slavery,
Cyc.
€ARYAT'l€, a. Pertaining to the Caryans
or Caryatides.
CARYOPHYL'LEOUS, a. [Gr. xopw.., a
and ^i<M.oi; a leaf.] Having five petals with
long claws, in a tubular calyx ; applied to
flowers. Eaton.
CARYOPH'YLLOID, n. [Gr. xopuo^vWioi-,
clove-gilliflower. Infra.]
A species of mica, the scales of which are
concentric and perpendicular. Obs.
Cronstedt. JSticholso,
CASARCA, n. A fowl of the genus Anas,
called also ruddy-goose, larger than a
mallard, found in Russia and Siberia.
Encyc.
CASCABEL, n. [Port, cascavel; Sp. cas-
cabel, a little bell, a button or knob at the
end of a cannon.] The knob or pumuie-
lion of a cannon. Mar. Diet.
CASCA'DE, n. [Fr. cascade; Sp. cascada .
It. cascata, from cascare, to fall.]
A waterfall ; a steep fall or flowing of wa-
ter over a precipice, in a river or natural
stream ; or an artificial fall in a garden.
The word is applied to falls that are less
than a cataract.
CASCAL'HO, n. [Port.] In Brazil, a de-
posit of pebbles, gravel and sand in which
the diamond is usually found.
Port. Diet. Cleaveland.
CASE, Ji. [Fr. caisse ; Sp. Port, caxa, a box-
er chest ; It. cassa ; D. kas ; Dan. kasse.
The French caisse is the Sp. caxa. The
Spanish caxeta, a gasket, seems to be a de-
rivative o(caxa, and if so, the fact indicates
that caxa is from air oriental root, signif;v-
ing to tie or bind, and that the word ori-
ginally denoted a bag made of skin, like a
bottle, or a basket made of osiers puer-
woven, like fsc, fscus. Qu. Syr. Ja3
casha, to bind or tie.]
1. A covering, box or sheath ; that which
incloses or contains ; as a case for knives ;
a case for books; a watch case; a printer's
case ; a pillow ca^e.
2. The outer part of a building. Addison.
3. A certain quantity ; as a cose of crown
glass.
4. A building unfurnished. [JYot used.]
CASE, V. t. To cover with a case ; to sur-
round with any material that shall inclose
or defend.
2. To put in a case or box.
3. To strip off' a case, covering, or the skin.
[Unusual.] Shak.
CASE, n. [Fr. cas ; It. caso ; Sp. Port, caso;
Ir. cos ; L. casus, fi-om cado, to fall.]
1. Literally, that which falls, comes, or hap-
pens; an event. Hence, the particular
state, condition, or circumstances that be-
fall a person, or in which he is placed ; as,
make the case your own ; this is the case
with my friend ; this is his present case.
2. The state of the body, with respect to
health or disease ; as a case of fever ; he
is in a consumptive case ; his cose is des-
perate.
To be in good case, is to be fat, and thiii
phrase is customarily abridged, to be in
case ; applied to beasts, but not to men, ex-
cept in a sense rather ludicrous.
3. A question ; a state of facts involving a
question for discussion or decision ; as,
the lawyer stated the case.
4. A cause or suit in court ; as, the case was
tried at the last term. In this sense, case
is nearly synonymous with cause, whose
primary sense is nearly the same.
5. In grammar, the inflection of nouns, or a
change of termination, to express a differ-
ence of relation in that word to others, or
to the thing represented. The variation
of nouns and adjectives is called declen-
sion ; both case and declension signifying
falling or leaning from the first state of
the word. Thus, liber is a book ; libri, of
a book ; libro, to a book. In other words,
cose denotes a variation in the termination
of a jioun, to show how the noun acts
upon the verb with which it is connected,
or is acted upon by it, or by an agent. The
cases, except the nominative, are called ob-
lique cases.
In case, is a phrase denoting condition or
supposition ; literally, in the event or con-
tingency; if it should so fall out or happen.
Put the case, suppose the event, or a certain
state of things.
Action on the case, in law, is an action in
which the whole cause of complaint is set
out in the writ. Blackstone.
CASE, i;. i. To put cases. [JVot in itse.]
L'Estrangc.
GA'SED, pp. Covered with a case.
CASE-HARDEN, v. t. To harden the outer
part or superficies, as of iron, by convert-
ing it into steel. This may be done by
putting the iron into an iron box, with a
cement, and exposing it, for some hours,
to a red heat. Encyc.
CA'SEIC, a. [L. caseus, cheese.] The
caseic acid is the acid of cheese, or a sub-
stance SO" called, extracted from cheese.
Proust.
CVSE-KNIFE, 11. A large table knife, often
kept in a case.
CA'SEMATE, ji. [Fr. casemate; It. casa-
matta ; Sp. Port, casamata ; from casa, a
house.]
1. In fortification, a vault of mason's work in
the flank of a bastion, next to the curtain,
somewhat inclined toward the capital of
the bastion, serving as a battery to defend
the face of the op|)Osite bastion, and the
moat or ditch. Chambert^
CAS
CAS
CAS
'i. A well, with its subterraneous branches,
dug in the passage of the bastion, till the
miner is heard at work, and air given to
the mine. Harris.
€A'SEMENT, n. [It. casamento, a large
house.]
1. A hollow molding, usually one sixth or
one fourth of a circle. Encyc.
2. A little movable window, usually within
a larger, made to turn and open on hinges.
Encuc.
CA'SEOUS, a. [L. caseus, cheese.] Like
cheese ; having the qualities of cheese.
€AS'ERN,?i. [Fr. caserne ; Sp. caserna, from
casa, a shed or house.]
A lodging for soldiers in garrison towns,
usually near the rampart, containing each
two beds. Encyc.
GASE-SHOT, n. Mu.sket balls, stones, old
iron,&c., put in cases, to be discharged from
cannon.
€A'SE-WORM, n. A worm that makes
itself a case. John
eASH, 11. [Fr. caisse; Sp. Port, caxa, a
chest, box, coffer. See Case.]
Money ; primarily, ready money, money
chest or on hand, in bank or at commai
It is properly silver and gold ; but since
the institution of bank.s, it denotes a'
bank notes equivalent to money. To pay
in cash is opposed to payment in goods,
commodities, or labor, as in barter.
CASH, V. t. To turn into money, or to ex-
change for money ; as, to cash a note oi
an order.
a. To |)ay money for ; as, the clerks of i
bank cask notes when presented.
Mercantile usage.
eASII, V. t. To discard, [for cashier. JVot
iised.]
GASH-AeeOUNT', n. An accoimtofn
ey received, paid, or on hand.
CASH'-BQQK, n. A book in which is kept
a register or account of money.
€ASH'-KEEPER, n. One entrusted witl
tlie keeping of money.
€ASII'EW-NUT, n. A tree of the West
In(lics,.4nacorrfium, bearing a kidney-simp
ed nut. The fruit is as large as an orange
and full of an acid juice, which is often used
to make punch. To the apex of this fruit
grows a nut, of the size of a hare's kid
the shell of which is hard, and the kernel,
wliich is sweet, is covered with a thin film
Encyc
C.'VSHIE'R, n. [Fr. caissier ; It. cassiere ;
Sp. caxero ; Port, caxeiro ; from caxa
a box, whence cash.]
One who has charge of money ; a cash-keep-
er. In a banking institution, the cashier
is the officer who superintends the books,
payments and receipts of the bank. He
also signs or countersigns the notes, and
superintends all the transactions, under
the order of the directors.
C.ASHIE'R, V. t. [Fr. cosscr, to break ; It.
cassare, to annul, blot out, erase.]
1. To dismiss from an office or place of trust,
by annulling the commission ; to break, as
for mal-conduct, and therefore with re
proach ; as, to cashier an officer of the
army.
2. To dismiss or discard from service or from
society. Mdison. Dryden. SwiJI.
3. To reject ; to annul or vacate.
Locke. South.
•CASHIE'RED, ;*/?. Dismissed; discarded;
annulled.
€ASHIE'RER, n. One who rejects, dis
cards or breaks ; as a caskierer of mon-
archs. Burke.
€ASHIE'RING, ppr. Discarding
ing from service.
eASH'OO, n. The juice or gum of a tree
in the East Indies.
€A'SING, ppr. Covering with a case.
€A'SING, n. The act or operation of pi;
tering a house with mortar on the outside,
and striking it while wet, by a ruler, with
the corner of a trowel, to make it resem-
ble the joints of free-stone. Encyc.
2. A covering ; a case.
€'ASK, n. [Sp. Port, casco ; Fr. ca-iquc ;
Arm. casquen, casqed ; L. cassis. See Case]
.\ head-piece ; a helmet ; a piece of defensive
armor, to cover and protect the head and
neck, in battle.
€'ASK, n. [Sp. Port, casco.] A close vessel
for containing hquors, formed by staves
heading and hoops. This is a general
term comprehending the pipe, hogshead,
butt, barrel, &c.
CASKET, n. [dim. of cask. See Case.] A
small chest or box, for jewels or oth
small articles. Shak.
2. In seamen's language, a small rope, fast-
ened to gromets or little rings upon tin
yards, used to fasten the sail to the yard
in furling. Encyc.
This is usually written gasket.
€>ASKET, V. I. To put in a little chest.
Sliak
CAS'PIAN, a. [Caspice, a word applied to a
pass in the range of Mount Taurus. Plin.
5. 27. D'AnvUle.]
An epithet given to a large lake between
Persia and Astracan, called the Caspian
Sea.
€ASS, V. t. [Fr. casser, L. quasso.] To
quash ; to defeat ; to annul. [JVbl nni
used.] Raleigh
eASS'ADA, ) A plant, of the genus Ja
CASS'AVI, y'' tropha, of different species.
The roots of the manihot or bitter cassa
da, and of the janipha, are made into i
kind of bread which serves for food to
tlie natives of Africa and the West Indies,
and they are also roasted and eaten hke
potatoes. They yield also a great quan
tity of starch, which the Brasihans export
in small lumps under the name of tapioca.
CASSAMUNA'IR, n. An aromatic vegeta-
ble brouccht from the East. Todd.
€AS'SATiE, V. t. [Fr. casser. See Cashier.]
To vacate, annul, or make void. 06s.
Ray.
€ASSA'TION, Ji. The act of annulling. In
France there is a coui't of Cassation.
CASSIA, n. cash'ia. [Fr. casse ; It.
sia ; Or. and L. id. Qu. Heb. mp.]
A genus of plants of many species, among
which are the fistula, or purging cassia
and the senna. The former is a native
of Egypt and both Indies ; the latter is a
nativeof Persia, Syria and Arabia. The
latter is a shrubby plant, the leaves of!
which are much used in medicine. The
purging cassia is the pulp of the pods, and
is a gentle laxative.
Cassia is also the name of a species of Lau-
rus, the bark of which usually passes un-
der the name of cinnamon, difiering from
real cinnamon chiefly in the strength of its
qualities. From a plant of this kind was
extracted an aromatic oil, used as a perfume
by the Jews. Ex. xxx. Ps. xlv, 8. Eiicyc.
CAS'SIDONY, n. [Fr. cassidoinc] A spe-
cies of plant, GnaphaUum, cotton-weed,
cudweed or goldylocks; also, Lavandula
stachas or French lavender.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
CAS'SIMER, n. [Sp. casimira.] A thin
twilled woolen cloth. Encyc.
CASSiNO, JI. A game at cards. Todd.
CAS'SIOBURY, n. A species of plant, of the
genus Cassine, of which the most remark-
able species is the Yapon of the Southern
States of America. The berries are of a
beautiful red color.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
The Yapon is now arrang-ed in the genus
Ilex. Cyc.
CASSIOPE'IA, n. A constellation in the
Northern Hemisphere, situated near to
Cephcus, as the fabulous Cassiopeia was
wife to Ceplieus, king of Ethioiiia. It con-
tains fiftv five stars. Encyc.
CASSITE'RIA, n. [L. cassiteron, tin.] A
kind of crystals which appear to have an
admixture of tin. The color is brown or
whitish. Encyc.
CAS'SOCK, )i. [Sp. casaca ; It. casacca ; Fr.
casaque.]
A robe or gown worn over the other gar-
ments, particularly by the clergy. Encyc.
A close garment, now generally that which
clergymen wear under their gowns.
Johnson.
CAS'SOCKED, a. Clothed with a cassock.
The cassock'd huntsman. Cowper.
CASSONA'DE, n. [Fr.] Cask-sugar ; sugar
not refined. Encyc.
CAS'SOWARY, n. [Sp. camel] A large
fowl of the genus Stnithio, nearly as large
as the ostrich, but its legs are thicker and
stronger in proportion. The wings are
so small as not to appear, being hid under
the feathers. The head is armed v/ith a
helmet of horny substance, consisthig of
l)lates one over another. It runs with
great rapidity, outstripping the swiftest
racer. Encyc.
It is now arranged in a separate genus, Cas-
uarius. Ciivier.
C^AST, It. /. pret. and pp. cast. [Dan. kas-
ter ; Sw. kasta. Qu. Arm. cafz, pp. eagzet,
to send, to throw. See Class Gs. No. 1.
5G. In Dan. et blind kast, is a guess, and
to cast is the radical sense of guess. In
Norman, gistes signifies cast up, and this
seems to be the participle of gesir, to lie
down ; to he down may be to throw one's
self down. This verb coincides in sense
with the W. cothi, to throw off.]
1. To throw, fling or .send : that is, to drive
from, by force, as from the hand, or from
an engine.
Hagar cast the child under a shrub. Gen. xxi.
Uzziah prepared slings tocos* stones. 2 Ch.
xxri.
2. To sow ; to scatter seed.
If a man should cast seed into the ground.
Mark iv.
3. To drive or impel by violence.
A mighty west wind cast the locusts into (he
sea. Ex. x:
CAS
4. To siicil or throw off; as, trees cast their
fruit ; a serpent casts his skin.
5. To throw or let fall ; as, to cast anchor.
Hence, to cast anchor is to moor, as a ship,
the effect of casting the anchor.
t). To throw, as dice or lots ; as, to cast lots.
7. To throw on the ground, as in wrestling.
Shak.
S. To throw away, as worthless.
His carcase was cast in the way. 1 Kings
xiii.
y. To emit or throw out.
This casts a sulphurous smell. Woodward
10. To throw, to extend, as a trencli or
rampart, including the sense of digging
raising, or forming.
Thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee
Luke xix.
n . To thrust ; as, to cast into prison.
12. To put, or set, in a particular state.
Both chariot and horse were cast into a dead
sleep. Ps. Ixxvi.
1.3. To condemn ; to convict ; as a criminal,
Both tried and both were cast. Dryden.
14. To overcome in a civil suit, or in any
Shah
ise ; to reject ;
Addison.
to throw into
contest of strength or skill ; as, to cast the
defendant or an antagonist.
15. To cashier or discard.
16. To lay aside, as unfit for
as a garment.
17. To make to preponderate
one scale, for tlie purpose of giving it su
perior weight ; to decide by a vote tha
gives a sujjeriority in numbers ; as, to cast
the balance in oneV favor ; a casting vote
or voice.
18. To throw together several particulars, to
find the sum ; as, to cast accounts. Hence
to throw together circumstances and facts
to find the result ; to compute ; to reckon ;
to calculate ; as, to cast the event of war.
To cast and see how many things there are
which a man cannot do himself. Bacon.
19. To contrive ; to plan. Temple.
20. To judge, or to consider, in order to
judge. Milton.
21. To fix, or distribute the parts of a play
among the actors. Mdison.
23. To throw, as the sight ; to direct, or turn,
as the eye ; to glance ; as, to cast a look,
or glance, or the eye.
23. To found ; to form into a particular
shape, by pouring liquid metal into a mold ;
to run ; as, to cast camion.
Thou shah east four rings of gold for it. E
XXV.
24. Figuratively, to shape ; to form by
model. ffatts.
25. To commimicate ; to spread over ; as,
to cast a luster upon posterity ; to c
splendor upon actions, or light upoi
subject.
To cast aside, to dismiss or reject as u
less or inconvenient.
To cast away, to reject. Lev. xxvi. Is.
V. Rom. xi. Also, to throw away ;
lavish or waste by profusion ; to turn to no
use ; as, to cast nway life. Addison.
Also, to wreck, as a ship.
To cast by, to reject ; to dismiss or discard
with neglect or hate, or as useless.
Shak. Locke
To cast down, to throw down ; to deject oi
depress the mind.
Wliy art tliou cast doivn, O my soul. Ps
xlii.
To cast forth, to throw out, or eject, as froiu
CAS
an inclosed place ; to emit, or send abroad ;
to exhale.
To cast off, to discard or reject ; to drive
away ; to put off; to put away; to disbur-
den. Among huntsmen, to leave behind,
as dogs ; to set loose, or free. Among
seamen, to loose, or untie.
To cast out, to send forth ; to reject or turn
out ; to throw out, as words ; to speak or
give vent to.
To cast up, to compute ; to reckon ; to cal-
culate ; as, to cast up accoimts, or the cost.
Also, to eject ; to vomit.
To cast on, to refer or resign to. South.
To cast one's self on, to resign or yield one's
If to the disposal of, without reserve.
To cast young, to miscarry ; to suffer abor-
tion. Gen. xxxi.
To cast in the teeth, to upbraid ; to charge :
to twit. So in Danish, " kaster en i nces-
en," to cast in the nose.
€'AST, V. i. To throw forward, as the
thoughts, with a view to some dctermina
tion; or to turn or revolve in the mind;
to contrive ; sometimes followed by about.
I cast in careful mind to seek her out.
Spenser.
To cast about how to perform or obtain.
Bacon. Bentley.
2. To receive form or shape.
Metal will east and mold. Woodward
3. To warp ; to twist from regular shape.
Stuff is said to cast or warp, when it alters its
flatness or straightness. Moxon
Note. Cast, hke throw and warp, im-
plies a winding motion.
4. In seamen^s language, to fall off, or incline,
so as to bring the side of a ship to the
wind ; appUed particularly to a ship riding
with her head to the wind, when her an-
chor is first loosened.
€'AST, ?i. The act of casting ; a throw ; the
thing thrown ; the form or state of throw
ing ; kind or manner of throwing.
2. The distance passed by a thing thrown
or the space through which a thing thrown
may ordinarily pass; as, about a stone'
cast. Luke xxii.
3. A stroke ; a touch.
This was a cast of Wood's politics. Swift
4. 3Iotion or turn of the eye ; direction,
look or glance ; a stjuinting.
They let you see by one cast of the eve.
Addison.
A throw of dice ; hence, a state of chance
or hazard.
It is an even cast, whetlier tlie army should
march this way or that way. Sotlth.
Hence the phrase, the last cast, is used to
denote that all is ventured on one throw,
or one effort.
G. Form; shape.
A heroic poem in another cast. Prior.
A tinge ; a slight coloring, or shght degree
of a color ; as a cast of green. Hence, a
slight alteration in external appearance, or
deviation from natural appearance.
The native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er witli the pale cast of thought.
3. Manner ; air ; mien ; as, a peculiar cast of
countenance. This sense itnplies, the turn
or manner of throwing ; as, the neat cast
of verse. Pope.
ft. A flight; a number of hawks let go at
once. Sidney.
10. A small statue of bronze. Encyc.
CAS
11. Among founders, a tube of wax, fitted
into a mold, to give shape to metal.
12. A cylindrical piece of brass or copper,
slit in two lengthwise, to form a canal or
conduit, in a mold, for conveying metal.
13. Among plumbers, a little brazen funnel,
at one end of a mold, for casting pipes
without sodering, by means of which tiie
melted metal is poured into the mold.
Encyc.
14. [Sp. Port, casta.] A breed, race, line-
age, kind, sort.
15. In Hindoostan, a trihc or class of the
same rank or profession ; as the cast of
Bramins, or priests ; of rajahs, or princes ;
of choutres, or artificers ; and of parias, or
poor people. Or according to some wri-
ters, of Brajiiin* ,- of cwHen/, or soldiers; of
shuddery, or merchants ; and of wyse, or
mechanics. Encyc.
The four casts of the Hindoos are the
Brahmins or sacred order ; the Chehteree
or soldiers and rulers ; the Bice, Vaissya,
or husbandmen and merchants ; and the
Sooders, Sudras, or laborers and mechan-
ics. Cyc. Ed. Encyc.
16. A trick. Martin.
€ASTA'LIAN, a. Pertaining to CastaUa, a
cool spring on Parnassus, sacred to the
muses ; as Castalian fount. Poetry.
€AST'ANET, n. [Sp. castaneta, castahuela ;
Port, castanheta ; Fr. castagnette ; It. cas-
tagnetta. This word seems to be from
castana, a chestnut, so named from the re-
semblance to two chestnuts.]
An instrument of music formed of small con-
cave sliells of ivory or hard wood, shaped
like spoons, placed together, fastened to
the thumb and beat with the middle fin-
ger. This instrument is used by the Span-
iards, Moors and Bohemians, as an accom-
paniment to their dances, sarabands and
guitars. Span. Diet. Encyc.
>ASTAWAY, n. [cast and away.] That
which is thrown away. A person
abandoned by God, as unworthy of his
favor ; a reprobate. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
€'ASTAWAY, a. Rejected; Useless; of no
value. Raleigh.
COASTED, pp. for cast, is not in use.
€AS'TELLAN, n. [Sp. castellan; Fr.
chatelain. See Castle.]
A governor or constable of a castle. In Po-
land, tlie name of a dignity or charge ; a
kind of lieutenant of a province, command-
ing part of a palatinate under a palatine.
The castellans are senators, of the lower
class, sitting, in the diets, on low seats be-
hind the palatines. Encyc.
€AS'TELLANY, n. [See Castle.] The
lordship belonging to a castle ; or the ex-
tent of its land and jurisdiction. Phillips.
€AS'TELLATED, a. Inclosed in a building,
as a fountain or cistern. Johnson.
2. Adorned with turrets, and battlements,
€ASTELLA'TION, m. The act of fortifying
a house and rendering it a castle.
€'ASTER, n. [from cast.] One who throws
or casts ; one who com|)Utes ; a calcula-
tor ; one who calculates fortunes.
Addison.
2. A small phial or vessel for the table ; as a
set of casters.
3. A small wheel on a swivel, on which fur-
niture is cast, or rolled, on the floor.
CAS
eAS'TIGATE, V. t. [L. casligo, from easlus,
chaste. Qu. Etli. 7 Ul 8 gasts, to chas
ten, correct, chide. The French use
chillier, from castus, chaste ; Arm. castiza ;
Sp. Port, castigar; It. castigare.]
To chastise ; to punish by stripes ; to correct ;
to chasten ; to check. Shak.
CASTIGATED, pp. Punished; corrected,
€AS'TIGATING, ;9;w. Punishing; correct-
ing ; cliastising.
€ASTIGA'TION, rt. Punishment ; correc-
tion ; penance ; discipline ; emendation ;
restraint. Boyle. Hale
2. Among the Romans, a mihtary puni.sli-
ment inflicted on offenders, by beating witli
a wand or switcli. Enciic.
€AS'TlGATOR, n. One who corrects. "
CAS'TIGATORV, a. Tending to correc-
tion ; corrective ; punitive. Bramhall.
€AS'TIGATORY. n. An engine formerly
used to punisli and correct arrant scolds,
culled also a ducking stool, or trebucket.
Blackstone.
€AS'TlLE-SOAP, n. A kind of pure, refi-
ned soap.
CASTIL'IAN, a. Pertaining to Castile
Spain.
CASTIL'IAN, 71. An inhabitant or native (
Castile in Spain.
C'ASTlTiG, ppr. Throwing; sending; con
puting ;^ calculating ; turning ; giving
:.y ; deciding ; running, <
) a mold to give shape. [Sc
preponder
throwing intc
Cast.]
COASTING, n.
ding.
3. That which
The act of casting or foini
cast in a mold ; any vessel
formed by casting melted metal into a
mold, or in sand.
3. The taking of casts and impressions of
figures, busts, medals, &c.
€'ASTING-NET, n. A net which is cast
and drawn, in distinction from a net that
is set and left. J[fau
CASTING-VOTE, ? The vote of a pre-
C-ASTING- VOICE, I "• siding ofiicer, in
an assembly or council, which decides a
qnestion, when the votes of the assembly
<ir house are equally divided between the
affirmative and negative.
U. States. Coxe
■When there v
had the casting
t'AS'TLE, n. kas'l. [Sax. castel; L. castell
um; D.kasteel; Arm. gastell ; Norm, chax-
tel ; Fr. chateau ; Port, castello ; It. id ; W
cast, envelopment, from cos, a being sepa-
rated or insulated, hatred, envy, a cas-
tle ; castell, a castle, whence castellu, to
surround; casitl,a cloke, a chasuble. The
Welch cds gives the primaiy sense, which
is to separate, to drive ofl' ; hence, tt) de
fend. It is probably from this root the
Latins had casa. We observe in the
Welch, cds signifies, separated, a castle,
and hatred, envy; also, hateful, odious:
and casnawr, a hater, a persecutor ; casnori,
to persecute, to chase. Hence we see the
radical sense of hatred is a driving off.]
1. A house fortified for defense against an
enemv ; a fortress. The term seems to
CAS
2. Tiie house or mansion of a nobleman
prince.
3. In a ship, there are two parts called by
this name ; the forecastle, a short deck
the fore part of the ship, above the upper
deck ; and the hindcastle, at the stern.
Castle in the air, a visionary project ; a scheme
that has no sohd foundation.
€AS'TLE, V. t. In the game of chess, to
cover the king with a castle, by a certaii
move. • Encyc.
€AS'TLE-BUILDER, n. One who forms
visionary schemes.
CAS'TLE-BUILDING, n. The actof build-
uig castles in the air.
GAS'TLE-CROWNED, a. Crowned with
a castle.
CAS'TLED, a. Furnished with castles ; as
a castled elephant. Druden.
GAS'TLE-GUARD, n. A feudal tenure, or
knight service, which obhged the tenant to
perform service within the realm, without
limitation of time. Lyltelton.
■CAS'TLERY, n. The governmeiit of a
castle. Blount.
€AS'TLET, n. A small castle. Leland.
€AS'TLE-WARD, n. An imposition laid
upon subjects dwelling within a certain
distance of a castle, (or the purpose of
maintaining watch and ward in the castle.
CAS
CAS'TRATE, v.t. [h. castro ; Vr. chalrtr,
for chastrer ; Sp. Port, castrar ; It. cas-
trare ,- Ar. ^ ^ ^ , Etlj. .i, f^ (]) to castrate :
"cut out or off. Class Gs. No.
Encyc.
€"ASTLING, n. An abortion or aboitivc.
Brovm.
€'ASTOR, n. [h. castor ; Tr.Sp. Von. id.;
Gr. xafup. See Ar. Class Gs. No. 42.]
1. A beaver, an amphibious quadruped, witl
a flat ovate tail, short ears, a blunt nose,
small fore feet, and large hind feet
A reddish brown sub.stance, of a strong
penetrating smell, taken from bags or cod
in the groin of the beaver ; a powerful
antispasmodic. Mcholson.
3. In astronomy, a moiety of the constellation
Gemini, called also Apollo.
Castor and Pollux, in meteorology, a fiery
meteor, which, at sea, appears sometimes
adhering to a part of a ship, in the form of
one, two and even three or four balls.
When one is seen alone, it is called Helena,
which portends that the severest part of
the storm is yet to come. Two appear-
ing at once are denominated Castor and
Pollux, or Ti/ndaridw, and portend a ces-
sation of the storm. Chainbers
€'ASTORIN, I An animal principle dis
€'ASTORINE, ( "• covered in castor, and
prepared by boiling castor in six times its
weight of alcohol, and filtering the liquor
From this is deposited the Castorin.
ff'ebster''s Manual.
€ASTOR-OIL, n. The oil of the Ricinus,
Palma Christi, a plant of the West Indi.
which grows to thehighth of twenty feet,
in one season. The oil is obtained" from
the nuts or seeds by expression or decoc-
tion. That obtained by decoction is pre-
ferred, as less liable to become rancid,
being free from the mucilage and acrid
matter, which is mixed with the oil when
expressed. It is a mild cathartic. Encyc.
CASTRAMFTA'TION, n. [L. caslrametor,
to encamp, casira, camp, and metior,
include the house and the walls or other ' measure or snrvey.]
works around it. In old writers, the word The art or a< t of encamnin"- ■ the mnrkin<rnr
.soused for a town or village fortified. l| laying out of a cam™' V^Ay/te:; ^;-;sVf"douTt?urp?opriet;:
Ch. xyn 1
41. 42. J
1. To geld ; to deprive of the testicles ; to
emasculate.
2. To take away or retrench, as the obscene
])arts of a writing.
3. To take out a leaf or sheet from a book,
and render it imperfect.
€AS'TRATED, pp. Gelded ; emasculated :
purified from obscene expressions.
CAS'TRATlNG,;,pr. Gelding; taking away
the ob.sccne parts of a writinff
CASTRA'TION, n. The act of gelding; the
act or practice of making eunuchs ; the act
of takmg away the obscene parts of a wri-
ting ; the act of taking out a leaf or sheet
of a book. In botany, the cutting off of the
anthers, or tops of the stamens of flowers
before the ripening of the pollen.
eASTRA'TO, n. [It. See Ca.itrate.] A malft
person emasculated for the purpose of im-
proving his voice for a singer. Swi/}
€AS'TREL or KESTREL, „. A kind of'
hawk, resembling the laniier in shape and
the hobby in size.
€ASTREN'SIAN, a. [L. ca.Hrensis, from
castra, a camp.] Belonging to a camp.
€AS'UAL,a. cnzh'ual. [Fr. casuel; Sp. Port.
casual ; It. casuale ; from L. casus, a fall
See Case and Accident]
1. Falling; happening or coming to pass
without design m the person or persons
affected, and without being foreseen, or
expected; accidental; fortuitous; coniinc
by chance ; as, the parties liad a casual
rencounter.
2. Occasional ; coming at certain times
vy-ithout regularity, in distinction from sta-
ted, or regular ; as casual expenses.
3. Taking place, or beginning to exist with-
out an efficient iriteUigent cause, and with-
out design.
Atheists assert that the existence of thines is
casual. nwt-'ht
€AS'UALLY, adv. Accidentally ; fortuit-
ously; without design ; by chance.
€AS'UALNESS, n. Accidentalness ; the
I quality of being casual.
€AS'UALTY, n. Accident; that which
comes by chance or without design, or
I without being foreseen ; contingency.
j2. An accident that produces unnatural
death ; and by a metonymy, death, or
other misfortune, occasioned by an acci-
dent.
,3. In Scots law, an emolument due from a
[ vassal to his superior, beyond the stated
yearly duties, upon certain casual events.
€AS'UIST, n. fit. Sp. Port. ra.mist^"Tr.
castiiste ; from L. casus, a ease.]
One who studies and resolves cases of con-
science.
The judjrment of any casuist or learned divine
is not sulEcient to give hun confidence.
South.
eAS'UIST, V. i. To play the part of a casu-
'*•• Milton.
^^^}7,fZ\^\i la Relating to cases of
€A?-L IS^TIGAL, J ' conscience, or to ca-
CAT
CAT
CAT
€AS'UISTRY, n. The science or doctrine of]
cases of conscience ; the science of resol
ving cases of doubtful propriety, orof de
termining the lawfuhiess or unlawfulness
of what a man may do, by rules and prin
ciples drawn from the scriptures, from the
laws of society, or from equity and natural
reason. Pope.
Casus faderis. [L.] The case stipulated by
treaty ; that which conies within the terms
of compact. Lmw of Mitions
€AT, n. [Ir. cat ; Fr. chat ; D. kat ; Dan.
kat ; Sw. katt ; G. kater, or katze ; L. catus ;
Vulgar Greek, xam, or ya-toi ; It. gatto
Port, and Sp. gato ; Lap. id.; Pol. kot ;
Rus3.kots; Turkish teii; W.cath; Corn
kath ; Arm. gaz or kaz ; Basque cafua.
In Ar. jj^^' kitta, is a male cat. Class Gd
No. 56.]
1. A name applied to certain species of car-
nivorous quadrupeds, of the genus Felis.
The domestic cat needs no description. It
is a deceitful animal, and when enraged
extremely spiteful. It is kept in houses,
chiefly for the purpose of catching rats and
mice. The wild cat is much larger than the
domestic cat. It is a strong, ferocious au'
mal, living in the forest, and very de;
tructive to poultry and lambs.
The wild cat of Europe is of the same
species with the domestic cat ; the cata
mount, of N. America, is much larger and
a distinct species. Ed. Encyc.
U. A ship formed on the Norwegian model,
having a narrow stern, projecting quar-
ters, and a deep waist. It is strong built,
from four to six hundred tons burthen, and
employed in the coal trade.
3. A strong tackle or combination of pulleys,
to hook and draw an anchor perpendicu
larly up to the cat-head of a ship.
4. A double tripod having six feet.
Cat of nine tails, an instnnnent of pimish
ment, consisting of nine pieces of line or
cord fastened to a piece of thick rope, and
having three knots at intervals, used to flog
ofienders on board of ships.
CAT' AMOUNT, n. Cat of the mountain^
the wild cat.
eAT'-BL9CK, n. A two or three fold block
with an iron strop and large hook, used to
draw up an anchor to the cat-head.
Mar. Diet.
€AT'S'-EYE, n. Sun-stone, a subspecies of]
quartz, called in Latin acidus cati or onyco
palus, from its white zones or rings "likf
onyx, and its variable colors like opal. It
is very hard and semitransparent, and from
certain points exhibits a yellowish radia
tion, or chatoyant appearance, somewhat
resembling a cat's eye. Encyc. Cleaveland.
tAT'-EYED, a. Havuig eyes like a cat.
Bryden
€AT'-FISH, n. A species of the Squalus, oi
shark. The cat-fish of the N. American
rivers is a species of Cottus, or bull-head,
CAT'S'-FOOT, n. A plant of the genus
Glechoma, ground ivy, or gill.
CAT'-GUT, n. The intestines of sheep or
lambs, dried and twisted together, used
strings for violins and other instruments,
and for other purposes. Great quantities
are imported from Lyons and Italy.
CAT'-HARPINGS, n. Ropes serving
brace in the shrouds of the lower masts
behind their respective yards, to tighten
the slirouds and give more room to draw
in the yards, when the ship is close hauled.
Mar. Diet.
€AT'-HEAD, n. A strong beam projecting
horizontally over a ship's bows, carrying
two or three sheaves, about which a rope
called the cat-fall passes, and communi-
cates with the cat-block. Mar. Did.
CAT'S'-HEAD, n. A kind of apple.
eAT'-HQQK, n. A strong hook fitted to
the cat-block. Mar. Diet.
€AT'-MINT, n. A plant of the genus Ne-
peta, so called because cats eat it.
€AT'S'-PAW, n. Among seamen, a light air
perceived, in a calm, by a ripphng of the
siu'face of the water ; also, a particular
turn in the bight of a rope, made to hook
a tackle on. Mar. Diet.
2. A dujje ; the instrument which another
€AT'-SALT, n. A sort of salt beautifully
granulated, formed out of the bittern or
leach-brine, used for making hard soap.
€AT'SILVER, n. A fossil, a species of mica,
€AT'-TAIL, n. [cat and tail.] A species of]
reed, of the genus Typha, the downy sub-
stance of which is used for stuffing mat-
tresses, &c. Bailey.
9. A substance growing on nut-trees, pines,
&c. Bailey.
€ATABAP'TIST, n. [Gr. ;tora and /Jart-
Tcj'ijs.] One who opposes baptism.
Featley
€ATA€AU3'TI€, a. [Gr. xataxavais, a burn-
ing.] Catacaustic curves, in geometry,
are that species of caustic curves, which
are formed by reflection.
Bailey. Encyc.
€ATA€HRE'SIS, n. [Gr. xaraxmaii, abuse,
from xora, against, and j^poo^tu, to use.]
An abuse of a trojie or of words ; a figure in
rhetoric, when one word is abusively put
for another, or when a word is too far
wrested from its true signification ; as, a
voice beautiful to the ear.
Smith. Bailey. Johnson
A catachresis is a trope which borrows tlif
name of one thing to ex])ress another, or a
harsh trope ; as when Milton, speaking ol
Raphael's descent from heaven, says, he
" sails between worlds and worlds." Here
the novelty of the word sails enlivens the
image. So in scripture we read of the
" blood of the grape." Deut. xxxii.
€ATA€HRES'TI€, ? Belonging tc
€ATA€HRES'TI€AL, ^ "• a catachresis
forced ; far-fetched ; wrested from its nat-
ural sense. Johnson. Bronin
€ATA€HRES'TI€ALLY, adv. In a forced
er. Evelyn.
€AT'A€LYSM, n. [Gr. x<u-eo.x7.vunoi, a del
iige, from xarajcXvfo, to iiumdate.]
A deluge, or overflowing of water; particu
larly, the flood in Noah's days. [Lillle
used.] Hall.
€AT'A€OMB, n. [probably from Gr. xara..
and xviiSoi, a liollow or recess.]
A cave, grotto or subterraneous place for the
burial of the dead. It is said to have been
originally applied to the chapel of St. Se
bastian in Rome, where the ancient Ro-
man Calendars say, the body of St. Peter
was deposited. It is now applied to a
niunber of subterraneous sepulchers, about
three miles from Rome, in the Appian
way ; supposed to be the cells and caves
in which the primitive christians concealed
themselves, and in which were deposited
the bodies of the primitive martyrs. These
are visited by devout people, and relics
are taken from them, baptized by the Pope
and dis])ersed through Catholic countries^
Each catacomb is three feet broad and
eight or ten high ; along the side walls
are sepulchral niches, closed with thick
tiles or pieces of marble. Catacombs are
found also at Naples and in other places.
Encyc.
€ATA€OUS'Tl€S, n. [Gr. xafaxovu, to
hear.]
That part of acoustics or the doctrine of
sounds, which treats of reflected sounds.
But the distinction is deemed of little use.
Encyc.
€ATADIOP'TRIC, > [Gr. xaxa, and
€ATADIOP'TRl€AL, <, "' «w«To,«u,to set-
through.] Reflecting light.
€AT'ADUPE, n. [Gr. xoro, and ^ourttu, to
sound.]
A cataract or waterfall. [JVo< in use.]
Brewer
€ATAGMAT'l€, a. [Gr. xafay^, a frag-
ment.]
That has the quahty of consolidating broken
IJarts ; promoting the union of fractured
bones. Wiseman. Core.
€AT'AGRAPH, n. [Gr. xaro, and ypa$«, tc
describe.]
The first draught of a picture ; also, a profile ,
Chambers.
€ATALE€'TI€, a. [Gr. xara, and J-fyu.]
Pertaining to metrical composition, or to
measure. Tyrwhitt.
Cataleetic verses, are such as want either feet
or syllables. Cyc.
€ATALEP'SIS, ) [Gr. xaTa?n;4.i5, a seiz-
€AT'ALEPSY, S "' ing, from xaToXa^Sa.w,
to take, seize, or invade.]
A sudden suppression of motion and sensa-
tion, a kind of apoplexy, in which the pa-
tient is speechless, senseless, and fixed in
one posture, with his eyes open, without
seeing or understanding. The word is
applied also to a retention of the breath or
of the humors, and to the interception of
the blood by bandages. Encyc. Coie.
€ATALEP'TI€, a. Pertaining to catalepsy.
€AT'ALO(iIZE, r. t. To insert in a cata-
logue. [.Vo< used.] Coles.
€AT'ALOGUE, n. kaValog. [Gr. xara>.oyos ;
xara and >.oyo;, according to words.]
A list or enumeration of the names of men or
things disposed in a certain order, often
in alphabetical order; &» 'A catalogue of the
students of a college, or of books, or of the
stars.
€AT'ALOGUE, v. t. [as above.] To make
a list of. Herbert.
€ATAL'PA, n. A large tree of Carolina and
the South, which in blossom has a beauti-
ful appearance. It belongs to the genus
Bignonia, or trumpet flower.
Drayton. Encyc.
€ATAL'YSIS, n. [Gr. xaran.ats.] Dissolu-
tion. [Little n.ted.] Taylor.
CATAME'NIAL, a. [Gr. xoi-a.ujjuof; xara
and ^ifv, a montli.]
Pertaining to the catainenia, or menstrual
discharge?.
CAT
CAT
CAT
CAT'AMITE, n. [L. catamitus.] A boy kept
for unnatural purposes.
eAT'APASM, n. [Gr. xarartanfw..] A dry
powder for sprinkling the body. Coxe.
€AT'APELT, or CAT'APULT,n. [Gr. xafa-
niMrji ; L. cataputta ; xara and net-ri;, a
target, or more probably from naXKu
SaXKu,, to tlirow or drive, L. pello.]
A military engine used by the ancient Greeks
and Romans for throwing stones, darts and
arrows upon an enemy. Some of these
would throw a stone ot a hundred pounds
weight. Mitford.
eATAPEL'TIC, a. Pertaining to the cata-
pelt. As a noun, the catapelt.
CATAPHON'ICS, n. [Gr. xaro, and 4)qi/5j,
sound.]
The doctrine of reflected sounds, a branch
of acoustics. Encyc.
CAT'APHRACT, n. [h. cataphrada ; Or
xoTeufpaxfos, from xaroujipaoou, to arm or
fortify.]
1. In the ancient military art, a piece of heavy
defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather,
strengthened with scales or links, used to
defend the breast, or whole body, or even
the horse as well as the rider. Encyc.
2. A horseman in complete armor. Milton
CAT'APLASM, Ji. [Gr. xoran>^*f«i, from
xararfKaaaoy, to anoint, or to spread i
plaster.]
A poultice ; a soft and moist substance to be
applied to some part of the body, to excite
or repel heat, or to relax the skin, &
When mustard is an ingredient, it is called
a sinapism. Encyc.
€AT'APUCE, n. The herb spurge. Obs.
Chaucer.
CAT'ARACT, n. [L. cataracia ; Gr. *
paxri;5, from xaropa^sco, to break or fall
with violence, from paaau, pa|u, to strike or
dash.]
1. A great fall of water over a precipice ; as
thatof Niagara, of the Rhine, Danube and
Nile. It is a cascade upon a great scale.
The tremendous cataracts of America thun
dering in their solitudes. Irving
2. In medicine and surgery, an opacity of the
crystaline lens, or its capside ; a disorder
in the eye, by which the pupil, which is
usually black and transparent, becomes
opake, blue, gray, brown, &,c., by which
vision is impaired or destroyed. Encyc.
CAT'ARRH, n. cater. [L. catarrhus ; Gr,
xarappooj, from xaroppfu, to flow down.]
A defluxion, or increased secretion of mucus
from the membranes of the nose, fauces
and bronchiiB, with fever, sneezing, cough,
thirst, lassitude and loss of appetite, and
sometimes an entire loss of taste ; called
also a cold, coryza. An epidemic catanl
is called Influenza.
Hooper. Coxe. Encyc.
CAT'ARRHAL, \ Pertaining to catarrh
€AT-ARRHOUS, S produced by it or at-
tending it ; as a catarrhal fever.
€ATAS'TERISM, n. [Gr. xaT'offpid^os, from
xafaytpifw, to distinguish with stars, or to
place among the stars ; xora and ajjjp, a
star.]
A constellation, or a placing among the stars.
€ATAS'TROPHE, { [Gr. xarafpo^^,, an
CATAS'TROPHY, \ "• end or overthrow-
ing, from xaracpfifu, to subvert ; xata and
fP't"-]
1. The change or revolution which produces
the final event of a dramatic piece ; or the
unfolding and winding up of the plot,
clearing up difliculties, and closing the
play. The ancients divided a play into the
protasis, epitasis, catastasis, and catas-
trophy ; the introduction, continuance,
heightening, and development or conclu
sion. Johnson. Encyc.
2. A final event ; conclusion : generally, an
unfortunate conclusion, calamity, or dis-
aster.
€AT'CALL, n. [cat &iu\ call.] A squeaking
instrument, used in play-houses to con-
demn plays. Johnson. Pope
CATCH, V. t. pret. and pp. catched or caught
[Sp. coger, to catch, coinciding in ele-
ments with Gr. xi;tfu. The orthography
of caught determines the radical letters to
be Cg. The popular or conunon pronun-
ciation is ketch.]
1. To seize or lay hold on with the hand
carrying the sense of pursuit, thrusting
forward the hand, or rushing on.
And they came upon him and caught him.
Acts vi.
2. To seize, in a general sense ; as, to calch a
ball ; to catch hold of a bough.
3. To seize, as in a snare or trap ; to ensnare ;
to entangle.
They sent certain of the Pharisees and of \h
Herodians, to catch him in his words. Mark xii
4. To seize in pursuit ; hence simply to
overtake ; a popular use of the word.
He ran, but could not catch his companii
5. To take hold ; to communicate to.
The fire caught the adjoining building.
6. To seize the affections ; to engage and
attach to ; as, to catch the fair. Dryden
7. To take or receive by contagion or infec-
tion ; as, to catch the measles or small pox
8. To snatch ; to take suddenly ; as, to catch
a book out of the hand.
9. To receive something passing.
The swelling sails no more
Catch the soft airs and wanton in the sky.
Trumbull
To calch at, to endeavor to seize suddenly.
To catch at all opportunities of subverting the
state. Addison
To catch up, to snatch ; to take up suddenly,
€ATCH, V. i. To communicate ; to spread
by infecting; as, a disease will catch from
man to man.
2. To seize and hold ; as, a hook catches.
CATCH, n. Seizure; the act of seizing.
2. Any thing that seizes or takes hold, as a
hook.
3. The posture of seizing; a state of prepa-
ration to catch, or of watching an oppor-
tunity to seize ; as, to lie upon tJie catch.
Addison.
4. A sudden advantage taken. Dryden.
5. The thing caught, considered as an object
of desire; profit; advantage.
Hector shall have a great fafcA. Shak.
6. A snatch ; a short interval of action.
It has been writ by catches. Locke.
7. A little portion.
We retain a catch of a pretty story.
Gla7imlle.
8. In music, a fugue in the unison, wherein
to humor some conceit in the words, the
melody is broken, and the sense is inter-
rupted in one part, and caught and sup-
ported by another, or a different sense is
given to the words : or a piece for three
or more voices, one of which leads ana
the others follow in the same notes.
Encyc. Bushy.
€ATCH'ABLE, a. That may be caught.
[.Vol well authorized.]
€ATCH'ER, 71. One who catches; that
which catches, or in which any thing is
caught.
€ATCH'-FLY, n. A plant of the genus
Lychnis ; campion.
CATCH' ING, ppr. Seizing; taking hold ;
ensnaring ; entangling.
CATCH'ING, a. Communicating, or that
may be communicated, by contagion ; in-
fectious ; as, a disease is catching.
CATCH'PENNY, n. [catch and penny.]
Something worthless, particularly a book
or pamphlet, adapted to the popular taste,
and intended to gain money in market.
€ATCH'-POLL, n. [catch and poU, the
head.] A bailifTs assistant, so called by
way of reproach.
CATCHUP, > A liquor extracted from
CAT'SUP, I "■ mushrooms, used as a
sauce.
CATCH'-WORD, n. Among printers, the
word placed at the bottom of each page,
under the last line, which is to be inserted
as the first word on the following page.
CATE, n. [See Cates.]
CATECHET'ICAL, a. [See Catechise.]
Relating to oral instruction, and particu-
larly in the first principles of the christian
religion.
2. Relating to or consisting in asking ques-
tions and receiving answers, according to
the ancient manner of teaching pupils.
Socrates introduced a catechetical method of
arguing. Addison.
CATECHET'ICALLY, adv. By question
and answer ; in the way of oral instruc-
tion.
CAT'ECHISE, V. t. s as :. [Gr. xarrjxi^u,
and xatrixf^, to sound, to utter sound, to
teach by the voice ; from xai-a, and ixi'^,
to sound, whence eclw. Hence xaT'j;;|Tjfftj,
xaTtjx^e^io;, catechise, catechism, instruction.]
1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving
answers, and offering explanations and
corrections.
2. To question ; to interrogate ; to examine
or try by questions, and sometimes with
a view to reproof, by eliciting answers
from a person, which condemn his own
conduct.
3. Appropriately, to ask questions concerning
the doctrines of the christian religion ; to
interrogate pupils and give instruction in
the principles of rehgion.
CATECHISED, ;>;>. Instructed.
CAT'ECHISER, n. One who catechises ;
one who instructs by question and ati-
swer, and particularly in the rudiments of
the christian religion.
CAT'ECHISING, ppr. Instructing in rudi-
ments or principles.
CATECHISM, JI. [Gr. xar^zw^f.] A form
of instruction by means of questions and
answers, particularly in the principles of
rehgion.
An elementary book containing a summa-
ry of principles in any science or art, but
appropriately in religion, reduced to the
form of questions and answers, and some-
times with notes, explanations, and refer-
ences to authorities.
CAT
CAT'ECHIST, n. [Gr. xatrix^-^m.] One
who instructs viva voce, or by question
and answer ; a catechiser ; one appointed
by the church to instruct in the principles
of religion.
Cz\TE€HIS'TIC, \ Pertaining to a
€ATE€H1S'TI€AL, S catechist, or cat-
echism.
CAT'ECHU, n. Terra Japonica, a dry ex-
tract, or brown astringent substance, ob-
tained by decoction and evaporation from
a species of Mimosa in India. It consists
chiefly of tannin. Thomson. Ure
eATECHU'MEN, n. [Gr. xaf»;j;(n.j«fva, phv
ces where hearers stood to be instructed,
or buildings adjoining a church where the
catechist taught the doctrines of religion.]
One who is in the first rudiments of Christ-
ianity ; one who is receiving instruction
and preparing himself for baptism. These
were anciently the children of believing
parents, or pagans not fully initiated in the
principles of tlie christian religion. They
were admitted to this state by the imposi-
tion of hands, and the sign of the cross.
^ Encyc.
CATE€HUMEN'I€AL, o. Belongmg to
catechumens.
CATECHU MENIST, n. A catechumen.
Bp. Morton.
CATEGOR'ICAL, a. [See Category.] Per
taiuing to a category.
'I. Absolute ; positive ; express ; not relative
or hypothetical ; as a categorical proposi
tion, syllogism or answer.
CATEGOR'ICALLY, adv. Absolutely ; di
rectly ; expressly ; positively ; as, to affi
categorically.
CAT'EGORY, n. [Gr. xattiyopia, from x>
rjyofiu, to accuse, show, demonstrate ;
xara and ayopeu, to speak in an assembly
to harangue or denounce, from ayopa, a fo
rum, judicial tribunal or market.]
In logic, a series or order of all the predicates
or attributes contained under a genus.
The school philosophers distributed all the
objects of our thouglits and ideas into
fenera or classes. Aristotle made ten
categories, viz. substance, quantity, qual
CAT
situation and habit. J^nci/c
CATENA'RIAN, } [L. catcnaiius, from
CAT'ENARY, S catena, a cham.]
Relating to a chain ; like a chain. The cate
narian curve, in geometry, is formed by ;
rope or chain hanging freely between two
points of suspension, whether the jjoints
are horizontal or not. Harris. Encyc.
CAT'ENATE, v. I. [L. caicno, a chain ; G_
kette ; Sans, ketta, whence ketlenu, to bind.;
To chain, or rather to connect in a series of
CA'TER, n. A provider. [See Caterer.]
Old Eng. achator. Chaucer.
CA'TER, n. The four of cards or dice ; so
written for Fr. quatre.
CA'TER-COUSIN, n. A quatre-cousin, a
remote relation. Shak.
CA'TERER, n. [from cater. In Chaucer,
achator, a purchaser or caterer, is evidently
from acheter, to buy.]
A provider, buyer or purveyor of provisions.
Chaucer, Cant. Tales. 570. South.
€A'TERESS, n. A woman who caters; a
female provider of food.
CAT'ERPILLAR, n. [The etymology of
this word is uncertain. Perhaps it may
be from Fr. chatte pelue, hairy cat.]
The colored and often hairy larva of the
lepidopterous insects. This term is also
applied to the larvas of other insects, such
as the Tenthredo, or saw-fly ; but is more
generally confined to the lepidopters. Cat-
erpillars are produced immediately from
the egg ; they are furnished with several
pairs of feet, and have the shape and ap
pearance of a worm. They contain the
embryo of the perfect insect, inclosed
within a muscular enveloj), which is
thrown off, when the insect enters th(
nymph or chrysalis state, in which it re
mains for sometime as if inanimate. It
then throws off its last envelop, and
emerges a perfect insect. Caterpillars
generally feed on leaves or succulent veg-
etables, and are sometimes very destruc-
tive. Ed. Encyc. Kirby.
eAT'ERPILLAR-EATER, n. A worm
bred in the body of a caterpillar, which
eats it. Encyc.
€AT'ERWAUL, v. i. [probably from cat
A wawl. It. guaiolare, Eng. wail."
To cry or wawl, as cats in rutting time ; to
make a harsh ofl'ensive noise.
CAT'ERWAULING, n. The cry of cats; a
harsh disagreeable noise or cry.
CA'TERY, n. The place where provisions
are deposited. . .
GATES, n. Dehcious food or viands ; dainties
CATH'ARIST, n. [Gr. xopaSoj, pure.] One
ho pretends to more purity than otlier-
C A T
€ATH'EDRATED, a. Relating to the au-
thority of the chair or ofiice of a teacher.
mdtlock.
cATH^ARTle, I „ [Gr. xa9aprixo<, from
CATH'ARTICAL, S "oSaf^tvu, xaOatpu, to
purge, xa9af>oi, clean, xara and atpu, to
remove.]
Purging ; cleansing the bowels ; promoting
evacuations by stool ; purgative.
CATH'ARTIC, n. A medicine that pro-
motes alvine discharges, and thus cleanses
the stomach and bowels ; a purge ; a pur
links or ties.
Danvin
CATENA'TION, n. Connection of links,
union of parts, as hi a chain; regular con-
nection. [See Concalenation.]
CAT'ENULATE, a. Consisting of little
links or chains.
CA'TER, V. i. [In It. cattare is to get ; a
tare, to beg or borrow. In Fr. acheter is
to buy ; Norm, acat, a buying. The Fi
gueter, for quester, to beg, seems to be a
different word. See Caterer.]
CATH'ETER, n. [Gr. xoSfrijp, from xaei/rnti,
to thrust in ; xara and ir)ni., to send.]
In surgery, a tubular instrument, usually
made of silver, to be introduced into the
bladder, to draw oft" the urine when the
natural discharge is suppressed ; also, a
sound to search for the stone, or a bougie
made of silver or elastic gum.
Encue. Coxe.
€ATH'ETUS, n. [Gr. xaSfroj. See Caih--
ter.]
In geometry, a line or radius, falling perpen-
dicularly on another line or surface ; as
the two sides of a right-angled triangle.
Encyc.
Cathetus of incidence, in catoptrics, is a right
line drawn from a point of the object,
perpendicular to the reflecting line.
Cathetus of reflection, or of the eye, a right Une
drawn from the eye, per])endicular to the
reflecting plane.
CatKetus of obliquation, a right line drawn
perpendicular to the speculum, in the
point of incidence or reflection.
In architecture, a cathetus is a perpendicu-
lar line, supposed to pass through the
middle of a cylindrical body. Encyc.
CATH'OLI€, a. [Gr. xa9o?.ixo5, xora and
oTitxos, from o?u)5, the whole ; L. catholicus ;
Fr. catholique ; Sp. catolico ; It. cattolico.]
Universal or general ; as the Catholic church.
OriginaUy this epithet was given to the
Christian church in general, but is now
appropriated to the Romish church, and in
strictness there is no CathoUc church, or
universal Cliristian communion. The epi-
thet is sometimes set in opposition to her-
etic, sectary or schismatic.
2. Liberal ; not narrow minded, partial or
bigoted ; as a catholic man.
3. Liberal ; as catholic principles.
Catholic epistles, the epistles of the apostles
which are addressed to all the taithlul,
and not to a particular church.
CATH'OLIC, n. A papist.
CATH'OLICISM, n. Adherence to the
Catholic church.
a. Universality, or the orthodox faith ot the
whole church. Pearson.
3. More generally, liberality of sentiments.
This is the renowned seat of Catholicism.
E. D. Griffin.
CATH'OLICIZE, v. i. To become a catho-
lic. [Little used.]
CATH'OLIeLY, adv. Generally; m a
catholic manner. Sir L. Cary.
CATH'OLICNESS, n. Universality.
Brnnnt.
^..i..,»..^- , - The quality of
I promoting discha-rges from the bowels.
'cATIIE'DRAL, n. [L. cathedra ; Gr. xa9
(6pa, a chair or seat, from xara and fSpa,
a seat.] . .
The see or seat of a bishop ; the principal
church in a diocese.
[CATHE'DRAL, a. Pertaining to the church
which is the bishop's seat, or head church
of a diocese ; containing the see of a
bishop ; as a cathedral church ; cathedral
To provide food ; to buy or procure provis-| service. ,u„,,,.„i .
ions ; followed by /or; as, to caier /or the|3. Resembling the "isles of a cathedral ,|
the sparrow.
Shak.ii as, cathedral walks.
Pope.
CATHOL'ICON, n. [Gr. xoeoj.ixox lo^a, uni-
versal remedy.]
A remedy for all diseases; a universal rem-
edy ; a remedy supposed to be eflicacious
in purtrin" away all humors ; a panacea ;
a kind'of soft purgative electuary so called.
ICAT'ILINISM, n. The practices of Cati-
line, the Roman conspirator ; conspiracy.
CAT'KIN, n. [from cat and kin.] In bota-
ny, a species of calyx or rather of inflores-
cence, from a common chafly- gemma-
ceous receptacle, or consisting of many
chaffy scales ranged along a stalk, slen-
der as a thread, which is the common r.-
ceptacle, as in' hazle, birch, oak, willow,
c A r
C A U
C A U
poplar, <kc. ; so called from its resemblance
to a cat's tail. Marlyn.
tAT'-LlKE. o. Resembliuj; a cat. Shak.
CAT' LING, n. A clismcmbering knife, used
by sm-geons. Hams.
2. The down or moss growing about wal-
nut trees, resembling the hair of a cat.
Harris
3. Catgut. Uu. Shak.
CATO'JNIAN, a. Pertaining to or resem-
Wing Calo, the Roman, who was remark-
able for his severity of manners ; grave :
severe ; infle.tible.
CATOP'TER, ( [Gr. xato^tfov. See
CATOP'TRON, 5 "• Caloptrix:s.\ An opt
cal glass or instrument. Did.
ciTOFTRlcAL.h-f^^^^"'"^'"^^-^
Relating to catoptrics, or vision by reflec-
tion.
€ATOP'TRICS, n. [Gr. «orortrp«os, from
xatontfiov, a mirror, trom xoro, against, and
onroixtu, to see.]
That part of optics which explains the prop-
erties of reflected light, and particularly
that which is reflected from mirrors or
polished bodies. Encyc.
€ATOP'TROMANCY, n. [Gr. xatonrpo-
fiavTsia ; xarojtrpor, a mirror, and fxay-rfia^
divination.]
A species of divination among the ancii'iii:
which was performed by letting dowri
mirror into water, for a sick person to Inn
at his face in it. If his countenance aj
peared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill
omen ; if fresh and healthy, it was favor-
able. Encyc.
€AT'-PIPE, n. [See Catcall]
€AT'SUP, n. [See Catchup, Ketchup.]
CAT'TLE, n. sing, or ptu. [Norm, catal,
chastel, and chatters, goods, commodi-
ties, movables ; Arm. chelal, beasts ; Port,
gndo, cattle. In Syr. and Ch. ru and n"J sig-
nify a flock, herd, possession, goods. But
Spelman alledges that the word chattel is
contracted from capitatia, capiat, from ca
put, a word used in the middle ages for
all goods, movable and immovable,
swering nearly to the use of Gr. xifaMiiof,
Acts xxii. 38. TtoXKov xi^axoum, " with a
great price or sum I obtained this free-
dom." Qu. Sp. caudal, wealth, property,
capital sum.]
Beasts or quadrupeds in general, serving for
tillage, or other labor, and for food to man
In its primary sense, the \vord includes
camels, horses, asses, all the varieties of
domesticated horned beasts or the bovine
genus, sheep of all kinds and goats, and
perhaps swine. In this general sense, it is
constantly used in the scriptures. See Job
i. 3. Hence it would appear that the
word properly signifies possessions, goods.
But whether from a word originally sig-
nifying a beast, for in early ages beasts
constituted the chief part of a man's prop
erty, or from a root signifying to get oi
possess, Gr. xTao/iae, It. cattare, or from
capitalia, it is not easy to determine. Tli
word is restricted to domestic beasts ; but
in England it includes horses, which it or
dinarily does not, in the United States, at
least not in New-England.
2. In the United States, cattle, in common
usage, signifies only beasts of the bovine
genus, oxen, bulls, cows and their yoimg.
In the laws respecting domestic beasts,
horses, sheep, asses, mules and swine are
distinguished from cattle, or neat cattli
Thus the law in Connecticut, requiring
" that all the owners of any cattle, sheej
or swine, shall ear-mark or brand all their
cattle, sheep and swine," does not extend
to horses. Yet it is probable that a law
giving damages for a trespass committed
by cattle breaking into an inclosure, would
he adjudged to include horses.
In Great Britain, beasts are distinguish-
ed into black cattle, including bulls, o.xen,
cows and their young ; and small cattle, in-
cluding sheep of all kinds and goats.
3. In reproach, human beings are called
cattle. Shak.
eAU€A'SIAN, \ Pertaining to Mount
€AUCASE'AN, \ Caucasus in Asia.
As. Researches. Pinkerton.
CAUCUS, n. A word used in America to
denote a meetingof citizens to agree upon
candidates to be jiroposed for election to
ottices, or to concert measures for support-
ing a |)arty. The origin of the word is
not ascertained.
CAUD'AL, a. [L. cauda, a tail.] Pertain-
ing to a tail ; or to the thread which ter-
minates tlie seed of a plant. Botany.
CAr:i)ATE, ^ [L. cnurfo, a tail.] Ha-
l AID A'l'KD, ^ ■ ving a tail. Fairfax.
I \l I) i;\, n. plu. caudeies. [L.] In bot-
any, ihc stem of a tree. Linne uses the
\vord for the stock which proceeds from
a seed, one part ascending and forming
the body above ground, the other des-
cending and putting forth roots.
Martyn. Danvin.
CAU'DLE, n. [Fr. chaudeau, from chaud,
warm or hot, by contraction from L. cali-
dus or its root ; It. caldo.]
A kind of warm broth, a mixture of wine
and other ingredients prepared for tlie
sick. Wiseman.
CAU'DLE, V. t. To make or prepare caudle,
or to dress with caudle. Shak.
€AUF, n. [probably from the root of cof-
A chest with holes for keeping fish ahve in
water. Ash.
€AUGHT, pret. and pp. of catch, pronoun-
ced caut.
€AUK, i ^ A name given by miners to
€AWK, ^ ■ certain specimens of the com-
pact sulphate of baryte. These are of a
white, gray or fawn color, often irregular
in figure, but sometimes resembhng a
number of small convex lenses set in a
ground. Nicholson, lire.
This name is sometimes' given to masses
composed of concentric lamellar concre-
tions. Cleaveland.
€AUK'Y, a. Pertaining to cauk ; like cauk.
H'oodward.
CAUL, n. [L. caula, a fold, from the root
of ftoW. See Hold.]
I. In anatomy, a membrane in the abdomen,
covering the greatest part of the lower in-
testines, called from its structure, reticu-
lum, a net, but more generally, the omen-
tum ; also, a little membrane sometimes
encompassing the head of a child when
born. Encyc.
2. A kind of net in which females inclose
their hair ; the hinder part of a cap.
Dryden.
3. Any kind of net. Greic.
CAULES'CENT, a. [L. caulis, a stalk ; Gr.
xoiiXos. See Cole.]
In botany, having a stem different from that
which produces the flower ; as a caxdea-
cent plant. Linne apphes this term to the
root also, as in cabbage and turnep.
Martyn. Lee.
€AULlF'EROUS, a. [L. caulis, astern, and
fero, to bear.]
In botany, having a stem or stalk.
€AUL'lFLOVVER, n. fit. cavotfiore ; L.
caulis, VV. cawl, D. kool, mid Jlower.]
A variety of Brussica or cabbage, well known
and much esteemed.
CAUL IFORM, a. [L.* caulis, a stem, and
forma, form.]
Having the form of a stalk or of stems.
Kirwan.
CAUL'INE, a. [L. caulis, a stalk.] In bot-
any, growing immediately on the stem,
without the intervention of branches ; as
a cauline leaf, bulb, peduncle or scape.
Marlyn.
CAULK, [See Calk.]
CAUP'ONATE, u.t. [L. cauponor.] To keep
victualling house. [.Ybt in use.]
CAUP'ONISE, V. t. To sell wine or vict-
uals. [jVot in use.] ff'artmrton.
CAUS'ABLE, a. [See Cause.] That may
be caused, produced or effected. Ash.
CAUS'AL, a. [See Cause.] Relating to. a
cause or causes ; implying or containing
a cause or causes ; expressing a cause.
Causal propositions are where two propositions
are joined by causal words, as that or because.
Watts.
CAUS'AL, n. In grammar, a word that
expresses a cause, or introduces the rea-
son. Harris.
CAUSAL'ITY, n. The agency of a cause ;
the action or power of a cause, in produ-
cing its effect. Encyc. GlanvUle.
CAUS'ALLY, adv. According to the order
or series of causes. Johnson. Broton.
CAUS'ALTY, n. Among miners, the light-
er, earthy parts of ore, carried off by wash-
ing. Encyc.
CAUSA'TION, n. The act of causing or
producing ; the act or agency by which
an effect is produced. Brown.
CAUS'ATIVE, a. That expresses a cause
or reason ; also, that effects as a cause.
Johnson.
CAUS'ATIVELY, adv. In a causative man-
CAUSA'TOR, 71. One who causes or pro-
duces an efl'ect. Broum.
CAUSE, n. s asz. [Fr. cause ; Sp. Port. It.
causa; h. causa, from the Celtic; Welsh
acaws, effecting power, allied to cais, ef-
fort, ceisiaw, to seek or go after, to attempt ;
Arm. caus or cos. The primary sense is
to urge, press, impel, like sequor, whence
suit ; hence, to accuse, to attack or follow
with a charge. The root of this word
coincides vvilh that of castle, cast. Sic,
which express a driving. A cause is that
which moves, excites or impels to ac-
tion or effect ; in law, a pressing for a
claim. Sec Question. Cause, sake and
thing have the hke radical sense.]
1. A sidt or action in court ; any legal pro-
C A U
C A U
C A V
cess which a party institutes to obtain
las demand, or by which he seeks his
right or his supposed right. This is a le-
gal, scriptural and popular use of the
word, coinciding nearly with case from
cado, and action from ago, to urge or drive.
The rouse of both parties shall come before
the judges. Ex. xxil.
3. That which produces an effect ; that
which impels into existence, or by its agen-
cy or operation produces what did not be-
fore exist ; that by virtue of which any
thing is done ; that from which any thing
proceeds, and without which it would not
exist.
Cause is a substance exerting its power into
act, to make a thing begin to be. Lorke.
3. The reason or motive that urges, moves,
or impels the min(f to act or decide.
For this cause have I raised up Pharaoh.
Ex. ix.
And David said, is there not a cause ? 1 Sam.
4. Sake ; account.
I did it not for his cause that had done the
wrong. 2. Cor. vii. [See Sake.]
5. That which a party or nation pursues ; or
rather pursuit, prosecution of an object.
We say, Bible Societies are engaged in a
noble cause. [See the first definition.]
Hence the word cause is used to denote
that which a person or thing favors ; that
to which the efforts of an inteUigent being
are directed ; as, to promote religion is to
advance the cause of God. So we say, the
cause of truth or of justice. In all its ap-
phcations, cause retains something of its
original meaning, struggle, impelling force,
contest, effort to obtain or to eft'ect some-
thing.
6. Jf^thout cause, without good reason ; with-
out a reason or motive to justify the act.
They hale me without cause. Ps. x.xxv. l.xix.
€AUSE, V. t. To produce ; to bring into ex-
istence.
They caused great joy to all the brethren.
Acts XV.
2. To effect by agency, power or influence.
I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days.
Gen. vii.
I will couse him to fall by the sword. 2
CAUSE, V. i. To assign insufficient cause.
Obs. Spenser.
CAUS'ED, pp. Produced ; effected ; brought
about.
CAUSELESS, a. cauz'less. Having no
cause, or producing agent. Blackinore.
2. Without just ground, reason or motive' ;
causeless hatred ; causeless fear.
Fairfax. Waller. Prov. xxvi.
CAUSELESSLY, adv. cauz'lesshj. Without
cause or reason. Taylor.
CAUSELESSNESS, n. cauz'lessness. The
Slate of being causeless. Hammond,
CAUS'ER, n. He that causes ; the agent by
which an effect is produced.
Johnson. Sidney.
CAUS'EY, n. cauz'y. [Norm, calsay ; Fr.
chaussie for chaulsie, a bank, or raised
way ; Arm. chau^zer, the bank or mole
of a pond. The ^Spanish has calzada, a
causey, or way paved and raised ; Port
calgada, a pavement, and stones used in
paving. Both those words are evidently
from the same root as Sj). calzas, Port
calgado, Sp. calzado, hose, loose breeches,
trowsers, shoes, Fr. chausse, and the
French word is evidently the same with
the loss of <. The sense is probably taken
from putting on, covering, Port, cal^ar,
to put on shoes, or stockings, to pave, Sp.
calzar, id, L. calceo, calceus.]
A way raised above the natural level of the
ground, by stones, earth, timber, fascines,
&c., serving as a dry passage over wet or
marshy ground, or as a mole to confine
water to a pond or restrain it from over-
flowing lower ground. Most generally it
is a way raised in a common road.
CAUSID'ICAL, a. [L. caitsidicus, causa
and rfico.]
Pertaining to an advocate, or to the mainte-
nance and defense of suits.
CAUSING, ppr. Producing ; effecting ;
bringing into being.
€AUS'TI€, \ [Gr. xwogixof, from xomh,
€AUS'TI€AL. \ "■ xooiffu, to burn.]
Burning ; corroding ; destroying the texture
of animal flesh.
€AUS'TI€, n. In medicine, any substance
which applied to living animals, acts like
fire, in corroding the part and dissolving
its texture ; an escharotic. [See Caustici-
ty.] Coxe. Encyc.
Lunar caustic, a preparation of crystals of
silver, obtained by solution in
acid, and afterwards fused in a crucible.
It is a nitrate of silver. JsTicholson.
Caustic curve, in geometry, a curve formed
by a coincidence of rays of light reflected
from another cui-ve. Encyc.
CAUSTICITY, n. The quality of acting
like fire on animal matter, or the quality
of combining with the principles of organ-
ized substances, and destroying their tex-
ture. This quality belongs to concentra-
ted acids, pure alkalis, and some metallic
salts. J^/tcholson
CAU'TEL, n. [L. caulela, from cavco, to take
care.] Caution. [JVot Mserf.] Shak.
CAU'TELOUS, a. [Fr. cauieleux, from L.
cautela.] Cautious ; wary ; provident.
Wolton.
9. Cunning ; treacherous ; wily. Spenser.
CAU'TELOUSLY, tM/i). Cunningly; slily;
treacherously. Bacon.
2. Cautiously ; warily. Brown.
CAU'TELOUSNESS, n. Cautiousness.
CAU'TERISM, n. The appUcation of cau-
tery. Ferrand.
CAUTERIZA'TION, n. [See Cauterize.]
In surgery, the act of burning or searing
some morbid part, by the appUcation of
fire. This is done by burning tow, cot
ton, mo.xa, Spanish wax, pyramidical pie
ces of linen, &c., or more generally by a
hot iron. Encyc
CAU'TERIZE, V. t. [Fr. cauteriser; Sp. Port
cauterizar ; It. cauterizzare ; Gr. atavrjypiof u
from xavtrif, a burning or branding iron,
from xaiu, to burn.]
To burn or sear with fire or a hot iron, as
morbid flesh.
CAU'TERIZED, pp. Burnt or seared with
a hot iron.
CAUTERIZING, ppr. Burning, as with
hot iron.
CAU'TERIZING, n. The act of burning, as
with a hot iron.
CAU'TERY, n. [Gr. xmitripiov ; L. cauleri
um. See Cauterize.]
A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, by
a hot iron or by caustic medicines that
burn, corrode or destroy any solid part of
an animal body. The burning by a hot
iron is called actual cautery ; that by caus-
tic medicines, potential cautery.
CAU'TION, n. [L. cautio ; Fr. caution ; Sp.
caucion ; from L. caveo, to take care. See
Class Gb. No. 3. 52. 53. 83. The sense of
catieo is probably to retire, or to stop,
check or hold.]
\. Provident care ; prudence in regard to
danger ; wariness, consisting in a careful
attention to the ]>robable effects of a meas-
ure, and a judicious course of conduct to
avoid evils and the arts of designing men.
Caution is the armor to defend us against im-
position and the attacks of evil.
2. Security for, nearly the sense of the
French caution, bail.
The parliament would give his majesty suffi-
cient caution that the war should be prosecuted.
Clarendon.
3. Provision or security against ; measures
taken for security ; as the rules and cau-
tions of government.
4. Precept ; advice ; injunction ; warning ;
exhortation, intended as security or guard
against evil.
CAU'TION, V. t. To give notice of danger ;
to warn ; to exhort to take heed.
You cautioned me against then- charms.
Swift.
CAUTIONARY, a. Containing caution, or
warning to avoid danger ; as cautionary
advice.
2. Given as a pledge or in security ; as a
cautionary town.
CAU'TIONED, pp. Warned ; previously
admonished.
CAU'TIONER, n. In Scots law, the person
who is bound for another, to the perform-
ance of an obligation.
CAU'TIONING, ppr. Warning; giving pre-
vious notice of danger.
CAU'TIONRY, n. In Scots laiv, the act
of giving security for another, or the obli-
gation by which one person becomes en-
gaged as security for another, that he
shall pay a sum of money or perform a
deed. Enq/c.
CAU'TIOUS, a. Wary ; watchful ; careful
to avoid evils ; attentive to examine prob-
able effects and consequences of meas-
ures, with a view to avoid danger or mis-
fortune ; prudent ; circumspect.
CAUTIOUSLY, adv. With caution; in a
wary, scrupulous manner.
CAU'tlOUSNESS, n. The quality of being-
cautious ; watchfulness ; provident care ;
circumspection ; prudence with regard to
danger. Addison.
CAVALCADE, n. {Tr. cavalcade ; Sp.eaW-
gada ; It. cavidcata. See Cavalry.]
A procession of persons on liorseback ; a
formal, pompous march of horsemen and
equipage, by way of parade, or to grace a
triumph, the public entry of a person of
distinction, &c.
CAVALIE'R, n. [Fr. See Cavalry.] A horse-
man, especially an armed horseman ; a
knight.
2. A gay, sprightly, military man.
3. The appellation of the party of king
Charles I. Swift.
4. \n fortification, an elevation of earth, situ-
C A V
C A V
C E A
ated ordinarily in the gorge of a bastion
bordered with a parapet, with embrasures
Encyc.
4. In the manege, one who understands
horseinansiiip ; one skilled in the art of
riding.
€AVALIE'R, a. Gay ; sprightly ; warlike ;
brave ; generous.
2. Haughty; disdainful.
€AVALIE'RLY,«</b. Haughtily; arrogant-
ly; disdainfully. Warhurton.
CAVALIE'RNESS, n. Haughtiness; a dis-
dainful manner.
CAVALRY, n. [Fr. cavalerie, from cavalier,
a horseman, and this fiom cheval, a horse,
whence cavalcade ; It. cavalh, a horse,
cavaliere, cavalcala ; Sp. caballo, caballero,
cabalgada ; from L. caballus, a horse ; Ir.
capaU and peall ; Russ. kobila, a mare ; Gr.
xaSaXKi]!, a pack-horse.]
A body of military troops on horses ; a gen
eral term, including light-horse, dragoons,
and other bodies of men, serving on horse-
back. Encyc.
CA'VATE, V. f. [L. cai'o, to make hollow ;
To dig out and make hollow ; but super-
seded by excavate.
€AVATifNA, n. [It.] In music, a short air,
without a return or second part, which is
sometimes relieved by recitative. Busliy
€AVA'ZION, n. [L. cavo, to hollow.] In
architecture, the underdigging or hollowing
of the eartli for the foundation of a build-
ing, or for cellarage ; alloweil to be the
sixth part of the highth of the building
Johnson. Bailey.
CAVE, n. [Fr. cave ; L. cavea ; Sp. cueva
It. cava ; Arm. caff, or cau ; W. ogov
Hindoo, gopa ; Ar.
jLs to dig ou
to be hollow. Class
excavate, or
Gb. No. a 71.]
A hollow place in the earth ; a subterrane-
ous cavern ; a den. This may be natura:
or artificial. The primitive inhabitants of
the earth, in many countries, lived
caves ; and the present inhabitants of some
parts of the earth, especially in the high
northern latitudes, occupy caves, particu-
larly in winter.
Lot dwelt in a cave, he and his daughters
Gen. xix.
Caves were also used for the burial of tlie
dead.
.\braham buried Sarah in the cave of the field
of Machpelah. Gen. xxiii
Bacon applies the word to the ear, "the
cave of the ear ;" but this application is
unusual.
CAVE, 1'. t. To make hollow. Spenser.
CAVE, r. i. To dwell in a cave. Shak.
To cave in, to fall in and leave a hollow, as
earth on the side of a well or pit. When
in digging into the earth, the side is exca-
vated by a falling of a quantity of earth, it
is said to cave in.
CA'VEAT, n. [L. caveat, let him beware,
from caveo.]
In law, a process in a court, especially in a
spiritual court, to stop proceedings," as to
stop the proving of a will ; also to prevent
the institution of a clerk to a benefice.
Blackston
In America, it is used in courts of com-
mon law. Crouch's Reports
2. Intimation of caution ; hint ; warning ;
admonition.
CA'VEAT, V. t. To enter a caveat.
Judge Innes, CrancVs Rep.
CA'VEATING, n. \n fencing, is the shifting
the sword from one side of that of your
adversary to the other. Encyc.
CA'VEATOR, n. One who enters a caveat
Judge Innes, Cranch's Rep,
CAV'ERN, n. [L. caverna; Sp. Port. It. id.
This word seems to be composed of cavus,
and the Sax. cem, a secret place.]
A deep hollow place in the earth. In gen-
eral, it difters from cave in greater depth,
and in being applied most usually to
natural hollows, or chasms.
Earth with its caverns dark and deep.
Watts.
CAV'ERNED, a. Full of caverns, or deep
chasms ; having caverns.
2. Inhabiting a cavern. Pope.
CAVERNOUS, a. [L. cavernosus.] Hollow ;
full of caverns. U'oodward.
[Faber uses cavernal, which is less
larly formed.]
CAVERN'ULOUS, o. [h. cavemula.] Full
of Uttle cavities ; as cavemulous metal.
Black
CAVET'TO, n. [from It. cavo.] In architecture,
a hollow member, or round concave mold-
ing, containing the quadrant of a circle;
used as an ornament in cornices. Encyc.
CA VEZON. ) [Fr. cavefon, or cavesson ;
CA VESSON, ^ "■ It. cavezzone, a muzzle for
horse, from cavare, to draw.]
A sort of nose-band, of iron, leather or wood
sometimes flat, and sometimes hollow oi
twisted, which is put on the nose of c
horse to wring it, and thus to forward the
suppling and breaking of him.
Farrier's Diet.
CAVIAR, Ji. cavee'r [Sp. cabial ; It. cavi-
ale; Ar. .IxAii gabiar. The Arabic
ppr. Raising frivolous objec-
verb j.Aji gabara, from which this
word is formed, signifies to try, to strain
or press, and to season with fat. {t may
coincide with the Gr. jtftpou, L. experior.]
The roes of certain large fish, prepared and
salted. The best is made from the roes of
the sterlet, sturgeon, sevruga, and beluga,
caught in the lakes or rivers of Russia!
The roes are put into a bag with a strong
brine, and pressed by wringing, and then
dried and put in casks, or into cisterns,
perforated at bottom, where they are
pressed by heavy weights. The poorest
sort is trodden with the feet. Tooke.
CAVIL, V. i. [Sp. cavilar: Port, cavillar ;
It. cavUlare ; L.cavillor; U. kibbelen ; Ori-
ental S3p ; Ch. to cry out or complain ;
Syr. to accuse, oppose, censure.]
1. To raise captious and frivolous objections
to find fault without good reason ; follow-
ed by at.
It is better to reason than to cavil. Anon
2. To advance futile objections, or to frame
sophisms, for the sake of victory in an ar-
gument.
CAVIL, V. t. To receive or treat with objec-
tions.
Wilt thou enjoy the good.
Then cavil the conditions. Mlton
\_JVot usual.}
C.W IL, 11. False or frivolous objections :
also, a fallacious kind of reason, bearing
some reseinblance to truth, advanced for
the sake of victory. Johnson. Encyc.
CA VILER, n. One who cavils; one who is
apt to raise captious objections ; a cap-
tious disputant. Jlddison.
CAVILING,
tions.
CAV'ILINGLY, adv. In a caviling manner.
Sherwood.
CAVILLA'TION, n. [L. cavUlatio.} The
act or jiractite of caviling, or raising friv-
olous objections. Hooker.
C.WILOUS, a. Captious ; unfair in argu-
ment ; apt to object without good reason.
Miffe.
CA V'lLOUSLY, adv. In a cavilous manner ;
captiously. Milton.
CAV'ILOUSNESS, n. Captiousness ; dispo-
sition or a|)titude to raise frivolous objec-
tions.
CAViN, n. [Fr. from L. cams, hollow.]
In the military art, a hollow way or natural
hollow, adapted to cover troops and facil-
itate their approach to a place.
Johnson. Bailey.
CAVITY, n. [L. cavitas; Fr. caviti; from L.
caws, hollow.]
A hollow place; hollowness; an opening;
as the cavity of the mouth or throat. This
a word of very general signification
^'OLINITE, n. [from Caiilini, a
CAVOLINITE,-n. [from Cavolini, a Nea-
politan naturalist.]
A newly discovered Vesuvian mineral, of u
hexahedral form, occurring in the interior
of calcarious balls, accompanied with gar-
nets, idocrase, mica, and granular pjTox-
ene, lining the cavity of the geode, &c.
Joum. of Science.
CA'VY, n. A genus of quadruped.s, holding
a middle place between the murine and
leporine tribes. Encyc.
CAW, V. i. [probably from the sound ; Sa.\.
ceo, a crow or a jay.]
To ciy like a crow, rook or raven.
CAX'OU, n. [Sp. caxa, caxon.] A chest of
ores of any metal that has been burnt,
ground and w ashed, and is readv to be
refined. [Local.] ' Todd.
CA'YMAN, n. An animal of the genus
Lacerta, found in the West Indies, the al-
ligator.
CAZiC, or CAZiQUE, n. cazeik. The title
of a king or chief among several Uibes of
Indians in America.
CEASE, v.i. [Fr. cesser; Sp.cesar; Port.
cessar ; It. cessare ; L. ocoto.]
1. To stop moving, acting or speaking; to
leave off; to give over ; followed hy from
before a noun.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife".
Prov. XX.
2. To fail ; to be wanting.
The poor shall never cease out of the land.
Deut. XV.
3. To stop ; to be at an end ; as, the wonder
ceases ; the stonii has ceased.
i. To be forgotten.
I would make the remembrance of them to
cease. Deut. xxxii.
5. To abstain ; as, cease from anger. Ps.
XXX vii.
To cease from labor, is to rest ; to cease from
strife, is to be quiet ; but in such phrases,
the sense of ceoje is not varied.-
C E
C E L
C E L
CEASE,!'. (. To put a stop to; to put an
end to.
Cease this impious rage. Milton.
[But in this use the phrase is generally el-
liptical.]
CEASE, n. Extinction. [jYol in use.]
Shak.
CE'ASELESS, a. Without a stop or pause ;
incessant ; continual ; witliout intermis-
sion.
All these with ceaseless praise liis works be-
hold. Miltun.
2. Endless ; enduring for ever ; as the cease-
less joj's of heaven.
CE'ASELESSLY, adv. Incessantly ; per-
petually. Donne.
CE'ASING, p/)r. Stopping; ending; desist-
ing ; failing.
CE€€H N, J!. A coin of Italy and Barbary.
[See Zechin.]
CE'CITY, n. [L. ciBcitas, from ca:cus, blind.]
Blindness. Brown.
CE'DAR, n. [L. cedrus : Fr. cedre ; Sp.
It. cedro ; from Gr. xf 8po5 ; Syr. ! ^a ;
Heb. Tip kadar, to be dark.]
A tree. This name is given to different spe-
cies of the jimiper, and to a species of Pi-
nus. The latter is that which is men-
tioned in scripture. It is an evergreen,
grows to a great size, and is remarkable
for its durability.
CE'DAR-LIKE, a. Resembling a cedar.
B. Jonson.
CE'DARN, a. Pertaining to the cedar.
MUon.
CEDE, V. t. [Fr. ceder ; Sp. Port, ceder ; It.
cedere ; L. cerfo; W . gadu, gadaw ; Eng. to
quit. See Qjiii and Conge. This coin-
cides also with the Gr. jr*?", (X<^^°''-]
1. To yield; to surrender; to give up ; to re-
sign ; as, to cede a fortress, a province or
country, by treaty. This word is apjjro-
priately used to denote the relinquishment
of a conquered city, fortress, or territory,
to the former sovereign or proprietor.
2. To relinquish and grant ; as, to cede all
claims to a disputed right or territory.
The people must cede to the government
some of their natural rights. Jay.
CE'DED, pp. Yielded ; surrendered ; given
up.
CE'DING, ppr. Yielding ; giving up.
CE'DRAT, n. A species of citron-tree.
Pallas. Tooke.
CE'DRINE, a. Belonging to cedar.
CE'DRY, a. Having the color or properties
of cedar. Evelyn.
CED'UOUS, a. Fit to be felled. Evelyn.
CEIL, «. <. [Sp. cicZo, heaven, a roof or ceil-
ing ; It. cielo ; Fr. del, heaven, a canopy,
a tester ; L. cmlum. Qu. Gr. xoaoj. This
word indicates its original application
vaulted buildings, without divisions into
stories ; such as many of the pubhc edifi
ces in Europe, but which are rarely seer
in America.]
To overlay or cover the inner roof of a
building ; or to cover the top or roof of a
room.
And the greater house he ceiled with fir-tree
2 Chron. iii.
CE'ILED, pp. Overlaid with timber, or with
plastering.
CE'ILING, ppr. Covering the top of a room
or building.
CE'ILING, n. The covering which overlays
the inner roof of a building, or the timbers
which form the top of a room. This cov-
ering may be of boards, or of lath and
plastering. Hence ceiling is used for the
upper part of a room.
2. In ship building, the inside planks of a
ship.
CEL'ANDINE, n. [T>. celedonie ; It. celido-
nia ; L. chelidonia ; Gr. xi'^i&wi.ov, from
;tf>.i8uii', a swallow.]
A plant, swallow-wort, horned or prickly
poppy, growing on old walls, among rub-
bish, and in waste places. The lesser cel-
andine is called pile-wort, a species of
Ranunculus. The name is also given to
the Bocconia, a plant of the West Indies,
called the greater tree-celandine. The
true orthography would be Chelidine.
Coxe. Fam. of Plants.
CE'LATURE, n. [L. cmlatura, from ca:lo, to
engrave or emboss.]
. The act or art of engraving or embossing.
2. That which is engraved. Hakeuiill.
CEL'EBRATE, v. t. [Ir. ceileabradh ; Fr.
celehrcr ; Sp. Port, celehrar ; It. celebrare ;
L. celebro, irom celeber, famous. The Russ.
has slavlyu. Qu. the root of caH.]
. To praise ; to extol ; to commend ; to give
praise to ; to make famous ; as, to celebrate
the name of the Most High.
The grave cannot celebrate thee. Is. xxxviii.
2. To distiuguish by solemn rites ; to keep
holy.
From even to even shall ye celebrate your
sabbath. Lev. xxiii.
3. To honor or distinguish by ceremonies
and marks of joy and respect ; as, to cele-
brate the birth day of Washington ; to cel-
ebrate a marriage.
4. To mention in a solemn manner, whether
of jov or sorrow. Johnson.
CEL'EBRATED, pp. Praised ; extolled ;
honored.
CEL'EBRATING,;)pr. Praising ; honoring
CELEBRA'TION,n. Solemn performance
a distinguishing by solemn rites ; as the
celebration of a marriage, or of a reUgious
festival.
2. A distinguishing by ceremonies, or by
marks of joy or respect; as the celebration
of a birth day, or other anniversary.
3. Praise ; renown ; honor or distinction be
stowed, whether by songs, eulogies, or
rites and ceremonies. Clarendon
CEL'EBRATOR, n. One who celebrates.
Boyle.
CELE'BRIOUS, a. Famous ; renowned.
[Little used.] Grew.
CELE'BRIOUSLY, adv. With praise or re-
nown. [Little used.]
CELE'BRIOUSNESS, n. Fame; renown-
[Little used.]
CELEB'RITY. n. [L. celebritas.] Fame ; re-
nown ; the distinction or honor pubhcly
bestowed on a nation or person, on char-
acter or exploits; the distinction bestowed
on whatever is great or remarkable, and
manifested by praises or eulogies ; as the
celebrity of the duke of Wellington ; the
celebrity of Homer, or of the Iliad.
England acquired celebrity from the triumphs
of Marlborough. T. Dawes
2. Public and splendid transaction ; as the
celebrity of a marriage. In this sense,
used bv Bacon, we now use celebration.
CEL'ERI. [See Celery.]
CELE'RIA€, n. A variety of celery, called
also the tumep-rooted celeni. [See Celeru.l
CELER'ITY, n. [L. cderitis ;Fr. celerite;
Sp. celeridad; It. eelerita ; from L. cder,
swift ; Oriental Sp swift, light ; Gr. xfWUo.]
1. Rapidity in motion; swiftness; speed;
applied most generally to bodies moving
on or near the earth ; as the celerity of a
horse or of a fowl. We speak of tlie ve-
locity of sound or of light, or of a planet in
its orbit. This distinction however is not
general, nor can the different uses of the
two words be precisely defined. We ap-
ply celerity rather than velocity to thought ;
but there seems to be no reason, except
usage, why the two words should not be
synonymous.
2. An affection of motion by which a mova-
ble body runs through a "given space in a
given time. Encyc.
CEL'ERY, n. [Fr. celeri; D. seldery;'G.
selleri; Gr. BtV-tpw.]
A plant, a species of Apium, cultivated for
the table.
CELES'TIAL, a. [h. cwlestis, from calum,
ccelum, heaven.]
1. Heavenly ; belonging or relating to hea-
ven ; dwelling in heaven ; as celestial spir-
its ; celestial joys. Hence the word con-
veys the idea of superior excellence,
delight, purity, &c. Dryden.
2. Belonging to the upper regions, or visible
heaven ; as celestial signs ; the celestial
globe.
3. Descending from heaven ; as a suit of ce-
lestial armor. Pope.
CELES'TIAL, n. An inhabitant of heaven.
Pope.
CELES'TIALLY, adv. In a heavenly or
transporting manner.
CELES'TIFY, v. I. To communicate some-
thing of a heavenly nature to any thing.
[JVbt used.] Brown.
CEL'ESTIN, I In mineralogy, native
CEL'ESTINE, S sulphate of strontian,
a mineral so named from its occasional
dehcate blue color. Ure.
CEL'ESTINS, n. A religious order, so nam-
ed from Pope Celestin. They have ninety-
six convents in Italy, and twenty-one in
France. They rise two hours after mid-
night to say matins. They eat no flesh,
except when sick, and fast often. Their
habit is a white gown, a capuche aud a
black scapulary. Encyc.
CE'LIA€, a. [L. caliacus ; Gr. xoataxoj,
from xoaia, the belly.]
Pertaining to the lower belly, or intestines.
Arhuthnot.
CELIB'ACY, n. [L. Calebs, an unmarried
person ; calibaivs, a single life.]
An unmarried state; a single hfe. It is most
frequently if not always applied to males,
or to a voluntary single life.
They look on celibacy as an accursed state.
Spectator.
CEL'IBATE, n. A single Hfe ; celibacy ;
chiefly used when speaking of the single ; i
life of the Popish clergy. Encyc.
CELL, n. [L. ceUa ; Ir. ceall ; Sp. celda ;
Port. It. cella ; D. kelder, a cellar ; G.
keller ; ?w.kellare; Dan. kelder; W.cill<
It has the elements of the Latin cdo, to
cont'cal, and of the English hold.] ij
C E M
C E N
C E N
I. A small or close apartment, as in a prison,
or a bath.
9. A cottage ; a cave ; a small or mean place
of residence. Prwr.
3. A small cavity or hollow place, variously
applied ; as the cells of the brain ; the cells
of a honey comb, &c.
4. In botany, a hollow place in a pericarp,
particularly in a capsule, in which seeds
are lodged. According to the number of
these cells, pericarps are called unilocular,
bilocular, trilocular, &c. Marti/n
J. In anatomy, a little bag, or bladder, con-
taining fluid or otlier matter ; as the adi-
pose cells, containing fat. Encyc.
6. A religious house. Chaucer.
CEL'LAR, n. [L. cellarium. See Cell.^
A room under a house or other building, \\s-
ed as a repository of liquors, provisions,
and other stores for a family.
CEL'LARAGE, n. The room for a cellar;
a cellar, or cellars.
OEL'LARET, n. A case of cabinet work,
for holding bottles of liquors. [Local.]
OEL'LARIST, CELLARER, n. An of-
ficer in a monastery who has the care of|
the cellar, or the charge of procuring and
keeping the provisions ; also, an officer ir
chapters, who has the care of the tempo-
rals, and particularly of distributing bread,
wine, and money to canons, an account of
their attendance" in the choir. Ennic
CELLIF'EROUS, a. [L. cella, and /ero," to
bear.] Bearing or producing cells.
Encyc.
CEL'LULAR, a. [L. celhda, a little cell.]
Consisting of cells, or containing cells.
Kincan.
The cellular membrane, in animal bodies,
is composed of an infinite number of mi-
nute cells, communicating with each oth-
er. It invests every fiber, and seems to be
the medium of connection between all
parts of the body. The cells serve as re-
servoirs for fat. Encyc.
CELLULIF'EROUS, a. [L. celhda, a little
cell, and fero, to bear.] Bearing or pro-
ducing little cells. Dkf. Mit. Hist
CKLS'ITUDE, n. [L. celsitudo.] Highth
• Icvation. Chaucer.
<.'KI.T, n. One of the primitive inhabitants
oltlie South ofEurope. [See Celtic]
• Ki.riBE'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Celtibe
111, and its inhabitants, the Celtiberi, or
I ills of the Iberus, a river in Spain.
' i . I .TI BE'RIAN, n. An inhabitant of Celt
t ' I ; I .'f' le, a. [W. celt, a covert or shelter ;
n .,';'«(/, one that dwells in a covert, an in-
haliitant of the forest, a Celt ; cebt, to
conceal,L. celo ; Gr. KtWoi, Celts.'
IVrtuiningto the primitive inhabitants of the
.'-'(iiith pnd West ofEurope, or to the ear-
ly inhabitants of Italy, Gaul, Spain and
liiitain. We say, Celtic nations ; Celtic
iiistonis; Ce/h'c origin.
< I'.l.Tle, n. The language of the Celts.
' I. I.T'ICISM, n. The manners and cus-
I s of the Celts. Warlon.
• I'.l.'i' IS, Ji. The nettle-tree,of several spe-
i-i.s; among which are the australis or
Mmtliern, a native of Africa and the South
• ifEiirope; the oriental, growing in Arme-
nia and Tam'ica; and the western, srrow-
Arm. cimant; Sp. cimiento, the groundl
work of a building ; It. cimento, an essay
or experiment.]
1. Any glutinous or other substance capable
of uniting bodies in close cohesion,
mortar, glue, soder, &c. In building, ce-
ment denotes a stronger kind of mortar
than that which is ordinarily used. Encyc.
2. Bond of union ; that which unites firmly,
as persons in ft-iendsbip, or men in society
.3. Powders or pa.stes, surrounding bodies ir
pots and crucibles, for chimical purposes
CEMENT', V. t. To unite by the application
of glutinous substances, by mortar which
hardens, or other matter that produces
cohesion of bodies.
2. To unite firmly or closely ; as, to cement
all parts of the community ; to cement
friendship.
CEMENT', V. i. To unite or become solid;
to unite and cohere. Sharp.
CEMENTA'TION, n. The act of cement-
ing ; the act of uniting by a suitable sub-
stance.
2. In chimisiry, the act of applying cements
to substances, or the corroding and chang
ing of them by cement. This is done by
surrounding them with the powder of an-
other body, and exposing them, in a close
vessel, to a heat not suflicient to fuse them.
Encyc. Ure.
CEMENT' ATORY, a. Cementing ; having
the quality of uniting firmly. Encyc.
CEMENT'ED, pp. United by cement
changed by cement ; firmly united ; con-
solidated
CEMENT'ER, n. The person or thing that
CEMENT'ING, ppr. Uniting by cement
changing by means of a cement ; uniting
closely ; consolidating.
CEMENTI "TIOUS, a. Uniting as cement
conglutinating ; tending to unite or con
solidate.
CEM'ETERY,H. [h. ca:meterium ; Gr.xot/.,-
rjjptoi', from xoi/iuu^, to sleep.]
A place where the dead bodies of human
)eings are buried. Addison.
CEN'ATORY, a. [L. comatorius, from cana,
sup])er, cceno, to sup.]
Pertaining or relating to supper. Brown
CE'NOB'ITE, n. [Gr. xoivaSiorr,i, a commu-
nity, from xoii'oj, common, and fJiof, life.
(3tou, to live.]
One of a religious order, who live in a con-
vent, or in community ; in opposition to
an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in soU-
tude. Encyc.
CEN0BIT'I€, \ a. Living in communi-
CEN0BIT'I€AL, ^ ty, as men belonging
to a convent. . StiUingdeet
CE'NOBY, n. A place where persotis live in
coinmunitv. Buck.
CEN'OTAPH, n. [Gr. xsi-ofo^wi', from xe-
I'oj, empty, and rcujios, a tomb.]
\n empty tomb erected in honor of some
deceased person ; a monument erected to
one who is buried elsewhere.
Johnson. Encyc.
CENSE, n. cens. [L. census, a valuation, a
registering, a tax ; censeo, to enroll, tc
tax. Qu. Ch. OJp to impose a fine.]
1. A public rate or tax. Bacon.
ing in Virginia. Enryc. Tooke.p. Condition ; rank. Obs. B. Jonson.
UEM'ENT, n. [L. cwmentum; Vr. ciment ;\\CEtiSE, v. t. [Fr. encenser. See Incense.]
\ Vol. I. 34
To perfume with odors from burning sub-
stances. Dryden.
CENS'ER, n. [Fr. tncensoir ; Sp. incensa-
rio ; It. incensiere. See Incense.]
A vase or pan in which incense is burned.
Among the Jews, a kind of chafins-dish,
covered by a dome, and suspended by a
chain, used to oflijr perfumes in sacrifices^
Eitcyo.
CENSING, ppr. Perfuming with odors.
CEN'SION, n. [L. censio. See Cense] A
rate, tax, or assessment. [.Vot used.]
J. Hall.
CENS'OR,n. [L. censor. See Cense]
An ofiicer, in ancient Rome, whose business
was to register the effects of the citizens,
to impose taxes according to the property
which each man possessed, and to inspect
the manners of the citizens, with power to
censure vice and immoraUty, by inflicting
a public mark of ignominy on the offender.
2. One who is empowered to examine all
manuscripts and books, before they are
committed to the press, and to see that
they contain notliing heretical or immoral.
Encyc.
3. One who is given to censure.
Roscominon. Dryden.
CENSORIAL, } a. Belonging to a censor.
CENSO RIAN, \ or to the correction of
public morals ; as, censorial power.
2. Full of censure. See Cejisorious, the pro-
per word.
CENSO'RIOUS, a. Addicted to censure ;
apt to blame or condemn ; severe in mak-
ing remarks on others, or on their writings
or manners ; often implying ill-nature, il-
liberaUty, or uucharitableness ; as a cen-
sorious critic.
2. Implying or expressing censure ; as, cen-
sorious remarks.
CENSORIOUSLY, adv. In a censorious
manner.
CENSO RIOUSNESS, n. Disposition to
blame and condemn; the habit of censur-
ing or reproaching. Taylor.
2. The quality of being censorious.
CENS'ORSHIP, n. The office or dignity of
a censor ; the time during which a cen-
sor holds his office.
CENS'UAL, a. [L. censualis.] Relatingt o, or
containing a census ; liable to be rated.
Whitaker. Encyc.
CENS-URABLE, a. [See Censure.] Wor-
thy of censure ; blamable ; culpable ; rep-
rehensible ; faulty ; as a censurable person,
or censurable conduct or vvTitings. Locke.
CENS'URABLENESS, n. Blamableness ;
fitness to be censured. ffTiitlocl;.
CENS'URABLY, adv. In a manner worthy
of blame.
CENS'URE, n. cen'shur. [L. censura ; Fr.
censure ; Sp. Port. It. censura ; from L. cen-
seo, censor.]
1. The act of blaming or finding fault and
condemning as wrong; applicable to the
moral conduct, or to the works of men.
When applied to persons, it is nearly equiv-
alent to blame, reproof, reprehension, re-
prunand. It is an expression of disappro-
bation, which often implies reproof.
2. Judicial sentence ; judgment that con-
demns. An ecclesiastical ce?i*ure is a sen-
tence of condemnation, or penalty inflict-
ed on a member of a church for inal-con-
ductj by which he is deprived of the com-
C E N
ijiiiiiion of the church, or prohibited from
executing the sacerdotal office. Encyc.
CENS'URE, V. t. cen'shur. [Fr. cenaurer;
Sp. censumr.] To find fault with and con
demn as wrong ; to blame ; to express dis
approbation oi'; as, to censure a man, o:
his manners, or his vvTitings.
We laugh at vanity, oftener than we censure
pride. Buckminsler
Q. To condemn by a judicial sentence, as in
ecclesiastical affairs.
3. To estimate. [JVot in use.] Shak.
CENS'URE, V. {. To judge. [JVot in use.]
CENS'URED, p;>. Blamed ; reproved ; con-
demned.
CENS'URING, /)/))•. Blaming, finding fault
with ; condemning.
CENS'US, n. [L. from censeo. See Cense ^
In ancient Rome, an authentic declaration
made before the censors, by the citizens,
of their names and places of abode. This
<leclaration was registered, and contained
an enumeration of all their lands and es-
tates, their quantity and quality, with the
wives, children, domestics, tenants, and
slaves of each eitizen. Hence the word
signifies this enumeration or register, a
man's whole substance, and the ta,x im-
posed according to each man's property.
•2. In the United States of America, an enu-
meration of the inhabitants of all the
States, taken by order of the Congress, to
furnish the rule of api)ortioning the repre-
sentation among the States, and the num-
ber of represensatives to which each State
is entitled in the Congress ; also, an enu-
meration of the inhabitants of a State, ta-
ken by order of its legislature.
CENT,n. [Fr. ce7i<,- Sp. ciejiio ; Port. cento;
It. cento ; from L. centum, formed on tlie
Celtic, W. cant. Arm. cant. Corn. kanz.
The Welcli cant signifies a circle, hoop,
wheel, or rim, a wattled fence round a
yard or corn floor ; hence, a complete cir-
cle, a hundred. It is probable that the
Teutonic and Gothic hund, in hundred, is
the same word. Ar. j>i^ handon, a
hundred, and the same root gives India,
Hindu. See Hundred.]
1. A himdred. In commerce, per cent, de-
notes a certain rate by the hundred ; as,
ten per cent, is ten in the hundred, whether
profit or loss. This rate is catied percent-
age.
2. In the United States of America, a copper
coin whose value is the hundredth part of
a dollar.
CENT'AgE, n. Rate by the cent or hun-
dred.
CEN'TAUR, n. [L. centaurus; Gr. xii/tmifiof.
Qn. xtfiiu, to spur, and Tewpoj, a bull.]
In mythology, a fabulous being, supposed to
be half man and half horse. It has been
supposed that this fancied monster origin-
ated among the Lapithse, a tribe in Thes-
saly, who first invented the art of breaking
horses. But the origin of the fable and of
the name is doubtful.
2. Part of a southern constellation, in form
of a centaur, usually joined with the wolf,
containing thirty-five stars ; the archer.
CEN'TAURLIKE, a. Having the abear-
ance ol a centaur. Sidney.
C E N
CEN'TAURY, n. [L. centaurea; Gr. xivtav
The name of a plant, and a genus of plants,
of numerous species. The lesser centaury
is a species of Gentiana. Centaui-y bears
the popular names of knapweed, blue-
bottle, sultan, and star-thistle. Encyc
CENT'ENARY, n. [L. centenarius, iwm
centum, a hundred.]
The number of a hundred ; as a centenary ofl
years.
CENT'ENARY, a. Relating to a hundred ;
consisting of a hundred.
CENTEN'NIAL, a. [L. centum, a hundi-ed,
and annus, a year.]
. Consisting of a hundred years, or com-
pleting that term. Mason.
2. Pertaining to a hundred years.
3. Happening every hundred years.
CEN'TER, n. [Gr. xivrpoi; a point, goad or
spur, from xivri^, to prick ; L. centrum ;
Fr. ce7itre ; Sp. centra ; Port. It. id.]
. A point equally distant from the e.xtrem
ilies of a line, figure or body ; the middlf
point or place.
3. The middle or central object. In an ar
my, the body of troops occupying the place
in the line between the wings. In a Jleet,
the division between the van and rear of
the fine of battle, and between the weath
er division and lee, in the order of sailing
Mar. Diet.
3. A single body or house.
These institutions collected all authority in-
one center, Idngs, nobles and people.
/. Mams.
Center of gravity, in mechanics, the point
about which all the parts of a body exact-
ly balance each other.
Center of motion, the point which remains at
rest, while all the other parts of a body
move round it. Encyc.
CEN'TER, V. t. To place on a center ;
fix on a central point. Milton.
2. To collect to a point.
Thy joys are centered all in me alone.
Prior.
CEN'TER, V. i. To be coUected to a point.
Our hopes must center on ourselves alone.
Dryden.
2. To be collected to a point ; to rest on.
3. To be placed in the middle. Milton.
CEN'TERED, pp. Collected to a point or
center ; fixed on a central point.
CEN'TERING,;>;)r. Placing on the center;
collecting to a point.
CENTES'IMAL, a. [L. centesimus, from
centum, a hundred.]
The hundredth. As a noun, the next step of
progression after decimal in the arithme-
tic of fraction!?. Johnson.
CENTESIMA'TION, n. [L. centesimus, su-
pra.]
A military punishment, for desertion, mutiny
or the like, where one person in a hundred
is selected for execution. Ena/c.
CEN'TESM, n. [L. centesimus.] The hun-
dredth part of an integer or thing. [M)t
used.] Bailen.
CENTIFO'LIOUS, a. [L. centum, a hund-
red, and folium, a leaf] Having a hundred
leaves. Bailey. Johnso7i.
CEN'TIGRADE, a. [L. centuni, a hundred,
and grndus, a degree.]
Consisting of a hundred degrees ; gradu-
C E N
ated into a hundred divisions or equai
parts ; as a centigrade thermometer.
„ „ . , Medical Repositorti.
CEN'TIGRAM, n. [L. centum and gram.] fn
French Measure, the hundredth part of a
gram. [See Gram.]
CENTILITER, n. [L. centum, and Fr. litre
or litron.] The hundredth part of a liter,
a httle more than 6-10 of a cubic inch
CENTIM'ETER, n. [L. centum, a hundred,
and Gr. fiiTfiov, measure.]
In French measure, the hundreth part of a
meter, rather more than 39-100 of an inch,
English measure. Christ. Obs. x. 192.
CEN'TINODY, n. Knotgrass. [JVot used.]
EN'TIPED, n. [L. centipeda; centum, a
hundred, and pes, a foot.]^
An insect having a hundred feet, but the
term is applied to insects that have mauv
feet, though not a hundred. Insects of
this kind are called generically Scolopendra.
In warm climates, some of them grow to
the length of six inches or more, and their
bite is poisonous. Encyc.
CENTIPEE, for centiped, is not used.
CENT'NER, n. [L. centum, centenarius.]
In metallurgy and assaying, a dociniastic
hundred; a weight divisible first into a
hundred parts, and then into smaller parts.
The metallurgists use a weight divided
into a lumdred equal parts, each one
pound; the whole they call a centner : the
pound is divided into thirty-two parts or
half ounces ; the half ounce into two quar-
ters, and each of these into two drams.
But the assayers use different weights.
With them a centner is one dram, to which
the other parts are proportioned. Encyc.
CEN'TO, n. [L. cento, patched cloth, a
hapsody.]
A composition formed by verses or passa-
ges from other authors, disposed in a new
order. Johnson. Encyc.
CEN'TRAL, a. [L. centralis.] Relating to
the center ; placed in the center or middle ;
containing the center, or pertaining to
the parts near the center.
Central forces, in mechanics, the powers
which cause a moving body to tend to-
wards or recede from the center of mo-
tion.
CENTRAL'ITY, n. The state of being cen-
tral.
CEN'TRALLY, adv. With regard to the
center ; in a central manner.
CEN'TRI€, a. Placed in the center or mid-
dle.
CEN'TRI€ALLY, adv. In a central position.
CEN'TRICALNESS, n. Situation in the
center.
CENTRIF'UGAL, a. [L. centrum, and/w-
gio, to flee.]
Tending to recede from the center. The
centrifugal force of a body, is that force by
which all bodies moving round another
body in a curve, tend to fly oft' from the
axis of their motion, in a tangent to the
periphery of the curve. Encyc.
CENTRIP'ETAL, a. [L. centrum, and peto,
to move towards.]
Tending towards the center. Centripetal
force IB that force which draws or impels
a body towards some point as a center ; as
in case of a planet revolving round the snu,
the center of the system.
[Note. The common accentuation of cen-
C E 1»
C E R
C E R
hy'iigal and centripetal is artificial and harsli.
The accent on the first and third syllables,
circumpolar, would be natural and easy.]
CEN'TUMVIR, n. [L. centum, a hundred,
and vir, a man.]
One of a hundred and five judges, in ancient
Rome, appointed to decide common caus-
es among the people.
CENTUM' VIRAL, o. Pertaining to tlie cen
tumvirs.
CEN'TUPI.E, a. [Fr. from L. cenluptex,
cenltuii, iind »/jco, to fold.]
A hundred fold.
CEN 'TUPLE, V. t. To multiply a hundred
fold. Beatun.
CENTU'PLI€ATE, v. t. [L. centum, and
pUcatus, folded ; Sp. cenluplicar, to make
a hundred fold.]
To make a hundred fold.
CENTU'RIAL, a. [from century.] Relating
to a century, or a hundred years ; as a
cenlurial sermon.
When tJie third centurial jubilee of New
England shall come, who of us will then be liv
iug to participate the general joy .'
J. JVoodbridge
CENTU'RIATE, v. t. [L. centurio, to divide
into hundreds or companies.]
To divide into hundreds. Johnson. Bailey.
CENTURIA'TORS, ) n. [Fr. centui-iateur,
CEN'TURIST, ^ from L. centuria,
century, or from centurio, to divide into
hundreds.]
A historian who distinguishes time into cen
turies ; as in the Universal Church His-
tory of Magdeburg.' -^yliffe
CENTU'RION, n. [L. centurio, from cen-
tum, a huntlied.]
Among the Romans, a military officer who
commanded a hundred men, a century or
company of infantry, answering to the
lern armies.
[L. centuria, from centum.
hundred.]
1. In a general sense, a hundred ; any thing
consisting of a himdred parts.
2. A division of the Roman people for tl
piu'pose of electing magistrates and eiia<-
ing laws, the people voting by centuiie;
also, a company consisting of a huiidrt
men.
3. A period of a hundred years. Tliis is the
most common signification of the word ;
and as we begin our modern computation
of time from the incarnation of Christ,
the word is generally applied to some term
of a hundred years subsequent to that
event ; as the first or second century, or tlie
tenth century. If we intend to apply the
word to a different era, we use au explan-
,atory adjunct; as the third century before
the Christian era, or after the reigu of
Cyrus.
4. The Centuries of Magdeburg, a title given
to an ecclesiastical history, arranged in
1.3 centuries, compiled by a great number
of I'rotestants at Magdeburg.
CENTZONT'LI, ». The Me.xican name of
the Turdus Polyglottus, or inocking
thrush. Clavigero.
CEOL, Sax. a ship, L. celox, or Eng. keel.
This word is sometimes found prefixed to
names.
CEPHALAL'UIC, n. [Infra.] A medicine
good for the headache. Swi/l.
CEPH'ALALUY, n. [Gr. xttaXaJiyia, xf$o?.
the head, and aXyo;, pain.] The lieadach
CEPHAL'IC, a. [Gr. xt^oxtxos, from xifat^ij,
the head.]
Pertaining to the head ; as cephalic med
remedies for disorders in the head. The
cephalic vein, which runs along the arm,
was so named because the ancients used
to open it for disorders of the head.
Encyc
CEPHAL'IC, n. A medicine for headache
or other disorder in the head.
CEPH'EUS, n. A constellation in the North-
ern hemisphere.
CE'PHUS, n. A fowl of the duck kind ; al-
so, a species of monkey, the mona.
Diet. Mtl. Hist
CERA SEE', n. The male balsam apple.
CER'ASIN, 71. [L. cerasus.]
Any gummy substance which swells in
cold water, but does not readily dissolve
in it. Ure. Dr. John.
CER'ASITE, n. [L. cerojum, cherry.] A
petrifaction resembling a cherry. Cijc
CERAS'TES, n. [Gr. xtpaf,;?, from xtpof, ;i
horn.]
In zoology, tlie name of a serpent, of the
genus Coluber, which the ancients suppos-
ed to have horns.
CE'RATE, n. [L. ceralum, fVom cera, wax.]
A thick kind of ointment, composed of wax
and oil, with other ingredients ; iipplied
externally in various diseases. Cyc.
CE'RATED, a. [L. ceratus.] Covered witli
vax.
CERE, n. The naked skin that covers the
base of a hawk's bill. Encyc.
CERE, V. t. [L. cera, wax.] To wax or
with wax. Wiseman.
CER'EBEL, I „ [L. cerebellum.] The
CEREBEL'LUM, \ "• hinder part of the
head, or the little brain. Coxe
CER'EBRAL, ? „ [from L. cerebrum, the
CER'EBRINE, \ "" brain.]
Pertaining to the cerebrum or bram.
CE'RECLOTH, n. [L. cera, wax; and cloth.]
A ilcitli sirieared with melted wax, or will
some iiuiiimy or glutinous matter. Bacon
[Put the Enghsh word for a cloth used to
cover wounds is sear-cloth, Sax. aar-cloth
a sore-cloth.]
CE'REMENT, n. [L. cera, wax.] Cloths
clipped in melted wax, with which dead
bodies were infolded, when embalmed
Johtison.
CEREMO'NIAL, a. [See Ceremony.]
Relating to ceremony, or external rite ;
ual ; according to the forms of estabhslied
rites ; as ceremonial exactness. It is par
ticularly appUed to the forms and rites of
the Jewish religion ; as the ceremonial law
or worship, as distinguished from the mor
id and judicial law.
2. Formal ; observant of old forms ; exact ;
precise in manners. Dryden
[In this sense, ceremonious is now used.]
CEREMONIAL,?!. Oiuwardform; exter-
nal rite, or established forms or rites,
eluding all the forms prescribed ; a sys-
tem of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by
law or established by custom, whether in
religious worship, in social intercourse, or
in the courts of princes.
3. The order for rites and forms in the Ro-
mish church, or the book containing the
rules prescribed to be observed on solemn
occasions.
CEREMONIOUS, a. Consisting of out-
ward fbnns and rites ; as the ceremonious
part of worshi]). [In this sense, ceremonial
is now used.]
2. Full of ceremony or solemn forms.
Shali.
.3. According to the rules and forms prescri-
bed or customary ; civil; formally respect-
ful. " Ceremomous phrases." Addison.
4. Formal; according to the rules of civility ;
as, to take a ceremonious leave.
5. Formal ; exact ; precise ; too obsers-ant
of forms.
CEREMO'NIOUSLY, adv. In a eeremoni-
ous manner; formally; with due forms.
CEREMO'NIOUSNESS, n. The use of
customary forms ; the practice of too much
ceremony ; great formality in manners.
CER'EMONY, n. [L. Sp. It. Port, ceremo-
nia ; Fr. ceremonie.]
\. Outward rite ; external form in religion.
2. Forms of civihty; rules established by
custom for regulating social intercourse.
3. Oiitward forms of state ; the forms pre-
scribed or established by order or custom,
serving for the purpose of civility or mag-
nificence, as in levees of princes, the re-
ception of embassadors, &c.
Master of ceremonies, an officer who super-
intenils the recejition of embassadors. A
person who regulates the forms to be ob-
served by the company or attendants on a
public occasion.
CER'EOLITE, n. [L. cera, wax, and Gr.
y.(,9os, a stone.]
\ substance which in appearance and soft-
ness rrsoiiddes wax ; sometimes confound-
(■(I uiili >ti-»lite. Cyc. Cteaveland.
C'E Iv I'.or.^, a. [L. cereus, from cera, wax.]
\V,-i.\(ii : like wax. Gayion.
CE'RES, 7(. In mythology, the inventor or
goddess of corn, or rather the name of corn
deified.
2. The name of a planet discovered by 31.
Piozzi, at Palermo in Sicily, in 1801.
CE'RIN, 71. [L. CfT-a, wax.] Apeculiarsub-
stance which precipitates on evaporation,
from alcohol, which has been digested on
grated cork. Ure.
3. The part of conmion wax which dissolves
in alcohol. Dr. John.
3. A variety of the mineral allanite.
CERINTH'IANS, n. A set of heretics, so
called from Cerinthus, one of the first
heresiarchs in the church. They denied
the divinity of Christ, but they held that,
m his baptism, a celestial virtue descended
on him in the form of a dove, by means of
which he was consecrated by the Holy
Spirit and made Christ. Encyc.
CE'RITE, n. [See Ceriwn.] The siliceous
oxyd of Cerium, a rare mineral of a pale
rose red color, with a tinge of yellow.
Haiiy. Jameson. Cleaveland.
2. A fossil shell.
CE'RIUM, 71. A metal recently discovered
iu Sweden, in the mineral cerite, and so
called from the i)lanet Ceres. It is of
great specific gravity. Its color a grayish
wliite and its texture lamellar.
■ Diet. JVitt. Hist.
CEROON', 71. [from the Spanish.] A bale
or package made of skins.
C E R
C E R
C E S
CER'RIAL, a. Pertaining to the Cerrus, or
bitter oak. Chaucer.
CER'RUS, n. [L.] The bitter oak.
CP:R'TAIN, o. cer'tin. [Fr. certain; Sp.
cierto ; It. Port, certo ; from L. certus.]
1. Sure ; true ; undoubted ; unquestionable ;
that cannot be denied ; existing in fact and
trutli.
The dream is certain and the interpretation
sure. Dan. ii.
2. Assured in mind ; having no doubts ; fol-
lowed by of, before a noun.
However I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom of death.
Consort with thee. Milton.
To make her certain of the sad event.
Dry den.
3. Unfailing; always producing the intended
effect ; as, wc may have a certain remedy
for a disease.
4. Not doubtful or casual ; really existing.
Virtue that directs our ways
Througli certain dangers to uncertain praise.
Dryden.
5. Stated ; fixed ; determinate ; regular.
Ye shall gather a certain rate every day. Ex.
xvi.
6. Particular.
There came a certain poor widow. Mark xii.
In the plural number, a particular part or
number ; some ; an indefinite part, num-
ber, or quantity. " Ilanani came, he
and certain men of Judah." " I mourned
certain days." Neh. i. 2. 6.
In the latter sense, it is used as a noun ; as,
" certain also of your own poets have
said." Acts xvii.
CER'TAINLY, adv. Without doubt or ques-
tion ; in truth and fact.
Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke
xxiii.
2. Without failure.
He said, I will certainly return to thee. Gc
xviii.
CER'TAINNESS, n. Certainty, wliicli see.
CER'TAINTY, n. A fixed or real state ;
truth ; fact.
Know lor a certainty, that the Lord your God
will no more drive out these nations. Josh,
xxiii. Luke i.
2. Full assurance of mind ; exemption from
doubt.
Certainty is the perception of the agreement
or disagreement of our ideas. Locke.
3. Exemption from failure ; as the certainty
of an event, or of the success of a medi-
cine.
The certainty of punishment is the truest se-
curity against crimes. Ames
4. Regularity : settled state.
CER'TES, adv. Certainly ; in truth ; verily.
Obs. Chaucer.
CERTIF'IGATE, n. [Yr.ceHifical; It. ccr-
tificato. See Certify.)
I. In a general sense, a written testimony not
sworn to ; a declaration in writing, signed
by the party, and intended to verify a fact
'J. In o more particular sense, the written dec-
laration, under the hand or seal or both,
of some public officer, to be used as evi-
dence in a court, or to substantiate a fact
A certificate of this kind may be consid-
ered as given under the oath of oflice.
3. Trial by cerfijicate, is where the evidence
of the person certifying is the only proper
criterion of the point in dispute ; as when
the issue is whether a person was absent
in the army, this is tried by the certificate
of the MareschaD of the army, in writingl
under his seal. Blackstone.
CERTIF'IeATE, v. t. or i. To give a cer
tificate ; to lodge a certificate with the
proper officer, for the purpose of being ex
empted from the payment of taxes to suj)
port the ministry, in a parish or ecclesi
astical society. JS/ew England.
2. To give a certificate to, acknowledging
one to be a parishioner.
CERTIFICA'TION, 71. The act of certify
ing.
CER'TIFIED, pjo. [See Certify.] Assured;
made certain ; informed.
CER'TIFIER, n. One who certifies, or
CER'TIFY, V. t. [Fr. certifier ; Sp. certifcar ;
It. certificare ; Low L. certijico ; from cer-
tus, certain, and facio, to make.]
I. To testify to in writing ; to make a decla-
ration in writing, under hand, or hand and
seal, to make known or establish a fact.
The judges shall certify their opinion to the
chancellor, and upon such certificate, the decree!
is usually founded.
The judge shal
the freehold came chiefly in question.
Blackstone.
9. To give certain information to ; applied to
and certified the king. Ezra iv.
3. To give certain information of; applied to
tilings. I
Tills is designed to certify those things that
are confirmed of God's favor. Hammond.
It is followed by of, after the person, and
before the thing told ; as, I cetiified you
of the fact.
CER'TIFtING, ppr. Giving a written tes-
timony, or certificate ; giving certain no-
tice ; making certainly known.
CERTIORA'RI, n. [Low L. certioror, from
certus, certior.]
A writ issuing out of Chancery, King's!
Bench or other superior court, to call up
the records of an inferior court, or remove;
a cause there depending, that it may bel
tried in the superior court. This writ is
obtained upon complaint of a party, that he
has not received justice, or that he cannot
have an impartial trial, in the inferior
court. Encyc.
CER'TITUDE, n. [Low L. certitudo, from
certus, certain.] Certainty ; assurance ;
freedom from doubt. Dryden.
CERU'LEAN, > [L. ca^r^ile^is ; It. Sp.
CERU'LEOUS, I "■ ceruleo.] Sky-colored ;
blue. Thomson.
CERULIF'IC, a. Producing a blue or .sky-
color.
CERU'MEN, n. [L. cera, wax.] The wax
or vellovv matter secreted by the ear.
CER'USE, n. [Fr. ceruse ; L. It. cerussa ;
Sp. ceriisa."
White-lead ; a carbonate of lead, produced
by ex|)osing the metal in thin plates to
the vapor of vinegar. Lead is sometimes
found native in the form of ceruse.
Ceruse of antimony is a white oxyd of anti
mony, which separates from the water ii
which diaphoretic antimony has been
washed. Micholson
CER'USED, a. Washed with a preparation
of white lead. Beaum
CER'VI€AL, a. [L. cennx, the neck,
whence cervicalis.]
Belonging to the neck; as the ccmcaZ nerves ;
cermcal vessels. Encyc.
CERV'IN, I [I: cervinus ; Sp. cervino ;
CERVINE, p- from L. cerrus, a deer; W.
carw ; Corn, and Ai-m. karu ; Kamtchatka,
haro.]
Pertaining to the deer, or to animals of the
genus Cervus.
CESA'REAN, a. The Cesareaji operation is
the taking of a child from the womb by
cutting ; an operation, which, it is said,
gave name to Caesar, the Roman em-
peror.
CESPITP'TIOUS, a. [L. cespes, turf] Per-
taining to turf; made of turf Gough.
CES'PITOUS, a. Pertaining to turf; turfy.
A cespitous or turfy plant, has many stems
from the same root, usually forming a close thick
carpet or matting. Martyn.
CESS, as a noun, a rate or tax, and as a
verb, to rate or lay a tax, is probably a
corruption of assess, or from the same root.
It is not used. Spenser.
CESS, V. i. [L. cesso, to cease.] To neglect
a legal duty. Obs. Cowel.
CESSATION, n. [L. cessatio, from cesso, to-
cease.]
1. A ceasing ; a stop ; a rest ; the act of dis-
continuing motion or action of any kind,
whether temporary or final.
2. A ceasing or suspension of operation, force
or effect ; as a cessation of the laws of
nature.
A cessation of arms, an armistice or truce,
agreed to by the commanders of armies,
to give time for a capitulation, or for other
purposes.
CESSA'VIT, n. [L. cesso, to cease, cessavit,
he hath ceased.]
In law, a writ given by statute, to recover
lands, when the tenant or occupier has
ceased for two years to perform the service,
which constitutes the condition of his ten-
ure, and has not sufficient goods or chat-
tels to be distrained, or the tenant has so
inclosed the land that the lord cannot
come upon it to distrain. Blackstone.
CES'SER, n. [See Cess.] A ceasing ; a
neglect to perform^ervices or payment for
two years. [See Cessavit.] Blackstone.
CESSIBIL'ITY, n. [See Cede and Cession.]
The act of giving way or receding. [L/it-
tle used.] Digby.
CES'SIBLE, a. {See Cede.] Giving way ;
yielding ; easy to give way. Digby.
CES'SION, n. [L. cessio ; Fr. cession ; from
L. cedo, cessum. See Cede.]
1. The act of giving way ; a yielding to force
or impulse. Bacon.
2. A yielding, or surrender, as of property
or rights, to another person ; particularly,
a surrender of conquered territory to its
former proprietor or sovereign, by treaty.
3. In the civil law, a voluntary surrender of
a person's efiects to his creditors, to avoid
imprisonment. Encyc.
4. In ecclesiastical law, the leaving of a bene-
fice without dispensation or being other-
wise qualified. ^Vhen an ecclesiastical
person is created a bishop, or when tlie
parson of a parish takes another benefice,
without dispensation, the benefices are
void by cession, without resignation.
JSnci/.-.
C H A
C H A
C H A
CES'SIONARY, a. Having surrendered ef-
fects ; as a cessionary bankrupt. Martin.
CESS'MENT, Ji. An assessment or tax.
rjVo< uierf.]
CES'SOR, n. [L. cesso, to cease.] In luto,
he that neglects, for two years, to perform
the service by which lie holds lands, so
that he incurs the danger of the writ of
cessavit. [See Cessavit.] Coioel.
2. An assessor, or taxer.
CEST, n. [Infra.] A lady's girdle.
Collins.
CEST'US, n. [L. from Gr. x^yof.] The
girdle of Venus, or marriage-girdle, among
the Greeks and Romans.
CESU'RA, I [Fr. cesure ; It. cesura ; h.
CE'SUKE, < "■ ca^ura, from casdo, cwsum,
to cut ofl'.J
A pause in verse, so introduced as to aid the
recital, and render the versification more
melodious. It divides a verse or line uito
equal or unequal pai-ts. Its most pleasing
effect is produced, when it is placed at the
end of the second foot, or in the middle,
or at the end of the third foot.
Sheridan.
CE'SURAL, a. Pertaining to the cesure.
CETA'CEOUS, a. [L. cete ; Gr. x^toj, a
whale.]
Pertaining to the whale ; belonging to the
whale kind. The cetaceous fishes include
the genera monodon, balana, physeter and
ddphimu. They have no gills, but an
aperture on the top of the head, and a flat
or horizontal tail. Encyc.
CE'TATE, n. A compound of cetic acid,
with a base. Chevreul.
CET'ERAeH,n. A trivial name of a species
of Asplenium, or spleen-wort.
CE'TI€, a. [L. cetvs, a whale.] Pertaining
to the whale. The cetic acid is a peculiar
substance obtained from the spermaceti.
Ure.
CE'TIN, n. [L. celjts, a whale.] A name
given to spermaceti by Chevreul.
CET0L06'I€AL, a. [from cetology.] Per-
taining to cetology.
CETOL'OgIST, n.Onc who is versed in tJic
natural history of the whale and its kin-
dred animals.
CETOL'OgY, n. [Gr. xjjfoj, a whale, and
Tioyoj, discourse.]
The doctrine or natural history of cetaceous
animals. Ed. Encyc.
f'E'TUS, n. [Supra.] In astronomy, the
whale, a large constellation of the south-
ern hemisphere, containing ninety-seven
stare. Encyc.
CE'YLANITE, n. [from Ceijlon.] A min-
eral, classed with the ruby family ; called
also pkonaste. Its color is a muddy, dark
blue, and grayish black, approaching to
u-on black. It occurs in grains, or small
crystals, either perfect octahedrons, or
truncated on the edges, or with the angles
acuminated by four planes. It occurs also
in rhomboidai dodecahedrons.
Cyc. Ure.
1 CHAB'ASIE, ) „ [Schahasit. Werner.] A
CHAB'ASITE, I "■ mineral which has been
regarded as a variety of zeolite. It is di-
visible into very obtuse rhomboids.
Diet. Xat. Hist
This mineral occurs in crystals, whose primi-
tive form is nearly a cube. Ure:
Chabasie has a foliated structure ; its frac-
ture is somewhat conchoidal or uneven,
with a glistenuig vitreous luster. It is
translucent, sometimes transparent. Its
color is white or grayish white, sometimes
with a rosy tinge. Before the blowpipe,
it uitumesces a little, and easily melts into
_ a white sjtongy mass. Cleaveland.
CHAD, n. A kind of fish; pronounced «/iarf.
Carew.
CHAFE, V. t. [Fr. echauffer ; Sp. escalfar, to
warm ; Port, escalfar, to poach or boil
slightly ; from the root of L. caleo, whence
calefio, calfacio.]
1. To excite heat or inflammation by fric-
tion, as to chafe the skin ; also, to fret and
wear by rubbing, as to chafe a cable.
2. To excite heat in the mind ; to excite pas-
sion ; to inflame ; to make angry ; to cause
to fret ; to provoke or incense. 2 Sam.
xvii. 8.
•3. To excite violent action ; to cause to rage ;
the wind chafes the ocean.
4. To perfume ; rather, to stimulate, or agi-
tate ; to excite by pungent odors.
Lilies, whose scent chafed the air.
Suckling
CHAFE, II. i. To be excited or heated ; to
rage ; to fret ; to be in violent action.
Popi
2. To act violently upon, by rubbing ; to fret
against, as waves against a shore.
The tioubled Tyber chafing with his shores
Shak
3. To be fretted and worn by rubbing ; as,
a cable chafes.
CHAFE, n. Heat, excited by friction.
Violent agitation of the mind or passions :
heat ; fret ; passion. Camden.
CHA'FED, pp. Heated or fretted by rub-
bing ; worn by friction.
CHA'FER, n. One who chafes.
CHA'FER, n. [Sax. ceafor; J), kever ; G.
kclfer.] An insect, a species of Scara-
ba-us, or beetle.
CHA'FERY, n. [from chafe.] In Iron tvorks,
a forge in which an ancony or square mass
of iron, hammered into a bar in the mid
die, with its ends rough, is reduced to i
complete bar, by hammering down the
ends to the shape of the middle. Encyc.
CHA'FE-WAX, n. In England, an ofticer
belonging to the Lord Chancellor, who
fits the wax for the sealing of writs.
Harris.
CH'AFF, n. [Sax. ceaf; D. kaf; G. kaff.]
1. The husk, or dry calyx of corn, and!
In common language, the word
applied to the husks when separated
from the corn by thrashing, riddling or
winnowing. The word is sometimes used
rather improperly to denote straw cut
small for the food of cattle.
Marlyn. Encyc.
2. Refuse ; worthless matter ; especially that
which is light, and apt to be driven by thel
wind. In scripture, false doctrines, fruit
less designs, hypocrites and ungodly men
are compared to chaff. Ps. i. 4. Jer. xxiii.
28. Is. xxxiii. 11. Math. iii. 12.
CHAF'FER, V. i. [Sax. ceapian ; D. koopen ;
G. kaufen ; Sw. kapa ; Dan. kiober, to bar-
gain or buy. It seems to be radically the
same word as cheap, cheapen, and chap\
in chapman. See Cheap.''
To treat about a purchase ; to bargain ; to
haggle ; to negotiate ; to chop and change ;
as, to cAo^er for |)relerment3. Drydtn.
CHAF'FER, V. t. To buy ; to exchange.
Spenser.
[In this sense it is obsolrle.]
CHAF'FER, n. Merchandize. [Ao< in use.]
Skelton.
CHAF'FERER, n. One who chaffers ; a
bargainer ; a buyer.
CHAF'FERN, ji. A vessel for heating water.
[Local.]
CHAF'FER Y, n. Trafick ; buying and seU-
ing. Obs. Spenser.
CHAF'FINCH, n. [chaff and fnch.] A spe-
cies of birds of the genus Fringilla, which
are said to delight in chaft", and are ad-
mired for their song.
CH'AFFLESS, n. AVithout chaff. Shak.
CH^AFFWEED, n. A plant, cud-weed, a
species of Gnaphaliuni ; but this name is
given also to the Centuuculus.
Muhlenhtrg.
CH'AFFY, a. Like chaff; fullof chaff; light :
as, chaffy straws ; chaffy opinions.
Broivn. Glanviile.
CHA'FING, ppr. Heating or fretting by
friction.
CHAFING-DISH, »i. [chafe and dish.] A
dish or vessel to hold coals for heating any
thing set on it ; a portable grate for coals.
CHAGRIN', n. [Fr. This word, applied to a
particular kind of skin, or leather, is said
to be derived from a Turkish word, sagri,
Fr. croupe. The skin is dressed so as to
present on its surface little eminences. See
Shagreen.]
Ill-humor ; vexation ; peevishness ; fretful-
ness. Pope.
CHAGRIN', V. t. [Fr. chagriner.] To ex-
cite ill-humor in ; to vex ; to mortify.
CHAGRINED, pp. Vexed; fretted; dis-
pleased.
CHAIN, n. [Fr. chaine, for chaisne ; Norm.
cadene, and cheyne ; Arm. chaden, cadenn,
or jadenn; Sp. cadena ; Port, cadea ; It.
catena ; L. catena ; D. keten ; G. kette ,• Sw.
klulia ; Dan. kede ; \V. cadwen. Qu. Ar.
s - , , t
i,\.SsS from J^^sl akada, to bind or
make fast.]
1. A series of links or rings connected, or
fitted into one another, usually made of
some kind of metal, as a chain of gold, or
of iron ; but the word is not restricted to
any particular kind of material. It is used
often for an ornament about tlie person.
2. That which binds ; a real chain ; that
which restrains, confines, or fetters ; a
bond.
If God spared not the angels that sinned, but
delivered tliem into chains of darkness. 2
Peter ii.
3. Bondage ; affliction.
He hath made my chain hca\'y. Lam. iii.
4. Bondage ; slavery.
In despotism the people sleep soundly in their
chains. Ames.
5. Ornament. Prov. i. 9.
6. A series of things linked together : a series
of things connected or following in suc-
cession ; as a chain of causes, of ideas, or
events ; a chain of being.
A range, or fine of things connected; as a
chain of mountains.
8. A series of links, forming an instrument to
measiu:e land.
C H A
9. A string of twisted wire, or sometliiiig
similar, to hang a watch on, and for other
pui-poses. 1 r i- I
10. In France, a measure of wood tor tiieJ,
and various commodities, of various
length. ,. ,
11. In ship-building, chains are strong hnks
or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end
to the ship's side, used to contam the
blocks called dead eyes, by which the
shrouds of the mast are extended.
19. The warp in weaving, as in French.
Chain-pump. This consists of a long cham,
equipped with a sufficient number ot
valves, moving on two wheels, one above,
the other below, passing downward
through a wooden tube and returning
through another. It is managed by a long
winch, on which several men may be em-
ployed at once. , ^ Encyc.
Chain-shot, two balls connected by a cham,
and used to cut down masts, or cut away
shrouds and rigging. ,,.,,,
Chain-wales of a ship, broad and thick planks
projecting from a ship's side, abreast ot
and behind the masts, for the purpose ot
extending the shrouds, for better support-
ing the masts, and preventing the shrouds
from damaging the gunwale. Encyc
Chain-ivork, work consisting of threads
cords and the Uke, linked together m the
form of a chain ; as lineal chaining or tam-
bour work, reticulation or net work, &c.
Ed. Encyc.
Top-chain, on board a ship, a chain to sling
the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent
their falling, when the ropes that sujiport
them are shot away. Encyc.
CHAIN, V. t. To fasten, bind or connect witli
a chain ; to fasten or bind with any thing
in the manner of a chain.
2. To enslave ; to keep in slavery.
And which more blest ? Who chainhi his coun-
C H A
7. A two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one
horse ; a gig.
8. Supreme office or magistracy.
When Governor Shute came to the chair,
several of the old councilors were laid aside.
Selknap.
Curule chair, an ivory seat placed on a car,
used by the prime magistates of Rome.
CHA'IR-MAN, n. The presiding officer or
speaker of an assembly, association "
company, particularly of a legislative
house ; also, tlie president or senior mem-
ber of a committee.
'i. One whose business is to carry a chair.
Dryden
CHAISE, n. s as :. [Fr. chaise, a seat or
chair. Qu. It. seggia.]
A two-wheeled carriage drawn by one
horse ; a gig. It is open or covered.
CHALCEDON'ie, a. Pertaining to dial
cedony. , ,
€HAL'CEDONY, n. [from Chakedon, a
a To guard with a chain, as a
ad.iy?
Pope.
harbor or
CHAINED, pp.
Made fast, or bound by a
chain ; bound ;
chain ; connected by
enslaved.
CHAINING, ppr. Binding, fastening oi
connecting with a chain ; binding, or at
tachjng to ; enslaving.
CHAIR, n. [Fr. chaire, a pulpit, contracted
from Norm, cadiere, as chain from catena ;
Arm. cadarn, or cador ; Ir. cathaoir ; L.
cathedra ; Gr. xa9f«pa, connected with
xa9f?o;uc«, to sit, xara and ifo^« ; W
cadair, a seat or stool.]
1 A movable seat ; a frame with a bottom
made of different materials, used for per-
sons to sit in ; originally a stool, and an-
ciently a kind of pulpit in churches.
2. A seat of justice or of authority ; as a
chair of state. ,
3. A seat for a professor, or his otiice ; as tlie
professor's chair.
4. The seat for a speaker or presiding officer
of a public council or assembly, as the
speaker's clw-ir ; and by a metonymy, the
speaker himself; as, to address the chair.
5. A sedan; a vehicle on poles borne by
men.
«. A pulpit. BvrnH
town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzanti-
um, now Constantinople. Pliny informs
us that Chalcedon signifies the town of
blind men. The last syllable then is the
Celtic dun, English town, a fact that the
historian should not overlook. Pliii. Lib.
5- 32.] . , „ ,
A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called
also white agate, resembling milk diluted
with water, and more or less clouded or
opake, with veins, circles and spots. It
is used in jewelry.
Cleaveland. Nicholson. Encyc.
The varieties of chalcedony are common
chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plas-
ma, onyx, sard and sardonyx. Ure.
€HAL'C'EDONYX, n. A variety of agate,
in which white and gray layers alternate.
Cleaveland.
CHAL'CITE, n. [Gr. x«-'^-*'<i, brass.] Sul-
phate of iron of a red color, so far calcined
as to have lost a considerable pan of its
acid Fourcroy.
CHAL€OG'RAPHER, n. [Infra.] An en-
graver in brass.
€HAL€OG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ;i:aJ.xos, brass,
and ypo^u, to write.] The act or art ot
engraving in brass.
€HALDA'I€, a. Pertaining to Chaldea, an-
ciently a country on the Frat or Euphra-
tes, in Asia, called in scripture Shinar,
Of this Babylon was the principal city.
€HALDA'I€, n. The language or dialect
of the Chaldeans.
€HAL'DAISM, n. An idiom or pecuha
the Clialdee dialect. Parkhxirst.
€HALDE'AN, n. An inhabitant of Chal
I'f'^- ^, , ,
CHAL'DEE, a. Pertaining to Chaldea.
CHAL DEE, n. The language or dialect of
the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DRON, > , [Yr. chaudron; Sp. cal
CHAL'DER, y de'^o'n■ ; It. c(dderone, i
kettle. The same word as caldron. Chal
der is not in use in the United States.]
A measure of coals consisting of thirty sn
bushels. Chamhirs
CHAL'ICE, n. [Fr. calice ; Sp. calix ; It
calice ; D. kelk ; G. kelch ; L. cahx ; Gr.
xia.it It should have been written cal-
C H A
plied by Shakspeare to a flower; but I
believe little used.
CHALK, n. chauk. [Sax. cealc ; D. Dan.
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck ; W. cole ; Com. kalch ;
Ir. cailk ; L. calx ; Fr. chain. The Latin
calx is lime-stone, chalk-stone, and the
heel, and calco is to kick and to tread.
In Italian calca is a crowd. The sense
then is a mass made compact, a clod or
lump. If the Gr. xa'^i, Aint) gravel, is the
same word, the Latins deviated from their
usual practice m writing calx, for chalx.
These words are probably connected in
origin with callus.]
\ well known calcarious earth, of an opake
white color, soft and admitting no polish.
It contains a large portion of carbonic acid,
and is a subspecies of carbonate of lime.
it is used as an absorbent and anti-acid.
Cleaveland. JVicholson. Kirwan. Aikin.
Black-chalk is a species of earth used by
painters for drawing on blue paper.
Red-chalk is an indurated clayey ocher used
bv iiainters and artificers.
CHALK, V. t. To rub with chalk; to mark
with chalk.
3. To manure with chalk, as land.
3. From the use of chalk in marking lines,
the phrase to chalk out is used to signify,
to lay out, draw out or describe ; as, to
chalk out a ))lan of proceeding.
CHALK-CUTTER, n. A man that digs
chalk. Woodward.
CHALKINESS, n. chauk'iness. Tlie state
of being chalkv.
CHALK-PIT, n'. A pit in which chalk is
(]„„. Johnson.
CHa'lK-STONE, n. In medicine, a calca-
rious concretion in the hands and feet of
men violently aftected by the gout. Encyc.
2. A small lump of chalk. Isaiah.
CHALKY, a. chauk'y. Resembling chalk ;
:halkii taste.
2. White w"ith chalk; consisting of chalk;.
as, cfta% cliffs. Rowe.
3. Impregnated with chalk ; as, chalky wa-
usiially, a communion cup.
. Having a cell or cup ; ap-
CHAL'LENgE, n. [Norm, calenge, an ac
eusation ; chalunge, a claim ; challenger, to
claim ; from the root of call, Gr. xaJ^u,
xAr.u, L. calo. See Coll.]
Literally, a calling, or crying out, the
primai-y sense of many words expressing
a demand, as claim, L. clamo. Hence
appropriately,
A calling upon one to fight in single com-
bat; an invitation or summons, verbal or
written, to decide a controversy by a duel.
Hence the letter containing the summons
is also called a challenge.
2. A claim or demand made of a right or
supposed right.
There must be no challenge of superiority.
Collier.
3. Among hunters, the opening and crying
of hounds at first finding the scent ol
their game. Encyc.
4. In law, an exception to jurors; the claim
ofajiarty that certain jurors shall not sit
ill I rial upon him or his cause; that is, a
calling them off. The right of challenge
is given both in civil and criminal trials,
for certain causes which are supposed to
disqualify a juror to be an impartial judge.
The ri^ht of challenge extends either to
the wlmlc panel or array, or only to par-
C H A
C H A
C H A
ticular jurors, called a challenge to the
polls. A principal challenge is that which
the law allows without cause assigned.
A challenge to the favor, is when the
party alledgcs a special cause. In crimi-
nal cases, a prisoner may challenge twenty
jurors, without assigning a cause. This
is called a peremptory challenge.
Blackslont.
CHAL'LENgE, v. t. To call, invite or sum-
mon to answer for an offense by single
combat, or duel.
2. To call to a contest ; to invite to a trial ;
as, 1 challenge a man to prove what he
asserts, implying defiance.
3. To accuse ; to call to answer.
Spenser. Shak.
4. To claim as due ; to demand as a right ;
as, the Supreme Bemg challenges our rev-
erence and homage.
5. In law, to call off a juror, or jurors; or
to demand that jurors shall not sit in trial
upon a cause. [See the noun.]
6. To call to the perfoririance of conditions.
CHALLENGEABLE, a. That may be
challenged ; that may be called to ac-
count. Sadler.
CHAL'LENgED. pp. Called to combat or
to contest ; claimed ; demanded, as due ;
called from a jury.
CHAL'LENgER, n. One who challenges;
one who invites to a single combat ; one
who culls on another by way of defiance.
Shak.
9. One who claims superiority; one who
claims any thing as his right, or makes
pretensions to it. Hooker.
3. One who calls a juror, or a jury, from the
trial of his cause.
CHALLENGING, ppr. Summoning to a
duel, or to contest ; claiming as a right ;
defying ; calling off from a jury.
CHALYB'EAN, a. [Infra.] Pertaining to
steel well tempered. Milton.
CHALYB'EATE, a. [L. chahjhs ; Gr. x<>-->^H,
steel. Qu. from Chatybs, a town near the
Euxine.]
Impregnated with particles of iron ; as
chalybeate waters.
CHALYBEATE, n. Any water or other
liquor into which iron enters.
CHAM, Ji. kam. The sovereign prince of
Tartary. Usually written Khan.
CHAMA'DE, n. [Fr. from It. chiamata, a
calling ; chiamare, to call ; L. clamo ; Sp.
llamada ; Port, chamada, from chamar. to
call. See Claim.]
In war, the beat of a drimi or sound of a
trumpet, inviting an enemy to a parley ;
as for making a proposition for a truce,
or for a capitulation. Encyc.
CHAMBER, } iThe first pronunciation is
CH'AMBER, ^ ■' most common ; the last,
most analagoiis and correct. [Fr. cham-
bre ; Arm. canipr, cambr ; It. camera ; Port,
Sp. camara ; L. camera ; Gr. xa/iofu, an
arched roof, vault or upper gallery, a
chamber ; D. kamer ; G. kammer ;' Sw,
kaiiwinre ; Dan. kammer ; Cli. I3p to arch ;
Eth. ^<^Q karaare, an arch or vault.]
1. An apartment in an upper story, or in
story above the lower floor of a dwellin
house; often used as a lodging room.
2. Any retired room ; any private apartment
which a person occupies ; as, he called on
the judge at his chamber.
Joseph entered into liis chamber and wept.
Gen. xliii.
i. Any retired place.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to
the chambers of death. Prov. vii.
4: A hollow or cavity ; as the chamber of
the eye. Sharp.
5. A place where an assembly meets, and
the assembly itself; as star-chamber ; im-
perial chamber ; chamber of accounts ; ec-
clesiastical chamber; privy chamber; cham-
ber of commerce, &c.
6. In military affairs, the chamber of a mor-
tar is that part of the chase, where the
powder lies.
7. A powder-chamber, or bomb-chamber, a
place under ground for holding powder
and bombs, where they may be safe and
secured from rains.
8. The cliambtr of a mine, a place, generally
of a cubical form, where the powder is
confined.
9. A species of ordnance. Qu. Camden.
10. The clouds. Ps. civ.
IL Certain southern constellations whicJi
are hid from us.
The chambers of the south. Job ix.
Chamber- council, a private or secret council.
Shak.
Chamber-counsel, a counselor, who gives his
opinion in a private apartment, but does
not advocate causes in court.
CHAMBER, I . To reside in or occupy
CHAMBER, I ^- '• as a chamber.
2. To be wanton ; to indulge in lewd or im-
modest behavior. Rom. xiii.
CHAMBER, I , To shut up as in a
CH AMBER, I ^'- '■ chamber. Shak.
CHAMBERER, ) One who intrigues, or
ClPAaiBERER, I "■ indulges in wanton-
ness. Shak.
'HAMHER-FELLOW, ) One who
CHAMBER-FELLOW, ^ "• sleeps in
the same apartment. Spectator.
CHAMBER-HANGING, n. Tapestry or
hangings fur a chamber.
CHAMBERING, ? Wanton, lewd, im-
CH^AMBERING, I "' modest behavior.
Rom. xiii.
CHAMBERLAIN, > „ [Fr. chambeUan;
CHAMBERLAIN, ^ "• Arm. cambrelan
Sp. camarero ; Port, eamareiro ; It. earner
lingo ; D. kamerling ; Dan. kammer-herre ;
L. camerarius.]
1. An ofiicer charged with the direction and
management of a chamber, or of cham-
bers. The Lord Chamberlain of Great
Britain is the sixth oflicer of the crown.
To him belong livery, and lodging in the
king's court ; on coronation day he brings
to the king his apparel, his sword, scab-
bard, &c. He dresses and undresses the
king on that day, and waits on him be-
fore and after dinner. To him also be-
longs the care of providing all things in
the house of lords, in time of parliament.
Under liim are the gentleman usher of the
black rod, and other officers. The Lord
Chamberlain of the household has the
oversight of all officers belonging to the
king's chambers, excejit the precinct of
the bed-chamber, of the wardrobe, ])hy
sicians, chaplains, barbers, &c., audadmiu
isters the oath to all officers above stairs.
The chamberlains of the exchequer, of
London, of Chester, of North Wales, &c.,
are receivers of rents and revenues.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. A servant who has the care of the cham-
bers in an inn or Imtcl.
CHAMBERLAINSIHP, ) The office of
CH'AMBERLAINSIHP, S"" a chamber-
lain.
CHAMBER-LYE, n. Urine.
CHAMBER-MAID, ) A woman who
CHAMBER-MAID, ^ "• has the care of
chambers, making the beds, and cleaning
the rooms, or who dresses a lady and
waits upon her in her apartment.
CHAMBER-POT, n. A vessel used in bed-
rooms.
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, ? t,,
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, S "• ^'"^ P'"°'='
tice of counselors at law, who give their
opinions in private, but do not appear in
court.
CHAM BREL,n. The joint or bending of the
upper part of a horse's bind leg. In New-
England pronounced gambrel, which see.
CHAMELEON, n. [L. chamceleon ; Gr.
Xanai,7.tut'.]
An animal of the genus Lacerta, or lizard,
with a naked body, a tail and four feet.
The body is six or seven inches long, and
the tail five inches ; with this it clings to
the branches of trees. The skin is cold to
the touch, and contains small grains or
etninences, of a bluish gray color, in the
shade, but in the light of the sun, all parts
of the body become of a grayish brown,
or tawny color. It is a native of Africa
and Asia. Encyc.
CHAME'LEONIZE, v. t. To change into
various colors. Diet.
CHAMFER, V. t. [corrupted from Fr.
echancrer, to hollow, to cut sloping ; Arm.
chancra ; said to be from cancer.]
1. To channel ; to cut a furrow, as in a col-
Uinn, or to cut into a sloping form.
Johnson. Bailey. Encyc.
2. To wrinkle. Shak.
CHAM'FER, } A small gutter or furrow
CHAM FRET, ^ "" cut in wood or other
hard material ; a slope.
CHAM FERED, pp. Cut into furrows, or
cut sloping.
CHAMFERING, ppr. Cutting a gutter in ;
cutting in a slope.
CHAM'ITE, n. Fossil remains of the Cha-
ma, a shell.
CHAMLET, [See Camlet.]
CHAMOIS, n. [Fr. from It. camozza ; Sp.
gamitza, from gamo, a buck.]
An animal of the goat kind, whose skin is^
made into soft leather, called shammy.
Johnson.
It is now arranged with the Antelopes.
Cuvitr.
CHAMOMILE, [See Catnomile.]
|CH,\JMP, V. t. [Fr. champayer, 1 have not
found. Qu. Gr. xanru, for m is often casual
before a labial, and in Gr. yafi^a: is the
I jaws.]
11. To bite with repeated action of the teeth ;
I as, a hoi-se chainps the bit.
2. To bite into small pieces ; to chew ; to
masticate ; to devour. Dryden.
CHAMP, V. i. To chew; to perform the ac-
tion of biting by repeated motion of the
teeth ; as, to champ ujjon the bit. Hooker.
C H A
C H A
C H A
9. A string of twisted wire, or soinetliing
similar, to hang a watch on, and for other
10. In France, a measure of wood for fuel,
and various commodities, of various
length.
11. In ship-building, chains are strong links
or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end
to the ship's side, used to contain the
blocks called dead eyes, by which the
shrouds of the mast are extended.
12. The warp in weaving, as in French.
Chain-pump. This consists of a long chain,
equippett with a sufficient number of
valves, moving on two wheels, one above,
the other below, passing downward
through a wooden tube and returning
through another. It is managed by a long
winch, on which several men may be
ployed at once. Encyc.
Chain-shot, two balls connected by a ch
and used to cut down masts, or cut away
shrouds and rigging.
Chain-ivales of a sliip, broad and thick plank
projecting from a ship's side, abreast of
and behind the masts, for the purpose of
extending the shrouds, for better support
ing the masts, and preventing the shrouds
from damaging the gunwale. Encyc.
Chain-work, work consisting of threads,
cords and the like, linked together in the
form of a chain ; as lineal chaining or tam-
bour work, reticulation or net work, &c.
Ed. Encyc.
Top-chain, on board a sliip, a chain to sling
the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent
their falling, when the ropes that support
them are shot away. Encyc.
CHAIN, V. t. To fasten, hind or connect with
a chain ; to fasten or bind with any thing
in the manner of a chain.
2. To enslave ; to keep in slavery.
And which more blest ? Who chained his coun-
try, say.
Or he whose virtue sighed to lose a day ?
Pope.
3. To guard with a chain, as a harbor or
passage.
4. To unite ; to form chain-work.
CHA'INED, pp. Made fast, or bound by a
chain ; connected by a chain ; bound ;
enslaved.
CHA'INING, ppr. Binding, fastening or
connecting with a chain ; binding, or at-
taching to ; enslaving.
CHAIR, n. [Fr. chaire, a pulpit, contracted
from Norm, cadiere, as chain from catena ;
Arm. cadani, or cador ; Ir. cathaoir ; L.
cathedra ; Gr. xaStSpa, connected with
xa.9t^oi.i(u, to sit, xara and ffoftai ; W.
cadair, a seat or stool.]
1. A movable seat ; a frame with a bottom
made of diiferent materials, used for per-
sons to sit in ; originally a stool, and an-
ciently a kind of pulpit in churches.
2. A seat of justice or of authority ; as a
chair of state.
3. A seat for a professor, or his office; as the
professor's chair.
4. The seat for a speaker or presiding officer
of a public council or assembly, as the
speaker's chair ; and by a metonymy, th
speaker himself; as, to addi-ess the chair.
.5. A sedan ; a vehicle on poles borne by
men.
a. A i)ul|>ir. Burnet.
7. A two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one
horse ; a gig.
8. Supreme office or magistracy.
Wlien Governor Shute came to the chair,
several of the old councilors were laid aside.
Selknap.
Curulc chair, an ivory seat placed on a cai",
used by the prime magistates of Rome
CHAIR-MAN, n. The presiding officer or
speaker of an assembly, association or
company, particularly of a legislative
house ; also, the president or senior mem-
ber of a committee.
2. One whose business is to can-y a chair.
Dryden.
CHAISE, n. s as z. [Fr. chaise, a seat or
chair. Qu. It. seggia.]
A two-wheeled carriage drawn by one
horse ; a gig. It is open or covered.
€HALCEDON'I€, a. Pertaining to chal-
cedony.
eHAL'CEDONY, n. [from Chalcedon, a
town ill Asia Minor, opposite to Byzanti-
lun, now Constantinople. Pliny informs
us that Chalcedon signifies the town of
blind men. The last syllable then is the
Celtic dun, English town, a fact that tlie
historian should not overlook. Plin. Lib.
5. 32.]
A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called
also wliite agate, resembling milk diluted
with water, and more or less clouded or
opake, with veins, circles and spots. It
is used in jewelry.
Cleaveland. JVichohon. Encyc.
The varieties of chalcedony are common
chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plas-
ma, onyx, sard and sardonyx. Ure.
€HAL'CEDONYX, n. A variety of agate,
in which white and gray layers altei-nate.
Cleaveland.
€HAL'CITE, n. [Gr. x<a.xoi, brass.] Sul-
phate of iron of a red color, so far calcined
as to have lost a considerable part of its
acid. Fourcroij.
€HAL€OG'RAPHER, n. [Infra.] An en-
aver in brass.
€HALCOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. za?.*of, brass,
and ypo^iu, to write.] The act or art of
engraving in brass.
CHALDA'I€, a. Pertaining to Chaldea, an-
ciently a country on the Frat or Euphra-
tes, in Asia, called in scripture Shinar.
Of this Babylon was the principal city.
€HALDA'l€, n. The language or dialect
of the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DAISM, n. An idiom or peculiarity
the Clialdee dialect. Parkhurst.
ellALDE'AN, )(. An inhabitant of Chal-
dea.
eHAL'DEE, a. Pertaining to Chaldea.
€HAL'DEE, ;i. The language or dialect of
the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DRON, ? [Fr. chaudron; Sp. cal-
CHAL'DER, I deron ; It. adderonc, a
kettle. Thesame word as caWron. Chal-
der is not in use in the United States.]
A measure of coals consisting of thirty six
bushels. Chambers.
CHAL'ICE, n. [Fr. calice ; Sp. caliz ; It.
calice ; D. kelk ; G. kelch ; L. calix ; Gr.
xuXtl. It should have been written cal-
rV cup, or bowl ; usually, a communion cup.
CHAL'ICED, a. Haviiig a cell or cup; ap-
pHed by Shakspeare to a flower; but I
believe little used.
CHALK, ?i. chauk. [Sax. cealc ; D. Dan.
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck ; W. calc ; Com. kalch ;
Ir. cailk ; L. calx ; Fr. chaui. The Latin
calx is lime-stone, chalk-stone, and the
heel, and calco is to kick and to tread.
In Italian calca is a crowd. The sense
then is a mass made compact, a clod or
lump. If the Gr. ;^a>.i?, ffint, gravel, is the
same word, the Latins deviated from their
usual practice in writing calx, for chalx.
These words are probably connected in
origin with callus.]
A well known calcarious earth, of an opake
white color, soft and admitting no polish.
It contains a large portion of carbonic acid,
and is a subspecies of carbonate of lime.
It is used as an absorbent and anti-acid.
Cleaveland. JVicholson. Kirwan. Aikin.
Black-chalk is a species of earth used by
painters for drawing on blue paper.
Red-chalk is an indurated clayey ocher used
by painters and artificers.
CHALK, V. t. To rub with chalk ; to mark
with chalk.
2. To manure with chalk, as land.
.3. From the use of chalk in marking lines,
the ])hrase to chalk out is used to signify,
to lay out, draw out or describe ; as, to
chalk out a ])lan of proceeding.
CHALK-€UTTER, n. A man that digs
chalk. Woodward.
CHALKINESS, n. chauk'iness. Tlie state
of being chalkv.
CHALK-PIT, 7i." A pit in which chalk is
dug. Johnson.
CHALK-STONE, n. In medicine, a calca-
rious concretion in the hands and feet of
men violently aflected by the gout. Encyc.
2. A small lump of chalk. Isaiah.
CHALKY, a. chauk'y. Resembling chalk ;
as a chalky taste.
2. White with chalk ; consisting of chalk ;
as, chalky cliffs. Rawe.
J. Impregnated with chalk ; as, chalky wa-
ter.
CHAL'LENgE, n. [Norm, calenge, an ac
eusation ; chalunge, a claim ; challenger, to
claim ; from the root of call, Gr. xa%iu,
xiVKu, L. calo. See Call.]
Literally, a calling, or crying out, the
primary sense of many words expressing
a demand, as claim, L. clamo. Hence
appropriately,
1. A calling upon one to fight in single com-
bat; an invitation or summons, verbal or
written, to decide a controversy by a duel.
Hence the letter containing the summons
is also called a challenge.
2. A claim or demand made of a right or
supposed right.
There must be no challenge of superiority.
CoUier.
3. Among hunters, the opening and crying
of hounds at first finding the scent of
their game. Enci/c.
4. In laiv, an exception to jurors ; the claam
of a party that certain jin-ors shall not sit
in trial iqion him or his cause ; that is, a
calling them off. The right of challenge
is given both in civil and criminal trials,
for certain causes which are siqiposed to
disquahfy a juror to be an impartial judge.
The right of challenge extends either to
the whole panel or array, or only to par -
C H A
C H A
C H A
licular jurors, called a challenge to tl
polls. A principal challenge is that which
the law allows without cause assigned
A challenge to the favor, is when the
party alledgcs a special cause. In crimi
nal cases, a prisoner may challenge twenty
jurors, without assigning a cause. This
is called a pereiiiptory challenge.
Blackstone
CHAL'LENgE, v. t. To call, invite or sum-
mon to answer for an oftense by single
combat, or duel.
2. To call to a contest ; to invite to a trial :
as, 1 challenge a man to prove what he
asserts, implying defiance.
3. To accuse ; to call to answer.
Spenser. Shak
4. To claim as due ; to demand as a right ;
as, the Supreme Being challenges our rev-
erence and homage.
5. In law, to call off a juror, or jurors; or
to demand that jurors shall not sit in trial
upon a cause. [See the noun.]
6. To call to the performance of condition
CHAL'LENuEABLE, «. That may be
challenged ; that may be called to ac-
count. Sadler.
CHAL'LENgED. pp. Called to combat or
to contest ; claimed ; demanded, as due
called from a jury.
CHAL'LENCiER, n. One who challenges ;
one who invites to a single combat ; one
who calls on another by way of defiance.
Shak.
2. One who claims superiority ; one who
claims any thing as his right, or makes
pretensions to it. Hooker.
3. One who calls a juror, or a jury, from the
trial (if his cause.
CHAL'LENgING, ppr. Summoning to a
duel, or to contest ; claiming as a right ;
defying; calling off from a jury.
CHALYB'EAN, a. [Infra.] Pertaining lo
steel well tempered. Milton.
CHALYB'EATE, a. [L. chalybs ; Gr. x"-7.v^,
steel. Qu. from Chalybs, a town near the
Euxine.]
Impregnated with particles of iron ; as
chalybeate waters.
CHALYBEATE, n. Any water or other
liquor into which iron enters.
CHAM, n. kam. The sovereign prince of
Tartary. Usually written A7m?i.
C'HAMA'DE, n. [Fr. from It. chiamata, a
calling ; chiamare, to call ; L. clamo ; Sp.
llamada ; Port, chamada, from chamar. to
call. See Claim.]
In war, the beat of a drum or sound of a
trumpet, inviting an enemy to a parley ;
as for making a proposition for a truce,
or for a capitulation. Eneyc.
CHAMBER, } iThe first pronunciation is
CH'AMBER, ^ '-most common; the last,
most analagous and correct. [Fr. cham-
hre ; Arm. campr, cambr ; It. camera ; Port.
Sp. camara ; L. camera ; Gr. xa/tapu, an
arched roof, vault or upper gallery, a
chamber ; D. kamer ; G. kammer ; Sw.
kammare ; Dan. kammer ; Cli. nap to arch ;
Eth. 'P'^^ kamare, an arch or vault.]
1. An ai)artment in an upper story, or in a
story above the lower floor of a dwelling
house ; often used as a lodging room.
2. Any retired room ; any private apartment
which a person occupies ; as, he called on
the judge at his chamber.
Joseph entered into liis chamber and wept
Gen. xliii.
i. Any retired place.
Her hou.se is the way to hell, going down to
the chambers of death. Prov. vii.
4: A hollow or cavity ; as the chamber of|
the eye. Sharp.
A place where an assembly meets, and
the assembly itself; as star-chamber ; im
perial chamber ; chamber of accounts ; ec
clesiastical chamber; privy chamber; cham
6er of commerce, &c.
6. In military affairs, the chamber of a mor
tar is that part of the chase, where tli(
powder lies.
7. A powder-chamber, or bomb-chamber, i
place under ground for holding powder
and bombs, where they may be safe and
secured from rains.
8. The chamber of a mine, a place, generally
of a cubical form, where the powder is
confined.
9. A species of ordnance. Qu. Camden.
10. The clouds. Ps. civ.
U. Certain southern constellations which
are hid from us.
The chambers of the south. Job ix.
Chamber-council, a private or secret council.
Shak
Chamber-counsel, a counselor, who gives his
opinion in a private apartment, but does
not advocate causes in court.
CHAMBER, } . To reside in or occupy
CH' AMBER, I "• '• as a chamber.
2. To be wanton ; to indulge in lewd or im
modest behavior. Rom. xiii.
CHAMBER, ) To shut up as in :
CHAMBER, I ^- '• chamber. Shak.
CHAMBERER, ) One who intrigues, or
CH AMBERER, I "• indulges in wanton
ness. Shak
HAMBER-FELLOW, ) One who
CHAMBER-FELLOW, I "■ sleeps in
the same apartment. Spectator.
CHAMBER-HANGING, n. Tapestry or
hangings for a chamber.
CHAMBERING, ) Wanton, lewd, im-
CIPAMBERING, I "• modest behavior,
Rom. xiii.
lAMBERLAIN, ) [Fr. chambellan
CH^AMBERLAIN, ^ "• Arm. cambrelan ;
Sp. camarero ; Port, camareiro ; It. camer-
lingo ; D. kamerling ; Dan. kammer-herre ;
L. caynerai-ius.]
1. An ofiicer charged with the direction and
management of a chamber, or of cham
bers. The Lord Chamberlain of Greai
Britain is the sixth officer of the crown
To him belong livery and lodging in the
king's court ; on coronation day he brings
to the king his apparel, his sword, scab-
bard, &c. He dresses and undresses the
king on that day, and waits on him be-
fore and after dinner. To him also be-
longs the care of providing all things in
the house of lords, in time of parUament.
Under him are the gentleman usher of the
black rod, and other oflicers. The Lord
Chamberlain of the household has the
oversight of all oflicers belonging to the
kmg's chambers, exce])t the precinct ofl
the bed-chamber, of the wardrobe, i)hy-
sicians, chaplains, barbers, &c., and admin-
isters the oath to all officers above stairs,
The chamberlains of the exchequer, of
London, of Chester, of North Wales, &c.,
are receivers of rents and revenues.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. A servant who has the care of the cham-
bers in an inn or hotel.
CHAMBERLAINSIHP, ) The oftlce of
CH'AMBERLAINSHIP, ^ "• a chamber-
lain.
CHAMBER-LYE, n. Urine.
CHAMBER-MAID, > A woman who
CH' AMBER-MAID, \ "• has the care of
chambers, making the beds, and cleaning
the rooms, or who dresses a lady and
waits upon her in her ai)artment.
CHAMBER-POT, n. A vessel used in bed-
rootns.
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, \ ,„,
CH'AMBER- PRACTICE, P- ^"^ ?"■"•="
tice of counselors at law, who give their
opinions in private, but do not appear in
court.
CHAM BREL, n. The joint or bending of the
upper part of a horse'.s hind leg. In New
England pronounced gambrel, which see.
CHAME'LEON, n. [L. chamaleon ; Gr.
Xa.iw.0.iM:]
An animal of the genus Lacerta, or lizard,
with a naked body, a tail and four feet.
The body is six or seven inches long, and
the tail five inches ; with this it clmgs to
the branches of trees. The skin is cold to
the touch, and contains small grains or
eminences, of a bluish gray color, in the
shade, but in the light of the sun, all parts
of the body become of a grayish brown,
or tawny color. It is a native of Africa
and Asia. Encyc.
CHAME'LEONIZE, v. t. To change into
various colors. Diet.
CHAM'FER, V. t. [corrupted from Fr.
echancrer, to hollow, to cut sloping ; Arm.
chancra ; said to be from cancer.]
To channel ; to cut a furrow, as in a col-
umn, or to cut into a sloping form.
Johnson. Bailey. Encyc.
To wrinkle. Shak.
CHAM'FER, > A small gutter or furrow
CHAM FRET, $ "• cut in wood or otlier
hard material ; a slope.
CHAMFERED, pp. Cut into furrows, or
cut sloping.
CHAMFERING, ppr. Cutting a gutter in ;
cutting in a slope.
CHAM'ITE, n. Fossil remains of the Cha-
ma, a shell.
CHAMLET, [See Candet.]
CHAMOIS, n. [Fr. from It. camozza ; Sj).
gamuza, from g-amo, a buck.]
An animal of the goat kind, whose skin is
made into soft leather, called shammy.
Johnson.
It is now arranged with the Antelopes.
Cuvier.
CHAM'OMILE, [See Camomile.]
CHAJMP, V. t. [Fr. champayer, I have not
found. Qu. Gr. xantu, for m is often casual
before a labial, and in Gr. yo/iijiat is the
jaws.]
1. To bite wth repeated action of the teeth ;
as, a horse champs the bit.
2. To bite into small pieces ; to chew ; to
masticate ; to devour. Dryden.
CHAMP, u. i. To chew ; to perform the ac-
tion of biting by repeated motion of the
teeth ; as, to champ upon the bit. Hooker.
C H A
C H A
C H A
CHAMPA'GNE, ) „ A kind of brisk, spark-
CHAMPA'NE, S ling wine, from Cham-
pagne in France.
CHAMPA'IGN, ? [from caini) or the
CHAMPA'IN, S same root.] A flat
open coimtry. Bacon. Milton.
CHAMPA'IN, )i. In heraldry, champain or
point champain, is a mark of dishonor in
the coat of arm? of him who has killed a
prisoner of war after he has asked for
quarter. Encyc.
CHAMP'ED, pp. Bitten ; chewed.
CHAMP'ER, n. One that champs or bites.
CHAM'PERTOR, n. [See ChampeHy.] In
Imv, one who is guilty of ckamperty, whicli
CHAM'PERTY, n. [Fr. champart, field-
rent ; champ, L. campus, a field, and part,
a share, or partir, to divide, campum par-
tire.]
A species of maintenance, being a bargain
with a plaintiff or defendant, to divide the
land or other matter in suit, between them,
if they prevail; whereupon the champer-
tor is to carry on the party's suit at his
own expense. The purchase of a suit, or
of the right of suing. Blackstone.
CHAMPIGN'ON, n. shampin'yon. [Fr.] A
kind of mushroom.
CHAMP'ING, pp. Biting with repeated ac-
tion.
CHAM'PION, n. [Fr. champion; Arm.
campyon ; Sp. campeon ; Port, campeam, or
eampiam ; It. campione ; D. hamper, or
kampvegter ; G. kampfer. In all the Teu-
tonic dialects, camp or kamp signifies a
combat, and in some of them, a camp ; Sax.
campa, a camp and a combat ; cempa, a
soldier, warrior or gVidiator ; W. camp, a
game, a feat ; campiaw, to contend in a
game. Here we have the origin of the
Latin campus. It was originally the plain
or open place appropriated to games,
sports and athletic exercises.]
1. A man who undertakes a combat in the
place or cause of another. Bacon.
9. A man who fights in his own cause n a
duel.
,3. A hero ; a brave warrior. Hence, one
who is bold in contest ; as a champion
for the truth.
CHAM'PION, V. t. To challenge to a com-
bat. Shak.
CHAM'PIONESS, n. A female champion.
Fairfax.
CH'ANCE, n. [Fr. chance ; Norm, cheaunce ;
Arm. chanpz ; D. kan^ ; G. schu7ize. This
seems to be from the participle of the
French verb cheoir, to fall, Sp. caer, from
the L. cado, or directly from the Latin ca
dens, cadentia.]
, 1. An event that happens, falls out or takes
place, without being contrived, intended,
expected or foreseen ; the effect of an un
known cause, or the unusual or unex
pected effect of a known cause; accident
casualty ; fortuitous event ; as, time and
chance happen to all.
By chance a priest came down that way
Luke s.
S. Fortune ; what foitime may bruig ; as,
they must take their chance.
3. An event, good or evil ; success or mis-
fortune ; luck. Shiik.
4. Possibility of an occurrence ; opportunity.
Yotir ladyship may have a chance (o escape
this address. Swift.
CH'ANCE, V. i. To happen ; to fall out ; to
come or arrive without design, or expec-
tation.
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee.
Deut. xxii.
Ah Casca, tell us what hath chanced to day.
Slmk.
CH'ANCE, o. Happening by chance ; cas-
ual ; as a chance comer.
CH'ANCEABLE, a. Accidental; casual;
fortuitous. Sidney.
CH'ANCE-€OMER, n. One who comes
unexpectedly. Addison.
CH'ANCEFUL, a. Hazardous. Spenser.
CH'ANCE-MEDLEY, n. [chance and med-
ley, a mixture.]
Inlaw, the kiUing of a person by chance,
when the killer is doing a lawful act ; for
if he is doing an unlawful act, it is felony.
As if a man, when throwing bricks from
a house into a street where people are con-
tinually passing, after giving warning to
passengers to lake care, shoidd kill a per-
son, this is chance-medley. But if he
gives no warning, and kiUs a man, it is
manslaughter.
CH'ANCEL, n. [Fr. chancel or chanceau;
L. cancelli, lattices or cross bars, inclosing
the place ; Sp. cancel, cancilla, a wooden
screen, a wicker gate ; It. cancello, balus-
trades; Gr. xtyxT.!?; Ch. Spjp kankel or
kankail, net work ; Syr. id. See Cancel.]
That part of the choir of a church, between
the altar or communion table and the
balustrade or railing that incloses it, or
that part where the altar is placed ; for-
merly inclosed with lattices or cross bars,
as now with rails. Encyc. Johnson.
CH'ANCELLOR, n. [Fr. chancelier ; Arm.
chanceilher, or canceller ; Sp. canciller ;
Port, chancelier ; It. cancelliere ; D. kan-
selier ; G. kanzler ; Sw. cantsler ; Dan.
kantsler or cantsler ; L. cancellarins, a
scribe, secretary, notary, or chancellor;
from cancello, to make lattice work, to can-
cel, or blot out by crossing the lines ; or
from cancelli, lattices, because the secreta-
ry sat behind lattices.]
Originally, a chief notary or scribe, under
tlie Roman Emperors ; but in England, it
later times, an officer invested with judi
cial powers, and particularly with the su
perintendance of all charters, letters and
other official writings of the crown, that
required to be solemnly authenticated.
Hence this officer became the keeper of
the great seal. From the Roman Empire,
this office passed to the church, and hence
every bishop has his chancellor.
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain,
or Keeper of the Great Seal, is the highest
officer of the crown. He is a privy coun-
selor by his ofiice, and prolocutor of tin
house of lords by prescription. To him
belongs the appointment of all justices of
the peace ; he is keeper of the king's i
science, visitor of all hospitals and colle-
ges founded by the king, guardian of all
charitable uses, and judge of the liigh
court of chancery.
Chancellor of an Ecclesiastical Court, is the
bishop's lawyer, versed in the civil and ca
non law, to direct the bishop in causes ofl
the church, civil and criminal.
Chancellor of a Cathedral, is an officer who
hears lessons and lectures in the church,
by himself or his vicar, inspects schools,
hears causes, applies the seal, writes and
dispatches letters of the chapter, keeps the
books, &c.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, is an officer who
presides in that court, and takes care of
the interest of the crown. He has power,
with the lord treasurer, to lease the crown
lands, and with others, to compound for
forfeitures on penal statutes. He has a
great authority in managing the royal rev-
enues, and in matters relating to the first
fruits.
Chancellor of a University, is an officer who
seals the diplomas, or letters of degree,
&c. The chancellor of Oxford is usually
one of the prime nobiUty, elected by the
students in convocation, and he holds the
office for fife. He is the chief magistrate,
in the government of the university. The
chancellor of Cambridge is also elected
fi'om among the prime nobility ; he does
not hold his office for life, but may be
elected every three years.
Clumcellor of the Order of the Garter, and oth-
er military orders, is an officer who seals
the commissions and mandates of the
chapter and assembly of the knights,
keeps the register of their proceedings,
and dehvers their acts under the seal of
their order. Johnson. Encyc.
In France, a secretary is, in some cases,
called a chancellor.
In the United States, a chancellor is the
judge of a court of chancery or equity, es-
tablished by statute.
In scripture, a master of the decrees, or pres-
ident of the council. Ezra iv.
CHANCELLORSHIP, n. The office of a
chancellor ; the time during which one is
chancellor.
CH'ANCERY, n. [Fr. chancellerie ; Arm.
cancellery ; Sp. chancilleria ; It. cancelleria ;
L. eancellaria, from cancelli, lattices, or from
the judge, who presided in the court.]
1. In Great Britain, the highest court of jus-
tice, next to the parliament, consisting of
two distinct tribunals ; one ordinary, being
a court of common law ; the other extra-
ordinary, or a court of equity. The ordi-
nary legal court holds pleas of recogni-
zances acknowledged in the chancery,
writs of scire facias, for repeal of letters
patent, writs of partition, and all personal
actions by or against any officer of the
court. But if the parties come to issue, in
fact, this court cannot try it by a jury :
but the record must be delivered to the
king's bench. From this court issue all
original writs that pass under the great
seal, commissions of charitable uses, bank-
ruptcy, idiocy, lunacy, &c.
The extraordinary court, or court of
equity, proceeds upon rules of equity and
conscience, moderates the rigor of the
common law, and gives relief in cases
where there is no remedy in the common
law courts.
9. In the United States, a court of equity.
OHAN'€RE, »!. [Fr. chancre ; Arm. chancr.
The same as cancer, canker.] A venereal
ulcer.
CHAN'€ROUS, a. Ulcerous ; having the
qualities of a chancre.
C H A
C H A
C H A
ClIANDELIE'R, n. [Fr. id. ; Sp. eanddero
It. candeliere ; Arm. cantolozr, or caniuUr
from L. candela, a candle, from caneo, t(
shine.]
1. A frame with branches to hold a number
of candles, to illuminate a public or larg<
room.
2. In fortijication, a movable parapet, scrv
ing to support fascines to cover pioneers.
CH' ANDLER, w. [Qr. Fr. chandelier, or rath
er Teutonic handler. See Corn-chandler.'
An artisan whose trade is to make can
dies, or one who sells candles. Johnson
In America, I believe the word never signi
fies a seller of candles, unless he is the
maker. A corn-chandler is a seller of corn,
but 1 believe not used in the U. States.
CH'ANDLERLY, o. Like a chandler.
MUton.
CH'ANDLERY, n. The commodities sold
by a chandler.
CirANDRY, n. The place where candles
are kept. B. Jonson.
CH.\NGE, v. i. [Fr. changer ; It. cangiare
Arm. eceinch ; Norm, chainant, exchang
ing. Qu. Is this radically the same
word as It. cambio, cambiare, Sp. id. ?]
1. To cause to turn or pass fVom one state
to another ; to alter, or make different
vary in external form, or in essence ; as, to
change the color or shape of a thing ,
change the countenance ; to change the
heart or life.
2. To put one thing in the place of another;
to shift ; as, to change the clothes.
Be clean and change your garments. Gi
XXXV.
■3. To quit one thing or state for another ;
followed by /or ; as, persons educated in a
particular religion do not readily change it
for another.
4. To give and take reciprocally ; as, will
you change conditions imlh me ?
5. To barter ; to exchange goods ; as,
change a coach for a chariot.
6. To quit, as one place for another ; as, to
change lodgings.
7. To give one kind of money for another ;
to alter the form or kind of money, by re-
ceiving the value in a different kind, as
to change bank notes/or silver ; or to give
pieces of a larger denomination for an
equivalent in pieces of smaller denomina
tion, as to change an eagle for dollars, or
a sovereign for sixpences, or to change
a dollar into cents ; or on the other haiid,
to change dollars ybr or i7ito eagles, giving
money of smaller denomination for larger.
8. To become acid or tainted ; to turn from
a natural state of sweetness and purity ;
as, the wine is changed ; thunder aiid
lightning are said to change milk.
To change a horse, or to change hand, is to
turn or bear the horse's head from one
hand to the other, from the left to the
right, or from the right to the left.
Farrier^s Diet.
CHANGE, V. i. To be altered ; to undergo
variation ; as, men sometimes cliange for
the better, often for the worse.
I am Jehovali ; I change not. Mai.
2. To pass the sun, as the moon in its orbit ;
as, the moon will change the 14th of this
month.
CHANGE, n. Any variation or alteration in
form, state, quality, or essence ; or a pass-
Vol. I.
ing from one state or form to another ; a.'
a change of countenance ; a change of hab
its or principles.
2. A succession of one thing in the place of
another ; vicissitude ; as a change of sea
sons ; a change of objects on a journey ; <
change of scenes.
3. A revolution ; as a change of government.
4. A passing by the sun, and the beginning
of a new monthly revolution ; as a change
of the moon.
5. A different state by removal ; novelty ;
variety.
Our fathers did, for change, to France repair
Dryden
6. Alteration in the order of ringing bells ;
variety of sounds.
Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ring-
ing. Holder
7. That which makes a variety, or may be
substituted for another.
Tliirty changes of raiment. Judges xiv.
8. Small coins of money, which may be
en for larger pieces.
9. The balance of money paid beyond the
price of goods purchased.
I gave the clerk a bank note for his clotli, and
he gave mc the change.
10. The dissolution of the body; death.
All the days of my appointed time will 1 wait
till my cliange come. Job xiv.
11. Change for exchange, a place where mer-
chants and others meet to transact busi
ness ; a building appropriated for mercan
tile transactions.
12. In arithmetic, permutation ; variation!
of numbers. Thirteen numbers admit of|
6,227,020,800 changes, or different posi-
tions.
CHANGEABILITY, n. Changeableness,
which is generally used. Fleming.
CHANGEABLE, a. That may change ; sub-
ject to alteration ; fickle ; inconstant ; mu-
table ; variable ; as a person of a change-
able mind.
2. Having the quality of suffering alteration
of external appearance ; as changeable
silk.
CHANgEABLENESS, n. The quality of|
being changeable ; fickleness ; inconstan-
cy ; instability ; mutability.
2. Susceptibility of change, or alteration.
Hooker
CHANgEABLY, adv. Inconstantly.
CHANGED, pp. Altered ; varied ; turned ;
converted ; shifted.
CHANGEFUL, a. Full of change ; incon-
stant ; mutable ; fickle ; uncertain ; sub-
ject to alteration. Pope.
CHANGELESS, a. Constant ; not admit-
ting alteration.
CHANGELING, n. [change and ling. It is
said this word originated in a superstitious
opinion that fairies steal children and put
others that are ugly and stupid in their
places. Johnson.]
1. A child left or taken in tlie place of an-
other. Spenser.
2. An idiot ; a fool. Dryden. Locke.
3. One apt to change ; a waverer. Shak.
4. Any thing changed and put in the place of
another. Shak.
CHANGER, 71. One who alters the form of
any thing.
2. One that is employed in changing and
discounting money ; a money-changer.
35
3. One given to change.
CH.vNGiNG, ppr. Altering; turning; put-
ting one thing for another; shifting.
CHAJV'NA, n. A fish taken in the Mediter-
ranean, resembling the sea-perch.
Diet, ofj^at. Hist.
CHAN'NEL,n. [Ir. cainneal ; Fr. canal; L.
canalis ; Arm. can, or canol. It is a dif-
ferent spelling of cano/.]
1. In a general sense, a passage ; a place ol"
passing or flowing; particularly, a water-
2. The place where a river flows, including
the whole breadth of the river. But more
appropriately, the deeper part or hollow
in which the principal current flows.
3. The deeper part of a strait, bay, or har-
bor, where the principal current flows, ei-
ther of tide or fresh water, or which is
the most convenient for the track of a
ship.
4. That through which any thing passes;
means of passing, conveying, or transmit-
ting ; as, the news was conveyed to us by
diflerent channels.
5. A gutter or furrow in a column.
6. An arm of the sea ; a straight or narrow
sea, between two continents, or between
a continent and an isle ; as the British or
Irish channel.
7. Channels of a ship. \^ee Chain-wales. 'X
CHANNEL, V. t. To form a channel ; to
cut chamiels in ; to groove ; as, to channel
a field or a column. IFotton
CHANNELED, pp. Having channels;
grooved longitudinally.
CHANNELING, ppr. Cutting channels ;
grooving longitudinally.
CHAN'SON, n. [Fr.] A song. Shak.
CH" ANT, V. t. [Fr. chanter ; L. canto, canlus :
W. apanu ; Arm. cana, cannein ; It. can-
tare ; Sp. Port, cantar ; L. cano. See
Cant]
1. To sing ; to utter a melodious voice ; that
is, to cant or throw the voice in modula-
tions.
The cheerful birds do chant sweet music.
Spenser.
2. To celebrate in song ; as, to chant the
praises of Jehovah.
3. To sing, as in church-service ; to repeat
words in a kind of canting voice, with
modulations.
CHANT, t.. I. To sing ; to make melody
with the voice.
They chant to the sound of the viol. Amos vi.
2. To repeat words in the church-service
with a kind of singing.
CH'ANT, n. Song ; melody ; church-ser-
vice.
CHANTED, pp. Sung ; uttered with mod-
ulations of voice.
CH.\NTER, n. One who chants ; a singer
or songster. Pope.
2. The chief singer, or priest of the chan-
tiy. Gregory.
3. The pipe which soimds the tenor or tre-
ble in a bagpipe.
CHANTICLEER, n. [chant and clear, Fr.
clair.]
A cock, so called fi-om the clearness or loud-
ness of his voice in crowing. Dryden.
CH' ANTING, ppr. Singing ; uttering a me-
lodious voice ; repeating words with a
singing voice.
C H A
C'H'ANTING, n. The act of singing, or ut-
tering with a song.
CH"ANTRESS,Ji. A female singer. Milton.
CH>ANTRY, n. [Fr. chantrene, from chant]
A church or chapel endowed with lands,
or other revenue, for the maintenance of
one or more priests daily to sing or say
mass for the souls of the donors, or such
as they appoint. Cowdi
CHA'OS, n. [L. chaos; Gr. zaoj.] That con-
fusion, or confused mass, in which matter
is supposed to have existed, before it was
separated into its different kinds and
duced to order, by the creating power of
God. " Rudis, indigestaque moles."
Ovid.
2. Any mixed mass, without due form or or-
der; as a chaos of materials.
D. Confusion ; disorder ; a state in which tlie
parts are undistinguished. Donne.
CHAOT'Ie, a. Resembling chaos ; confus-
ed ; as, tlie eartli was originally in a chaotic
state.
CHAP, i>. /. [Ar
jiibba, to cut ofl'
or out, to castrate ; i_,l-» to split, rend,
tear, or cleave, to cut. It seems to be al
lied to the G. and D. happen, Dan. kap
per, Fr. couptr ; but these agree betlei
witli Ar. -x:=5 or t-ix^ to cut
See Chop 'and Gape. Chap is .sometime!
pronounced chop.]
To cleave, split, crack, or open longitudi
iially, as the sinface of tlie eartli, or the
skin and flesh of the hand. Dry weather
chaps the earth ; cold dry winds chap th
hands.
CHAP, V. I. To crack ; to open in long slits ;
as, the earth chaps ; the hands chap.
CHAP, n. A longitudinal cleft, gap or chink,
as in the surface of the earth, or in the
Iiands or feet.
C'HAP, n. [Sax. ceaf, a beak, or chap ; phi.
ceaflas, the chaps.]
The upper and lower part of the mouth ; the
jaw. It is applied to beasts, and vulgarly
to men ; generally in the pliu-ul, the chaps
or mouth.
CHAP, 71. A man or a boy ; a youth. It
used also in the sense of a buyer. "If
you want to sell, here is your chap." In
ihis sense it coincides with chapman. [See
Cheap.] _ Steele.
CHAP, V. i. [Sax. ceapian.] To cheapen.
[Not used.]
CHAP'BOOK,«. [See Chapman drnXaieap.]
A small book or pamphlet, carried about
for sale by hawker.?.
CHAPE, n. [Fr. chape, the tongue of a
buckle, a cover, a cliurchman's cope,
the head of an alembic ; Arm. chap ; Sp.
ckapa, a thin plate of metal covering some
kind of work. Qu. ca/>.]
1. The catch of any thing, as the hook of a
scabbard, or the catch of a buckle, by
which it is held to the back strap.
2. A brass or silver tip or case, that strength-
ens the end of a scabbard.
Johnson. PhiUips.
CHAPEAU, n. ahappo. [Fr.] A hat ; in her-
aldn/, a cap or bonnet.
CHAP'EL, n. [Fr. chapelle ; L. capdla i
C H A
Arm. chapel ; Sp. capilla, a chapel, a hood
or cowl, a chapter of collegians, a proof-
sheet; Port, capella; It. cappella; D.kapel;
from the same root as cap. It is said that
the kings of France, in war, carried St
Martin's hat into the field, which was kept
in a tent as a precious relic, whence the
place took the name capella, a little hat,
and the priest who had the custody of the
tent was called capellanus, now chaplaii
Hence the word chapel came to signify
private oratory. Encyc. lAinier.]
1. A house for public worship ; primarily, a
private oratory, or house of worship be
longing to a private person. In Great
Britain there are several sorts of chapels;
as parochial chapels, distinct from the
mother church ; chapels which adjo
and are a part of the church ; such were
formerly built by honorable persons for
burying places ; chapels of ease, built in
large parishes for the accommodation of
the inhabitants ; free chapels, which were
founded by the kings of England ; chapels
in the universities, belonging to particular
colleges ; domestic chapels, built by noble-
men or gentlemen for the use of their
families. Encyc.
2. A printer's workhouse ; said to be so call-
ed because printing was first carried on in
a chajiel. Bailey. Encyc.
CHAP'EL, V. t. To deijosit in a chapel.
Beaum.
CHA'PELESS, a. Without a chape,
CHAP'ELET, I [Fr. chapelet.] A pair of
CHAP'LET, I "■ stirrup leathers, with stu-
mps, joined at the top in a sort of leather
buckle, by which they are made fast to the
pommel of the saddle, after they have
been adjusted to the length and bearing of
the rider. Farrier's Diet.
CHAP'ELLANY, n. A place founded with-
in some church and dependent thereon.
Jyliffe.
CHAP'ELLING, n. The act of turning a
slnp round in a light breeze of wind, when
close hauled, so that she will lie the same
way as before. Mar. Diet.
CHAP'ELRY, n. The bounds or jurisdic-
tion of a chapel.
CHAP'ERON, n. [Fr.] A hood or cap worn
by the knights of the garter in their hab-
its. It was anciently worn by men, wo-
men, nobles and populace ; afterwards ap-
propriated to doctors and licentiates in
colleges. The name then passed to cer-
tain devices placed on the foreheailf^ <i("
horses which drew the herse in pompous
funerals. Johnson. Enci/r
CHAP'ERON, V. t. To attend on a lady "in
a public assembly. Todd.
CHAP'-F ALLEN, a. [chap and fall.] Hav-
ing the lower chap depressed ; hence, de-
je(;ted ; dispirited ; silenced. B. Jonson.
CilAP'ITER, n. [Fr. chapiteau ; It. capitello ;
L. capitellum, from caput, a head. This is
a different word for capital.]
1. The upper part or capital of a column or
pillar; a word used in the scriptures. [See
Capital.]
2. That which is delivered by the mouth of
the justice in his charge to the inquest.
Encyc.
CHAP'LAIN, n. [Fr. chapelain ; Sp. capel-
Ian ; It. cappellano : L. capellanus ; from
chapel.]
C H A
1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who
performs service in a chapel. The king of
Great Britain has forty-eight chaplains,
who attend, four each month, to perform
divine service for the royal family. Prin-
ces also, and persons of quality have chap-
lains, who ofliciate in their chapels.
2. A clergyman who belongs to a ship of
war, or to a regiment of land forces, for
performing divine service.
3. A clergyman who is retained to perform
divine service in a family.
Chaplains of the Pope, are auditors or judges
of causes in the sacred palace. Encyc.
CHAP'LAINCY, n. The oflice or station of
a chaplain.
CHAP'LAINSHIP, ji. The ofiice or busi-
ness of a chaplain.
2. The possession, or revenue of a chapel.
Johnson.
CHAP'LESS, a. Without any flesh about
the mouth. Bailey. Shak.
CHAP'LET, n. [Fr. chapelet.] A garland
or wreath to be worn on the head ; the
circle of a crown.
2. A string of beads used by the Roman
Catholics, by which they count the num-
ber of their prayers. They are made
sometimes of coral, of wood, of diamonds,
&.C., and are called;;a(enios<er«. The inven-
tion is ascribed to Peter the hermit, who
probably learnt it in the East, as the Ori-
entals use a kind of chaplet, called a chain,
rehearsing one of the perfections of God
on each hiik, or head. The Great Mogul
is said to have eighteen of these chains,
all precious stones. The Turks also use
a kind of chaplet in reciting their prayers.
Encyc.
3. In architecture, a little molding, carved in-
to round beads, pearls, olives or the like.
4. In horsemanship, a chapelet, which see.
5. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head.
Johnson.
G. A small chapel or shrine. Hammond.
CHAP'MAN, n. phi. chapmen. [Sax. ceap-
man ; D. koopman ; G. kaufmann ; Dan.
kiobmand. See Cheap.]
1. A cheapener ; one tliat offers as a pur-
chaser.
Their chapmen fhey betray. Dryden.
2. A seller ; a market-man. ^hak.
CHAP'PED, pp. Cleft ; opened, as the sur-
face or skin.
CHAP'PING, ppr. Cleaving, as the surface
rilAl'l'Y, a. Full of chaps; cleft.
( IIAI'S, the nio-jdi or jaws. [See Chap.]
(11 APT. [See Chapped.]
CHAPTER, n. [Fr. chapitre; L. capitulim,
a head ; It. capitolo ; Sp. capitulo; from L.
caput, the head.]
1. A division of a book or treatise ; as. Gen-
esis contains fifty chapters. Hence the
])hrase, to the end of the chapter, that is,
throughout ; to the end. Johnson.
2. In ecclesiastical polity, a society or com-
munity of clergymen, belonging to a ca-
thedral or collegiate church. Encyc.
3. A place where delinquents receive disci-
pline and correction. -flyliffe.
4. A decretal epistle. Jlyhffe.
CHAP'TER, V. t. To tax : to correct.
Dryden
CHAP'TER-HOUSE, n. A house where a
chapter meets. Bailen
C H A
CHAP'TREL, n. [flora chapiter.] Tlie capi-
tals of pillars and pilasters, wlii(:li support
arches, commonly called imposts. Moxon.
CH>AR, n. A fish.
CHAR, n. In England, work done by the
day ; a single job, or task. In jVew Eng-
land, it is pronounced chore, which see. I
know not the origin of the word. In Sax.
cerre, curr, signifies a time, a turn, occa-
sion, from ctrran, cyrran, to turn, oi
return.
€HAR, V. t. To perform a business. May
CHAR.w. t. To work at others houses by the
day, without being a hired servant ; to do
small jobs. Bailey. Johnson
CHAR- WOMAN, n. A woman hired for odd
work, or for single days. Johnson.
[Cliar-man and Char-woman are, I believe,
not used in America.]
CirAR, V. I. [Russ. jari/u or chnryii, to ron
or burn; or goryu to burn, or \iv biin
and with a preli.v, sgnrayu or ngdniyii,
burn; Fr. c/iarrea, ashes. Qu. Hub. (
Eth. Tm. Class Gr. No. 23. 1i. This
seems to be the root of L. carbo.
Chark.]
1. To burn or reduce to coal or carbon
reduce to cliiucoid, by expelUng all volatile
matter from wood. This is done by burn-
ing wood slowly under a covering of turf]
and earth.
2. To e.xpol all volatile matter from stoue or
earth, by heat.
The stone or earth charred from all foreign
visible ingredients. JCirican
€HAR'A€T, ) [See Character.] An in-
CHAR'ECT, S "• scription. [JVotin use.]
Sketton.
CHAR'ACTER, n. [L. character ; Fr. carac-
tere ; Sp. caracter ; It. carattere ; G,
axrrjp, from the verb jjopasou, jioportu,
;ta()o?u, to scrape, cut, engrave.]
1. A mark made by cutting or engraving, as
on stone, metal or other hard material
hence, a mark or figure made with a pen
or style, on paper, or other material used
to contain writing; a letter, or figure used
to form words, and communicate ideas.
Characters are literal, as the letters of an
alphabet ; numeral, as the arithmetical
figures ; emblematical or symbolical, which
express things or ideas ; and abbreviations
as C. for centum, a hundred; lb. for libra,
a pound ; A. D. Anno Domini
2. A mark or figuie made by stampnig or
impression, ns t
3. Themann.rnlv
of letters iiscil Ir
Vouknow t!w i
C H A
All the characters in the play appeared l<
advantage.
The friendship of distinguished characters.
Roscoe
the peculiar form
■ uliir person.
By way of eminence, distinguished or
good qualities ; those which are esteemed
and respected ; and those which arc ascri-
bed to a person in common estimation.
We enquire whether a stranger is a man
of character.
Adventitious qualities impressed by office,
or station ; the qualities that, in pul)lic es-
timation, belong to a person in a particidar
station; as when we ask how a magis-
trate, or commander supports liis char-
acter.
i>. In natural history, the peculiar discrimina-
ting qualities or properties of animals,
plants and minerals.
These properties, when employed for the pur
pose of discriminating minerals, are called char
acters. Cleaveland.
IIAR'ACTER, V. t. To engrave ; to
scribe. Milton. Shak.
2. To describe ; to distinguish by i)articular
marks or traits. Mitford.
eHAR'A€TERED, pp. Engraved; inscri
bed ; distinguished by a particular charac
ter. Mitford.
€IiAR'ACTERISM, n. The distinction of
character. Bp. Hall.
2. A particular aspect or configuration of the
heavens. Encyc.
eHARA€TERIS'TIC, ? „ [Or. ;KO(>ax-
€HARA€TERIS'TI€AL, S rwfxos,
from jjapaxfijp.]
That constitutes the character ; that marks
the peculiar, distinctive qualities of a per-
son or thing.
Generosity is often a characteristic virtue of i
brave man.
It is followed by of.
Generosity is characteristic of tnie bravery
€IIARA€TERIS'TI€, n. That which con-
stitutes a character ; that which charac-
terizes ; that which distinguishes a persor
or thing from another.
Invention is the characteristic of Homer.
Pope
2. In grammar, the principal letter of a word,
which is preserved inmost of its tenses, in
its derivatives and compounds.
The characteristic of a logarithm, is its index
or exponent.
The characteristic triangle of a curve, in ge
ometry, is a rectilinear right-angled trian
gle, whose hypotenuse makes a part of
the curve, not sensibly difierent from a
right line. Encyc.
€HARA€TERIS'TI€ALLY, adv. In
C H A
To mark with a peculiar slanip,or ligurc.
European, Asiatic, and African faces are all
cliararferized. Arbuihnol.
ellAR'ACTERIZED,;);). Described or dis-
tinguii^heil by pecular qualities.
CHARACTERIZING, ppr. Describing or
4. The peculiar qualities, impressed by na
ture or habit on a person, which distin
guish him from others ; these constitute
real character, and the qualities which he
supposed to possess, constitute his estimated
character, or reputation. Hence we say, a
character is not formed, when the person
has not acquired stable and distinctiv
qualities.
5. An accotmt, description or representation
of any thing, exhibiting its qualities and
the circumstances attending it ; as, to gi
a bad character to a town, or to a road.
6. A person ; as, the assembly consisted of
various characters, eminent characters, and
low characters.
aractcr.
r><, n. The
•liaractcristic.
; I-. xc^ft^xTr^fi^u.]
account of the
; to describe by
manner that disiin-ui-l
€HARA€TERIi^ 1 I ( \1
state or qualitii - <'!' I» ii
€H.\R'A€TERIZr, r. /.
To give a character, or
personal qualities of a n:
peculiar qualities.
2. To distinguish ; to mark, or express the
character; to exhibit the pecuUar qualities
of a person or thing; as, humility charac
terizes the true christian ; the hero is char-
acterizedhy bravery and magnanimity.
The system of mediation has characterized
the entire scheme of divine dispen-sation.
Thodey
.3. To engrave or imprint. [Little used.]
Hale.
distinguishing by peculiar quahties
CHARACTERLESS, a. Destitute of any
peculiar character. Shale.
CHAR'ACTERY, n. Impression ; mark :
distinction. [Aof used.] ShaJc.
CHARA'DE, n. [Said to be from the name
of the inventor.]
A composition, in which the subject must be
a word of two syllables, each forming a
distinct word ; and these syllables are to
be concealed in an enigmatical descrip-
tion, first sei)arately and then together.
Example.
My first, when a Frenchman ia leartiing Eng-
lish, serves him to .swear by. My second in
either hay or corn. My whole is tlie delight of
the age. Gar-rick. Encyc.
CH'ARCOAL, n. [c/tar and coo/. See C/tar.j
Coal luade by charring wood ; the remains
of wood burnt under turf, and from which
all watery and other volatile matter has
been expelled by heat. It makes a strong
heat, and is used in furnaces, forges, pri-
vate families, &c. It is black, brittle, light
and inodorous, and not being decomposa-
ble by water or an-, will endure for ages
without alteration.
CH'ARD, Ii. [Fr. charde; L. carduus.]
The leaves of artichokes tied and wra|)petl
all over, except the top, in straw, during
autumn and winter. This makes them
grow white and lose some of their bitter-
ness. Chambers.
Chards of beet are plants of white beet trans-
planted, producing great tops, which, in
the midst, have a large, white, thick,
downy, cotton-like maiji shoot, which is
the true chard. Mortimer.
CH'ARgE, D. <. charj. [Fr. charger ; Arm.
carga ; Sp. cargar ; It. caricare, or carcare ;
Port, carregar. It would seem from the
Welsh that this word is from cai; a cart or
other vehicle, and that the noun charge or
cargo was first formed, and therefore
ought in arrangement to precede the verb.
If the verb was fiist formed, the primary
sense would be to load, to thrower put on
or in. I tliink the fact to be otherwise.
See Cargo.]
1. To rush on; to fall on ; to attack, espe-
cially with fixed bayonets ; as, an army
charges the enemy.
2. To Toad, as a musket or cannon ; to thrust
in powder, or powder and ball or shot.
3. To load or burden ; to tlirow on or im-
pose that which oppresses ; as, to charge
the stomach with indigestible food ; or to
lay on, or to fill, without oppressing ; as, to
charge the memory with rules and pre-
cepts ; to charge the mind with facts.
4. To set or lay on ; to impose, as a tax ; as,
the land is charged tvith a quit rent ; a rent
is charged on the land.
5. To lay on or impose, as a task.
The gospel chargeth us with piety towards
God. Tillotson.
6. To put or lay on ; as, to charge a building
with ornaments, often implying super-
fluity.
7. To lay on, as a duty ; followed by with.
C H A
C H A
C H A
The commander charged the officer with the
execution of the project. See Gen. xl. 4
8. To entrust to ; as, an officer is charged with
dispatches.
9. To set to, as a debt ; to place on the debit
side of an account ; as, to charge a man
with the price of goods sold to him.
10. To load or lay on in words, something
wrong, reproachful or criminal ; to impute
to ; as, to charge a man mth theft.
11. To lay on in words; to impute to; fol-
lowed by on before the person; as, tc
charge a crime oti the offender ; to charge
evil consequences on the doctrines of the
stoics.
12. To censure ; to accuse.
In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God
foolishly. Job i.
13. To lay on, give or communicate, as
order, command or earnest request ;
enjoin ; to exliort.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that
they be not high-minded. 1 Tim. vi.
In this sense, when the command
given in the name of God, or with an oath,
the phrase amounts to an adjuration.
To adjure ; to bind by an oath. 1
Sam. xiv. 28.
14. To give directions to ; to instruct author-
itatively ; as, the judge charged the grand
jury to inquire respecting breaches of the
peace.
15. To communicate electrical matter to, as
to a coated vial, or an electrical battery,
OH'ARCE, V. i. To make an onset. Thus
Glanville says, " like your heroes of anti
quity, he charges in iron ;" and we say, to
charge with fixed bayonets. But in this
application, the object is understood ; tc
charge the enemy.
C'HARtiE, n. [Fr. charge; Arm. and W
carg ; Sp. carga, cargo ; Port, carga, car
carga
go.]
rega ; It. earica, carco ; Eng. cargo.
I. That which is laid on or in ; in ageneral
sense, any load or burden. It is the same
word radically as cargo.
?. The quantity of powder, or of powder
and ball or shot, used to load a musket,
cannon or other like instrument.
:i. An onset ; a rushing on an enemy
tack; especially by moving troops with
fixed bayonets. " But it is used for an on-
set of cavalry as well as of infantry.
4. An order, injunction, mandate, command,
Moses gave Joshua a charge. Numbers
xxvii.
The king gave charge concerning Absalom,
2 Sam. xviii.
Hence,
5. That which is enjoined, committed, en-
trusted or deUvered to another, implying
care, custody, oversight, or duty to be per-
formed by the person entrusted.
I gave Hanani charge over Jerusalem. Nch
Hence the word includes any trust or
commission ; an office, duty, employment
It is followed by of or over ; more generally
by of. Hence,
(i. The person or thing committed to anotl;
er's custody, care or management ; a
trust. Thus the people of a parish are
called the minister's charge.
The starry guardian drove his charge away
To some fresh pasture. Drydcn
7. Instructions given by a judge to a jury, or
by a bishop to his clergy. The word may
be used as synonyinous with command,
direction, exhortation or injunction, but
always implies solemnity.
Im]iutation in a bad sense ; accusation.
Lay not this sin to their charge. Acts vii.
9. That which constitutes debt, in coimner-
cial transactions ; an entry of money or
the price of goods, on the debit side of an
account.
10. Cost; expense ; as, the eftarg-fts of the war
are to be borne by the nation.
11. Imposition on land or estate ; rent, tax,
or whatever constitutes a burden or duty.
13. In military affairs, a signal to attack ; as,
to sound the charge.
13. The posture of a weapon fitted for au
attack or combat.
Their armed slaves in charge. Shak.
14. Among farriers, a preparation of the
consistence of a thick decoction, or be-
tween an ointment and a plaster, used as
a remedy for sprains and inflammations.
15. In heraldi-y, that which is borne upon the
color ; or the figures represented on the
escutcheon, by which the bearers are dis-
tinguished from one another.
16. In electrical experiments, a quantity of
electrical fluid, communicated to a coated
jar, vial or pane of glass.
A charge of lead, is thirty-six pigs, each con-
taining six stone, wanting two pounds.
CH^ARgEABLE, a. That may be charged ;
that may be set, laid, imposed ; as, a duty
of forty percent, is chargeable on wine.
9. Subject to be charged ; as, wuie is charge-
able toith a duty of forty per cent.
3. Expensive ; costly ; as a chargeable fam-
ily-
4. Laying or bringing expense.
Because we would not be chargeable to any
of you. 1 Thess. ii.
5. Imputable ; that may be laid or attributed
as a crime, fault or debt ; as a fault charge-
able on a man.
6. Subject to be charged or accused ; as a
nan chargeable with a fault, or neglect.
CH' ARGEABLENESS, n. E.xpensiveness ;
cost ; costliness. Boyle.
CH'ARGEABLY, adv. Expensively ; at
great cost. Ascham.
CH'ARgED, pp. Loaded; burdened; at-
tacked ; laid on ; instructed ; imputed ;
accused ; placed to the debt ; ordered
commanded.
CirAR6EFyL, a. Expensive ; costly. [JVb<
iised.] Shak.
CH'AROELESS, a. Not exi)ensive ; free
from expense.
CH>AR6ER, n. In Scots law, one who char-
ges another in a suit.
9. A large dish. Nurn. vii.
3. A horse used for attack.
CH*AR6ING, ppr. Loading ; attacking ;
laying on; instructing; commanding; ac-
cusing; imputing.
CHA'RILY, adv. [See Chary.] Carefully ;
warily ; frugally. [Little used.] Shak
CHA'RINESS, n. Caution ; care ; nicety ;
scrupulousness. [Little used.] Shak
CHAR'IOT, n. [Fr. chariot, from char, a car,
which see ; Sp. It. carro ; It. carrctta.]
1. A half coach; a carriage with four wheel;
and one seat behind, used for conveni
ence and pleasure.
2. A car or vehicle used formerly in war,
diawn by two or more horses, and con
veymg two men each. These vehicles-
were sometimes armed with hooks or
sythes.
CHAR'IOT, V. t. To convey in a chariot.
Milton.
CUAR'IOTEB, pp. Borne ma chariot.
Cowper.
CHARIOTEER, n. The person who drives
or conducts a chariot. It is used in speak-
ing of mihtary chariots and those in the
ancient games, but not of modern drivers.
Johnson. Addison.
CHARIOT-MAN, n. The driver of a char-
iot. 2 Chron. xviii.
CHAR'IOT-RACE, n. A race with char-
iots ; a sport in which chariots were driven
in contest for a prize. Addison.
CHARITABLE, a. [Fr. See Charity.]
Benevolent and kind ; as a charitable dis-
position.
2. Liberal in benefactions to the poor, and
in relieving them in distress ; as a char-
itable man.
3. Pertaining to charity ; springing fi-oni
charity, or intended for charity ; benevo-
lent ; as a charitable institution, or society :
a cliai-itable purpose.
4. Formed on charitable principles ; favora-
ble ; dictated by kindness ; as a charitable
construction of words or actions.
CHARITABLENESS, n. The disposition
to be charitable ; or the exercise of charity.
2. Liberality to the poor.
CHARITABLY, adv. Kindly; liberally:
benevolently ; with a disposition to help
the poor ; favorably.
CHAR'ITY, n. [Fr. chariU ; L. chariias,
or caritas ; W. cariad ; Sp. caridad ; Port.
caridade ; It. carita,caritade. Qu. Gr.^^opij.
The Latin caritas is from carus, dear, cost-
ly, whence beloved, and the word was
sometimes written charitas, as if from the
Gr. ajoptj. The Lat. cai-us would seem to
be from the verb careo, to want, as dear-
ness arises from scarcity. Of this we have
an example in the English dear, whence
deaiih, which shows the primary sense of
dear to be scarce. But qu. the Oriental
Y ■ Class Gr. No. 50.]
1. In a general sense, love, benevolence, good
will ; that disposition of heart which in-
chnes men to think favorably of their fel-
low men, and to do them good. In a theo-
logical sense, it includes supreme love to
God, and universal good will to men.
1 Cor. xiii. Cpl. iii. 1 Tim. i.
2. In a more particular sense, love, kindness,
affection, tenderness, springing from nat-
ural relations ; as the chanties of father,
son and brother. Milton.
3. Liberality to the poor, consisting in alms-
giving or benefactions, or in gratuitous
services to relieve them in distress.
4. Alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously
)n the poor for their reUef.
5. Liberality in gifts and services to promote
])ublic objects of utility, as to found and
.support bible societies, missionary socie-
ties, and others.
6. Candor; liberality in judging of men and
their actions ; a disposition which inclines
men to think and judge favorably, and to
put the best construction on words and
actions which the case will admit.
C H A
ITie hiehest exercise of charity, is charity
towards £e uncharitable. Huckminster.
7. Any act of kindness, or benevolence; as
the charitiea of life.
8. A charitable institution. D. JVehater.
Charity-school, is a school maintained by vol-
untary contributions for educating poor
children.
CH^ARK, V. t. [Qu. char, or Ch. pn, Ar.
Oj.^ haraka, to burn.]
To burn to a coal ; to char. [JVo< used. See
Char.] Gr'iv.
CH^ARLATAN, n. [Fr. from It. ciarlatano.
a quack, from ciarlare, to prate ; Sp. char-
latan, from charlar, to prate ; Port, chartar,
id.; L. garrulo, garrio ; Gr. yjjptu.]
One who prates much in his own favor, and
makes unwarrantable pretensions to skill ;
a quack ; an empiric ; a mountebank.
Brown. Butter.
CHARLATAN'ICAL,a. Quackish; making
undue pretensions to skill ; ignorant.
Cowley.
CH^ARLATANRY, n. Undue pretensions
to skill ; quackery ; wheedhng ; deception
by fair words. Johnson
CH'ARLES'S-WAIN, n. [Charles, Celtic
karl, a man, or brave man. See ff'ain.
In astronomy, seven stars in the constellation
called Ursa Major, or the Great Bear.
Encyc
CH^ARLOCK, n. [Sax. cerlice. Leac, in
Saxon, is a leek, but the same word occurs
in hemlock, and it probably signifies, a plant
or root.]
The English name of the Raphanus rapha
nistrum and Sinapis arvensis, very perni
cious weeds among grain. One kind has
yellow flowers ; another, white, with joii
ed pods. Lee. Encyc.
CH'ARM, n. [Fr. channe ; Norm, carine oc
garme; Arm. chalm ; L. carmen, a song, a
verse, an outcry, a charm. It coincides
with the W.gann, an outcry, garmiaiv, to
shout. Sax. cirm, or ei/rai, outcry, noise:
See Marm.]
I. Words, characters or other things ima
gined to possess some occult or unuitelh
gible power; hence, a magic power or
.«pell, by which with the supposed assis
tance of the devil, witches and sorcerers
have been supposed to do wonderful
things. Spell; enchantment. Hence,
','. That which has power to subdue opposi
tion, and gain the affections ; that which
can please irresistibly ; that which delights
and attracts the heart ; generally in the
idural.
The smiles of na
C H A
4. To fortify with charms against evil.
I have a charmed life, which must not yield.
[JVotinuse.} Shak.
5. To make powerful by charms. Johnson.
6. To sununon by incantation.
Shak. Johnson.
7. To temper agreeably. Spenser.
CH'ARM, V. i. To sound harmonically.
MUon.
CH'ARMA, »i. A fish resembling the sea-
wolf.
CWAKMED, pp. Subdued by charms; de
lifjlited ; enchanted.
CHARMER, n. One that charms, or has
power to charm ; one that uses or has the
jjower of enchantment. Deut. xviii. 11.
One who delights and attracts the affec-
tions.
CH'ARMERESS, n. An enchantress.
Chaucer.
CH'ARMFUL, a. Abounding with charms.
Coivlty.
CH^ARMING, ppr. Using charms ; en-
chanting.
~ ' de-
d the charn)s of art.
.'Iddison
Good humor only teaches charms to last.
Pope
CH^ARM, V. t. To subdue or control by in-
cantation or secret influence.
I will send serpents among you — wliich will
not be charmed. Jer. vUi.
2. To subdue by secret power, especially by
that which pleases and deUghts the mind
to allay, or appease.
Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope
3. To give exquisite pleasure to the mind oi
senses ; to delight.
We were charmed with the conversation.
The aerial songster charms us with her melo-
dious notes. .inon
. Pleasing in the highest degree
lighting.
Music is but an elegant and charming species
of elocution. E. Porter.
CirARMlNGLY, adv. Delightfully; in a
manner to charm, or to give deUght.
She smiled very charmingly. .iddison.
CirARMLNGNESS, n. The power to
please. Johnson.
CHARMLESS, a. Destitute of charms.
Swift.
Cir ARNEL, a. [Fr. chamel, carnal, fleshly ;
charnier, a charnel-house, a larder ; Arm
camell ; Sp. camera ; It. carnaio ; L. car-
nalis, carnal, from caro, flesh.]
Containing flesh or carcasses. Milton
CHARNEL-HOUSE, n. A place under or
near churches, where the bones of the dead
are reposited. Anciently, a kind of porti-
co or gallery, in or near a church-yard,
over which tlie bones of the dead were
laid, after the flesh was consumed. Encyc
€HA'RON, )i. In falndous history, the son of
Erebus and Nox, whose office was to
ferry the souls of the deceased over the
waters of Acheron and Styx, for t
piece of money.
CHVVRR, n. A fish, a species of Salmo.
CH'ARRED, pp. [from char.] Reduced t(
a coal.
CHARRING, ppr. Reducing to coal ; de
priving of volatile matter.
CH'ARRY, a. [See Char.] Pertaining to
charcoal ; like charcoal, or partaking of
its qualities. Lavoisier.
CH'ART, n. [L. charta, the same as card.
which see.]
A hydrographical or marine map ; a draught
or projection of some part of the earth's
superficies on paper, with the coasts, isles,
rocks, banks, channels or entrances into
harbors, rivers, and bays, the points
of compass, soundings or depth of water,
&c., to regulate the courses of ships in
their voyages. The term chart is applied
to a marine map; map is appUed to
draught of some portion of land.
A plane chart is a representation of some
part of the superficies of the globe, in
which the meridians are supposed parallel
to each other, the parallels of latitude at
equal distances, and of course the degrees
C H A
of latitude and longitude are everj- where
equal to each other.
Mercalor'a chart, is one on w hich the meridi-
ans are straight fines, parallel and equi-
distant ; the parallels are straight Unesand
parallel to each other, but the distance
between them increases from the equi-
noctial towards either pole, in the ratio of
the secant of the latitude to the radius.
Globular chart, is a meridional ])rojection in
which the distance of the eye from the
plane of the meridian, on which the pro-
jection is made, is supposed to be equal
to the sine of the angle of forty-five degrees.
Selenographic charts, represent the spots
and appearances of the moon.
Topographic charts, are draughts of particu--
lar places, or small parts of the earth.
Encyc.
CH-ARTER, n. [Fr. chartre, i'rom L. charta.
See Card.]
A written instrument, executed with usual
forms, given as evidence of a grant, con-
tract, or whatever is done between man
and man. In its more usual sense, it is
the instrument of a grant conferring pow-
ers, rights and privileges, either from a
king or other sovereign power, or from a
jirivate person, as a charter of exemption,
that no person shall be em])annelled on
a jury, a cliarter of pardon, &c. The
charters under which most of the colonies
in America were settled, were given by
the king of England, and incorporated
certain persons, with powers to hold the
lands granted, to establish a govermnent,
and make laws for their own regidation.
These were called charter-governments.
Any instrument, executed with form and
solemnity, bestowing rights or privileges.
Dryden. South.
3. Privilege ; immunity ; exemption.
Who has a cliarter to extol her blood,
Wien she does praise me, grieves me. Shah.
CHARTER, V. t. To hire, or to let a ship
by cliarter. [See Charter-parly.]
2. To establish by charter. Buchanan.
CHARTER-LAND, n. Land held by char-
ter, or in soccage. Coke.
CH>ARTER-PARTY, n. [Fr. charle-partie,
a divided charter ; from the practice of
cutting the instrument in two, and giving
one part to each of the contractors.]
In commerce, an agreement respecting the
hire of a vessel and the freight. This is
to be signed by the proprietor or master
of the ship and by the merchant who
hires or freights it. It must contain the
name and burden of the vessel, the names
of the master and freighter, the price or
rate of the freight, the time of loading
and unloading, and other stipulated con-
ihtions. Encyc.
CirARTERED, i>p. Hired or let, as a ship.
3. Invested with privileges by charter; priv-
ileged. SItak.
3. Granted by charter ; as chartered rights ;
chartered power. D. Ramsay.
CHARTERING, ppr. Giving a charter;
establishing by charter.
2. Hiring or letting by charter.
CH^ARTLESS, a. Without a chart; of
which no chart has been made ; not delin-
eated on paper ; as the charUess main.
Barlme.
C H A
CII'ARTULARY, n. [Fr. chartulaire. See
Caiiutary.]
An officer in the ancient Latin church, who
had the care of charters and other papers
of a pubhc nature. Blaekstone uses this
word for a record or register, as of anion
astery.
CHA'RY, a. [Sax. cearig. See Care.] Care
fnl ; wary ; frugal. Shak
CHA'SABLE, a. That may be chased ; fit
for tlie chase. Cower.
CHASE, V. t. [Fr. chasser ; Arm. chaczeal;
Sp. cazar ; Port, ca^ar ; It. cacdare. The
eleirieiits are Cg or Ck ; and the change
of a palatal to a sibilant resembles that
in firofc]
1. Literally to drive, urge, press forward
with vehemence ; hence, to pursue for the
purpose of taking, as game ; to hunt.
2. To pursue, or drive, as a defeated
flying enemy. Lev. xxvi. 7. Deut. xxxii.
30.
3. To follow or iiursue, as an object of de
sire ; to ])ursue for the purpose of taking
as, to chase a ship.
4. To drive ; to pursue.
Chased bv their brother's endless malice.
KnoUes
To chase away, is to compel to depart ; ti
disperse.
To chase metals. [See Enchase.]
CHASE, re. Vehement pursuit; a runnins
or driving after ; as game, in hunting ; i
flying enemy, in war ; a ship at sea, &c.
2. Pursuit with an ardent desire to obtain,
as pleasure, profit, fame, &c. ; earnest
seeking.
3. That which may be chased ; that which
is usually taken by chase ; as beasts of
chase.
4. That which is pursued or hunted ;
seek some other chase. So at sea, a slnp
chased is called the chase.
5. In law, a driving of cattle to or from
place.
G. An open ground, or place of retreat for
deer and oHicr wild beasts; ditt'eringfr—
a forest, wliicli is not private property
and is invested with privileges, and from
a park which is inclosed. A chase is pri;
vate property, and
beasts or game.
7. [Fr. cJiasse; Sp. coaajlt. cassa. See Case
and Cash.] An iron frame used by print
ers to confine types, when set in columns
8. Chase of a gun, is the whole length of
the bore.
i). A term in the game of tennis.
Chase guns, in a ship of war, guns used
in chasing an enemy or in defending a
ship when chased. These have their ports
at the head or stern. A gun at the head
is called a bow-chase ; at tlie stem, a stem-
chase.
CHA'SED, pp. Pursued ; sought ardently
driven.
CHA'SER, n. One who chases ; a pursuer
a driver ; a hunter.
2. An enchaser. [See Enchase.]
CHA'SING, ppr. Pursuing ; driving ; hunt
ing.
CHASM, n. [Gr. ;taff;Uo, L. chasma, from
Gr. ;t<*") x^^^*^, Xf^^^^, to open.]
1. A cleft; a fissure; a gap; properly,
opening made by disrupture, as a breach
j)i the earth or a roi-k.
ell stored with wild
C H A
2. A void space ; a vacuity.
Between the two propositions, that the gos-
pel is true and that it is false, what a fearful
chasm .' The unsetUed reason hovers over it in
dismay. Suckminster.
CHAS'MED, a. Having gaps or a chasm.
CHAS'SELAS, n. A sort of grape.
CHASTE, a. [Fr. chaste ; Arm. chast ;^ It.
Sp. Port, casto ; from L. castus. Sax.
cusc, D. kuisch, G. keusch, Sw. kysk,\^
Russ. chistei, are probably from the samei
root. Qu. Ir. caidh. 1 suppose the pri-
mary sense to be, separate, fi-ora the ori-J
ental practice of sequestering females. If
so, castus accords with the root of castle, \
W. cas ; and at any rate, the word de-
notes purity, a sense taken from separa-i
tion.]
1. Pure from all uidawful commerce of sex-;
es. Applied to persons before marriage, it|
signifies pure from all sexual commerce,]
uudefiled ; applied to married ])ersons.
to the marriage bed.
Free from obscenity.
While they behold your chaste conversation.
1 Peter iii.
3. In language, pure ; genuine ; uncorrupt ;
free from barbarous words and phrases,
and from quaint, affected, extravagant
expressions.
CHA'STE-EYED, a. Having modest eyes.
Collins.
CHA'STE-TREE, re. The agnus castus, or
vitex ; a tree that grows to the highth
of eight or ten feet, producing spikes of
flowers at the end of every strong shoot
in autumn. MUler.
CHA'STELY, adv. In a chaste manner ;
without unlavvfiil commerce of sexes;
without obscenity ; purely ; whhout bar-
barisms or unnatural phrases.
CHA'STEN, V. t. cha'sn. [Fr. chatier, for
chastier ; Arm. castien ; Russ. chischu.]
1. To correct by punishment ; to punish ; to
inflict pain for the purpose of reclaiming
an oftender ; as, to chasten a son with a rod.
I will chasten him with the rod of men. 2
Sam. vii.
2. To afllict by other means.
As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.
Rev. iii. .
I chastened my soul with fasting. Ps. Ixix.
3. To purify from errors or faults.
CHA'STENED, pp. Corrected ; punished ;
aflhcted for correction.
CHA'STENER, n. One who punishes, for
the purpose of correction.
CHA'STENESS, n. Chastity ; purity.
CHA'STENING, ppr. Correcting ; aflflict
ing for correction.
CHA'STENING, re. Correction ; punish
ment for the purpose of reclaiming.
No chastening for the present seemeth to b(
C H A
2. To reduce to order or obedience ; to res
train ; to awe ; to repress.
The gay social sense.
By decency chastis'd. Thomson
To correct ; to piu-ify by expimging faults ;
as, to chastise a poem.
CHASTI'SED, pp. Punished ; corrected.
CHASTISEMENT, n. [Fr. chatiment :
Arm. cc^tiz ; from chaste.]
Correction ; punishment ; pain inflicted for
]nmishment and correction, either by
stripes or otherwise.
Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars.
On equal terms to give him chastisement.
Shak.
I have borne chastisement, I will not offend
any more. Job xxxiv.
The chastisement of our peace, in Scripture,
was the pain which Christ suffered to
purchase our peace and reconciliation to
God. Is. liii.
CHASTI'SER, n. One who chastises ; a
punisher; a corrector.
CHASTI'SING, pp: Punishing for correc-
tion ; correcting.
CHAS'TITY, n. [L. castitas; Fr. thastete ;
Sp. caslidad ; It. caslila ; from L. castus,
chaste.]
1. Purity of the body ; freedom from aU un-
lawful conunerce of sexes. Before mar-
riage, purity from all commerce of sexes ;
after marriage, fidelity to the marriage
bed.
2. Freedom from obscenity, as i
or conversation.
3. Freedom from bad mixture
words and phrases.
4. Piuity ; unadulterated state ;
tity of the gospel.
language
purity
the chas-
Gibbon.
Deserving of chastise-
Sherwood.
but gnevous,
CHASTl'SABLE, <
ment.
CHASTI'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. chatter ; Arm.
casliza ; from chaste, castus. The Latin
tigo, Sp. Port, castigar. It. gastigare,
formed with a different termination. We
have chastise from the Armoric dialect
1. To correct by punishing ; to punish
inflict pain by stripes, or in other manner,
for the purpose of punishing an offender
and recalling him to his duty,
1 will chastise you seven times for your sins.
Lev. xxvi.
CHAT, V. i. [G. kosen, to talk or prattle ;
Ir. ceadach, talkative ; ceadac, a stoi-y or
narrative ; Sp. cotorra, a magpie ; cotorrera,
■ a hen-])arrot, a talkative woman ; Gr.
xuriTAu, to prate ; D. koeteren, to jabber,
and kwetleren, to chatter ; koulen, id.]
t To talk in a familiar manner ; to talk with-
out form or ceremony. Milton. Dryden.
2. To talk idly ; to prate. Johnson.
CHAT, V. t. To talk of [jVot in use.]
I. Free, familiar talk ; idle talk ;
It. A twig, or httle stick. [See
CHAT,
prate.
CHAT,
Chit.]
CHAT'EAU, re. shat'o. [Fr. a castle. See
Castle.] A castle ; a seat in the country.
CHAT ELET, n. A little castle. Chambers.
CHAT'KLLANY, n. [Fr. chateUenie.] The
lordship or jurisdiction of a castellan, or
goveiuor of a castle. [See Castdlany.]
CHATOYANT, a. [Fr. chat, cat, and aU,
eye.]
Having a changeable, undulating luster, or
coloi-, like that of a cat's eye in the dark.
CHATOYANT, re. A hard stone, a little
transi)arent, which being cut smooth pre-
sents on its surface and in the interior, an
undulating or wavy light. It is of a yel-
lowish gray color or verging to an olive
sreen. It rarely exceeds the size of a
iilbert. Diet. ofJSTat. Hist.
CHATOY'MENT, re. Changeable coin.-..
or changeableness of color, in a mine ral :
plav of colors. Cltuvrhn, .'
ClIAT'TEL, H. chat'l. [See Culllc.] Prim.
CHE
CHE
CHE
nly, any article of movable goods. In
modern usage, the word chattels conipre
Lends all goods, movable or immovable,
except such as have tlie nature of freehold,
" Chattels are real or personal.
real, are such as concern or savor of the
realty, as a term for years of land, ward-
ships in cliivalry, the next presentation to
a church, estates by statute merchant,
elegit and the like. Chattels personal, are
things movable, as animals, furniture of a
house, jewels, corn, &o." Blackstone.
ClIAT'T'ER, V. i. [See Chat]
1. To utter sounds rapidly and indistinctly,
as a magpie, or a monkey.
2. To make a noise by collision of the
teeth. We say, the teeth chatter, when one
is chilly and shivering.
3. To talk idly, carelessly or rapidly ; to
jabber.
CHAT'TER, n. Sounds like those of a pie
or monkey ; idle talk.
CHATTER-BOX, n. One that talks
santly.
CHAT'TERER, n. A prater; an idle talker.
CHAT'TERING,;);)c Uttering rapid, indis
tinct sounds, as birds; talking idly; mo-
ving rapidly and clashing, as the teeth.
CIIAT'TERING, n. Rapid, inarticulatt
.sounds, as of birds ; idle talk ; rapid
striking of the teeth, as in chilliness.
CHATTING, ]mr. Talking famiharly
CH-iVT'TY, a. Given to free conversation ;
talkative.
CHAT'WPOD, n. I,ittle sticks ; fuel.
Bailey. Johnsoti.
CHAUMONTELLE, n. [Fr.] A sort of
pear.
CHAUN, n. A gap. [JVo< in use. See Yaicn.]
CHAUN, V. i. To open ; to yawn. [Xot '
use.]
CIIAV'ENDER, } [Fr. chei^esne.] The
CHE V EN, I "• chub, a fisli.
CHAW, V. t. [Sax. ceowan; D. kaauwen
G. kauen ; Ir. ca^naim, or cognaim ; Arm.
jaoga, or chaguein ; coinciding with jaw,
^vhich in Arm. is javed, gaved or chagell,
and as cheek und jaw are often united, this
word coincides with Sax. ceac, ceoca. It is
most correctly written and pronounced
chaw ; but chew is deemed most elegant."
1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate
as food in eating ; to ruminate, or to
chew as the cud.
3. To ruminate in thought ; to revolve and
consider. Obs.
CHAW, n. [a different spclhng of jaw. Sec
CItaw, supra.]
1. The jaw. Ezek. xxix. 4. But in modern
editions of the Bible it is printed/
2. In vulgar language, a cud ; as much as is
put in the mouth at once.
CHAW'DRON, n. Entrails. Shak.
CHAY, n. Chaya-root; the root of the Ol-
denlandia umbellata, used in dyeing rod.
CHEAP, a. [Sax. ceap, cattle, business, or
trade, a price, a pledge or pawn, a sel
ling any thing that may be bought or sold
rrapian, cypan, to buy, to sell, to nego-
tiate, to gain ; D. koop, a bargain or pur-
chase ; " te koop zetten," to set to sale
" goed koop," ch^ap, good purchase ; koop-
en, to buy ; G. kaufen ; Dan. kiober ; Sw.
kPipa ; Russ. kupayu ; L. caupo ; Eiig.
che'apen, to chaffer, chap-man, chap-book,
chop and change. The sense is a purchase,
and good cheap is a good purchase or bar-
gain. Hence probably, omitting good, we
nave cheap.]
1. Bearing a low price, in market ; that may
be purchased at a low price ; that is, at a
price as low or lower than the usual price
of the article or commodity, or at a i)rice
less than the real value. The sense is
always comparative ; for a price deemed
cheap at one time is considered dear at
another.
it is a principle wliich the progress of politi-
cal science has clearly establisiied ; a principle
that illustrates at once (lie wisdom of the crea-
tor and the blindness of human cupidity, that it
is cheaper to hire the labor of freemen than to
compel the labor of slaves. L. Bacon.
2. Being of small value; common; not res-
pected ; as cheap beauty.
Make not yourself cheap in the eyes of the
world. Anon.
CHEAP, n. Bargain ; purchase ; as in the
phrases, good cheap, better cheap ; the
original phrases from which we have
cheap.
CHE'APEN, v.<. che'apn. [Sax. ceapian. Sec
Cheap, supra.]
. To attempt to buy ; to ask the price of i
commodity ; to chafler.
To sliops in crowds the daggled females fly,
Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy.
SwiJI.
2. To lessen value. Dryden.
CHE'APENER, 7i. One who cheapens or
bargains.
CHE'APLY, adv. At a small price ; at a low
ate.
CHE'APNESS, n. Lownoss in price, con-
sidering the usual price, or real value.
CHEAR, [See Cheer.]
CHEAT, V. t. [Sax. cealt. In Ar. = Js -;
gadaa, signifies to deceive, circumvent,
seduce ; to fail, to hide, to disguise, to de-
fraud : i L^, kaida, signifies to deceive.
to lay snares ; Eth. "^ ^ (Tl chiet or hiet,
signifies to cheat, to deceive, to defraud.]
1. To deceive and defraud in a bargain ; to
deceive for the purpose of gain in selling.
Its proper application is to commerce, in
which a person uses some arts, or misre-
presentations, or withholds some facts,
by which he deceives the purchaser.
2. To deceive by any artifice, trick or de-
vice, with a view to gain an advantage
contrary to common honesty ; as, to cheat
a person at cards.
.3. To impose on ; to trick. It is followed by
q/'or out of, and colloquially by into, as to
cheat a child into a belief that a medicine
is palatable.
CHE.\T, n. A fraud committed by decep-
tion ; a trick ; imposition ; imposture.
A person who cheats ; one guilty of fraud
by deceitful practices.
CHE'ATABLENESS, n. Liability to be
cheated. Hammond.
CHEAT-BREAD, n. Fine bread purchas-
ed, or not made in the family. {LUtle
used.]
CHEATED, pp. Defrauded by deception.
CHE'ATER, n. One who jiractices a fraud
in commerce.
iCHE'ATING, ppr. Defrauding by decep-
I tion ; imposing on.
CHE'ATI.\G, n. The act of defrauding by
( deceitful arts.
CHECK, V. t. [Fr. echec, plu. echecs, which
we have changed into chess ; Sp. xaque, a
move at chess ; la/jtte de male, check-mate ;
Port, xaque, a check ; xagoale, a rebuke.
Sp. and Port, xaquima, a halter ; It. scacco
the squares of a chess-board ; scacchi, chess-
men ; scacco-matto, check-mate ; scaccato,
checkered ; Low L. scaccarium, an exche-
quer, Fr. echiquier ; G. schach, chess ;
schachmatt, check-mate ; D. schaak, chess ;
schauk-mat, check-mate ; Dan. skak, chess,
crooked, curving ; skak-7nal, check-mate ;
skakrer, to barter, chaffer, chop and
change; Sw. schach, chess; schach-mcUt,
check-mate; Russ. scAacA, check, chess;
schach-mat, check-mate. In Spanish xaque,
xeque, is an old man, a shaik, and xaco, a
jacket. These latter words seem to be the
Ar. _L;i or a L.^ ; the latter is render-
ed to grow old, to be old, to blame or
rebuke, under which we find shaik ; the
former signifies to use diligence, quasi, to
bend to or api)ly ; also, to abstain or turn
aside. In Arabic we find alsOi^^ to
doubt, hesitate, halt, and in Heb. the same
word 131? signifies to still, allay, sink, stop
or check, to obstruct or hedge ; ip a
hedge. We have, in these words, clear
evidetice of the manner, in which several
modern nations express the Shemitic 17, or
^•]
To stop ; to restrain ; to hinder ; to curb.
It signifies to put an entire stop to motion,
j or to restrain its violence, and cause an
abatement ; to moderate.
j2. To rebuke ; to chide or reprove. Shak.
|3. To compare any paper with its counter-
part or with a cipher, with a view to as-
I certain its authenticity ; to compare cor-
j responding pai)ers; to control by a coun-
I ter-rcgister.
4. In seamenship, to ease off a little of a rope,
which is too stiffly extended ; also, to stop-
per the cable. Mar. Did.
CHECK, v.i. To stop; to make a stop; with
at.
The mind checks at any vigorous iinderta-
kmg. Locke.
2. To clash or interfere.
I love to check with business. Bacon.
3. To strike with repression. Dryden.
[These applications are not Jrequent.]
CHECK, Ji. A stop; hindrance; rebuff;
sudden restraint, or continued restraint ;
curb; control; government.
2. That which stops or restrains, as reproof,
reprimand, rebuke, shght or disgust, fear,
apprehension, a person ; any stop or ob-
struction. Shak. Dryden. Clarendon.
3. In falconry, when a hawk forsakes her
proper game, to follow rooks, pies, or oth-
er fowls, that cross her in her flight.
Bailey. Encyc.
4. The correspondent cipher of a bank note ;
a corresponding indenture ; any counter-
register. Johnson.
A term in chess, when one party obliges
CHE
CHE
C H E
the other either to move or guard his
king.
6. An order for money, drawn on a banker
or on the cashier of a bank, payable to the
bearer.
This is a sense derived from that in de-
finition 4.
7. In popidar use, checkered cloth ; check, for
checkered.
Check or check-roll, a roll or book containing
the names of persons who are attendants
and in the pay of a king or great person-
age, as domestic servants.
Bailey. Encyc.
Clerk of Ike check, in the British King's
household, has the check and control of
the yeomen of the guard, and all the usl
crs belonging to the royal family, the care
of the watch, &c. Bailey. Encyc.
Clerk of the check, in the British Royal Dock-
Yards, Is an officer who keeps a register of
all the men employed on board his ma
jesty's shij)s and vessels, and of all the ar
tificers in the service of the navy, at the
port where he is settled.
CHECK'ED, CHF.CKT, pp. Stopped
strained ; repressed ; curbed ; moderated ;
controlled ; reprimanded.
CHECK'ER, V. t. [from check, or perhaps
directly from the Fr. echiquier, a chess
board. Norm, escheqir, or chekere, exche
quer.]
1. To variegate with cross lines ; to form
into little squares, like a chess board, by
Imes or stripes of different colors. Hence.
2. To diversify ; to variegate with different
qualities, scenes, or events.
Our minds are, as it were, checkered with
trutli and falsehood. Jiddlson.
CHECK'ER, n. One who checks or re-
strains ; a rebuker.
2. A chess-board.
CHECK'ER, ) Work varied al-
CHECK'ER-WORK, \ "" ternately as to itsi
colors or materials ; work consisting of|
cross lines.
CHECK'ERS, n. plu. A common game on
a checkered board.
CHECK'ING, ppr. Stopping; curbing; re.
straining ; moderating ; controlling ; re-
buking.
CHECK'LESS, a. That cannot be checked
or restrained.
CHECK'-MATE, n. [See Check. Mate is
from the root of the Sp. and Port, vmtar,
to kill. Ar. Ch. Syr. Heb. Eth. Sam. niD
moth, to die, to kill.]
1. The movement on a chess board or in the
game of chess that kills the opposite men,
or hinders them from moving, so that the
game is finished.
2. Defeat ; overthrow. Spenser.
CHECK'-MATE, v. t. To finish. Skelton.
CHECK' Y, n. In heraldn/, a border that has
more than two rows of'cheekers, or when
the bordure or shield is checkered, like a
chess-board. Bailey. Encyc.
CHEEK, re. [Sax. ceac, ceoca ; D. kaak ; this
is probably the same word as jaw, Fr.
joue, Arm. gaved, javed, connected with
jaoga, chaguein, to chaw, or chew, for the
words chin, cheek and jaw, are confounded,
the same word which, in one dialect, sig-
nifies the cheek, in another, signifies the
jaw. GtiHi in I.atiu is the Eughsh chin.^
The side of the face below the eyes on
each side.
2. Among mechanics, cheeks are tliose pieces
of a machine which form corresponcUng
sides, or which are double and alike ; as
the cheeks of a printing press, which stand
perpendicular and support the three som-
mers, the head, shelves and winter ; the
cheeks of a turner's lathe ; the cheeks of a
glazier's vise ; the cheeks of a mortar, and
of a gun-carriage ; the cheeks of a mast,
which serve to sustain the trestle trees,
&c.
Cheek byjoivl, closeness, proximity. Beaum.
CHEE'K-BONE, n. The bone of the cheek.
CHEE'KED, a. Brought near the cheek.
Cotton.
CHEE'K-TOOTH, n. The hinder tooth or
tusk. Joel i. 6.
CHEEP, V. i. To chirp, as a small bird.
CHEER, V. t. [Fr. chere ; Arm. cher, cheer,
entertainment ; Ir. gairim, to call, shout,
extol, rejoice ; Gr. ;t'»'P", to rejoice, to hail
or salute. The primary sense is to call
out or shout, as in joy ; a sense retained
in jovial companies, to give cheers, and
among seamen, to salute a ship by cheers.
Orient. Nip kara.]
1. To salute with shouts of joy, or cheers.
Mar. Did.
To dispel gloom, sorrow, silence or apa
thy ; to cause to rejoice ; to gladden ; t(
make cheerful ; as, to cheer a lonely desert
the cheering rays of the sun ; good news
cheers the heart.
To infuse life, spirit, animation ; to incite ;
to encourage ; as, to cheer the hounds.
CHEER, V. i. To grow cheerful ; to be-
come gladsome, or joyous.
At siglit of thee my gloomy soul cheers up.
PhiWps
Cheer up, my lads.
CHEER, n. A shout of joy; as, they gave
three cheers.
A state of gladness or joy; a state of ani-
mation, above gloom and depression of
spirits, but below mirth, gayety and jolhty.
- Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven
thee. Mat. ix.
Then were they all of good cheer, and they
also took some meat. Acts xxiii.
;?. Mii'fh ; gayety ; jollity ; as at a feast.
4. Invitation to gayety. Shak.
5. Entertainment ; that which makes cheer-
fid ; provisions for a feast. Shak.
The table was loaded with good cheer.
Irving.
6. Air of countenance, noting a greater or
less degree of cheerfulness.
His words their drooping cheer
Enlightened. .Milton.
CHEE'llED, pp. Enlivened ; animate<l
ma<lc glad.
CHEE'RER, M. One who cheers ; he or that
which gladdens.
Thou cheerer of our days. Wotton.
Prime cheerer, light. Thomson
CHEE'RFUL, a. Lively ; animated ; hav-
ing good spirits ; tiioderately joyful. This
is the most usual signification of the word,
expressing a degree of animation less than
mirth and jollity.
2. Full of life; gay; animated; mirthful;
musical ; as the cheerful birds.
3. Expressive of good spu-its or joy; lively
iii mated.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful counte-
Qce. Prov. XV.
CHEE'RFULLY, adv. In a cheerful man-
ner ; with alacrity or wilhngness; readily ;
with life, animation or good spirits.
CHEE'RFyLNESS, n. Life ; animation ;
good spirits ; a state of moderate joy or
gayety ; alacrity.
He that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom. xii.
CHEE'RILY, adv. With cheerfubess; with
spirit.
CHEE'RING, ppr. Giving joy or gladness ;
enlivening ; encouraging ; animating.
CHEE'RISHNESS, n. State of cheerful-
ness. [N'ot in ttse.] Milton.
CHEERLESS, o. Without joy, gladness,
or comfort ; gloomy ; destitute of any
thing to enhven or animate the spirits.
Spenser.
CHEE'RLY, a. Gay ; cheerful ; not gloomy.
CHEE'RLY, adv. Cheerfully ; heartily ;
briskly.
CHEE'RY, a. Gay ; sprightly ; having pow-
er to make gay.
Come, let us hie, and quaff a cheery bowl.
Gay.
CHEESE, n. sasx. [Sax. cese, or eyse; Ir.
cais; W. caws; Corn, kes; Arm.caus ; L.
caseus ; Sp. queso ; Port, queijo ; D. kaas ;
G. kase ; Basque, gasna or gazta. The
primary sense is to curdle, to congeal,
from collecting, drawing or driving, W.
casiaw, to curdle. Perhaps it is allied to
squeeze.]
1. The curd of milk, coagulated by rennet,
separated from the serum or whey, and
pressed in a vat, hoop or mold.
2. A mass of pumice or ground apples placed
a press. JVeiv England.
CHEE'SE-€AKE, n. A cake made of soft
curds, sugar and butter. Prior.
CHEE'SE-MONGER, n. One who deals
or sells cheese. B. Jonson.
CHEESE-FARING, n. The rind or paring
of cheese. Beaum.
CHEESE-PRESS, n. A press, or engine
for pressing curd in the making of cheese.
Gay.
CHEE'SE-RENNET, n. A plant, ladies
bed-straw, Galium verum.
CHEESE-VAT, n. The vat or case in
which curds are confined for pressing.
GlanviUe.
CHEE'SY, a. Having the nature, qualities,
te or form of cheese.
CHEG'OE, n. A tropical insect that enters
the skin of the feet and multiplies incredi-
blv, causing an itchmg. Encyc.
€HEI'ROPTER, n. [Gr. ;t«'P, the hand, and
rtTtpoK, wing.]
An animal whose anterior toes are connect-
ed by a membrane, and whose feet thus
serve for wings, as the bat. Lntnier.
CHEL IDON, n. [Gr.] A brown fly with
silvery wings.
€HELIF'EROUS, a. [Gr. j:i;>^^, a claw, and
L.fero, to bear.] Furnished with claws,
as an animal.
CHEL'IFORM, a. [L. chela, a claw, and
form.] Having the form of a claw.
CllELMS'FORDITE, re. A mineral arran
ged as a subspecies of schaalstein ; found
in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Cleaveland.
CHELO'NIAN, a. [Gr. xtf-^i, X<^>":, a tor-
CHE
CHE
CHE
loise.] Pertaining to or designating ani-
mals of the tortoise kind.
■GHEL'Y, n. [L. chela, Or. xi^, a claw.]
The claw of a shell-fisli. Brown.
€HEMI€AL. [See Chimical]
€HEMI€ALLY. [Sec CliimicaUy.]
CHEMISE, n. [Fr. chemise; Ir. caimae,
caimis ; Sj). camisa ; It. camicia ; Ar.
(j<3A«.3 kaniitzon ; Anih. id.]
I. A shift, or under garment worn by fe-
males.
■2. A wall that lines the face of any work of
eartli. Battel/.
CHEMIST. [See ChimisL]
CHEMISTRY. [See Chimistry.]
CHEQUER. [See Checker.]
CUER'IFF, n. written also Sheriff. The
prince of Mecca; a high priest among the
MoliamMicdan.s.
Cni':R'ISn, v. l. [Fr. chenr; Arm. cheri^za;
from F'r. cher, dear ; W. cir, bounty ; cir-
imv, to pity, to cherish. See Caress.]
1. To treat with tenderness and affection ;
to give warmth, ease or comt'crt to.
We were gentle among you^ even as a nurse
cherisheth her children. 1 Tlicss. ii.
The damsel was fair and cherished the king,
1 Kings i.
3. To hold as dear ; to embrace with aflec-
tion ; to foster, and encourage ; as, to cher-
ish the principles of virtue ; to cherish reli-
gion in the heart.
3. To treat in a manner to encourage
growth, by protection, aid, attendance, or
supplying nourishment; as, to cherish ten
der plants.
4. To harbor; to indulge and encourage in
the mind ; as, to cherish ill will, or any evil
])assion.
CHERISHED, pp. Treated with tender-
ness ; warmed ; comforted ; fostered.
CHER'ISHER, n. One who cherishes ; an
encourage'r ; a supporter.
CHERISHING, ppr. Warming ; comfort
ing ; encouraging ; fostering ; treating
with affection.
C'HER'ISHING, n. Support; encourage
CHERTSHMENT, n. Encouragement ;
comfort. [JVot used.] Spenser.
CHERMES. [See Kermes.]
OHER'RY, n. [Fr. cerise ; L. cerasus ; It.
ciriegia ; Port, cereja ; Sp. cereza ; Arm.
freresen ; D. kars, or kiiek ; G. kirsche ;
Sw. kirshar ; Dan. kirsehcer ; so named, it
is said, from Cerasus, a city in Pontus.
near the Euxine, whence the tree was im-
ported into Italy.]
The fruit of a tree, a species of Prunus, of
which there are many varieties, as the
red or garden cherry, the red heart, the
white heart, the black cherry, the black
heart, and several others. The fruit '
pulp inclosing a kernel. It is related that
this fruit was brought fiom Cerasus ii
Pontus to Italy, after the defeat of Mithri
dates by Lucullus, A R. G80., and introdu-
ced into England by the Romans, about
130 years afterwards, A. D. .55.
Barbadoes chern/, is the genus Malpighia,
of several species. The berries are redj
cherry-shaped, acid and eatable.
Bird cherry, is a species of Prunus, tlie com
mon laurel or lauro-cerasus. Lee.
Vol. I.
Also, the Prunus padus. Encyc
Cornelian cherry, is the fruit of the Corniis
cornel-tree or dogwood. It is a small
acid, cherry-like, eatable berry.
Dwarf cherry, is the fruit of a species of Loni-
cera, or honey-suckle.
Hottentol-chern/, is the fruit of a species of
Cassine. The, fruit is a trispermous berry
of a dark purple color.
fVinter-cherry, is a name of the fruit of the
Physalis, a genus of many species. It is a
berry of the size of a small cherry, inclosed
in an inflated, bladder-like caly.v. This
name is also given to a species of Solanum.
Fam. of Plants.
CHER'RY, a. Like a red cherry in color;
red, ruddy, blooming ; as a cherry lip ;
cherr)! cheeks.
CHER'RY, n. A cordial composed of cher-
ry juice and spirit, sweetened, and diluted
The wild cherry is most generally used
for this purpose, being steeped for some
days in spirit, which extracts the juice of
the fruit ; the tincture is then sweetened
and diluted to the taste. This cordial
moderately bitter and astringent. It is
sometimes made of the mazzard.
CHERRY-CHEEKED, a. Having ruddy
clu'eks. Congreve.
CHER'RY-PIT, n. A child's play, in which
cherry stones are thrown into a hole.
Shah.,
CHER'RY-TREE, n. A tree whose fruit is
cherries, in the more appropriate sens
the word. The name is mostly give
the common cultivated trees, and to that
which produces the black wild cherry,
The wood of the latter is valued for cabi-
net work.
eHER'SONESE, n. [Gi: x^faovriaor, x^V^oi,
land or uncultivated land, and j'jjaos, an
isle.]
A peninsula; a tract of land of any indefinite
extent, which is nearly surrounded by
wafer, but united to a larger tract by
neck of land or isthmus ; as the Cimbric
Chersonese or Jutland ; the Tauric Cher-
sonese, or Crimea.
CHERT, 11. In mineralogy, a subspecies of
rhomboidal quartz ; called also hornstone,
petrosilex or rock flint. It is less hard
than common quartz ; its fracture usually
dull and splintery, sometimes more or
less conchoidal. It is more or less trans
lucent, sometimes at the edges, and some
times the whole mas.s, if thin, has the
strong translucency of certain horns. It
colors are numerous and usually dull. It
is usually amorphous, sometimes globu
lar, or in nodules. It occurs often ii
veins, especially metallic, in primitive
mountains. ■ Jameson. Cleaveland.
Chert is also applied to other minerals
besides hornstone. Aikiu calls a variety
o{ Aim, flinty chert, and the Derbyshire mi-
ners apply the term, black chert, to a fusi-
ble mineral, whereas the hornstone above
described is infusible.
CHERT'Y', a. Like chert ; flintv. Pennant.
CHER'UB, n. plu. cherubs, but 'the Hebrew
plural cherubim is also used. [Heb. 2113
kerub. In Ch. and Syr. the correspond-
ing verb signifies to plow ; and the word
is said to signify properly any image or
figure ; if so, it may have been named
from engraving. But this is uncertain,
36
and the learned are not agreed on the sig
nification.]
A figure composed of various creatures, as
a man, an ox, an eagle or a hon. Tlie
first mention of cherubs is in Gen. iji. 24,
where the figure is not described, but their
office was, with a flaming sword, to keep
or guard the way of the tree of hfe. The
two cherubs which Moses was command-
ed to make at the ends of the Mercy seat,
were to be of beaten work of gold ; and
their wings were to extend over the Mer-
cy seat, theii- faces towards each other,
and between them was the residence of
the Deity. Ex. xxv. The cherubs, in
Ezekiel's vision, had each four heads or
faces, the hands of a man and wings.
The four faces were, the face of a bull,
that of a man, that of a lion, and that of
an eagle. They had the likeness of a man.
Ezek. iv. and x. In 2 Sam. xxii. 11. and
P.salm xviii., Jehovah is represented as
riding on a cherub, and flying on the wings
of the wind. In the celestial hierarchy,
cherubs are represented as spu-its next in
order to seraphs. The hieroglyphical and
emblematical figures embroidered on the
vails of the tabernacle are called cherubs
of curious or skilful work. Ex. xxvi.
CHERUBIC, I [The accent is usually
ClIi'.Kr Bic, ^"' laid on the second sylla-
lil", liiii Improperly.]
I'lrtMiinii:.' t<i cherubs ; angelic. Sheldon.
I'.K IBIM, 11. The Hebrew plural of
dumb. '^
CHER'UBIN, a. Cherubic; angehc.
Shak.
CHER'UBIN, n. A cherub. Dryden.
CHER UP, a corruption of chirp, which see.
CHER'VIL, n. [Sax. cerfiUe, a contraction
of L. chwrophyllum ; Gr. ^tpt cjniWo^, ;tat()u
to rejoice, and ^VKov, leaf.]
A genus of plants, two species of which are
called cow-weed.
CHES'APEAK, n. A bay of the U. States,
whose entrance is between Cape Charles
and Cape Henry, in Virginia, and which
extends northerly into Mainland 270 miles.
It receives the waters of the Susquehan-
nah, Potomack, Rappahannock, York, and
James Rivers.
CHES'IBLE, n. [Old Fr. casuhle.] A short
vestment without sleeves, worn by a po-
pish priest at mass. Bale.
CHES'LIP, n. A small vermin that lies un-
der stones and tiles. Skinner.
CHESS, n. [Fr. echecs. See Check.] An
ingenious game perfoi-med by two par-
ties with different pieces, on a check-
ered board, that is, a board divided into
sixty four squares or houses. The success
of the game depends almost entirely on
skill. Each gamester has eight dignified
pieces, called a king, a queen, two bish-
ops, two knights, and two rooks or castles ;
also eight pawns. The pieces of the par-
ties are of different colors. Encyc.
CHESS, n. [I do not find this word in any
English Dictionary ; nor do I know its
origm or aflSnities. In Persian, ^»,ii
chas or gas, signifies evil, depraved, and
a useless weed.]
In New England, that weed which grows
among wheat, and is supposed to be wheat
CHE
CHE
CHI
degenerated or clianged, as it abounds
most in fields where the wheat is winter-
killed. It bears some resemblance to oats.
This fact is mentioned by Pliny, Nat. Hist.
Lib. 18. Ca. 17. Primum omnium fiu-
menti vitium avena est : et hordeum in
earn degenerat. This change of wheat
and barley into oats, he ascribes to a inoi
soil, wet weather, bad seed, &c. Tl
opinion coincides with observations in
.\raerica, as wheat is most liable to perish
in moist land, and often in such places,
almost all the wheat is killed, and instead
of it chess often appears.
CHESS'-APPLE, n. A species of wild
CHESS'-BOARD, n. The board used in tl
game of chess, and from the squares of
which chess has its name.
CHESS'-MAN, n. A piece or puppet, for the
game of chess.
CHESS'-PLAYER, n. One who plays
chess ; one skilled in the game of chess.
CHESS'-TREE, n. In ships, a piece of wood
bolted perpendicularly on the side to con-
fine the clews of the main sail.
CHESS'OM, n. Mellow earth. Bacon
CHEST, n. [Sax. cest or cyst ; L. cista ; W.
cist ; Ir. cisde ; Gr. xtyi? ; G. kiste ; D.
kist ; Sw. kista ; Dan. kiste. See Chest-
nut.]
1. A box of wood or other material, in which
goods are ke"pt or transported. It differs
from a trunk in not being covered with
skin or leather.
3. The trunk of the body from the neck to
the belly ; the thorax. Hence, broad-chest-
ed, narmw-chested, having a broad or nar-
row chest.
-.3. In commerce, a certain quantity ; as a chest
of sugar; a chest of indigo ; cfcc.
Chest of drawers is a case of movable boxes
called drawers.
CHEST, V. t. To reposit in a chest ; to
hoard. Johnson.
CHEST'-FOUNDERING, n. A disease in
horses, like the pleurisy or peripneumony
in the human body. Farrier's Diet.
CHEST'NUT, n. [Sax. cystel, and the tree
iu Sax. is cijstbeam or cystenbeam ; L.
ianea, the tree and the nut ; Fr. chataigne ;
Arm. gistenen, or gestenen ; W. castan
Sp. castana ; Port, castanha ; It. casta^a
G. kastanie ; Sw. Dan. kastanie ; fron
Welsh cast, envelopment, the root of castle,
from separating, defending ; so named from
its sheU or cover.]
The fruit, seed or nut of a tree belonging to
the genus Fagus. It is inclosed in a prick
ly pericarp, which contains two or more
seeds.
CHEST'NUT, a. Being of the color of a
chestnut ; of a brown color. It is perha:
rarelv used as a noun.
CHESTNUT-TREE, n. The tree which
produces the chestnut. This tree grows
to a great size, with spreading branches.
It is one of the most valuable timber trees,
as the wood is very durable, and forms in
America the principal timber for fencing.
The timber is also used in building, and
for vessels of various kinds.
Dwarf-chestnut, or chinkapin, is another spe-
cies of Fagus.
Horse-chestnut, is a tree of the genus .iEscu-
Jus. The common tree of this sort is a
native of the North of Asia, and admired
for the beauty of its flowers. It is used
for shade and ornament, and its nuts are
esteemed good food for horses. The scar-
let-flowering horse-chestnut is a native of
Carolina, Brazil and the East, and is ad-
mired for its beauty.
The Indian Rose-chestnut, of the genus
Mesua, bears a nut, roundish, pointed and
marked with four elevated longitudinalj
sutures. Encyc. Fain. ^ Plants.
CHES'TON, ?i. A species of plum.
Johnson.
CHEV'ACHIE, n. An expedition with cav-
alry. [jVbt MSfrf.] Chaucer.
CHEVAL DE FRiSE, generally used in the
plural, chevaux de frise, j)ronounced shevo
defreez. [Fr. cheval, a horse, and/rise, any
thing curled, rough, entangled ; the horse
of fiise, or frizzled horse. Hence called
also titrnpike, tourniquet.]
1. A piece of timber traversed with wooden
spilies, pointed with iron, five or six feet
long ; used to defend a passage, stop a
lireach, or make a retrenchment to stop
2. A kind of trimmuig.
CHEVALIE'R, n. [Fr.from cheval, ahorse
Sp. caballero. See Cavalry.]
1. A knight ; a gallant young man. Shak.
2. In heraldry, a horseman armed at all
points. Encyc.
CHEV'EN, n. [Fr. chcvesne.] A river fish,
the chub.
CHEV'ERIL, n. [Fr. chevrcau, a kid, from
chevre, a goat, L. caper, W. gavar. Arm.
gavricq, gavr.]
A kid, or rather leatlier made of kid-skin ;
used as a noun or adjective. Shak
CHEV'ERILIZE, v. t. To make as phab's
kid-leather. Montagu.
CHEV'ISANCE, n. s as z. [Fr. chevir, to
come to the end, to perform, to prevail,
from chef, the head, literally the end. See
Chief and Achieve.]
1. Achievement; deed; performance;
tcrprize accomplished. Obs. Spe,
In law, a making of contracts ; a bargain.
Stat. 13 Eliz. 7.
3. An unlawful agreement or contract. 21
James. 17.
4. An agreement or composition, as an end
or order set down between a creditor and
his debtor. Encyc.
CHEVRON, n. [Fr. a rafter; W.ceber; Arm.
gebr.]
In herald)-y, an honorable ordinary, repre-
senting two rafters of a house meeting at
the top. Bailey.
OHEV'RONED, o. Having a chevron, or
the form of it. B. Jonson.
CHEVROTA'IN, n. [from Fr. chevre, a
goat.] The smallest of the antelope kind.
CHEW, II. <. [Sax. ceouian ; O.kaautcen; G.
kauen. See Chaw.]
1. To bite and grind with the teeth ; to mas-
ticate, as food, to prepare it for degluti-
tion and digestion.
2. To ruminate in the thoughts; to meditate
as, to chew revenge. Shak.
3. To champ ; to bite, hold or roll about iu
the mouth ; as, to chew tobacco.
4. To taste, without swallowing. Shak.
CHEW, V. i. To champ upon ; to ruminate,
Old politicians chew on wisdom past. Pope.
CHEW, n. That which is chewed; that
which is held in the mouth at once ; a cud.
[Vulgar.]
CHEW'ED,pp. Ground by the teeth ; mas-
ticated.
CHEW'ET, n. A kind of pie, made with
chopped substances.
CHEWING, ppr. Grinding with the teeth ;
masticating ; ruminating ; meditating ;
champing.
CHI'A, n. A beautiful Mexican plant.
CHl' AN, a. Pertaining to Chios, an isle in the
Levant.
Chian earth, a medicinal, dense, compact
kind of earth, from Chios, used anciently
as an astringent, and a cosmetic. Encyc.
Chian turpentine, or Cyprus turpentine, is
procured from the Pistacia Terebintbus.
It is of the consistence of honey, clear and
of a yellowish white.
€HIAS'TOLITE, n. [Gr. x^asc, decussa-
ted.]
A mineral, called also made, whose crystals
are arranged in a peculiar manner. The
form of the crystals is a four-sided prism,
whose bases are rhombs, differing little
from squares. But each crystal, when
viewed at its extremities, or on a trans-
verse section, is obviously composed of
two very different substances ; and its gen-
eral aspect is that of a black prism, passing
longitudinally through the axis of another
prism which is whitish. The term mcu:le,
as the name of a distinct species, applies
to the whitish prisms only. Cleaveland.
CHIB'BAL, n. [Fr. ciboule.] A small sort
of onion. Beaum.
CHI€A'NE, n. [Fr. chicane ; Arm. dean or
cicanerez. Qu. Gr. Sixamos, a SiciUan, a
cheat. Lmnier.]
1. In law, shitY ; turn ; trick ; cavil ; an abuse
of judiciary proceedings, by artifices, un-
fair practices, or idle objections, which
tend to perplex a cause, puzzle the judge,
or impose on a party, and thus to delay or
pervert justice.
2. In disputes, sophistrj- ; distinctions and
subtleties, that tend to perplex the question
and obscure the truth. Locke.
3. Any artifice or stratagem. Prior.
CHICA'NE, V. i. [Fr. chicaner.] To use
shifts, cavils or artifices.
CHI€A'NER, n. [Fr. chicaneur.] One who
uses shifts, turns, evasions or undue artifi-
ces, in litigation or disputes; a caviller; a
sophister; an unfair disputant. Locke.
CHICA'NERY, n. [Fr. chicanerie.] Soph-
istry ; mean or unfair artifices to perplex
a cause and obscure the truth.
CHICH'ES, n. plu. Dwarf peas.
CHICII'LING, ? , A vetch or pea,
CHICKLING-VETCH, I "■ of the genus
Lathyrus, used in Germany for food, but
inferior to other kinds. j\iiller.
CHICK, V. i. To sprout, as seed in the
ground ; to vegetate. Todd.
CHICK, } [Sax. ciccn ; D. kuiken ;
CIIICK'EN, S "■ G. kuchkin. Qu. Russ.
chikayu, to peep.]
1. The young of fowls, particularly of the
domestic hen, or gallinaceous fowls.
2. A person of tender years.
3. A word of tenderness.
CHICK'EN-HEARTED, a. Timid; fear-
ful ; cowardly.
CHICK'EN-POX, /!. A mild contagious
C H I
C H I
CHI
eruptive disease, generally appearing in
children.
CHICKLING, H. A small chick or chicken.
CHICK-PEA, n. [L. cicer ; G. kkher; Sp.
chicharo.]
A plant or poa, constituting the genus Cicer ;
a native of Spain, where it is used in olios.
It is smaller than the common pea.
CHICK'-\VI:KI), «. a nhml of Iho -roniis
Msim, wlii,-l, iMclmlcsMiiiny spcrics. Tlic
ConiMinii ,-l,i,k-w.T<l, witli u hifc hlossorns,
affonis ;i n-iiMrk;il.le instaiicp of the sleep
of plants; for,at night, the leaves H|iproach
in pairs, and inclose the tender rudiments
of the young shoots. The leavesare cool-
ing and nutritive, and are deemed excel-
lent food for persons of a consumjitive
habit. They are deemed useful also for
swelled breasts. Encyc. IViseman.
©HIDE, V. t. pret. chid, [chode is obs.] ; part.
chid, chidden. [Sax.cidan, cA«/a/i, to chide,
to scold ; VV. cozi, to chide, to press,
straiten; Ch. BOp, to scold, to brawl, to
fight. Qu. W. cad, a battle.] Literally,
to scold ; to clamor ; to utter noisy words ;
that is, to drive. Hence,
1. To scold at; to reprove; to utter words
in anger, or by way of disapprobation; to
rebuke ; as, to chide one fur his faults.
2. To blame ; to reproach ; as, to chide folly
or negligence.
To chide from or chide away, is to drive away
by scolding or reproof.
CHIDE, V. 1. To scold ; to clamor; to find
fault ; to contend in words of anger ; some-
times followed by loith.
The people iliil chide with Moses. E.\. svii.
2. To quarrel. Shak.
3. To make a rough, clamorous, roaiing
noise ; as the chiding floo<l. Shak.
CHIDE, n. Murmur ; gentle noise.
Thoinson.
CHI'DER, n. One who chides, clamors, re-
proves or rebukes.
CHI'DERESS, n. A female who chides.
[JVot v^ed.] Chajicer.
CHI'DING, p;>r. Scolding; clamoring; re-
bidiing ; making a harsh or continued
CHI'DING, ji. A scolding or clamoring;
rebuke ; re])roof.
CHI'DINGLY, adv. In a scolding or repro-
ving manner.
CHIEF, a. [Fr. chef, the head, that is, the
top or highest point ; Norm, chief; Sp.
xefc ; Ir. ceap ; It. capo. It is e\idently
from the same root as the L. caput, Gr.
xifa^tj, and Eng. cape, bvit through the
Celtic, probably from shooting, extend-
ing.]
1. Highest in office or rank ; ])rincipal ;
as a chief priest; the cAte/" butler. Gen
xl. 9.
him.
2. Principal or most eminent, in any quality
or action ; most distinguished ; having
most influence ; commanding most res-
pect ; taking the lead ; most valuable ;
most important; a word of extensive use
as a country chief in arms.
The liand of the princes and rulers hath been
ehief in thi.s trespass. Ezra ix.
Agriculture is tlie cAif/'empIoymentof men.
8. First in aftection ; most dear and familiar,
A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov,
xvi.
CHIEF, n. A commander ; particularly a
military commander ; the person who
heads an army ; equivalent to the modern
terms, commander or general in chief,
captain general, or generalissimo. 1 Ch.
xi.
2. The principal person of a tribe, family, or
congregation, &c. Num. iii. Job xxix
Math. XX.
i. In chief, in English law, in capile. To
hold land in chief is to hold it directly from
the king by honorable personal services.
Blackstone.
4. In heraldnj, chief signifies the head or up-
per part of the escutcheon, from side to
side, representing a man's head. In chief,
imports something borne in this part.
Encyc.
5. In Spenser, it seems to signify something
like achievement, a mark of distinction
as, chaplets wrought with a chief.
Johnson
i. This word is often used, in the singular
number, to express a pluraUty.
I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and
known, and made them heads over you. Deut.
i. 15.
Tlicse were the chief of the officers, that were
over Solomon's work. 1 Kings 9.
In these phrases, chief may have been
primarily an adjective, that is, chief men,
chief persons.
7. The principal part ; the most or largest
part, of one thing or of many.
The people took of tlic spoil,*sheep and oxen,
the cAi>/of the things which should have been
utterly destroyed. I Sam. xv.
He smote the chief of their strength. Ps.
Ixviii.
The chief of the debt remains unpaid.
CHIEF, adi. Chiefly.
CHIE'FAgE, I A tribute by the head.
CHE'VAgE, <, "■ Obs. Chambers.
CHIE'FDOM, n. Snvereigntv. Spenser.
CHIE'FLESS, a. WithoiU a chief or leader.
Pope.
CHIE'FLY, adv. Principally; eminently;
in the first place.
It chiefly concerns us to obey the divine pre-
cepts.
2. For the most part.
In the parts of the kingdom where the estates
of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift.
CHIE'FRIE, n. A small rent paid to the
lord paramount. Spenser^s Ireland.
CHIE'FTAIN, n. [from chief. Norm, cheven-
teins, formed like captain, capitai7ie.]
A captain, leader or commander ; a chief;
the head of a troop, army or clan. It is
most commonly used in' the latter sense.
The chieftains of the Highland clans in
Scotland, were the piincipal noblemen and
eentlemen. Encyc.
CHIE'FTAINRY, ? Headship; cap-
CHIE'FTAINSHIP, <, "■ taincy; the gov-
ernment over a clan.
Johnson. Smollett.
CHIE' VANCE, n. [S orm. chivisance. See
Chevisance.]
An unlawful bargain ; traffick in which
money is extorted. Obs. Bacon.]
CHIEVE or CHIVE, t..t. [Fr. chevir. Seel
Achieve.] To come to an end ; to issue ;|
to succeed. Obs. Chancer.]
CIIIL'BLAIN, n. [chill. Sax. cele, cold, and
blain.]
A blain or sore produced by cold ; a tumor
afl'ecting the hands and feet, accompanied
with inflanunation, pain, and sometimes
ulceration. Encyc.
CHILD, JI. plu. children. fSax. cUd ; in
Dan. kuld is jirogeny, kulde is coldness,
and ktder is to blow strong. Child is un-
doubtedly issue, that which is produced.]
1. A son or a daughter ; a male or female
descendant, in the first degree ; the imme-
diate progeny of parents'; applied to the
human race, and chiefly to a person when
young. The term is applied to infants
from their birth ; but the time when they
cease ordinarily to be so called, is not de-
fined by custom. In strictne.-is, a child is
the shoot, issue or produce of the parents,
and a person of any age, in respect to the
parents, is a child.
An infant.
Hagar cast the child under one of the shrubs .
Gen. xxi.
It signifies also a person of more advau'
cod years.
Jephtha's daughter was his only chUd. Judges
xi.
The child shall behave himself proudly.-
Is. iii.
A curse will be on those who corrupt the
morals of their children. J. Clarke.
The application of child to a female in
opposition to a male, as in Shakspeare, is
not legitimate.
2. One weak in knowledge, experience, judg-
ment or attainments ; as, he is a mere
child.
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.
Jcr. i.
3. One young in grace. 1 John ii.
One who is humble and docile. Math,
xviii.
One who is imfixed in principles. Eph.
iv.
4. One who is born again, spiritually re-
newed and adopted ; as a chUd of God.
5. One who is the product of another ; or
whose principles and morals are the [)ro-
duct of another.
Thou child of the devil. Acts xiii.
That which is the product or effect of
something else.
This noble passion, child of integrity. Shak.
6. In the plural, the descendants of a man
however remote; as the children of Israe} ;
the children of Edom.
7. The inhabitants of a country ; as the chil-
dren of Seir. 2 Chron. xxv.
To be leith child, to be pregnant. Gen. xvi.
U.xix. 36.
CHILD, V. i. To bring children. [jYot used.]
Shak.
CHILD-BEARING, a. or ppr. [See Bear.]
Bearing or producing children.
CHILD-BEARING, n. The act of produ-
cing or bringing forth children ; parturi-
tion. Milton. Addison.
CHILDBED, ji. [child and bed.] The state
of a woman bringing forth a child or being
in labor; parturition.
CHILDBIRTH, n. [child and birth.] The
act of bringing forth a child ; travail ; la-
bor: as the pains of cAtWiirtA. Taylor.
CHILDED, a. Furnished with a child.
[.Vol used.] Shak.
CHI
CHILD'ERMAS T>AY, jj. [child, viass and
An anniversary of the church of England,
held on the 28th of Decemher, in commem-
oration of the children of Bethlehem slain
by Herod ; called also Innocents' Day.
Bailey. Encyc.
CHILD'HQOD, n. [Sax. cildhad. See
Hood.]
1. The state of a child, or the time in which
(lersons are children, including the time
from birth to puberty. But in a more res-
tricted sense, the state or time from infancy
to puberty. Thus we say, infancy, child-
hood, youth and manhood.
Childhood and youth are vanity. Eecl. .\i
2. The properties of a child. Dn/den
CHILDING,;>;7r. [The verb <o c/iiW is not
now used.] Bearing children ; producing
as childing women. Arhuthnot.
CHILDISH, a. Belonging to a child ; tri-
fling ; puerile.
When I became a man, I put away childish
things. 1 Cor. xiii.
2. Pertaining to a child ; as childish years oi
age ; childish sports.
3. Pertaining to children ; ignorant ; silly
weak ; as childish fear.
CHILDISHLY, adv. In the manner of s
child ; ia a trifling way ; in a weak or fool-
ish manner.
CHILDISHNESS, n. Triflingness, pue-
rility, the state or quahties of a child, ir
reference to manners. But in reference
to the mind, simplicity, harmlessuess,
weakness of intellect.
CHILDLESS, a. Destitute of children or
offspring. 1 Sam. xv. 33.
CHILDLIKE, a. Resembling a child
that which belongs to children ; becoming
a child ; meek ; submissive ; dutiful ; as
childlike obedience.
CHILDLY, a. Like a child.
CHIL'DREN, n. phi. of child.
eHIL'IAD, n. [Gr. x<''^Mi,tvom j;aia, a thou-
sand.]
1. A thousand ; a collection or sum, contain-
ing a thousand individuals or particulars.
Holder.
2. The period of a thousand years. Encyc.
CHIL'IAGON, n. [Gr. ;taio, a thousand,
and ymia, a corner.]
A plain figure of a thousand angles and
sides. Math. Diet.
CHILIAHE'DRON, n. [Gr. j:aia, a thou
sand, and f 8pa, a base.]
A figure of a thousand equal sides.
€HIL'IAR€H, n. [Gr. ;tc>.ia, a thousand, and
apxoi: a chief.]
The military commander or chief of a thou
sand men.
CHIL'IARCHY, n. A body consisting of i
thousand men. Mitford.
CHIL'IAST, n. [Supra.] One of the sect of
Millenariuns.
eHILIPAC'TIVE. [See Chylifaclive.]
€HlLIOL'ITER. [See Kilohter.]
eHILIOM'ETER. [See KUometer.]
CHILL, n. [Sax. cele, cyle, cyl, cold ; celan
to be cold ; D. kil ; allied to Fr. geler,
L. gelo, gelidus. See Cold, which appear;
to be radically the same word. The word
cele in Saxon is a noun.]
1. A shivering with cold ; rigors, as m an
ague ; the cold fit that precedes a fever
CHI
sensation of cold in an animal body; chil-
liness. [See Cold and Heat.]
3. A moderate degree of cold ; chilliness in
any body ; that which gives the sensation
of cold.
CHILL, a. Cool ; moderately cold ; tending
to cause gliiveriiig ; as the chill vapors ot
night.
2. Shivering with cold.
My chill veins freeze with despair. Jlowe.
3. Cool; distant; formal; dull; not warm,
animated or affectionate ; as a chill recep-
4. Depressed ; dispu-ited ; dejected ; dis
couraged.
CHILL, V. t. To cause a shivering, or shrink
ing of the skin ; to check circulation or
motion ; as, to chill the blood, or the veins.
The force of this word hes in expressing
the shivering and shrinking caused by
cold.
3. To make cold, or cool ; as, the evening
I- chills the earth.
3. To blast with cold ; to check the circula
tion in plants, and stop their growth.
Blackmore.
To check motion, life or action ; to de-
press ; to deject ; to discourage ; as, to
chill the gayety of the spirits. Rogers.
CHILLED, ;>;). Made cool; made to shiv
; dejected.
CHIL'Li, )!. A Mexican plant, Guinea
C H I
3. To jingle ; to clatter.
Tlie sely tonge may wi
age:
2. A moderate degree of coldness ; as the
chilliness of the air, which tends to cause
a shivering.
CHILLTNG, ppr. Cooling ; causin;^
"liver.
CHILL'NESS, n. Coolness ; coldness ; a
shivering.
CHILL'Y, a. Cool; moderately cold, such
to cause shivering ; as a chilly day,
...j,ht, or air.
€HlL'OGRAM. [See Kilogram.]
CHIMB, n. [See Chime.]
CHIME, n. [Chaucer, chimbe ; Dan. kimer,
to tinkle, to tingle, to toll a bell ; L. cam-
pana, a bell, from its sound, whence It,
scampanare, to chime.]
\. The consonant or harmonic sounds of
several correspondent instruments.
Instruments that made melodious chime.
Milton
2. Correspondence of sound.
Love— harmonized the chime. Dryden
3. The musical sounds of bells, struck witl
hammers. Shak.
4. Correspondence of proportion or relation.
Grew.
5. A kind of periodical music, or tune of a
clock, produced by an apparatus annexed
to it.
A set of bells which chime, or ring in
harmony.
CHIME, V. i. To sound in consonance or
harmony ; to accord.
To make the rough recital aptly chime.
Prior.
2. To correspond in relation or proportion.
Father and son, husband and wife, correla-
tive terms, do readily chime. Locke
3. To agree ; to fall in with.
He often chimed in with the discourse.
.irhtithnnl
4. To agree ; to suit with. Locke
Smith.
and chimbe.
Chaucer.
CHIME, V. t. To move, strike, or cause to
sound in harmony. Dryden.
2. To strike or cause to sound, as a set of
bells.
CHIME, n. [D. kim; G.kimme, edge, brim.]
The edge or brim of a cask or tub, formed
by the ends of the staves.
CHl'MER, n. One who chimes.
€HIME'RA, n. [L. chimcera ; Gr. zi|«atpo, a
goat, a monstrous beast.]
In fabulous history, a monster with three
heads, that of a lion, of a goat, and of a
dragon, vomiting flames. The foreparts
of the body were those of a lion, the mid-
dle was that of a goat, and the hinder
parts were those of a dragon ; supposed
to represent a volcanic mountain in Lycia,
whose top was the resort of lions, the
middle, that of goats, and the foot, that of
serpents. Hence,
In modern usage, a vain or idle fancy ; a
creature of the imagination, composed of
contradictions or absurdities, that can
have no existence except in thought.
Encyc.
€HIMERT€AL, a. Merely imaginary ; fan-
ciful ; fantastic ; wildly or vainly con-
ceived ; that has, or can have no existence
except in thought.
€HIMER'I€ALLY, adv. Wildly; vainly;
fancifully ; fantastically.
€HIM'I€AL, a. [See Chimistry.] Pertain-
ing to chimistry ; as a chimical opera-
tion.
Resulting from the operation of the prin-
ciples of bodies by decomiiosition, combi-
nation, &c. ; as chimical changes.
3. According to the principles of chimistry <
chimical combination.
€HIM'I€ALLY, adv. According to chim-
ical jirinciples ; by chimical process or
operation.
CHIM'INAGE, n. [Fr. chemin ; Sp. camino,
a way.]
In law, a toll for passage through a forest.
Cowel. Bailey.
CHI'MING, ppr. [from chime.] Causing to
chime ; sounding in accordance.
€HIM'1ST, n. A person versed in chimis-
trv ; a professor of chimistry.
CHiM'ISTRY, n. [Fr. chimie ; Sp. chimia :
It. and Port, chimica. The orthography
of this word has undergone changes
through a mere ignorance of its origin,
than which nothing can be more obvious.
It is the Arabic La^aSs kimia, the
occult art or science, from ^ ^
kamai, to conceal. This was originally
the art or science now called alchimy ; the
art of converting baser metals into gold.
The order of Diocletian, directing seairh
to be made for books treating of the won-
derful art of making gold and silver, and
all that should be found to be committed
to the flames, proves the origin of this ni i
to be as remote as the close of the third
century, and it was probably somewhat
earlier. Gibbon, Ch. 13. It is not iiii
probable that this art was used in coun-
terfeiting coins. The common orthogra-
phy is from ;t'") to melt or fuse ; the oM
C H 1
C H I
CHI
orthography was from ;ti'u, the same word,
(lifFerontly written ; both having no foun-
dation, but a random guess. If lexicog-
raj)hers and writers iiad been contented
to take the orthography of the nations in
the south of Europe, where the origin of
tlic word was doubtless understood, and
tln-ough whom tlie word was introduced
into England, the orthography would have
been settled, uniform, and corresponding
exactly with the pronunciation.]
Chimistry is a science, the object of which
is to discover the nature and properties of
all bodies by analysis and synthesis.
Macquer.
Chimistry is that science which explains the
intimate mutual action of all natural bod-
ies. Fourcroy.
Analysis or decomposition, and synthesis or
combination, are the two methods which
chimistry uses to accomplish its piu-poses.
Fourcroy. Hooper.
Chimi.sti"y may be defined, the science which
investigates the composition of material
substances, and the permanent changes of
constitution which their mutual actions
produce. Ure.
Cliiuiistry may be defined, that science, the
olycct of which is to discover and explain
the changes of composition that occur
amon^ the integrant and constituent parts
of diflerent bodies. Henry.
Chimistry is the science which treats of
tliose events and changes in natural bod-
ies, wliich are not accompanied by sensi-
ble motions. Thomson.
Chimistry is justly considered as a science,
but the practical operations may be de-
nominated an art.
CIIIM'NEY, 71. plu. chimneys. [Fr. chemi-
n/e ; Arm. cimiaal, or cheminal ; G. kandn;
Corn, chimbla ; Ir. simiLeur ; Sp. chimenea ;
It. cammino ; L. caminus ; Ch. pap ; Ar.
..A*i' ; Gr- *»«""<>« ; Russ. kamin. It
seems originally to have been a furnace,
a stove, or a hearth.]
1. In architecture, a body of brick or stone,
erected in a building, containing a funnel
or funnels, to convey smoke, and other
volatile matter through the roof, from the
hearth or fire-place, where fuel is burnt.
This body of materials is sometimes called
a slack of chimneys, especially when it con-
tains two or more funnels, or passages.
2. A fireplace ; the lower part of the body of
brick or stone which confines and con-
veys smoke.
CHliVI'NEY-eORNER, n. The corner of a
fire-place, or the space between the fire
and the sides of the fire-place. In the
Northern States of America, fire-places
were formerly made six or eight feet wide,
or even more, and a stool was placed by
the side of the fire, as a seat for children,
and this often furnished a comfortable sit-
uation for idlers. As fuel has become
scarce, our fire-places are contracted, till,
in many or most of our dwellings, we have
no chimney-corners.
a. In a more enlarged sense, the fire-side, or
a place near the fire.
CHIM'NEY-HQOK, n. A hook for holding
pots and kettles over a fire.
CHIMNEY-MONEY, n. Hearth-money, a
duty paid for each chimney in a house.
Eng.
CHIM'NE Y-PIECE, n. An ornamental piece
of wood or stone set round a fire-place.
CHIMNEY-SWEEPER, n. One whose oc-
cupation is to sweep and scrape chimneys,
to dean them of the soot that adheres to
their sides.
CHIMFAN'ZEE, n. An animal of the ape
kind, a variety of the oiu-ang-outang.
Diet. JVat. Hist.
It is now considered a distinct species.
Cuvier.
CHIN, «. [Sax. cinne ; Pcrs. ^ l^ ; D.
kin ; G. kinn ; Dan. kind, the cheek ; Sw.
kind; L. gena; Gr. ytm. The sense is
probably an edge or side, and allied to
chine.]
The lower extremity of the face below the
mouth; tlie point of the under jaw.
CHI'NA, n. A species of earthern ware
made in China, and so called from the
country ; called also china ware and porce-
lain. [See Porcelain.]
CHINA-ORANGE, n. The sweet orange,
said to have been originally brought from
CIH'NA-RQOT, n. The root of a species
Smilax, brought from the East Indies, of
a ])ale reddish color, with no smell, and
very little taste.
CHINCH, 71. [Qu. It. cimice, L. cimex, cor-
rupted.]
A genus of insects, resembling the feather-
wing moths. These insects live in the
flowers of j)lants, and wander from flower
to flower, but prefer those wiiich are
sweetest. Diet. JVat. Hist.
CHIN'-COUGH, n. [D. kink-hoest, from
kink, a twist or bend, and hoest, a cough :
G. keichhusten, from keichen, to pant. Qui
for in Pers. ^i^i chonah is a cough.]
A contagious disease, often epidemic among
children. It increases for some weeks, is
attended with a difficulty of breathing, and
in its worst stage, with a degree of con-
vulsion. From a particular noise made in
coughing, it is also called hooping cough.
:CHINE, Ji. [Fr. echine ; It. schiena ; Ann.
! chein. It may be allied to chin. In Ger-
I :nan, schiene is the shin, also a clout, a
splint ; and rad-schiene is the band of a
I wheel ; Russ. schina.]
:1. The back-bone, or spine of an animal.
J2. A piece of the back-bone of an animal,
; with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking.
i3. The chime of a cask, or the ridge formed
by the ends of the staves.
Stat, of Pennsylvania.
iCHINE, II. t. To cut through the back-
bone, or into chine-pieces.
CHI'NED, a. Pertaining to the back.
Beaum.
iCHINE'SE, a. Pertaining to China.
CHINE'SE, n. sing, and plu. A native of
I China ; also, the language of China.
CHIN'GLE, n. Gravel free from dirt. [See
Shingle.] Donne.
.CHINK, 71. [This word may be a derivative
from the Saxon dnan, or ginian, geonan,
I to gape, to ymtm, Gr. x"*"'^; or from the
common root of these words. Sax. cina,
or cinu, a fissure.]
A small aperture lengthwise ; a cleft, rent,
or fissure, of greater length than breadth ;
a gaj) or crack ; as the chinks of a wall.
CHINK, V. i. To crack ; to open. Barrett
CHINK, V. t. To open or part and form a
fi.>^!^urc.
CHINK, V. t. [See Jingle.] To cause to
sound by shaking coins or small pieces of
metal, or by bringing small sonorous bod-
ies in colhsion ; as, to chink a purse of
money. Pope.
CHINK, ti. i. To make a small sharp sound,
as by the collision of little pieces of money,
or other sonorous bodies. Jlrhuthnol.
CHINKAPIN, 77. The dwarf chestnut, Fa-
gus pnmila, a tree that rises eight or ten
feet, with a branching shrubby stem, pro-
ducing a nut.
CHINK^Y, a. Full of chinks, or fissures;
gaping ; openmg in narrow clefts.
Dry den.
CHINNED, a. Having a long chin.
Kersey.
CHINSE, V. i. In naval affairs, to thrust
oakum into the seams or chinks of a ship
with a chisel or point of a knife, as a tetn-
jiorary expedient for calking. Mar. Diet.
CHINTS, 71. [b.diits; G.zitz; Sans, cheet;
Hindoo, cheent ; Per. chim, spotted, stain-
ed.]
Cotton cloth, printed with more than two
colorfi.
CHIOPPlNE, 71. [Sp. chapin ; Port, chapim.
It is said to be of Arabian origin. It can-
not be the L. crepis, Gr. xpijjtts, unless
a letter has been lost.]
A high shoe, Ibrmerly worn by ladies.
Shak.
CHIP, CHEAP, CHIPPING, in the names
of places, imply a market: from Sax. ceap-
an, cypan, to buy or sell. [Sec Cheap.]
CHIP,"7i. [from the root of chop. Fr. coup-
eau.]
1. A piece of wood or other substance, sep-
arated from a body by a cutting instru-
ment, particularly by an ax. It is used
also lor a piece of stone separated by a
chisel or other instrument, in hewing.
2. A fragment or piece broken ofl'; a small
piece.
CHIP, V. t. To cut into small pieces, or
chips ; to diminish by cutting away a lit-
tle at a time, or in sniiall pieces ; to hew.
Shak.
CHIP, ti. J. To break or fly ofl" in small pie-
ces, as in potter's ware.
CHIP-AX, n. An ax for chipping.
CHIPPED, pp. Cut in chips, or small pie-
ces ; hewed.
CHIPPING, ppr. Cutting off in small pie-
ces.
CHIP PING, 71. A chip ; a piece cut off or
separated by a cutting or engraving instru-
ment ; a fragment.
2. The flying or breaking off in small pieces,
of the "edges of potter's ware, and porce-
lain. Encyc.
CHIRAC Rl€AL, a. [from chiragra, hand-
gout, Gr. ;tt(p, the hand, and oypo, sei-
zme.]
Having the gout ill the hsmd, or subject to
that disease. Brown.
CHIRK, a. churk. [Probably allied to chirp;
D. drcken, obs. Chaucer uses the verb.
C H
C H I
C H L
to chirk, in the sense of cMi-p or chatter-
The word is found in the Russ. chirkayu.
to chirp. It is in popular use in New-
England.]
Lively ; cheerful ; in good spirits ; in a com-
fortable state.
CHIRK, V. i. To cliirp. Obs. Chaucer.
CHIRM, V. i. [Sax. cyrman.] To sing as a
bird. [JVot in use.]
CHI'ROGRAPH, n. [Gr. x^^?, the hand, and
ypoi}>u, to write.]
1. Anciently a deed, which, requiring a coun-
terpart, was engrossed twice on the same
piece of parchment, with a space between,
in which was written chirograph, throu;
which the parchment was cut, and o
part given to each party. It answered to
what is now called a charier-party. Encyc.
2. A fine, so called from the manner of en-
grossing, which is still retained in the
chirographer's office in England. Ibm
eHIROG'RAPHER, n. [See Chirograph.'
He that exercises or professes the art or
business of writing. In England, the chi-
rographer of fines is an officer in the
common pleas, vvlio engrosses fines ac
knowledged in that court, and delivers the
iiidi'iitiMvs Id the parties. Enci/<
tlllR<)<;i!AI'lI IC, ? Pertaining to
Cllll!0(il! \1M1 I€AL, \ "• chirographv.
Cllll!«»(; HAIMIIST, n. One who tells for
tunes by examining the hand. [Not a le-
gitimate ivord.] Arbuthnot.
eHlROG'RAPHY, n. [See Chirograph.
The art of writing, or a writing with one'i
own hand.
€HIROLOG'l€AL, a. Pertaining to chi
rology.
CHIROL'OGIST, n. [Gr. x^V, the hand,
and Xoyo;, discourse.]
One who communicates thoughts by signs
made with the hands and fingers.
CHIROL'OGY, n. [See Chirologist.] The
art or practice of communicating thought;
by signs made by the hands and fingers;
a substitute for language or discourse
much used by the deaf and dumb, and by
others who communicate with them,
Bailey.
CHIR'OMANCER, n. " [See Chiromancy.]
One who attempts to foretell future events,
or to tell the fortunes and dispositions of
persons, by inspecting the hands. Dryden.
€HIR'OMANCY,7i. [Gr. j:Eip, the hand, and
imrcii-a,, divination.]
Divination by the hand ; the art or practice
of attempting to foretell events, or to dis-
cover the dispositions of a person, by in-
specting the lines and lineaments of his
hand. Broimi.
CHIROMAN'Tle, a. Pertaining to chiro-
mancy, or divination by the hand.
Chiromantic deception. Grdlman.
CHIRP, V. i. cherp. [Ger. zirpen.] To make
the noise of certain small birds, or of cer-
tain insects ; as a chirping lark, or cricket.
Thomson.
CHIRP. V. t. To make cheerfid. Pope.
CHIRP, n. A particular voice of certain
birds or insects. Spectator.
CIIIRP'ER, ji. One that chirps, or is cheer-
ful.
CHIRP'ING, ppr. Making the noise of cer
tain small birds.
CIIIR1"ING, n. The noi.se of certain small
birds and insects.
€HIRUR'GE0N, n. [Gi-. ;t"pTOpro{, one who
operates with the hand, x"f>, the hand,
and ifyov, work ; L. chirvrgus ; Fr. chirur-
gien ; Sp. cirujano ; Port, surgiam, or ci-
rurgiam ; It. chirurgo ; A rm. surgj/an.'}
A surgeon ; one whose profession is to heal
diseases by manual operations, instru-
ments or external apphcations. [This ill-
sounding word is obsolete, and it now
appears in the form of ™?g-eo)!, which see.]
CHIRIJR'GERY, n. [Gr. ;t«pcmp7ia. See
Chirurgeon.']
That part of the medical art which consists
in heahng diseases and wounds by instru
ments and external applications ; now
written surgery.
€HIRUR'Gle, ? Pertaining to surge
eHIRUR'GlCAL, S ry, or to the art of
healing diseases and wounds by manual
operations, instruments or external appli-
cations.
2. Having qualities useful in external appli-
cations, for healing diseases or injuries
It is now written surgical.
CHIS'EL, n. s as z. [Fr. ciseau, a chisel ;
ciseler, to engrave ; Arm. gisell ; Sp. cin-
cel ; Heb. ?1J, Ch. DIJ, or NtJ, or Ar.
•i» chazza, to cut, hew, carve. See
Class Gs.]
An instrument of iron or steel, used in car
pentry, joinery, cabinet work, masonry
scul])ture, &c., either for paring, hewing or
gouging. Chisels are of different sizes
and shapes, fitted for particular uses.
CHIS'EL, V. t. To cut, pare, gouge, or
ave with a chisel.
CHIS'ELEJ), pp. Cut
cliisel.
CHISELING, ppr. f
CHIS'LEU, n. [Hcb
raved with a
chisel.
TO3, from tlie Ar
\*v.r kasila, to be torpid or cold.]
The ninth month of the Jewish j'ear, an
swering to a part of November and a part
of December, in the modern division of
the year.
CHIT, n. [Sax. cith, a shoot or twig, from
thrusting out.]
1. A shoot or sprout ; the first shooting or
germination of a seed or plant. Hence,
2. A child or babe, in familiar language.
•S. A freckle, that is, a push.
CHIT, V. i. To sprout ; to shoot, as a seed
or ])lant.
CHIT'-CHAT, n. [See Chat, Chatter.]
Prattle ; familiar or trifling talk.
CHIT'TERLING, n. The frill to the br
of a shirt. Gascoigne.
CHIT'TERLINGS, n. plu. [G. kuttel, prob-
ably from the root of gut.]
The guts or bowels ; sausages.
Johnson. Bailey.
CHIT'TY, a. Childish ; like a babe.
Johnson
2. Full of chits or warts.
CHIVALROUS, a. [See aiivalry.] Per-
taining to chivalry, or knight errantry
warlike ; bold ; gallant. Spenser.
CHIVALRY, n. [Fr. chevalerie, from e^ci--
alier, a knight or horseman, from cheral,
a horse ; Sp. caballeria ; It. cavalkna. See
Cavalry.]
Knighthood ; a military dignity, founded
on the St
of soldiers on horseback
called knights ; a service formerly deemed
more honorable than service in infantry.
Bacon.
2. The qualifications of a knight, as valor
and dexterity in arms. Shak.
3. The system of knighthood ; the privileges,
characteristics or manners of knights ;
the practice of knight-errantry, or the he-
roic defense of life and honor. Dryden,
4. An adventure or exploit, as of a knight.
Sidney.
The body or order of knights. Shak.
6. In English law, a tenia-e of lands by
knight's service ; that is, by the condition
of performing service on horseback, or of
performing some noble or military ser-
vice to his lord. This was general or
special ; general, when the tenant held
per servitium militare, without specification
of the particular service ; special, when
the particular service was designated.
When the tenant held only of the king, the
tenure was regal ; when he held of a com-
mon person, it was called common. This
service was also grand sergeantry, as when
the tenant was bound to perform service
to the king in his own person ; and petit
sergeantry, when he was bound to yield to
the king annually some small thing, as a
sword or dagger. Chivalry that might be
held of a common person, was called escu-
age, scutagium, or shield service.
Blackstone.
Court ofchivaln/, a court formerly held be-
fore the Lord High Constable and Earl
Marshal of England, having cognizance
of contracts and other matters relating to
deeds of arms and war. It had jurisdic-
tion both of civil and criminal causes, but
no power to enforce its decisions by fine
or imprisonment, not being a court of
record. It is now nearly extinct.
Blackstone.
CHIVE, n. [Fr. cive ; L. cepa.] A species
of small onion.
CHIVES, n. plu. In botany, slender threads
or filaments in the blossoms of plants.
[See Stamen.]
€HLO'RATE, n. [See ChloHne.] A com-
pound of chloric acid with a saUfiable
base. Ure.
€HLO'RIC, a. Pertaining to chlorine, or
obtained from it; as chloric acid. Ure.
CHLORIDE, } [See Chlorine.] A com-
CHLO'RID, <i "■ pound of chlorine with a
couibustil)le body. Ure.
ellLORID'IC, a. Pertaining to a chloride.
Ure.
ellLO'RINE, ^ [Gr. x^fi, green ; so na-
€HLO'RIN, I "• med from its color.]
Chloric gas ; a new name given to what has
been called oxymuriatic gas. This sub-
stance has hitherto resisted all efforts to
decompose it, and as it is not known to
contain oxygen, and is apparently a sim-
ple substance, it has been denominated
from its color, cJdorine, or chloric gas.
Davy.
€HLORIODT€, a. Consisting of chlorine
and iodine, or obtained from them. Davy.
CHLO'RIS, n. [Gr. ;i:>.upo5, green.] The
green finch, a small bird.
€HLO'RITE, n. [Gr. x-^^f^f, green.]
A mineral of a grass green color, opako,
usually frit'.l.'lc or easily pulverized, com-
C H O
C H O
C II O
posed of little spangles, scales, prisms or
shining small grains. It is classed by Kir-
wan with the muriatic genus. Tliere are
four subspecies, chlorite earth, common
chlorite, chlorite slate, and foliated chlo-
rile. Ure. Kirwan
CHLORO-€ARBON'l€, { The terms
ellLORO-CARBONOUS, S chloro-car-
bonic and and chloro-carbonous acid, are
a|)|)lied, the former by Thomson, and the
latter by Ure, to a compound of chlorine
and carbonic oxyd, formed by exposing a
mixture of the two gases to the direct
solar rays. It was discovered by Dr. J.
Davy, and called by him pkosgene gas.
ellLOKO'PAL, n. [green opal.] A newly
observed mineral, of two varieties, the
conchoidal and the earthy ; the conchoi-
dal is of a pistachio green color ; the other
has an earthy fracture, and both varieties
are possessed of magnetic [iroperties.
Phillips.
GHLO'ROPHANE, n. [Gr. x^fos, gieen,
and ^aivu, to show.]
A variety of fluor spar, from Siberia. When
placed on a heated iron, it gives a beauti-
ful emerald green light.
Cleaveland. Cyc.
CHLO'ROPIIEITR, n. [Gr. yfl^poi, green,
and tfMof, blackish.]
.\ rare mineral found in small nodules.
Cleaveland.
CIILO'ROPHYL, n. [Gr. x^-'^fU green, and
^■KtMi, leaf.]
The green niatterof the leaves of vegetables.
Pelletier.
ellLORO'SIS, n. [Gr. ifl.>^foi, green.] The
green sickness; a disease of females, char-
acterized by a pale or greenish hue of the
skin, weakness, palpitation, dyspepsy, &c.
Coxe.
€HLOROT'Ie, a. Pertaining to chlorosis;
as, chlorotic affections. Medical Repository.
2. Affected by chlorosis; as, cWoroiic nuns.
BaHie.
€HLO'ROUS, a. Pertaining to rlilorinc ; as
chlorous oxyd.
OTIOAK, [See Choke.]
CHOCK, n. [from choke.] In marine lan-
guage, a kind of wedge for confining a
cask or other body, to prevent it from mo-
ving.
Chocks of the rudder, are pieces of timber
kept in readiness to stop the motion of
the rudder, in case of an accident, &c.
Mar. Diet.
CHOCK, an encounter. [See Shock.]
CHOCOLATE, n. [Fr. chocolat ; Sp. Port.
chocolate ; It. cioccolata ; from cacao.]
1. A paste or cake composed of the kernel
of cacao, with other ingredients, usually a
little sugar, cinnamon" or vanilla. The
nut is first ground fine, mixed with the
ingredients, and put in a mold.
2. The liquor made by dissolving chocolate
in boiling water.
CHOe OLATE-HOUSE, n. A house where
company may be served with chocolate.
CHO€'OLATE-NUT. [See Cacao.]
CHODE, the old preterit of cfetWe, which see.
CHOICE, n. [Fr. choix ; Arm. choas ; Sax.
q/se ; D. keus. See Choose.]
1 . The act of choosing ; the voluntary act
of selecting or separating from two or
more things that which is preferred ; or
the determination of the mind in prefer-
ring one thing to another ; election.
Ye kuow how that a good while ago God,
made choice among us, that the Gentiles by
my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,
anil believe. Acts xv.
, The power of choosing ; option.
Where there is force, there can be no choice.
Of these alternatives we have our own choice.
Anon.
selecting; judgment or skill in
hiiiir \vli;it is to be jn-eferred, and
LMus were collected
iliat which is a))pro
preference to others
3. Care in
distingui
in givii,
I ill>.>;;l
with jui!
4. The iln
ved and
selection
Nor let thy conquests only be her choice.
Prior
5. The best part of any thing ; that which!
is preferable, and properly the object of]
choice.
In the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead
Gen. xxiii.
6. The act of electing to office by vote ; elec-
tion.
To make choice of, to choose; to select; to
separate and take in preference.
CHOICE, a. Worthy of being preferred;
select ; precious ; very valuable.
My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift
My revenue is better than choice silver. Hrov
2. Holding dear; preserving or using with
care, as valuable; frugal ; as, to be choice c'Tinuv
of time or of advantages. OHUivt.
3. Selecting with care, and due attention to
preference ; as, to be choice of one's
panv.
CHOICE-DRAWN, a. Selected with par-
ticular care. Shak
CHOICE'LESS, a. chois'less. Not having
the power of choosing ; not free.
Hammond.
CHOICE'LY, adv. chois'ly. With care in
choosing ; with nice regard to preference ;
with exact choice ; as a band of men
choicely collected.
2. Valuably ; excellently ; preferably
ously.
3. With great care ; carefully ; as a thing
choicely preserved.
CHOICM'NESS, n. chois'ness. Valuable-
ness ; ])articular value or worth ; as the
choiceness of a plant or of wine.
€I10IR, n. quire. [L. chorus ; Gr. ;^opos ; Fr
chaur ; Sp. Port. It. coro ; Sax. chor ; D,
choor ; G. chor ;
.'^ to go round
collect or bind. See Cliorus.]
1. A collection of singers, especially in d
vine service, in a church.
2. Any collection of singers.
3. That part of a church appropriated for
the singers, separated from the chancel
and the nave. In congregational and
some other churches, the singers are pla-
ced in certain seats in the galleries.
4. In nunneries, a large hall adjoining to the
body t)f the church, separated by a grate,
wlit'K' I lie nuns sing the office.
ClIOII! Sl',l!\ ICE, n. The service of sing-
^ 'u\!Z iiirioriiicd by a choir. Warlon.
CHOKE, V. I. [Sax. aeeocan. In Arm. coucq
I or goucq is the neck, Avith which choke
I may be connected, in the sense of narrow-
ness or comi)ression. The sense of choice
is to stuff, thrust down or stop ; or to
compress, or bind tight. [The Sp. ahogar
is the Port, afogar, L. »t«^oco.] It is i)rob-
ably allied to the Sf). ceg-ar, to shut, L.
emeus, Eng. key. Sax. ccig.]
1. To stop the passage of the breath, by fil-
ling the windpipe or compressing the lieck.
The word is used to express a temporary
or partial stoppage, as to choke with <lirt
or smoke ; or an entire stoppage that
causes death; to suffocate; to strangle.
Mark V.
2. To stop by filling ; to obstruct ; to block
up; as, to choke tiie entrance of a harbor,
or any passage.
3. To hinder by obstruction or impediments ;
to hinder or check growth, expansion, or
progress ; as, to choke plants ; to choke the
spreading of the fruit. Bacon.
Thorns choke them. Matt. xiii. Luke viii.
4. To smother or suffocate, as fire. Dryden.
5. To suppress or stifle; as, to choke the
strong conception. Shak.
6. To offend ; to cause to take an exception ;
as, I was choked at this word. Simjl.
We observe that this word generally im-
plies crowding, stuffing or covering. A
channel is choked by stones and sand, but
not by a boom.
CHOKIE, v. i. To have the wind-pipe stop-
ped ; as, cattle are apt to choke when eat-
I ing potatoes.
!2. To be offended ; to take exceptions.
The filamentous or capillary
part of the artichoke. Johnson.
CHO'KE-CHERRY, n. The popular name
of a species of wild cherry, remarkable for
its astringent qualities.
CHO'KED, pp. Suffocated ; strangled ; ob-
structed by filling; stifled; suppressed;
smothered.
CHOKE-FULL, a. [choke and full.] Full
as po^sible ; quite full.
CHOKE-PEAR, n. A kind of pear that
has a rough astringent taste, and is swal-
lowed with difficulty, or which contracts
the parts of the moiith.
2. An aspersion or sarcasm by which a per-
son is put to silence. [^ low term.]
Clarissa.
CHO'KER, n. One that chokes another ;
one that puts another to silence ; that
which cannot be answered. Johnson.
CHOKE-WEED, n. A plant so called.
CHO'KY, a. That tends to suffocate, or has
power to suffocate.
€HOL'AGOGUE, n. col'agog. [Gr. x<^>i^a-
yoj, from xo^l, bile.]
A medicine that has the specific quality of
evacuating the bile.
CHOL'ER, n. [L. cholera; Gr. xo^po., from
Xoi.ri, bile.]
1. The bile. By the superabundance of this
fluid, anger was formerly supposed to be
produced ; or perhaps the opinion was
that the bile caused the inflamed appear-
ance of the face in anger. Hence,
2. Anger; wrath; irritation of the passions.
Cholera Morbus, a sudden evacuation of bile,
both upwards and downwards.
CHOLERIC, a. Abounding with choler.
Dryden-.
2. Easily irritated ; irascible ; inclined to an-
ger ; as a choleric man.
C H O
3. Aiigiy ; iiitlicatiiig anger ; excited by an-
ger; as a. choleric speech. Raleigh
€HOL'ERI€NESS, n. Irascibility; anger;
peevishness.
eHOLES'TERI€, a. Pertaining to choles-
terin, or obtained from it ; as cholesteric
acid. Ure.
€HOLES'TERINE, ? „ [Gr. z"^, bile, and
€HOLES'TERIN, (, "• ;ip^o,, solid.]
A name given by M. Chevreul, to the pearly
or crystaline substance of human biliary
calcul'
CHOLIAM'BIC, n. [L. choliambi.] A verse
in poetry having an iambic foot in the fiftli
place, and a spondee in the sixth or last.
Beiitky.
eHON'DRODITE, n. A mineral, called
also Brucite. It occurs in grains or
perfect crystals, or in four-sided prisms
with rhombic bases, truncated on the two
acute lateral edges. It is translucent ; and
its color varies from reddish or amber yel-
low to grayish brown. Ckaveland.
CHOOSE, V. t. s as z. pret. chose ; pp. cho-
sen, chose. [Sax. ceosan ; D. kiezen ; G.
kiesen ; Sw. kesa ; Ice. kioosa ; Fr. choisir ;
Arm. choasa; Pers. ghozidan. The He-
brew has \mr> to collect. Sec Class Gs,
No. 40. 70. 71.]
]. To pick out ; to select ; to take by way of
preference from two or more things offer-
ed ; to make choice of.
The man the Lord doth choose shall be holy,
Jv'um. xvi.
Refuse the evil and choose the good.
3. To take in preference.
Let us choose to us judgment. Job xxxiv
3. To prefer; to choose for imitation; tc
follow.
Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of
his ways. Prov. iii.
4. To elect for eternal ha])piness ; to predes
tiuate to life.
Many are called but few chosen. Matt, xx
For his elect's sake, whom he hath chosen
Mark xiii
.5. To elect or designate to office or employ-
ment by votes or suffrages. In the United
States, the jjoople choose representatives by
votes, usually by ballot.
CHOOSE, V. i. To prefer; as, I choose to go.
2. To have the power of choice. Tlie
phrase, he cannot choose but stay, denotes
that he has not the power of choice,
whether to stay or not.
The verb, in these phrases, is really transi-
tive ; the following verb standing as the
object, instead of a noun.
CHOOS'ER, n. He that chooses ; he thn
has the power or right of choosing ; an
elector
C H O
CHOOSING,
takii
preference ; electing.
CHOOS'ING, n. Choice ; election.
CHOP, V. t. [G. and D. kappen ; Dan. kajy
per ; Gr. xorttui ; Fr. couper ; Norm, copper
oi-coupcr; Ar. ^x^s or ^^5./..^= lo cui.j
Class Gb. No. 47.' 51.]
1. To cut off or separate, by striking with
a sharp instrument, either by a single blow
or by repeated blows ; as, to chop off a
head ; to chop wood.
2. To cut into small pieces-; to niincc; as,
ti> chop meat : to rhup straw.
3. To grind and mince with the teeth ; to
devour eagerly ; with up; as, to chop up an
entertamment. Dryden.
To break or open into chinks or fissures ;
to crack ; to chap. [See Chap.]
CHOP, V. i. To catch or attempt to seize
with the mouth. {N'ot used.]
To chop at the shadow and lose the sub-
stance. V Estrange.
■2. To light or fall on suddenly. Johnson.
[If this is a legitimate sense, it indicates
that the primary sense is, to throw, thrust,
or strike. It is not in common use.]
To chop in, to become modish. [M'ot
used.] Wilson.
To chop out, to give vent to. [M'ot used.]
Beaum.
CHOP, V. t. [Sax. ceapian, cypan, to buy
or sell. See Cheap.]
. To buy, or rather to barter, truck, ex
change.
. To exchange ; to put one thing in the
place of another; as, to chop and change
our friends. L'Estrange.
3. To bandy ; to altercate ; to return one
Word or thing for another.
Let not the council chop with the judg.
Bacon.
CHOP, V. i. To turn, vary, change or shift
suddenly ; as in the seaman's phrase, the
wind chops, or chops about.
[The various senses of this verb seem to cen-
ter in that of thrusting-, driving, or a sud-
den motion or exertion of force.]
CHOP, n. A piece chopped off; a small
piece of meat ; as a mutton chop.
2. A crack or cleft. See Chap, which, with
the broad sound of a, is often pronounced
chop.
3. The chap; the jaw: plu. the jaws ; the
mouth ; the sides of a river's mouth or
channel. [See Chap.]
CHOP'-CHURCH, ». An exchange or an
exchanger of benefices.
CHOP'-FALLEN, a. Dejected ; dispirited.
CHOP'-HOIISE, n. A house where provis-
ready dressed is sold.
CHO'PIN, n. [Fr. chopine.'] A liquid meas-
ure in France, containing nearly a pint
Winchester measure. In Scotland
quart of wine measure.
CHOP'PED, pp. Cut; minced.
CHOP'PING, ppr. Cutting; mincing; buy-
bartering.
CHOP'PING, o. Stout; lusty; plump.
CHOP'PING, n. [Sp. chapin.] A high-heel
ed shoe, worn by ladies in Italy. [See
, Chioppine.]
2. A cutting ; a mincing ; from chop.
CHOP'PING-BLOCK, n. A block
which any thing is laid to be chopped
CHOP'PING-KNIFE, n. A knife for min
, cing meat.
CHOP'PY, o. Full of clefls or cracks.
CHOPS, [See Chop.]
€HO'RAL, a. [from chorus.] Belonging tc
or composing a choir or concert ; as, cho-
ral symphonies. Milton.
i. Singing in a choir ; as, choral serapli
C H O
The string of a musical instrument.
Milton.
2. In music, the union of two or more sounds
uttered at the same time, forming an en-
tire harmony ; as a third, fifth and eighth,
which are perfect chords, or consonancies.
The fourth and si.xth are imperfect chords.
3. In geometry, a right line drawn or suppo-
sed to extend from one end of an arch of
a circle to the other. Hence the chord of
an arch is a right line joining the extrem-
ities of that arch. Encyc.
CHORD, V. t. To string. Dryden.
CHORDEE', n. [See Chord.] In medicine
and surgery, an inflammatory or spasmod-
ic contraction of the f\-8enum, attending
gonorrhea and accompanied with pain.
Coxe. Encyc.
CHORE, n. [Eng. char.] In America, this
word denotes small work of a domestic
kind, as distinguished from the principal
work of the day. It is generally used in
the plural, chores, which includes the daily
or occasional business of feeding cattle
and other animals, preparing fuel, sweep-
ing the house, cleaning furniture, &e.
[See Char.-]
HC
Amhurst.
CIIO'RALLY, adv. In the manner of a
chorus. Mason
CHORD, n. [L. chorda ; Gr. zopS)?, an intes-
tine, of which strings were made. When
it signifies a string or small rope, in gen
eral, it is written cord. See Cord.]
CHOREPIS'COPAL, a. [Gr. jtupoj, place,
and iXinxoTtof, bishop.]
Pertainini' to the power of a suffragan or
local bishop. Fell.
CHORE' LIS, n. [Gr. xoptm-] In ancient po-
etry, a foot of two s} llables, the first long
and the second short ; the trochee.
CHOR'IAMB, ?„ [Gr. a;op"05, a trochee,
CHORIAM'BUS, \ 'and 10/1605, iambus.]
In ancient poetry, a foot consisting of four
syllables, of which the first and last are
long, and the others short ; that is, a cho-
reus or trochee and an iambus united ; as,
nobilitas, anrietas. Encyc.
CHORIAM'BIC, n. A choriamb.
CHORIAM'BIC, a. Pertaining to a rhori-
amb. Mason.
CHO'RION, n. [Gr. ;iopioi/, or a;"P">^' : tfji-
latter seems to be allied to Jrupt", to hold,
or contain.]
In anatomy, the exterior membrane which
invests the fetus in utero.
CHO'RIST, 71. [Fr. choiisle.] A singing man
choir.
CllOR'ISTER, n. [from chorus, choir.]
Literally, a singer ; one of a choir; a smgei
in a concert. Drydt n
2. One who leads a choir in church rnu^;^
Tliis is the sense in the United States.
CHOROG'RAPHER, n. [See Chorography. ,
A person who describes a particular re-
gion or country ; or one who forms a ma|)
or maps of particular regions or countries.
Encyc.
CHOROGRAPII'RAL, a. Pertaining to
chorography ; descriptive of particular re-
gions or countries ; laying down or mark-
ing the bounds of particular countries.
Encyc.
CHOROGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In a cho-
rographical manner; in a manner descrip
tive of particular regions.
CHOROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. z^poj, a phu •
or region, and ypaf w, to describe.]
The art or i.raciM-r ..f making a map v'
particular reiji r,HiMtry,or provmce ;
of markiii- u- limits bounds or posiii
Chorography dillLrs irom geography, asML.
dcscrii)tion of a p.-irlicular country diflcr^
C H O
0 H K
C H R
from that of tlie whole earth ; and from
iopo^raphi), as the description of a country
diflers from that of a town, city or district.
Encyc.
■eHO'ROID, n. [Gr. ji^op'O", a particular
membrane, and f iSoj, likeness.]
In anatomy, a term applied to several parts
of the body that resemble the chorion ; as
the inner membrane investing the brain
or the pia mater ; the second coat of the
eye ; the fold of the carotid artery in the
brain, in which is the pineal gland.
Coxe. Encyc
-CHO'RUS, n. [L. dMrus ; Gr. ;topo5 ; Sax,
chor ; Tr. chceur ; 1). choor or koor ; Sp. It,
coro ; Ir. cora ; W. cor. In Welsh, the word
signifies a round or circle, a choir. If the
primary sense is a circle, or a eompany
the word may be referred to the Ar. j \^
kaura, to go round, to collect, to bind, or to
j.^ kan-a, to return, to repeat. Class
Gr. No. :32. 34. If the radical sense is to
sing or shout, it may be allied to Gr. z<^V"-
The former is most probable.]
1. A number of singers ; a company of j)cr
sons singing in concert.
Dryden. Pope. Addison
2. The persons who are sujjposed to behold
what passes in the acts of a tragedy, and
sing their sentiments between the act.s.
Shak. Johnson.
3. The song between the acts of a tragedy,
Johnson.
4. Verses of a song in which the company
join the singer ; or the union of a compa
ny with a singer, in repeating certain
couplets or verses, at certain period;
song. Johnson. Encyc.
5. A musical composition of two or njore
parts.
6. Among the Greeks, a chorus consisted of
^ a number of singers and dance
CHOSE, n. [Fr. chose ; Sp. cosa, suit,
cause, thing ; It. cosa ; Port, coiisa ; L.
causa. See Cause. The primary sense
is, action, urging, prosecution. See Thing
and Cause.]
In latB, property in action ; a right to pos-
session ; or that which may be demanded
and recovered by suit or action at law.
TIius, money due on a bond or note is a
chose in action ; a recompense for damage
done is a chose in action ; the former pro-
ceeding from an express, the latter from
im implied contract. A contract executed
is a chose in possession ; a contract execu-
tory conveys only a chose in action. A
chose local is annexed to a place, as a mill i
or the like ; a chose transitory is a thing
which is movable. Blackstone. Encyc.
CHOSE, s as z, pret. and pp. of choose.
The Cornish chough is a fow 1 of the genus
Corvus, nearly of the size of the crow, and
mischievous, like the magpie. It is black,
except the bill, legs and feet, which are
red. It is a native of the west of England.
Diet. o/MU. Hist.
Chough is also applied to the jackdaw.
Cyc.
CHOULE. [SeeJoivl]
CHOUSE, V. t. [This word may be from
the root of cozen. Arm. couczein, or conche-
za. Ar. j_^l-i gausa, to deceive or de-
fraud ; Etli. (tM*! ® chaso, to lie, deceive
or cheat.]
To cheat, trick, defraud ; followed by of, in
Hudibra.^; but in America, by out of; as,
to chouse one out of his money. [It is now
vulgar.] Dryden. Swifl.
CHOUSE, n. One who is easily cheated ; a
tool ; a simpleton.
A trick ; sham ; imposition. Johnson.
CHOUSED, pp. Cheated ; defrauded ; im-
posed on.
CHOUS'ING, ppr. Cheating ; imposing on.
CHOWDER, n. In JVtw England, a d' '
offish boiled with biscuit, i\;c. In S));
ish, chode is a paste madr nC niilK. eg
sugar and flour. In the west of England,
chowder-beer is a liquor made by boiling
black spruce in water and mixing with it
melasses.
CHOSEN,
pp.
cho'zn. Selected from
number ; picked out ; taken in preference ;
elected ; predestinated ; designated to office.
2. a. Select ; distinguished by preference ;
eminent.
; drowned in the sea.
His chosen captains
Ex. XV.
Ye are a chosen generatio
hood. 1 Pet. ii.
royal priest-
•CHOUGH, n. chuff. [Fr. choueas ; Ir. cas ;
Sax. ceo or ceogh. This word may be the
same as jack, in jackdaw. It appears to
be a Cornisii word.]
Vol. 1.
CHOWDER, V. t. To make a chowder
CHOWTER, IN t. To grumble like a frog
or a froward child. Phillips
€HRISM, 71. [Gr. ;i;p«i/io, fi'om ;^ptu, tc
anoint.]
Unguent ; unction. In the Romish and
Greek churches, oil consecrated by the
bishop, and used in the administration of]
baptism, confirmation, ordination, and ex
treme unction. It is prepared on holy
Thursday with much ceremony, and in
some cases, mixed with balsam. Encyc.
€HRIS'M.\L, o. Pertaining to chrism.
Brevint.
€HRISi\lA'TION, n. The act of applying
the chrism, or consecrated oil ; in baptism,
by the priest ; in confirmation, by the
bishop. In ordination, it is usually styled
unction. Encyc.
CHRIS'MATORY, n. A vessel to hold the
oil for chrism.
€HRIS'OM, n. [See Chrism.] A child that
dies within a month after its birth ; so call-
ed from the chrisom-cloth, a linen cloth
anointed with holy oil, which was former-
ly laid over a child's face when it was
baptized. Also, the cloth itself Encyc.
CHRIST, n. [Gr. xp'^oi, anointed, from
Arpi", to anoint.]
The A.Noi.NTED ; an appellation given to the
Savior of the world, and synonymous with
the Hebrew Messiah, it was a custom
of antiquity to consecrate persons to the
sacerdotal and regal offices by anointing
them with oil.
€HR1S'TEN, f. «. kris'n. [Sax. cristnian ;
D. kerstenen. See Christ.]
1. To baptize, or rather to baptize and
name ; to initiate into the visible church of
Christ by the application of water; appli-
ed to persons. And as a name is given to
the person in the ceremony, lieiice,
37
2. To name ; to denominate ; applied to
things. Burnet.
€HRlS'TE.\DOM, n. kris'ndom. [Sax.
cristendom, cristen, christian, and dom,
power, judgment, rule, jurisdiction. See
Christ.]
1. The territories, countries or regions in-
habited by christians, or those who pro-
fess to believe in the chrisitian religion.
2. The whole body of christians. Hooker.
3. Christianity ; the christian religion ; ai>.
while c/im/enrfom prevailed. [Unustud.]
MUner.
CHRISTENED, ;)/).Am'n</. Baptized and
named ; initiated into Christianity.
CHRISTENING, ppr. kris'etiing. Bapti-
zing luid naming.
CHRISTENING, n. The act or ceremo-
ny of baptizing and naming ; initiation
into the christian religion.
CHRIS'TIAN, n. krysl'yan. [Gr. zpiyto^os:.
L. christianus ; Sax. cristen ; D. kristen ;
Fr. chrititn ; Sp. christiano ; Arm. cris-
ten ; W. cristian. See Christ.]
1. A belie* er in the religion of Christ.
2. A profes.sor of his belief in the religion of
Christ.
3. A real disciple of Christ; one who be-
lieves in the truth of the christian religioUj
and studies to follow the example, and
obey the precept.'--, of Christ ; a believer
in Christ who is characterized by real
piety.
In a general sense, the word christians in-
cludes all who are born in a christian
countrv or of christian parents.
CHRISTIAN, a. [See the Noun.] Pertain-
ing to Christ, taught by him, or received
from him ; as the christian religion ; chris-
tian doctrines.
2. Professing the religion of Christ ; as a
christian friend.
Belonging to tlie religion of Christ ; rela-
ting to Christ, or to his doctrines, precepts
and example ; as christian profession and
practice.
4. Pertaining to the church ; ecclesiastical ;
as courts christian. Blackstone.
CHRIS'TIAN, i: t. To baptize. [.Yot used.]
Fulke.
CHRIS'TIANISM, n. [Gr. ;tp^r'avi(T^05.
See Christ.]
1. The christian religion.
2. The nations professing Christianity.
Johnsan.
CHRIS'TIANITE, n. A newly discovered
Vesuvian mineral ; its primitive form is
that of an oblique rectangular prism ; its
colors brown, yellow or reddish.
Joum. of Science.
CHRISTIANITY, h. [See Christian, from
Chist.]
The religion of christians : or the system of
doctrines and precepts taught by Christ,
and recorded by the evangelists and apos-
tles.
Whilst politicians are disputing about mon-
archies, aristocracies, and republics, Christiani-
ty is alike applicable, useful and friendly to
them all. Paley.
CHRISTIANIZE, v. t. To make christian ;
to convert to Christianity ; as, to chiistian-
ize pagans.
CHRIS TIANLIKE, a. Becoming a cliris-
t'»"- Shak.
CHRIS'TIANLY, adv. In a christian man-
C H
ncr; in a manner becoming the principles
of the christian religion, or tlie profession
of that rehgion.
CHRIS'TIAN-NAME, n. Tlie name given
in baptism, as distinct from the gentiUtious
or surname.
CllRJSTIANOG'RAPHY, 71. A descrip
tion of christian nations. \JVot used.]
Pagltt
eHRIST'MAS, n. [Christ and mass. Sax
Aiassn, a holy day or feast ; D. hersmis.]
\. The festival of the christian church oh
served annually on the 25th day of ,Dc
cember, in memory of the birth of Christ,
and celebrated by a particular church ser-
vice. The festival includes twelve days.
9. riiiislriias-il.iv.
♦ 1 1 K 1ST AI \S-150X, n. A box in vi'hich lit-
tle |iris(iit-< are deposited at christmas.
CHRIST MAS-DAY, n. The twenty fiftli
day of December, when christmas is cel-
ebrated.
€HRISTMAS-FLOWER, n. Hellebore.
€HRIST'MAS-ROSE, «. A plant of the
genus Helleborus, producing beautiful
white flowers about (Uiristmas.
CHRiST'S-THORN, n. The Rhamniis
liurus, a deciduous shrub, a native of
lestine and the South of Europe. It has
two thorns at each joint, and is supposed
to have been the sort of which the crown
of thorns for our Savior was made.
Encyc. Hanhury
OHROAS'TACES, n. [Gr. jrpoa, color.] In
natural history, a genus of pellucid gems,
i;omprehending all those of variable colors,
as viewed in diftereut lights. [JVot techni-
cal.] Encyc.
CHRO'MATE, n. [See Chrome.] A salt or
compound formed by the chromic acid
with a base.
CHROMATIC a. [Gr. x9^t">^f<-»'>i, from
;i;pQ^a, color, from ;^p"?w, to color. Xpoa
Xfioi'i.^, seem to be a dialectical orthogra
jihy of the same word.]
1. Relating to color. Dryden.
1. Noting a particular species of music,
which proceeds by several semitones in
succession. Encyc. Busby.
f^HROMAT'IC, n. [Suj.ra.] A Idnd of mu-
sic that proceeds by several conseciuive
semitones, or scmitonic intervals.
Rousseau.
€IIR03IAT ICALLY, adv. In the chro-
matic maimer.
CHROMAT'IeS, ?!. The science of colors
that part of optics which treats of the pro-
l)erties of tlie colors of light and of natural
bodies. Encyc.
CHROME, n. [Gr. zpu^o, color.] A metal
consisting of a porous mass of agghitina
led grains, very hard, brittle, and of a gray-
ish white color. Its texture is radiated. In
its highest degree of oxydation, it passes!
into the state of an acid, of a ruby red
(••olor. It takes its name from the various
and beautiful colors which its oxyd and
acid communicate to minerals into whose
composition they enter. Chrome is em
])loyed to give a fine deep green to the en
amel of porcelain, to glass, &c.
The oxyd of Chrome is of a bright grass
green or pale yellow color. Cleaveland.
-CHRO'MIC, a. Pertaining to chrome, or
obtained from it : as chromic acid.
C H R
Chromic yellow, the artificial chromate of
lead, a beautiful pigment.
CHRON'IC, ? [Fr. chronique ; It. Sp.
ellRON'ICAL, 5 cronico ; Gr. arponxos,
from X9'»'°i, time, duration. See Ar. ^ »j» •
Class Rn. No. 15.]
Continuing a long time, as a disease. A
chronic disease is one which is inveterate
or of long continuance, in distinction from
an acute disease, which speedily termi
nates.
€HRON'l€LE,n. [See CAromc] A historic
al account of facts or events disposed in tin
order of time. It is nearly synonymous
with annals. In general, this species of
writing is more strictly confined to chron
ological order, and is less diffuse than thi
form of writing called history.
2. In a more general sense, a history.
On/den.
3. That which contains history.
' Europe — her very ruins tell the history of
times gone by, and eveiy moldering stone is a
chronicle. Irving.
4. Chronicles, plu. Two books of the Old
Testament.
CHRONICLE, r.t. To record in history
oiiicle ; to record ; to register.
Spenser. Shak.
CHRONICLER, n. A writer of a chronicle;
a recorder of events in the order of time;
a historian.
CHRONIQUE, n. chron'xh. A chronicle.
Addison
CHRON OGRAM,n. [Gr. ^ho.o;, time, anc
yfiafifia, a letter or a\ riting, from ypa^u, to
write.]
An inscription in which a certain date or
epoch is expressed by numeral letter!
in the motto of a medal struck bv Gusta-
vus A,l..l|.hu.-: in 1032.
< l,rl.t\ > n\ X : eiijo trlVMpliVs.
CHRoNtX.K \A1 MAT'IC, ? Belong
CHR0.\0(;HA\1.MVT'ICAL, \"- ingtoa
chronogram, or containing one.
CHRONOGRAM MATIST, n. A writer of
chronograms.
CHRONOG'RAPHER, ji. [Gr. a^po^oj, time,
and ypa^u, to describe.]
One who v^rites concerning time or the
events of time ; a chronologer. Tooke
CHROXOr; RAPIIY, n. The description
ofliiii.' |.a-t. [JJItle used.]
CHR()X()I.(»(,I;K, I [See Chronology.
CHRONOLOOIST, ^ "' A person who at
tempts to discover the true dates of past
events and transactions, and to arrauj
them under their proper years, or divi
ions of time, in the order in which they
happened.
2. One who studies chronology, or is versed
in the science.
CHRONOLOG'IC, I Relating to chro
CIIRONOLOG'ICAL, ^ "' nology ; contain
ing an account of events in the oi-dcr of
time ; according to the order of time.
CHRONOLOG'ICALLY, adv. In a chron
ological manner ; in a manner according
with the order of time, the series of events,
or rules of chronology.
CHR0N0L'06Y, n. [Gr. ;tpo>'0^oy.a ; ;tpcHO;
time, and Jioyoj, discourse or doctrine.]
The science of time; the method of measur
ing, or computing time hy rcgidar divis
C H U
ions or periods, according to the revolu-
tions of the sun, or moon ; of ascertaining
the true periods or years when past events
or transactions took place ; and arranging
them in their proper order according to
their dates.
If history without chronology is dark and
confused ; chronology without history is dry
and insipid. A. Holmes.
CHRONOM'ETER, n. [Gr. j^poros, time, and
fiitfiov, measure.]
Any instrument that measures time or that
divides time into equal portions, or that is
used for that purpose, as a clock, watch
or dial ; particularly an instrument that
measures time with great exactness.
Chronoscope is now rarely used.
CHRYS'ALID, n. [See Cht-ysalis.]
CHRYS'ALIS, n. [L. chrysalis, Gr. xf^aaXki.;,
grub, from its golden color, xpyi'oi, gold.]
Tlie particular form which butterflies, moths,
and some other insects assume, before
they arrive at their winged or perfect
state. It is called also aurelia, from aurum,
gold. In this form, the anunal is in a
state of rest or insensibility ; having no
organs for taking nourishment, nor wings,
nor legs. The external covering is car-
tilaginous, and usually smooth and glossy ;
sometimes hairy. The name is taken
from the yellow color of certain species ;
but they are of different colors, as green,
black, &c.
CHRYS'OBERYL, n. [Gr. ;rp«'ff<'5, gold, and
/3)jpi)»ioi', beryl.]
V siliceous gem, of a dilute yellowish green
color. Kincan.
Chrysoberyl, the cymophane of HaUy, is
a mineral usijally found in round pieces,
about the size of a pea; but it is also
found crystaUzed in eight-sided prisms.
It is next to the sapphire in hardness, and
emjiloyed in jewelry. Ure. Cleaveland.
CHRYS'OCOLLA, n. [Gr. xpvaoxena, glue
of gold, ;^pii5o; and xoMa ; a name given
by the Greeks to borax and to mountain
green.]
Carbonate of copper, of two subspecies, the
blue and the green ; formerly called blue
and green chrysocolla, also mountain blue
and mountain green. It occurs in crys-
tals, stalactites and other forms.
Fourcroy. Cleaveland.
CRYS'OLITE, n. [Gr. jtpvaos, gold, and
xtSoj, stone.]
A mineral, called by HaUy and Brongniart,
peridote, and by Jameson, jirismatic chrys-
olite. Its prevailing color is some shade
of green. It is harder than glass, but less
hard than quartz ; often transparent,
sometimes only translucent. It occurs
sometimes in crystals, sometimes in small
amorphous masses or grains, and some-
times in rolled pieces. Cleaveland.
CHRYS'OPRASE, n. [Gr. ;tpv(jortpa(5os ;
Xfrvaoi, gold, and rtpaaor, a leek.]
A mineral, a subs]>ecies of quartz. Its color
is commonly apple green, and often ex-
tremely beautiful. It is translucent, or
sometimes semi-transparent; its fracture
even and dull, sometimes a little splin-
tery, sometimes smooth and slightly con-
choidal; its hardness little inferior to that
of flint. Cleaveland.
CHUB, n. [This word seems to signify thick
head, or a muss or lunij). In Pcrs. chitb
C H U
C H U
C H U
or chob is a club. See Class Gb. No. 1
and 2.]
A river fish, called also cheven, of the genus
Cyprinus. The body is oblong, nearly
round ; the head and back, green ; the sides
silvery, and the belly white. It frequents
deep boles in rivers shaded by trees ; but
in warm weather floats near the surface,
and furnishes sport for anglers. It is in-
diflerent food. Did. JVat. Hist. Encyc.
CHUiJ'BED, I Like a chub ; short and
CHUBBY, i"- thick.
CHUB'-FACED, a. Having a plump round
face. Mdison.
CHUCK, V. i. To make the noise of a hen or
partridge, when she calls her chickens.
CHUCK, V. t. To call, as a hen her chick
ens.
CHUCK, V. i. To jeer; to laugh. [See
Chuckle.]
CHUCK, v.t. [Fr. cAo^uer ; Russ. chokayu,
to strike gently ; Port. Sp. chocar.]
1. To strike, or give a gentle blow ; as, to
chiick one under the chin.
2. To throw, with quick motion, a shor
distance ; to pitch. [Vulgar.]
CHUCK, n. The voice or call of a hen.
2. A sudden small noise.
3. A word of endearment, corrupted from
chick, chicken.
CHUCK-FARTHING, n. A play in whicli
a farthing is pitched into a hole.
CHUCK'LE, V. t. [from chuck.] To call, as
a hen her chickens.
2. To fondle ; to cocker. [Qu. W. cocru. See
Cocker.]
CHUCK'LE, V. i. [Ch. nin chuk or huk
to laugh. See Class Gk. No. 18. and
Giggle^
To laugh heartily, or convulsively ; to shake
with laughter, or to burst into fits of laugh
ter.
CHUCK'LE-HEAD, n. A vulgar word ir
Ameiica, denoting a person with a large
head, a dunce. Bailey says, a rattling,
noisy, empty fellow.
CHUD, V. t. To champ ; to bite. [JVot in
tise.] Stafford.
CHU'ET, n. Forced meat. Bacon
CHUFF, n. [Perhaps VV. cijf, a stock or
stem; cyfiaw, to become torpid.]
A clown; a coarse, heavy, dull or surly
fellow.
CHUFF'ILY, adv. In a rough, surly man-
ner ; clownishly.
CHUFF'INESS, n. Surliness.
CHUFF'Y, a. Blunt ; clownish ; surly ; an
gry ; stomachful. In N. England, this
word expresses that displeasure which
'•auses a swelling or surly look and gruni
bliug, rather than heat and violent e.\
pressious of anger.
CHUK, n. A word used in calling swine.
It is the original name of that animal,
which our ancestors brought with them
from Persia, where it is still in use, Pers,
chuk, Zend, chuk, a hog ; Sans, sugara.
Our ancestors, while in England, adopted
the Welsh hive, hog, biit chuck is retained
in our popular name of woodchuck, that is,
wood hog. This is a remarkable proof
of the original seat of the Teutonic na-
tions. I have taken chuk from Adclung
The French cochon may be the same
word.
CHU5I. n. [Arm. chmnni, or chommei)!,, or
ham, to dwell, stay, or lodge ; Fr. chtiMer,\
to rest. Qu. Sax. ham, home.] I
A chamber-fellow ; one who lodges or re-'
sides in the same room ; a word used in
colleges.
CHUMP, rt. A short, thick, heavy piece of
wood, less than a block. Johnson.'^
CHURCH, n. [Sax. circe, circ or cyric ;
Scots, kirk, which retains the Saxon pro-1
nunciation ; D. kerk ; G. kirche ; Sw. kurck-\
ia ; Dan. kirke ; Gr. xupiaxw, a temple of^
God, from xvfuaxos, pertaining to a Lord,!
or to our Lord Jesus Christ, from xipioj, a|
Lord ; Russ. tzerkov.] 1
1. A house consecrated to the worship of
God, among christians ; the Lord's housc._
This seems to be the original meaning of
the word. The Greek exxXifaia, from ex-|
xaXiu, to call out or call together, denotes:
an assembly or collection. But xvpioxos,'
xvpwLxm, are from xuptoj. Lord, a term ap-
plied by the early christians to Jesu^
Christ ; and the house in which they wor-
shipped was named from that title. So
xvpiaxa signifies church goods, bona ec-
clesiastica ; xvptaxjj, sc. ij/ufpa, the Lord's
day, dies dominica.
2. The collective body of christians, or of
those who profess to believe in Christ, and;
acknowledge him to be the Savior of man
kind. In this sense, the church is some
times called the Catholic or Universal
Church. Johnson. Encyc.
3. A particular number of christians, united
under one form of ecclesiastical govern-
ment, in one creed, and using the same
ritual and ceremonies ; as the Englisl
church ; the Galilean church ; the Presby
terian church ; the Romish church ; the
Greek church.
4. The followers of Christ in a particul,
city or province ; as the cAurcA of Ephesus,
or of Antioch.
5. The disciples of Christ assembled for
worship in a particular place, as in a pri-
vate house. Col. iv. [See No. 9.]
. The worshipers of Jehovah or the true
God, before the advent of Chi-ist ; as the
Jewish church.
. The body of clergy, or ecclesiastics, in
distinction from the laity. Hence, ecclesi-
astical authority. Encyc.
8. An assembly of sacred rulers convened in
Christ's name to execute his laws.
Cruden. Brown.
9. The collective body ofchristians, who have
made a public profession of the christian
reUgion, and who are united under the
same [>astor ; in distinction from those
who belong to the same parish, or eccle-
siastical society, but have made no pro-
fession of their faith.
CHURCH, V. t. To perform with any one the
office of returning thanks in the church
after any signal dehverance, as from tht
dangersof childbirth. Johnson.
CHURCH-ALE, n. A wake or feast com
memoratory of the dedication of the
church. Johnson
CHURCH-ATTIRE, n. The habit in which
men officiate in divine service. Hooker.
CHl'RCH-.MTHORITY, n. Ecclesiastical
power; spiritual jurisdiction. Atterbury.
CHURCH-BENCH, n. The seat m the porch
of a church.
CHURCH-BURIAL, n. Burial according to
the rites of th(! church. •Ayliffc.
CHI K< H-lJlSCll'l.INE, n. Discipline of
inch, ihti-iiilrd to correct the offense's
iri.-inlHT>.
Clll'RCli I>O.M, n. The government or au-
tliority of the church.
CHURCH-FOUNDER, n. He that builds or
endows a churcli. Hooker.
CnUR(MI-HISTORY, „. History of the
christian ( liiinh : ecclesiastical history.
CHURCH l:\<;, ii.'VUi- art of offering thanks
in chiiicli after rliildliirtli.
CIIUR( II LAND, I!. Lund belonging to a
liiMi-li. Yelverion.
(iiri{<'ll I.IKE, a. Becoming the churchi
('11UR(;H MAxV, n. An ecclesia.stic or cler-
gyman ; one who ministei-s in sacred
things.
2. An episcopalian, as distinguished from a
preslivtrrian or congregationalist, &c,
CIHRCIIMEM'BER, n. A member in
iiuiiiiii with a cliurch ; a professor of
CnURCli-AR; SIC, n. The service of sing-
ing or <-liaiiting in a church.
^. Music suited to church service.
CHURCH SHIP, n. Institution ofthechurclr.
South.
CHURCH- WARDEN, n. A keeper or guar-
dian of the church, and a representative of
the parish. Church-wardens are appoint-
ed by the minister, or elected by the parish-
ioners, to superintend the church, its i>rop-
erty and concerns, and the behavior of tlie
parishioners. For these and many othei-
purposes, they possess corporate powers.
Johnson. Encyc.
CIU'RCH -WAY, n. The way, street or
(piiil xUm loads to the church.
11 HCll -WORK, n. Work carried on
l,,«lv. Todd.
CHURCH- YARD, n. The ground adjoining
to a church in which the dead are buried ;
a cemetery. ohnson.
CHURL, n. [Sax. ceorl ; D. kaerel ; G. kerl ;
Dan. karl. It signifies primarily, a man,
or rather a male, for it was applied to
other animals, as a carl-cat, a male-cat ;
and males are named from their strength,
or the sex impUes it ; hence, cart-hemp
denoted strong hemp. Huscarla, a house-
carl, or servant; huscarla, a ship's-carl.
See Spelman. Hence the name, Charles,
Carolus.]
1. A rude, surly, ill-bred man. Sidney.
2. A rustic ; a countryman, or laborer.
Dryden.
3. A miser ; a niggard. Is. xxxii.
CHURL'ISH, a. Rude ; surly ; austere ; sul-
len ; rough in temper ; unfeeluig ; uncivil.
2. Selfish ; narrow-minded ; avaricious.
King.
3. [Of things.] Unpliant ; unyielding ; cross-
grained ; harsh ; unmanageable ; as churl-
ish metal. Bacon.
4. Hard ; firm ; as a churlish knot. Shak.
5. Obstinate ; as a churlish war. Bacon.
CHURLISHLY, arfu. Rudely; roughly; in
lurlish manner.
CHURLISHNESS, n. Rudeness of man-
ners or temper, but generally the word
refers to the temper or disposition of mind ;
sullenness ; austerity ; indisposition to kind-
ness or courtesv.
CHURL'Y, a. Riide ; boisterous.
C I c
C I D
C I M
I -HURME, or CHIRM, n. [Sax. ryrm, clam-
or; cyrman, to cry out ; W. gann.] Noise
clamor, or confused noise. Obs.
Bacon
CHURN, n. [Sax. ciern, cynn, or cerenc, i
churn; cerann, to cliurn ; D.kam,1uirne7i
Dan. Idenie, kienier.]
\ vessel in which cream or milk is agitated
for separating the oily part from the case
ous and serous parts, to make butter.
CHURN, V. t. To stir or agitate cream for
making butter.
9. To shake or agitate with violence or con
tinned motion, as in the operation of ma
king butter.
CHURN'ED, pp. Agitated ; made into
butter.
CHURN'ING, ppr. Agitating to make but
ter ; shaking ; stirring.
CHURN'ING, n. The operation of making
butter from cream by agitation; a shaking
or stirring.
2. As much butter as is made at one opera-
tion.
CHURN'-STAFF, n. The staff or instru-
ment used in churning.
CHURR'VVORM, n. [Sax. cyrrmi, to turn,
and worm.]
An insect that turns about nimbly, called
also a fancricket. Johnson. Bailey.
CHUSE, [See Choose.]
CHU'SITE, n. A yellowish mineral found
by Saussure in the cavities of porphyries
in the environs of Limbourg. Ure.
CHYLA'CEOUS, a. [See Chyle.] Belong-
ing to chyle; consisting of chyle.
CHYLE, n. [Gr. zv^-os, juice, humor.] In
animal bodies, a white or milky fluid sepa-
rated from aliments by means of digestion.
It is absorbed by the lacteal vessels, by
which it is conveyed into the circulation,
assimilated into blood, and converted into
nutriment. Encyc. Ouiiicy. Coxe.
CHYLIFA€'TION, n. [chyle and L./acio.]
The act or process by which chyle is form-
ed from food in animal bodies.
Arhuthnot.
€HYLIFA€'TIVE, a. Forming orchanging
into chyle ; having the power to make
CHYLOPOET'l€, adv. [Gr. ;ci*05, chyle,
and Ttoifu, to make.]
Chylifactive ; having the power to change
into chyle ; making chyle. .Irbufhnot.
CHY'LOUS, a. [from chyle.} Consisting of
chyle, or partaking of it. Arbulhnol.
CHYME, n. [Gr. ztiftoj, juice.] That par-
ticular modification which food assumes
after it has undergone the action of the
stomach. Cyc.
\mong the older authors, juice; chyle, or
the finest part of the chyle contained in
the lacteals and thoracic duct ; any humor
incrassated by concoction, whether fit or
unfit for preserving and nourishing the
body. Encyc. Coxe. Bailey.
€HYMIC,€HYMIST,€1IYMISTRY. [See
Chimical, Chimist, Chimistry.]
k:iBA'RIOUS, a. [L. cibaHus, from cibus,
food.]
Pertaining to food ; useful for food ; edible.
Johnson.
CIB'OL, 11. [Fr. ciboute ; L. cejmla.] A sort
of small onion.
CI€A'DA, )i. [L. See Cigar.] The frog-hop-
per, or flea locust ; a genus of insects of
many species.
CI€'ATRICLE, n. [L. cicatriciila, from cic
atrix.]
The germinating or fetal point in the em
bryo of a seed or the yelk of an egg ; as
"germinating cicatiicle." Barton.
CI€'ATRISIVE, «. Tending to promote
the formation of a cicatrix.
CICATRIX, > [L. cicatrir ; Fr. cica
CICATRICE, S trice.] A scar ; a litth
seem or elevation of flesh remaining after
a wound or ulcer is healed. Encyc.
CICATRIZANT, n. [from cicatrize.] A
medicine or application that promotes the
formation of a cicatrix, such as Armenian
bole, powder of tutty, &c. It is called
also an escharotic, epidotic, incarnative
agglutinant, &c. Encyc.
CICATRIZA'TION.n. The process of heal
ing or fornfmg a cicatrix ; or the state of
being healed, cicatrized or skinned over.
CICATRIZE, r. t. To heal, or induce the
formation of a cicatrix, in wounded or ul
cerated flesh ; or to apply medicines for
that purpose.
CICATRIZE, V. i. To heal or be healed ;
to skin over ; as wounded flesh cicalri
CICATRIZED, pp. Healed, as wounded
flesli ; having a cicatrix formed.
CICATRIZING, ppr. Heahng ; skinning
over ; forming a cicatrix.
CICELY, n. A plant, a species of Cha;ro
phyllum. Tlie sweet cicely is a species of
Scandix.
CICERO'NE, n. [from Cicero.] A guide
one wlio explains curiosities. Addison.
CICERO'NIAN, a. [from Cicero, the Roman
orator.]
Resembling Cicero, either in style or action ;
in style, diffuse and flowing ; in manner,
vehement.
CICERO'NIANISM, n. Imitation or resem-
blance of the style or action of Cicero.
CICHORA'CEOfJS, a. [from L. ciclwrium,
succory or wild endive.] Having the
quahties of succory. Floyer.
CICISBE'ISM, n. The practice of dangling
about females.
CICISBE'O, n. [It.] A dangler about
females. Smollett.
CI€' URATE, V. t. [L. cicur, tame ; cicuro,
to tame.]
To tame ; to reclaim from wildness. [Little
used.]
Cl€URA'TION, n. The act of taming wild
limals. [IaMc used.]
CI€U'TA, n. [L. cieuta; W. cegid ; Fr.
eigne ; Arm. chagud. The Welsh is from
ceg, a choking.]
Water-hemlock, a plant whose root is pois-
onous. This term was used by the an-
cients and by medical writers for the Coni-
um maculatum, or common hemlock, the
expressed juice of which was used as a
common poison. Socrates and Phocion
perished by it. It is now used medicinally
in moderate doses, with good effect.
CI'DER, n. [Fr. cidre or sidre ; It. sidro ;
Sp. sidra; Arm. cistr ; Port, cidra, a
citron and cider. This cannot be the
Gr. ijixffia, unless the radical letter has
been changed.]
The juice of apples expressed, a liquor used
for drink. The word was formerly used
to signify the juice of other fiuits, and
other kinds of strong liquor ; but it is now
appro jiriated to the juice of apples, before
and after fermentation.
CI'DERIST, n. A maker of cider.
^, ^„ Mortimer.
CI'DERKIN, n. The liquor made of the
gross matter of apples, after the cider is
pressed out, and a quantity of boiled water
is added ; the whole steeping forty eight
hours. Phillips.
[The two last words, I believe, are little
used in America.]
CIERGE, n. [Fr. Qu. L. cera.] A candle
carried in processions.
CIGAR', n. [Sp. cigarro, a small roll of
tobacco for smoking. In Sp. cigarra is
the L. cicada, the balm-cricket or locust.
Port, cigarra ; and in Sp. cigarron is a
large species of that animal, and a large
roll of tobacco.]
A small roll of tobacco, so formed as to be
tubular, used for smoking. Cigars are of
Spanish origin.
CIL'IARY, a. [L. cilium, the eye-lashes, or
edge of the eyelid.] Belonging to the eye-
_, 'ids. Ray.
CIL'IATED, a. [from L. cUium, as above.]
In botany, furnished or surrounded with
parallel filaments, or bristles, resembhng
the hairs of the eye-lids, as a ciliated lea^
&c. Encyc. Martyn.
CILI"CIOUS, a. [from L. cihum, whence
dlicium, hair cloth.] Made or consisting
of hair. Brown.
CIMA, [SeeCyma.]
CIM'BAL, n. [It. ciambclla.] A kind of
cake.
CIM'BRle, a. Pertaining to the Cimbri, the
inhabitants of the modern Jutland, in Den-
mark, which was anciently called the Cim-
bric Chersonese. Hence the modern names,
Cymru, Wales, Cambria ; Cymro, a Welsh-
man ; Cymreig, Welsh, or the Welsh lan-
guage ; names indicating the Welsh to be
a colony of the Cimbri or from tlie same
stock.
CIM'BRle, n. The language of the Cimbri.
CIM'ITER, n. [Fr. cimUeire ; Sp. and Port.
cimitarra ; It. scimitarra.]
A short sword with a convex edge or re-
curvated point, used by the Persians and
Turks. [This word is variously written ;
l)ut it is a word of foreign origin, and it is
not material which orthography is used,
provided it is uniform. I have adopted
that which is most sunple.]
CIMME'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Cimmetium.
a town at the mouth of the Palus Mreotis!
The ancients pretended that this country
was involved in darkness ; whence the
phrase Cimmerian darkness, to denote a
deep or continual obscurity. The country
is now called Crimea, or Krim-Tartary.
CIM'OLITE, n. [Gr. xt/.oiUa ; L. cimoliu, so
called by Pliny ; said to be from Cimolus,
an isle in the Cretan Sea, now Argentiera.]
A species of clay, used by the ancients, as a
remedy for erysijielas and other inflam-
rnations. It is white, of a loose, soft text-
ure, rnolders into a fine powder, and efler-
vesces with acids. It is useful in taking
spots from cloth. Another species, of a
purple color, is the steatite or soap-rock.
From another siiecios, found in the isle of
Wight, tobacco i)ipcs are made.
Pliny. Lib. 35. 17. Encyct
C I N
C I P
C 1 R
CINCHONA, n. The Peruvian bark, quin
quina, of which there are three varieties,
the red, yellow and pale.
CINe'TURE, n. [L. cindura, from cirtgo,U
surround, to gird ; It. cintura ; Fr. cein
ture.]
1. A belt, a girdle, or something worn
round the body. Pope-
2. That which encompasses, or incloses.
Bacon.
3. Li architecture, a ring or list at the top and
bottom of a column, separating the shaft
at one end from the base ; at the other,
from the capital. It is supposed to be in
imitation of the girths or ferrils anciently
used to strengthen coliunns. Chambers.
CIN'DER, n. chiefly used in the plu. cinders.
[Fr. cendre ; It. centre ; Sp. ceniza ; L.
oinis, ashes. In W. sindw, is the cinders
or scoria of a forge ; Sax. sinder, the scoria
of metals ; D. zindet ; Sw. sinder. Qu. Gr.
xoi/tf, xaiiia, dust, ashes.]
1. Small coals or particles of fire mixed with
ashes ; embers. [ This is the usual sense of
the word in America.]
2. Small particles of matter, remaining after
combustion, in which fire is e.xtinct ; i
the cinders of a forge.
[Ibelieve this word is never used assynoi
ymous vnlh ashes.]
CINDER-WENCH, > A woman wliose
CINDER- WOMAN, S "' business is to rake
into heaps of ashes for cinders.
[JVol known in America.] Johnson.
CINERA'TION, n. [from L. cinis, ashes.]
The reducing of any thing to ashes by
combustion.
CINE'REOUS, a. [L. cinereus, from cinis,^
ashes.] Like ashes ; having the color of
the ashes of wood. Marlyn.
CINERI'TIOUS, a. [L. cinericivs, from
cinis, ashes.] Having the color or i
sisteuce of ashes. Cheyne.
CIN'GLE, n. [Ir. rcangal ; L. cinguium,
from cingo, to gird.] A girth ; but the
word is little used. [See Surcingle.]
CINNABAR, »i. [Gr. xiwoSopt ; L.cinnaba-
Pers. A J
kanhar.]
Red sulphuret of mercury. JVative cinnabai
is an ore of quicksilver, moderately com
pact, very heavy, and of an elegant striated
red color. It is called native vermilion,
and its chief use is in painting. The inten-
sity of its color is reduced by bruising and
dividing it into small parts. It is found
amorjihous, or under some imitative form,
or crystalized. Factitious cinnabar
mixture of mercury and sulphur sublimed,
and thus reduced into a fine red glebe.
Encyc. Cleaveland. Hooper.
CIN'NABARINE, a. Pertaining to cinna-
bar; consisting of cinnabar, or containing
it ; as, cinnaharine sand.
Journ. of Science
CIN'NAIVION, n. [Gr. xiirafwv, or xtvmfianop ;
L. cinnamomum. Qu. It. cannella ;
candn ; D. kaneel ; Fr. cannelk. It is in the
Heb. pojp.]
The bark of two species of Laurus. Tli
true cinnamon is the inner bark of the
Laurus Cinnamomum, a native of Ceylon.
The base cinnamon is from the Laurus
Cassia. The tnie cinnamon is a most
grateful aromatic, of a fragrant smell, mod
erately pungent taste, accompanied with
some degree of sweetness and astringen
cy. It is one of the best cordial, carmina-
tive and restorative spices. The essential
oil is of great price. Encyc. Hooper.
Cinnamon stone, called by HaUy, Essonile, is
a rare mineral from Ceylon, of a hyacintTi
red color, yellowish brown or honey yel-
low ; sonjetimes used in jewelry.
Cleaveland.
Cinnamon-water, is made by distilling the
bark, first infused in barley water, in spirit
of wine, brandy or white wine.
Clove-cinnamon, is the bark of a tree growing
in Brazil, which is often substituted for
real cloves.
ffhite-cinnamon, or Winter's bark, is the bark
of a tree, growing in the West Indies, of
a sharp biting taste, like i)epper.
CINQUE, n. cink. [Fr. five.] A five
word used in games.
CINQUE-FOIL, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
feuille, a leai^ L. foliiivi.] Five-leaved
clover, a species of Potentilla.
CINQUE-PACE, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
pas, pace.] A kind of grave dance
Shak.
CINQUE-PORTS, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
poHs.]
Five havens on the eastern shore of England,
towards France, viz. Hastings, Roniiiey
Hythe, Dover and Sandwicli. To these
ports, Winchelsea and Rye have been
added. These were anciently deemed of
so much importance, in the defense of the
kingdom against an invasion from France
that they received royal grants of particu-
lar privileges, on condition of providing a
certain number of ships in war at their
own expense. Over these is appointed a
warden, and each has a right to send two
barons to Parliament.
Cowel. Blackstone. Encyc.
CINQUE-SPOTTED, a. Having five spots
Shak.
CI'ON, n. [Fr. don or scion. Different modes
of spelling the same word are very incon
venient; and whatever may have been the
original orthography of this word, cion.
the most simple, is well estabUshed, and is
here adopted.]
1. A young shoot, twig or sprout of a tree, or
plant, or rather the cutting of a twig, in-
tended for ingrafting on another stock ;
also, the shoot or slip inserted in a stock
for propagation.
CI'PHER, n. [Fr. chiffre ; Arm. chyf or
cyfr ; It. cifera or cifra ; Sp. and Port.
m/)a ; D. cyffer ; G. zlffer ; Dan. ciffer ;
Sw.
Russ. tsiphir ; Ar. j.i
a name, engraved on a seal, box, plate,
coach or tomb ; a device ; an enigmatical
character. Anciently, merchants and
tradesmen, not being permitted to bear
family arms, bore, in lieu of them, their
cyphers, or mitials of their name-s artfully
interwoven about a cross. Encyc.
A secret or disguised manner of writing ;
certain characters arbitrarily invented and
agreed on by two or more persons, lo
stand for letters or words, and undei-stood
only by the persons who invent, or agree
to use them. This is a mode of commu-
nicating information by letters, in time of
war, with a view to conceal facts from an
enemy, in ca.se the letters should be inter-
cepted. This art has given rise to another
art, that of decyphering ; and hence cipher-
is used for a key to unravel the characters.
To have, or to ham a cipher, is to be able
to interpret it.
CI'PHER, I', i. In popular language, to use
figures, or to practice arithmetic.
CI'PHER, V. t. To write in occult charac-
ters. Hayward.
2. To designate ; to characterize. Shak.
CIPHERING, ppr. Using figures, or prac-
ticing arithmetic.
a. Waiting in occult characters.
CIP'OLIN, n. [Qu. It. cipolla, an onion, cip-
ollina, a shalot.]
A green marble from Rome, containing white
zones. It consists chiefly of carbonate of
lime, with quartz, shistus, and a small por-
tion of iron. Mcholson.
CIR€, [See Circus.]
CIRCE'AN, a. Pertaining to Cu-ce, the fa-
bled daughter of Sol and Perseis, who
was suppo.«ed to possess great knowledge
of magic and venomous herbs, by which
she was able to charm and fascinate.
Bryant.
CIRCEN'SIAN, a. [L. wVcenje*, games of
the circus.]
Pertaining to the Circus, in Rome, where
were practiced games of various kinds, as
running, wrestling, combats, &c. The Cir-
censian games accompanied most of the
feasts of the Romans ; but the grand games
were held five days, commencing on the
15th of September. Lempriere. Encyc.
CIR'CIN.\L, a. [L. circinus, a compass;
circino, to go round. See Circle.]
Rolled in spirally downwards, the tip occu-
pying the center ; a term in foUation or
leafing, as in ferns. Marlyn.
CIR'CINATE, V. t. [L. circino, to go round.]
To make a circle ; to compass.
CIRCINA TION, n. An orbicular motion.
[Xot used.] Bailey.
jCIR €LE, n. sur'kl. [Fr. cercle ; It. circolo ;
L. circidus, from circtis ; Gr. xifixoj ; Sp.
ccrco ; It. ccrchio ; from the Celtic, W. cyrc.
from CIO-, i
to go round.
J^
empty, and a cipher.]
In arithmetic, an Arabian or Oriental char-
acter, of this form 0, which, standing by
itself, expresses nothing, but increases or
diminishes the value of other figures, ac-
cording to its position. In whole num-
bers, when placed at the right hand of a
figure, it increases its value ten fold ; but
in decimal fractions, placed at the left hand
of a figure, it diminishes the value of that
figure ten fold.
2. A character in general. Raleigh. |j2. In popular use, the hue that comprehends
An intertexture of letters, as the initials of the figure, the plane or surface compre-
circle, a limit ; Ar.
Class Gr. No. 32. 34.]
1. In geometry, a plane figure comprehended
by a single curve fine, called its circum-
ference, evei-y pan of which is equally dis-
tant from a point called the center. Of
course all lines drawn from tlie center to
the circumference or periphery, are equal
to each other.
C I R
hended, and the whole body or solid mat-
ter of a round substance, are denominated
a circle ; a ring; an orb ; the earth.
He thatsitteth on the circle of the earth. Is. xl.
3. Compass; circuit; as the circle of the
forest. Shak.
4. An assembly sunounding the principal
person. Hence, any company, or assem-
bly ; as a circle of friends, or of beauties.
Hence the word came to signify indefi
nitely a number of persons of a particular
character, whether associated or not
a political circle ; the circle of one's
quaintance ; having however reference to
a primary association.
5. A series ending where it begins, and per-
petually repeated ; a going round.
Thus la a circle runs the peasant's pain.
Dryden
C. Circumlocution ; indirect form of words
Fletcher.
7. In logic, an inconclusive form of argu
ment, when the same terms are proved
in orbem by the same terms, and the parts
of the syllogism alternately by each other,
directly and indirectly ; or when the fore-
going proposition is proved by the follow-
ing, and the following is inferred from the
foregoing ; as, " that heavy bodies descend
by gravity, and that gravity is a quaUtyby
which a heavy bodv descends."
Encyc. Glanville. Watts
8. Circles of the sphere, are such as cut the
mundane sphere, and have their periphery
either on its movable surface, as the me-
ridians ; or in another immovable, conter
minous and equidistant surface, as the
ecliptic, equator, and its parallels.
9. Circles of altitude or almucantars, are
cles parallel to the horizon, having their
common pole in the zenith, and diminish-
ing as they approach the zenith.
10. Circles of latitude, are great circles per-
pendicular to the plane of the ecliptic
pasi>iiig through its poles and through ev-
ery stiir and planet.
11. Circles of longitude, are lesser circles
parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they
recede from it.
12. Circle of perpetual apparilion, one of the
lesser circles, parallel to the equator, des-
cribed by any point of the sphere touch-
ing the northern point of the horizon, and
carried about with the diurnal motion.
The stars within this circle never set.
13. Circle of perpetual occultation, another
lesser circle at a like distance from the
equator, which includes all the stars
which never appear in our hemisphere.
14. Diurnal circles, are immovable circles
supposed to be described by the several
stars and other points in the heavens, in
their diurnal rotation round the earth, or
rather in the rotation of the eartli round
its axis.
15. Horary circles, in dialing, are the lines
which show the hours on dials.
1(). Crcles of the empire, the provinces c
principalities of the German empire, whic
have a right to be present at the diets.
Maximilian I. divided the empire into six
circles at firsi, and afterwarils into ten
Austria, liiii-iiundy, I.iiwcr Hliiiio, Bn
varia, I iipcr Saxony, l-'iani'onia, Swa
bia, I'piM-i- Kliine, \\ fHtphalia, and Lower
Saxony.
C I R
17. Druidical circles, in British Topography,
are certain ancient inclosures formed by
rude stones circularly arranged ; as Stone-
henge near Sahsbury. Encyc.
CIR'€LE, V. t. To move round ; to revolve
round.
And other planets circle other suns. Pope.
2. To encircle ; to encompass ; to surround ;
to inclose. Prior. Pope.
3. To circle in, to confine ; to keep together,
Digby
CIR'€LE, V. i. To move circularly ; as, the
bowl circles ; the circling years.
CIR'€LED, pp. Surrounded ; encompass
ed ; inclosed.
CIR'€LED, o. Having the form of a circle
round ; as the moon's circled orb. Shak.
CIR'CLER, n. A mean poet, or circular
poet. B. Jonson.
CIR'CLET, n. A little circle ; a circle ; an
Pope.
ppr. Surrounding ; going
orb.
CIRCLING
round ; inclosing.
C1R'€LING, Ov Circular; round. Milton.
CIR'€OCELE, n. [Gr. xpisuos or xptso;, a di-
lated vein, and xip^, a tumor. But the
same Greek word seems to be written
xtpTOj, which would give the orthography
cirsocele.]
A varix, or dilatation of the spermatic vein;
varicocele ; hernia varicosa.
Ouincy. Coxe.
CIR'CUIT, n. sur'kit. [Fr. circuit; L. cir
cuitus; of circa, circum, and eo, to go.]
1. The act of moving or passing round; ai
the periodical circuit of the earth round
the sun, or of the moon round the earth.
Watts.
2. The space inclosed in a circle, or within
certain limits. Milton.
3. Any space or extent measured by trav-
eling round. Addison.
4. That which encircles ; a ring; a diadem
Shak.
5. In England, the journey of judges through
several counties or boroughs, for the pur-
pose of holding courts. In the United
States, the journey of judges through cer-
tain states or counties for the same pur-
])o.se.
0. The counties or states in which the same
judge or judges hold courts and adminis-
ter justice. It is common to designate a
certain number of counties to form a cir
cuit, and to assign one or more judges to
each circuit. The courts in the circuits
are called circuit courts. In the govern-
ment of the United States, a certain num-
ber of states form a circuit.
7. A long deduction of reason. Donne.
8. In law, a longer course of proceedings
than is necessary to recover the thing sued
for. Cowel. Encyc. Johnson
Bailey gives this as the definition of ciV-
cuity.
CIR'€UIT, V. i. To move in a circle ; to gr
1. Philips.
CIR'€UIT, V. t. To move or go round
Waiion
CIRClJITEE'R n. One that travels a cir-
Pope.
CIRCUI'TION, n. [h. circuitio.] The act
of going round; compass ; circumlocution
[Little used.] Hooker
•ii;/.f-iTiTr>iii:
C I R
in a circuit ; not direct ; as a circuitous
road or course.
CIR'€UITOUSLY, adv. In a circuit.
CIReU'ITY, n. A going round ; a course
not direct. Ash.
CIR'€ULAR, a. [L. circularis. See Circle.]
1. In the form of a circle; round; circum-
scribed by a circle ; spherical ; as, the sun
appears to be circular.
2. Successive in order ; always returning.
Roscommon.
3. Vulgar ; mean ; circumforaneous ; as u
circular poet. Dennis.
4. Ending in itself; used of a paralogism,
where the second proposition at once
proves the first, and is proved by it.
Johnson. Baker.
Addressed to a circle, or to a number of
])ersons having a common interest ; as a
circular letter.
Circular lines, such straight lines as arc
divided from the divisions made in the
arch of a circle ; as the lines of sines, tan-
gents and secants, on the plain scale and
sector. Johnson .
7. Circular numbers, are those whose powers
terminate in the roots themselves ; as Sand
G, whose squares are 25 and 36. Bailey.
CIRCUITOUS, a. eur'kilous. Going round'
Circular sailing, is the method of sailing
by tlie arch of a great circle. Encyc.
CIR'CULAR, 71. A circular letter, or paper.
CIRCULAR'ITY, n. A circular form.
CIR'CULARLY, adv. In a circular man-
ner; in the form of a circle ; in the form
of going and returning.
CIR'CULATE, V. i. sur'culate. [Fr. eircu-,
ler ; L. circulo.]
1. To move in a circle; to move or pass
round ; to move round and return to the
same point ; as, the blood circulates in the
body.
2. To pass from place to place, from person
to person, or from hand to hand ; to he
diffused ; as, money circulates in the
country ; a story circulates in town.
3. To move round ; to run ; to flow in veins
or channels, or in an inclosed place ; as,
the sa)) of plants circulates ; water aVc«-
lates in the earth, or aii- in a city or house.
CIRCULATE, V. t. To cause to pass from
place to place, or from person to person ;
to i)Ut about ; to spread ; as, to circulate
a report ; to circulate bills of credit.
CIReULA'TION, n. The act of moving
round, or in a circle, or in a course which
brings or tends to bring the moving body
to the point where its motion began ; as
the circulation of the blood in the body.
A series in which the same order is pre-
served and things return to the same state.
3. The act of going and returning ; or of
passing from place to place, or from per-
son to person ; as the circulation of
money.
t'urrency ; circulating coin, or notes or^
bills current for coin.
5. In chimislry, circulation is an operation
by which tlie same vapor, raised by fire,
falls back to be returned and distilled sev-
eral times.
CIRCULATO'RIOUS, a. Travelling in a
circuit, or from house to house. [lAttle
used.] Barrme.
CIR'€ULATORY, a. Circular ; as a ciVctt^
latory letter.
Circulating.
C I R
R
C I R
CIR'CULATORY, n. A cliimical vessel, ii
wliich that wliich rises from tlic vessel oi
the fire is collected and cooled in another
fixed upon it, and falls down again.
Johnson.
CIRCUMAM'BIENCY, n. [L. circum, a-
round, and ambio, to go about. See Am-
bienl.]
The act of surrounding, or encompassing.
Brown.
CIR€UMAM'BIENT, a. Surrounding ; en-
compassing ; inclo.sing or being on all
sides ; used j)articularly of the air about
the earth.
CIRCUMAM'BULATE, v. i. [L. circiimam-
bulo, to walk round ; circum and ambulo.] '
To walk round about. [IaUU used.]
CIRCUMAMBULA'TION, n. The act of
walking round. [Little itserf.l
CIRCUMCEL'LION, n. [L. circum, about,
and cella, a cell, or cellar. Hence, a va-
grant.]
In church history, a set ofilhterate peasants
that adhered to tlie Donatista in the fourth
century. Milner.
CIR'€UMCiSE, V. t. sur'cumcize. [L. cir-
cumcido, circum, aroiuid, and cido, to cut ;
Fr. circondre ; Sp. drcuncidar ; It. circon
ddere.]
To cut off" the prepuce or foreskin of males ;
a ceremony or rite in the Jewish and Mo-
hammedan religions. The word is appli-
ed also to a practice among some nations
of jjcrforming a like operation upon fe-
CIR'CUMCiSER, )i. One who performs
circumcision. Milton.
CIR€UMCIS'ION, »i. The act of cutting
off" the prepuce or foreskin,
CIReUMCURSA'TION, n. [L. circum, u-
bout, and curso, to run.]
Tlie act of running about. [JVot used.]
Barrow.
CIR€UMDU€T', v. t. [L. drcumduco ; cir-
cum, round, and duco, to lead.]
To contravene ; to iniUify ; a term of civil
laio. [Mtle u.ied.] %'#.
CIR€UMDU€ TION, n. A leading about.
[Little used.] Hooker.
2. All annulling ; cancellation. [Little used.]
Ayliffe.
eiR'CUMFER, V. t. [L. drctmfero.] To
bear or carry round. [JVot in use.]
Bacon.
CIRCUM'FERENCE,n. [L. circumfercitia,
from circum, round, and /ero, to carry.]
1. The line that bounds a circle ; the exte-
rior line of a circular body ; the whole
exterior surface of a round body ; a peri-
jihery. JVewton. Milton,
'i. The space included in a circle.
Milton. Dnjden.
3. An orb ; a circle ; any thing circular or
orbicular; as in Milton, speaking of a
shield.
The broad circumference
Hunp on his shoulders like the moon.
CIR€UM'FERENCE, v. t. To include in a
circular space. [JVot used.] Brown.
CIR€UMFEREN'TIAL, a. Pertaining to
the circumference. Parkhurst.
CIR€UMFEREN'TOR, n. An instrument
used by surveyors for taking angles. It
consists of a brass index, and circle, all of
a piece ; on the circle is a chart, divided
into 360 degrees. There are also two!
sights to screw on and sUdc up and down
tlie index ; also a spangle and socket
screwed on the back side of the circle to
put the head of the staff" in. Ena/c
C1R'€UMFLEX, n. [L. drcumflexus ; cir-
cum, round, and fecto, to bend.]
In grammar, an accent serving to note or
distinguisli a syllable of an intermediate
sound between acute and grave ; marked
in Greek thus -. It is a kind of undula-
tion in the voice, but not used in English.
CIR'€UMFLEX, V. t. To mark or pro-
nounce with the accent called a circum-
flex. Walker.
CIRCUM'FLUENCE, n. [L. drcumfluens ;
drcum, round, and^uo, to flow.]
A flowing round on all sides ; an inclosur(
of waters.
CIRCUMFLUENT, a. Flowing round
surrounding as a fluid ; as, circumfluent
waves. Pop
CIR€UM'FLUOUS, a. [L. circumfluus. See
Circumfluence.] Flowmg round ; encom
passing as a fluid ; circumfluent.
Milton. Pope.
CIR€UMFORA'NEAN, > [L.drcumfor-
CIR€UMFORA'NEOUS, ^ "• aneus ;
cum, around, and /om, a door, or abroad.]
Going about; walking or wandering from
iiouse to house ; as a drcumforaneous fidler
or piper ; drcumforaneous wits.
Addison, Sped. 47,
drcumforaneous musidans, male and female,
are daily seen at the doors of hotels, in
France ; and sometimes they enter the
room, where a company is dining, and
tertain them with music ; expecting a
franc or a few sous as a reward. VV
CIR€UMFU'SE, v. t. s as z. [L. circumfu
sus ; drcum and fundo, fusus, to pour.]
. To pour round ; to spread round, as a
fluid. Bacon
2. To sjiread round ; to suiTOund. Milton.
C1R€UMFU'SILE, a. [L. circum, and fu
sUis, that may be melted.]
That may be poured or spread round ; as,
circumfusile gold. Pope.
CIR€UMFU'SION, n. [See Circumfuse.]
The act of pouring or spreading round ; the
state of being poured round. Johnson.
CIReUMGESTA'TION, n. [L. circum and
gestaiio.] A carrying about. Taylor.
CIRCUM'GYRATE, ) , [L. circum, and
CIRCUMgY'RE, S gyrus, a turning
round.]
To roll or turn round. [Little used.] Ray.
CIR€UMciYRA'T10N, n. The act of turn-
ing, rolling or whirling roimd ; the turn-
ing of a limb in its socket.
(luincy. Cheyne.
CIRCUMJA'CENT, a. [L. circumjacens ;
drcum and jaceo, to lie.]
Lying round ; bordering on every side.
Johnson.
CIR€UMLIGA'TION, n. [L. circumligo,
to bind round ; drcum and ligo, to bind.]
The act of binding round ; the bond with
hich any thing is encompassed.
Johnson.
CIRCUMLO€U'TION, n. [h.drcwnlocutio:
circum and locutio, a speaking, loquor, to
speak.]
A circuit or compass of words ; a periphrase :
the use of a number of words to express
an idea, when a suitable term is not at
hand, or when a speaker chooses to avoid
the use of a single term, either from del-
icacy or respect, or with a view to soffen
the force of a direct exI)rcs.•^ion, or for
other reason.
CIRCUMLOCUTORY, a. Pertaining to
circumlocution; consisting or contained hi
a compass of words ; ])criphra.>itic.
Shenstone^
CIRCUMMU'RED, a. [L. drcum and mu-
rus, a wall.]
Walled round ; encompassed with a wall.
Shak.
CIRCUMNAV'IGABLE, a. [See Circum-
navigate.] That may be sailed round. .
Ray.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE, v. t. [L. circumnav-
igo ; drcum and nadgo, to sail, from nail's,
a ship.]
To sail round ; to pass round by water ; as, to
drcumnavigate the globe.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION, n. The act of
ing round. Arbuthnot.
CIRCUMNAVIGATOR, n. One who sails
round.
CIRCUMPLICA'TION, n. [h. ciratmplico ;
circum and plico, to fold.]
A folding, winding or wrapping round; or a
.state of being enwrapped. [Little used.]
Bailey.
CIRCUMPO'LAR, a. [L. circum, and Eng.
polar.]
About the pole ; an appellation given to
stars, which are so near the north pole, as
to revolve round it without setting. The
number of these depends on the latitud*;
of the spectator. We apply it to the north
polar region and stars, but the word is
applicable to either pole.
CIRCUMPOSI'TION.n. s as z. [L. drcum,
and positio.]
The act of placing in a circle ; or the state
of being so placed. Evelyn.
CIRCUJIRA'SION, n. s as z. [L. circumra-
sio ; drcum and rado, to shave.]
The act of shaving or paring round. [Little
used.]
CIRCUMRO'TARY, a. Turning, rolling or
whirling round. Shenstone.
CIRCUMROTA'TION, n. [L. drcum and
rotatio, rotation, from roto, to turn round.]
The act of rolling or revolving round, as a
wheel ; circumvolution ; the state of being
whirled round. Gregory.
CIRCUMSCRIBE, v. t. [L. circumscribo ;
circum and scribo, to draw.] Literally, to
draw a line round. Hence,
1. To inclose within a certain limit; to limit,
bound, confine.
Vou are above
The little forms which circumscribe your sex.
Suutheni.
2. To write round. [Little used.]
CIRCUMSCRIBED, pp. Drawn round as
a line ; hmited ; confined.
In geometry, this word is applied to a figure
which is drawn roimd another figure, so
that all its sides or planes touch the inscri-
bed figure. Encyc.
CIRCUMSCRIBING, ppr. Drawing a line
round ; inclosing ; limiting ; confining.
CIRCUMSCRIP TIBLE, a. That may be
circumscribed or limited by bounds.
CIRCUMSCRIPTION, n. The line that
hniits ; limitation ; bound ; confinement.
Shak.
2. In natural philosophy, the termination or
C I R
C I R
C I T
limits of a body ; the exterior line which
determines tlie form or magnitude of a
body. Ray-
3. A circular inscription. ,/lshmole.
CIIieUMSeRIP'TlVE, a. Defining the ex-
ternal form; marking or inclosing the
limits or superficies of a body. Grew.
CIR€UMS€RIP'TIVELY, adv. In a limit-
ed maimer. Monlagu
CIK'€UMSPE€T, a. [L. circumspedus ; cir-
cum and specio, to look.]
Literally, looking on all sides; lookiiij;
round. Hence,
Cautious ; prudent ; watchfid ou all sides ;
examining carefully all the circumstances
that may affect a determination, or a meas-
ure to be adopted. Boyle. Haywood
ClR€UMSPEe'TION, «. [L.drcumspectio.'
Caution ; attention to all the facts and cir-
cumstances of a case, and to the natural
or probable consequences of a measure,
with a view to a correct course of conduct,
or to avoid danger. Clarendon. Milton
CIR€UMSPE€'TIVE, a. Looking round
every way ; cautious ; careful of conse-
quences; watchful of danger. Pope
CIR€UMSPE€'TIVELY, adv. Cautiously
vigilantly ; heedfully ; with watchfulness
to guard against danger.
CIR'eUMSPE€TLY,arf«. Cautiously ; witi
watchfulness every way ; with attention
to guard against surprise or danger. Ray.
CIR'€UMSPE€TNESS, n. Caution ; cir-
cumspection ; vigilance in guarding a-
against evil from every quarter. Wotton
CIR'eUiVISTANCE, n. [L. circumslanlia
from circumstans, standing about ; circum
and sto, to stand.]
Literally, that which stands around or near
Hence,
1. Sometlnng attending, appendant, or rela-
tive to a fact, or case ; a particular thuig
which, thougli not essential to an action,
in some way aflfects it ; the same to a mor-
al action, as accident to a natural sub
stance ; as, the circumstances of time, place
and persons, are to be considered.
2. The adjuncts of a fact, which make it
more or less criminal, or make an accu
sation more or less probable ; accident
something adventitious ; incident ; event.
Johnson
3. Circumstances, in the plural, condition
in regard to worldly estate ; state of prop
erty ; as a man in low circumstances, or ii;
easy circumstances.
yiR'CUMSTANCED, pp. or a. Placed in a
particidar manner, with regard to attend
ing facts or incidents ; as, circumstanced
as we were, we could not escape.
CIR'€UMSTANT, a. Surrounding. [Little
used or not at all.]
CIR€UMSTAN'TIAL, a. Attending ; rela
ting to; but not essential.
ii. Consisting in or pertaining to circumstaii
cos, or to particular incidents.
The usual character of human testimony i
substantial tiutli under circumstantial variety
Paley.
3. Inciilcntal ; casual. Donne.
4. Aboimding with circumstances, or
iting all the circumstances ; minute ; par
ticular ; as a circumstantial account or re
cital.
5. In law, circumslmilinl evidence is tlia
wliich is obtained from circumstance?
which necessarily or usually attend facts
of a particular nature, from which arises
presumption. Blackstone.
CIReUMSTANTIAL'lTY, n. The appen-
dage of circumstances ; the state of any
thing as modified by circumstances.
Johnson.
2. Particularity in exhibiting circumstances ;
minuteness ; as the circumstantiality of a
story or description.
CIRCUMSTAN'TIALLY, adv. According
to circumstances ; not essentially ; acciden
tally. Glanville.
Minutely ; exactly ; in every circumstance
or particular. Broome
CIR€UMSTAN'TIATE, v. t. To place in
particular circumstances ; to invest with
particular accidents or adjuncts.
Bramhall.
2. To place in a particular condition with
regard to power or wealth. .Sioijl,
[This word is little tisecl.]
CIReUMTERRA'NEOUS, a. [eircMm,about
and terra, earth.] Around the earth.
Halywell.
CIR€UMVAL'LATE, r. t. To surround
with a ram])art. [hittle used.'\
CIR€UMVALLA'TION, n. [h. circtimvallo
to wall round ; circum, and vallo, to forti-
fy with a rampart.]
1. In the art of war, a surrounding with t
wall or rampart ; also, a wall, rampart, or
parapet with a trench, surrounding the
camp of a besieging army, to prevent
sertion, and guard the army against any
attempt of an enemy to relieve the place
besieged. Encyc.
2. Tiie rampart, or fortification surrounding
a besieged place.
[Note. This word, from the Latin, vallo, oi
vallum, vallus, denotes properly the tvall oi
rampart thrown up ; but as the rampart is form-
ed by entrenching, and the trench makes a pari
of the fortification, the word is applied to both
See Eng. Wall.]
CIR€UMVE€'TION, n. [L. circum, and
veho, to carry.] A carrying about. [J^ot
used.]
CIRCUMVENT', v. «. [L. circumvenio ; cir-
cum, and venio, to come.] Literally, tc
come round ; hence.
To gain advantage over another, or to ac-
complish a purpose, by arts, stratagem, or
deception ; to deceive ; to prevail over an-
other by wiles or fraud ; to delude ; to im-
pose on. Milton. Dryden
CIRCUMVENTED, pp. Deceived I)y craft
trataaem ; deluded.
CIReUMVENT'ING, ;>;)(•. Deceiving; im-
posing on.
CIReUMVEN'TION, n. The act of i)re
vailing over another by arts, address, or
fraud ; deception ; fi'aud ; imposture ; de-
lusion. South.
2. Pievention ; preoccupation Ohs. Shak.
CIRCUMVENT'IVE, «. Deceiving by arti-
fii-e.^ ; ih'luding.
CIRCUM VEST', v.l. [\.. circumvestio ; cir-
cum, and vestio, to clothe.]
To cover round, as with a garment.
fVolton.
CIRcrAIVOLA'TION, n. [L. circumvoto;
rin-i,,,,. .-nid vohj, to flv.]
Tlic art .,r (l\iiiir niund. [Little used.]
ClRCUMVOLl TION, n. Tlie act of roll-
ing ronnd ; tlie state of being rolled ; also,
the thing rolled round another.
Arbuthnot. Wilkint.
2. In architecture, the torus of the spiral line
of the Ionic order. Encyc.
CIRCUMVOLVE, v. t. circumvolv'. [L. cir-
cumvolvo ; circum, and volvo, to roll.]
To roll round ; to cause to revolve ; to put
into a circular motion. Glanville.
CIRCUMVOLVE, i'. i. To roll round ; to
revolve.
CIRCUMVOLV'ED, pp. RoUed round;
moved in a circular manner.
CIRCUMVOLV'ING, ppr. RolUng round ;
revolving.
CIRCUS, n. plu. circuses. [L. circus ; Fr.
cirque ; It. circa ; Sp. circo ; Gr. *if .toj ;
whence circle, which see.]
In antiquity, a round or oval edifice, used
for the exhibition of games and shows to
the people. The Roman circus was en-
compassed witli porticos, and furnished
with rows of seats, rising one above an-
ther for the accommodation of spectators.
The Circus Maximus was nearly a mile
in circumference. Adam. Encyc.
The open area, or space inclosed, in
which were exhibited games and shows ;
as wrestling, fighting with swords, staves
or pikes, running or racing, dancing,
quoits, &c. ^
3. In modern times, a circular inclo^Mtin'
the exhibition of feats of horsendflRp.
CIRL, n. An Italian bird abpntjp^^e of a
parrow. JjB^JVat. Hist.
CIRRIF'EROUS, a. [L. cirrus, a tendril,
dfero, to bear.]
Producing tendrils or claspers, as a plant.
CIR'ROUS, a. [L. ciirus, a curl.] Termi-
nating in a cirrus, curl or tendril ; as a
cirrous leaf. Jilartyn.
CISALP'INE, a. [L. cis, on this side, and
Alpes, Aljis, whence alpinus, alpine.]
On this side of the Alps, with regard to
Rome ; tliat is, on the south of the Alps ;
opposed to transalpine.
CIS'PADANE, a. [L. cis, on this side, and
Padus, the river Po, whence padanus.]
On this side of the Po, with regard to Rome ;
that is, on the south side. Stephens.
CISSOID', n. [Gr. xiaaoj, ivy, and t i«o{, form.]
A curve of the second order, invented by
Diodes. Bailey. Encyc.
CIST, n. A case. [See Cyst, the proijer or-
thography.]
CIST'ED, a. Inclosed in a cyst. [See
Cysted.]
CISTER'CIAN, n. [CiVeaux, in France.] A
monk, a reformed Benedictine.
CIS'TERN, n. [L. cistema ; cista, and Sax.
am, place, i-epository.]
1. An artificial reservoir or receptacle for
holding water, beer or other liquor, as in
domestic uses, distilleries, and breweries.
2. A natural reservoir ; a hollow place con^
taining water ; as a fountain or lake.
CISTIC, a. [See Cystic]
CIST'US, n. [Gr. xifos] The rock-rose, a
genus of i)lants of many species, most of
tliem natives of the southern parts of Eu-
rope. Sonic 111' tlirin are beautiful ever-
green fliiwi ring slinibs, and ornamental
in gardens. Encyc.
CIT, n. [contracted from citizen.] A citizen,
in a loie sen.ic ; an inhabitant of a city; a
pert townsman ; a pragmatical trader.
Popi.
C I T
CIT'ADEL, n. [Fr. cUadtlk ; It. dttuddla ;
Sp. ciudadela ; from tlie It. citta, city.]
A fortress or castle, in or near a city, intend-
ed for its defense ; a place of arms.
Johnson. Encyc
CI'TAL, n. [from die.] Reproof; impeach-
ment. [Lillk used.] Shak.
2. Summons ; citation ; quotation. [Little
used.] Johnson
CITA'TION, n. [L. cifalto, from dto, to dte
which sec.]
1. A .summons ; an official call or notice,
given to a person, to appear in a court,
and answer to a demand ; a call or notice
to appear, in various other cases, and tUe
paper ' containing such notice or call
i. Quotation ; the act of citing a passage
from a book ; or tiom another person, in
liis own words ; also, the passage or words
mioted. Watts. Atterhury.
3. Enumeration ; mention. Harvey.
CI'TATORV, a. Citing ; calling ; having
the power or form of citation ; as, letters
dtatonj. Miffe
CITE, V. t. [L. dto, to call ; Fr. dter; It. a-
tare ; Sp. Port, dtar ; Goth, haitan ; Sax
hatan, or halan, to call, order, command
G.helssui, whi-iu-e F,ng. behest ; D. heeten ;
Sw. httu ; 1>:iii. heder. The same word in
Dutch and I»;iiiish signifies to heat. The
sense tlicu is to rouse, push, drive, stimu
late. See E.rcite, Incite.]
1. To call upon officially, or authoritatively
to summon ; to give legal or official no
tice, as to a defendant to appear in court,
to answer or defend. Milton
a. To enjoin ; to direct ; to summon ; to or-
der or urge. Piior
3. To quote ; to name or repeat, as a pas-
sage or the words of another, either froir
a book or from verbal communication ; as,
to dte a passage from scripture, or to die
the very words a man utters.
Bacon. Dryden
4. To call or name, in support, proof or con-
firmation ; as, to cite an authority to prove
a point in law.
CI'TER, n. One who cites or summons into
court.
2. One who quotes a passage or the words
of another.
CIT'ESS, n. [See Cit.] A city woman.
C I T
enjoyd the freedom and privileges of the,
city in which he resides ; the freeman of a
city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or
one not entitled to its franchi.se.s.
|2. A townsman ; a man of trade ; not a gen-
tleman. Shak.
3. An inhabitant ; a dweller in any city,
town or place. Dryden.
In a general sense, a native or permanent
resident in a city or country ; as the dti-
zens o( Londoner Philadelphia; the citi-
tens of the United States.
5. In the U. States, a person, native or natu-
ralized, who has the privilege of exercising
the elective franchise, or the qualifications
which enable him to vote for rulers, and
to purchase and hold real estate.
If the citizens of the U. States sliould not be
free and happy, the fault will be entirely theii
own. Washington.
CIT'IZEN, a. Having the quaUtics of a cit-
CIT'IZENIZE, V. I. To make a citizen ; to
admit to the rights and privileges of a cit-
Talleyrand wa.s citizenized in Pennsylvania,
when there in the fomi of an emigrant.
Pickering.
CIT'IZENSIIIP, n. The state of being ve.^t-
ed with the rights and privileges of a cit-
izen. Bp. Home
CIT'RATE, »i. [L. citrus, a citron or lemon.]
In chimislry, a neutral salt, formed by a
union of the citric acid, or acid of lemons,
with a base.
The onion yields citrate of lime. Cre.
CIT'Rie, a. Belonging to lemons or limes :
as dtric acid.
CIT'RIL, Ji. Abeainiful songbird of Italy
Did. Mat. Hist.
CITRINA'TION, n. [See Citrine.] The
turning to a yellow green coloi-.
CIT'RINE, a. [L. citrinus.] Like a citron
or lemon ; of a lemon color ; yellow —
greenish yellow.
CIT'RINE, K. [L. dtnmis.] A species of
very fine .sprig crystal, of a beautiful yel-
low" color, found in columns, and termina-
ting in a hexangular pyramid.
Hill. Encyc.
CIT' RON, n. [Fr. a7ro?i ; L. dtreum, or ci-
C I V
This is the sense of the word in the United
States. In Great Britain, a city is said to
be a town corporate that lias a bishop and
a cathedral church ; but this is not always
the fact.
3. The collective body of citizens, or the in-
habitants of a city ; as when we say, the
dty voted to establish a market, and the
city repealed the vote.
CIT'Y, a. Pertaining to a city ; as dli/
ives ; a dlii feast ; city manners. Shak.
CITY-eOURl', n. The municipal court of a
city, consisting of the mayor or recorder
and aldermen. U. Stales.
CIVES. 71. [Fr. cive ; L. repa.] A species
of leek, of the gemis Allium.
CIVET, n. [Fr. dvette ; It. zibetto ; Per*.
\.j- zabad, the sweet seem of any beast :
nd civet ; si L j •, a
[Little used.
CITll
.'\RIS'T1C, a. [L. cithara, a harp or
lyre.]
Pertaining to or adapted to the harp ; or ap-
propriated to the accompaniment of the
harp. Mas. Did.
CITH'ERN, ?i. [L. dthara; It. dtara; Sp.
dtara ; D. cyter ; Gr. xiSofo..]
A stringed musical instrument, among the
ancients, the precise form of which is not
known, but it bore some resemblance
the modern guitar, the name of whicl
evidently from this ancient word.
CITICIS'M, n. [from cit.] The manners of
a cit or citizen. B. Johnson.
CIT'IED, a. Belonging to a city.
Drayton.
CIT ISIN, n. A substance of a yellow color,
obtained from the seeds of the Cytisus
Laburnum. M'ebster's Manual.
CIT'IZEN, n. cU'izn. [Fr. dtoyen ; It. dtta'
dino ; Sp. dudadano ; Port, cidadam ; from
It. dtta. Sp. dudad, a city. See City.^
1. The native of a city, or an inliabitant who
Vol I.
Ai
i Lj •. cream.
trum.]
The fruit of the citron tree, a large species
of lemon.
CIT RON-TREE, 7i. The tree which pro
duces the citron, of the genus Citrus. It
has an upright smooth stem, with a bran
chy head, rising from five to fifteen feet,
adorned with large, oval, spear-shaped
leaves. To the same genus belong the
lemon-tree, orange-tree, &c. Encyc.
CIT'RON-WATER, n. A liquor distilled
ith the rind of citrons. Pope.
CIT'RUL, n. The pompion or pumpkin, so
named from its yellow color. [/ believe
not used.]
CIT'Y, n. [Fr. dt^ ; It. dtta, ciltade or dt-
tate: Sp. dudad; Port, ddade; from the
Latin cimtas.]
1. In a general sense, a large to-*™ ; a large
number of houses and inhabitants, es
lished ui one place. _
2. In a more appropriate sense, a corporate
town ; a town or collective body of inhab-
itants, incorporated and governed by par-
ticular officer.-!, as a mayor aad aldeVnieii.
38
civet-cat. The Arabic verb signifies to
make butter, and this substance may be
named from its resemblance to it.]
\ substance, of the consistence of butter or
honey, taken from a bag under the tail of
the civet-cat. It is of a clear, yellowish,
or brownish color ; of a strong smell, and
offensive when undiluted, but agreeable
when a small portion is mixed with anoth-
er substance. It is used as a perfume.
Encyc.
CIV'ET-€AT, 71. The animal that produces
civet, a species of Viverra. This animal
bears a resemblance to a cat or to a fox ; it
is of a cinereous color, tinged with yellow,
marked with dusky spots disposed in rows.
It inhabits India, Guinea, Ethiopia, and
Madagascar. Encyc.
CIV'I€, a. [L. ddcus, from civis, a citizen.]
Literally, pertaining ito a city or citizen ;
relating to civil affairs or honors. Pope.
The dvic crown, in Roman affairs, was a
crown or garland of oak boughs, bestowed
on a soldier who had saved the Ufe of a
citizen in battle.
CIV'IL, a. [L. dvilis, from cids, a citizen ;
Fr. civil ; It. civile ; Sp. civil. Qu. the
Welsh cau, to shut, inclose, fence, hedge ;
for the rude inhabitants of antiquity forti-
fied their towns witli hedges, stakes or pal-
isades.]
1. Relating to the community, or to the pol-
icy and governtnent of the citizens and
subjects of a state ; as in the phrases, dvil
rights, dvil government, dml privileges,
civil war, ddl justice. It is opposed to
criminal; as a dvil suit, a suit between
citizens alone ; whereas a cnminal process
is between the state and a citizen. It is
distinguished from ecdesiastical, which
respects tlie church ; and from military,
which respects the army and na^-y.
2. Relating to any man as a member of a
community ; as cii'i7 power, dvil rights,
the power" or rights which a man enjoys
as a citizen.
3. Reduced to order, rule and government ;
under a regular administration ; implying
some refinement of manners ; not savage
or wild ; as dvil Ufe ; ddl society.
4. Civilized ; courteous; complaisant ; gen-
tle and obliging ; well-bred ; affable ; kind ;
having the manners of a city, as opposed
C I V
to the rough, rude, coarse maiinera of a
savage or clown.
flliere civil speech and soft persuasion hung.
Prior.
r>. Grave ; sober ; not gay or showy.
Till civil suited mora appear. JtrUton.
(j. Complaisant ; poUte ; a popular colloquial
use of the word.
7. Civil death, in law, is that which cuts off
a man from civil society, or its rights anc
benefits, as banishment, outlawry, ex
communication, entering into a monaste
ry, &c., as distinguished from natural
death.
-8. Civil law, in a general sense, the law of a
state, city or country ; but in an appropri-
ate sense, the Roman law ; the municipal
law of the Roman empire, comprised
the Institutes, Code and Digest of Just:
ian and the Novel Constitutions.
Blackslone.
9. Civil list, the officers of civil government
who are paid from tlie public treasury
also, the revenue appropriated to support
the civil government. Blackslone.
The army of James II. was paid out of lii?
civil list. Hamilton.
10. Civil state, the whole body of the laity ot
citizens, not included under the military,
maritime, and ecclesiastical states.
n. Civil loar, a war between people of the
same state or city; opposed to foreign
war.
1.^. Civil year, the legal year, or annual ac-
count of time which a government ap-
jioints to be used in its own dominions
as distinguished from tlie natural year
which is measured by the revolution of
the heavenly bodies. Bailey. Encyc.
is. Civil architecture, the architecture which
is employed in constructing buildings for
the purposes of civil life, in distinction
from military and naval architecture ;
private houses, palaces, churches, &c.
CIVIL'IAN, n. [from civU.] One who
skilled in the Roman law ; a professor
doctor of civil law. i'nci/c
2. In a more extended se7ise, one who is versed
ill law and government.
3. A student of the civil law at the univer-
sity. Graves.
CIV'"ILIST, n. A civilian. [.Vol in use.]
CIVILITY, n. [L. civilitas, from civilis,
civil ; It. civilita ; Sp. civUidad.]
1. The state of being civilized ; refinement
of manners ; applied to nations ; as distin
guished from the rudeness of barbarous
nations. [This sense is obsolescent or obso-
lete.] Spenser. Davies. Denham
'2. Good breeding ; poUteness ; complaisance
courtesy ; decorum of behavior in the
treatment of others, accompanied witl
kind ofKces, and attention to their wants
and desires. Civility respects manners or
external deportment, and in the plural
civilities denote acts of politeness.
Clarendon. South. Dryden
CIVILIZA'TION, n. [See CivUize.] The
act of civilizing, or the state of being civil
ized ; the state of being refined in man
ners, from the grossness of savage life,
and improved in arts and learning,
a. The act of rendering a criminal process
civil. [jYot used.]
CIVILIZE, V. t. [It. civilizzare ; Fr. civili-
ser ; Sj). Port, civilizar ; from civil.]
cr L A
C L A
new gaf-
To reclaim from a savage state ; to intro-i CLAD, pp. [See Clothe.] Clothed ; invested
duce civility of manners among a people,
and instruct them in the arts of regular
life. Locke. Holler. Denham.f
CIV'ILIZED, pp. Reclaimed from savage
life and manners ; instructed in arts, learn
ing and civil manners.
Such sale of conscience and duty In open;
market is not reconcilable with the present
state of civilized society. X Quincy.
CIV'ILIZER, n. One who civilizes; he that]
reclaims others from a wild and savage]
life, and teaches them the rules and cus
toms of civilitv.
2. That which reclaims from savageness.
CIVILIZING, ppr. Reclaiming from sav
age life ; instructing in arts and civility of
manners.
CIVILLY, adv. In a manner relating to
government, or to the rights or character
of a member of the community. Hooker.
2. In a manner relating to private rights;
opposed to criminally ; as a process civilly
commenced for the private satisfaction of
a party injured. -^yW;:.
3. Not naturally, but in law ; as a man civil-
ly dead.
4. I'olitely ; complaisantly ; gently ; with
due decorum; courteously; as, we were
civilly treated. Dryden. Prior.
Without gaudy colors, or finery ; as cham-
bers furnished civilly. Obs. Bacon.
CIV'ISM, 7!. [L. civis, a citizen.] Lov
country; patriotism.
CIZ'AR, V. t. To cUp with scissors. [Xot
nor correct.] Beaum.
CIZE, for size, is not in use.
eLAB'BERorBONNY-CLABBER.n.Milk
turned, become thick or inspissated. [G.
lab, D.?e6. rennet.]
€LACK, V. i. [Fr. claquer, to flap or snap ;
cliquct, a mill-clapper ; cliqueter, to clack ;
W. cleca, clegyr ; Ir. clagaim ; D. klak-
ken ; Sax. cloccan, to cluck, L. glocio.
Probably from the root of the Lat. loquor,
Gr. ^axu, ^rjxiui. See Cluck, and Class Lg,
No 27.]
1. To make a sudden sharp noise, as by
striking or cracking; to clink; to click.
2. To utter words rapidly and continually,
or witli sharp, abrupt sounds; to let
tongue run.
€LACK, n. [W. dec, a sharp noise, a crack,
tale-bearing ; cleca, clccian, clegyr, to clack,
to crack, to" tattle. See the Verb.]
1. A sharp, abrupt sound continually re
peated, su(th as is made by striking an
object, or by bursting or cracking ; continu
al talk ; as, we do not wish to hear his
clack ; a common expression. Hence the|
word is used for the tongue, the instru
ment of clacking. Butler. Prior.
2. The instrument that strikes the hopi)e
a grist-mill, to move or shake it, for dis-i
charging the corn. And according to^
Johnson, ab^ll that rings when more corn]
is required to be put in. '
To clack wool, is to cut off the sheep's mark,j
which makes it weigh less, and yield less
duty. [JVot used, I believe, in America.] j
eLACK'ER, n. One that clacks; that
which clacks.
eLACK'ING, ppr. Making a sharp, abrupt
sound, continually rejjeated ; talking con-
tinually ; tattling ; rattling with the tongue.
CLACKING, n. A prating.
covered as with a garment.
Jeroboam had clad himself with
;nt. 1 Kings xi.
The fields are clad in cheerful green.
CLAIM, V. t. [L. clamo, to cry out, to call
upon ; It. clamare, or chiamare ; Port, cla-
mor; Sp. llamar ; Sax. klemman ; Sw.
glamma ; Ir. glamaim.]
To call for ; to ask or seek to obtain, by
virtue of authority, right or supposed
right ; to challenge as a right ; to demand
as due ; as, to dorm a debt ; to claim obe-
dience, or respect.
2. To assert, or maintain as a right ; as, he
claims to be the best poet of the age.
3. To have a right or title to ; as, the heir
claims the estate by descent ; he claims a
promise.
4. To proclaim. Obs. Spenser.
5. To call or name. Obs.
CLAIM, n. A demand of a right or sup-
posed right ; a calling on another for
something due, or supi)osed to be due ; as
a claitn of wages for services. A claim
implies a right or supposed right in the
claimant to something which is in anoth-
er's possession or power. A claim may
be made in words, by suit, and by other
means. The word is usually preceded by
7nake or lay ; to make claim ; to lay claim.
A right to claim or demand ; a title to
any debt, privilege or other thing in pos-
session of another ; as, a prince has a
claim to the throne.
Homer's claims to the first rank among Epic
poets have rarely been disputed. .Anon.
.3. The thing claimed, or demanded.
4. A loud call. Spenser
[This original sense of the wprd is now
obsolete.]
CLA'IMABLE, a. That may be demanded
as due.
CLA'IMANT, n. A person who claims;
one who demands any thing as his right.
2. A person who has a right to claim, or de-
mand.
CLA'IMED, pp. Demanded as due ; chal-
lenged as a right ; asserted ; maintained.
CLA'IMER, n. A claimant ; one who de-
mands as due.
CLA'HIING, ppr. Demanding as due ;
challenging as a right; asserting; main-
taining' ; having aright to demand.
CLAIR-OBSCURE. [See Clare-obscure,]
CLAM, n. [See the Verb.] The popular
name of certain bivalvular shell-fish, of
many species.
CLAM'-SHELL, n. The shell of a clam.
CLAM, v. t. [Sax. clmnian, to glue; D.
klam, clammy ; lym, glue ; G. klamm,
close, clammy ; klemmen, to pinch ; Dan.
klammer, to cling ; klemmer, to squeeze, or
pinch ; Urn, glue ; timer, to glue ; limagtig,
clanmiy. Qu. W. clymu, to bind or tie a
kuot. "See Lime and Class Lm. No. 1. 5.
9. 13.]
To clog with glutinous or viscous matter.
UEstrange.
CLAM, V. i. To be moist. [Jjittle used.]
Dryden.
CLA'MANT, a. [Sec Claim.] Crying , be-
seechinff. Thomson.
CLAM'BER, v. i. [from climb, or D. klam-
pen, to grapple.]
C L A
C L A
C L A
To climb with difficulty, or with hands and
feet. Addison.
CLAM'BERING, ppr. CUmbing witli ctTort
and labor.
«LAM'MINESS, n. [See Clammy.] The
state of being viscous ; viscosity ; sticlii-
ness ; tenacity of a soft substance.
Moxon.
eLAM'MY, a. [See Chm.] Tiiick, viscous,
adlicsivo ; soft and sticky ; glutinous ; te-
nacious ; as, bodies clammy and cleaving.
Bacon.
Cold sweat, in clammy drops, \aa limbs o'er-
spread. Dryden.
CLAM'OR, n. [L. clamor; Fr.clameur; h:
glam ; Sax. hkm. See Claim.]
I. A great outcry ; noise ; exclamation ; vo-
ciferation, made by a loud human voice
continued or repeated, or by a multitude
of voices. It often expresses complaint
and urgent demand. Sliak. Prior.
9. Figuratively, loud and continued noise, as
of a river or other inanunate things.
Mdison.
€LAM'OR, V. t. To stun with noise.
Bacon.
To clamor bells, is to multiply the strokes.
H'arbuiion.
CL.\M'OR, V. i. To utter loud sounds, or
outcries ; to talk loud ; to utter loud voi-
ces repeatedly ; to vociferate, as an indi-
vidual ; to utter loud voice.", as a nnilti-
tude ; to complain ; to make importunate
demands. Shak. Bacon.
Those who most loudly clamor for liberty do
not most liberally grant it. Anon.
" C/anior your tongues" in Shakspeare, if in-
tended "to mean, " stop from noise," is not
English. Perhaps the word was clam, or
intended for a derivative.
€LAM'ORER, 71. One who clamors.
Chesterfield.
€LAM'ORING, ppr. Uttering and repeat-
ing loud words; making a great and con-
tinued noise ; particularly in complaint or
importunate demands.
•t'LAM'OROUS, a. Speaking and repeating
loud words ; noisy; vociferous; loud; tur-
bulent. Hooker. Pope. Swijl.
CLAM'OROUSLY, adv. With loud noise
or words,
CLAM'OROUSNESS, n. The state or qual-
ity of being loud or noi.sy.
CLAMP, rt. [D. klamp ; G. klammer, klem-
men ; Dan. klamp ; VV. clymu, to tie.]
1. In general, something that fastens or
binds ; a piece of timber or of iron, used
to fasten work together; or a particular
maimer of uniting work by letting boards
into each other.
2. In ship-building, a thick plank on tiro in-
ner part of a ship's side, used to sustain
the ends of the beams.
3. A smooth crooked plate of iron forelock-
ed on the trunnions of a cannon to keej) it
fast to the carriage. Clamps are also
used to strengtlicn masts, and to fasten
the masts and bowsprits of small vessels
and of boats. Mar. Diet.
■i. A pile of bricks laid up for burning, in
which the end of one brick is laid over an-
other, and a space is left between the
bricks for the fire to ascend. Encyc.
Clamp-irons, irons used at tlie ends of fires
10 keep the fuel from falling. Bailey.
Clamp-nails, nails used to fasten on clamps
in ships.
€LAMP, V. t. To fasten with clamps.
2. In joinery, to fit a piece of board with the
grain, to the end of another piece of board
across the grain ; as, to clamp a table to
prevent its warping. Moxon.
€LAMP'ED, pp. United or strengthened
with a clamp.
€LAMP'1NG, ppr. Fastening or strength
ening with a clamp.
CL.\N, n. [Ir. ctonn, or cfenrf, children, pos
tcrity ; a tribe, breed, generation, family
Erse, clan or klaan.]
. A race ; a family ; a tribe. Hence, an as
.sociation of persons under a chieftain.
Milt07i. Dryden
2. In contempt, a sect, society, or body of
persons closely united by stune common
interest or pursuit. Smft.
Note. In Russ. kolieno signifies a knee,
ami a family, race or tribe. Irish ghm, the
knee, and a generation.
CLAN'CULAR, a. [L. clancularius.] Clan
destine ; secret ; private ; concealed. [Ui
lie used.]
CLAN'CUI-ARLY, adv. Privately; secret
Iv. [Lillle used.]
CLANDESTINE, a. [L. clandestinus.] Se
cret ; private ; hidden ; withdrawn from
public view. It often bears an ill sense
as implying craft or deception, or evil de
CLANDES'TINELY, adv. Secretly ; pri
vatelv ; in secret.
CLANDES'TINENESS, «. Secrecy; a
state of concealment.
CLANG, r. t. [L. clango, to sound ; G.
klang ; D. klank ; Sw. klang ; Dan. klang j
Gr. xTMiyyu, xJxiJu, xXo^lu, ix^ayov. It ap-
pears from the Greek, that n is not radical
and tliat this word belongs to Class Lg,
coinciding with clink, clank, and probably
with clack.]
To make a shai-p, shrill sound, as by striking
metallic substances ; or to strike with a
sharp sound.
They clanged their sounding arms. Prior
CLANG, n. [L. clangor; G. klang; D.
klank. See the Verb'.]
A sharp, shrill sound, made by striking to-
gether metallic substances, or sonorous
bodies, as the clang of arms ; or any like
sound, as the clang of trumpets. Tl '
word implies a degree of harshness iii the
sound, or more harshness than clink.
Milton.
CLAN'GOR, n. [L.] A sharp, shrill, harsh
sound. [See Clang.] Dryden.
CLAN'GOROUS, a. Sharp, or harsh in
sound. Spectator.
CLAN'GOUS, a. Making a clang, or a
shrill, or harsh sound. ' Brown.
CLAN'ISH, a. Closely united, like a clan ;
disposed to adhere closely, as the members
of a clan.
CL.\N'1SHNESS, n. Close adherence or
disposition to unite, as a clan.
€LANK, n. [See Clang.] The loud, shrill,
sharp sound, made by a collision of metal-
lic or other sonorous bodies. Spectator.
€LANK, V. t. To make a sharp, shrill sound ;
to strike with a sharp sound ; as, the pris-
oners clank their chains.
CLAN'SIIIP, n. A state of union, as in 0
family, or clan ; an association under a
chieftain. Robertson. Encyc.
CLAP, V. t. pret. and pp. clapped or clapt.
[D. idappen, kloppen ; Dan. klapper ; Sw.
klappa ; G. kiappen or kla fen ; Russ. klep-
lyii. The Dutch and German words sig-
nify to clap or strike, and to talk, clatter,
prate. Sax. cleopian or clypian, to call, to
speak, whence ycleped, obs. W. clepian, to
clack, to babble, from Hep, a lapping,
Itepiaw, to lap, to lick. The sense is to
send, drive or strike, L. idapa, a slap.]
1. To strike with a quick motion, so as to
make a noise by the collision; to strike
with something broad, or having a flat
surface ; as, to clnp the hands ; to clap tlie
wings. Locke. Dryden.
2. To thrust ; to diive together; to shut has-
tily ; followed by to ; as, to clap to the door
or gate. Locke. Shak.
3. To thrust or drive together ; to put one
thing to another by a hasty or sudden mo-
tion ; followed by to, on or in ; as, to clap
the hand to tlie mouth ; to clap spurs to a
horse ; to clap on a saddle.
fVatts. Addison. Dryden.
1. To tlirust ; to put, place or send ; follow-
ed by in, into, uniler, over, &c. ; as, to clap
one vndtr the hatclies; to clap one into
Bedlam ; to clup a board oi'fr a pit.
Shak. Spectator.
5. To applaud ; to manifest approbation or
praise by striking the hands together; an,
to clap a performance on the stage.
6. To iniect with venereal poison.
ffiseman.
To clap up, to make or comi)lcte hastily ;
as, to clap up a peace. Sliak. Howel.
2. To imprison hastily, or with littls delay.
Sandys.
CLAP, V. t. To move or drive together sud-
denly with noise.
The doors around me clapt. Dryden.
2. To enter on with alacrity and briskness ;
to drive or thrust on ; as "we say to reap-
ers or mowers, clap in, or clap to, that is,
enter on the work, begin' without delay,
begin briskly.
3. To strike the hands together in applause.
Bid tfiem clap. Shak.
€L.\P, ji. A driving together ; a thrust and
collision of bodies with noise, usually
bodies with broad surfaces.
Give the door a clap. Swift.
2. A sudden act or motion ; a thrust.
Pay all debts at one clap. Suri/i.
3. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion ; as
a clap of thunder.
4. An act of applause ; a striking of hands
to express approbation. Addison.
5. A venereal infection. [Fr. clapoir ; D.
klapoor.] Pope.
i'l. With falconers, the nether part of the
beak of a hawk. Bailey.
€LAP'-BOARD, n. A thin narrow board
for covering houses. In England, accord-
ing to Bailey, a clapboard is also what in
America is called a stave for casks.
€LAP'-DISH, n. A wooden bowl or dish.
CLAP'-DOCTOR, n. One who is skilled in
healing the clap. Taller.
€LAP'-NET, n. A net for taking larks, imi-
ted with a looking glass. Bailey. Encyc.
CLAPPED, pp. Thrust or put on or to-
getlier ; applauded by striking the bands
C L A
together; infected with the venereal dis-
ease.
CLAP'PER, n. A person who claps, crap
plauds by clapping.
2. Tliat which strikes, as the tongue of i
bell, or the piece of wood that strikes ;
niill-liopper.
CLAP'PER-€LAW, v. t. [dap and claiv.]
To scold ; to abuse with the tongue ; to
revile. Shak. Hudibms.
CLAP'PING, ppr. Driving or putting on, in,
over, or under, by a sudden motion ; stri
king the hands together.
€LARE, n. A nun of the order of St. Clare.
Todd.
CLAR'ENCEUX, > ^^ In Great Britain, the
CLAR'ENCIEUX, ^ 'second king at arms,
so called from the dulte of Clarence, and
appointed by Edward IV. His office is to
marshal and dispose tlie funerals of all
baronets, knights and esquires, on the
south of the river Trent. Bailey. Eneyc.
€LARE-OBS€U'RE, n. [L. clarus, clear
and ohscurus, obscure.]
Light and shade in painting ; or the particu
lar distribution of the lights and shades of
a piece, with respect to the ease of the eye
and the effect of the whole piece ; also, i
design of two colors. Encyc
CLAR'ET, 7!. {Vr.dairet, from dair, clear
It. daretto.]
A species of French wine, of a clear pale red
color. Thomson.
eLAR'I€HORD, n. [L. dai-us, clear, and
chorda, a string. See Chord.]
A musical instrument in form of a spmet,
called also manichord. It has forty nine o
fifty stops or keys, and seventy strings
some of the latter being in unison. There
are several little mortises for passing the
jacks, armed with brass hooks, which stop
and raise the ciiords, mstead of the feath-
er used in virginals and spinets. The
chords are covered with pieces of clutli
■ which deaden the sound and render it
sweeter. Hence it is particularly used by
nuns. Encyc.
CLARIFICA'TION, n. [See Clarify.] The
act of clearing ; particularly tlie clearing
or fining of liquid substances from all fe-
culdut matter. Bacon.
-CLAR'IFIED, pp. Purified : made clear or
fine ; defecated.
CLAR'IFIER, n. That which clarifies or
purifies ; as, whites of eggs, blood and
isinglass are clarijiers of liquors. Edwards.
1. A vessel in which liquor is clarified.
Higeiyis, Med. Repos.
CLAR'IFV, v.t. [Fr. clarifier; It. chiari-
Jicare ; from L. clarus, clear, and fncio, to
make.[
To make clear ; to purify from fecident mat-
ter; to defecate; to fine ; applied particu-
larly to liquors ; as, to clarify wine, or syrup.
1. To make clear ; to brighten or illuminate ;
applied to the mind or reason. [Rarely used.]
South.
CLAR'IFY, r. i. To clear up; to grow clear
or briglit.
His understanding clarifies, in discoursing
with another. Bacon
2. To grow or become clear or fine ; to be
come pure, as liquors. Cider clarifies by
fermentation.
CLAR'IFYING, ppr. Making clear, pure or
bright ; defecating ; growing dear.
C L A
eLAR'INET, n. [Fr. clarinette.] A Wind
instrument of music.
eLAR'ION, n. [Fr. clairon ; Sp. darin ,
It. chiarina ; Port, clarim ; from L. clarus.
clear, from its shrill sound.]
A kind of trumpet, whose tube is narrower
and its tone more acute and shrill than
that of the common trumpet. Encyc.
€LAR'ITUDE, n. Clearness ; splendor.
[lAttle used.] Beaum.
CLAR'ITY, n. [Fr. darte; L. clarilas, from
clarus, clear.]
Clearness, brightness ; splendor. [Littlt
used.] Baton. Brown
€LAR' Y, V. i. To make a loud or shrill noise
[J\rot used.] Golding.
€LA'RY, n. A plant of the genus Salvia, or
sage.
€LA'RY-WATER, n. A composition of^
brandy, sugar, clary-flowers, and cuma-
mon, with a httle ambergris dissolved '
it. It is a cardiac and helps digestion.
Encyc.
CLASH, V. i. [D. kletsen; G. klatschen,
klifschen ; Dan. klatsker.]
To strike against ; to drive against with
force.
JVote. The sense of this word is simply to
strike against or meet with force ; but when two
sounding bodies strike together, the effect is
sound. Hence the word often implies, to strike
with a noise, as clashing arms. Denha
To meet in opposition ; to be contrary ;
to act in a contrary direction ; to interfere.
as opposing persons, minds, views, inter-
ests, &c.; as, the opinions of men dash ;
clashing interests. Soidh. Bacon.
Independent jurisdictions — could not fail to
clash. Dtvight's Theol.
CLASH, V. t. To strike one thing against
another, with sound. Dryden
CLASH, n. A meeting of bodies with vio-
lence ; a striking together with noise ; col-
lision, or noisy colUsiou of bodies ; as the
dash of arms. Pope. Denham.
2. Opposition ; contradiction ; as between
differing or contending interests, views,
purposes, &c. Atterbury. Denham.
CLASHING, ppr. Striking against with
noise ; meeting in opposition ; opposing ;
interfering.
CLASH'ING, n. A striking against ; colli-
sion of bodies; opposition. Howel.
CL'ASP, n. [Ir. dasba.]
1. A hook for fastening ; a catch ; a small
hook to hold together the covers of a book,
or the difteront parts of a garment
belt, &c. Addison.
8. A close embrace; a throwing of tlicarms
round. Shak.
CL'ASP, I'. /. To sliut or fasten together
with a clasp. Pope.
3. To catch and hold by twining ; to sur-
round and cling to ; as the clasping ivy.
Miltoji.
3. To inclose and hold in the hand ; oi
ply to inclose or encompass with tl
ers. Bacon.
/t,
4. To embrace closely ; to throw the arms
roimd ; to catch with the arms.
Milton. Dryden
.5. To inclose, and press.
CLASPED, pp. Fastened with a clasj);
siiut ; embraced ; ijiclosed ; encompassed
caugiit.
C L A
CL'ASPER, n. He or that which clasps;"
usually the tendril of a vine or other plants
%vhich twines round something for sup-
port.
CL ASPERED, n. Furnished with tendrils.
CL'ASPING,p;;r. Twining round ; catching
and holding; embracing; inclosing; shut-
ting or fastening with a clasp.
3. In botany, siuTOunding the stem at the
base, as a leaf. Martyn
CL'ASP-KNIFE, n. A knife which folds
into the handle. Johnson.
CL'ASS, n. [L. dassis, a class, a fleet, a
troop, that is, a collection ; It. classe ; Fr.
dasse ; Sp. close ; Arm. clafz, and sdafz ;
Dan. Masse, a class, and klase, a cluster, a
bunch. This seems to be a branch of the
root of L. cluudo, clausus.]
I. An order or rank of persons; a number of
persons in society, supposed to have some
resemblance or equality, in rank, educa-
tion, property, talents, and the like ; as in
hr
the phrase, all classes of men in society.
The readers of poetry may be distinguished
into three classes, according to their capacity of
judging. Dryden.
2. A number of students in a college or
school, of the same standing, or pursuing
the same studies. In colleges, the students
entering or becoming members the same
year, and pursuing the same studies. In
academies and schools, the pupils who
learn the same lesson, and recite together.
In some cases, students of different stand-
ings, pursuing the same studies and reci-
ting together, or attending the same pro-
fessor, or the same course of lectures.
3. Scientific division or arrangement ; a set
of beings or things, having something in
common, or ranged under a common de-
nomination. Hence in zoology, animals
are divided into classes ; as quadrupeds,
fowls, fishes, &c. So in botany, plants are
arranged in classes. Classes are natural
or artificial ; natural, when foimded on
natural relations, or resemblances ; artifi-
cial, when formed arbitrarily, for want of
a complete knowledge of natural relations.
Martyn.
CL'ASS, V. t. To arrange in a class or classes ;
to arrange in sets, or ranks, according to
some method founded on natural distinc-
tions ; to place together, or in one division,
men or things which have or are supposed
to have something in common.
To place iu ranks or divisions students
that are pursuing the same studies ; to form
into a class or classes.
CLAS'SIC, } [L. dassicus ; Fr. clas-
CLAS'SICAL, I "" sique ; It. dassico ; Sp.
dasico ; from L. classis, the first order of
Roman citizens.]
1. Relating to ancient Greek and Roman
authors of the first rank or estimation,
which, in modern times, have been and
still are studied as the best models of fine
writing. Tlius, Aristotle, Plato, Demos-
thenes, Thucydidcs, &c., among the
Greeks, and Cicero, Virgil, Livy, Sallust,
Cesar, and Tacitus, among the Latins, arc
dassical authors. Hence,
2. Pertaining to writers of the first rank
among the moderns ; being of the first or-
der; constituting the best model or au-
C L A
thority as an author ; as, Addison and
Johnson are Enghsh classical writers.
Hence classical denotes pure, chaste, cor-
rect, refined ; as a classical taste ; a classical
style.
At Liverpool, Roacoe is lilje Pompey s col
umn at Alexandria, towering alone in classic
dignity. ■fr"'"^'
3. Denoting an order of presbytenan assem-
blies. Millon. Mason,
CLAS'SIC, n. An author of the first rank^
a writer whose style is pure, correct, and
refilled ; primarily, a Greek or Roman au-
thor of this character ; but the word is
applied to writers of a hke character m any
nation. Pope.
2. A book written by an author of the farst
CLAS'SICALLY, adv. In the manner of
classes ; according to a regular order of
classes, or sets.
It would be impossible to bear all its specift
details in the memory, if they were not classic
ally airanged. ICeTrr's Lavoisier
2. In a classical manner ; according to the
manner of classical authors.
CLASSIF'IC, a. Constituting a c
classes ; noting classification, or the order
of distribution into sets.
Med. Repos. Hex. 2,
€LASSIFl€A'TION, n. [See Classify.]
The act of forming into a class or classes;
distribution into sets, sorts or ranks.
Enfield's Phil. Encyc.
■CLAS'SIFIED, pp. Arranged in classes;
formed into a class or classes.
€LAS'SIFY, t'. t. [L. classis, a class, and
facio, to make ; a word of modern coinage.]
To make a class or classes ; to distribute into
classes; to arrange in sets according to
some common properties or characters.
The diseases and casualties are not scien-
li&cMy classified. Tooke, Russ. Einp. i. 53\
See also, Jiikin's Letters. 106. Black' i
Chimistry.i.ms. fValsh.m.Ai. Stew-
art, El. Phil. 1.187.
CLAS'SIF-f ING, ppr. Forming a class oi
classes ; arranging in sorts or ranks.
CLAS'SIS, 71. Class ; order ; sort.
Claicndon
2. A convention or assembly. Milton.
€LAT'TER, v. i. [D. Materen, klctteren ; W
dewtiaw ; Sax. clatninge, a clattering. Qu.
Fr. tclater; L. lalro; Sax. hlyd,\o\xA. It
seems to be a diminutive.]
1. To make rattling sounds ; to make repeat
cd sharp sounds, as by striking sonorous
bodies ; as, to clatler on a shield. Drydt
■2. To utter continual or repeated sharp
soimds, or rattling sounds, by being struck
together ; as clattering arms.
3. To talk fast and idly ; to run on ; to rattle
with the tongue. Spenser.
€LAT'TER, v. t. To strike and make a rat-
tling noise.
You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.
2. To dispute, jar or clamor. [A low word.]
Martin
CLAT'TER, n. A rapid succession of abrupt,
sharp sounds, made by the coUision of me-
tallic or other sonorous bodies; rattling
sounds. Swift.
2. Tumultuous and confused noise ; a repe
tition of abrupt, sharp sounds.
Swifl. Shak
C L A
CLAT'TERER, n. One who clatters;
babbler.
CLATTERING, ppr. Making or uttermg
sharp, abrupt sounds, as by a collision ot
sonorous bodies ; talking fast with noise ;
ttUng.
€LAT'TERING, «. A rattling noise.
eLAUD'ENT, a. [L. claudens ; claudo, to
shut.] Shutting ; confining ; drawing
together ; as a claudent muscle. [Ldttle
used.]
eLAUD'ICANT, a. Halting ; limpmg.
[Little used.]
CLAUD'ICATE, V. i. [L. claudico, to limp,
from claudus, lame.] To halt or limp.
[Little used, or not at all.]
€LAUDlCA'TION, n. Ahahingorhmping.
[Ultleused.]
CLAUSE, n. s as z. [Fr. clause ; L. clausu-
ra, from claudo, to shut ; Gr. xXaw, xXafoj ;
W. claws; Eiig. close; Sax. hlidan, to
cover ; hlid, a cover, a lid, which
Class Ld. No. L 8. 'J.]
Literally, a close, or inclosure. Hi
that which is included, or contained, witliin
certain limits, ,
L In language or grammar, a member of a
period or sentence; a subdivision ofasen-j
tence, in which the words are inseparably
connected with each other in sense, andj
cannot, with propriety, be separated by a^
point ; as, " there is reason to think that he
afterwards rose to favor, and obtained
several lienors civil and military." In this
sentence are two clauses.
2. An article in a contract or other writing ;
a distinct part of a contract, will, agree-
ment, charter, commission, or other wri-
ting ; a distinct stipulation, condition, pro-
viso, grant, covenant, &c. South.
eLAUS'TRAL, a. [L. claustrum, an inclo-
sure, from claudo. See Clause.]
Relating to a cloister, or rehgious house ; as
claustral prior. Ayliffe.i
CLAUS'URE, n. s as z. [See Clause.] The
act of shutting up or confining ; confine-
ment. [Little used.] Geddes.
2. In anatomy, an imperforated canal.
Coxe. ^uincy.
CLAV'ATED, a. [L. clava; Eng. a club;
W. clwpa.^
-shav
C L A
CLAV'I6ER, n. [L. clavif, a key, and
g-fro, to carry.]
One who keeps the keys of any place.
Ch. Relig. Appeal.
CLAW, n. [Sax. claw ; G.klave ; D. klaauw ;
Dan. klov ; Sw. klof, or klo.]
The sharp hooked nail of a beast, bird or
other animal
1. Club-shaped; having the form of a club;
growing gradually thicker towards the top,
as certain parts of a plant. Mariyn.
2. Set with knobs. Woodward.
CLAVE, pret. of cleave.
CLAV'ELLATED, a. Clavellated ashes,
potash and pearlasli. Coxe.
CLAV'IARY, n. [L. clavis, a key; Gr.
x%iis, contracted from,x>^i6ou; L. claudo.]
A scale of lines and spaces in music.
Encyc. art. Clef.
CLAVICHORD, n. [L. clavis, a key, and
cAocfte, a string.] ^ ,, „ J
A musical instrument of an oblong figure, ot
the nature of a spinet. The strings are
j muflled with small bits of fine woolen
cloth, to soften the sounds ; used in nunne-
ries. [See Clarichord.] Encyc.
IcLAV'ICLE, Ji. [L. clavicula, a tendril, that
Iis a little key or fastener, from clavis, a key,
or lock.] I
The collar bone. There are two clavicles, or
channel bones, joined at one end to the^
scapula or shoulder bone, and at the other,i
to the sternum or breast bone. ^uincy.'
Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleavetli
the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud—
ye shall cat. Deut. xiv.
His nails were grown like birds claws. Dan.
iv.
The whole foot of an animal armed with
hooked nails.
3. The hand, in contempt.
CLAW, i;. «. [Sax. dau'en.] To pull, tear or
scratch with the nails. Shak. South.
2. To scratch or tear in general ; to tickle.
Shak. Hudibras.
3. To flatter. Obs. . Shak.
To claw off or away, to scold or rail at.
L'Estrange.
2. In seamanship, to turn to windward and
beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.
3. In vulvar language, to scratch away ; to
get oft" or escape.
CLAW'BACK, n. [claw and back.] One
who flatters ; a sycophant ; a wheedler.
Jewel.
CLAWED, pp. Scratched, pulled or torn
with claws.
2. a. Furnished with claws. Grew.
CLAWING, ;)^r. Pulling, tearing or scratch-
ing with claws or nails.
CLAWLESS, a. Destitute of claws.
Joum. of Science.
CLAY, «. [Sax. cte^; G.klei; D.klei; W.
clai ; Dan. klwg, viscous, sticky.]
1. The name of certain substances which are
mixtures of silex and alumin, sometimes
with lime, magnesia, alkali and metallic
oxyds. A species of earths which are
firmly coherent, weighty, compact, and
hard when dry, but stiff", viscid and ductile
when moist, and smooth to the touch ; not
readily diff"usible in water, and when mix-
ed, not readily subsiding in it. They con-
tract by heat. Clays absorb water greed-
ily, and become soft, but are so tenacious
as to be molded into any shape, and hence
they are the materials of bricks and vari-
ous vessels, domestic and chimical.
Encyc. Cleavdand.
In poe«n/ and mscriptitre, ea^lh. in general.
Donnt.
I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxsiii.
3. Ill scriiiture, clay is used to express frailty,
liableness to decay and destruction.
They that dwell in houses of clay. Job iv.
CLAY, V. t. To cover or manure with clay.
Mortimer.
2. To purify and whiten with clay, as sugar.
Edwards, W. Ind.
CL.VY-COLD, a. Cold as clay or earth;
Ufeless. Rowe.
CLA'YED, pp. Covered or manured with
clay.
2. Purified and whitened with clay ; as clayed
sugar. Edwards.
CLAYES, n. plu. [Fr. claie, a hurdle ; W.
clwyd.]
la fortification, wattles or hurdles made with
stakes interwoven with osiers, to cover
lodgments. Chambers.
CLAYEY, a. Consisting of clay ; abound-
CLE
inn- with clay ; partaking of clay ; like
clav.
CLAY-GROUND, )!. Ground consisting of
clay, or abounding with it.
CLA'VISII, n. Partaking of the nature of
clay, or containing particles of it.
CLAY-LAND, } Land consisting of clay,
CLAY-SOIL, ^ "■ or abounding with it. I
CLAY-MAUL, :,. A whitish, smooth, chalky!
clay. Mortimer.
CLAY-PIT, n. A pit whore day is dug.
IVoodwitrd.
CLAY-SLATE, n. In mmtralogy, argillace-
ous shist ; argillitc.
CLAY-STONE, ». A mineral, the fftonsiein
of Werner, antl indurated day of Kirwan.
It resembles compact limestone or calca-
rious marl. Its texture is porous, compact
or slaty. Its color is gray, often tinged
with yellow or blue ; also rose or pale red,
or brownish red, and sometimes greenish.
Cleaveland.
CLEAN, a. [Sax. cldne ; W. glan, or glain ;
Ir. glan ; Ann. glan. The primai-y sense
seems to be, to open or to remove, toi
separate.] I
In a general sense, free from extraneous
matter, or whatever is injurious or oft'en-
sive; hence its signification depends on
the nature and qualities of the substances
to which it is ai)plied.
1. Free from dirt, or other-foul matter; as
dean water ; a dean cup ; a dean floor.
2. Free from weeds or stones ; as dean land ;
a clean garden or field.
3. Free from knots or branches; as dean
timber. In America, dear is generally
used.
4. Free from moral impurity ; innocent.
WTio can bring a clean thing out of an un-
clean ? Joh xiv. Acts xviii.
5. Free from ceremonial defilement. Lev.
X. Numb. xix.
C. Free from guilt ; sanctified ; holy. John
xiii. Ps. li.
7. That might be eaten by the Hebrews.'
Gen. vii. viii.
8. That might be used. Luke xi.
'J. Free from a foul disease ; cured of lepro-
sy. 2 Kings V. Math. viii.
10. Dextrous ; adroit ; not bungling ; free
from awkwardness ; as a dean feat ; a dean
boxer.
n. Free from infection ; as a cZean ship. A
dean bill of health is a certificate that a
ship is dean, or free from infection.
CLEAN, adv. Quite; perfectly; wholly;
entirely; fully; indicating separation or
complete removal of every part. " The
people passed dean o\'«r Jordan." Josh,
iii. " Is his mercy dean gone forever ?"
Ps. Ixxvii. Tills use of dean is not now
elegant, and not used except in vulgar
language.
2. Without miscarriage ; desirously.
Pope came off clean with Homer. Henley
CLEAN, V. t. [Sax. da^nan ; W. glanau.
See the Adjective.]
To remove all foreign matter from ; to sepa-
rate from any thing whatever is extrane-
ous to it, or whatever i;s foul, noxious, or
ofiensive, as dirt or filth from the hands,]
body or clothes, foul matter from a ves-
sel, weeds, shrubs and stones from a mead-
ow ; to purify. Thus, a house is cleaned
CLE
by sweeping and washing; a field is clean-
ed by plowing and hoeing.
CLEAN'LINESS, n. den'liness. [from
deanli/.] Freedom from dirt, filth, or any
foul, extraneous matter. Addison.
2. Neatness of person or dress; purity.
Sinfl.
CLEAN'LY, a. den'ly. [from dean.] Free
from dirt, filth, or any foul matter ; neat
carefully avoiding filth.
Dryden. Addison.
2. Pure ; free from mixture ; innocent
cleanly iioys. GlanvHte.
3. Cleansing ; making clean ; as cleanly pow-
der. Prior.
4. Nice; artful; dextrous; adroit; as a
cleanly play ; a cleanly evasion. Obs.
Sptnscr. L'Estrange.
CLEAN'LY, adv. den'ly. In a clean man-
ner ; neatly; without filth. Shak.
CLE'ANNESS, n. Freedom from dirt, filth,
and foreign matter; neatness.
2. Freedom from infection or a foul disease.
.3. Exaot4iess ; purity ; justness ; correctness ;
used of language or style; as, cleanness of
expression. Dryden.
4. Purity ; innocence.
In scripture, cleanness of hands denotes
iiocence. Cleanness of teeth denotes h
of provisions. Amos iv. 6.
CLEANS' ABLE, a. denz'able. That may be
cleansed. Shertoood.
CLEANSE, V. t. clenz. [Sax. clcensian, from
clane, clean.]
L To inirify; to make clean: to remove
filth, or foul matter of any kind, or by any
process whatever, as by washing, rub-
bing, scouring, scraping, purging, ventila
tion, &-C. ; as, to cleanse the hands or face
to cleanse a garment ; to cleanse the bow
els ; to cleanse a ship ; to cleanse an infect
ed house.
2. To free from a foul or infectious disease
to heal. Lev. xiv. 4. 8. Mark i. 42.
3. To free from ceremonial pollution, and
consecrate to a holy use. Numb. viii. 15.
Ezek. xliii. 20.
4. To purify from guilt. 1 John i. 7.
To remove ; as, to cleanse a crime.
Dryden.
CLEANS'ED,pp. clenz'ed. Purified; made
lean ; purged ; healed.
CLEANS'ER, n. clenz'er. He or that which
cleanses; in medicine, a detergent.
Arbuthnot.
CLEANS'ING, pp. cknz'ing. Purifying ;i
making clean ; purging ; removing foul or
noxious matter from; freeing from guilt.
CLEANS'ING, n.. cknz'ing. The act of pu-
rifying, or purging. Mark i. 44. Luke
CLE'AN-TIMBERED, n. Well-proportion-
ed. [jVot in use.] Shak.
CLEAR, a. [W. claer, clear, bright, from
llaer, a reflux, llaeru, to ebb, to clear, or
W. eghir, clear, from tlur, extended, [like
floor ;] Ir. gleair, tear, leir and glor ; Ami.
sclear ; L. clarus ; Fr. dair ; Sp. Port.j
claro ; It. chiaro ; D. klaar ; G. klar ; Sw.
and Dan. klar. See Glare and Glory.]
1. Open ; free from obstruction ; as a dear
plat of ground ; the way is clear.
2. Free from clouds, or fog ; serene ; as a
clear day.
3. Free fiom foreign matter ; mimixed ;
CLE
pure ; as clear water ; clear sand ; char
air ; clear glass.
4. Free from any thing that creates doubt or
uncertainty ; apparent ; evident ; manifest
not obscure ; conspicuous; that is, open
to the mind ; as, the reason is clear.
5. Unclouded ; luminous ; not obscured ; a'-
a clear sun; a clear shining after a rain
2 Sam. xxiii.
(3. Unobstructed ; iniobscured ; as a clca
view.
7. Perspicacious ; sharp ; as a dear sight.
8. Not clouded with care, or ruffled by pas-
sion ; cheerful ; serene ; as a clear aspect-
MiUon.
9. Evident ; undeniable ; indisputable ; a;-
the \-ictory was clear. Milton.
10. Quick to understand ; prompt ; acute.
Mother of science, now I feel thy power
AVithin me clear. Milton.
11. Free from guilt or blame ; innocent ; un-
spotted ; irreproachable. 2 Cor. vii.
In action faithful, and in honor clear. Pope.
12. Free from bias ; unprepossessed ; not
preoccupied; impartial; as a. dear judg-
ment. Sidney.
13. Free from debt, or obligation ; not liable
I to prosecution ; as, to be clear of debt or
responsibility. Gay.
14. Free from deductions, or charges ; as,
char gain or profit. Locke.
15. Not entangled ; unembarrassed ; free ;
as, the cable is dear. A ship is clear, when
she is so remote from shore or other ob-
ject, as to be out of danger of striking, or
to have sea room sufficient.
16. Open ; distinct ; not jarring, or harsh ; as
a clear sound ; a clear voice.
17. Liberated ; freed ; acquitted of charges ;
as. a man has been tried and got clear.
18. Free from spots or any thing that dis-
figures ; as a clear skin.
Clear is followed hy from or by of.
Thou shalt be clear from this my oath. Gen.
xxiv.
The air is clear of damp exhalations.
Temple.
CLEAR, adv. Plainly ; not obscurely ; man-
ifestly.
Clean ; quite ; entirely ; wholly ; indica-
ting entire separation ; as, to cut a piece
clear off; to go dear away ; but in this
sense its use is not elegant.
Clear or in the clear, among joiners and car-
penters, denotes the space within walls,
or length and breadth clear or exclusive <rf
the thickness of the wall.
CLEAR, V. t. To make clear ; to fine ; to
remove any thing foreign ; to separate
from any foul matter ; to piu-ify ; to clar-
ify ; as, to clear hquors.
To free from obstructions ; as, to dear the
road.
3. To free from any thing noxious or inju-
rious ; as, to clear the ocean of pirates ; to
clear the land of enemies.
4. To remove any incumbrance, or embar-
rassment ; often followed by q^or away f
as, to clear o^debts ; to clear away rubbish.
5. To free ; to liberate, or disengage ; to ex-
onerate ; as, to clear a man from debt, ob-
ligation, or duty.
6. To cleanse ; as, to clear the hands from
filth ; to clear the bowels.
To remove any thing that obscures, as
CLE
clouds or fog ; to make bright ; as, to cltar
the sky ; sometimes followed by up.
Druden. Milton.
S. To free from obscurity, perplexity or ambi-
guity ; as, to clear a question or theory ; to
clear up a case or point. Prior.
9. To purge from the imputation of guilt ;
to justify or vindicate.
How shall wc clear ourselves ? Gen. xliv.
That will by no means clear the guilty. Ex.
xxxiv.
10. In a legal sense, to acquit on trial, by
verdict ; as, the prisoner has been tried
and cleared.
n. To make gain or profit, beyond all ex
pcnsea and charges ; as, to clear ten per
cent, by a sale of goods, or by a voyage
12. To remove wood from land : to cut
down trees, remove or burn them, and
prepare land for tillage or pasture ; as, to
clear land for wheat.
To clear a ship at the custom house, is to
exliibit the documents required by law,
give bonds or perform other acts requisite,
and procure a permission to sail, and such
papers as the law requires.
To clear the land, in seamen's language,
is to gain such a distance from shore, as
to have open sea room, and be out of dan-
ger from the land.
To clear the liold, is to em])ty or unload a
ship.
To clear a ship for action, or to clear for
CKtion, is to remove all incumbrances from
the decks, and prepare for an engage-
ment.
■CLEAR, V. i. To beconje free from clouds
or fog ; to become fair ; often followed by
up, off, or away ; as, the sky clears ; the
weather clears up ; it clears aioay ; it clears
2. "To be disengaged from incumbrances,
distress or entanglements ; to become free
or disengaged.
He that clears at once will relapse. Bacon.
€LE'ARA6E, ji. The removing of any
thing. [Little itserf.]
€LE'ARANCE, ji. A certificate that a shi))
or vessel has been cleared at the custom
bouse ; permission to sail.
€LE'ARED, pp. Purified ; freed from for
eign matter, or from incumbrance ; made
nlauife^■t ; made luminous ; cleansed ; hb-
crated ; acquitted.
CLE'ARER, n. That which clears, purifies,
or enlightens ; that which brightens.
Mdison
CLE'ARING, ppr. Purifying ; removing
foul matter, incumbrances, or obstruc-
tions ; making evident, or luminous ;
cleansing ; liberating ; disengaging
quitting ; making gain beyond all costs
and charges.
CLE'ARING, n. A defense ; justification
vindication. 2 Cor. vii.
2. A place or tract of land cleared of wood
for cultivation ; a common itse of the word
in .Imeiica.
3. The act of making clear.
CLE'ARLY, adv. Plainly ; evidently ; fully ;
as, the fact is clearly proved.
2. Without obstruction ; luminously ; as, tc
shine clearly.
3. With clear discernment ; as, to under-
Stand clearly.
CLE
4. Without entanglement, or confusion.
Bacon.
Plainly ; honestly ; candidly.
Deal clearly and impartially with yourselves.
Tillotson.
6. Without reserve, evasion or subterfiige.
Davies.
CLE'ARNESS, n. Freedom from foul or
extraneous matter ; purity ; as the clear-
ness of water, or other liquor.
2. Freedom from obstruction or incum-
brance ; as the clearness of the ground.
3. Freedom from fogs or clouds ; openness ;
as the clearness ot the sky. It generally
expresses less than brightness or splen-
dor. Ex. xxiv.
Distinctness ; perspicuity ; luminouaness ;
as the clearness of reason, of views, of
arguments, of explanations.
Plainness, or plain deaUng ; sincerity ;
honesty ; fairness ; candor. Bacon.
Freedom from imputation of ill. Shak.
7. Freedom from s[)ots, or any thing that
disfigures ; as the clearness of the skin.
CLE'AR-SHINING, a. [clear and shine.]
Shitiing with brightness, or unobstructed
splendor. Shak.
CLE'AR-SIGHTED, a. [clear and sight.]
Seeing with clearness ; having acuteness
of sight ; discerning ; persjiicacious ; as
clear-sighted reason; Hclear-sighted judge.
CLEAR-SIGHTEDNESS, n. Acute dis-
cernment. Bp. Barlow.
CLE'AR-STARCH, v. I. [clear and starch.]
To stiffen and clear with starch, and by
clapping with the hands ; as, to clear-starch
muslin.
CLE'AR-STARCHER, n. One who clear-
starches.
CLE'AR-STARCHING, ppr. Stiffening and
clearing with starch.
n. The act of stiffening and clearing with
starch.
CLEAT, n. [Qu. the root ofL.claudo, Gr.
*Xfi9por, the fastener.]
■V piece of wood used in a ship to fasten
ropes upon. It is formed with one arm
or two, or with a hollow to receive a rope,
and is made fast to some part of a vessel.
Cleats are belaying-cleats, deck-cleats or
thiunb-cleats. Mar. Diet.
CLE'AVAtiE, n. The act of cleaving or
splitting.
2. In mineralogy, the manner of cleaving,
or of mechanical division. It is used in
relation to the fracture of minerals which
have natural joints and possess a regular
structure. Phillips
CLEAVE, V. i. prct. clave or cleaved. [Sax
cleqfian, cliofian, to spht and to adhere ;
chifian, to adhere ; D. klceven ; G. kleben or
kieiben; Dan. kla:ber, kleber ; Sw. klibba ;
Russ. lipna. The old preterit clave is ob-
solescent.]
I. To stick ; to adhere ; to hold to.
My bones cleave to my skin. Ps. cii.
Let my tongue cleave to tlie roof of my
mouth. Ps. cxxxvii.
Cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii.
Q. To unite aptly ; to it : to sit well on.
Skak.
3. To unite or be united closely in interest
or affection ; to adhere witlj strong at-
tachment.
A man shall leave father and mother, and
I cieare to his WTfc. Gen. ii. Math. six.
Cleave to Jehovah your God. Josh, xxiii
CLE
CLEAVE, r. t. pret. clej} : pp. clefl or cleav-
ed. The old pret. clove is obsolete ; dare
is obsolescent. The old participle, c/ortH,
is obsolescent, or rather used as an adjec-
tive. [Sax. cleqfian, or clifan ; D. klooven;
G. klieben ; Sw. klyfioa ; Dan. klover;
Russ. lopayu ; Gr. Xin^. This word Beems
to be connected with the L. liber, free,
and bark, book, libera, to free, Fr. livrer,
whence deliver.]
1. To part or divide by force ; to split or
rive ; to open or sever the cohering parts
of a body, by cutting or by the applica-
tion of force ; as, to cleave wood ; to cleave
a rock ; to cleave tlie flood. Ps. Ixxiv.
Milton. Dry den.
2. To part or open naturally.
Every beast that cleaveth the cleft into two
claws. Deut. xiv.
CLEAVE, V. i. To part ; to open ; to crack ;
to separate, as parts of cohering bodies ;
as, the ground cleaves by frost.
The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst
thereof. Zech. xiv.
CLE'AVED, pp. Split ; rived ; divided.
CLE'AVELANDITE, n. [from Professor
Cleaveland.] A mineral, generally of a
white or grayish white color, sometimes
blue or bluish or reddish ; called also sili-
ceous felspar, or albite. Phillips.
CLE' AVER, n. One who cleaves; that
which cleaves ; a butcher's instnmient for
cutting animal bodies into joints or pieces.
Arlmthnot.
CLE'AVING, ppr. Sticking; adliering;
uniting to. Also, splitting ; dividing; ri-
ving.
CLECHE, n. In heraldry, a kind of cross,
charged with another cross of the same
figure, but of the color of the field. Encyc.
CLEDgE, n. Among miners, the upper
stratum of fuller's earth.
CLEF, n. [Fr. clef; L. clavis, a key, the
fastener.]
A character in music placed at the beginning^
of a stave, to determine the degree of
elevation occupied by that stave in the
I general claviary or system, and to point
' out the names of all the notes which it
contains in the line of that clef.
Rousseau.
CLEFT, pp. of cleave. Divided; split;
parted asunder. Milton.
CLEFT, 71. A space or opening made by
splitting ; a crack ; a crevice ; as the clefl
of a rock. Is. ii. 21. Addison.
2. A disease in horses ; a crack on the bought
of the pastern. Farriir's Diet.
3. A piece made by splitting ; as a deft of
wood.
[This word is sometimes written difl.]
CLEFT-GRAFT, v. t. [clefl and graft.]
To engraft by cleaving the stock and inser-
ting a cion. Mortimer.
CLEG, Ji. The horse fly ; Dan. klmg.
CLEM, V. t. [G. klemmen.] To starve.
[J^'bt in use.] Jonson.
CLEM'ENCY, n. [L. dementia, from Clem-
ens, mild, smooth ; whence Fr. demence.
It. demenza, Sp. demencia ; W. llim,
smooth ; Heb. onS to be soft, mild, gentle.]
1. 3Iildness ; sofuiess ; as the clemency of the
air. Dryden.
2. INIildness of temper ; gentleness or lenity
of disposition ; disposition to treat with fa-
vor and kindness.
CLE
CLE
C L I
I pray 'lie^ 'hat thou wouldcst hear lis of tliy
clemency a few words. Acts xxiv.
3. Mercy ; disposition to treat with lenity,
to forgive or to spare, as offenders ; ten-
derness in punishing ; opposed to severity,
harshness, or rigor. Mdison.
CLEM'ENT, a. Mild in temper and dispo-
sition ; gentle ; lenient ; merciful ; kind i
tender ; compassionate.
CLEM'ENTINE, a. Pertauiingto St. Clem-
ent, or to his compilations ; or to the con-
stitutions of Clement the fifth.
CLEM'ENTLY, adv. With mildness of
temper; mercifully. Taylor.
CLENCH. [See Clinch.]
CLEPE, V. t. or i. [Sax. clepan, cleopan, chj-
pan, to cry out ; W. clepiaie, to clack.]|
To call, or name. Obs. Skak.
€LEPSAM'MIA, n. [Gr. x^intu, to hide,
to steal, and o>t/io5, sand.]
An instrument for measuring time by sand,
like an hour glass. Brown
€LEP'SYDRA, n. [L. from Gr. *xt4i.«pa
xT^irtTu, to steal, to hide, and uSwp, water.]
1. A time piece used by the Greeks and Ro
mans, which measured time by the (lis
charge of a certain quantity of water.
Also, a fountain in Greece.
9. A chimical vessel.
€LER'GI€AL, a. Pertaining to the clergy.
[JVot used.] [See Clerical.] Milton
€LER'(iY, ?!. [Fr. clerg^ ; Norm, cler-
kus, clerex, clergy, or clerks, and cler-
gie, literature ; Arm. doer, the plural of
cloarecq, a clerk ; Corn, cloireg ; Ir. cleir,
clergy, and cleirioch, a clerk or clergyman ;
L. clerus, clericus, which would seem to
be from the Gr. x>.»?pof, lot or portion, in
heritance, estate, and the body of those
who perform sacred duties ; whence
x-Krifoa, to choose by lot, to make a clerk,
clericuni facere. In 1 Peter v. Z. the won"
in the plural seems to signify the churcl
or body of believers ; it is rendered God's
heritage. In W. cler signifies teachers or
learned men of thedruidical order; clerig,
belonging to the cler, clerical. It. Sp.
clero, from the Latin. The application
of this word to ministers or ecclesiastica'
teachers seems to have originated in their
possessions, or separate allotments of land ;
or from the Old Testament denomination
of the priests, for the tribe of Levi is there
called the lot, heritage, or inheritance
of the Lord.]
The body of men set apart, and consecrated
by due ordination, to the service of God,
in the christian church ; the body of eccle-
siastics, in distinction from the laity.
Hooker. Encyc.
y. The privilege or benefit of clergy.
If convicted of a clergyable felony, lie is enti
tied equally to his clergy after as before convic
tion. Blackstone
Benefit of clergy, in English law, originally
the exemption of the persons of clergymen
from criminal ]n-ocess before a secul
judge ; or a jirivilege by which a clerk
j)erson in orders claimed to be delivered
to his ordinary to piu-ge himself of felony.
But this privilege has been abridged and
modified by various statutes. See Black-
stone, B. 4. Ch. 98. In the United States,
no benefit of clergy exists.
€LER'tiYABLE, a'. Entitled to or admit-
ting the benefit of clergy ; as a rlergynhh
felonv. " Blackstone
CLER'GYMAN, n. A man in holy orders ;
a man licensed to preach the gospel, ac-
cording to the forms and rules of any par-
ticidardenomination of christians.
CLER'IC, n. A clerk or clergyman.
Horsley.
CLER'ICAL, a. [L. clericus ; Gr. xXi;ptxoi.
See Clergy and Clerk.]
Relating or pertaining to the clergy as cler-
ical tonsure ; clerical robes ; clerical duties.
Blackstone.
€LERK, n. [Sax. cleiic, clerc, clere ; L. cler-
ictis; Gr. x%^fii,xo;. See Clergy.]
1. A clergyman, or ecclesiastic ; a man in
holy orders. ^^yliff^-
2. A man that can read.
Every one that could read — being accounted
clerk. Blackstone.
.3. A man of letters ; a scholar. Sidney. South.
The foregoing significations are found
in the English laws, and histories of the
church ; as in the rude ages of the church,
learning was chiefly confined to the cler-
gy. In modern usage,
1. A writer ; one who is employed in the
use of the pen, in an oflice pubUc or pri
vate, for keeping records, and accounts ;
as the clerk of a court. In some cases
clerk is synonymous with secretary; but
not always. A clerk is always an officer
subordinate to a higher officer, board, cor-
poration or person ; whereas, a secretary
may be either a subordinate officer, or the
head of an office or department.
5. A layman who is the reader of respon
ses ill church service. Johnson.
€LERK'-ALE, n. [clerk and ale.] In Eng
land, the feast of the parish clerk. Warton.
€LERK'LIKE, a. Like a clerk ; learned.
Sl,ak.
€LERK'LY, a. Scholarlike. Cramner.
CLERK'LY, adv. In a learned manner.
Gascoigne.
eLERK'SHIP, n. A state of being in jioly
orders. Blackstone.
2. Scholarship. Johnson
3. The office or business of a clerk or wri-
ter. Swijl.
€LER'OMANCY, n. [Gr. *>.»;po;, lot, and
liavtiia, divination.]
A divination by throwing dice or Httle bones,
and observing the points or marks turneil
np. Bailey.
€LEVE, j) in the composition of names,
€L1F, > denote a jilace situated on or
€LIVE, ) near a chff; on the side of a
hill, rock or precipice ; as Cleveland,
Clifton.
CLE'V'ER, a. [I know not the radical let
ters of this word. If (he elements are clh.
or Ih. the affinities may be Russ. lovkie,
convenient, dextrous, ulovka, dexterity,
craft, lovlyu, to take or seize, as if allied
to Gothic lofa, Ir. lamh, W. Haw, the
hand. In Ir. hih is a thong or loop, a plait
or told, and craft, cunning; luhach, sly
crafty; luham to bend. In Eth. AOt
labuvvi, signifies ingenious, ready, skdful
and the verb, to understand, or be skilful
If V ill clever is from g-, as in many othci
words, the affinities may be Sax. gleaw
knowing, skilful, industrious, wise, whicl
is the G. king, D. kloek, Dan. klog, Sw
kink. Let the reader judge.]
Fit ; suitable ; convenient ; proper ; com
iiiodious. Pope
2. Dextrous ; adroit ; ready ; that iMrfornis
with skill or address. Addison.
3. In JVctt) England, good-natiu-ed, posses-
sing an agreeable mind or disposition.
In Great Britain, this word is applied to
the body or its movements, in its literal
sense ; in America, it is appUed chiefly to
the mind, temper, disposition. In Great
Britain, a clever man is a dextrous man,
one who performs an act with skill or ad-
dress. In JVeiv-Englatid, a clever man is a
man of a pleasing obliging disposition, and
amiable manners, but often implying a
moderate share of talents. Fitness, suit-
ableness, gives both senses analogically :
the former applied to the body ; the latter,
to the mind, or its qualities. It is a collo-
quial word, but sometimes found in res-
pectable writings.
In some of the United States, it is said
this word is applied to the intellect, deno-
ting ingenious, knowing, discerning.
eLEV'ERLY, adv. Fitly ; desirously ; hand-
somely. Butler.
CLEVERNESS, n. Dexterity; adroitness:
skill. Johnson.
2. Mildness or agreeableness of disposition ;
obligingness; good nature. J\nv England.
€LEV'Y, ) [Qii. L. Claris.] An iron
CLEVIS, ^ "■ bent to the form of an ox
bow, with the two ends perforated to re-
ceive a pin, used on the end of a cart-
neap to hold the chain of the forward
horse or oxen ; or a draft iron on a plow.
JVew England.
CLEW, n. [Sax. cleou; cliwe ; D. kluwen ; G.
kloben ; L. glohis. The word signifies a
ball or a lump. In ^Velsh, cloh is a knob
or boss ; clwpa is a club or knob ; clap is
a lump ; all from roots in lb; llob,a. lump,
a lubber.]
1. A ball of thread. Spenser.
2. The thread that forms a ball ; the thread
that is used to guide a person in a laby-
rinth. Hence, any thing that guides or
directs one in an intricate case. Watts.
3. The lower corner of a square sail, and
the aftmost corner of a stay sail. Mar. Did.
CLEW, V. t. In seamanship, to truss up to
the yard, by moans of clew-garnets or
clew-lines, in order to furling.
2. To direct.
CLEW-GARNETS, n. In marine language,
a sort of tackle, or rope and pulley, fasten-
ed to the clews of the main and foresails
to truss them up to the yard.
CLEW'-LINES, n. These are the same tac-
kle, and used for the like purpose as clew-
garnets, but are applied to the smaller
square sails, as the top-sail, top-gallant
and sprit-sails. Mar. Did.
CLICK, V. i. [D. klikken ; Fr. cliqueter, to
crack ; cliquet, a mill-clapper. See CUtck,
to tlie root of which this word belongs.]
Literally, to strike ; hence,
To make a small sharp noise, or rather a
succession of small sharp sounds, as by a
gentle striking.
The solemn death-watch clicked. (ray.
CLICK, n. In seamen's language, a small
piece of iron falling into a notched wheel
attached to the winches in cutters, &c.
Mar. Diet.
CLICK, 71. The latch of a door. [Locai.]
CLICK'ER, n. The servant of a salesman,
who stands at the door to invite custom-
C L I
C L I
C L I
ers ; a low word and not used in the United
States.
CLlCK'ET,n. The knocker of a door. [JM'ot
used in the United States.]
CLICKING, ppr. Making small sharp noi-
€LI'ENT, »i. [Fr.ciient; It. cliente; Sp. id.;
L. cliens.]
1. Among the Romans, a citizen who put
himself under tlie protection of a man of
distinction and influence, who, in respect
to that relation, was called his patron.
Hence in modern usage,
2. One who applies to a lawyer or counsel-
or for advice and direction in a question
of law, or commits his cause to his man-
agement in prosecuting a claim, or defend-
ing against a suit, iu a court of justice.
Bacon. Taylor.
3. A dependent. B. Joiison.
€LI'ENTAL, a. Dependent. [Unusual]
Burke.
CLI'ENTED, fl. Supplied with clients.
Carew.
CLI'ENTSHIP, n. The condition of a cli-
ent ; a state of being under the protection
of a patron. [Clientele is not used.]
Dn/den.
€LIFF, n. [Sax. clif, clvf, or clcof; D'. klif,
or klip ; G. and liau.'klippe ; Svv. kiippa ;
W. dip; L. clivus ; probably from cleaving.
Sax. Aifian, cleojkm.]
1. A steep bank; as the cliffs of Dover. So
in Saxon, the cliff's of the Red Sea.
Orosius, supposed by Alfred.
5. A liigh and steep rock ; any precipice.
Bacon. Dryden.
This word has been sometimes writteii clijt.
and if from cleaving, rending, coincides
with cleft in origin.
CLIFF, in nuisic. [See Clef.]
CLIFF'Y, a. Having cliffs ; broken ; crag-
gy. Harmar.
CLIFT'ED, a. Broken. Congreve.
CLlMAC'raR, n. [Gr. xxiiuoxfjyp, the stej
of a ladder, from xxtjuol, a ladder or scale ;
L. climacter.]
1. A critical year in human life ; but climac-
teric is more generally used.
2. A certain sjmce of time. [JVot used.]
Brown
CLIMACTERIC, a. [Gr. x\ifiaxTi;fixai : L
climactericus, from climax, a ladder. See
Climax.]
Literally, notmg a scale, progres^iion, or gra-
dation ; appropriately, denoting a critical
period of human life, or a certain nmnber
<jf yeai-s, at the end of which a great
■ liange is supposed to take place iii the
human constitution. [See the Noun.]
CLIMACTERIC, n. A critical period in
human life, or a period in which
great change is supposed to take place in
the human constitution. The critical pe-
riods are supjiosed by some persons to be
the years produced by multiplying 7 into
the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9 ; to which
others add the 81st year. The 63d year
is called the grand climacteric. It has
been supposed that these periods are at-
tended with some remarkable change in
respect to health, life or fortune.
Brown. Dryden. Pope
CLIMATARCH'IC, a. [Gr. xUfia, climate,
and opj;);, dominion.] Presiding over cli-
mates. Patis. Trans. .\'otc.
Vol. r.
CLI'MATE, n. [Gr. *Jit/w» ; whence L. cH-
ma ,• It. Sp. clima ; Fr. cltTnat. (iu. from
Gr. itvi'M), to lean or incline, or the root ol
climax.]
1. In geography, a part of the surface of the
earth, bouiulcd by two circles parallel to
the equator, and of such a breadth that
the longest day in the parallel nearest the
pole is half an hour longer than that near-
est to the equator. The beginning of a
climate is a parallel circle in which the
longest day is half an hour shorter than
that at the end. The climates begin at
the equator, where the day is 12 hours
long ; and at the end of the first climate
the longest day is 124 hours long, and this
increase of half an hour constitutes a cli-
mate, to the polar circles; from whicii
climates are measured by the increase of
a montli. Johnson. Encyc.
2. In a popular sense, a tract of land, region
or country, differing from another in the
temperature of the an- ; or any region or
country with respect to the temperature
of the air, the seasons, and their peculiar
qualities, without any regard to the length
of the (lays, or to geographical position
Thus we say, a warm or cold climate ; a
moist or dry climate ; a happy climate
genial climate ; a mountainous climate.
CLI'MATE, V. i. To dwell ; to reside in a
particular region.
Shak. Hist, of St. Domingo.
[LilfJe used, and hardly legitimate.]
CLIMAT'IC, I Pertaming to a climate
!CLIMAT'ICAL, ^ "' or chmates ; limited
I bv a climate. .S. S. Smith.
CLi'MATURE, n. A chmate. [LiMe used.
Shak
CH'MAX, n. [Gr. x^Kl^lai^, a scale or ladder ;
L. climax ; perhaps from the root of the
W. llamu, to step, stride, leap. Ham, a
step, stride, leap, Ir. leimim, leim, or from
the root of climb.]
1. Gradation ; ascent ; a figure of rhetoric,
in which a sentence rises as it were, step
by step ; or in which the expression which
ends one member of the period, begins the
second, and so on, till the period is finish-
ed ; as in the following : " When we have
practiced good actions a while, they be-
come easy ; and when they are easy, we
begin to take pleasure in them ; and when
they please us, we do them frequently ;
and by frequency of acts, tliey grow into
a habit." Tillotson.
2. A sentence, or series of sentences, in
which the successive members or senten-
ces rise in force, importance or dignity, to
the close of the sentence or series.
Dryden.
CLIMB, V. i. clime, pret.' and pp. climbed,
or clomb, but the latter is not elegant.
[Sax. climan, or climhan ; D. klimmen ; G.
rrf. The corresponding word m Dan. is
klyver ; Sw. klifwa.]
1. 'to creep up by little and little, or step by
step; to mount or ascend, by means of the
hands and feet ; to rise on any fixed ob-
ject, by seizing it with the hands and hft-
ing the body, and by thrusting with the
feet ; as, to climb a tree or a precipice.
Ami he ran before anil climbed up into a syc-
aniore tree. Luke xLx.
2. To mount or ascend with labor and diffi-
rultv. Shak.
39
3. To rise or ascend with a slow motion.
Black vapors cUmb aloft. Vrydcn.
CLIMB, V. t. To ascend by means of the
hands and feet, implying labor, diflieulty
and slow progress ; as, to climb a wall, or
a steep mountain. Prior.
2. To mount or ascend, with labor or a slow
motion ; as, to climb the ascents of fame.
Prior.
CLIMBABLE, a. That may be climbed.
Sherwood.
CLIMBED, pp. Ascended by the use of the
hands and feet ; ascended with labor.
CLIMBER, n. One who chmbs, mounts or
rises, by the hands and feet ; one who ri-
ses by labor or effort.
2. A plant that creeps and rises on some
support. Mortimer.
CLIMBER, r. i. [from climb, or a different
orthography of clamber.]
To climb ; to mount with effort. [JVot used.]
Tusser.
CLIMBING, ppr. Ascending by the use of
the hands and feet ; ascending with diffi-
culty.
CLIM"BING, n. The act of ascending.
CLIME, n. [from climate, or directly from
Gr. and L. clima.]
A climate ; a tract or region of the earth ;
a poetical word, but sometimes used in
prose. [See Climate.]
Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms.
Milton.
CLINCH, V. t. [D. klinken, to clink or rivet ;
klink, a latch, a rivet ; Dan. klinke, a latch ;
Sw. klinka ; Fr. clenche ; allied to cling,
link, W. elided, a latch.]
1. To grij>c with the hand ; to make fast by
bending over, folding, or embracing close-
ly. Thus, to clinch a nail, is to bend the
point and drive it closely. To clinch the
hand or fist, is to contract the fingers
closely into the palm of the hand. To
clinch an instrument, is to close the fin-
gers and thumb round it, and hold it fast.
2. To fix or fasten ; to make firm ; as, to
clinch an argument.
CLINCH, ji. A word used in a double mean-
ing ; a pun ; an ambiguity ; a dupUcity of
meaning, with identity of expression.
Johnson.
Here one poor word a hundred clinches
makes. Pope.
j2. A witty, ingenious reply. Bailey.
3. In seamen's language, the part of a cable
which is fastened to the ring of an anchor ;
a kind of knot and seizings, used to fasten
a cable to the ring of an anchor, and the
britching of a gun to the ring bolts in a
ship's side. Mar. Diet.
CLINCH'ED, pp. Made fast by doubhng or
embracing closely.
CLINCH'ER, n. That which chnches ; a
cramp or piece of iron bent dowTi to fas-
ten any thing. Pope.
2. One who makes a smart reply. Bailey.
3. That which makes fast.
1 1. INCH F.K-r.lILT, } Made of chnch-
CMNK KIMil'ILT, ^ "• er work.
CLIMIl 1:R-W0RK, n. In shipbuilding,
the disposition of Uie planks in the side of
a boat or vessel, when the lower edge of
every plank overlays the next below it,
like slates on the roof a house.
.Mar. Diet.
C L
C L O
C L O
€LINCH'ING, ppr. Making fast by doub-
ling over or embracing closely ; griping
with the fist.
CLING, t'. I. ]>ret. and pp. clung. [Sax.
clh2gan, to adhere and to wither ; Dan.
klynger, to grow in clusters ; klynge, a
heap or cluster. See the transitive verb
below.]
1. To adhere closely; to stick to ; to hold
fast upon, especially by winding round or
embracing ; as, the tendril of a vine clings
to its support.
Two babes of love close clinging to her waist.
Pope.
9. To adhere closely ; to stick to ; as a vis-
cous substance. Wiseman.
n. To adhere closely and firmly, in interest
or aftection ; as, men of a party c/t?ig- to
their leader.
CLING, V. t. To dry up, or wither.
Till famine cling Uiee. Shak
III Saxon, clingan is rendered to fade or
wither, marcesco, as well as to cling. In
this sense is usedforclingan, pp. forclun-
gen. The radical sense then appears to
be, to eontract or draw together ; and dry-
ing, withering, is expressed by shrinking,
[The latter -use of the ivord is obsolete.]
CLING'ING, ppr. Adhering closely ; stick-
ing to ; winding round and holding to.
CLING' V, a. Apt to cling; adhesive.
CLIN'IC, ) [Gr. xT.ii'ixos, fi-om xJ-h)?, a
CLIN'ICAL, I "■ bed, froin xlwu, to recline.
See Lean.]
In a general sense, pertaining to a bed. A
rlinical lecture is a discourse delivered at
the bed-side of the sick, or from notes ta-
ken at the bed-side, by a physician, with a
view to practical instruction in the heal-
ing art. Clinical medicine is the practice
of medicine on patients in bed, or in hos-
pitals. A clinical convert is a convert on
his death-bed. Anciently persons receiv-
ing baptism on their death-beds were
called clinics. Coxe. Encyc. Taylor.
CLIN'le, Ji. One confined to the bed by
sickness.
CLINICALLY, adv. In a clinical manner ;
by the bed-side.
CLINK, V. t. [Sw. klinga ; Dan. hlinger,
klinker ; D. klinken ; G. klingen. This
seems to be a dialectical orthography of
clang, clank, L. clango, and if n is not rad-
ical, they coincide with clack, click, witl
the radical sense, to strike.]
To ring or jingle ; to utter or make a small
sharp sound, or a succesj^ion of such
sounds, as by striking small metallic or
other sonorous bodies together.
Prior. Gay.
€LINK, n. A sharp sound, made by the col-
lision of small sonorous bodies. Spenser
according to Johnson, uses the word for a
knocker.
■eLINK'ING, ppr. Making a small sharp
sound, or succession of sounds.
CLINK'STONE, n. [dink and stone, from
its sonorousness. See Phonolite.]
A mineral which has a slaty structure, and
is generally divisible into tabular ma!
usually thick, sometimes thin like those of
argillite. The cross fracture is commonly
splintery. Its colors are dark greenisl
gray, yellowish, bluish, or ash gray ; and
it is usually translucent at the edges,
sometimes opake. It occurs in extensive
masses, often composed of columnar or
tabular distinct concretions, more or less
regular. It is usually found among sec-
ondary rocks ; sometimes resting on ba-
salt, and covered by greenstone.
Cleaveland.
CLINOM'ETER, n. [Gr. x\wo>, to lean, and
fLitpov, measure.]
An instrument tor measuring the dip of min-
eral strata. Ure.
CLINa'UANT, a. [Fr.] Dressed in tinsel
finery. [M'ot English.] Shak.
CLIP, V. t. [Sax. clypan ; Dan. klipper ; Sw.
klippa. The sense seems to be, to strike,
to cut off by a sudden stroke. The Danish
word signifies not only to cut oft' with scis-
sors, but to wink or twinkle with the eyes.
In our popular dialect, a clip is a blow or
stroke ; as, to hit one a clip. Cut is used
in a like sense. The radical sense then
is, to strike or drive with a sudden effort,
thrust or spring.]
To cut off" with shears or scissors ; to sep-
arate by a sudden stroke ; especially to cut
off the ends or sides of a thing, to make it
shorter or narrower, in distinction from
shaving and paring, which are performec
by rubbing the instrument close to the
thing shaved ; as, to clip the hair ; to clip
wings.
But love had clipped his wings and cut
short. Dry den,
2. To diminish coin by paring the edge.
Locke.
3. To curtail ; to cut short. Mdison.
4. To confine, hmit, restrain, or hold ; to
ig. [Little used.] Shak.
To clip it, is a vulgar phrase in New England
for to run with speed. So cut is used :
cut on, run fast. This seems to be the
meaning in Dryden.
Some falcon stoops at what her eye designed,
And with her eagerness the quarry ndssed.
Straight flies at clieck, and clips it down the
wind.
This sense would seem to be allied to
that of leap.
CLIP, n. A blow or stroke with the hand ;
as, lie hit him a clip. JVew- England.
An embrace ; that is, a throwing the arms
round. Sidney
CLIPPED, CLIPT, pp. Cut off; cut short ;
curtailed ; diminished by paring.
CLIP'PER, n. One who clips ; especially
one who cuts oft' the edges of coin.
Mdiwn.
CLIP'PING, ppr. Cutting oft" or shortening
with shears or scissors ; diminishing coin
by parinc off the edges; curtailing.
CLIP'PING, n. The act of cutting off, cur-
tailing or diminishing.
i. That which is clipped off; a piece sepa-
rated by clipping. Locke.
CLIVERS, n. A plant, the Galium aparine ;
called also goose-grass, or hairiff. It has
a square, rough, jointed stem ; the joint.«
hairy at the base ; with eight or ten nar-
row leaves at each joint.
Encuc. Fam. of Plants.
CLOAK. [See Cloke.]
CLO'CHARD, n. [from clock, Fr. cloche.]
A belfry. [ATot ttsed.] ffeeV'
CLOCK, n. [Sax. clugga, clucga; D. klok ;
G. klocke; Dan. klokke; Sw. klocka ; Fi
clocht ; Arm. clock, or clech ; Ir. clog ; ^V
clue ; properly a bell, and uumed from its
sound, from striking. It coincides in ori-
gin with clack and cluck, L. ghcio, Ch. i )i.
Class Lg. No. 27. See Cluck.]
A machine, consisting of wheels moved
by weights, so constructed that by a uni-
form vibration of a pendulum, it measures
time, and its divisions, hours, minutes and
seconds, with great exactness. It indi-
cates the hour by the stroke of a small
hammer on a bell.
The phrases, what o'clock is it ? it is
nine o'clock, seem to be contracted from
j what of the clock'.' it is nine of the clock.
2. A figure or figured work in the ankle of
I a stockinff. Swift.
ICLOCK, t.. t. To call. [See Cluck.]
jCLOCK'-MAKER, n. An artificer whose
I occupation is to make clocks.
CLOCK'-SETTER, n. One who regulates
I the clock. [Al'ot used.] Shak.
CLOCK-WORK, n. The machinery and
movements of a clock; or that part of the
movement which strikes the hours on a
bell, in distinction from that part wh.ch
measures and exhibits the time on the face
or dial plate, which is called watch-work.
Encyc.
|2. Well adjusted work, with regular move-
j ment. Prior.
,CLOD, n. [D. kiuit, a clod ; G. Uots ; Dan.
I klods ; Sw. klot, a log, stock, or stump ;
Dan. klode, D. kloot, a ball ; G. loth, a ball;
D. lood, lead, a ball ; Sw. and Dan. lod, id.;
W. cluder, a heap. Clod and clot seem to
be radically one word, signifying a mass
or lump, from collecting or bringing to-
gether, or from condensing, setting, fix-
ing. In Sax. dud, a rock or hill, may be
from the same root. See Class Ld. No. 8.
9. 10. 16. 26. 35. 3G. 40. Qu. Gr. xJuoflu, to
form a ball.]
1. A hard lump of earth, of any kind ; a
mass of earth cohering. Bacon. Dryden.
2. A lump or mass of metal. [Little used.]
Milton.
3. Turf; the ground. Swift.
4. That which is earthy, base and vile, as
the body of nian compared to his soul.
Milton. Glanville. Burnet.
5. A dull, gross, stupid fellow ; a dolt.
Dniden.
6. Any thing concreted. Carew.
CLOD, V. i. To collect into concretions, or
a thick mass ; to coagulate ; as clodded
gore. Milton.
[See Clot, which is more generally used.}
CLOD, V. t. To pelt with clods.
CLOD'DY, o. Consisting of clods; abound-
ing with clods.
a. Earthy ; mean ; gross. Shak.
CLOD'HOPPER, n. A clown; a dolt.
CLOD'PATE, n. A stupid fellow ; a dolt ;
a Ihiokskull.
CLOD'PATED, o. Stupid; dull; doltish.
Jh-buthnot.
CLOD' POLL, 71. A stupid fellow; a dolt ; a
blockhead. Shak.
CLOG, V. t. [W. cleg, a limip ; dug, a swell-
ing, roundness; clog, a large stone; Uoc,
a monn<l, a dam ; Hog, an augment ; Uogi,
to make compact, to hire, h. loco; Ir. loc,
a stop ; locaim, to hinder. These coincide
with Eng. lock, in jirimary sense, or may
be from the same root. But dog, though
of the s-y.mo family, seems not to be direct-
ly dtri\ed from either of these words.]
I
C L O
1. To load or fill with something that retards
or hinders motion ; as, to clog tlie chan-
nel of a river ; to clog a passage.
9. To put on any thing that encumbers, with
a view to hinder or restrain leaping ; to
shackle ; as, to clog a beast.
3. To load with any thing that encumbers ;
to burden ; to embarrass ; as, to clog com-
merce with impositions or restrictions.
Mdison.
4. To obstruct natural motion, or render it
difficult; to hinder; to impede.
CLOG, V. i. To coalesce ; to unite and ad-
hero in a cluster or mass.
Move it sometimes with a broom, that the
pceds clog not together. Evelyn.
i. To form an accretion ; to be loaded or en-
cumbered with extraneous matter.
The teeth of the saw will begin to clog.
Sharp
CLOG, n. Any thing put ujion an animal to
hinder motion, or leaping, as a piece ot]
wood fastened to his leg.
2. An encumbrance ; that which Innders
motion, or renders it difficult ; hindrance
impediment
C L O
2. a. Solitary ; retired from the world. 1
Shak.\
3. Built with peristyles or piazzas ; inclosed.!
Wotlon.
CLOIS'TERING, ppr. Shutting uj) in a
monastery ; confining ; secluding from the
world.
CLOISTRESS, n. A nun ; a woman who
iias vowed religious retirement. [Littk
nie.d.] Shak.
CLOKE, n. [Sax. lack. In D. taken, Chau-
cer, lake is cloth.]
1. A loose outer garment worn over other
clothes both by men and women.
He was clad with zeal as a cloke. Is. lix.
2. A cover ; that which conceals; a disguise
or pretext ; an excuse ; a fair pretense.
Not using your liberty for a cloke of mali-
ciousness. 1 Peter ii.
They have no cloke for their sin. Johuxv.
CLOKE, ti. t. To cover with a cloke.
2. To hide ; to conceal ; to use a false cov-
ering. Spenser.
CLO'KE-BAG, n. A bag in which a cloke
or other clothes are carried ; a portman-
teau. Shak
CLO'KED, ;);). Covered with a cloke; con
aled under a cover.
3. [ Qu. Fr. claque ; Sp. Port, galocha ; Arm
gdoig.] A wooden shoe ; also, a sort of
patten worn by ladies to keep their feel
dry in wet weather.
CLOG'GED, pp. Wearing a clog ; shack
led ; obstructed ; loade.l with incum
brance. ^ , .
CLOG'GINESS, n. The state of bemg
clogged.
CLOG'GING, ppr. Putting on a clog ; load-
ing with incumbrance ; obstructing ; im-
peding.
CLOG'GY, a. That clogs, or has power to
clog ; thick ; gross.
CLOIS'TER, n. [Fr. cloltre; Sax. claustr,
or cluster ; Arm. claustr, or cloestr ; Sp
claustro ; It. ctaustro, or chiostro ; D. kloos-
Itr ; G. klosler ; Dan. and Sw. klostcr ; W.
claws, clwys; Ir. ctabhstur ; L. claustrum,
from clausus, pp. of claudo. See Eng
Close.]
1. Literally, a close; a close, or inclosed
place. A monastery or nunnery ; a house
inhabited by monks or nuns. In a more
limited sense, the principal part of a regu-
lar monastery, consisting of a square
erected between the church, the chapter-
house and the refectory, and over which
is the dormitory. The proper use of the
cloister is for the monks to meet in for con-
versation. The cloister is square, and has
its name from being inclosed on its four
sides with buildings. Hence in architec
ture, a building is said to be in the form
of a cloister, when there are buildings
on each of the four sides of the court.
Encyc
•2. A ])eristyle ; a piazza. Johnson.
CLOIS'TER, V. t. To confine
or monastery.
7. To shut up ; to confine closely within
walls; to immure ; to shut up in retire-
ment from the world. Bacon
CLOIS'TERAL, a. Confined to a cloister
retired from the world ; recluse.
CLOISTERED, pp. Shut up i
iuliabitlng a monastery.
CLO'KING, ppr. Covering with a cloke
hiding under an external covering.
CLOMB, prel. of climb.
CLONG, old part, of cling.
CLON'IC, a. [Gr. xXoioj, a shaking or ir-
regular motion.]
Shaking ; convulsive ; irregular ; as clonic
spasm. Coxe.
eLOOM, V. I. [Sax. cta:man.] To close witli
glutinous matter. [Local.] Mortimer
CLOSE, r. t. s as :. [Fr. clos ; Arm. verb
closa, or closein ; part, closet; from the L.
participle clausiis, of claudo, to shut; Fr.
clorre ; It. cliiudere,chiuso ; D. kluis, an m-
closure. The D. shiiten, G. schliessen,
schloss, Dan. stutter, Sw. sluta, are from the
same root, with a prefix. Gr. xXfiu, for
xJt«i6ou, wlience xXm, a key, clavis, that
which shuts or fastens ; W. claws, clunja, a
close, a cloister ; Sax. Idid, a lid, the
shutter ; htidan, to cover ; Ir. cteithim,
ctudaim. See Class Ld. No. 1. 8. 9. 10.]
To shut; to make fast, by pressing t
gether, or by stopping an ojien place, so as
to intercejit a passage, in almost any man-
ner ; as, to close the eyes ; to close a gate
door or window. In these and other ca
ses, cl^).nn^ is performed by bringing an
object before the opening. To close •■
book, is to bring the parts together.
The Lord hatli closed your eyes. Is. xxix.
He closed the book. Luke iv.
2. To end ; to finish ; to conclude ; to com-
plete ; to bring to a period ; as, to close a
bargain, or contract. '
One frugal supper did our studies close.
Di-yden.
[3. To unite, as the parts of a breach or frac-
ture ; to make whole ; to consolidate ; of-
ten followed by up.
The Lord closed up the flesh instead thereof.
Gen. ii.
4. To cover ; to inclose ; to encompass ; to
overwhelm.
The depths closed me round about. Jonah ii,
5. To inclose ; to confine. [See Indose.]
}y„tton.\\6- To move or bring together ; to unite sep-
a cloister ; "rate bodies or parts ; as, to dose the ranks
of an army.
C L O
CLOSE, V. i. s as 2. To unite ; to coalesce :
to come together ; as the parts of a wound
or fracture, or [larts separated; often fol-
lowed by on or upon.
The lal closed upon tlie blade. Judges iii.
The earth closed upon them. Num. xvi.
To end ; to termhiate, or come to a peri-
od ; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.
To close on or upon, to come to a mutual
agreement ; to agree on or join in.
France and Holland might close upon some
measures to our disadvantage. Temple.
To close with, to accede to ; to consent or
agree to ; as, to close with the terms propo-
sed. When followed by the person with
whom an agreement is made, to make an
agreement with ; to unite with ; as, to close
with an enemy.
He took the time when Richard was deposed.
And high and low with happy Harry closed.
Dry den.
In this sense, to close in u-ith is less ele-
gant.
To close with.
To close in untli., , „ . .
a contest; applied to wrestlers, when they
come to close embrace for scuffling.
CLOSE, n. a as :. An inclosed place ; any
place surrounded by a fence or other body
which defends or confines it, particularly
a field, or portion of land.
Conclusion ; termination ; final end ; as
the dose of life ; the dose of day or night.
3. A temporal^ finishing; a pause; rest;
cessation ; intermission.
At every close she made, th' attending throng
RepHed, and bore the burden of the song.
Drydeii
4. The manner of shutting.
The doors of plank were ; their close exqui-
site. Chapman.
to unite ; to join closely ;
ajiple, as persons in
5. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.
CLOSE, a. Shut fast ; tight ; made fast, so
as to have no opening ; as a dose box ; a
dose vizard.
2. Having jiarts firmly united ; compact ;
dense ; applied to solid substances of any
kind ; as the close texture of wood or me-
tal.
3. Having parts firmly adhering ; viscous ;
tenacious ; as oil, or glue. fVitkins.
4. Confined ; stagnant ; without ventilation
or motion ; as dose air.
5. Confined ; retired.
While David kept hunseh close. 1 Chroii.
6. Hid ; private ; secret ; as, to keep a pur-
pose dose. Numb. v. Luke ix.
7. Confined within narrow limits ; narrow ;
as a dose alley.
|8. Near ; within a small distance ; as a dose
fight or action.
>. Joined ; in contact or nearly so ; crowd-
ed ; as, to sit close.
10. Compressed, as thoughts or words ;
hence, brief; concise ; opposed to loose or
diffuse.
Where the original is close, no version can
reach it in the same compass. Dryden.
11. Very near, in place or time ; adjoining,
or nearly so.
I saw him come close to the ram. Dan. viii.
They sailed close by Crete. Acts xxvii.
Some dire misfortune follows close behind.
Pope.
12. Having the quality of keeping secrets,
thoughts or designs; cautious; as a dose
C L O
C L O
C L O
iniiiister. Hence iii friendship, trusty ;
confidential. Shak.
13. Having an appearance of concealment ;
implying art, craft or wariness ; as a close
aspect. Shak.
U. Intent; fixed; attentive ; pressing upon
the object ; as, to give close attention.
Keep your mind or thoughts close to the bu-
siness or subject. Locke.
l.*). Full to the point ; home; pressing; as a
dose argument ; bring the argument close
to the question. Dryden.
1(). Pressing; earnest; warm; as a do«c de-
bate.
17. Confined; secluded from communica-
tion ; as a close prisoner.
18. Covetous; penurious; not liberal; as a
close man.
lit. Applied to the weather or air, close, in
popular language, denotes warm and
damp, cloudy or foggy, or warm and re-
laxing, occasioning a sense of lassitude
and depression. Perhaps originally, con-
fined air.
10. Strictly adhering to the original ; as a
close translation.
^l. In heraldry, drawn in a coat of arms
with the wings close, and in a standing
posture. Bailey.
CLOSE, adv. Closely; nearly; densely:
secretly ; pressingly.
Behind her deatli
C/osp foUoH-cd, pace tor pace. .Milton.
CLOSE-BANDED, a. Being in close order ;
closely united. Milton.
CLOSE-BODIED, a. Fitting the body ex-
actly ; setting close; as a garment.
.lyliffe.
eLOSE-eOMPACT'ED, a. Being in cjom-
pact order ; compact. Addison.
CLOSE-COUCHED, a. Quite concealed.
Milton.
CLOSE-CURTAINED, «. Inclosed or sur-
rounded with curtains. Milton.
CLOSE-FISTED, a. Covetous ; niggardly.
Berkeley.
CLOSE-HANDED, a. Covetous; penuri-
ous. Ucde.
CLOSE-HANDEDNESS, n. Covetousness.
Holyday.
CI,OSE-HAULED, a. In seajnanship, hav-
ing the tacks or lower corners of the sails
drawn close to the side to windward, and
the sheets hauled close aft, in sailing near
the wind. Encyc.
CLOSE-PENT, a. Shut close. Dryden.
CLOSE-QUARTERS, n. Strong barriers
of wood used in a ship for defense when
the ship is hoarded. Mar. Diet.
CLOSE-STOOL, n. A chamber utensil for
the conveAience of the sick and infirm.
CLOSE-TONGUED, a. Keeping silence ;
cautious in speaking. Shak
CLO'SED, pp. s as :. Shut ; made fast ;
ended ; concluded.
CLO'SELY, adv. In a close, compact man
ner ; with the parts united, or pressed to-
gether, so as to leave no vent ; as a cruci-
ble closely luted.
tj. Nearly ; with httle space intervening
applied to space or time ; as, to follow closely
at one's heels ; one event follows closely
upon another.
3. Intently ; attentively ; with the mind or
thoughts fixed ; with near inspection; as.
to look or attend closely.
4. Secretly f slyly. [JVo< much used.] Carew.
5. With near aflfection, attachment or inter-
est ; intimately ; as, men closely connected
in friendship ; nations closely allied by
treaty.
6. Strictly ; witliin close limits ; without
communication abroad ; as a prisoner close-
ly confined.
7. With strict adherence to the original ; as,
to translate closely.
CLO'SENESS, n. The state of being shut,
pressed together, or united. Hence ac-
cording to the nature of the thing to which
the word is appUed,
3. Compactness; soUdity; as the closeness of
texture in wood or fossils. Bacon.
3. Narrowness ; straitness ; as of a place.
4. Tightness in building, or in apai-tments ;
firmness of texture in cloth, &c.
5. Want of ventilation ; applied to a close
oni, or to the air confined in it. Sivift.
6. Confinement or retirement of a person ;
recluseness ; solitude. Shak.
7. Reserve in intercourse ; secrecy ; priva-
cy ; caution. Bacon.
Covetousness; penuriousness. Mdison.
9. Connection ; near union ; intimacy, wheth-
er of friendship, or of interest ; as the close-
ness of friendship, or of alliance.
10. Pressure; urgency; variously applied;
as the closeness of an agreement, or of de-
bate ; the closeness of a question or inquiry.
IL Adherence to an original ; as the close-
ness of a version.
CLO'SER, n. s as:. A finisher ; one who
concludes.
CLO'SER, a. comp. of close. More close.
CLO'SEST, rt. superl. of close. Most close.
In these words, * has its proper sound.
CLOS'ET, n. « as z. A small room or
apartment for retu-ement ; any room for
privacy.
Wlicn thou prayest, enter into thy closet.
Mat. vi.
2. An apartment for curiosities or valuable
thing.s. Dryden.
3. A small close apartment or recess in the
side of a room for repositing utensils and
furniture.
CLOS'ET, V. t. s as :. To shut up in a clo-
set ; to conceal ; to take into a private
apartment for consultation.
Herbert. Swift.
CLOS'ETED, pp. s as :. Shut up m a clos-
et ; concealed.
CLOS'ETING, ppr. s as z. Shutting up in
a private room ; concealing.
CLOS'ET-SIN, n. cloz'et-sin. Sm commit-
ted in privacy. Bp. Hall.
CLOSII, n. A disease in the feet of cattle,
called also the founder, Bailey.
CLO'SING, ppr. s as 2. Shutting; coales-
cing ; agreeing ; ending.
CLO'SING, a. s as z. That ends or con-
cludes ; as a closing word or letter.
CLO'SING, n. s as z. End ; period ; con-
clusion.
CLO'SURE, n. clo'zhur. The act of shut-
ting ; a closing. Boyle.
2. That which closes, or shuts ; that by
vvliich separate parts are fastened or made
to adhere. Pope.
3. Inclosure ; that which confines. Shak.
4. Conclusion. Shak.
CLOT, n. [See Clod.] A concretion, par-
ticularly of soft or fluid matter, which con-
cretes into a mass or lump ; as a clot of
blood. CVorf and clot appear to be radi-
cally the same word ; but we usually ap
ply clod to a hard mass of earth, and clot
to a mass of solter substances, or fluids
concreted.
CLOT, V. i. To concrete ; to coagulate, as
soft or fluid matter into a thick, inspissa-
ted mass ; as. milk or blood clots.
2. To form into clots or clods ; to adliere ;
as, clotted glebe. Philips.
CLOT-BIRD, n. The common cenanthe
or English ortolan.
CLOT'-BUR, n. [G. klette.] Burdock.
CLOTH, n. clawth. [Sax. clath; D. kleed,
cloth, and kleeden, to clothe ; G. khid, kleid-
en; Sw. klhde, klada ; Dan. kla:de, klceder.
The plural is regular, cloths ; but when it
signifies garments, it is written clothes.]
1. A manufacture or stuff of wool or hair, or
of cotton, flax, hemp or other vegetable
filaments, formed by weaving or intertex-
ture of threads, and used fijr garments or
other covering and for various other pur-
poses ; as woolen cloth, linen cloth, cotton
cloth, hair cloth.
2. Tlie covering of a table ; usually called a
tablecloth. Pope.
3. The canvas on which pictures arff drawn.
Dryden.
4. A texture or covering put to a particular
use ; as a cloth of state. Hayward.
5. Dress ; raiment. [See Clothes.]
I'll ne'er distrust my God for cloth and bread.
Quarles.
6. The covering of a bed. [JVot used.]
Prior.
CLOTHE. j>. t. pret. and pp. clothed, or clad.
[See Cloth.]
1. To put on garments ; to invest the body
with raiment ; to cover with dress, for con-
cealing nakedness and defending the body
from cold or injuries.
The Lord God made coats of skin and clothed
them. Gen. iii.
2. To cover with something ornamental.
Embroidered purple clothes the golden beds.
Pope.
But clothe, without the aid of otiier
words, seldom signifies to adorn. In this
example from Pope, it signifies merely to
cover.
3. To furnish with raiment ; to provide with
clothes ; as, a master is to feed and clothe
his apprentice.
4. To put on ; to invest ; to cover, as with a
garment ; as, to clothe thoughts with words.
I will clothe her priests with salvation. Ps.
cxxxii.
Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Prov. x-fiii.
Let them be clothed with shame. Ps. xxxv.
I. To invest ; to surround ; to encompass.
The Lord is clothed with majesty. Ps. xciii.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
Ps. civ.
1. To invest ; to give to by commission ; as,
to clothe with power or authority.
'. To cover or spread over ; as, the earth is
clothed with verdure.
CLOTHE, V. i. To wear clothes.
Care no more lo clothe and eat Shak.
CLOTHED, pp. Covered with garments;
dressed ; invested ; furnished with cloth-
ing.
CLOTHES, n. phi. of cloth ; pronounced
cloze. Garments for the human body :
C L O
C L O
C L O
iress ; Tcstments ; vesture ; a general
term for whatever covering is worn, or
made to be worn, for decency or comfort.
If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be
whole. Mark v.
2. The covering of a bed ; bed-clothes.
Prior.
CLOTHIER, n. dothytr. In English au-
thors, a man who makes cloths ; a maker
of cloth. Johnson. In tin's sense, J believe
it is not used in the U. States ; certainly not
in JVew England.
Q. In America, a man whose occupation is to
full and dress cloth.
■CLOTHING, ppr. Covering with or putting
on vestments of any kind ; providing with
garments ; investing ; covering.
CLOTHING, n. Garments in general ;
clothes ; dress ; raiment ; covering.
As for me — my clothing was sackcloth. Ps.
XXXV.
2. The art or practice of making cloth. [Un-
usual.]
The king took measures to instruct the refu-
gees from Flanders in the art of clothing. Ray
CLOTH-SHEARER, n. One who shears
cloth, and frees it from superfluous nap.
CLOTH-WORKER, n. A maker of cloth
Scott.
CLOT'POLL, n. A thickskull ; a block-
head. [See Clod-poll.]
CLOT'TED, pp. Concreted into a mass
inspissated ; adhering in a lump.
CLOT'TER, V. i. [from clot.] To concrete
or gather into lumps. Dryden
CLOT'TING, pf)r. Concreting ; inspissa-
ting ; forming nito clots.
CLOTTY, a. [from clot.-] Full of clots, or
small hard masses ; fiill of concretions, or
clods.
CLOUD, n. [I have not found this word in
any other language. The sense is obvi-
ous— a collection.]
1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery
particles, suspended in the atmosphere, at
some altitude. A like collection of va-
pors near the earth is usually called /og-.
Locke.
I do set my bow in tlic cloud. Gen. ix.
Behold, a white cloud. Rev. xiv.
2. A state of obscurity or darkness.
Waller. Addison.
3. A collection of smoke, or a dense collec-
tion of dust, rising or floating in the air
as a cloud of dust.
A clowl of incense. Ezck. viii.
4. The dark or varied colors, in veins or
spots, on stones or other bodies, arc called
clouds.
o. A great multitude ; a vast collection.
Seeing wc are encompassed with so great
cloud of witnesses. Heb. xii.
CLOUD, V. i. To overspread with a cloud
or clouils ; as, the sky is clouded ; clouds
intercept the rays of the sun. Hence,
2. To obscure ; to darken ; as, to cloud thi
day, or truth, or reason.
3. To darken in veins or spots ; to variegate
with colors ; as clouded marble.
4. To make of a gloomy aspect ; to give the
appearance of sullenness.
What sullen fury clouds his scornful brow.
Pope.
5. To sully; to tarnish. Shak
CLOUD, V. i. To grow cloudy ; to become
obscure with clouds ; sometimes followed
by over ; as, the sky clouds over.
CLOUD-ASCEND'ING, a. Ascending to the
clouds. Sandys.
CLOUD'-BERRY, n. A plant, called also
knot-berry ; Rubus chamamorus.
CLOUD -BORN, a. Born of a cloud.
Dryden.\
CLOUD'-CAPT, a. [cloud and cap.] Capped!
with clouds ; touching the clouds ; lofty.j
The cloud-capt towers. Shak.
CLOUD-COMPELLER, n. He that col-i
lects clouds ; Jove.
CLOUD-COMPELLING, a. CoUecting
clouds ; or driving clouds ; as cloud-com-
pelling Jove. ff'aller. Dryden
CLOUD'-COVERED, a. Enveloped with
clouds. Young.
CLOUD-DISPEL'LING, a. Having i)ower
to disperse clouds. Dryden
CLOUD-ECLIP'SED, a. Eclipsed by f
loud. Shak
CLOUD'ED, pp. Overcast ; overspread with
clouds ; obscured ; darkened ; rendered
gloomy or sullen ; variegated with colored
spots or veins.
CLOUD' ILY, adv. [from cloudy.] With
clouds ; darkly ; obscurely. Dryden.
CLOUD'INESS, 71. The state of being over-
cast with clouds ; as the cloudiness of the
atmosphere. Harvey.
2. Obscurity; gloom; want of brightness.
3. Darkness of appearance ; variegation ol
colors in a fossil or other body.
4. Appearance of gloom or suUcnness ; as
cloudiness of aspect.
CLOUD'ING, ppr. Overspreading with
clouds ; obscuring ; giving an appearance
of gloom or sullenness.
CLOUD -KISSING, a. Toucliing the clouds.
Shak.
CLOUD'LESS, a. Being without a cloud ;
unclouded ; clear ; bright ; luminous ; as
cloudless skies. Pope
CLOUD-PIERCING, a. Penetrating or ri
sing above the clouds. Philips.
CLOUD'-TOPT, a. Having the top covered
with a cloud. Gray.
CLOUD'-TOUCHING, a. Touching the
clouds. Sandys.
CLOUD'Y, a. Overcast with clouds ; ob
scured with clouds ; as a cloudy day ; i
cloudy sky ; a cloudy night.
2. Consisting of a cloud or clouds ; as a
cloudy pillar. Ex. xxxiii. 9.
3. Obscure ; dark ; not easily understood ;
as cloudy and confused notions. Watts.
4. Having the appearance of gloom ; indica-
ting gloom, anxiety, sullenness, or ill-
nature ; not open or cheerful ; as cloudy
looks. Spenser. Shak.
5. Indicating gloom or sullenness ; as cloudy
wrath.
Marked with veins or spots of dark or va-
rious hues, as marble.
7. Not bright ; as a cloudy diamond. Boyle
CLOUGH, n. cluf. [Sax. dough, a cleft.] A
cleft in a hill. In commerce, an allow-
ance of two pounds in every hundred
weight, for the turn of the scale, that the
commodity may hold out in retailing. [JVbt
iised in America.]
CLOUT, n. [Sax. clut, a patch, a plaster,
plate, a scam or joint; Sw.klut; W.cM,
a patch, a clout ; dwtiaw, to patch ; Sax
geduted, sewed together, clouted, patched ;
gesceod mid gedudedum scon, shod with
clouted shoes. This undoubtedly signifies
patched shoes, for clut in Saxon does not
signify a nail. The word dout, a nail, may
be from the French, dou, douter, from L.
clavus, from the root of L. daudo, dudo.
Whether clouted brogues in Shakspeare sig-
nify patched shoes or shoes studded wiUi
nails, let the critic determine. Such shoes
are common in England, and were for-
merly worn in America. The primary
sense is, to thrust or put on ; hence the
sense of i/ou>.]
1. A patch ; a piece of cloth or leather, &c.,
to close a breach.
2. A piece of cloth for mean piuposes.
Spenser.
3. A piece of white cloth, for archers to shoot
at. [^rot now used.] Shak.
4. An iron plate on an axle tree, to keep it
from wearing.
5. [Fr. clou, douter.] A small nail.
0. In vulgar language, a blow with the hand.
M'ew- England. Todd.
CLOUT, V. t. To patch ; to mend by sewing
on a piece or patch ; as clouted shoon, iu
Milton. This is the sense as understood
by Johnson. Mason understands the word
clouted to signify nailed, studded with small
nails, from the French douter, and the
following words in Shakspeare, " whose
rudeness answered my steps too loud," give
some countenance to Mason's interpreta-
tion. In this case, the verb clout must sig-
nify, to nail, or fasten with nails; to stud.
2. To cover with a piece of cloth. Spenser.
2. To join clumsily ; as clouted sentences.
Asdiam,
4. To cover or arm with an iron plate.
5. To strike; to give a blow. Beauni.
Clouted cream, in Gay, is evidently a mis-
take for dotted cream.
CLOUT'ED, pp. Patched ; mended clum-
sily ; covered with a clout.
CLOUT'ERLY, a. Clumsy ; awkward.
.MoHimer.
CLOUTING, /jpr. Patching; covering with
a clout.
CLOVE, ore/, of cZearc. Obs. Spenser.
CLOVE,)!. [D. kloof. See Cleave.] A cleft;
a fissure; a gap; a ravine. This word,
though properly an appellative, is not often
used as such in Enghsh; but it is appro-
I)riatcd to particular places, that are real
clefts, or which appear as such ; as the
Clove of Kaaterskill, in the state of New-
York, and the Stony Clove. It is properly
a Dutch word. Journ. of Science.
CLOVE, n. [Sax.c/t//e; Fr. clou; Sp. clavo;
Port, cravo ; from L. claims, a nail ; so call-
ed from its resemblance to a nail. So in
D. kruidnagel, herb-nail, or spice-naU.]
1. A verj- pungent aromatic spice, the flow-
er of the clove-tree, Caryophyllus, a native
of the Molucca isles. The tree grows to
the size of the laurel, and its bark resem-
bles that of the olive. No verdure is seen
under it. At the extremities of its branch-
es are produced vast numbers of flowers,
which are at first white, then green, and
at last red and hard. These are called
cloves. E/icyc.
2. [fi-om cleave.] The parts into which gar-
Uc separates, when the outer skin is re-
moved. Tate.
3. A certain weight ; seven pounds of wool ;
eight pounds of cheese or butter. [JVot
used in America.]
C L O
C L U
C L U
CLOVE-GILLY-FLOWER, n. A species
of Dianthus, bearing a beautiful flower,
ruliivated in garileus ; called also Carna-
tion pink.
A''ote. Some writers suppose tliat gilly-
flower should be written Juty-floiver. But qu.
is it not a corruption of the French sirofle,
clou de girofle, cloves ; giroflie, a gilliflower ;
giroflier, a stock gilliflower ; L. caryophyllus.
ChdMcerv/roie cloue gilof re. Cant.Tales. 13692.
The Italians write garofano, prohahly lor garo-
falo ; Arm. genofles, gennflen. Johnson sup-
poses the plant so called from the smell of tlie
flower, resembling that of cloves ; but it is prob-
ably from its shape, the nail-flower, as in Dutch.
[See Clove.'\
€LO'VEN, p;j. o{ cleave. Divided ; parted :
pronounced clovn.
CLO'VEN-FOQTED, > , Having the foot
€LO'VEN-riQ0FED, \ "' or hoof divided
into two parts, as the ox ; bisulcous.
€LO'VER, X [Sax. clcefer-wyrt,
€LO'VER-GRASS, S "" clover-wort ; G.
klee ; D. klaver ; Dan. Mever or klee. The
Saxon word is rendered also marigold and
violet. The Dutch word signifies a club.
The name then signifies cluh-grass, club-
wort, L. clavn, from its flower.]
A genus of plants, called Trifolium, trefoil,
or three-leafed, Fr. trejle. The species
are numerous. The red clover is gene-
rally cultivated for fodder and for enrich-
ing land. The wliite clover is also excel
■ lent food for cattle, either green or dry
and from its flowers the bee collects iic
small portion of its stores of honey.
To live in clover, is to live luxuriously, or ii
abundance ; a phrase borrowed from the
luxuriant growth of clover, and the feeding
of cattle in clover.
CLO'VERED, a. Covered with clover.
Thomson
CLOWN, n. [L. colonus, a husbandman.]
A countryman ; a rustic ; hence, one who
jias the inanners of a rustic ; a churl ; a
man of coarse inanners ; an ill-bred man,
Sidney. Drifden. Swift.
•CLOWN'AgE, n. The manners of a clown.
[J^otin une.] B. Jonson.
€LOWN'ER Y, n. Ill-breeding ; rustic beha-
ior; rudeness of manners. [IMlle used.]
UEslrange.
■CLOWN'ISH, a. Containing clowns ; con-
sisting of rustics ; as a clownish neighbor-
hood. Dryden
2. Coarse ; hard ; rugged ; rough ; as clown-
ish hands. Spenser
3. Of rough manners; ill-bred; as a cloicnish
fellow.
4. Clumsy ; awkward ; as a clownish gait.
Prior
€LOWN'ISHLY, adv. In the manner of
clowns; coarsely; rudely.
€LOWN'ISHNESS, n. The manners of
clown ; rusticity ; coarseness or rudeness
of behavior; incivility; awkwardness.
Dryden. Locke
CLOY, V. t. [from Fr. clouer, or the root ot
the word, the L. cludo, claudo ; coinciding
in elements with glut.]
Strictly, to fill ; to glut. Hence, to satis-
fy, as the appetite ; to satiate. And as the
appetite when satisfied rejects additiona
food, hence, to fill to lothing ; to surfeit.
Wbo can cloy the hungry edge of appetite
By bare imagination of a feast ? Shak
3. To spike up a gun ; to drive a spike into
the vent. Bailey. Johnson.
3. In fariiery, to prick a horse in snoeing. Jlsh.
In the two latter senses, I believe the word
ittle used, and not at all in America.]
CLOY'ED, pp. Filled ; glutted ; filled to sa-
tiety and lothing ; .spiked ; pricked in
shoeing.
CLOYING, ppr. Filling; filling to satiety,
or disgust.
CLOY'LESS, a. That cannot cloy, or fill to
tiety.
CLOY'MENT, n. Surfeit ; repletion beyond
the demands of appetite. [Lilllr k.5«/.] Shfil.\
CLUB,w. [W.clopa, rhr,m. .■oinri.lni- \miI,
clap, a lump, and elob, rlnlnjn : >:. I,h,/i/'il :
D.klaver; Sw.klubba; Ihu,. I.ltihh, :' I. J
clava. The sense is i)robably a knob
lump, W. llwb, Hob, whence lubber.]
]. Properly, a stick or piece or wood with
one end "thicker and heavier than the other,
and no larger than can be wielded with
the hand.
'2. A thick heavy stick, that may be managed
with the hand, an(l used for beating, or
defense. In early ages, a club was aprin-
cipal instrument of war and death ; a fact
remarkably perpetuated in the accounts
which history relates of the achievemente
of Hercules with his club. Plin. Lib. 7
Ca. 56. This use of the club was the ori-
gin of the scepter, as a badge of royalty.
3. The name of one of the suits of cards ; so
named from its figure.
4. A collection or assembly of men ; usually
a select number of friends met for social
or literary purposes. Any small private
meeting of persons. Dryden.
5. A collection of expenses; the expenses of
a company, or unequal expenses of ind
viduals, united for the purpose of finding
the average or proportion of each indi-
vidual. Hence the share of each individu-
al in joint expenditure is called his club.
that is, his proportion of a club, or joint
charge.
6. Contribution ; joint charge. Hudibras.
CLUB, V. i. [W. clapiaw, to form into a
lump.]
1. To join, as a number of individuals, to the
same end ; to contribute separate powers
to one end, i)urpose or clTect.
Till grosser atoms, tumbling in the stream
Of fancy, madly met, and clubbed into a drear
Bryde.
2. To pay an equal proportion of a common
reckoning or charge.
CLUB, V. t. To unite diflTerent sums of ex-
pense, in a common sum or collection, U
find the average, that each contributor
may pay an equal share. Pope
2. In common parlance, to raise or turn up
permost the britcli or club of a musket
as, the soldiers clubbed their muskets.
CLUB'BED, pp. Collected into a sum and
averaged, as different expenses.
2. United to one end or effect.
3. Shaped like a club.
Asiat. Researches, v. 213.
4. Having the britch turned upwards, as
musket.
.5. Heavy like a club. Chance,
CLUH'BER, } One who belongs to
CLUB'BIST, I "• party, club or association-
Burke
CLUB'BING, ppr. Joining in a club ; uniting
to a common end.
CLUB'-FIST, n. A large heavy fist.
CLUB'-FISTED, a. Having a"large fist.
Howell.
CLUB'-FOQTED, a. Having short or crook-
ed feet.
CLUB-HEADED, a. Having a thick head.
Derham.
CLUB'-LAW, n. Government by clubs, or
violence ; the use of arms, or force, in place
of law; anarchy. Mdison.
CLl?B'-ROOM, 7!. The apartment in which
a club meets. Addison.
f LUB'-RUSH, n. A genus of plants, the
Scirpus. Muhlenberg.
CLUB'-SHAPED, a. Shaped hke a club ;
growing thicker towards the top ; clava-
ted. Marlyn.
CLUCK, v.i. [Sax. cloccan; T)an. khtkker ;
Sw. klycka ; G. glucken ; D. klokken ; VV.
clwcian, clocian ; Arm. clochat; h. glodo ;
It. chiocciare ; Sp. clocar, cloquear ; Ch. l'^i.
Class Lg. No. 27. See Clack and Clock.
The Gr. xXu^u seems to be the same word,
as it gives xXuyftof ; the guttural passing
into ^, as in many Greek verbs ; and henc«
Fr. glousser. Sec Brace.]
To make the noise, or utter the voice of the
domestic hen, when sitting on eggs for
hatching, and when conducting her chick-
ens. This voice, with the change of the
vowel, is precisely our word clack and
clock, and is probably an ouomatopy. [See
Clack and Clock.]
CLUCK, V. t. To call chickens by a particu-
lar sound. Shak.
CLUCKING, ppr. Uttering the voice of a
sitting hen ; calling chickens.
CLUE. [See Clew.]
CLUMP, )i. [G. klump ; D. klomp ; Sw.
klimp ; Dan. klump, a lump ; W. clamp. It
is lump with a prefix. It coincides with
plump, and L. plumbum, lead ; as the D.
lood, G. loth, Dan. tod, Eng. lead, coincide
with clod. It signifies a mass or collec-
tion. If m is the final radical, see Class
Lm. No. 1. 4. 5. 9. L. glomus.]
1. A thick, short piece of wood, or other solid
substance ; a shapeless mass. Hence
dumper, a clot or clod.
2. A cluster of trees or shrubs; formerly
written plump. In some parts of England,
it is an adjective signifying lazy, unhandy.
Bailey.
CLUMPS, n. [from clump.] A stupid fel-
low ; a numskull. Bailey.
CLUM'SILY,arfi). [from clumsy.] In a clumsy
manner; awkwardly ; in an unhandy man-
ner; without readiness, dexterity or grace.
CLUM'SINESS, n. The quality of being
short and thick, and moving heavily ;
awkwardness ; unhandiness ; ungainliness ;
want of readiness, nirableness or dexterity.
Cottier.
CLUM'SY, a. s as i. [from clump, lump.]
1. Properly, short and thick, like a clump or
lump. Hence,
2. Moving heavily, slowly or awkwardly ;
as clumsy fingers.
3. Awkward; ungainly; unhandy; artless;
without readiness, dexterity or grace ; as
a clumsy man ; a clumsy fellow.
4. Ill-made; badly constructed; Sls a clumsy
garment ; clumsy verse.
C L U
C O A
C O A
€LUNCH, n. Among jtiinera, indurated clay,
found in coal pits next to the coal.
Kirwan. Bailey.
€LUNG, prel. and pp. of cling, which see,
€LUNG, V. i. To shrink. LYot used.] See
€LU'NIAe, n. One of a reformed order of
Benedictine monks, so called from Oluni
in Burgundy.
eLUS'TER, n. [Sax. cluster. It seems to
be from the root of close, L. clausus,daus-
trum, claudo, a collecting or crowding to-
gether ; Sw. klasa, a cluster of grapes ;
Dan. klase. The latter in orthography
coincide nearly with class. In Welsh, clws\
is compact, neat ; clysa, to make compact
cluys is a close.]
1. A bunch ; a number of things of the same
kind growing or joined together ; a knot
as a ctMJiter of raisins.
2. A number of individuals or things collect-
ed or gathered into a close body ; as a clus-
ter of bees ; a cluster of people.
Milton. Dryden
3. A number of things situated near eaci
other ; as a cluster of governments in Italy
J. Mams.
CLUS'TER, v.i. To grow in clusters ; to
gather or unite in a bunch, or bunches ;
as, clustering grapes. Milton
2. To form into flakes; as, clustering snow
Thomson.
3. To collect into flocks or crowds.
eLUS'TER, V. t. To collect into a bunch or
close body.
€LUS'TERED, pp. Collected into a duster.
or crowd ; crowded.
€LUS'TER-GRAPE, n. A small black
frape. Mortimer
US'TERING, ppr. Growing in a cluster
or in bunches; uniting in a bunch, or in a
flock, crowd, or close body.
CLUS'TERY, a. Growing in clusters,
Johnson.
Full of clusters. Bailey.
CLUTCH, v.t. [This seems to be from the root
of Sax. Iceccan, to seize, whence gclaccan,
id. If not, I know not its origin. It may
ho allied to lock and latch.]
1. To double in the fingers and pinch or com
press them together; to clinch. [If ji ii
not radical in clinch, this may be from the
same root.]
2. To seize, clasp or gripe with the hand ;
as, to clutch a dagger ; to clutch proy.
Shak. Herbert.
•3. To seize, or grasp ; as, to clutch the globe
at a grasp. Collier.
€LUTCH, n. A griping or pinching with the
fingers ; seizure ; grasp.
CLUTCH'ES,;)/«. The paws or talons of a
rapacious animal, as of a cat or dog.
2. The hands, in the sense of rapacity or
cruelty, or of power.
Hudihras. Stillingfleet.
CLUT'TER, 71. [W. cluder, a heap or pile,
from cludaw, to bear, to bring together,
to heap. It has tlie elements of L. claudo.]\
1. A heap or assemblage of things lying in
confusion ; a word of domestic application.]
He saw what a clutter there was whh huge
pots, pans and spits. L'Estrans;e.\
2. Noise ; bustle. [This sense seems allied'
to clatter, but it is not the sense of the word!
in N. England.]
GLUT'TER, V. t. To crowd together in dis-l
order ; to fill with things in confusion
to clutter a room ; to clxUter the house.
CLUT'TER, V. i. To make a bustle, or fill
with confusion.
[The English lexicographers explain
this word by noise and bustle ; but proba-
bly by mistake.]
CLUT'TERED, pp Encumbered with
things in disorder.
CLUl'^TERING, ppr. Encumbering with
things in confusion.
CLVS'TER, n. [Gr. xw^rip, from xxv^u, to
wash or cleanse ; L. clyster ; D. klisteer ;
G.klystier; Fr. clistere; Dan. klisteer.]
An injection ; a liquid substance injected into
the lower intestines, for the purpose of
promoting alvine discharges, relieving
from costiveness, and cleansing the bow-
els. Sometimes it is administered to nour-
ish and support patients who caimot swal-
low aliment.
CLYSTER-PIPE, n. A tube, or pipe used
for injections.
CLYS'TERWISE, adv. In the manner of
a clyster.
CO, a prefix, signifying leith, in conjunction
[See Con.]
COACERV'ATE, v. t. [L. coacervo ; con and
acervo, to heap up ; acervus, a heap.] To
heap up; to pile. [Little used.']
COACERV'ATE, a. [I., coacervatus.] Heap
ed ; raised into a i)ile ; collected into t
crowd. [Little xised.] Bacon.
COACERVA'TION, n. The act of heaping,
or state of being heaped together. [Little
xised.] Bacon
COACH, n. [Fr. coche ; Arm. coich ; It.
cocchio, a coach or coach-box ; Sp. coche
a coach and a coasting barge ; Port, coche ,
D. koets, a coach and a couch ; G. kutsche
Tins word seems to be radically a couchor
bed, [Fr. couche, coucher,] a covered bed on
wheels, for conveying the infirm.]
A close vehicle for commodious travehng,
borne on four wheels, and drawn by horses
or other animals. It differs from a chariot
in having seats in front, as well as behind.
It is a carriage of state, or for pleasure, or
for travelling.
Hackney-coach, a coach kept for hire. In some
cities, they are licensed by authority, and
numbered, and the rates of fare fixed by
law.
Mail-coach, a coach that can-ies the public
mails.
Stage-coach, a coach that regularly conveys
passengers from town to town. [See
Stage.]
COACH or COUCH, ii. An apartment in a
large ship of war near the stern, the roof
of which is formed by the poop. Mar. Diet.
COACH, II. t. To carry in a coach. Pope.
COACH-BOX, n. The seat on which the]
driver of a coach .sits. ./Jrbuthnot.i
COACH-HIRE, n. Money paid for the use]
of a hired coacli. Dryden.
COACH-HORSE, ii. A horse used in draw-
ing coaches.
COACH-HOUSE, n. A house to shelter a
coach from the weather. Swift.
COACH-JIAKER, n. A man whose occu-
pation is to tnake coaches. Swift.
COACHMAN, ?i. The person who drives a
coach. Prior.
COACHMANSHIP, n. Skill in driving
coaches. Jenyns.l
COACT', I', i. To act together. [.Vol used.]
Shak.
COACT'ED, pp. or a. Forced ; compelled.
[JVotused.] B.Jonaon.
COAC'TION, n. [L. coactio, coactus, cogo ;
con and ago, to drive.]
Force ; compulsion, either in restraining or
impelling. ^ South.
COACT'IVE, a. Forcing ; compulsory ;
having the power to impel or restrain.
Raleigh.
2. Acting in concurrence. Shak.
CO.\CT'IVELY,arfv. In a compulsory man-
ner. BramhaU.
COADJU'TANT, a. [L. con and adjutans,
helping.]
Helping ; mutually assisting or operating.
PhUips.
COADJU'TOR, n. [L. ,o„ and adjutor, a
heljier ; adjuto, to help.]
1. One who aids another; an assistant; a
fellow-helper ; an associate in operation.
2. lu the canon law, one who is empowered
or appointed to perform the duties of an-
other. Johnson.
COADJU'TRIX,n. A female assistant.
Smoaet.
COADJU'VANCY, n. [L. con and adjuvans ;
adjuvo, to assist.]
Joint help; assistance; concurrent aid; co-
operation. [Little used.] Broum.
COAD'UN.\TE, a. [h. coadunalus ; con, ad
and unus.]
In botany, coadunate leaves are several uni-
ted at the base. The word is used also to
denote one of the natural orders of plants
in Linne's svstem. Martyn.
COADUNI"'riON, n. [L. con, ad and un{tio,
from unus, one.]
The union of different substances in one
mass. [Little used.] Hale.
COADVENT'URER, n. A fellow adven-
turer. Howell.
COAFFOR'EST, v. t. To convert ground
into a forest. Howell.
COA'gENT, n. An assistant or associate in
an act. Beaum.
COAGMENT', ji. /. [L. coagmcyUo, to join
or cement ; con and agmen, a compact
body, from ago, to drive.]
To congregate or heap together. [JVot used.]
GlanviUe.
COAGMENTA'TION, n. Collection into a
mass or united body; union ; conjunction.
[Little used.] B. Jonson.
COAGMENT'ED, a. Congregated ; heaped
together ; imited in one muss. [Little
iised.] GlanviUe.
COAGULABILITY, n. The capacity of be-
ing coagulated. Ure.
COAG'ULABLE, a. [See CoagiUate.] That
may be concreted ; capable of congealing
or changing from a liquid to an inspissated
state ; as coagulable lymph. Boyle.
COAG'ULATE, v. t. [L. coagulo ; Fr. coag-
vler ; It. coagxdare ; S^t. coagidar. Usually
considered as from cog-o, con and ago. But
probably the last component part of the
word is the W. ceulatc, to curdle, the root
of gelid and C07igeal.]
To concrete ; to curdle ; to congeal ; to
change from a fluid into a fixed stibstance,
or solid mass ; as, to coagulate blood ; ren-
net coagulates milk. This word is gene-
rally apphed to the change of fluids into
C O A
C O A
substances bke curd or butter, of a .node- COAL-SHIP, n. A .hip employed in trans-
rate consistence, but not hard or impene
(rable. Uacon. Arbuthnot.
eOAG'ULATE, v. i. To curdle or congeal;
to turn from a fluid into a consistent state,
or fixed substance; to thicken.
Bacon. Boyle.
COAG'ULATED, pp. Concreted; curdled
tOAG'ULATING.ppr. Curdling; congeal
ing.
COAGULA'TION, n. The act of changing
from a fluid to a fixed state ; concretion ;
the state of being coagidated ; the body
formed by coagulating. Arbuthnot.
COAG'ULATIVE, a. That has the power
to cause conrretion. Boyle.
COAG'ULATOR, n. That wliich causes co-
agulation. Arbuthnot
COAG'ULUM, Ji. Rennet; curd ; the clot
of blood, separated by cold, acid, &c.
Encyc. Coxe.
tOA'ITI, n. A species of monkey in South
America.
eOAK. [See Cok,.] , , , ^
COAL, n. [Sax. col or coll; G. kohk ; D.
kool ; Dan. kul ; Sw. kol ; Ir. gual ; Corn
kolan; Russ. ugol. Qu. Heb. '7nj. It is
from the sense of glowing, raging, for in
Dan. kvler signifies to blow strong.]
1. A piece of wood, or other combustible
substance, ignited, burning, or charred.
When burning or ignited, it is called a live
coal, or burning coal, or coal of fire. When
the fire is extinct, it is called charcoal.
2. In the language of chimists, any sub-
stance containing oil, which has been ex-
posed to a fire in a close vessel, so that its
volatile matter is expelled, and it can sus
tain a red heat without further decorapo
sition. Encyc.
3. In mineralogy, a solid, opake, inflamma-
ble substance, found in the earth, and by
way of distinction called fossil coal. It is
divided by recent mineralogists into three
species, anthracite or glance coal, black or
bituminous coal, and brown coal or lig-
nite ; under which are included many va-
rieties, such as cannel coal, bovey coal,
jet, &c.
-COAL, V. t. To burn to coal, or charcoal ; to
char. Careu: Bacon
2. To mark or delineate with charcoal.
Cavxden
[As a verb, this word is little used.]
COAL-BLACK, a. Black as a coal ; very
black. Dryden
COAL-BOX, n. A box to carry coal to the
fire. Swift.
COAL-FISH, n. A species of Gadus or cod,
named from the color of its back. It grows
to the length of two feet, or two and a
half, and weighs about thirty pounds.
This fish is found in great numbers about
the Orkneys, and the northern parts of
Britain. Diet. Mit. Hist.
COAL-HOUSE, n. A house or shed for
keeping coal.
COAL-MINE, n. A mine or pit in which
coal is dug.
COAL-MINER, ii. One who works in i
coal-mine.
COAL-MOUSE, n. A small species of tit
mouse, with a black head.
COAL-PIT, n. A pit where coal is dug. In
America, a place where charcoal is made
porting coal.
COAL-STONE, n. A kind of cannel-coal
COAL-WORK, 71. A coalery ; a place where
coal is dug, including the machinery fc ■
raising the coal.
COALERY, }^. A coal-mine, coal-pit, or
I place where coals are dug, with the en-
gines and machinery used in discharging
the water and raising the coal. Encyc.
COALESCE, r. i. coaless'. [L. eoalesco, from
coaleo ; con and alesco, from aleo or oleo, to
grow.]
L To grow together; to unite, as separate
bo<lies, or separate parts, into one body, as
separate bones in an infant, or the fingers
or toes. Encyc
3. To unite and adhere in one body or mass,
I by spontaneous approximation or attrac
I tion ; as, vapors coalesce. JVeivton.
.3. To unite in society, in a more genera
particles,
C O A
impurities; as coarse metal;
Shak.
unrefined : uncivil ; as
The Jews weve incapable of coalescing with
other nations. Campbell, Prelim. Dissert
eOALES'CENCE, n. The act of growing
together; the act of uniting by natural af-
finity or attraction ; the state of being uni
ted ; union ; concretion.
COALES'CING, ppr. Growing or cominj
together; uniting in a body or mass; uni
ting and adhering together.
SlK.R.h^-^"«^-]
CO'ALITE, V. t. To unite or coalesce. [Ml
in vsc] Bolingbroke.
eOALP'TION, n. Union in a body or mass ;
a coining together, as of separate bodies or
parts, and their union in one body or mass ;
as, a coalition of atoms or particles.
Bentley.
2. Union of individual persons, parties or
states.
CO-ALLY', 71. A joint ally ; as the subject
of a co-ally. ' Kent.
COALY, a. Like coal ; containing coal.
Milton
COAMINGS, 71. In ships, the raised borders
or edges of the hatches, made to prevent
water from running into the lower apart-
ments from the deck. Mar. Diet.
COAPPREHEND', v. t. To apprehend with
another. [Little used.] Brown.
COAPTA'TION, 71. [L. con and apto, to fit.]
The adaptation or adjustment of parts to|
each other. Boyle.
CO'ARCT, ? „ , [L. coarcto ; con and
CO>AReTATE, S ardo.]
1. To press together ; to crowd ; to straiten ;
ifine closely. Bacon.
2. To restrain : to confine. Ayliffe.
COARCTA'TION, ti. Confinement ; re-
straint to a narrow space. Bacon.
2. Pressure ; contraction. Ray.
3. Restraint of liberty. Bramhall.
COARSE, a. [This word may be allied to
gross, and the Latin crassus, for similar
transpositions of letters are not uncoin
Rude ; rough ;
:oarse manners.
5. Gross ; not delicate.
The coarser tie of human law. Thomson.
C. Rude ; rough ; unpolished ; inelegant ;
applied to language. Dryden.
7. Not nicely expert ; not accomplished by
art or education ; as o coarse practitioner.
Arbuthnot.
8. Mean ; not nice ; not refined or elegant ;
as a coarse perfume ; a coarse diet.
COARSELY, adv. Roughly ; without fine-
ness or refinement ; rudely ; inelegantly ;
uncivilly ; meanly ; without art or polish.
Brotcn. Dryden.
COARSENESS, n. Largeness of size ; thick-
ness; as the coarseness of thread.
2. The quahty of being made of coarse
thread or yarn ; whence thickness and
roughness; as the coarseness of cloth.
3. Unrefined state ; the state of being mixed
with gross particles or impurities ; as the
coarse7!ess of glass. Bacon.
4. Roughness ; grossness ; rudeness ; appli-
ed to manners ; as the coarseness of a clown.
Garth.
5. Grossness ; want of refinement or delica-
cy ; want of polish ; as the coarseness of
expression or of language. L'Estrange.
a. Meanness ; want of art in preparation ;
want of nicety ; as the coarseness of food
or of raiment.
COASSES'SOR, 7t. [See Assess.] A joint
mon.J
1. Thick; large or gross in bulk; compara-
tively of large diameter; as coarse thread
or yarn; coarse hair; coarse sand. This
seems to be the primary sense of the word ;
opposed to fine or slender. Hence,
2. Thick ; rough ; or made of coarse thread
or yarn ; as coarse cloth.
3. Not refined ; not separated from grosser
COASSU'ME, 71. /. [co7i and assutne.] To as-
sume something with another. Walsatl.
COAST, n. [L. cosla, a rib, side or coast ;
W. cost ; Fr. cute for cosle ; It. costa ; Sp.
cosla ; Port. id. ; D. kust ; G. kiiste. Hence
to accost. See Class Gs. No. 18. 25. 67.
The word properly signifies a side, limit,
border, the exterior part, from extension.]
1. The exterior hue, Hmit or border of a
country, as in Scripture. ''From the
river to the uttermost sea shall your
coast be." Deut. xi. " And ships shall
come from the coast of Chittira." Numb,
xxiv. Hence the word may signify the
whole country within certain limits. Ex.
X. 4.
2. The edge or margin of the land next to
the sea ; die sea-shore. This is the more
common application of the word ; and it
seems to be used for sea-coast, the border
of the sea. Hence it is never used for the
bank of a river.
3. A side ; applied to objects indefinitely, by
Bacon and JVewton. This is a correct use
of the loord, but now obsolete.
The country near the sea-shore ; as, pop-
ulous towns along the coast.
The coast is clear, is a proverbial phrase sig-
nifying, the danger is over; the enemies
have maiched ofl', or left the coast.
Dryden.
COAST, V. i. To sail near a coast ; to sail
by or near the shore, or in sight of land.
The ancients coasted only in their navigation.
Arbuthnot.
2. To sail from port to port in the same
country.
COAST, V. t. To sail by or near to; as, to
' coast the American shore.
C O A
COB
COB
2. To draw near ; to approach ; to follow.
Ohs. Spenser.
COASTED, pp. Sailed by.
COASTER, 71. One who sails near the
shore. Dryden.
2. A vessel that is employed in sailing along
a coast, or is licensed to navigate or trade
from jiort to port in the same country. In
the United States, coasting vessels of twen-
ty tuns burthen and upwards must be en-
rolled at the custom house.
COASTING, ppr. Sailing along or near a
COASTING-PILOT, n. A pilot who con-
ducts vessels along n coast-
COASTING-TRADE, n. The trade which
is carried on between the different ])orts
of the same country, or under the same
jurisdiction, as distinguished from foreign
trade.
COASTING-VESSEL, n. A vessel employ-
ed in coasting ; a coaster.
COAT, n. [Fr. cotte ; It. cotta ; Ir. cota ; Corn.
kotn ; Pol. kotz. It may be from tlie root
of the Russ.tetoyu, to cover, and be allied
to hut. The primary sense may be, that
which is spread over or put on. But such
woids are sometimes from verbs which
signify to strip, or to repel. The Gr.
xevBu has the like elements, but the sense
seems to be, to withdraw. I question
whether coal has any connection with the
Sliemitic jno. Gr. jKirw, a tunic. This
word in Ch. Syr. and Ar. signifies flax.]
1. An up])er garment, of whatever material
it may be made. The word is, in modern
times, generally applied to the garment
worn by men next over the vest.
God made coats of skin and clothed theni.
Oen. iii.
Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors.
Gen. sxxvii.
He shall put on the holy linen coat. Levit.
Goliath was armed with a coot of mail. 1 Sam.
2. A petticoat; a garment worn by infants
or young children. Locke.
3. The habit or vesture of an order of men,
indicating the order or office.
Men of his coat should be minding their
prayers. Swift-
So we say, "men of his cloth."
4. External covering, as the fur or hair of a
beast, the skin of serpents, the wool of
sheep, &c. Milton.
5. A tunic of the eye ; a membrane that
serves as a cover ; a tegument. Derham.
0. The division or layer of a bulbous root ;
as the coats of an onion.
7. A cover ; a layer of any substance cov-
ering another ; "as a coat of tar, pitch or
varnish ; a coat of canvas roiuid a mast ;
a coat of tin-foil.
9. That on which ensigns armorial are por-
trayed ; usually called a coat of arms. An-
ciently kniglits wore a habit over their
arms, reaching as low as the navel, open
at the sides, with short sleeves, on which
were the armories of the knights, embroi-
dered in gold and silver, and enameled
with beaten tin of various colors. This
habit was diversified with bands and fil-
lets of several colors, placed alternately,
and called devises, as being di\-ided and
composed of several pieces sewed togeth-
Vol. I.
cr. The representation of these is still
called a coat of arms.
9. A coat of mail is a piece of armor, in form
of a shirt, consisting of a net-work of iron
rings.
10. A card ; a coat-card is one on which a
king, queen or knave is painted.
COAT, V. t. To cover or spread o»-er with a
layer of any substance ; as, to coat a retort ;
to con* a ceiling; to coat a vial.
2. To cover with cloth or canvas ; as, to coat
a mast or a pump.
COAT-ARMOR, n. A coat of arms ; armo-
rial ensigns. Blackstone. Shenstone.
COATED, pp. Covered with a coat ; lori-
cated ; covered or overspread with any
thing that defends ; clothed with a mem-
brane.
2. Having concentric coats or layers, as a
bulbous root. Martyn.
COATI, 71. An animal of South America
resembling the raccoon, but with a longer
body and neck, shorter fur and smalli
eyes ; the Viverra nasua of Linne.
COATING, ppr. Covering with a coat ;
overspreading.
COATING, n. A covering, or the act of cov-
ering ; lorication ; any substance spread
over for cover or defense ; as the coating
of a retort or of a vial.
2. Cloth for coats ; as, merchants advertise
an assortment of coatings.
COAX, V. t. [W. cocru, to fondle, to cocker ;
cocyr, a coaxing, indulgence ; Sp. cocar, to
make wry faces, to coax.]
To wheedle ; to flatter ; to soothe, appease
or persuade by flattery and fondling. [Jl
loio word.] UEstrange.
COAXED, pp. Soothed or persuaded by
flattery.
COAXER, n. A wheedler ; a flatterer.
COAXING, p;jc. Wheedling; flattering.
COB, n. [VV. coh or cop, a top or tuft, a
thump ; Gr. xvSrj ; G. kopf, the head ; D.
kop ; Sax. cop.]
1. The top or bead ; a covetous wretch ; a
foreign coin. Bailey.
[In these senses not used in America.]
2. In America, the receptacle of the maiz, or
American corn ; a shoot in form of a |)in
or spike, on which grows the corn in
rows. This receptacle, with the corn, is
called the ear.
.3. A sea-fowl, the sea-cob. [It. gabhiano,
cob, sea-mew or gull.]
4. A ball or pellet for feeding fowls.
Bailey.
5. In some ])arts of England, a spider. Old
Dutch, kop or koppe, a spider, retained in
koppespin, spinnekop, a spider.
0. A horse not castrated ; a strong poney.
COB, J), t. In seamen^s language, to punisli
by striking the breech with a flat i)iece of
wood, or with a board. Mar. Diet.
CO'BALT, n. [D. cobalt. This is said to be
the G. kobold, a goblin, the demon of the
mines; so called by miners, because co-
balt was troublesome to miners, and at
first its value was not known.]
A mineral of a reddish gray or grayish white
color, very brittle, of a fine close grain,
compact, but easily reducible to powder.
It crystalizes in bundles of needles, arran-
ged one over another. It is never found
in a pure state ; but usually as an oxyd, or
40
combined vnth arsenic or its acid, with
sulphur, iron, &c. Its ores are arranged
under the following species, viz. arsenical
cobalt, of a white color, ]>assing to steel
gray; its texture is granular, and when
heated it exhales the odor of garlic : gray
cobalt, a compound of cobalt, arsenic, iron,
and sulphur, of a white color, with a tinge
of red ; its structure is foliated, and its
crystals have a cube for their priniitivo
form : sulphuret of cobalt, compact and
massive in its structure : oxyd of cobalt,
brown or brownish black, generally fria-
ble and earthy : sulphate and arseniate of
cobalt, both of a red color, the former so-
luble in water. The impure oxyd of co-
balt is called zaffer ; but when fu.sed witli
three parts of siliceous sand and an alka-
line flux, it is converted into a blue glass,
called smalt. The great use of cobalt is to
give a pei-manent blue color to glass and
enamels ui)on metals, porcelain and car-
thern wares.
Fourcroy. Encyc. Cleaveland-
Cobalt-bloom, acicular ar-^eniate of cobalt.
Cfjbalt-crusl, earthy arseniate of cobalt.
COB.vLT'IC, a. Pertaining to cobalt, or con-
sisting of it ; resembling cobalt, or con-
taining it.
COB'BLE, \ [Eng. copple. This
COB'BLE-STONE, \ "■ seems to be of
Welsh origin, W. cub, a mass, a cube, or
cob, cop, head, top.]
A roundish stone ; a pebble ; supposed to be
a fragment, rounded by the attrition of
water. We give this name to stones of
various sizes, from that of a hen's egg or
smaller, to that of large paving stones.
These stones are called by the English
copple-stones and boiolder-stones or bowl-
ders. The latter name is among us known
only in books.
COB'BLE, r. <. [In Persic, jLj^f kobal,
is a shoemaker.]
1. To make or mend coarsely, as shoes ; to
botch. Shak.
2. To make or do clumsily or unhandily ; as,
to cobble rhymes. Dryden.
COB'BLER, n. A mender of shoes.
Addison.
2. A clumsy w orkman. Shak.
3. A mean jjerson. Dryden.
COBBLING, ppr. Mending coarsely.
COBBY, a. Stout ; brisk. [.Vot in use.]
Chaucer.
COB'CAL, n. A sandal worn by ladies in
the east.
COB'COALS, n. Large round coals.
COBELLIG'ERENT, a. [See Belligerent.]
Carrying on war iti conjunction with another
power.
COBELLIG'ERENT, n. A nation or state
that carries on war in connection with an-
other.
COBIRON, n. [See Cob.] An andiron with
a knob at the top. Bacon.
COBISH'OP, n. A joint or coadjutant bish-
op. Ayliffe.
CO'BLE, n. [Sax. cuopk.] A boat used in
the herring fishery.
COB'LOAF, n. A loaf that is irregular,
uneven or crusty. Qu. Is it not a round
loaf.5
COB'NUT, n. A boy's play, or a hazle-nut
c o c
c o c
c o c
so railed, used in play ; the conquering
nut. >flah. Barret
€OBOOSE, n. [See Caboose.]
eOB'STONE, n. [See Cobble.]
COB'SWAN, n. [eob, head, and swan.] The
head or leading swan. B. Jonson
COB'WEB, n. [cob or koppe, a spider ; D
spinnekop ; Sax. atter-coppa, poison spider.
In Ch. '30 is a spider's web.]
1. The line, thread or filament which a spi
der spins from its abdomen ; the net-work
spread by a spider to catch its prey,
Hence,
9. Any snare, implying insidiousness and
weakness. Johnson
In this sense it is used adjectively or in com
position, for thin, flimsy; as a cobweb law
Dryden. Smjl.
Or slender, feeble ; as the cobweb thread of
life. Buckminster.
COB'WEBBED, a. In ftotani/, covered with
a thick interwoven pubescence. Martyn.
2. Covered with cobwebs.
€0'€ALON, n. A large cocoon, of a weak
texture. Encyc.
€OCCIF'EROUS, a. [L. coccus, and fero,
to bear ; Gr. xoxxos, a beyry, grain or seed,
or a red berry used in dyeing ; VV. cac,
red.]
Bearing or producing berries ; as cocciferous
trees or plants. Quincy.
€0€'€OLITE, n. [Gr. xoxxo;, a berry, and
^tfio;, a stone.]
A variety of augite or pyroxene ; called by
Haay, granuliform pyroxene. Its color is
usually some shade of green. It is compo-
sed of granular distinct concretions, easily
separable, some of which present the ap-
pearance of crystals whose angles and ed-
ges have been obhterated.
Cleaveland. Dkl, Mit. Hist.
Cocculus Indicus, the fruit of the Menisper-
mum cocculus, a poisonous berry, often
used in adulterating malt liquors. Enci/c.
COCiriNEAL, ?i. [Sp. cochiniUa, a wood-
louse, and an insect used in dyeing ; It.
rocciniglia ; Fr. cochcnille ; from the Gr.
xoxKo;, as the cochineal was formerly
supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant,
and this word was formerly defined to be
the grain of the i/exg'^amK/era. See Greg-
oire's Armoric Diciionary.]
An insect, the Coccus cadi, of the genus Coc-
cus, a native of the w armer climates of
America, particularly of Oaxaca, in Mex-
ico. It is found on a plant called nopal
or Indian fig-tree. The female, which
alone is valued for its color, is ill-shaped,
tardy and stupid ; the male is small, slen-
der and active. It is of the size of a tick.
At a suitable time, these insects are gath-
ered and put in a pot, where they are
confined for some time, and then killed by
the application of heat. These insects
thus killed form a mass or drug, which is
the proper cochineal of the shops. It is
used in giving red colors, especially crim-
son and scarlet, and for making carmine.
It has been used in medicine, as a cardiac,
sudorific, alexipharmic and febrifuge ; but
is now used only to give a color to tinct-
ures, &c. Encyc.
€0€l!'LEARY, } [L. cochlea, a screw,
COCH'LEATE, S o. the shell of a snai
COCH'LEATED, S Gr. xox^s, from xox^,
to turn or twist.]
Having the form of a screw ; spiral ; turb
ated ; as a cochleate pod. Martyn.
CO€H'LITE, n. [Gr. xo^xmk, a snail.] A
fossil shell having a mouth hke that of a
snail. Morin
€OCK, n. [Sax. coc ; Fr. coq ; Arm. gocq ;
Sans, kuka ; Slav, kokosch. The sense '
that which shoots out or up ; It. cocca, the
tip of a spindle, the top or crown ; L. ca
Qumen.]
1. The male of birds, particularly of galli-
naceous or domestic fowls, which having
no appropriate or distinctive name, are
called dunghill fowls or barn-door fowls
2. A weather-cock ; a vane in shape of
cock. Shak.
[It is usually called a weather-cock.]
3. A spout ; an instrument to draw out oi
discharge Uquor from a cask, vat or pipe
so named from its projection.
4. The projecting corner of a hat. Addison
5. A small conical pile of hay, so shaped
for shedding rain ; called in England a cop.
When hay is dry and rolled together for
carting, the heaps are not generally called
cocks, at least not in New England. A
large conical pile is called a stack.
6. The style or gnomon of a dial. Chambers.
". The needle of a balance.
Bailey. Johnson.
. The piece which covers the balance in a
clock or watch. Bailey
9. The notch of an arrow. [It. cocca.]
Johnson.
10. The part of a musket or other fire arm,
to which a flint is attached, and which,
being impelled by a spring, strikes fire,
and opens the pan at the same time.
11. A small boat. [W. cwc, Ir. coca, D. and
Dan. kaag. It. cocca.] It is now called a
cock-boat, which is tautology, as cock itself!
is a boat.
12. A leader; a chief man.
Sir Andrew is the cock of the club. ..Iddison.
1.3. Cock-crowing ; the tima wiien cocks
crow in the morning. Shak.
Cock a hoop, or cock on the hoop, a phrase
denoting triunq)h; triumphant; exulting.
[Qu. Fr. coq a Inippe. Bailey.]
Camden. Shak. Hudibras.
Cock and a bull, a phrase denoting tedious
trifling stories.
COCK, V. t. To set erect ; to turn up ; as,
to cock the nose or ears. Mdison.
2. To set the brim of a hat so as to make
sharp corners or points ; or to set uj) with
an air of pertness. Prior.
3. To make up hay in small conical piles.
4. To set or draw back the cock of a gun,
in order to fire. Dryden
eOCK, J), i. To hold up the head ; to strut ;
to look big, ])ert, or menacing.
Dryden. Addison
2. To train or use fighting cocks. [Little
used.] B. Jonson
3. To cocker. [Ml in use.]
COCKA'DE, n. [Fr. cocarde; Sp. cocarda ;
Port, cocar, or cocarda.]
A ribin or knot of ribin, or something simi-
lar, worn on the hat, usually by ofticeri:
of the army or navy, sometimes by others.
It most usually designates the military
character; sometimes political parties.
COC KA'DED, a. Wearing a cockade. Young.
eOCK'AL, n. A game called buckle bone.
Kinder.
COCKATOO', 71. A bird of the parrot kind,
Herbert.
COCK'ATRICE, n. [Fr. cocatrii, from coc.
Junius mentions the word as in D. kocke-
tras. The Irish call it riogh-nathair, the
king-serpent, answering to basilisk.]
A serpent imagined to proceed from a cock's
egg. Bacon. Taylor. Is. xi. 8. Ux. 5.
COCK-BILL. In seamen's language, the
anchor is « cock-bill, when it is suspended
perpendicularly from the cat-head, ready
to be let go in a moment. Mar. Diet.
COCK'-BOAT, n. A small boat. [See
Cock, No. 11.]
COCK'-BRAINED, a. Giddy ; rash.
Mlton.
COCK-BROTH, n. Broth made by boil-
ing a cock. Harvey.
COCK'-CHAFFER, n. The May-bug or
dorr-beetle, a species of Scarabaeus.
COCK'-CROWING, n. The time at which
cocks crow ; early mornuig. Mark xiii.
COCK'ER, V. I. [W. cocru. See Coar.]
To fondle ; to indulge ; to treat with tender-
ness ; to pamper. Locke. SwiJI.
COCK'ER, n. One who follows cock-fight-
ing. JohnsoJi.
2. A sort of spatter-dash. Bp. Hall.
COCK'EREL, n. A young cock. Dryden.
COCK'ERING, n. Indulgence. Milton.
COCK'ET, a. Brisk ; pert. Sheru-ood.
COCK'ET, n. [Qu. Fr. cachet, Arm. cacheot,
a seal.]
A seal of the custom-house ; a royal seal ;
rather a scroll of parchment, sealed and
delivered by the ofiicers of the custom-
house, to merchants, as a warrant that
their merchandize is entered. The oflice
of entry. Spelman. Coioel. Encyc.
COCK'ET-BREAD, n. The finest sort of
wheat bread. Qu. stamped-bread.
COCK'-FIGHT, I ^, A match or con,
COCK'-FIGHTING, ^ "■ test of cocks; a
barbarous sport of the ancients, and mod-
erns, in which cocks are set to fight with
each other, till one or the other is con-
quered. Bacon. Addison.
COCK'-HORSE, a. On horse back ; trium-
phant ; exulting. Prior.
COCK'ING, n. Cock-figliting. Beaum.
COCK'LE, n. [Sax. coccel, cocel, or code;
Ir.cagal; Sp. and Port, joyo ; Fr. coque-
licot.]
A plant or weed that grows among com,
the cornrose, a species of Agrostemma.
It is also apphed to the Lolium or darnel.
COCK'LE, 71. [Fr. coque, coquille ; L. coch-
lea ; W. cocos, plu.; Gr. xox'>^of, xo;t>-'»5, from
xox'^.io, to turn or roll. Probably by giving
the X «i nasal soimd, Gr. xoyxr;, L. concha,
are from the same root, whence xoyx'^oi',
L. conchylium. It. conchiglia. See Conch.]
1. A small testaceous shell ; or rather a genus
of shells, the Cardium. The general char-
acteristics are ; shells nearly equilateral
and equivalvidar ; hinge with two small
teeth, one on each side near the beak, and
two larger remote lateral teeth, one on
each side ; prominent ribs running from
the hinge to the edge of the valve.
Cicmer. lAnne.
2. A mineral; a name given by the Cornish
miners to shirt or short. A"icholsoji.
3. A young cock. Obs. [See Cockerel.]
Spenser.
c o c
COCK'LE, V. i. or t. To contract into wrin
kles ; to shrink, pucker, or wrinkle, as
cloth. Bailey.
tOCK'LED, pp. Contracted into folds or
wrinkles ; winding.
2. Having shells.
■COCK'LER, 71. One that takes and sells
cockles. Gray.
COCK'LE-STAIRS, n. Winding or spiral
stairs. Chambers.
€0C;K'-L0FT, n. [Sec Cock.] The top-loft
the upper room in a house or other build-
ing ; a lumber room. Dryden. Swifl.
€OCK'-MASTER, n. One who breeds
game cocks. UEstrange.
€OCK'-MATCri, n. A match of cocks ; a
cock-fight. Addison.
eOCK'NEY, n. [Most probably from L.
coquina, a kitchen, or co<iuino, to cook
Vr. coquin, idle ; Fr. cocagne, It. cuccaena,
an imaginary country of idleness and lux-
ury. In some ancient poetry, the word
seems to signify a cook.
■'Audyetl say by ray soiil I have no salt bacon,
Ne no cokeney by CJliriste coloppes to make."
"At that feast were they served in rich array ;
Every five and five had a cokeney."
See note on Chaucer, Canterbury Tales,
Line, 4206. Edmburgh, 1789. Hence, a
citizen who leads an idle life or never
leaves the city.]
1. A native of London, by way of contempt.
Watts. Shak.
a. An effeminate, ignorant, despicable citi-
zen. Shak
€OCK'NEYLH<^E, a. Resembling the man-
ners of a cockney. Burton
COCK'-PADDLE, n. The lump fish or sea-
owl. Encyc.
•eOCK'PIT, n. A pit or area, where game
cocks fight. Shak.
2. In ships of war, a room or apartment, in
which the wounded men are dressed ; sit-
uated near the after-hatchway, under the
lower gun-deck. The fore-cockpit is a
place leading to the magazine passage and
the store room of the boatswain, gunner
and carpenter. Mar. Diet.
■COCK'ROACH, 71. A genus of insects, the
Blatta, of several species. They have
♦bur semicrustaceous wings, and resemble
the beetle ; the head is inflected towards
the breast ; the feelers are hard like bris-
tles ; the elytra and wings are plain and
resemble parchment. These animals are
very troublesome, as they enter chests of
clothes, meal-tubs, pantries, and infest
beds. They avoid the hght, and have a
very unsavory smell. Encyc.
COCKS'eOMB, ji. The caruncle or comb
of a cock.
2. A plant. This name is given to the Celo-
sia cristata, the Pedicularls or louse-tcort,
and the Rliinanthus, or yellow rattle.
Fam. of Plants. Lee.
3. A fop, or vain silly fellow. [See Coxcomb.]
€OCKS'HEAD, n. A plant, the Hedysarum
or sainfoin. Favi. of Plants.
eOCK'SHUT, n. The close of the day,
when fowls go to roost. Shak.
COCK'SPUR, n. Virginia hawthorn, a
species of medlar. Mille
€OCK'SURE, a. Confidently certain. [A
hw word.] Pope.
€OCK'SWAIN, ?!. contracted into coren.
[See Stcain.] An officer on board of a sliip
COD
who has the care of the boat and the boat's
crew. Mar. Diet.
COCK-WEED, 71. A plant called also dit
tandcr and pepperwort. Johnson.
COCOA, 71. co'co. [Sp. coco ; Port, coco, the
nut, and coqueiro, tlie tree ; It. cocco ; Fr.
coco.]
A tree belonging to the genus Cocas, of the
order of Palmar ; and the fruit or nut of
the tree. This tree grows in the warm
climates of both the Indies. It
the highth of 00 feet, and the stem is like
an apothecary's pestle, of equal thickness
at the ends, but somewhat smaller in the
middle. The bark is smooth, of a pale
brown color, and the tree often leans
one side. The leaves or branches are 14
or 15 feet long, about 28 in number, wing
ed, of a yellow color, straig-ht and taper
ing. The nuts hang in clusters of a dozen
each, on the top of the tree. The husk
of this nut consists of strong, tough,
stringy filaments, resembling coarse oak-
um. This covers a hard shell, which con-
tains a white kernel that is whftlesome
food, and a liquor which is a coohng bev-
erage, Encyc.
CO'COA-NUT, 71. The nut or fruit of the
ocoa-tree.
COCOON', n. [Fr. cocon.] An oblong ball
or case in which the silk-worm involves
itself, formed by threads which compose
silk.
COC'TILE, a. [L. coctilis, from coquo, to
cook.]
Made by baking, or exposing to heat, as a
brick.
COC'TION, n. [L. coctio, from coquo, to
cook.]
The act of boiling or exposing to heat
liquor. In medicine, that alteration in the
crude matter of a disease, which fits it for
a discharge ; digestion. Core. Encyc.
COD, ) A .species of fish, of the ge-
COD'FISH, I "■ nus Gadus, inhabiting nor-
thern seas, but particularly the banks ofl
Newfoundland, and the shores of New
England. [See Haddock.]
COD, 71. [Sax. codd ; W. cod, cwd ; G. hode.
Probably in a different dialect, Fr. cosse.
or eco«se.]
1. Any husk, envelop or case, containing the
seeds of a plant ; apod. Mortimtr.
2. A bag ; the scrotum.
3. A pillow. [JVot in use.]
COD'DED, a. Inclosed in a rod. Mortimer.
COD'DER, 71. A gatherer of cods or peas.
Johnson.
COD'DY, a. Husky. Sherwood.
CODE, n. [L. codex, or catidex ; Fr. code;
It. codice ; Sp. codi^o.^ The Latin word
signifies the stem ot a tree, and a board or
number of boards united, on which ac-
counts were kept. So the Greeks used
axi^f;, a board, for a like purpose, from
(j;t'?", to cut or split; whence L. scheda, a
sheet.]
1. A collection of the laws and constitutions
of the Roman emi)erors, made by order
of Justinian, containing twelve books.
The name is also given to otlier collections
of Roman laws ; as the Theodosian code
Hence in general,
2. Any collection or digest of laws.
Pope. Blackstone.
COD GER, v- [Sp. coger, to catch, says
C O E
Todd. Hence he defines the \ford by
7nwer. But the ])rimary sense is by no
means obvious. I take "it to be a corrup-
tion of cottager, Norm, cotier.]
A rustic ; a clown ; a miserly man.
COD'ICIL, n. [L. codiciUus, dim. of codex.]
A writing by way of supplement to a will.
Prior.
CODILLE, 71. codill'. [Fr. codille ; Sp. co-
dillo, the knee, a joint ; codo, the elbow,
that is, a turn or a fastening.]
A term at ombre, when the game is won.
Pope.
COD'LE, ? , . To parboil, or soften by
COD'DLE, S the heat of water.
COD'LE, V. t. To make much of. [Xof in
ttse.]
CODLING, i An apple codled ; or one
COD'LIN, J"" suitable for codling, or
used for that piirjjose. Bacon. Mortimer.
CODLING, 71. A young cod.
COEF'FICACY, n. [con and effcacy, L.
ejficio.]
Joint efJicacy; the power of two or more
things acting together to produce an effect.
Brown.
COEFFP'CIENCY, n. [con and efficiency,
L. efficio.]
Cooperation ; joint power of two or more
things or causes, acting to the same end.
GlanviUe.
COEFFP'CIENT, a. [con and L. efficiens.]
Cooperating ; acting m union to the same
end.
COEFFI'CIENT, n. That which unites in
action with something else to produce the
same effect.
2. In algebra, a number or known quantity
put before letters, or quantities, known or
unknown, and into which it is supposed
to be multiplied; as in 3i and a i, '3
and a are the coefficients of x.
3. In fluxions, the coefficient of any genera-
ting term is the quantity which arises from
the division of that term by the generated
quantity. Chambers. Bailey.
COEFFP'CIENTLY, adv. By cooperation.
CO-ELD'ER, n. An elder of the same rank.
Trapp.
CCE'LIAC, I [Gr. xoaiaxof, from xoaio,
CE'LIAC, l"- the belly; allied perhaps
to xoiXos, hollow.]
Pertaining to the belly, or to the intestinal
canal.
Ccetiac artery is the artery which issues from
the aorta just below the diaphragm.
£71 eye.
Cceliac passion, the lientery, a flux or diar-
rhoea of undigested food. Coxe.
Caliac vein, a vein of the intestinum rectum.
Core.
COEMPTION, 71. [L. coemptio ; con and
e7no, to bny.]
The act of purchasing the whole quantity
I of an V commodity. Bacon.
COENJOY', V. t. To enjoy together.
Howell.
COE'QUAL, a. [L. eoji and equalis, equal.]
Equal with another person or thing ; of
the same rank, dignity or power. Shak.
COE'QUAL, 71. One who is equal to an-
other.
COEQUAL'ITY, 71. The state of being
equal with another; equaUty in rank, dig-
nity or power.
C0E"'QUALLY, adv. With joint equality.
C O E
COERCE', V. t. coers'. [L. coerceo ; con and
arcco, to drive, or press.]
). To restrain l»y force; to keep from act-
ing, or transgressing, particularly by moral
force, as by law or authority ; to repress.
2. To compel ; to constrain.
These causes — coerced by those which pre-
ceded and coercing those which followed.
Dtvight, Theol.
COER'CED, pp. Restrained by force ; com-
pelled.
COER'CIBLE, a. That may or ought to be
restrained or compelled.
eOER'CING, ppr. Restraining by force
C O F
regularly followed by
Locke. Beniley.
[L. con and extendo.
€OER'CTON, n. Restraint, check, partic
ularly by law or authority ; compidsion ;
force. South
€OER'CIVE, a. That has powder to res-
train, particularly by moral force, as of
law or authority. Hooker. Diyden
2. Compulsory ; constraining ; forcing.
€OER'CIVELY, adv. By constraint.
eOESSEN'TIAL, a. [co7i and essential,
from L. esseHlialis. See Essence.]
I'artaking of the same essence.
We bless and magnify that coeasential spirit
eternally proceeding from the father and sou.
Hookt
COESSENTIAL'ITY, »i. Participation of
the same essence. Johnson.
COESSEN'TIALLY, adv. In a coessential
manner.
COESTAB'LISHMENT, Ji. Joint estab
lishment. Bp. of Lamlaff.
COETA'NEOUS, a. [L. coataneus ; con and
atas, age. Coctanean is rarely used.]
Of tlie same age with another ; beginning
exist at the same time ; with to. " Every
faidt has penal effects, coetaneous to the
act." But with may be preferable to tc
This word is sometimes used as synony
inous with cotcm-porary; but coetaneous
.seems properly to denote cotemporary in
origin, rather than coteniporary in e.xist-
ence at any other period. It may howevei
be used in both senses.
COETERN'AL, a. [L. con and alrrnus.]
Equally eternal with another. MUlon
COETEilN'ALLY, adv. With equal eter-
nity. Hooker
COETERN'ITV, n. Existence from eter-
nity equal with another eternal being
equal eternity. Hammond.
COE'VAL, a. [L. coavus; con and
age.]
Of the same age; beginning to exist at the
same time ; of equal age ; usually an
l)roiJerly followed by with.
Hale. Pope. Btntley.
COE'VAL, 11. One of the same age; one
who begins to exist at the same time. It
is not properly used as synonymous witl
cotemporary.
€OE'VOUS, o. The same as coeval, but not
used. ■So"''!
CO-EXECUTOR, n. A joint executor.
COEXIST', V. i. [L. con and exislo. See
Exist.\
To exist at the same time with another ;
followed by loilh. Hale. Locke.
eOEXIST^ENCE, n. Existence at the
same time with another ; followed regu
larly by with. Locke. Grew.
COEXIST'ENT, a. Existing at the same
time with another
tiAth.
eOEXTEND', v.i
See Extend.]
To extend through the same space or dura
tion with another ; to extend equally ; as
one line coextends with another ; or perhaps
in a transitive sense, to coextend a line
with another.
eOEXTEND'ED,;)/). Being equally exten-
ded. Grew.
COEXTEND'ING, ppr. Extending through
the same space or duration with another.
COEXTEN'SION, n. The act of extending
equally, or the state of being equally ex-
tended. Hale.
COEXTEN'SIVE, o. Equally extensive;
having equal extent.
COEXTENSIVENESS, n. Equal exten-
or extent.
eOF'PEE, n. [Fr. caffc ; It. caffe ; Sp. cafe ;
Port. id. ; G. kaffee ; D. koffy; Ar. cahuahr
The berry of a tree belonging to the genus
Coffea," growing in Arabia, Persia, and in
other warm chmates of Asia and America.
It will grow to the highth of 16 or 18 feet,
but its growth is generally stinted to five
feet, for the convenience of gathering the
fruit. The stem is upright, and covered
with a light brown bark ; the branches are
horizontal and opposite, crossing each
other at every joint, and forming a sort of
pyramid. The flowers grow in clusters
at the root of the leaves, and close to the
branches ; they are of a pure white and of
an agreeable odor. The fruit which is <
berry, grows in clusters, along the branch
es, under the axils of the leaves. Encyc
3. A drink made from the berry of the coffee
tree, by decoction. The berry is first
roasted, and then ground in a mill, and
boiled. The use of it is said to have been
introduced into Franco by Thevenot, the
traveler, and into England, in 1G52, by a
Greek servant, called Pasqua. The best
coffee is said to be the Mocha coffee from
Arabia Felix. Tlie coffee of Java, Bour
bon and the West Indies constitutes an
important article of commerce.
eOF'FEE-€UP, n. A cup from which coffee
is drank.
€OF'FEE-HOUSE, n. A house of enter-
tainment, where guests are supplied with
coffee and other refreshments, and where
men meet for conversation.
Prior. Swift.
A house of entertainment ; an inn ; which
in some cities is also an exchange where
merchants meet to transact business.
COF'FEE-MAN, n. One who keeps a cof-
house. Addison-
eOF'FEE-POT, n. A covered pot in which
coffee is boiled, or in which it is brought
\ipon the table for drinking
COF'FER, n, [Fr. coffre ; Arm. confr,
coffr ; Ir. cofra ; Sp. cofre ; Port. id. ; D. atul
G. koffer ; Dan. koffeH ; Sw. id ; W
fawr, from cof a hollow trunk. The same
French word coffre signifies a coffer, aw'
the trunk of the body, and a coffin. In Ai
yf.X3 is a chest or basket. The prima
ry sense is probably a holder, or a hoUov
place.]
. A chest or trunk ; and as a chest is cus
COG
tomarily used for keeping money, henco
2. A chest of money ; a treasure. Bacon.
3. In architecture, a square depression or
sinking in each interval between the mo-
dillions of the Corinthian cornice, ordin-
arily filled with a rose, a pomegranate or
other enrichment. Chambers. Encyc.
4. In fortificalion, a hollow lodgment across
a dry moat, from 6 to 7 feet deep and
from 16 to 18 broad ; the upper part made
of pieces of timber, raised two feet .ibove
the level of the moat ; which little eleva-
tion lias hurdles laden with earth for its
covering, and serves as a parapet with
embrasures. It is raised by the besieged
to repulse besiegers when they endeavor
to pass the ditch. Chambers. Encyc.
COF'FER, V. t. To reposit or lay up in a
coffer. Bacon.
COF'FERED, pp. Laid up in a coffer.
COF'FERER, n. The Cofferer of the king's
household in Great Britain, a principal offi-
cer of the court, next under the Control-
ler. He was also a white-staff officer,
and a member of the privy council. He
had the special charge and oversight of
the other officers of the household. This
office is now suppressed, and the business
is transacted by the lord steward and pay-
master of the household. Cowel. Encyc.
COF'FIN, 71. [Fr. coffre. See Coffer. In
French, coffin is a candle-basket ; Gr. xo^t-
voi; Norm. French, cojin, a basket; Sp.
cojln ; radically the same word as coffer.]
1. The chest or box in which a dead human
body is buried, or deposited in a vault.
2. A mold of paste for a pie. Johnson.
3. A paper case, in the form of a cone, used
by grocers. Johnson.
4. In farriery, the hollow part of a horse'.s
hoof; or the whole hoof above the coro-
net, including the coffin-bone, which is a
small spungy bone in the midst of the hoof^
and possessing the whole form of the hoof.
Bailey. Farrier's Diet.
COF'FIN, V. t. To put in or inclose in a
coftiii. Shak. Donne.
COF'FINED, pp. Inclosed in a coffin.
COFFIN-MAKER, n. One who makes, or
whose occupation is to malie coffins.
TaUer.
COFOUND'ER, n. A joint founder.
ff'eever.
COG, V. t. [W. coegiaw, to make void, to
deceive, from coeg, empty, vain.]
1. To flatter ; to wheedle ; to seduce or draw
frotn, by adidation or artifice.
I'll cog their hearts from them. Shak.
2. To obtrude or thrust in, by falsehood or
deception ; as, to cog in a word to serve a
purpose. Stillingfleet. Tillotson. Dennis.
To cog a die, to secure it so as to direct
its fall ; to falsify ; to cheat in playing dice.
Dryden. Swif.
COG, I', i. To deceive ; to cheat ; to lie.
Tusser. Shak.
2. To wheedle. , , ^
COG, n. [W. cocos, cogs of a wheel. Qu.
Sp. fog-cr, to catch, or Welsh coctf, a mass
or lump, cog, a mass, a short piece of
wood.] . .
The tooth of a wheel, by which it drives
another wheel or body. .
COG, V. t. To fix a cog ; to furnish with
cogs.
COG
COG
C O H
€OG, I A boat ; a fisliinfr boat. It is
COG'GLE, \ probably tlie \V. cwc, It.
com. [See Cock.]
CO'liENCY, n. [L. cogens, from cogo; con
and ago, to drive.]
Force ; strength ; power of compelling i
erally, urgency, or driving. It is used
chiefly of moral subjects, and in relation
to force or pressure on the mind ; as the
cogenci) of motives or arguments. Locke.
eOiJE'IVJIAL, for congenial. [JVot itstil.]
fVarion.
€0'(iENT, a. [Sec Cogency.]
1. Forcible, in o physical sense ; as the cogent
force of natiu-e. Prior.
2. Urgent ; pressing on the mind ; forcible ;
powerful ; not easily resisted ; as a cogent
reason, or argument.
The harmony of the universe furnishes coge/ii
proofs of a deity. Anon.
CO'tiENTLY, adv. With urgent force ;
with powerful impulse; forcibly. Locke.
€OCr'GED, pp. Flattered ; deceived ; cheat-
ed; thrust in deceitfully; falsified; furn-
ished with cogs.
eOG'GER, n. A flatterer, or deceiver.
€OG'GERY, n. Trick ; falsehood. H'alson
€OG'GING, ppr. Wheedling ; deceiving
cheating; inserting deceitfully; fixing
cogs.
COG'GING, n. Cheat ; deception ; fallacy ;
Beaum.
COG'ITABLE, a. [See CogUate.] That
may be thought on ; that may be medita-
ted on. Johnson.
COG'ITATE, v. i. [L. cog^o. Varro says
from cogo, quasi coagilo, to agitate in the
mind. But the Gothic hugyan, and Sax,
hogirm, signify to think.]
To think ; to meditate. [Little iised.]
COgITA'TION, n. The act of thinking ;
thought ; meditation ; contemplation.
Hooker. Bentley. Milton.
% Thought directed to an object ; purpose.
Bacon.
COG'ITATIVE, a. Thinking ; having the
power of thinking, or meditating ; as a
cogitative substance. Bentley.
2. Given to thought, or contemplation.
irotfon.
COG'NATE, a. [L. cognnlus ; con and nas-
cor, to be born.]
1. Allied by blood ; kindred by birth.
2. Related in origin ; proceeding from the
same stock ; of the same family ; as a
cognate dialect.
3. Allied in the manner of formation or ut
terance ; uttered by the same organs ; as a
cognate letter or sound.
COG'NATE, n. In Scots law, any male
relation through the mother. " Encyc.
COGNATION. 71. [L. cognatio. See Cog-
nate.]
1. Ja the civillaw, kindred or natural rela-
tion between males and females, both des-
cended from the same father ; as agnation
is the relation between males only descen-
ded from the same stock. Encyc.
'3. Kindred ; relation by descent from the
same original.
Pride and hardheartedness are of near cogna-
tion to ingratitude. Wotton.
;l. Relation ; participation of the same na-
ture. Brown.
€OGNI"TION, n. [L. cognitio ; cognosco,
cognitus; con and nosco, to know.]
Knowledge or certain knowledge, as from
personal view or experience.
Shak. Brown.
COG'NITIVE, a. Knowing, or apprehend-
ing by the understanding ; as cognitive
power. \Little used.] South.
COGN'IZABLE, a. con'izable. [Fr. connois
sable, from conno'dre, lo know; It. cognos-
cere ; Sp. conoeer, conocible ; Port, conhe-
cer ; from L. cognosco, con and nosco, to
know personally ; Gr. yivuaxu, id.]
That falls or may fall under judicial no.
tic« ; that may be heard, tried, and deter
mined ; as, a cause or action is cognizable
before the circuit court.
These wrongs are cognizable by the eccle
astical courts. Blackstone.
2. That falls or may fall under notice or ob-
servation ; that may be known, perceived
or api)rehended.
The cause of many phenomena is not cogm
zable hv the senses. Anon.
COGN'IZANCE, n. con'izance. [Fr. con
noissance ; It. cognoscenza ; Sp. conocen-
cia ; Port, cotihecenpa.]
I. Judicial notice or knowledge ; the hear-
ing, trying and determining of a cause or
action in court.
The court of king's bench takes cognizanct
of civil and criminal causes. Blaekstonc
In the United States, the district courts
have cognizance of maritime causes,
9. Jurisdiction, or riglit to try and determine
causes.
The court of king's bench has original juris-
diction and cognwowce of all actions of trespass
vi et armis. Blaekstone.
3. In law, an acknowledgment or confession ;
as in fines, the acknowledgment of the
cognizor or deforciant, that the right to the
land in question is in the plaintiff or cog-
nizee, by gift or otherwise ; in replevin,
the acknowledgment of the defendant,
that he took the goods, but alledging that
he did it legally as the bailiff of another
person who had a right to distrain.
Blaekstone.
4. A badge on the sleeve of a waterman or
servant, by which he is known to belong
to this or that nobleman or gentleman.
Encyc
5. Knowledge or notice ; perception ; obser-
vation ; as the cognizance of the senses.
6. Knowledge by recollection. Spenser.
COGNIZEE', n. conizee'. In law,
whom a fine is ackno^^•ledged, or the
plaintiff in an action for the assurance of
Iand-l)y fine. Blaekstone.
COGNIZOR', n. conizor'. One who ;
knowledges the right of the i)laiiitiff or
cognizee, in a fine ; otherwise called the
defendant or deforciant. Blaekstone.
COGNOM'INAL, a. [L. cognomen, a sur-
name ; con and nomen, name.]
1. Pertaining to a surname.
2. Having the same name. [Little used.]
Brown
COGNOMINA'TION, n. [L. cognomen.] A
surname ; tlic name of a family ; a name
given from any accident or quality ; as
Alexander the Great. Broicn
COGNOS'CENCE, n. [See Cognition.]
Knowledge ; the act or state of knowing.
[Little 7ised.]
COGNOS'CIBLE. a. That may be known.
[Little used.] Hale
COGNOS'CITIVE, a. Having the power
of knowing. Cudworth.
COGUAR, n. A carnivorous quadrur)ed of
America.
CO-GUARDIAN, n. A joint guardian.
Kent.
COHABIT, v.i. [L. con and haltito, to
dwell.]
1. To dwell with ; to inhabit or reside in
company, or in the same place, or country.
Stiles. SouVi.
2. To dwell or live together as husband and
wife ; usually or often apjtiied to jjersone
not legally married.
COHABITANT, n. One who dweUs with
another or in tlie same place.
Decay of piety.
COHABITA'TION, n. The act or state of
dwelhng together or in the same place
with another. Stiles, Elect. Senn.
2. The state of living together as man and
wife, without being legally married.
Bacon.
COHEIR, n. coa'ir. [L. cohmres ; con and
hmres, an heir. See Heir.]
A joint heir ; one who succeeds to a share
of an inheritance, which is to be divided
among two or more.
COHEIRESS, n. coa'iress. A female who
inherits a share of an estate, which is to
be divided among two or more heirs or
heiresses; a joint heiress.
COHERE, V. i. [h. cohwreo ; con and ft<r-
reo, to stick or cleave together.]
1. To stick together; to cleave ; to be uni-
ted ; to hold fast, as parts of the same
mass, or as two substances that attract
each other. Thus, particles of clay coliere ;
poUshed surfaces of bodies cohere.
2. To be well connected ; to follow regular-
ly in the natural order ; to be suited in
connection ; as the parts of a discourse,
or as arguments in a train of reasoning.
3. To suit ; to be fitted ; to agree. Shak.
COHERENCE, ) A sticking, cleaving or
COHERENCY, S hanging together ; u-
nion of parts of the same body, or a cleav-
ing together of two bodies, by means of
attraction ; applied to all substances, solid or
fluid. Locke. Bentley.
2. Connection ; suitable connection or de-
pendence, proceeding from the natural
relation of parts or things to each other,
as in the parts of a discourse, or of any
system ; consistency. Hooker. Locke.
COHE'RENT, o. Sticking together ; cleav-
ing ; as the parts of bodies, solid or fluid.
Arbuthnot.
2. Connected ; united, by some relation in
form or order ; followed by to, but rather by
tcHh. Locke.
3. Suitable or suited ; regularly adapted.
ShaJc,
4. Consistent ; having a due agreement of
parts ; as a coherent discourse. Or obser-
ving due agreement ; as a coherent thinker
or reasoner.
COHERENTLY, adv. In a coherent man-
ner ; with due connection or agreement
of parts.
COIIE'SION, 71. sas z. [It. coesione; from
E. coha:si, pret. of co?i^reo.]
I. The act of slicking together; the state of
being imited by natural attraction, as the
constituent particles of bodies which unite
C O I
c o
COL
in a mass, by a natural tendency ; one oH
the diffeient species of attraction.
JVewlon. Arbuthnot.
'i. Connection ; dependence ; as the cohesion
of ideas. But iii this sense, see Cohe-
rence. Locke.
COHE'SIVE, a. That has the power of
sticking or coliering ; tending to unite in
a mass, and to resist separation.
JVtcholson,
COHESIVELY, adv. With cohesion.
■COHE'SIVENESS, ji. The quality of being
cohesive ; the quaUty of adhering together.
us particles of matter.
CO'HOBATE, V. t. [Port, cohorar.]
Among chimists, to repeat the distillation of
the same liquor or that from the s
body, pouring the liquor back upon the
matter remaining in the vessel.
Bailey. Encyc.
CO'HOBATED, pp. Repeatedly distilled.
CO'HOBATING, ;);?r. Distilling repeatedly,
COHOBA'TION, n. [Sp. cohobacion.] The
operation of repeatedly distilhng the same
Uquor, or that from the same substance.
Encyc.
€OH0ES, or COHO'ZE, n. A fall of water
or falls ; a word of Indian origin in
America.
CO'HORT, n. [L.cohors; Fr. cohorte ; It
coorte ; Sp. cohorte ; Port, id.]
1. Among the Romans, a body of about five
or six hundred men ; each cohort consisted
of three maniples, and each maniple, of
two centuries; and ten cohorts constituted
a legion. Mam, Rom. Ant
2. In poetry, a band or body of warriors.
Milton.
■COHORT A'TION, n. Exhortation ; encour-
agement. [A/'ot used.] Diet.
COIF, n. [Fr. coiffe ; Arm. coeff; It. cuffia,
a cap ; Sp. cofa, a net of silk or thread
worn on the head ; Port, coifa, a caul.]
A kind of caul, or cap, worn on the head, by
sergeants at law, and others. Its chief
use was to cover the clerical tonsure.
Encyc.
COIF, V. t. To cover or dress with a coif.
■eOIF'ED, a. Wearing a coif
-COIF'FURE, n. [Fr.] A head-dress.
Addison.
€OIGNE, for coin. [See Coin, a corner.]
Sliak
COIGNE or COIN'Y, v.i. To Uve by extor-
tion. [An Irish tvord.] Bryskett
COIL, V. t. [Fr. cueillir; perhaps Or. tiUu.
or xv^M. See the roots, hhl and Snp,
Class Gl. No. 5. 48.] '
To gather, as a line or cord into a circular
form ; to wind into a ring, as a serpent, or
a rope.
COIL, n. A rope gathered into a ring
shipboard, a single turn or winding is called
a fake, and a range of fakes is called a
tier.
Q. A noise, tumult, bustle. [JVot used.]
Bailey. Johnson.
COIL'ED, pp. Gathered into a circular form,
as a rope or a serpent.
COII,'ING, ppr. Gathering or winding into
a ring or circle.
COIN, n. [Fr. coin, a corner, a wedge
Arm. coign ; Sp. esquina, a corner, and
Ciiha, a wedge ; Port, quina ; L. cuneus
Gr. -/uiHtt: Ir. rvinn( : W. gaing, or cyn
a wedge. The pronunciation of this word,
by our common people, is quine, or quoin
when appUed to a wedging stone, in ma
sonry. See the ne.xt word.]
1. A corner; a jutting point, as of a wall.
Shak.
Rustic coins, stones jutting from a wall
for new buildings to be joined to. Bailey.
2. A wedge for raising or lowering a piece
of ordnance. Bailey.
3. A wedge or piece of wood to lay between
casks on shipboard. Bailey.
COIN, 71. [Sp. cuha ; Port, cunho, a die to
stamp money ; Sp. acunar, to coin or im-
press money, to wedge; Port, cunhar ; It,
conio, a die ; coniare, to coin ; Fr. coin ; Ar,
• Li" to hanmier, forge or stamp. The
sense is, to strike, beat, or drive, coinciding
with the French coigner, or cogner. Hence
we see that coin, whether it signifies a cor
ner, a wedge or a die, is from the same
root, from thrusting, driving.]
Primarily, the die employed for stamping
money. Hence,
1. Money stamped ; apieceof metal, as gold
silver, copper, or other metal, converted
into money, by impressing on it marks,
figures or characters. To n)ake good
money, these impressions must be made
under the authority of government. That
which is stamped without authority is call
ed false or counterfeit coin. Formerly,
all coin was made by hammering ; but it
is now impressed by a machine or mill.
Current coin is coin legally stamped and
circulating in trade.
Ancient coins are chiefly those of the
Jews, Greeks and Romans, which are kept
in cabinets as curiosities.
2. In architecture, a kind of die cut diagona
ly, after the manner of a flight of a stair
case, serving at bottom to support columns
in a level, and at top to correct the incli-
nation of an entablature supporting a
vault. Encyc.
3. That which serves for payment.
The loss of present advantage to flesh and
blood is repaid in a nobler coin. Hammond
COIN, V. t. To stamp a metal, and converl
it into money ; to mint.
2. To make ; as, to coin words. Shak.
3. To make ; to forge ; to fabricate ; in an
ill sense ; as, to com a lie ; to coin a fable,
Hudibras. Dryden.
COIN'AtsE, ) The act, art or practice of|
COIN'ING, I ■ stamping money.
Arbuthnot
2. Coin ; money coined : stamped and legit-
lated metal for a circulating medium.
3. Coins of a particular stamp; as the coin-
age of George III.
4. The charges or expense of coining money
5. A making ; new production ; formation ;
as the coinage of words.
6. Invention ; forgery ; fabrication.
This is the very coinage of your brain.
Shak
COINCI'DE, V. i. [L. con and incido, to fall
on ; in and cado, to fall. See Cadence,
Case. Low L. coincido ; Sp. coincidir ;
Fr. coincider.]
1. To fall or to meet in the same point, as
two lines, or bodies ; followed by with.
If (he cijuator and the ecliptic had coincided
it would have rendered the annual revolution of
the earth useless. Cheyne.
2. To concur ; to be consistent with ; to
agree.
The rules of right judgment and of good rati-
ocination often coincide with each other.
Watte.
The judges did not coincide in opinion.
COIN'CIDENCE, n. The falhng or meeting
of two or more lines, surfaces, or bodies in
the same point. Bentley.
2. Concurrence ; consistency ; agreement ;
as the coincidence of two or more opin-
ions; ctnncirfence of evidences. Hale.
3. A meeting of events in time ; concurrence ;
a happening at the same time ; as coinci-
dence of events.
COIN'CIDENT, a. Falling on the same
point ; meeting as lines, surfaces or bodies :
followed by tvith. JSTewton.
2. Concurrent ; consistent ; agreeable to ;
followed by uith.
Christianity teaches nothing but what is per-
fectly coincident with the ruling principles of a
virtuous man. South.
COINCI'DER, n. He or that which coin-
cides or concurs.
COINCI'DING, ppr. Meeting in the same
from indico, to show.]
In medicine, a sign or symptom, which, with
other signs, assists to show the nature of
the disease, and the proper remedy ; a
concurrent sign or symptom.
COIN'ED, pp. Struck or stamped, as money ;
made ; invented ; forged.
COIN'ER, n. One who stamps coin ; a
minter ; a maker of money. Addison.
2. A counterfeiter of the legal coin; amaker
of base monej'.
3. An inventor or maker, as of words.
Camden.
COIN'ING, ppr. Stamping money ; making;
inventing ; forging ; fabricating.
COIN'QUINATE, v. t. [L. coinquino.] To
pollute. [.Vol used.]
COINQUINA'TION, n. Defilement. [Ab*
used.]
COIS'TRIL, n. [Said to be from kestrel, a
degenerate hawk.] A coward ; a runa-
way. Shak. Johnson.
2. A young lad. Bailey.
COIT, n. A quoit, which see.
COIT'ING. [See quoit.]
COr'TION, n. [L. coitio, from coeo, to come
together ; con and eo, to go.] A coming
together ; chiefly the venereal intercourse
of the sexes ; copulation. Grew.
COJOIN', V. t. [L. conjungo. See Conjoin.]
To join with another in the same oflfice.
[Little used.] Shak.
COJU'ROR, n. One who swears to another's
credibility. Wotton.
COKE, n. Fossil coal charred, or deprived
of its bitumen, sulphur or other extraneous
or volatile matter by fire, and thus pre-
pared for excithig intense heat.
Encyc. Cleavcland.
COL'ANDER, n. [L. colo, to strain ; Fr.
couler, to flow, to trickle dovm ; coulant,
. flowing ; couloir, a colander.]
A vessel with a bottom perforated with little
holes for straining liquors. In America,
this name is given, I believe, exclusively to
COL
a vessel of tin, or other metal. In Great
Britain, tlie name is given to vessels, like
sieves, made with hair, osiers or twigs.
May. Ray. Dryden.
OOLA'TION, n. The act of straining, or
purifying liquor, by passing it through
perforated vessel. [Little used.]
COL'ATURE, n. The act of straining ; the
matter strained. [Ldttle xised.]
COL'BERTINE, n. A kind of lace worn by
women. Johnson.
COL'COTHAR, n. The brown red oxyd of
iron which remains after the distillation of
' the acid from sulphate of iron ; used for
poUshing glass and other substances. It'
is called by artists crocus, or crocus^
martis. Enajc. Ure.\
The sulphate of iron is called colcothar or
chalcite, when the calcination has been
carried so far as to drive ott'a considerable
part of the acid. Fourcroy.l
[See Chalcite.]
€OLD, a. [.Sax. cald ; G. kail; D. koud, con-
tracted ; Goth, cakh ; Basque, gcddn ; Sw.
kail ; Dan. kold, and tlie noun, kulde. The
latter seems to be connected with kid, a
coal, and kuler, to blow strong. But the
connection may be casual. In Swedish,
kyla signifies to cool, and to burn ; thus
connecting cool, cold, with the L. caleo, to
be hot. Both cold and heat may be from
rushing, raging, and this word may he from
the same root as gale. If not, cool would
seem to be allied to L. gelo.]
1. Not warm or hot : gehd ; frigid ; a relative
term. A substance is cold to the touch,
when it is less warm than the body, and
when in contact, the heat of the body
passes from the body to the substance ; as
cold air ; a cold stone ; cold water. It denotes
a greater degree of the quality than cool.
[See the Noun.] I
2. Having the sensation of cold ; cliill ; shiv-
ering, or inclined to shiver; as, I am cold.
3. Having cold qualities ; as a cold plant.
Bacon.
4. Frigid ; wanting passion, zeal or ardor ;
indifferent ; unconcerned ; not animated,^
or easily excited into action ; as a cold\
spectator ; a cold christian ; a coU. lover,,
or friend; a coW temper.
Hooker. Addison.'
Thou art neither cold nor hot. Rev. iii.
5. Not moving ; unaffecting ; not animated ;|
not able to excite feeling ; spiritless ; i^ aj
cold discourse ; a cold jest. Mdison.]
C. Reserved ; coy ; not affectionate, cordial!
or friendly ; indicating indifference ; as a
cold look ; a cold return of civilities ; a cold
reception. Clarendon.
7. Not heated by sensual desire. Shak.
8. Not hasty ; not violent. Johnson.
9. Not affecting the scent strongly. Shak.
10. Not having the scent stronirly affected.
Shak)
€OLD, n. [Sax. cele, a/l, cyle ; D. koelle,
koude ; G. kiUte. See Cool.] j
1. The sensation produced in animal bodiesi
by the escape of heat, and the consequent
contraction of the fine vessels. Also, the
cause of that sensation. Heat expands]
the vessels, and cold contracts them ; ami
the transition from an expanded to a con-j
tracted state is accompanied with a senj
sation to which, as well as to the cause ofl
COL
It, we give the denomination of cold.
Hence cold is a privation of heat, or the
cause of it. Encyc. Bacon.
2. A shivering ; the effect of the contraction
of the fine vessels of the body; chilliness,
or chilliiess. Dryden.
3. A disease ; indisposition occasioned by
cold ; catarrh.
COLD-BLOODED, a. Having cold blood.
2. Without sensibility, or teehng.
COLD-l'INCH, n. A species of Motacilla,
a biril frequenting the west of England,
with the head and back of a brownish
gray, the belly white, and the quill feathers
and tail black. Did. J\iat. Hist.
COLD-UEARTED, a. Wanting passion or
feeling ; iiidiflerent.
COLD-HEARTEDNESS, n. Want of feel-
ing or .sensibility.
COLDLY, adu. In a cold manner ; without
warmth ; without concern ; without ardor
or aniuiation ; without apparent passion,
emotion or feeling; with indifference or
negligence ; as, to answer one coldly ; a
proposition is coldly received.
COLDNESS, n. Want of heat ; as the cold
7tess of water or air. When tlio heat or
temperature of any substance is less than
that of the animal body exposed to it, that
state or temperature is called coldness.
2. Unconcern ; indifference ; a frigid state of]
temper ; want of ardor, zeal, emotion, ani-
mation, or spirit ; negligence ; as, to re-
ceive an answer with coldyiess ; to listen
with coldness.
3. Want of apparent affection, or kindness ;
as, to receive a friend with coldness.
4. Coyness ; reserve : indiflereuce ; as, to re-
ceive addresses with coldness.
5. Want of sensual desire ; frigidity ; chas-
tity. Pope.
COLD-SHORT, a. Brittle when cold, as a
metal.
COLE, ?i. [Sax. cou/, caif/ or caiw/ ; L. cait-
lis ; Gr. xov^oj ; D. kool ; G. kohl ; Sw
k&l ; Dan. kaal ; W. catvl ; Ir. colis, coiiis .
It. cavolo; Sp. col; Port, couve ; Ann
caidin, colen ; Fr. chou.]
The general name of all sorts of cabbage or
brassica ; but we generally use it in its
compounds, cole-wort, cauliflower, &c.
CO'LE-MOUSE, n. [See Coal-mouse.]
COL'EOPTER, ) [Gr.xo>.fOf, a sheath,
COLEOP'TERA, S "• and rtTipoy, a wing.]
The colcopters, in Linne's system of ento-
mology, are an order of insects, having
crustaceous elytra or shells, which shut
and form a longitudinal suture along the
hack, as the beetle.
COLEOP'TERAL, a. Having wings cover-
ed with a case or sheatji, which shuts as
above.
CO'LE-PERCH, n. A small fish, less than
the common perch. Diet. .Xat. Hist.
eO'LE-SEED, 71. The seed of the navew,
napus sativa, or long-rooted, narrow-leafed
rapa ; reckoned a sjjecies of brassica or
cabbage. Encyc.
2. Cabbage seed. Mortimer.
CO'LE-WORT, n. [cole and wort. Sax.
wyrt, an herb.] A particular species of
cole, brassica, or cabbage.
COL'IC, 71. [L. colicus ; Gr. xuXtxof, from
xuxoi', the colon.]
In general, a severe pain in the bowels, of
which there are several varieties ; as bil
COL
ious coLc, hysteric colic, nervous colic and
many others. Coie. ^uincy.
COL'IC, ) Affecting the bowels.
COL'ICAL, i "• MUton.
COL'IN, n. A bird of the partridge kind,
found in America and the West Indies,
called also a quail.
COLL, I', t. To embrace. [Xot in use. See
Collar.] Spenser.
COLLAPSE, V. i. collaps'. [L. coUabor, col-
lapsus ; con and labor, to slide or fall.]
To fall together, as the two sides of a vessel ;
to close by falling together ; as, the fine
canals or vessels of the body collapse in
old age. Arbuthnot.
COLLAPSED, pp. Fallen together ; closed^
COLLAP'SION, n. .-V state of falling togeth-
er ; a state of vessels closed.
COL'LAR, 71. [L. coUare; Fr. coUier, collet;
Arm. colyer ; It. collare ; Sp. collar ; from
L. coUum, the neck.]
1. Something worn round the neck, as a
ring of metal, or a chain. The knights of
several orders wear a chain of gold, enam-
eled, and sometimes set with ciphers or
other devices, to which the badge of the
order is appended. Encyc.
2. The part of a gannent which surrounds
the neck. Job xxx. 18.
3. A part of a harness lor the neck of a horse
or other beast, used in draught.
4. Among seamen, the upper part of a stay ;
also, a roj)e in form of a wreath to which a
stay is confined. Mar. Diet.
To slip the collar, is to escape or get free ; to
disentangle one's self from difficulty, labor,
or engagement. Johnson.
A collar of brawn, is the quantity bound up in
one parcel. [Not used in America.]
Johnson:
COL'LAR, V. t. To seize by the collar.
2. To put a collar on.
To collar beef or other meat, is to roll it
up and bind it close with a string. [Eng-
lish.]
C0L'L.'\RAGE, n. A tax or fine laid for the
collars of wine-drawing horses. [Eiig.]
Bailey. Encye'.
COLLAR-BONE, ti. The clavicle.
COL'LARED, pp. Seized by the collar.
2. Haviiiff a collar on the neck.
COLLA'TE, t'. ?. [L. collatum, collalus ; cori
and latum, latus ; considered to be the
supine and participle offero, confero, but a
word of distinct origin.]
Literally, to bring or lay together. Hence,
1. To lay together and compare, by examin-
ing the points in which two or more things
of a similar kind agree or disagree ; appli-
ed parlicidarly to manuscripts and books ; as,
to collate copies of the Hebrew Scriptures.
2. To confer or bestow a benefice on a cler-
gyman, by a bishop who has it in his own
gift or patronage ; or more strictly, to pre-
sent and institute a clergyman in a bene-
fice, when the same person is both the or-
dinary and the patron ; followed by to.
If the patron neglects to present, the bishop
may collate his clerk to the chui-ch.
Slackstone.
3. To bestow or confer; but note seldom used,
except as in the second definition. TayUtr.
COLLA'TE, V. i. To place in a benefice, as
by a bishop.
If the bishop neglects to collate within six
COL
COL
COL
0. Not dii-ect, c
If by direct
7. Concurrent ;
mouths, the right to do it devolves on the arch-
bishop. Encyc.
■eOLLA'TED, pp. Laid together and com-
pared ; examined by comparing; presented
and instituted, as a clergyman, to a bene-
fice.
COLLAT'ERAL, a. [L. collateralis ; con
and lateralis, from lotus, a side.]
1. Being by the side, side by side, on the
.side, or side to side.
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
Shak.
Collateral pressure is pressure on the
side. So we say, collateral circumstances,
circumstances which accompany a princi-
pal event.
'i. In genealogy, descending from the same
.stock or ancestor, but not one from the
other ; as distinguished from lineal. Lin-
eal descendants proceed one from another
in a direct line ; collateral relations spring
from a common ancestor, but from differ-
ent branches of that common stirps or
stock. Thus the children of brothers are
co//a/era/ relations, having different fathers,
but a common grandfather. Blackstone.
3. Collateral security, is security for the per-
formance of covenants or the payment of
money, besides the principal security.
4. Rimiiing parallel. Johnson.
5. Diffused on either side ; springing from
relations ; as, collateral love. Milton.
■ immediate.
ir collateral hand. .S/mAr.
as, collateral strength.
Jltterbtiry.
COLLAT'ERAL, n. A collateral relation or
kinsman.
COLLAT'ERALLY, adv. Side by side ; or
by the side.
■2. Indirectly. Dryden.
-3. In collateral relation ; not in a direct hne ;
not lineallv.
COLLAT ERALNESS, n. The state of
being collateral.
€OLLA'TING, ppr. Comparing ; present
ing and instituting.
€OLLA'TION, n. The act of bringing or
laying too;ether, and comparing ; a com
parison of one copy or thing of a like kind
with another. Pope
2. The act of conferring or bestowing ; a gift
Ray
3. In the canon law, the presentation of t
clergyman to a benefice by a bisliop, who
has it in his own gift or patronage. Col
lation includes both presentation and in
stitution. When the patron of a church is
not a bishop, he presents his clerk for ad
mission, and the bishop institutes hmi ; but
if a bishop is the patron, his presentation
and institution are one act and are called
collation. Blackstone.
4. In common law,\\\e presentation of a copy
to its original, and a comparison made by
examination, to ascertain its conformity ;
also, the report of the act made by the pro-
])er officers. Encyc.
.'>. In Scots law, the right which an heir has
of throwing the whole heritable and mo-
vable estates of the deceased into one mass,
and sharing it equally with others who are
of the same degree of kindred.
(.). A repast between full meals ; as a cold
collation.
Collation of seals, denotes one seal set on
the same label, on the reverse of another.
Encyc.
COLLA'TIVE, a. Advowsons are presenta-
tive, collaiive or donative. An advowson
collative is where the bishop and patron
are one and the same person ; in which
case the bishop cannot present to himself,
but he does, by one act of collation or con-
ferring the benefice, the whole that is
done, in common cases, by both presenta-
tion and institution. Blackstone
€OLLA'TOR, n. One who collates or com-
pares manuscripts or copies of books.
Mdison.
2. One who collates to a benefice, as when
the ordinary and patron are the same per-
son, -flyliffe.
eOLLAUD', V. t. [L. collaudo.] To unite in
praising. [Little used.] Howell.
eOL'LEAGDE, n. coVleeg. [L. collega ; Fr.
collegue ; It. collega ; Sp. colega ; L. con
and lego, to choose, or lego to send, or
ligo to bind. This word is differently ac-
cented by different speakers and lexicog-
raphers. I have followed the latest au-
thorities.]
A partner or associate in the same office
employment or commission, civil or eccle-
siastical. Milton. Swijl.
It is never used of partners in trade or
manufactures.
COLLE'AGUE, v. t. or i. collee'g. To unhe
ith in the same office.
COLLE'AGUED, pp. United as an ai
' !ite in the same office.
COL'LEAGUESHIP, «. Partnership
office. Milton.
COLLECT', V. t. [L. colligo, collectu
and lego, to gather ; Gr. Xiya.]
To gather, as separate persons or things,
into one body or place ; to assemble or
bring together ; as, to collect men into ai
army ; to collect ideas ; to collect particu
lars into one sum.
9. To gain by observation or information.
From all that can be collected, the publii
peace will not soon be interrupted.
. To gather from premises ; to infer as a
consequence.
Which consequence, I conceive, is ver>- il
collected. Locke
4. To gather money or revenue from debt
ors ; to demand and receive ; as, to collect
taxes ; to collect the customs ; to collect ae
counts, or debts.
5. To gather, as crops ; to reap, mow or
pick, and secure in proper repositorie
to collect hay, corn or fruits.
C. To draw together ; to bring into united
action ; as, to collect all the strength, or all
the powers of the mind.
7. To obtain from contribution.
To collect one's self, is to recover from sur
prise, or a disconcerted state ; to gain com
mand over the thoughts, when dispersed
over the passions, when tumultuous ; or
the mind, when dismayed. Shak. Milton.
COLLECT', V. i. To run together ; to ac-
cumulate ; as, pus collects in an abscess ;
sand or snow collects in banks.
COL'LECT, n. A short comprehensive
prayer ; a prayer adajited to a particular
ilay or occasion. Taylor.
2. A collection or gathering of money. [Lit-
I tie used.] Enryr.
COLLECTA'NEOUS, a. [L. coUectaneus.]
Gathered ; collected.
COLLECT'ED, pp. Gathered; assembled;
congregated ; drawn together.
2. a. Recovered from surprise or dismay ;
not disconcerted ; cool ; firm ; prepared.
COLLECTEDLY, adc. In one view ; to-
gether; in one bodv.
COLLECT'EDNESS, n. A collected state
of the mind ; recoverv from surprise.
COLLECT'IBLE, a. That may be collect-
ed or gathered ; that may be inferred.
2. That may be gathered or recovered ; as,
the debts or taxes are or are not collectible.
COLLECT'LNG, ppr. Gathering ; drawing
ogether ; assembling.
COLLECTION, n. The act of gathering,
assembling.
2. The body forined by gathering; an as-
semblage, or assembly ; a crowd ; as a
collection of men.
3. A contribution ; a sum collected for a
charitable purpose.
Now concerning tlie collection for the saints.
1 Cor. xvi.
4. A gathering, as of matter in an abscess.
5. The act of deducing consequences ; rea-
soning ; inference. [Little used.]
Johnson. Hooker.
6. A corollary ; a consectary ; a deduction
from premises ; consequence.
Johnson. Hooker.
7. A book compiled from other books, by
the putting together of parts; a compUa-
tion ; as a collection of essays or sennons.
COLLECT'IVE, a. [L. coUectivus ; Fr. col-
lectif; It. colleltivo.]
1. Formed by gathering ; gathered into a
mass, sum, or body ; congregated, or ag-
gregated, ff'atts. SwiJl.
Deducing consequences ; reasoning- ; in-
ferring. Brown.
3. In grammar, expressing a number or mul-
titude united ; as a collective noun or name,
which, though in the singular number it-
self, denotes more than one ; as, company,
army, troop, assembly.
COLLECTIVELY, adv. In a mass, or
body ; in a collected state ; in the aggre-
gate; unitedly; in a state of combination ;
as the citizens of a state coHech'rcii/ consid-
ered.
COLLECT IVENESS, n. A state of union ;
mass.
COLLECT'OR, n. One who coUeets or
gathers things which are scattered or sep-
arate.
2. A compiler; one who gathers and puts
together parts of books, or scattered pie-
ces, in one book. Addismi.
3. In botany, one who gathers plants, with-
out studying botany as a science. Encyc.
4. An officer appointed and commissioned to
collect and feceive customs, duties, taxes
or toll. Temple.
5. A bachelor of arts in Oxford, who is ap-
pointed to superintend some scholastic
proceedings in Lent. Todd.
COLLECT'ORSHIP, n. The office of a
collector of customs or taxes.
9. The jurisdiction of a collector.
^'isiat. Researches.
COLLEG'ATARY, n. [L. con and 7ego, to
send.]
In the civil law, a person who has a legacy
COL
left to him in common with one or more
other persons. Cliambers. Johnson.
COL'LEOE, n. [L. collegiuvi ; con and lego,
to gather.]
In its primary sense, a collection, or assem-
bly. Hence,
V In o general sense, a collection, assem-
blage or society of men, invested with cer-
tain powers and rights, performing cer-
tain duties, or engaged in some common
employment, or pursuit.
2. In a parlkular sense, an assembly for a
' • political or ecclesiastical purj'ose ; as the
coUege of Electors or their deputies at the
diet in Ratishon. So also, the college of
princes, or their deputies ; the college of
cities, or deputies of the Imperial cities ;
the college of Cardinals, or sacred college.
In Russia, the denomination, college, is
given to councils of state, courts or assem-
blies of men intrusted with the adminis-
tration of the government, and called Im-
perial colleges. Of these some are supreme
and others subordinate ; as the Supreme
Imperial College; the college of foreign af-
fairs ; the college of war ; the admiralty
college ; the college of justice ; tlie college
of commerce ; the medical college.
Tookeu.335. .35(!.
In Great Britain and the United States o/j
America, a society of physicians is called a
college. So also there are colleges of sur-
geons; and in Britain, a college of philoso-
phy, a college of heralds, a college of jus-
tice, &c. Colleges of these kinds are us-
ually incorporated or established by the
supreme power of the state.
3. An edifice appropriated to the use of stu
dents, who are acquiring the languages
and sciences.
4. The society of persons engaged in the
pursuits of literature, including the officers
and students. Societies of this kind arc
incorporated and endowed with revenues.
5. In foreign universities, a public lecture.
€OL'LEgE-LIKE, n. Regulated after the
manner of a college.
COLLE'GlAL, a. Relating to a college;
belonging to a college ; having the proper
ties of a college.
€OLLE'6IAN, »i. A member of a college,
particularly of a literary institution so call-
ed ; an inhabitant of a collesre. Johnson.
■eOLLE'filATE, a. Pertaining to a college :
as collegiate studies.
a. Containing a college ; instituted after the
manner of a college ; as a collegiate socie-
ty. Johnson.
X A collegiate church is one that has no
bishop's see ; but has the ancient retinue
of a bishoii, canons and prebends. Of
these some are of royal, others of ecclesi-
astical foundation ; and each is regulated
in matters of divine service, as a cathedral
Some of these were anciently abbeys
which have been seciilarizcd. Encyc.
COLLE'GIATE, n. The member of a col-
lege. Burton.
€OL'LET, n. [Fr. collet, a collar, or neck,
from L. coUum.]
J. Among jewelers, the horizontal face or
plane at the bottom of brilhants ; or the
part of a ring in which the stone is set.
Encyc. Johnson
2. In glass-making, that part of glass vessels
which sticks to the iron instrument used
Vol. I.
COL
in taking the substance from the melting-
pot. Encyc.
S. Anciently, a band or collar.
4. A term used by turners. Johnson.
€OLLET'l€, a.' Having the property i<(
gluing; agghitinant. Encyc.
€OLLET'I€, »i. [Gr. *oWk.;ftxof.] An agglu
tinant. Encyc.
COLLI'DE, V. i. [I., collido ; con and Mo,
to strike.]
To strike or dash against each other.
Brou-n.
COL'LIER, n. col'yer. [from coal] A dig-
ger of coal ; one who works in a coal-mine.
Joh7}son.
2. A coal-merchant or dealer in coal.
Ba
3. A coasting vessel employed in the coal
trade, or in transporting coal from the
ports where it is received from the mines,
to the ports where it is purchased for con
sumption.
COL'LIERY, n. col'yery. The place where
coal is dug. [See Coalenj.]
2. The coal trade. Qu.
€OLLIFLO\VER. [See Cauliflower.]
COL'LIGATE, v. t. [L. colligo ; con and li-
go, to bind.] To tie or bind together.
Tlie pieces of isinglass are colligated ir
rows. JVich. Diet.
COL'LIGATED, pp. Tied or bound to-
gether.
€OL'LIGATING, ppr. Binding together.
COLLIGA'TION, n. A binding together.
Brown.
eOLLIMA'TION, n. [L. collimo ; con and
limes, a limit. Ainsworth suggests that it
may be an error, and that collineo, con and
linea, is the real reading ; but collimo is in
perfect analogy with other words of like
signification. To aim is to direct to the
limit or end.]
The act of aiming at a mark ; aim ; the act
of levehng, or of directing the sight to t
fixed object. Asiat. Research
COLLINEA'TION, n. [L. collineo ; con and
linea, a line.]
The act of aiming, or directing in a line to a
fixed object. Johnson.
€OL'LING, n. [L. collum, the neck.] An
embrace ; dalUance. {JSfol used.]
Chaucer
COLLIQUABLE, a. [See CoUiquate.] That
may be litpiefied, or melted ; liable to melt,
grow soft, or become fluid.
eOLLIQ'UAMENT, n. The substance
formed by melting ; that which is melted,
Bailey. Johnson.
Q. Technically, the fetal part of an egg ; the
transparent fluid in an egg, contauiing the
first rudiments of the chick.
Coxe. Encyc.
3. Tlie first rudiments of an embryo in gen-
eration. Coxe.
eOL'LIQUANT, a. That has the power of
dissolving or melting. '
COL'LIQUATE, v. i. [L. colliqueo ; con
and liqueo, to melt. See Liquid.]
To melt ; to dissolve ; to change from sohd
to fluid ; to become hquid. Broten.
€OL'LIQUATE, v. t. To melt or dissolve
€OL'LIQUATED, pp. Melted ; dissolved ;
turned from a solid to a fluid substance.
Boyle. Harvey.
COL'LIQUATING, ppr. Melting ; dissol-
ving.
41
COL
eOLLIQUA'TION, n. Tlie act of melting.
Boyk.
2. A di.-solving, flowing or wasting ; applied
to the blood, when it does not readily
coagulate, and to the solid parts, wJieu
they waste away by excessive secretion,
occasioning fluxes and profuse, clammy
sweats. Coxe. Encyc. Quincy.
COLLIQUATIVE, a. Melting"; dissolving ;
appropriately indicating a morbid dis-
charge of the animal fluids ; as a colliqua-
tive fever, which is accompanied whh
diarrhcEa, or profuse sweats ; a colliquative
sweat is a profuse clanmiy sweat.
€OLLIQUEFA€'TION, n. [L. colliquefa-
cio.] A melting together; the reduction
of different bodies hito one mass by fusion.
Bacon.
COLLI'SION, n. s as :. [L. collisio, from
collido, eollisi ; con and lado, to strike or
liurt.]
1. The act of striking together; a striking
together of two hard bodies. Milton.
3. The state of being struck together ; u
clashing. Hence,
3. Opposition ; interference ; as a coUisioir
of interests or of parties.
4. A running against each other, as ships at
sea. Marshal on Insurance. ff'aUh.
COL'LOCATE, v. t. [L. colloco ; con and
loco, to set or place.] To set or place ; to
set ; to station.
eOL'LOCATE, a. Set ; placed. Bacon.
COLLOCATED, pp. Placed.
COL'LOCATING.jjpr. Setting; placing.
COLLOCA'TION, n. [L. collocatio.] A set-
ting ; the act of placing ; disposition in
place.
2. The state of being placed, or placed with
something else. Bacon.
COLLOCU'TION, n. [L. collocutio ; con
and locutio, from loquor, to speak.]
A speaking or conversing together ; confer-
ence; mutual discoiu-se.
Bailey. Johnson.
COLLOCU'TOR, n. One of the speakers
in a dialogue.
COLLOGUE, V. t. To wheedle. [JVot in
use.]
COL'LOP, n. A small shoe of meat; apiece
of flesh. Dryden.
2. In burlesque, a child. Shak.
In Job XV. 27. it seems to have the sense
of a thick piece or fleshy lump. " He ma-
keth collops of fat on his flanks." This is
the sense of the word in N. England.
COLLO'QUIAL, a. [See CoUoquy.] Per-
taining to common conversation, or to mu-
tual discourse ; as colloquial language ; a
colloquial phrase.
COL'LOQUIST, n. A speaker in a dialogue.
Malone.
COL'LOQUY, n. [L. colloquium; con and
loquor, to speak.]
Conversation ; mutual discourse of two or
more ; conference ; dialogue.
Milton. Taylor.
COLLOW. [See CoUy.]
COLLUC'TANCY, n. [L. colluctor ; con
and luctor, to struggle.]
A struggling to resist ; a striving against ;
resistance ; opposition of nature.
COLLUCTA'TION, n. A struggling to re-
sist ; contest ; resistance ; opposition ; con-
trariety. fVoodtcard.
COL
■COLLU'DE, V. i. [L. colludo : con and ludo,
to play, to banter, to mock.]
To playinto the hand of each other ; to con-
spire in a fraud ; to act in concert.
Johnson.
COLLU'DER, n. One who conspires in a
fraud.
<:OLhV'DlfsG,ppr. Conspiring with anotlier
in a fraud.
COLLU'DING, n. A trick; colhision.
fOLLU'SION, n. s as z. [L. collusio. S
Collude.]
\. In law, a deceitful agreement or compact
between two or more persons, for the one
party to bring an action against the other,
for some evil purpose, as to defraud a
third person of his right. Coivel.
A secret understanding between two
parties, who pleatl or proceed fiviudulently
against each other, to the prejudice of a
third person. Encyc.
3. In general, a secret agreement for a
fraudulent purpose.
eOLLU'SIVE, rt. Fraudulently concerted
between two or more ; as a collusive agree-
ment.
COLUI'SIVELY, adv. By collusion; by se-
cret agreement to defraud.
COLLU'SIVENESS, n. The quality of be-
ing collusive.
COLLU'SORY, a. Carrying on a fraud by
a secret concert ; containing collusion.
COL'LY, I [Supposed to be from coal.]
COL'LOW, \ "'The black grime or soot of
coal or burnt wood.
Woodward. Burton
COL'LY, V. t. To make foul ; to grime with
the smut of coal. Shak.
■eOL'LYRITE,Ji. [Gr. xompiov, infra.] A
variety of clay, of a wliite color, with
shades of gray, red, or yellow.
Cleaveland,
COLLYR'IUM, n. [L.; Gr. xo^Mptor. Qu
from xu^vu, to check, and piof, defluxion.]
Eye-salve ; eye-wash ; a topical remedy for
disorders of the eyes. Coxe. Encyc.
COL'MAR, ra. [Fr.] A sort of pear,
COL'OCYNTH, n. [Gr. xo^xvrOii.] The
coloquintida, or bitter apple of the shops.
a kind of gourd, from Aleppo and fi
Crete. It contains a bitter pulji, which is
a drastic purge. Encyc
COLOGNE-EARTH, n. A kind of lighi
bastard ocher, of a deep bro\vn color, not
a pure native fossil, but containing
vegetable than mineral matter ; sup
to be the remains of wood long buried in
the earth. Hill.
It is an earthy variety of lignite or brown
coal. Cleaveland.
COLOM'BO, n. A root from Colombo hi
Ceylon. Its smell is aromatic, and its
taste pungent and bitter. It is much es
teemed as a tonic in dyspeptic and biliou
diseases. Hooper.
CO'LON, n. [Gr. xuXor, the colon, a member
or limb.]
1. In anatomy, the largest of the intestines, or
rather the largest division of the intestinal
canal ; beginning at the csecum, and
cending by the right kidney, it passes un-
der the hoUow part of the liver, and the
bottom of the stomach, to the spleen
thence descending by the left kidney, itl
passes, in the form of an S, to the upper"
COL
part of the os sacrum, where, from its
straight course, the canal takes the name
of rectum. Encyc. (^uincy.
% In grammar, a point or character formed
thus [ : ], used to mark a pause, greater
than that of asemicolon, but less than that of
a period ; or rather it is used when the sense
of the division of a period is complete, so
as to admit a full point ; but something is
added by way of illustration, or the de-
scription is continued by an additional re-
mark, without a necessary dependence on
the foregoing members of the sentence.
Thus,
A brute arrives at a point of perfection he can
never pass : in a few years he has all the en
(lowments he is capable of. Spect. No. iii.
The colon is often used before an address,
quotation or example. "Mr. Gray wai
followed by Mr. Erskine, who spoke thus
' I rise to second the motion of my honor
able friend.' " But the propriety of tliis
depends on the pause, and this depends on
the form of introducing the quotation ; for
after say, said, or a like word, the colon is
not used, and seems to be improper. Thus
in our version of the scriptures, such mem
hers are almost invariably followed by a
comma. "But Jesus said to them, 'Ye
know not what ye ask.' "
The use of the colon is not uniform ; nor
is it easily defined and reduced to rides. In
deed the use of it might be dispensed with
without much inconvenience.
€OL'ONEL, ?i. cicr'nel. [Fr. colonel; It. col
onnello ; Arm. coronal ; Sp. coronet ; Port
coronet ; from It. colonna, Fr. colonne, a col
unm. It. colonnello, the column of a book.^
The cliief commander of a regiment of
troops, whether infantry or cavalry. He
ranks next below a brigadier-general. In
England, colonel-lieutenant is the com-
mander of a regiment of guards, of which
the king, prince or other person of emi-
nence is colonel. lAeutenant-colonel is the
second officer in a regiment, and com-
mands it in the absence of the colonel.
COLONELCY, n. cur'nelcy. } The of-
COLONELSHIP, n. cur'nelship. ^ fice,rank
or commission of a colonel.
Sivijl. Washington.
COLO'NIAL, a. [See Colony.] Pertaining
to a colony ; as colonial government ; colo-
nial rights. [Colonical is not in use.]
COL'ONIST, n. [See Colony.] An inhab-
itant of a colony.
Blackstone. Marshall, lAfe of Washington.
€OLONIZA'TION, n. The act of coloni-
zing, or state of being colonized.
COL'ONIZE, t).<. [See Colony.] To plant
or establish a colony in ; to plant or settle
a number of the subjects of a kingdom or
state in a remote country, for the purpose
of cultivation, commerce or defense, and
for permanent residence. Bacon
The Greeks colonized the South of Italy am
of France.
2. To migrate and settle in, as inhabitants.
English Puritans colonized New England.
COL'ONIZED, pp. Settled or planted with
a colony.
COL'ONiZING, ppr. Planting with a col
ony.
eOL'ONIZING, n. The act of establishing
a colony.
This state paper has been adopted as the ba
sis of all her later co^oni'iintrs. TuwAt, I. 622
COL
eOLONNA'DE, n. [It. colonnata, from c»-
lonna, a column ; Sp. colunata; Fr. colon-
nade. See Column.]
1. In architecture, a peristyle of a circular
figure, or a series of columns, disposed in
a circle, and insulated within side.
Builder'' s Diet. Addison.
2. Any series or range of columns. Pope.
A polystyle colonnade is a range of colunnis
too great to be taken in by the eye at a
single view ; as that of the palace of St.
Peter at Rome, consisting of 384 columns
of the Doric order. Encyc.
COL'ONY, n. [L. colonia, from colo, to cul-
tivate.]
1. A con)pany or body of people transplant-
ed from their mother country to a remote
province or country to cuhivate and in-
liahit it, and remaining subject to the ju-
risdiction of the parent state; as the Brit-
ish colonies in America or the Indies ; the
Spanish colonies in South America. When
such settlements cease to be subject to the
parent state, they are no longer denomi-
nated colonies.
The first settlers of New England were the
best of Englishmen, well educated, devout
christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There
was never a colony formed of better materials.
Ames.
2. The country planted or colonized ; a plan-
tation ; ulso, the body of inhabitants in a
territory colonized, including the descend-
ants of the first planters. The people,
though born in the territory, retain the
name of colonists, till they cease to be sub-
jects of the parent .state.
3. A collection of animals ; as colonies of
shell-fish. ' Encyc.
eOL'OPHON, n. [from a city of Ionia.]
The conclusion of fi book, formerly con-
taining the place or year, or both, of its
publication. Warton.
COL'OPHONITE, n. [Supra, from the city
or its resin color.]
A variety of garnet, of a reddish yellow or
brown color, occurring in small amor-
phous granular masses. Diet. .Wat. Hist.
COLOPHONY, n. In pharmacy, black resin
or turpentine boiled in water and dried ;
or the residuum, after distillation of the
etherial oil of turpentine, being further
urged by a more intense and long contin-
ued fire. It is so named from Colophon
in Ionia, whence the best was formerly
bi-ought. A'icholson. Encyc.
COLOQUINTIDA, n. [Gr. xo'KoxmB^s; L.
colocynthis.]
The colocyuth or bitter apple, the fruit of a
plant of the genus Cucurais, a native of
Syria and of Crete. It is of the size of a
large orange, containing a pulp which is
violently purgative, but sometimes useful
as a medicine. Chambers.
COL'OR, n. [L. color; It. colore; Sp. Port.
color ; Fr. coule^ir.]
1. In physics, a property inherent in lighl,
which, by a difference in the rays and the
laws of refraction, or some other cause,
gives to bodies particular appearances to
the eye. The princi]jal colors are red, or-
ange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and vio-
let. HOiite is not properly a color ; as a
white body reflects the rays of light with-
out separating them. Black bodies, on
tlie contrary, absorb all the rays, or nearly
COL
COL
COL
ail, and therefore black, is no distinct col-|
or. But in common discourse, white and]
Itack are denominated colors; and all tliel
colors admit of many shades of difference.
2. Appearance of a hody to the eye, or aj
quality of sensation, caused by the rays of
light ; hue ; dye ; as the color of gold, or
of indigo. |
3. A red color ; the freshness or appearance
of blood in the face.
My cheeks no longer did their color boast.
Dry(lcn.\
4. Appearance to the mind; as, prejudice
puts a false color upon objects. I
5. Superficial cover ; palha'tion ; that whicl
serves to give an appearance of right ; as,l
their sin admitted no color or excuse. \
King Charles.
6. External appearance ; false show ; i)ro-
tense ; guise.
Under the cofor of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer. Shak.]
[See Aetsxxvii. 30.] I
7. Kind ; species ; character ; complexion.
Boys and women are, for the most part, cat-!
tie of this coJor. Shak.'
8. That which is used for coloring ; paint :
as red lead, ocher, ori)imcnt, ciiuiabar, or'
vermilion, &.e. i
!>. Colors, with a plural termination, in the'
military art, a flag, ensign or standard,
borne in an army or fleet. [See Flag.\ j
10. In Imp, color in pleading is when the de-j
fendant in assize or trespass, gives to the^
plaintiff a color or appearance of title, by
stating his title specially ; thus removingi
the cause from the jury to the court. j
Blackstone.l
Water-colors are such as are used in painting!
with gum-water or size, without beini;!
mixed with oil. EncycJ
eOL'OR, t'. t. To change or alter the exter-
nal appearance of a body or substance ; to
dye ; to tinge ; to paint ; to slain ; as, to|
color cloth. Generally, to color is to change!
from white to some other color.
2. To give a specious appearance ; to set in
a fair light ; to palliate ; to excuse.
He colors the falsehood of jEneas by an ex-
press conunand of Jupiter to forsake the queen.
Dryden.
3. To make plausible ; to exaggerate in rep-
resentation. Addison)
To color a stranger^s goods, is when a free-
man allows a foreigner to enter goods at
the custom house in his name, to avoid
the alien's duty.
eOL'OR, V. i. To blush.
t'OL'ORABLE, a. Specious ; plausible ;
giving an appearance of right or justice ;
as a colorable pretense ; a colorable excuse
Spenser. Hooker
eOL'ORABLY, adv. Speciour^ly ; plausibly;
with a fair external appearance. Bacon.
COL'ORATE, a. [L. coloralus, from coloro,
to color.] *
Colored ; dved ; or tinged with some color.
[Little us'ed.] Rmi.
COLORA'TION, Ji. [L. coloro.] The art
or practice of coloring, or the state of be-j
ing colored. Bacon}
COL'ORATURE, n. In music, all manner'
of variations, trills, &c., intended to make
a song agreeable. Encyc.
COL'ORED, pp. Having the external ap-
pearance changed ; dyed ; tinged ; paint-
ed or stained.
2. Streaked ; striped ; having a diversity of]
hues. "
:1. Having a specious appearance.
Colored people, bl4ck people, Africans or
their descendants, mi.xed or unmixed.
eOLORIF'IC, o. [color, and L./«cto.] That
has the quality of tinging ; able to give
color, or tint to other bodi'-s. Kirwan.
COLOR'ING, ppr. Dying ; staining ; ting-
infj.
2. Giving a fair external appearance; pal
bating ; excusing.
COLORING, n. The act or art of dyeing;
the state of being colored ; color.
2. A specious appearance ; fair artificial rep
rescntation ; as, the story lias a coloring of
truth.
3. Among painters, the manner of applying
colors ; or the mixture of light and shade,
formed by the various colors employed.
eOL'ORIST, n. [Supra.] One who colors ;
a painter who e.xcels in giving the proper
colors to his designs. Dniden.
C0L'ORLESS,a. [Supra.] Destitute of" col-
or ; not distinguished by any hue ; trans-
parent ; as colorless water, glass or gas.
jYeivton.
COLOSSAL, I [See Colossus.] Like
COLOSSE'AN, S a colossus ; very large ;
huge : gigantic.
COLOS'SUS, n. [L. and Gr.] A statue of a
gigantic size. The most remarkable co-
lossus of antiquity was one at Rhodes, n
statue of Apollo, so high that it is said
ships might sail between its legs.
COLOS' SUS-WISE, adv. In the manner ofl
a colossus. Shak.
COL STAFF, n. A staff for carrying bur-
dens by two on their shoulders. [Local.]
COLT, n. [Sax. coll.] The young of the
equine genus of animals or horse kind.
In America, colt is equally applied to the
male or female, and this is imquestiona-
bly correct. The male is called a horse-
colt, and the female is called a flli).
2. A young foohsh fellow ; a person without
cxiierience or stability. Shak.
COLT, V. i. To frisk, riot or frolick, like a
colt ; to be hcentious. [J^'ot used.]
Spenser.
COLT, V. t. To befool. [JVot used.] STmk.
COLT'S-FQQT, n. A genus of plants, the
Tussilago. The name is also given to a
species of Cacalia. Fain, of Plants.
COLT'S-TOOTH, n. An imi)erfect or su-
perfluous tooth in young horses. Johnson
2. A love of youthful pleasure.
Well said. Lord Sands ;
Your coWs-toolh is not yet cast ? Shah
[Little used.]
COLTER, n. [L. culler, a colter or knife
thot is, the cutter; Yr.'coutre ; It. coltro .
W. ajlltaivr ; D. koufer ; G. kolter.]
The fore iron of a plow, with a sharp edge
that cuts the earth or sod.
COLTISH, a. Like a colt ; wanton ; frisky ;
gay. Chaucer.
COL'UBER, n. [L. a serpent or adder.] In
zoology, a genus of serpents, distinguished
by scuta or hard crusts on the belly, and
scales on the tail. Under this genus are
ranked many species, as tlie viper, black
snake, &.i:.
COL'UBRINE, a. [L. colubi-inus.] Relating
to the coluber, or to serjients ; cunning
crafty. [Little used.] Johnson
COL'L'MB.\RY, n. [L. columbarium, from
columba, a pigeon ; W. colomen ; Ir. cobn
or colum ; Ana. coulm ; Russ. golub, a pi-
geon or dove. In Russ. golubei signifies,
of a sky-blue, azure.]
A dove-cot ; a pigeon-house.
COLUM BATE, n. A salt or compound of
columbic acid, with a base.
COLUM'BIAN, a. Pertaining to the United
States, or to America, discovered by Co-
limibus.
COLUMBIC, a. Pertaining to columbium ;
as columbic acid.
COLUftlBIF'EROUS, a. Producing or con-
taining columbium. PhiUips.
COL'UMBINE, a. Like or pertaining to a
pigeon or dove ; of a dove-color, or like
the neck of a dove.
COL'UMBINE, n. [L. columUna.] Aquilc-
gia, a genus of plants of several species.
The Thalictrum or meadow-rue is also
called feathered columbine. Fam. of Plants.
COLUM'BITE, re. [See Columbium.] The
ore of columbium.
COLUMBIUM, 71. [from Columbia, Ame-
rica.]
A metal first discovered in an ore or oxyd,
found in Connecticut, at New-London,
near tlio house of Gov. Winthrop, and by
him tran.'imitted to Sir Hans Sloane, by
whom it was deposited in the British mu-
setun. The same metal was afterwards
discovered in Sweden, and called tanta-
lum, and its ore tanlalitc. Cleavcland.
COLUMBO. [See Colombo.]
COL'UMEL, 7!. In botany, the central col-
umn ui a capsule, taking its rise from the
receptacle, and having the seeds fixed to
it all roimd. Marlyn.
COL UMN, )i. colum. [L. columna, columen ;
W. colov, a stalk or stem, a prop ; colovyn,
a column ; Ir. colbh, a stalk, a column;
Arm. coit/oucnn; Pr. colonne ; It. colonna;
Sp. columna ; Port, columna or coluna.
This word is from the Celtic, signifying
the stem of a tree, such stems being the
first columns used. The primary sense is
a shoot, or that which is set.]
1. In architecture, a long round body of wood
or stone, used to support or adorn a build-
ing, composed of a base, a shafk and a cap-
ital. The shaft tapers from the base, in
imitation of the stem of a tree. There are
five kinds or orders of columns. 1. The
Tuscan, rude, simple and massy ; the highth
of which is fourteen semidiameters or
modules, and the diminution at the top
from one sixth to one eighth of the in-
ferior diameter. 2. The Doric, which is
next in strength to the Tuscan, has a ro-
bust, masculine aspect ; its highth is six-
teen modules. 3. The Ionic is more slen-
der than the Tuscan and Doric ; its higlith
is eighteen modules. 4. The Corinthian
is more delicate in its form and ppopor-
tions, and enriched with ornaments ; its
highth should be twenty modules. 5. The
Composite is a species of tlie Corinthian,
and of the same highth. Encyc.
In strictness, tlie shaft of a column con-
sists of one entire piece ; but it is often
composed of different pieces, so united, as
to have the appearance of one entire piece.
It difters in this respect from a pillar, which
primarily signifies a pile, composed of
small pieces. But the two things are lui-
COM
ibrtunately confounded; and a column
consisting of a single piece of timber is
absurdly called a pillar or pile.
2. Au erect or elevated structure resembhng
" a column in architecture ; as the aslronom-
kal column at Paris, a kind of hollow tower
with a spiral ascent to the top ; gnomonic
column, a cylinder on which the hour ot
the day is indicated by the shadow of a
style ; military column, among the Romans:
triumphal column ; &c.
3. Any body pressing perpendicularly on its
base, and of the same diameter as its base
!is a column of water, air or mercuiy.
4. In the military art, a large body of troop;
drawn up in order ; as a solid column.
5. Among printers, a division of a page ; i
perpendicular set of lines separated fron
another set by a line or blank space. In
manuscript books and papers, any sepa-
rate perpendicular line or row of words or
figures. A page may contain two or more
columns ; and in arithmetic, many columns
of figures may be added.
eOLUM'N AR, a. Formed in columns ; hav-
ing tlie fcrriiof columns; like the shaft ot
a riilmnii; as cofemnorspar.
tOLUftlNARlrili, a. Somewhat resem-
bling a column. [Abadword.]
Fam. of Plants. Vol. u. 4o4-
eOLU'RE, 11. [Gr. xo>,oi,po5 ; xoTlo;, mutila-
ted, and ovpa, a tail ; so named because a
part is always beneath the horizon.]
In astronomy and geography, the coliues
two great circles supposed to intersect
each other at right angles, in the poles of]
the world, one of thein passing througli
the solstitial and the other through the
equinoctial points of the ecUptic, viz. Can-
cer and Capricorn, Aries and Libra, divi-
ding the ecliirtic into four equal parts. The
points where these lines intersect the eclip-
tic are called cardinal points.
Encyc. Hams.
COM, in composition as a prefix, Ir. comh,
or coimh, W. cym or cj/v, h. com or cum,
denotes loith, to or against.
CO'MA, n. [Gr. x<^f«i, lethargy.] Lethargy;
dozing ; a preternatural propensity to
sleep ; a kind of stupor of diseased per-
sons. , , Co^e-
CO'MA, n. [L. from Gr. xo/iti, a head ot hair
In botany, a species of bracte, terminatmg
the stem of a plant, in a tuft or bush ; as in
crown-imperial. Martyn.
•3. In astronomy, hairiness ; the hairy appear-
ance that surrounds a comet, when the
earth or the spectator is between the comet
and the sun.
CO'MART, n. [con and mart.] A treaty
article ; agreement. Obs. Shak
CO'MATE, a. [L. comatus, from coma ; Ir
ciamh, ciabh.] Hairy ; encompassed with
a coma, or bushy appearance, like hair.
Shak.
€0-MA'TE, n. [co and mate.] A fellow-
mate, or companion. Shak.
CO'MATOSE, ) [See Coma.] Preter-
eO'MATOUS, I "■ naturally disposed to
sleep; drowsy; dozing, without natural
sleep ; lethargic. Coxe. Grew.
eOMB, n. [Sax.] A valley between hills or
mountains. [JSTot in use.] Brown.
eOMB, n. b silent. [Sax. camb, a comb;
cemban, to comb ; G. kamm ; D. kam ; Sw.
kamin : Dan. kam, a comb ; Ir. ciomaim, to
COM
comb or card. Qu. L. como, to dress, trim
or comb, which seems to be allied to the
Gr. xou^oj. But the noun may be the rad-
ical word in our language, and from
scratching, scraping; Eth. I^^^O gamea,
to shave or scrape.]
1. An instrument, with teeth, for separating,
cleansing and adjusting hair, wool, or flax,
Also, an instrument of horn or shell, for
keeping the hair in its place when dressed.
a. The crest, caruncle or red fleshy tiill,
iwing on a cock's head ; so called from
indentures which resemble the teeth of
growing
comb.
3. The substance in which bees lodge their
honey, in small hexagonal cells.
4. A dry measure of fuur bushels. [JVot used
in U. States.]
COMB, V. t. To separate, disentangle
cleanse, and adjust with a comb, as t(
comb hair ; or to separate, cleanse and lay
smooth and straight, as to comb wool.
COMB, V. i. In the language of seamen, to
roll over, as the top of a wave ; or to break
with a white foam. [Qu. Sp. combar, to
bend, or from the English comb.]
COMB-BIRD, n. A gallinaceous fowl of
Africa, of the size of a turkey-cock.
COMB-BRUSH, n. A brush to clean combs.
COMB-MAKER, n. One whose occupation
is to make combs.
COMBAT, V. i. [Fr. combattre, cojnand bat
tre, to beat with or against ; It. combattere ;
Sp. combatir ; Port, combater ; Arm. com-
badti or combatein. See Beat.]
1. To fight ; to struggle or contend with an
opposing force.
Pardon nie ; I will not combat in my shirt.
Shak.
This word is particularly used to denote
private contest, or the fighting of two per-
sons in a duel ; but it is used in a general
sense for the contention of bodies of men,
nations, armies, or any species of animals.
After the fall of the republic, the Romans
3. To act in opposition.
Milton
It is followed by unth before the person
and/or before the thing sought.
A combats tcith B for his right
COM'BAT, t>. «. To fight with; to oppose bj
force ; as, to combat an antagonist.
a. To contend against ; to oppose ; to resist
as, to combat arguments or opinions.
COM'BAT, n. A fighting ; a struggling to
resist, overthrow or conquer ; contest by
force ; engagement ; battle ; as the combat
of armies.
a. A duel; a fighting between two men;
formerly, a formal trial of a doubtful cause,
or decision of a controversy between two
persons, by swords or bastons.
COMBATANT, a. Contending ; disposed
to contend. B. Jonson
COM'BATANT, n. A person who combats
any jierson who fights with another, or ii
an army, or fleet. .
3. A duellist ; one who fights or contends in
battle, for the decision of a private quarrel
or difference ; a champion.
3. A person who contends with another
argument, or controversy.
COM'BATED,i)p. Opposed; "^s'^tcd.
COM
COM'BATER, n. One who fights or con-
tends. Shenvood,
COM'BATING,;)pr. Striving to resist ; fight-
ing; opposing by force or by argument-
COMBED, pp. Separated, cleaned, or dress-
ed with a comb.
COMBER, 71. One who combs ; one whose
occupation is to comb wool, &.C.
COM'BER, n. Incumbrance. [JVo< used.]
COM'BER, n. A long slender fish with a red
back, found in Cornwall, England.
COMBI'NABLE, a. Capable of combining.
ChesteifieU.
COM'BINATE, a. [See Combine.] Espous-
ed ; betrothed. [JVot used.] Sfiak.
COMBINA'TION, M. [Fr. comfcinawon. See
Combine.] In general, close union or con-
nection. Hence,
Intimate union, or association of two or
more persons or things, by set purpose or
agreement, for effecting some object, by
joint operation ; in a good sense, when the
object is laudable ; in an ill sense, when it
is illegal or iniquitous. It is sometimes
equivalent to league, or to conspiracy.
We say, a combination of men to overthrow
government, or a combination to resist
oppression.
2. An assemblage ; union of particulars ; as
a combination of circumstances.
Commixture; union of bodies or qualities
in a mass or compound ; as, to make nevr
compounds by new combinations. Boyle.
Chimical union ; union by aflSnity.
Mix dry acid of tartar with dry carbonate of
potash ; no combination will ensue, till water is
added. Henry.
5. In mathematics, the union of numbers or
quantities in every possible manner ; or the
variation or alteration of any number of
quantities, letters, sounds, or the hke, in all
the difterent manners possible. The nuin-
ber of possible changes or combinations is
found by multiplying the terms 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 .
continually into each other. Thus 1X2
=2: 2X3=6: 6X4=24: 24X5=120. &c.
So the permutations of five quantities
amount to 120. The change»that may be
rung on twelve bells anwunt to 479,001,600.
And the twenty four letters of the alpha-
bet admit of 62,044,840,173,323,943,936,000
changes or combinations. Encyc.
COMBI'NE, V. t. [Fr. combiner ; It. combi-
nare ; Sp. comUnar ; from the Low Latin
combino, of com and binus, two and two,
or double.]
1. To unite or join two or more things; to
link closely together.
Friendship combines the hearts of men.
2. To agree ; t
[M'ot usual.]
3. To join words or ideas together ; opposed
to analyze. Johnson.
4. To cause to unite ; to bring into union or
confederacy. .
The violences of revolutionary France combi.-
ned the powers of Europe in opposition.
COMBI'NE, V. i. To unite, agree or coa-
lesce.
Honor and policy combine to justify the meas-
ure.
2. To unite in friendship or design ; to league
together.
You with your foes combine. Dryclen.
3. To unite by aflinity, or natural attraction.
COM
Two substances which will not conibine of
tlieinselves, may be made to combine, by the
intervention of a third.
4. To confederate ; to unite as nations.
The powers of Europe coinbined against
France.
COMBI'NED, pp. United closely ; associa-
ted; leagued; confederated; chimically
united.
COMBING, ppr. Separating and adjusting
hair, wool, &.c.
COMBING, »i. Borrowed liair combed over
a bald part of the head. [Local.']
Bp. TayhT.
COMBI'NING, ppr. Uniting closely ; joining
in purpose ; confederating ; uniting by
chiniical affinity.
eOMBLESS, o. Without a comb or crest ;
as a combUss cock. *'««*•
COMBUST', a. [L. combustus, comburo.]
When a planet is in conjunction with tlie
sun or apparently very near it, it is said to
be combust or in combustion. The distance
withiii which this epithet is applicable to a
planet, is said by some writers to be 8i
degrees; others say, within the distance ot
half the sun's disk.
COMBUSTIBLE, o. [Fr. combMlible ; Sp.
id. ; from L. comburo, combustum.]
That will take fire and burn ; capable of|
catching fire ; thus, wood and coal are com-
bustible bodies.
COMBUST'IBLE, n. A substance that will
take fire and bum ; a body which, in its
rapid union with others, disengages heat
and light. Ure.
COMBUST'IBLENESS, > , The quality
COMBUSTIBILITY, J of taking fire
and burning ; the quality of a substance
which admits the action of fire upon it ;
capacity of being burnt, or combined with
oxygen. Lavoisier.
The quaUty of throwing out heat and liglit,
in the rai)!d combination of its substance
with another body. Ure
COMBUS'TION, n. combus'chun. [Low L
combustio. See Combtist.]
1. The operation of fire on inflammable sub-
stances ; or according to modern cliimistry,
the union of an infiamniable substance
with oxygen, attended with hght, and u
most instances, with heat. In the com
bustion of a substance, heat or caloric is
disengaged, and oxygen is absorbed.
Lavoisier.
This theory of Lavoisier being found
somewhat defective, the following defini-
tion is given. Combustion is the disen-
gagement ofrhcat and light which accom-
panies chimical combination. Ure
Combustion cannot be regarded as dependent
on any peculiar principle or form of matter, but
must be considered as a general result of intense
chimical action. Webster's Man. of Chim
% \n popular language, a. \innmi^; the |)ro-
cess or action of fire in consuming a body,
attended with heat, or heat and flame
the combustion of wood or coal.
3. Conflagration ; a great fire. Hence, from
the violent agitation of fire or flame,
4. Tumult ; violent agitation with hurry and
noise ; confusion ; uproar.
Hooker. Milton. Dryden.
COME, I!, t. prct. came, part. come. [Sax.
cuman, or eieiman ; Goth, amman, pret.
cwom ; D. /women, pret. kwam ; G. kom
€ O M
men ; Sw. komma ; Dan. kommer, to come
Qu. W. cam, Ir. cam, a step. And qu
theAr. A'i Heb. Ch. Dip to rise, or
stand erect; to set or establish ; to subsist
consist, remain ; to rectify-, or set in order ;
and in Arabic, to be thick, stiff or congealed.
The senses of the words appear to be very
different ; but we use come in the sense of
rising or springing, applied to corn ; the
corn co7ne3or comes up, G. keimen. So the
butter com£s, when it separates from the
wliey and becomes tliick or stiff. And is
not our conunon use of come, when we in-
vite another to begin some act, or to move,
equivalent to rise, being originally directed
to persons sitting or reclining, in the ori-
ental manner ? Coming impUes moving,
driving, shootmg along, and so we use set :
we say, to set forward ; the tide sets north-
erly.]
L To move towards ; to advance nearer, in
any manner, and from any distance. We
say, the men come this way, whether riding
or on foot ; the wind comes from the west
the ship comes with a fine breeze; light
cctmes from the sun. It is appUcal
haps to every thing susceptible of motion,
and is opposed to go.
2. To draw nigh ; to approach ; to arrive :
to be present.
Come thou and all thy house into the ark.
Gen. vii-
All my time vrill I wait, till my change come.
Job xiv.
When shall I come and appear before God ?
Ps. xlii-
Then shall the end come. Math. xxiv.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done. Math
vi.
The time has come.
3. To advance and arrive at some state or
condition ; as, the ships came to action ; the
players came to blows ; is it come to this
His sons come to honor and he knoweth it
not. Job xiv.
I wonder how he came to know what
had been done ; how did he come by his
knowledge? the heir comes into possession
of his estate; the man will come in time to'
abhor the vices of his youth, or he will
come to be poor and despicable, or to
poverty.
In these and similar phrases, we observe!
the process or advance is applied to the
body or to the mind, indifl'erently ; and to
persons or events.
4. To happen or fall out; as, how comes
that? let co?rte what will. Hence when|
followed by an object or person, with to
or on, to befall ; to light on.
After all that has coine on us for our evil
deeds. Ezra ix.
All things come alike to .nil. Eceles. ix.
5. To advance or move into view ; to apoear ;
as, blood or color comes and goes in the
face. Spenser. Shak.
6. To sprout, as plants ; to spring. The
corn comes or comes up. " In the coming or
sprouting of malt, as it must not come too
little, so it must not come too much." Mor-
timer. So Bacon uses the word; and this,
use of it coincides nearly with the sense ofl
Dip, quoin, 2 Kings xix. 26. and in the
same chapter inserted in Isaiah xxsvii.
C O M
27. It is the G. keimen, Icelandic keima,
to bud, or germinate.
7. To become.
So canu I a widow. Shak.
8. To appear or be formed, as butter ; to ad-
vance or change from cream to butter ;
a common use of the word ; as, the butter
comes. Hudibras.
9. Come, in the imperative, is used to excite
attention, or to uivite to motion or joint
action ; come, let us go.
This is the heir ; come, let us kill him.
When repeated, it sometimes expresses
haste ; come, come. Sometimes it express-
es or introduces rebuke.
As the sense of come is to move, in al-
most any manner, in its various applica-"
tions, that sense is modified indefinitely by
other words used in connection with it.
Thus with words expressing approach, it
denotes advancing nearer; with words ex-
pressing departure, as/rom, of, out of, &c.,
it denotes motion from, &c.
To come about, to happen ; to fall out ; to
come to pass ; to arrive. How did these
things come about ? So the French venir it
bout, to come to the end, that is, to ar-
rive.
To come about, to turn ; to change ; to come
round. The wind will come about from
west to east. The ship comes about. It
is applied to a change of sentiments.
On better thoughts, and my urged reasons,
They are come about, and won to the true side.
B. Jonson.
To come again, to return. Gen. xxviii.
Lev. xiv.
To come after, to follow. Math. xvi. Also,
to come to obtain ; as, to come after a book.
To come at, to reach ; to arrive within
reach of; to gain ; to come so near as to
be able to take or possess. We prize those
most who are hardest to come at. To come
at a true knowledge of ourselves.
Addison.
Also, to come towards, as in attacking.
To come away, to depart from ; to leave ; to
issue from.
To come back, to return.
To come by, to pass near ; a popular phrase.
Also, to obtain, gain, acquire ; that is, to
come near, at or dose.
Examine how you came by all your state.
Dryden.
This is not an irregular or improper use
of this word. It is precisely equivalent
to possess, to sit by. [See Possess.] So in
Ger. bekommeji, D. bekoomen, to get or ob-
tain ; the by or 6e prefixed.
To come down, to descend.
The Lord will come down on mount Sinai.
Ex. xix.
Also, to be humbled or abased.
Vour principalities shall comedoum. Jer. xiii.
Come down from thy glory. Jer. xlviii.
To come for, to come to get or obtain ; to
come after.
To come forth, to issue or proceed from.
Gen. XV. Is. xi. Micah v.
Also, to depart from ; to leave. Mark ix.
Also, to come abroad. Jer. iv.
To come from, to depart from ; to leave.
In popular language, this phrase is equiva-
lent to, where is his native place or former
place of residence ; where did this man,
this animal or this plant originate.
To come home, that is, to come to home, or
COM
COM
COM
the liouse ; to arrive at the dwelling.
Hence, to come close ; to press closely ; to
touch the feelings, interest, or reason.
[See Home.]
To come in, to enter, as into an inclosiire.
Also, to comply ; to yield ; as, come in
:iiid submit.
Also, to arrive at a port, or place of ren-
dezvous ; as, the fleet has come in.
Also, to become fashionable ; to be
brought into use.
Silken garments did not come in till late.
.flrbtUhnol .
Also, to enter as an ingredient nr part
of a composition.
A nice sense of propriety comes in to lieiglit-
cn the character.
Also, to grow and produce ; to come to
maturity and yield. If the corn comes in
well, we shall have a supply, without im-
portation. Crops come in light.
Also, to lie carnally with. Gen. xxxviii
To come in for, to arrive in time to take
a share. Johnson says this phras
taken from hunting, where the slow dogs
take nothing. Qu. But the sense in
which we now use the phrase lias no refer-
ence to time or slow movement. It is, to
imite with others in taking a part.
The rest came infer subsidies. Swift.
To come into, to join with ; to bring help.
Also, and more generally, to agree to ;
to comply with ; to unite with others in
adopting ; as, to come into a measure or
scheme.
To come near, to approach in place. Hence
metaphorically, to approach in quality ; to
arrive at nearly the same degree in a qual-
ity, or accomplishment ; to resemble.
Temjile
To come nigh, is popularly used in like sen-
ses.
To come no near, in seamanship, is an order
to the helmsman not to steer so close to
the wind.
To come of, to issue from ; to proceed from,
as a descendant.
O/" Priam's royal race my niollier came.
Dryde,
Also, to proceed from, as an effect from
a cause.
TWs conies of judging by the eye.
L'Estrnnge.
\\Tience come wars — come they not of you
lusts .' James iv.
To come off, to depart from ; to remove from
on.
Also, to depart or deviate from a line or
point ; to become wider ; to dilate.
Bacon.
Also, to escape ; to get free.
Hence, to end ; to arrive at the final
•sue ; as, to come off with honor or disgrace.
To come off from, to leave ; to quit. Felton.
To come on, to advance ; to proceed ; as,
come on, brave boys ; night is coming on
So we say, the young man comes on well
in his studies, and the phrase often denotes
a prosperous advance, successful im-
provement. So we say of i)lants, they
come on well, they grow or thrive— that is,
they proceed.
Al.<!o, to fall on ; to happen to.
Lest that come on you, which is spoken of in
the prophets. Acts xiii.
Also, to invade ; to rush on.
To come over, to pass above or across, or
from one side to another. In distilla
tion, to rise and pass over, as vapor.
Also, to pass from one party, side or
army to another ; to change sides.
To come out, to depart or proceed from.
They shall come out with great substance
Gen. XV.
Also, to become public ; to escape from
concealment or privacy ; to be discovered ;
as, the truth is come out at last.
Also, to be published, as a book. The
work comes out in (piarto.
Also, to end or come to an issue ; as, how
will this afl'air come out ; he iias come out
well at last.
To come out of, to issue forth, as from
confinement, or a close place ; to proceed
or depart from.
Also, to issue from, as descendants,
Kings shall come out of thee. Gen. xv
To come out with, to give publicity to; to
lisclose. Boijle.
To come short, to fail; not to accomplish.
All have sinned and come short of the glory
God. Rom. iii.
To come to, to consent or yield. Swift.
Also, to amount to ; as, the taxes co?nf
to a large sum.
Also, to recover, as from a swoon.
To come together, to meet or as.semble.
To come to pass, to be ; to happen ;
fall out ; to be effected. The phrase
much used in the common version of the
scriptures, but is seldom found in modern
English writings.
Tu come up, to ascend ; to rise.
Also, to spring ; to shoot or rise above
the earth, as a plant. Ba
Also, to come into use, as a fashion.
To come up th^ capstern, in seamanship, is to
turn it the contrary way, so as to slacken
the rope about it.
To come up the tackle fall, is to slacken it
gently.
To come up to, to approach near.
Also, to amount to.
Also, to advance to ; to rise to.
To come up with, to overtake, in following
or pursuit.
To come upon, to fall on ; to attack or in
\iu\e.
To come, in futurity ; to happen hereaf-
ter. In times to come. Success is yet to
Take a lease for years to come. Loche.
Come is an intransitive verb, but the partici-
)(le come is much used with the .substan
tive verb, in the pas.sive form. "The end
of all flesh is come." I am come, thou
art come, he is come, we are come, &c.
This use of the substantive verb, for have.
is perhaps too well established to be reject
cd ; but have or ha^ should he used in such
phrases. In the phrase, '■^come Friday
come Candleinas," there is an elliiisis of
certain words, as when Fridai/ shall come.
Come, come, the repetition of come, ex-
presses haste, or exhortation to hasten.
Sometimes it introduces a threat.
€OME, n. A sprout. [Ml used.]
Moiilmer.
eOME-OFF, n. Means of escape ; cvasioa;
do not want tliis come-off.
Grellman, 172,
€OME'DIAN, Ti. [Sec Comedy.] An actor
or player in comedy ; or a player in gen-
eral, male or female. Camden.
2. A writer of comedy. Peacham.
COM'EDY, n. [L. comadia; Gr. *u;««8ia.
Qu. from xu/m;, a village, and wSij, or rath-
er atibu, to shig, and denoting that the
comedian was a strolling singer ; or
whether the first syllable is from xujuos, a
merry feast, whence comic, comical, the lat-
ter indicating that the comedian was
characterized by buffoonery. The latter
coincides in elements with the English
game.]
A dramatic composition intended to repre-
sent human characters, which arc to bo
imitated in language, dress and manner,
by actors on a stage, for the amuse-
ment of spectators. The object of come-
dy is said to be to reconmiend virtue and
make vice ridiculous ; but the real effect
is amusement.
eOMELILY, adv. cum'lily. In a suitable or
decent manner. [Littleu^ed.] Sherwood.
COMELINESS, n. cum'liness. [See Come-
ly.] That which is becoming, fit or suita-
ble, in form or manner. Comeliness of
person impUes symmetry or due propor-
tion of parts; comeliness of manner im-
plies deconiin and propriety. " It signi-
fies something less forcible than beauty,
less elegant than g)-ace, and less light than
prettiness." Johnson.
A careless comeliness with comely care.
Sidney.
He hath no form nor comeliness. Is. liii. 2.
eOMELY, a. cum'hj. [from come. The
sense of suitableness is often fiom meet-
ing, coming together, whence adjusting,
putting in order. So m Latin, conveniens,
from cojitienio.]
Properly, becoming ; suitable : whence, hand-
some ; graceful. Jlpptied to person or form,
it denotes symmetry or due proportion,
but it expresses less than beautiful or ele-
gant.
I have seen a son ol Jesse — a comely person.
I will not conceal his comely proportion.
Job xli.
3. Decent ; suitable ; proper ; becoming ;
suited to time, place, circumstances Or per-
sons.
Praise is comely for the upright. Ps. xxxiii.
Is it comely that a woman pray to God un-
covered ? 1 Cor. xi.
O what a world is this, when what is cfimely
Envenoms him that bears it. Shale.
COMELY, adv.cum'ly. Handsomely; grace-
fully. Ascham.
COMER, )!. One that comes ; one who aj)-
proaches ; one who has arrived and is
present.
COMESSA'TION, )). [L. comessalio.]
Feasting or reveling. /?«//.
COMESTIBLE, o. [Fr.] Eatable. [Ao£
used.] Wotton.
COMET, n. [l..cometa; Gr. xofirjtfjf ; from
xofir;, coma, hair ; a hairy star.]
An opake, spherical, solid body, like a planet,
but accompanied with a train of light, per-
forming revolutions about the sim, in an
elliptical orbit, having the sun in one of its
COM
foci. In its approach to its pcriiiclion, if
becomes visible, and niter passing its peri-
helion, it departs into remote regions and
disappears. In popular language, comets
are tailed, bearded or hmiy, but tlicse terms
are taken from the appearance of the light
which attends them, which, in diflerent
positions with respect to the sun, exhibits
the form of a tail or train, a beard, or a
border of hair. When the comet is west-
ward of the sun and rises or sets before it,
the light appears in the morning like a
train beginning at the body of the comet
and extending westward and diverging in
proportion to its extent. Thus the comet
of 1769, [which I saw,] when it rose in the
morning, presented a luminous train that
extended nearly from the horizon to the
meridian. When the comet and the sun
are op|)osite, the earth being between
them, the comet is, to the view, immersed
in its train and the light appears around
its body like a fringe or border of hair.
From the train of a comet, this body has
obtained the popidar name of a blazing star.
Herschel observed several comets, which
appeared to ha\'e no nucleus, but to be
merely collections of vapor condensed
about a center. C'yc.
€OM'ET, 71. A game at cards. Souther'ne.
COMETA'RIUM, ) A machine exhibiting
eOM'ETARY, S a" 'dea of the revolu-
tion of a comet round the sun. Encyc.
€OM'ETARY, o. Pertaining to a comet.
Cheyne.
COMET'le, a. Relating to a comet.
■COM'ET-LIKE, a. Resembling a comet.
Shak.
€OMETOG'RAPIIY, n. [comet and Gr.
ypa4>u, to describe.] A description or trea-
tise of comets.
COM'FIT, \ ^ [D. konfyt ; G. confed ;
COM'FITURE, I "• Dan. co7ifect ; Fr. conft,
confiture ; It. confetlo, confetlura, or con-
fezione ; Sp. confite ; Port, con/eito ; from
the L. confectura, confectus, conjicio, con and
facio, tamake.]
A dry sweet-meat ; any kind of fruit or root
preserved with sugar and dried. Johnson.
eOM'FIT, V. t. To preserve dry with sugar.
Cowley.
eOM'FIT-MAKER, n. One ivho makes or
prepares comfits.
eoM'FORT, t'. t. [Low L. cnnforto ; Fr.
conforter ; Arm. confoiii, or conforta ; It.
confortare ; Sp. and Port, confortar ; Ir.
comh-J'hurtach, comfort, and furtiichd, id.;
furlaighim, to relieve or help ; from the L,
'am and fortis, strong.]
1. To strengthen ; to invigorate ; to cheer oi
enliven.
Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of
men. Bacon.
Com/oi< ye your hearts. Gen.xviii.
2. To strengthen the mind when depressed
or enfeebled ; to console ; to give new vi-
gor to the spirits ; to cheer, orrelieve from
depression, or trouble.
His friends came to moum with liim and to
comfort him. Job ii.
3. In law, to relieve, assist or encourage, as
the accessory to a crime after the fact.
Blackstone.
COMFORT, n. Relief from pain ; ease ;
rest or moderate pleasure after pain, cold
or distress or uneasiness of body. Thei
COM
word signifies properly new strength, or
animation ; and rehef from pain is often the
cftect of strength. In a popular sense, the
word signifies ratlier negatively the ab-
.sence of pain and the consequent quiet,
than positive animation.
2. Relief from distress of mind ; the case
and quiet which is experienced when pain,
trouble, agitation or affliction ceases. It
implies also some degree of positive ani-
mation of the spirits ; or some pleasurea-
ble sensations derived from hope, and
agreeable prospects ; consolation.
Let me alone, that I may take comfort a little.
Job X.
Daughter, be of good comfort ; thy faith hath
made thee whole. Mat. ix.
3. Support ; consolation under calamitj', dis-
tress or danger.
Let thy merciful kindness be for my comfort.
Vs. cxix.
4. That which gives strength or support in
distress, difficulty, danger, or infirmity.
Pious children are the comfort of their aged
parents.
5. In law, support ; assistance ; counte-
nance ; encouragement ; as, an accessorj'
affords aid or comfort to a felon.
6. That which gives security from want and
furnishes moderate enjoyment ; as the
comforts of-life.
eOM'FORTABLE, a. Being in a state of
ease, or moderate enjoyment ; as a per-
son after sickness or pain. Thui is the
most common use of the word in the U. States.
2. Admitting comfort ; that may afford com-
fort.
WTio can promise him a coinforiable appear-
ance before his dreadful judge .' South.
3. Giving comfort ; affording consolation.
The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable. 2 Sam. xiv.
4. Placing above want and affording mode-
rate enjoyment ; as a comfortable provis-
ion for old age.
eOM'FORTABLENESS, n. The state of !
enjoying comfort.
COMFORTABLY, adv. In a manner to
give comfort or consolation.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl.
2. With comfort, or clieerfulness ; without
despair.
Hope comfortably and cheerfully for God's
performance. Hammond.
COM'FORTED, pp. Strengthened ; conso-
led; encouraged.
COM'FORTER, n. One who administers
comfort or consolation ; one who strength-
ens and supports the mind in distress or
danger.
I looked for comforters, but found none. Ps.
Ixix.
Miserable comforters arc ye all. Job xvi.
2. The title of tlie Holy Spirit, whose office
it is to comfort, and sujtport the christian.
But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name — he shall teach
you all things. John xiv.
COM'FORTING, ppr. Giving strength or
spirits ; giving ease ; cheering ; encoura-
ging; consolinff.
COM'FORTLESS, a. Without comfort ;
without any thing to alleviate misfortune,
or distress.
I will not leave you comfortless. John xiv.
COM'FORTRESS, ji. A female that affords
li comfort.
COM
COM'FREY, I [Qu. L. conjirmo, equiva,
COM'FRY, S "• lent to consolida.] A genus
j of plants, the Symphytum.
COM'IC, a. [L. comicus ; Gr. xaittxoi. Sec
Comedy.]
1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tra-
I gedy. ffaller.
,2. Raising mirth ; fitted to excite merriment.
Shak.
COM'ICAL, a. Relating to comedy ; comic.
i ^ Gau.
2. Exciting mirth ; diverting ; .sportive ; droll.
j Addison.
I We say, a buflToon is a comical fellow, or
I his story or his manners are comic.
€OM'l€ALLY, adv. In a manner befitting
I comedy.
2. In a comical manner; in a manner to
! raise mirth.
€OM'l€ALNESS, n. The quality of being
comical ; the power or quality of raising
mirth. Johnson.
COM'ING, ppr. [See Come.] Drawing nearer
or nigh ; approacliing ; moving towards ;
advancing.
2. a. Future ; yet to come ; as, in coming
ages.
3. Forward ; ready to come.
How coming to the poet every muse.
[The loiter sense is now unusual.]
Pope
eOM'ING, n. The act of coming; approach.
2. The state of being come; arrival.
The Lord hath blessed thee since my coming.
Gen. XXX.
€OM'ING-IN, n. Entrance.
I know thy going-out and thy coming-in.
2 Kings xi.\.
2. Beginning ; commencement ; as the com-
I mg--tn of the year. 2 Kings xiii.
3. Income; revenue. [JVot now used.]
I Shak.
4. Compliance ; submission. [J^ot in use,]
Massingcr.
€OMI"TIAL, a. [L. comitia, an assembly
of the Romans ; probably formed from
cum and eo, Ir. coimh, W. cym or cyv.]
1. Relating to the comitia or popular assem-
blies of the Romans, for electing officers
and passing laws. Middleton.
2. Relating to an order of presbyterian as-
semblies. Bp. Bancroft.
COMTTY, n. [L. comitas, from comes, mild,
affable ; Ir. caomh.]
Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy ;
civility ; good breeding. Wellbred peo-
ple are characterized by comity of man-
ners.
€OM'MA. n. [Gr. xoft/ia, a segment, from
*o«ruj, to cut off.]
1. In uriting and printing, this point [ , ] de-
noting the shortest pause in reading, and
separatuig a sentence into divisions or
members, according to the construction.
Thus, " There is not a just man upon
eartli, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
" Virtue, wit, knowledge, are excellent
accomplishments." " Live soberly, right-
eously, and piously, in the present world."
2. In music, an enharmonic interval, being
the eighth part of a tone, or the difference
between a major and a minor semitone ;
a term used in theoretic music to show
the exact proportions between concords.
Encyc. Harris.
COM
COM
C O M
3, Distinction. L. Addison
COMM'AND, V. I. [It. comandare ; Sp.
mandar, mandar ; Arm. coumandi ; Fr.
commander ; con, or com, and L. mando, to
command, to commit to, Basque nanatu ;
literally, to send to, to send forth, from the
same root as commend, demand, and L,
moneo. See Class Mn.]
1. To bid ; to order ; to direct ; to charge
implying authority, and power to control,
and to require obedience.
We will sacrifice to the Lord our God, as li
shall command us. Ex. viii.
I know that he [Abraham] will command
his children and his household after him, ant
tlicy shall keep the way of the Lord. Gen
xviii.
2. To govern, lead or direct ; to have or to
exercise supreme authority over.
Lord Wellington commanded an army
Spain ; he commanded the army at the battle
of Waterloo.
3. To have in jiower ; to be able to
power or autiiority over ; as, a military post
commands the surrounding country ; a fort
commands the harbor.
5. To overlook, or have in the power of the
eye, without obstruction.
One side commands a view of the finest
garden in the world. Addison
5. ^Fo direct ; to send.
The Lord shall command the blessing oi
thee. Deut. xxviii.
The Lord will command his loving kindness
Ps. xlu.
C. To have or to exercise a controlling influ-
ence over.
A good magistrate commands the respect and
affections of the people.
eOMM^AND, D. i. To have or to exercise
supreme authority ; to possess the chie
power ; to govern ; as, the general fcom
mands with dignity and humanity. Wliat
general commands in Canada ?
eOMM'AJVD, n. The right or power of
governing with chief or exclusive author
ity ; supreme power ; control ; as, an offi
cer has a brigade under liis command
he takes command of the army in France ;
an appropriate military term.
2. The power of controlling ; governing in-
fluence; sway.
He assumed an absolute command over his
readers. Bryden.
3. Cogent or absolute authority.
Command and force may often create, but
can never cure, an aversion. Locke.
4. The act of commanding ; the mandate
uttered ; order given.
The captain gives command. Dryden.
5. The power of overlooldng, or surveying,
without obstruction.
The stcepy strand.
Which overlooks the vale with wide com-
mand. Dryden.
6. The power of governing or controlling by
force, or of defending and protecting.
Tlie fortress has complete command of tlie
port.
7. That which is commanded ; control ; as
a body of troops under command.
Marshall.
€OMM>ANDABLE, a. That may be com-
manded.
■eOMMANDANT', n. [Fr.] A commander;
a commanding officer of a place or of a
body of forces. Smollett.
j€OMlVrANDATORY, a. Having the force
I of a command.
iCOMM>ANDED, pp. Ordered; directed;
I governed ; controlled.
iCOMM'ANDER, n. A chief; one who has
supreme authority ; a leader ; the chief
officer of an army, or of any division of it,
j The term may also be applied to the ad
[ miral of a fleet, or of a squadron, or tc
I any supreme officer ; as the commander of
I the land or of the naval force ; the com
1 mander of a ship.
2. One on whom is bestowed a benefice o
j command ry.
,3. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used
I in paving, &c. [This gives us the primary
sense of L. mando, to send, to drive.]
|4. An instrument of siu-gery. IViseman.
eOMarANDERY, ^ [Fr. commanderie.]
€OMM>ANDRY, \ "• A kind of benefice
or fixed revenue, belonging to a military
order, conferred on knights of merit.
There are strict and regular commandries,
obtained by merit, or in order ; and others
are of grace and favor, bestowed by the
Grand Master. There are also command-
ries for the rehgious, in the orders of St,
JJernard and St. Anthony. Encyc.
€OMM>ANDING, ppr. Bidding ; ordering ;
directing with authority ; governing ;
bearing rule ; exercising supreme author-
ity ; having in power ; overlooking with
out obstruction.
3. a. Controlling by influence, authority, or
dignity ; as a man of commanding man
ners ; a commanding eloquence.
COMMANDINGLY, adv. In a command
ing maimer.
COMM>ANDMENT, »i. A command ; i
mandate ; an order or injunction given by
authority ; charge ; precept.
Why do ye transgress the commandment of
God. Math. xv.
This is the first and great commandment.
Math. xxii.
A new commandment I give to you, that ye
love one another. John xiii.
2. By way of eminence, a precept of the
decalogue, or moral law, written on tables
of stone, at Mount Sinai; one of the ten
commandments. Ex. xxxiv.
3. Authority; coercive power. Shah.
COMM^ANDRESS, n. A woman invested
with supreme authority. Hooker.
COM'MARK, n. [Fr. comarque; Sp. co-
marca.l The frontier of a country.
Shelton.
€OMMATE'RIAL, a. [con and material]
Consisting of the same matter with an-
other thing. Bacon.
€OMMATERIAL'ITY, n. Participation of
the same matter. Johnson.
eOM'MATISM, n. [from comma.] Brief-
ness ; conciseness in writing.
Bp. Horsley.
€OMMEAS'URABLE, a. [See Measure.]
Reducible to the same measure. Bin
commensurable is generally used.
€OM'MELINE, n. A genus of herbaceous
plants, Commelina, natives of warm cli-j
mates. This name was given to this ge-i
nus by Linne, in honor of the Commelins,!
distinguished botanists of Holland. These
plants have flowers with three petals, two
large and one small ; the large petals rep-
resenting John and Gaspard Commelin,|
who published catalogues of plants ; the
smaller petal representing another of the
name who pubhshed nothing.
Gloss, de Botanique, De Theis.
€OMMEM'ORABLE, a. Memorable ; wor-
thy to be remembered, or noticed with
honor. [See Memorable.]
COMMEMORATE, v. t. [L. commemoro ;
con and metnoro, to mention. See Mem-
ory.]
To call to remembrance by a solemn act ;
to celebrate with honor and solemnity ; to
honor, as a person or event, by some act of
respect or afteiction, intended to preserve
the remembrance of that person or event.
The Lord's supper is designed to commemo-
rate the suflerings and dying love of our Savior.
€OMMEM'ORATED,jb;). Called to remem-
brance by some act of solemnity.
€0MMEM'0RATING, ppr. Celebrating
with honor by some solemn act.
eOMMEMORA'TION, n. The act of call-
ing to remembrance, by some solemnity ;
the act of honoring the memory of some
person or event, by solemn celebration.
The feast of shells at Plymouth in Massa-
chusetts is an annual commemoration of
the first landing of our ancestors in 1620.
COMMEMORATIVE, a. Tending to pre-
serve the remembrance of something.
Atterbury.
COMMEM'ORATORY, a. Serving to pre-
serve the memory of.
COMMENCE, V. i. commens'. [Fr. commen-
cer ; Port, comecar ; Sp. comenzar ; It. co-
minciare ; Arm. coumanp. Perhaps com
and initio.]
To begin ; to take rise or origin ; to have
first existence ; as, a state of glory to com-
mence after this life ; this empire commen-
ced at a late period.
To begin to be, as in a change of char-
acter.
Let not learning too commence its foe. Pope.
To take a degree or the first degree in a
university or college. Bailey.
COMMENCE, V. t. To begin ; to enter up-
on ; to perforin the first act ; as, to com-
mence operations.
To begin ; to originate ; to bring ; as, to
commence a suit, action or process in law.
COMMEN'CED, pp. Begun ; originated.
COMMENCEMENT, n. commens'ment. Be-
ginning ; rise ; origin ; first existence ; as
t\\B commencement of New Style in 1752 ;
the commencement of hostilities in 1775.
2. The time when students in colleges com-
mence bachelors ; a day in which degrees
are publicly conferred on students who
have finished a collegiate education. In
Cambridge, Eng., the day when masters
of arts and doctors complete their degrees.
ti'orthington.
COJIMEN'CING, ppr. Beginning; enter-
ing on ; originating.
COMMEND', V. t. [L. commendo ; con and
mando ; It. commendare ; Port, encommen-
dar ; Fr. recommander; Sp. comandar, to
command, and formerly to commend. This
is the same word as command, difTerently
applied. The primary sense is, to send to
or throw ; hence, to charge, bid, desire or '
intreat.]
To represent as worthy of notice, regard,
or kindness ; to speak in favor of; to re-
commend.
COM
COM
COM
I cc^mmeTul to you Phebe our sister. Rom.
xvi.
3. To commit ; to entrust or give in charge.
Father, iato thy hands I commend my spirit.
Luke xxiii.
3. To praise ; to mention with approbation.
Tlie princes commended Sarai before Pha-
raoh. The Lord commended the unjust stew-
ard. Bible.
4. To make acceptable or more acceptable.
But meat commendeth us not to God. 1 Cor.
5. To produce or present to favorable no-
tice.
The choru-i had an occasion of commending
their voices to the king. Dryden.
6. To send or bear to.
These draw the chariot which Latinus 8en<l9,
And tlic ricli present to the prince commends.
Dryden.
COMMEND', n. Commendation. '[JSTot
used.] Shak.
eOMMEND'ABLE, a. [Fr. recommandable ;
It. eommendabile. Formerly accented im-
properly on the first sjllable.]
Tliat may be commended or praised ; wor-
thy of approbation or praise ; laudable.
Order and decent ceremonies in tlie church
are commendable. Bacon.
€OMMEND'ABLENESS, n. State of be-
ing commendable.
COMMEND' ABLY, adv. Laudably ; in a
praise-worthy manner.
COMMEND'AM, n. In ecclesiastical law, in
England, a benefice or living commended,
by the king or head of the church, to the
care of a clerk, to hold till a proper pas-
tor is provided. This may be temporary
or perpetual. Blackstone.
The trustor administration of the revenues
of a benefice given to a layman, to liolcfas
a deposit for six months in order to re-
pairs, &c., or to an ecclesiastic, to per-
form the pastoral duties, till the benefice
is provided with a regul ar incumbent.
Encyc.
COMMEND' AT.\IIY, n. [Fr. commenda-
taire ; It. commendatario, commendatore.]
One who holds a living in commendam.
COMMENDA'TION, n. [L. commendatio.]
The act of commending; praise; favora-
ble representation in words ; declaration
of esteem.
Need we, as some others, letters of comtnen-
datian. 2 Cor. xx\i.
2. Ground of esteem, approbation or praise ;
that which presents a person or thing to
another in a favorable light, and renders
worthy of regard, or acceptance.
Good-nature is tlie most godlike commenda-
tion of a man. Dryden.
8. Service ; respects ; message of love.
Shak.
COMMEND'ATORY, a. Which serves to
commend ; presenting to favorable notice
or recejjtion ; containing praise ; as a
commendatory letter. Bacon. Pope.
2. Holding a benefice in commendam ; as a
commendatort/ bishop.
COMMEND'ATORY, n. A commenda-
tion; eiilogv. South.
COMMEND'ED, pp. Praised ; represented
favorably ; committed in eliarge.
COMMEND'ER, n. One who commends
or jjraiscs.
COMMEND'ING, ppr. Praising ; represent
irig favorably ; committing, or delivering
■11 charge.
Vol. I.
Note. In imitation of the French, we arc ac-
customed to use recommendation, &.C., for
commendation. But in most instances, it is
better to use the word without the prefix re.
A letter of commendation, is the preferable
phrase.
COMMENS'AL, n. [L. con and mensa, ta-
ble.] One that eats at the same table. Obs.
Cliaucer.
COMftlENSAL'ITY, n. [Sp. conmensalia;
L. commensalis ; con and mensa, a table.] j
Fellowship at table ; the act or practice of
eating at the same table. [Little used.]
Brown. Gillies.
COMMENSURABIL'ITY, > [Fr. com-
COMMEN'SURABLENESS, ^ "• mensura-
bilite.] The capacity of being compared
with another in measure, or of being
measured by another, or of having a com-
mon measure. Brown. Hale.
COMMENSURABLE, a. [Fr. fi-om con
and L. meiisura, measure. See Measure.]
That have a comtnon measure ; reducible to
a common measure. Thus a yard and a
foot are commensurable, as both may be
measured by inches. Commensurable
numbers are those which may be measur-
ed or divided by another number without
a remainder ; as 12 and 18 which may be
measured by C and 3.
Commensurable surds are those which, being
reduced to their least terms, becottie true
figurative quantities of their kind ; and arc
therefore as a rational quantity to a ra-
tional one. Encyc.
COMMEN'SURATE, a. [It. commensurare ;
Sp. conmensurar, whence conmensurali-
vo ; con and L. mensura, measure.]
1. Reducible to one and the same common
measure.
3. Equal; proportional; having equal meas-
ure or extent.
We find nothing in this life commensurate to
our desires.
COMMEN'SURATE, v.t. To reduce to a
common measure.
COMMEN'SURATELY, adv. With the
capacity of measuring or being mea.sured
by some other thing. Holder.
2. With equal measure or extent.
COMMENSURA'TION, n. Proportion, or
in-oportion in measure; a state of having
a common measure.
All fitness lies in a particular commensuration,
or proportion, of one thing to another. South.
COM'MENT, V. 1. [L. commentor, to cast
in the mind, to think, to devise, to com-
pose ; from con and mens, mind, or the
same root. It. comentare ; Fr. commenter ;
Sp. C07nentar ; Fort, commentar. See
Mind.]
1. To write notes on the works of an au-
thor, with a view to illustrate his meaning,
or to explain particular passages ; to ex-
plain ; to expound ; to annotate ; followed
by on. We say, to comment on an author
or on his writings. Diyden. Pope.
2. To make verbal remarks, or observations,
either on a book, or writing, or on actions,]
events, or opinions. Sliak.
COM'MENT, V. t. To explain. Fuller.
2. To li^ign ; to devise. Obs. Spenser.
COM'MENT, n. A note, intended to illus-
trate a writing, or a diflicult passage in an
author ; annotation ; explanation ; exposi-
tion ; as the comments of Scott on the
Scriptures.
42
: meet
J bear its cotn.
ShttI:.
2. That which explains or il'ustrates ; a.s, a
man's conduct is the best comment on his
declarations. Poverty and disgi-ace are
very .significant comments on lewdness,
gambling and dissipation.
3. Remark ; observation.
In such a time as this, it is i
That every nice offense she
COM'MENTARY, n. A comment ; expo-
sition ; ex|)lanation ; illustration of diffi-
cult and obscure passages in an author.
2. A book of comments or annotations.
3. A historical narrative ; a memoir of partic-
ular transactions ; as the commentaries of
Cesar.
COM'MENTARY, v.t. To write notes up-
on. [lAtlle used.]
COM'MENTATOR, n. One who com-
ments ; one who writes annotations ; an
expositor; an annotator. [The accent on
the first syllable and that on the third are
nearly equal.]
COIMM ENTER, n. One that writes com-
iiH-iits : an annotator.
•>. Our uliH makes remarks.
COMMENTING, ppr. Making notes or
comments on something said or written.
COMMENTI"TIOUS, a. [L. commentUius.]
Invented; feigned; imaginary. Glanville.
COM'MERCE, n. [Fr. commerce; L. com-
mercium ; con and mercor, to buy ; merr,
mereo. See Class Mr. No. 3. It. comm^r-
cio ; Sp. eomercio ; Port, commercio. For-
merly accented on the second syllable.]
1. In a general sense, an interchange or mu-
tual change of goods, wares, productions,
or property of any kind, between nations
or individuals, either by barter, or by pur-
chase and sale ; trade ; traffick. Com-
merce is foreign or inland. Foreign com-
merce is the trade which one nation car-
ries on with another ; inland commerce, or
inland trade, is the trade in the exchange
of commodities between citizens of the
same nation or state. Active commerce.
[See Active.]
2. Intercourse between individuals; inter-
change of work, business, civilities or
amusements ; mutual dealings in common
life.
3. Familiar intercourse between the sexes.
4. Interchange ; reciprocal communications ;
as, there is a vast commerce of ideas.
D. Webster.
COM'MERCE, V. i. To UaiBck ; to carry on
trade. Raleigh.
2. To hold intercourse with.
. And looks commercing with the skies.
MUton.
COMMERCIAL, a. Pertaining to com-
merce or trade ; as commercial concerns ;
commercial relations.
2. Carrying on commerce ; as a commercial
3. Proceeding fi-om trade ; as commercial
benefits or profits.
COMMERCIALLY, adv. In a commercial
view. Burke.
COM MIGRATE, v.i. [L. commigro ; con
and migro, to migrate.]
To migrate together; to move in a body
from one country or place to another for
permanent residence. [Little used.]
COMMIGRA'TION, n. The moving of a
body of people from one country or place
COM
C O M
COM
to another with a view to pemianent res-
idonre. H'oodioard.
€OMMINA'TION, n. [L. comminatio ;
anil viinatio, a threatening, from minor, to
threaten. See Menace.]
1. A threat or tlireatening ; a denunciation of
punisliinent or vengeance.
2. The recital of God's threatenings on sta-
ted days; an office in the Liturgy of th«
Church of England, appointed to be read
on Ash Wednesday or on the first day of
Lent. Encyc.
COMMIN'ATORY, a. Threatening ; de-
nouncing punishment. B. Jonson.
COMMIN'GLE, v. t. [con and mingle.] To
mix together ; to mingle in one mass, oi
intimately ; to blend. [See Mingle.]
Shak
COMMIN'GLE, V. i. To mix or unite to-
gether, as different substances. Bacon.
€OMMlN'UATE, v. t. To grind. [JVot used.]
[See Comminute.]
COJ
)MMIN'UIBLE, a. Reducible to' pow-
der. Brown
eOM'MlNUTE, V. t. [L. comminuo ; con and
ininuo, to lessen, from the root of minor j
Ir. mion, min, fine, small, tender; W. main
Mn. No. 5.^
To make small or fine ; to reduce to
particles, or to a fine powder, by breaking,
pounding, rasping, or grinding ; to pulver-
ize ; to triturate ; to levigate. It is chiefly
or wholly applied to substances, not liquii"
Bacor,
COM'MINUTED, pp. Reduced to fine pat
tides ; pulverized ; triturated.
€OM'MINUTING, ppr. Reducing to fin
particles ; pulverizing ; levigating.
COMMINU'TION, n. The act of reducing
to a fine powder or to small particles ; pul-
verization. R"y- Beniley.
.9. Attenuation ; as comminniion ol" spirits.
Bacon.
■COMMIS'ERABLE, a. [See Commiserate.
Deserving of commiseration or pity ; piti
able : that may excite sympathy or soi-
This eomtniserable person, Edward.
[Little tised.] Baco/i.
COMMIS'ERATE, v. t. [L. commiseror; con
and miscreor, to pity. See Miserable.]
1. To pity ; to compassionate; to feel sor-
row, pain or regret for another in distress ;
applied to persons.
We sliould commiserate those vvlio groan be-
neath the weight of age, disease or want.
Denham
2. To regret ; to pity ; to be sorry fiir ; as.
to commiserate our mutual ignorance.
Locke.
C0MMIS'ERATED,7)/J. Pitied.
COMMIS'ERATING, ppr. Pitying ; com
passionating ; feeling sorrow for.
€OMMISERA'TION, n. Pity ; compas
sion ; a sympathetic suffering of pain or
sorrow for the wants, afflictions or
1 of another.
eOMMIS'ERATIVELY, adv. From com-
passion. Overbury.
COMMIS'ERATOR, n. One who pities.
Brown.
€OMMISSA'RIAL, a. [See Commissary.]
Pertaining to a commissary.
Smollett uses commissorial ; but this is
not regular nor authorized.
eOMMISSA'RIATE, n. [Sp. comisariato.
See Commissary.]
The office or etnployment of a commissary ;
or the wliole body of officers in the coni-
missarv's department.
Tooke, Buss. i. 575.
eOM'MISSARY, n. [Fr. commissaire ; It.
and Port, commissario ; Sp. comisario ; Low
L. commissaiius ; from commissus, com-
mitto ; con and mitto, to send.]
1. In a general sense, a commissioner ; one
to whom is committed some charge, duty
or oflice, by a superior power ; one wl
is sent or delegated to execute some office
or duty, in the place, or as the representa
live, of his superior.
2. In ecclesiastical law, an officer of the bish
0|), who exercises spiritual jurisdiction it
places of the diocese, so far distant from
the episcopal see, that the chancellor can
not call the people to the bishop's princi
pal consistory court, without putting them
to inconvenience. -^yliffe. Encyc.
In a military sense, an officer who has the
charge of furnishing provisions, clothing,
&c., for an army. Commissaries are dis-
tinguished by different names, according
to their duties ; as commissary-general,who
is at the head of the department of sup
plies, and has under him deputy commis-
saries, and issuing commissaries ; the latter
to issue or distribute the supplies.
4. An officer who musters the army, re-
ceives and inspects the muster-rolls, and
keeps an account of the strength of the
army. He is called, the commissary-gene-
ral of musters. The commissary of horses
has the inspection of the artillery horses ;
and the commissa)y of stores lias charge of
all tlie stores of the artillery. Encyc.
COM'MISSARYSHIP, n. The office of a
commissary. Ayliffe.
COMMIS'SION, n. [Fr. covimission ; It.
commisione ; Sp. comision ; L. commissio,
with a different application, from commit-
to ; con and mitto, to send.]
. The act of committing, doing, perform-
ing, or perpetrating ; as the commissiun of
a crime.
2. The act of committhig or sending to ; the
act of entrusting, as a charge or duty.
Hence,
3. The thing committed, entrusted or deliv-
ered ; letters patent, or any writing from
proper authority, given to a person as his
warrant for exercising certain powers, or
the performance of any duty, whetlier
civd, ecclesiastical, or military. Hence,
4. Charge ; order ; mandate ; authority
given.
He bore liis great commissio7i in Iiis look.
Dry den.
5. By a metonymy, a number of persons join-
ed in an office or trust.
C). The state of that which is entrusted, as
the great seal was put into commission ; oi
the state of being authorized to act or per-
form service, as a ship is put into com
mission.
7. In commerce, the slate of acting under au
thority in the purchase and sale of goods
To tri ■ - ■ ■
for another.
ratio or do business 07i
commission, is to buy or sell for another
by his authority. Hence,
8. The allowance made to a factor or com-
mission-merchant tor transacting busi-
ness, which is a certain rate per cent, of
the value of the goods bought or sold.
Commission of bankruptcy, is a commission
issuing from the Chancellor in Great Brit-
ain, and in other countries, from some prop-
er authority, appointing and empowering
certain persons to examine into the facts
relative to an alledged bankruptcy, and to
secure the bankrupt's lands and effects
for the creditors.
Commission of lunacy, is a commission issu-
ing frotn the court of chancerj', to author-
ize an inquiry whether a person is a luna-
tic or not.
Commission-officer, in the army or navy, is an
officer who has a commission, in distinc-
tion from subaltern officers.
COMMISSION-MERCHANT, n. A mer-
chant who transacts business as the agent
of other men, in buying and selling, and
receives a rate per cent, as his commis-
sion or reward.
COMMIS'SION, V. t. To give a commission
to ; to empower or authorize by commis-
sion. The president and senate appoint,
but the president commissions.
United Stales.
2. To send with a mandate or authority.
A chosen band
He first commissions to the Latian land.
Dryden
3. To authorize or empower.
Note. Commissionate, in a like sense, ha?
been used, but rarely.
COMMIS'SIONAL, > Appointed by
C03IMIS'SI0NARY, J "• warrant. [Ut-
ile used.]
COMMISSIONED, pp. Furnished with a
commission ; empowered ; authorized.
COMMIS'SIONER, n. A person who has
a commission or warrant from proper au-
thority, to perform some oflice, or execute
some business, for the person or govern-
ment which employs him, and gives him
authority ; as commissionejs for settling
the bounds of a stale, or for adjusting
claims.
COMMIS'SIONING, ppr. Giving a com-
mission to ; furnishing with a warrant ;
empowering by letters patent or other
writing ; authorizing.
COM'MISSURE,_ 71. [L. commissura, from
committo, commissus ; literally, a sending
or thrusting together.]
1. A joint, seam or closure ; the place where
two bodies or parts of a body meet and
unite ; an interstice or cleft between par-
ticles or parts, as between plates or la-
niellsB.
2. In architecture, the joint of two stones, or
application of the surface of one to that of
another. Encyc.
•3. In anatomy, a suture of the cranium or
skull ; articidation ; tlie corners of the lips.
Also, certain parts in the ventricles of the
brain, uniting the two hemispheres.
Coxe.
COMMIT', V. t. [L. committo, to send to, or
thrust together ; eon and mitto, to send ;
Fr. mettre, to put, set or lay ; commettre, to
cotnmit ; It. mettere, commettere ; Sp. meter,
cometer ; Port, meter, cometer.]
C O M
COM
C O M
Literally, to send to or upon ; to throw, put
or lay upon. Hence,
1. To give in trust ; to put into tlie bands or
power of another; to entrust; vvitli <o.
Commit thy way to the Lord. Ps. xxxvii.
The thing.s thou hast heard of me, commit to
faithful men. 2 Tim. ii.
2. To put into any place for preservation ;
to deposit ; as, to commit a passage in a
book to memory ; to commit the body to
the grave.
3. To put or send to, for confinement; as, to
commit an offender to prison. Hence for
the sake of brevity, commit is used for im-
prison. The sheriff has committed the of-
fender.
These two were committed, at least restrain-
ed of their liberty. Clarendon.
4. To do ; to effect or perpetrate ; as, to
commit murder, treason, felony, or tres-
pass.
Thou slialt not commit adultery. Ex. xx.
5. To join or put together, for a contest ; to
match ; followed by with ; a latinism.
How does Philopolis commit the opponent
with the respondent. [Little used.] More.
6. To place in a state of hostility or incon-
gruity. " Committing short and long
words." But this seems to be the same
signification as the foregoing.
7. To expose or endanger by a preliminary
step or decision whicli cannot be recalled ;
as, to commit the peace of a country by
pousing the cause of a belhgerent.
You might have satisfied every duty of polit-
ical friendship without committing the honor of
your sovereign. Junius.
8. To engage ; to pledge ; or to pledge by
imphcation.
The general — addressed letters to Gen. Gates
and to Gen. Heath, cautioning them against any
sudden assent to the proposal, which might pos-
sibly be considered as committing the faith of
the United States. Marshall.
And with the reciprocal pronoun, to
commit one's self, is to do some act, or make
some declaration, which may bind the
person in honor, good faith, or consisten-
cy, to pursue a certain course of conduct,
or to adhere to the tenor of that declara
9. To reter or entrust to a committee, or se-
lect number of persons, for their conside-
ration and report; a term of legislation ;
as, the petition or the bill is committed.
Is it the pleasure of the house to commit
the bill ?
•COMMITMENT, n. The act of committing ;
a sending to prison ; a putting into prison
imprisonment. It is equivalent to sending
or putting in simply ; as a commitment to
the tower, or to Newgate ; or for the sake
of brevity, omitting the name of the place,
it is equivalent to putting into prison .
the offender is secured by commitment.
•2. An order for confining in prison. But
more generally we use mittimus.
3. The act of referring or entrusting to e
committee for consideration ; a term in le
gislation ; as the commitment of a petition
or a bill to a select number of persons for
consideration and report.
4. The act of deUvering in charge or en
trusting.
5. A doing, or perpetration, as of sin or a
crime ; commission. Clarendon.
6 Tho act of pledging or engaging ; or the
act of exposing or endangering. [See the
Verb, No. 7 and 8.] Hamilton.
€OMMIT'TED, pp. Dehvered in trust ; giv-
en in charge ; deposited ; imprisoned ;
done ; perpetrated ; engaged ; exposed ;
referred to a committee.
eOMMIT'TEE, n. One or more persons
elected or appointed, to whom any mattei
or business is referred, either by a legisla-
tive body or either branch of it, or by a
court, or by any corporation, or by any
society, or collective body of men acting
together. In legislative bodies, a house
or branch of that body may resolve or
form itself into a committee, called a
committee of the whole house, when the
speaker leaves the chair, and one of the
members acts as chairman. Standing
committees are such as continue during
the e.xistence of the legislature, and to
these are committed all matters that fall
within the purposes of their appointment;
as the committee of elections, or of privile-
ges, &c. Special committees are appointed
to consider and report on particular sub-
jects.
COMMIT TEESHIP, n. The office and
cilil iir.-diMiiiitlees. Milton.
COMMIT 'I'l;!!, n. One who commits; one
liu (liifs (.1- pii|)etrates. South.
COMiMlT TIBLE, a. That may beconunit-
il. [Little used.] Brown.
COMMn"TING,;?pr. Giving in trust; de-
positing ; imprisoning ; perpetrating ; en-
gaging ; referring to a committee ; expo
sing.
COMMIX', r. t. [L. commiscco, commixtus ;
con and misceo, to mix. See Mix.]
To mi.x or mingle ; to blend ; to mix, as dif-
ferent substances. Bacon. JVcwton.
COMMIX', V. i. To mix ; to mingle. Shak.
COMMIX'ED,p». Mixed; blended.
COMMIX'ING, ppr. Mixing ; blending.
COMMIX'TION, n. Mixture; a blending of
different ingredients in one mass or com-
pound. Brown.
Mi.rioji is used by Shakspeare, but is
hardly legitimate.
eOMJIIX'TURE, 71. The act of mixing
the state of being mingled; the blending
of ingredients in one mass or compound.
Bacon
2. The mass formed by mingling different
things ; composition ; compound.
Bacon. SItak. Jfotton.
3. In Scots law, a method of acquiring prop-
erty, by blending different substances be-
longing to different proprietors. Encyc
COMMODE, n. [Fr. from L. commodus,
convenient ; con or com and modus, man-
ner. See Mode.]
A Icind of head dress formerly worn by la-
dies. Addison.
COIMMO DlOrS, a. [Fr. commode; It. co-
Dihi : S|i. ill. : L. commodus. See Mode.]
Convcniiiit; Miit;d)le; fit; proper; adapted
to its use or purpose, or to wants and i
cessities ; as a commodious house or room.
The haven was not commodious to winter
Acts xxvii. 12.
It is followed by /or before a noun ; as a
place commodious for a camp.
eOMMO'DIOUSLV, adv. Conveniently ; i
a commodious manner ; suitably ; in a
manner to afford ease, or to prevent im
easiness; as a house commodiously situ
3(1 ; we may pass life commodiously with ■
t the restraints of ceremony.
CO.MMO'DIOUSNESS, n. Convenience
fitness ; suitableness for its purpose ; as
the commodiousness of a house or an apart-
ment ; the commodiousness of a situation
for trade.
COMMODITY, n. [L. commoditas; It. co-
modita ; Fr. commodite ; Sp. comodidad ;
Port, commodidade. See Commode.]
1. Primarily, convenience ; profit ; advan-
tage ; interest. " Men seek their own
commoditu." In this sense it was used by
Hooker, Sidney, &c ; but this is nearly or
wholly obsolete.
That which affords ease, convenience or
advantage ; any thing that is useful, but
particularly in commerce, including every
thing movable that is bought and sold,
goods, ware-s, merchandize, produce of
land and manufactures. Unless perhaps
animals may be excepted, the word in-
cludes all the movables which are objects
of commerce.
Commodities arc movables, valuable by mo-
ney, the common measure. Locke.
The principal use of money is to save tlie com-
of more bullcy com»no(/i<ies.
Jlrbuthnol.
Staple commodities are those which are the
produce or manufacture of a countr), and
constitute the principal articles of expor-
tation. Thus flour is the staple commod-
ity of New-York and Pennsylvania ; flour
and tobacco, of Mainland and Virginia ;
cotton and rice, of S. Carolina and Geor-
gia ; cotton and sugar, of Louisiana.
COM MODORE, n. [This word is probably
a corruption of the Italian comandatore, a
commander ; or the Spanish comendador,
a superior of a monastery, or a knight « ho
holds a cominandry.]
The oflicer who commands a squadron or
detachment of ships, destined on a parti-
cular enterprise. In the British marine,
he bears the rank of a brigadier-general
in the array, and his ship is distinguished
by a broad red pendant, tapering to the
outer end, and sometimes forked. Encyc.
2. A title given by courtesy to the senior
captain, when three or more ships of war
are cruising in company. Mar. Did.
3. The convoy or leading ship in a fleet of
merchantmen, which carries a light m her
top to conduct the other ships.
COMMODULA'TION, n. [L. con and mod-
tda'io.] Measure ; agreement. [Little icsed.]
HakexL-iU.
COMMOIGNE, n. [Fr.] A monk of the
same convent. [.Vo< in use.] Selden.
COMMON, a. [L. communis; Fr. commun;
Arm. coumun ; It. comune ; Sp. comun ;
Port, commum; Goth, gamains ; Sax. g-e-
ma:n ; G.gemein; D.gemeen; Sw. gemen;
Dan. gemeen ; Ir. cumann ; Goth, gamana,
a fellow, fellowship. This word may
be composed of cum and nwn, men, the
plural men being equivalent to people
and vulgus. The last syllable is clearly
from the root of many, which seems to be-
long to the root of man, and mean is of the
same family. Hence we see the connec-
tion between common and mean, as vulgar,
from vtilgus, Eng./o/A«.]
1. Belonging equally to more than one, or to
many indefinitely ; as, life aad sense are
C O IM
COM
C O M
common to man and beast; the common
privileges of citizens ; the common wants
of men.
2. Belonging to the public ; having no sepa-
rate owner. The right to a highway is
common.
3. General ; serving for the use of all ; as the
common prayer.
4. Universal; belonging to all ; as, the earth is
said to be the common mother of mankind.
5. Public ; general ; frequent ; as common
report.
C. Usual ; ordinary ; as the commoii opera-
tions of nature ; the common forms of con-
veyance ; the common rules of civility.
7. Of no rank or superior excellence; ordi-
nary. Applied to men, it signifies, not noble,
not distinguished by noble descent, or not
distinguished hy office, character or tal-
ents ; as a common man ; a common sol-
dier. Applied to things, it signifies, not
distinguished by excellence or superiority ;
as a common essay ; a common exertion.
It however is not generally equivalent to
mean, which expresses something lower
in rank or estimation.
8. Prostitute ; lewd ; as a common woman.
'X In grammar, such verbs as signify both
action and passion, are called com7non ; as
aspernor, I despise or am despised ; also,
such nouns as are both masculine and
feminine, as parens.
10. A common bud, in botany, is one that
contains both leaves and flowers ; a covi-
mon peduncle, one that bears several flow-
ers ; a common perianth, one that incloses
several distinct fructifications ; a common
receptacle, one that connects several dis-
tinct fructifications. Martyn.
Common divisor, in mathematics, is a number
or quantity that divides two or more num-
bers or quantities without a remainder.
Common Law, in Great Britain and the Uni-
ted States, the unwritten law, the law that
receives its binding force from innnemo-
rial usage and universal reception, in dis-
tinction from the written or statute law.
That body of rules, principles and cus-
toms which have been received from our
ancestors, and by which courts have I
governed in their judicial decisions. The
evidence of this law is to be found in the
reports of those decisions, and the records
of the courts. Some of these rules may
have originated in edicts or statutes which
are now lost, or in the terms and condi-
tions of particular grants or charters ; but
it is most probable that many of them ori-
ginated in judicial decisions founded on
natural justice and equity, or i>u local cus
toms.
Common pleas, in Great Britain, one of the
king's courts, now held in Westminster
Hall. It consists of a chief justice and
three other justices, and has cognizance
of aU civil causes, real, personal or mixed
as well by original writ, as by removal
from the inferior courts. A writ of error
m the nature of an appeal, lies from this
court to the court of king's bench.
Blcukstone
In some of tlie American states, a court
of common pleas is an inferior court, whose
jurisdiction is limited to a county, and it is
sometimes called a eoimty court. This
court is variously constituted in diflereni
states, and its powers are defined by stat-
utes. It has jurisdiction of civil causes,
and of minor offenses ; but its final juris-
diction is very hraited ; all causes of mag-
nitude being removable to a higher Court
by a])peal or by writ of error.
Common prayer, the liturgy of the Church of
England, which all the clergy of the
Church are enjoined to use, under a pen-
alty. Encyc.
Common recovery, a legal process for recov-
ering an estate or barring entails.
Common time, in music, duple or double time,
when the semibreve is equal to two min-
In common, equally with another, or with
others ; to be equally used or participated
by two or more ; as tenants in common ;
to provide for children in common ; to as-
sign lands to two persons in rommmi, or to
twenty in common ; we enjoy the boun-
ties of providence in common.
eOM'MON, n. A tract of ground, the use
of which is not appropriated to an ind
vidual, but belongs to the public or fo
number. Thus we apply the word to an
open ground or sj)ace in a highway, re
served for public use.
'2. In law, an open ground, or that soil the
use of which belongs equally to the inhab-
itants of a town or of a lordship, or to a
certain number of proprietors ; or the pro-
fit which a man has in the land of anoth-
er; or a right which a person has to pas-
ture his cattle on land of another, or to
dig turf, or catch fish, or cut wood, or the
like; caWed common of pasture, of turbary,
of piscary, and of estovers.
Common, or right of common, is appen-
dant, appurtenant, because of vicinage, or
in gross.
Common appendant is a right belonging
to the owners or occupiers of arable land
to put commonable beasts upon the lord's
waste, and upon the lands of other persons
within the same manor. This is a mat-
ter of most universal right.
Common appurtenant may be annexed to
lands in other lordships, or extend to oth
er beasts, besides those which are gene
rally commonable ; this is not of common
right, but can be claimed only by unme
morial usage and prescription.
Cmnmon because of vicinage or neighbor
hood, is where the inhabitants of two town
ships, lying contiguous to each other, have
usually intercommoned with one another,
the beasts of the one straying into the oth-
er's fields ; this is a permissive right.
Common in gross or at large, is annexed
to a man's person, being granted to him and
his heirs by deed ; or it may be claimed by
prescriptive right, as by a parson of "a
church or other corporation sole.
Btackstone
COM'MON, v.i. To have a joint right will:
others in common ground. Johnson
2. To board together ; to eat at a table ii
common. Encyc.
COM'MON, adv. Commonly. Shak
COMMON-COUNCIL, n. The council of a
city or corporate town, empowered to
make by-laws for the government of the
citizens. The common council of Lon
don consists of two houses ; the upper
house, composed of the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen ; and the lower house, of the
common-council-men, elected by tlie sev-
eral wards. In most of the American
cities, the Mayor, Aldermen and common-
council-men constitute one body, called a
Court of Common-Council.
COMMON-CRIER, n. A crier whose oc-
cupation is to give notice of lost things.
COMMON-HALL, n. A hall or house iu
which citizens meet for business.
COMMON-LAWYER, n. One versed in
Common Law. Spelman.
COM'MONPLACE, n. A memorandum;
a common topic.
COM'MONPLACE, v. t. To enter in a com-
monplace-book, or to reduce to general
heads. Felton.
Commonplace-book, a book in which are
registered such facts, opinions or obser-
vations as are deemed worthy of notice
or remembrance, so disposed that any one
may be easily found. Hence common-
place is used as an epithet to denote what
is common or often repeated, or trite ; as
a commonplace observation.
COMMONABLE, a. Held in common.
Bacon.
2. That may be pastured on common land.
Commonable beasts are either beasts of the
o\v, or such as manure the ground.
Btackstone.
COMMONAGE, n. The right of pasturing
on a common ; the joint right of using any
tiling in connnon with others. Johnson.
COMMONALTY, n. The common people.
In Gi'eat Britain, all classes and conditions
of people, who are below the rank of no-
bility.
The commonalty, like the nobility, are divi-
ded into several degrees. £lackstone.
In the United States, commonalty has no
very definite signification. It is however
used to denote that part of the people who
live by labor, and are not liberally educa-
ted, nor elevated by office or professional
pursuits.
2. The bulk of mankind. Hooker.
eOM'MONEU, n. One of the lower rank,
or common people ; one under the degree
of nobility. Addison.
2. A member of the house of commons.
Sivifl.
3. One who has a joint right in common
ground. Bacon.
4. A student of the second rank in the uni-
versities in England ; one who eats at a
common table. Johnson.
5. A prostitute. Shak.
(3. A partaker. Fuller.
COMMONI"TION, n. [L. commonitio. See
Monition.] Advice ; warning ; instruction.
[Little used.]
COMMON'ITIVE, a. Warning; momtory.
[Little used.]
eOM'MONLY, ade. Usually; generally;
ordinarily ; frequently ; for the most part ;
as, confirmed habits commonly continue
through life.
COM'MONNESS, n. Frequent occurrence ;
a state of being common or usual.
2. Equal participation by two or more. [Lit-
tle used.]
COM'MONS, n. phi. The common people,
who inherit or possess no honors or titles ;
the vulgar. Chaucer. ShaJc. Dryden.
2. In England, the lower house of Parlia-
ment, consisting of the representatives of
C O M
cities, boroughs and counties, cliusen by
men possessed of the property or (|iiuh(i-
cations required by law. Tliis body is
called the House of Commons. The House
of Representatives in North Carolma bears
the same name.
3. Common grounds ; land
used l)y two or more persons in common,
[See Common.]
4. Food provided at a common table, as in
colleges, where many persons eat at the
same table or in the same hall.
Their commons, though but coarse, were
nothing scant. Dryden
Doctors Commons, in London, a college found-
ed by Dr. Harvey, for the professors of the
civil law, where the civilians common to-
gether. The house was consumed in the
great fire in l(HH\ but rebuilt in 1(J7'2. To
this college belong thirty four proctors.
Encyc,
€OM'MONTY, n. In Scots law, land be-
longing to two or more comtnon proprie-
tors ; or a heath or njuir, of which there
has been a promiscuous possession by pas-
turage. Encyc.
COMMONWEAL, ? „ [See JVeal and
COMMONWEALTH', \ "• ff'ealth.]
1. An estabUshed form of government, or
civil polity ; or more generally, a state ;
a body politic, consisting of a certain por-
tion of men united by compact or tacit
agreement, under one form of government
and system of laws. This term is applied
to the government of Great Britain, whicl]
is of a mixed character, and to other gov-
ernments which are considered as free oi
popular, but rarely or improperly, to an
absolute government. A commonwealtli
is properly a free state ; a popular or re-
presentative government ; a republic ; as
the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Tlie
word signifies strictly, the connmon good or
happiness; and hence, the form of govern-
ment supposed best to secure the public
good.
2. The whole body of people in a state ; the
public. Shnk.
.3. The territory of a state ; as, all the land
within the limits of the commonwealth.
Massach usetls.
COMMONWEALTH'S'MAN, n. One yvho]
favors the commonwealth, or a republican]
government.
€OM'MORANCE, } [L. co7nmorans, com-
COM'MORANCY, ^ "' moror ; con and mo-
ror, to stay or delay.]
A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place ;
abode ; Habitation.
Commorancy consists in usually lying there.
Blachstone.
COM'MORANT, a. Dwelling; ordinarily
residing ; inhabiting.
All freeholders within the precinct — and all
persons commorant therein — are obliged to at-
tend the court-leet. Blackstone.
COMMO'RIENT, a. [L. commoriens.] Dy-
ing at the same time.
■eOM'MOTHER, n. A godmother. [Little
used.]
■COMMO'TION, n. [L. commotio, comma
veo ; con and moveo. See Move.]
1. Agitation ; as the commotion of the sea.
8. Tumult of people ; disturbance ; disorder,
which may amount at times to sedition or
insurrection ; as the commotioiis of a state
C O i\I
When ye hear of wai-s and commotions, be
not lerrilied. Luke x.xi.
3. Agitation ; perturbation ; disorder of mind ;
heat ; excitement.
He could not debate without commotion.
Clarendon.
COMMO'TIONER, n. One who excites
commotion. [Little used.] Bacon.
COMM6VE, V. «. [L. comnwveo. SeeJMoue.]
To put in motion ; to disturb ; to agitate ;
to unsettle ; a poetic word. Thomson.
eOMMU'NE, V. i. [Fr. communier ; W.
cymunaw ; Arm. communya. The Welsh
word is by Oweu considered as a com-
pound of CI/, a prefix equivalent to co and
con in Latin, and ymun ; ym, noting iden-
tity, and unaw, to unite. If the word is
formed from cy or cum and unus, it is rad-
ically different from common. But the
Latin communico accords with this word,
and with common.]
1. To converse ; to talk together familiarly
to impart sentiments mutually, in private
or familiar discourse ; followed by tvith be
fore the person.
And there will I meet and commune with
thee. Ex. xxv.
2. To have intercourse in contemplation or
meditation.
Commune with your own heart on your bed
Ps. iv.
3. To partake of the sacrament or Lord':
supper; to receive the communion; i
nmoti use of the word in America, as it it
the Welsh.
COMMU'NE, n. A small territorial district
in France — one of the subordinate divis
ions of the country introduced in the late
revolution.
Communibus annis, one year with another ;
on an average.
Communibus locis, one place with another ;
on a medium.
eOMMUNICABIL'ITY, n. [See Communi-
cate] The quality of being commimica-
ble ; capability of being imparted from
one to another. Johnson.
eOMMU'Nl€ABLE, a. [Fr.]
That may be communicated ; capable of
being imparted from one to another ; as,
knowledge is communicable by words.
Lost bliss, to tliee no more communicable.
MUton.
Eternal life is communicable to all. Hooker.
■2. That may be recounted. Milton.
3. Connnunicative ; ready to impart. [ATot
u.ied.] B. Jonson.
COMMU'NI€ANT, n. One who communes
at the Lord's table ; one who is entitled to
partake of the sacrament, at the celebra-
tion of the Lord's supper.
Hooker. Alterbury.
€OMMU'NIC.\TE, v. t. [L. communico,
from communis, common; It. comunicare ,
Sp. comunicar ; Fr. communiquer.]
1. To impart ; to give to another, as a par-
taker ; to confer lor joint possession ; to
bestow, as that which the receiver is to
hold, retain, use or enjoy ; with to.
Where God is worshiped, there he com
municates his blessings and holy influences.
Taylor
Let him that is taught in the word cotnmu
nicate to him that teacheth in all good things
I Gal. vi.
|2. To impart reciprocally, or mutually ; tc
C O M
have or enjoy a share of; followed by
with.
Common benefits arc to be communicated
with all, but peculiar benefits with choice.
Bacon.
But Diomede desires my company.
And still communicates liis pn>ise with me.
Dryden.
3. To impart, as knowledge ; to reveal; to
give, as information, either by words, signs
or signals ; as, to communicate intelligence,
news, opinions, or facts.
Formerly this verb had unth before the
person receiving ; as, " he communicated
those thoughts only teith the Lord Digby."
Clarendon. But now it has to only.
4. To deliver, as to communicate a message ;
to give, as to communicate motion.
COMMUNICATE, v. i. To partake of the
I Lord's supper. Taylor.
Instead of this, in America, at least in
New England, commune is generally or al-
I ways used.
2. To have a communication or passage
from one to another ; to have the means
of passing from one to another ; as, two
houses communicate with each other ; a
fortress communicates with the country ;
the canals of the body communicate with
each other. Arbuthnof.
3. To have intercourse ; applied to persons.
4. To have, enjoy or suffer reciprocally ; to
have a share with another.
Ye have done well that ye did commu7iicate
with my affliction. Phil. iv.
COMMU'NICATED, pp. Imparted from
one to another ; bestowed ; delivered.
COMMU'NICATING,p;>r. Imparting; giv-
ing or bestowing; delivering.
[2. Partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's
supper.
3. Leading or conducting from place to
place, as a passage ; coimected by a pas-
sage or channel, as two lakes communica-
ting with each other.
4. Having intercourse by words, letters or
messages ; corresponding.
COMMUNICA'TION, n. The act of im-
parting, conferring, or dchvering, from one
to another ; as the communication of knowl-
edge, opinions or facts.
2. Intercourse by words, letters or messa-
ges ; interchange of thoughts or opinions,
by conference or other means.
Abner had coynmunication with the elders of
Israel, saying. Ye sought for David in times
past to be king over you. 2 Sam. iii.
Let your comtnunicatioii be, yea, yea ; nay,
nay. Mat. v.
In 1 Cor. XV. 33, " Evil communications
corrupt good manners," the word may
signify conversation, colloquial discourses,
or customary association and famiharity.
3. Intercourse "; interchange of knowledge ;
correspondence ; good understanding be-
tween men.
Secrets may be carried so far as to stop tho
communication necesisary among all/vho have
tlie management of affairs. Swift.
4. Connecting passage ; means of passing
from place to place ; as a strait or chan-
nel between seas or lakes, a road between
cities or countries, a gallery between
apartments in a house, an avenue be-
tween streets, &c.
Keep open a communkation with the besie:;
ed place.
C O M
COM
C O M
5. That which is communicated or impart
ed.
The house received a communication froii
the Governor, respecting the hospital.
6. In rhetoric, a trope by which a speaker or
writer takes his hearer or speaker as a
partner in his sentiments, and says ive, in-
stead of / or you. Beattie.
COMMU'NICATIVE, a. Inclined to com-
niiuiicate ; ready to impart to others. In
the sense of liberal of benefits, though legit-
imate, it is little u.scd.
2. Disposed to impart or disclose, as knowl-
edge, opinions, or facts ; free to communi-
cate ; not reserved.
We have paid for our want of prudence, and
determine for the future to be less communica-
tive. Swift.
<0MMU'NI€ATIVENESS, n. The quah-
ty of being communicative; readiness tn
impart to others ; freedom from reserve.
JVorris.'
COMMU'NlCATORY.a. Imparting knowl-
edge. Barrow
■eOMMU'NING, ppr. Conversing famihar-
ly; having familiar intercourse.
€OM'MUNING, n. Familiar converse : pri-
vate intercourse. E. T. Fitch
COMMU'NION, n. comviu'nyon. [L. com-
munio ; Fr. communion ; It. comunione .
Sp. comunion; Port, communham. See
Common.1
Fellowship ; intercourse between two per-
sons or more ; interchange of transac-
tions, or offices ; a state of giving and re-
ceiving ; agreement ; concord.
We are naturally led to seek communion and
t'cllowship with others. Hooker.
What communion hath light with darkm
2 Cor. vi.
The communion of the Holy Spirit be with
you all. 2 Cor. xiii.
2. Mutual intercourse or union in religious
worship, or in doctrine and discipline.
The Protestant churches have no communion
with the Romish church.
3. Tlie body of christians who have one
conuiion faitli and discipline. The three
grand communions into whicli tlie chris-
tian church is divided, are tho.se of the
Greek, the Romish and the Protestant
churches.
4. The act of communicating the sacrament
of the eucharist ; the celebration of th
Lord's supper ; the participation of the
blessed sacrament. The fourth council
of Lateran decrees that every believer
sliall receive the communion at least at
Easter. Encyc.
5. Union of professing christians in a partic-
ular church ; as, members in full commun-
Communion-service, in the liturgy of th<
Episcopal church, is tlie office for the ad-
ministration of the holy sacrament.
eOMMU'NITY, n. [L. communitas ; It.
comunita ; Sp. comunidad ; Fr. commu-
naute. See Commoyi.]
1. Properly, common possession or enjoy-
ment ; as a community of goods.
It is a coiitirmation of tlie original community
of all things. Locke.
a. A society of ppo]iln, havinir nnninmn rights
and privileges, (II- roll i n innii-i,, i-i\il,
political or eccli , i.i-ih-.J ; i.i li\,iiu iiinlcr
word may signily a r„Miiiioinv.-r.lth or
state, a body politic, or a particular soci-
ety or order of men within a state, as a
community of monks ; and it is often used
for the public or people in general, with-
out very definite limits.
3. Commonness ; frequency. 06s. Shak.
eOMMUTABIL'ITY, n. [See Comnmte.]
The quality of being capable of being e.\
clianged, or put, one in the place of the
other.
eOMMU'TABLE, a. [L. commutabilis. See
Commnte.]
That may be exchanged, or mutually chan
ged ; that may be given for another. In
philology, that may pass from one into
another ; as, the letter b is commutable with
V ; or in Celtic, h and mh are commutable.
COMMUTA'TION, n. [L. commutatio. See
Commute.]
1. Change ; alteration ; a passing from one
state to another. South
3. Exchange ; the act of giving one thinj
for another ; barter.
The use of money is to save the commuta
lion of more bulky commodities. Jlrbuthnol
3. In Imv, the change of a penalty or punish
ment from a greater to a less ; as banish
nient instead of death.
Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts foi
money agreed to be given as a commutation for
penance. Blackstone.
eOMMU'TATIVE, a. [Fr. commutatif; It.
commutafivo. See Comviute.]
Relative to exchange ; interchangeable ; mu
tually passing from one to another ; as
commutative justice, justice which is mu-
tually done and received, between men ir
society.
To cultivate an habitual regard to commuta-
tive \i\f lice. Burke
eOMMU'TATIVELY, adv. By way of re-
ciprocal exchange. Brown
€OMMU'TE, V. t. [L. commulo ; con and
muto, to change. See Mutable and Muta
Hon.]
1. To exchange ; to put one thing in the
place of another ; to give or receive one
thing for another ; as, to commute our la
bors ; to commute pain for pleasure.
2. In lata, to exchange one penalty or pun-
ishment for another of less severity; as, to
commute death for transportation.
€OMMU'TE, v.i. To atone; to compen
sate ; to stand in the place of; as, one pen
altv commutes for another.
COMMU'TUAL, a. [con and mutual] Mu
tual ; reciprocal ; used in poetry.
There, with commutual zeal, we both had
strove
In acts of dear benevolence and love. Pojie.
€OMPA€T', a. [L. compactus, compingo ;
con and pango, pactus, to thrust, drive, fix,
make fast or close ; antiq. pago, paco ; Gr.
7tr,yivu. See Pcxk] Literally, driven,
thrust or pressed together. Hence,
1. Closely and firmly united, as the particles
of solid bodies; firm; close; solid; dense.
Stone, iron and wood are compact bodies.
A compact leaf, in botany, is one having tlie
pulp of a close firm texture.
!. Composed ; consisting.
A wandering tire,
Compact of unctuous vapor. Milton. Shak.
This sense is not common. [See the
Verb.] Compact seems to be used for com-
pacted. So in the following example.
3. Joined ; held together. [Little used.]
A pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax te-
gether. Peacham.
4. Brief; close ; pithy ; not diffuse ; not ver-
bose ; as a compact discourse.
€OM'PA€T, n. [L. compactum.] An agree-
ment ; a contract between parties ; a word
that may be appUed, in a general sense, to
any covenant or contract between indi-
viduals; but it is more generally applied
to agreements between nations and states,
as treaties and confederacies. So the con-
stitution of the United States is a political
contract between the States ; a national
compact. Or the word is applied to the
agreement of the individuals of a commu-
nity.
The law of nations depends on mutual com -
pacts, treaties, leagues, &c. Blackstone.
In the beginnings of speech there was an im-
plicit compact, founded on common consetit.
€OMPA€T', 17. t. To thrust, drive or press
closely together ; to join firmly ; to con-
solidate ; to make close ; as the parts which
compose a body.
Now the bright sun compacts the precious
stone. Blaekmorc.
This verb is not much used. The parti-
ciple is more frequent ; as, the earth's com-
pacted sphere. Roscommon.
The solids are more strict and compacted.
Arbuthnot.
2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a sys-
tem.
The whole body fitly Joined together and
compacted. Eph. 4.
3. To league with.
Thou pernicious woman.
Compact with her that's gone. Shak.
4. To compose or make out of.
If he, compact of jars, grow musical. Shak.
In the two last examples, compact is used
for compacted.
COMPACTED, pp. Pressed close; firmly
united, or connected.
COMPACT'EDNESS, n. A state of being
compact ; fii-mness ; closeness of parts ;
density, wlience results hardness. Digby.
COMPACTING, ppr. Uniting closely ; con-
solidating.
COMPACTION, n. The act of making com-
pact ; or the state of being compact.
Bacoii.
COMPACT'LY, adv. Closely ; densely ; with
close union of parts.
COMPACT'NESS, »i. Firmness; close un-
ion of [jarts ; densitv. Senile.
COxMPACT'URE, «." Close union or con-
nection of parts ; structure well connect-
ed ; manner of joining. Spenser.
COMPA'UES, > ji [L.] Asystemorstruct-
COM'PAgES, ^ ■ ureofmany parts united.
Bay.
COMPAtilNA'TION, n. [h.compago. See
Compact.]
Union of parts ; structure ; connection ; con-
texture. [Little used.] Brown.
COM'PANABLE, a. Companionable. Obs.
Chaucer.
eOM'PANABLENESS, n. Sociableness.
Obs. Sidney.
COMPANTABLE, a. Social. Obs.
Bacon.
COMPAN'IABLENESS, n. Sociableness.
Obs. Bp. Hall.
COMPANION, n. compan'yun. [Fr. com-
COM
pagnon; Arm. compaignun ; It. compagno;
Sp. compahero ; Port, compaiilieiro ; Ir.
companach. See Company.]
1. One who keeps company with another ;l
one with whom a person frequently asso-j
ciates, and converses. " It differs from,
friend, says Johnson, as acquaintance from
confidence." The word does not«Mecessa-
rily imply friendship ; but a companion is^
often or generally a friend.
A companion of lools shall be destroyed.
Prov. xiii.
2. One who accompanies another; as two I
persons meeting casually and travehng
together are called companions. So sold-
iers are called companions in arms.
3. A partner ; an associate.
Epaphioditus, my brother, and comjianion in
labor, and fellow soldier. Pliil. ii.
4. A fellow ; a mate. Shak.
5. A soi-t of wooden porch placed over the
entrance or stair case of the cabin in mer-
chant ships. Hence the ladder by which
otRcers ascend to and descend from the
quarter deck is called the companion
ladder. Mar. Diet.
COMPAN'IONABLE, a. Fit for good fel-
lowship ; quaUfied to be agreeable in com-
pany ; sociable ; agreeable as a compan-
ion. Clarendon.
€OMPAN'IONABLY, adv. In a compan-
ionable manner.
€0MPAN'10NSHIP, n. Fellowship
ciation. Shak.
9. Company; train. Shak.
COM'PANY, n. [It. compagnia ; Sp.
paiiia ; Port, compankia ; Fr. compagnie ;
not from cum and panis, bread, a mess oi
number of men eating together, as is com
monly supposed; but from cum andpan-
nus, cloth, Teutonic /aftjie or vaan, a flag.
The word denotes a band or number of
men under one flag or standard. W'Ikh
decides this question is, the Spanish iiioili'
of writing the word with n tilde, titliil ".,
compnnia, forthis is the manner of writing
paiio, cloth ; whereas ;)ants, bread, is writ-
ten pan. The orthography of the word in
the other languages is confirmatory of
this opinion.]
1. In military affairs, the soldiers united un-
der the command of a captain ; a subdi-
vision of a regiment, consisting usually of
a number from 60 to 100 men. But the
number is indefinite.
2. Any assemblage of persons ; a collection
of men, or other animals, in a very indefi-
nite sense. It may be applied to a small
number, or any multitude whatever ; as in
scripture we read of a company of priests,
a company of prophets, and an innumera-
ble company of angels ; also, a company of
horses.
3. An assemblage of persons for entertain
ment or festivity ; a party collected by in
vitation or otherwise.
4. Persons that associate with others for
conversation or pleasure ; society ; as, let
your children keep good company.
5. The state of being a companion ; the act
of accompanying ; fellowship; society.
I will keep thee company. Dryden.
We cannot enjoy the company of licentious
6. A number of persons united for the same
purpose, or in a joint concern ; as a com-
COM
pany of mercliants or mechanics ; a i
pany of players. Tlie word is applicable
to p'rivale partnerships or to incori)orated
bodies of men. Hence it may signify a
firm, house or jiartnership ; or a corpora
tion, as the East India Company, a bank-
ing or insurance company.
7. Tlie crew of a ship, including the officers
also, a fleet.
To bear company, to accompany ; to attend
to go with ; denoting a temporary asso-
ciation.
His faithful dog shall bear hhn company.
Pope
To keep company, to accompany ; to attend ;
also, to associate with frequently or habitu
ally ; Iience, to frequent public houses.
Prov. xxix.
eOM'PANY, V. t. To accompany ; to attend ;
to go with ; to be companion to. [But
accompany is generally used.]
€OM'PANY, V. i. To a.ssociute with ; to fre-
quent the company of.
1 wrote you not to company with fornicators.
1 Cor. V.
2. To be a gay companion. Obs.
Spenser.
3. To have commerce with the other sex.
Bp. Hall.
eOM'PARABLE, a. [L. comparabilis. Sec
Compare.]
That may be compared ; worthy of compar-
ison ; being of equal regard ; that may be
estimated as equal.
There is no blessing of life comparable to the
enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend.
Addison.
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine
gold. Lam. iv.
€OM'PARABLY, adv. In a manner or de
grce worthy to be compared, or of equa
vfffard. Wolton
(•( >AI I'ARATES, n. In logic, the two things
(■(iiii|Kiri'd to one another.
<.t)Ml'AR ATIVE, n. [L. comparativus ; It,
comparativo; Fr. comparatif. See Com-
pare.]
1. Estimated by comparison ; not positive or
absolute. The comparative weight of a
body, is that which is estimated by com-
paring it with the weight of another body.
A body may be called heavy, when c
pared with a feather, which would be
called light, when compared with iron
So of comparative good, or evil.
2. Having the power of comparing different
things ; as a comparative faculty. Qu.
Glanville.
3. In grammar, expressing more or less. The
C07Hparah'i'e degree of an adjective express-
es a greater or less degree of a quantity,
or quality, than the positive ; as brighter,
or more bright ; smaller ; finer ; stronger ,
weaker.
Comparative anatomy, that branch of anato
my which treats of the anatomy of other
animals than man, with a view to cotn
pare their strucluro with tliat of huniai
bcinirs, and llms m illiiHtiatr the animal
fuiicticms, anil iiartit-uiiirly witli reference
to a more perfect knowledge of the fimc-
tions of several parts of the human body.
Encyc.
eOMPAR'ATIVE, n. One who is equal oi
pretends to be an equal. [Xot now used.]
Shak.
C O M
€OMPAR ATIVELY, adv. In a state of
comparison ; bv comparison ; according to
estimate made I'v ruiniiarisun ; not posi-
tively, absohit. I\ ..r in )t-.-lf A thing is
comparatively \n:\\\. \\liiii it is compared
with something less heavy. Paper is com-
paratively light or heavy ; light, when com-
pared with lead ; and heavy, when com-
jiared with air.
How few, comparatively, arc the instances of
a wise application of time and talents ! Anon.
eOMPA'RE, V. t. [L. compare, to [jrepare,
to i)rovide or procure, to make equal, to
compare ; con and paro, to prepare ; It.
parare, to dress, trim, adorn ; also, lo parry ;
Sp. parar, to prepare, to halt, to stop, to
jM-event, to detain, to stake at cards ; Port.
parar, to stop or cease to go forward ; to
meet or confine upon; to touch or be bound-
ed ; to tend ; to drive at some end ; to aim
at ; to come to ; to hinder ; to parry, or
ward off; to turn or change in inclination
or morals ; to lay or stake as a wager ;
Sp. parada, a halt, stop, pause ; a fold for
cattle ; a relay of horses or mules ; a dam
or bank ; a bet, stake or wager ; a parade,
I or place of exercise for troops ; Port. id.
I Ai-m. para ; W. parodi, to prepare. This
I seems to be the tn3 bara, of tlie Shemitic
languages. The primai-y sense is, to throw,
drive, or strike ; hence, to drive or force
off, to separate, to pare ; hence, to trim, or
dress, which may be from separating, as in
the French;?o)f r des cuirs, to dress or curry
leather ; or from setting off, as we express
the idea, that is, by enlargement, or dis-
play ; or from setting in order, as we say,
to fix. The sense of compare is allied to
the Portuguese apphcation of the word,
to come to, to meet ; and the L. par,
equal, belongs to the same root, and seems
to be included in comparo. One of the
principal significations is, to stop ; that is,
to set ; to fix. In fencing, it is to intercept
by thrusting the weapon aside. In gaming,
it is to lay or throw down. All llie senses
unite in that of extending, thrusting, or
driving. W. pur, that is contiguous, pre-
paredness, a pair, a fellow, Eng. peer,
L. par. The latter word seems to sig-
nify, extended, or reaching to, and to be
closely allied to the Portuguese sense of
contiguity.]
1. To set or bring things together in fact or
in contemplation, and to examine the re-
latic!is they bear to each other, with a view
to ascertain their agreement or disagree-
ment ; as, to compare two pieces of cloth,
two tables, or coins ; to compare reasons
and arguments ; to compare pleasure with
pain.
In comparing movable tilings, it is cus-
tomary to bring them together, for exam-
ination. In comjiaring things immovable
or remote, and alistract ideas, we bring
them together in the mind, as far as we
are able, and consider tliem in connection.
Comparison therefore is really collation,
or it includes it.
2. To liken ; to represent as similar, for the
j purjiose of illustration.
Solon compared the people to the sea, and
orators and counselors to the winds ; for that the
1 sea would be cahn and quiet, if the winds did
: not trouble it. Bacon.
I In this sense compare is followed by to.-
COM
3. To examine the relations of things t(
each otlier, with a view to discover theii
relative proportions, quantities or qualities
as, to compare two kingdonns, or two moun
tains mth each other ; to compare the nuni
ber ten with fifteen ; to compare ice with
crystal ; to compare a clown with a dancing
master or a dandy.
la this sense compare is followed by
loilh.
4. In grammar, to form an adjective in the!
degrees of comparison ; as blackish, black\
blacker, blackest.
i- To get ; to procure ; to obtain ; as in
J.atiii. Obs. Spenser.
t'OMPA'RE, V. i. To hold comparison ; to
be like or equal.
2. To vie. Obs. Spenser
■COMPA RE, n. The state of being com
pared; ootiiparative estimate; compari-
son ; possibility of entering into compari
son, or being considered as equal.
Their small gaUies may not hold compare
With our tall ships. Waller.
a. Simile ; similitude ; illustration by com
Parison- _ Johnson
J This noun is in ttse, bid cannot be con
ered as elegant.]
COMPA'RED, pp. Set together and exam
ined with respect to likeness or unlikeness.
agreement or disagreement ; likened ; rep
resented as similar.
COMPARER, n. One who compares or
makes a comparison.
eOMPA'RING, ppr. Examining the rela
tions of things to each other; likening.
eOMPAR'ISON, n. [It. comparazione ; Sp.
comparacion ; Fr. compuraison ; Port, com-
parafam ; L. comparatio. See Compare. ^
1. The act of comparing; the act of consid-
ering the relation between persons or
things, with a view to discover their agree
ment or resemblance, or their disagree
ment or diftereuce.
We learn to form a coiTect estimate of men
and their actions by comparison. Jhion
2. The state of being compared.
If we rightly estimate what we call good and
evil, we shall find it lies much in comparison.
Locke.
J. Comparative estimate ; proportion.
Who is left among you that saw this house in
its first glory ? And how do you see it now ':
Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as
nothing ? Hag. ii.
4. In grammar, the fonnation of an adjective
in its several degrees of signification ; as
strong, stronger, strongest ; greenish, green,
greener, greenest ; glorious, more glorious,
mostglonotis. In English, there are strict-
ly four degrees of comparison.
5. A simile, similitude, or illustration by si-
militude.
Whereto shall wc liken the kinjcdom of God ?
Or with what comparison shall we comiiare it '
Mark iv.
6. In rhetoric, a figure by which two things are
considered with regard to a third, which
is common to them both ; as, " a hero is
like a lion in courage." Here courage is
common to hero and lion, and constitutes
the point of resemblance. Encyc.
The distinction between similitude and com-
parison is, that the former has reference to the
quality ; the latter, to the quantity. Compar-
ison is between more and less ; similitude is be-
tween sooU and Iwd. Hannibal— liiiii"- like a
COM
tempest on the declivides of the Alps— is a like
ness by similitude. The sublimity of the scriptur
al prophets exceeds that of Homer, as much as
thunder is louder tlian a whisper — is a likeness
by comparison. J. Q. Adams. Lecture ix,
But comparison has reference to quaUty
as well as quantity.
eOMP'ART, v.t. [Tr. compartir ; lt.com-
partire ; Sp. compartir, con or com and par-
tir, L. ;)ar/io, to ilivide. See Port.]
To divide ; to mark out a plan or design into
its several parts, or subdivisions. Wotton
COMPARTED, pp. Divided into parts or
apartments.
COJIP'ARTIXG, ppr. Dividing or disposing
into parts.
eOMPARTI 'TION, n. The act of dividing
into parts. In architecture, the division or
disposition of the whole ground-plot of an
edifice, into its various apartments.
r,. . . Encyc.
Division ; part divided ; a separate part ;
as, amphitheaters needed no compartitions.
Wotton
COMP'ARTMENT, n. [Fr. compaHhnent.
It. compartimento.]
1. A division or .separate part of a general
design, as of a pictin-e, or of a ground-
I'lot- Pope. Peacham.
3. A design com])osed of several different
figures, disposed with symmetry, for orna-
ment ; as a compartment of tiles or bricks,
duly arranged, of various colors and var
nished, to decorate a building. In gar-
dening, compartments are assemblages of
beds, plots, borders, walks, &c. In her-
aldry, a compaHment is called also a par-
tition. Encyc.
eOMPARTNER, n. A sharer. Pearson
€OM'PASS, n. [Fr. compos ; Sp. compas
It. compasso ; Port, compasso ; con or com
and Fr. pas, Sp. paso. It. passo, a pace or
step, L. passus, which coincides with the
participle of pando, to open or stretch. See
Pace and Pass. A compass is a stepping
together. So in Spanish and Portuguese,
it signifies a beating of time in music]
1. Stretch ; reach ; extent ; the limit or
boimdary of a space, and the space inclu
ded ; applied to timt, space, sound, &c.
Our knowledge lies within a very narrow
compass. The universe extends beyond
the compass of our thoughts. So we say,
the compass of a year, "the compass of an
enqiire, tlie compass of reason, the compass
of the voice.
And in that coynpass all the world contains.
Dry den.
•2. A passing round ; a circular course ; a
circuit.
Time is come round ;
And where I did begin, there shall I end :
My life has run its compass. Shak.
They fetched a compass of seven days jour-
ney. 2Kingsiii. 2 Sam. v. Actssxviii.
S. Moderate bounds ; limits of truth; mod-
eration ; due limits.
In two hundred yeai-s, (I speak within com-
pass,) no such commission had been executed
Bavies.
This sense is the same as the first, and
the peculiar force of the phrase Ues in the
word xvithin.
The extent or limit of th
sound. [See No. 1.]
An instrument for directing or ascertain
ing the course of ships at sea, consisting of
COM
a circular hot, containing a paper card
marked with the thirty two points of di-
rection, fixed on a magnetic needle, that
always points to the north, the variation
excepted. The needle with the card turns
on a pin in the center of the box. In the
center of the needle is fixed a brass conical
socket or cap, by which the card hanging
on the pin turns freely round the center.
The box is covered with glass, to prevent
the motion of the card from being disturb-
ed by the wind. Encyc.
f). Compass or compasses, [or a pair of com-
passes, so named from its legs, but pair is
superfluous or improper, and the singular
nuriiber compass is the preferable name,]
an instrument for describing circles, meas-
uring figures, &c., consisting of two pointed
legs or branches, made of iron, steel or
brass, joined at the top by a rivet, on which
they move. There are also compasses ot
three legs or triangular compasses, cyhn-
drical and spherical compasses with four
branches, and various other kinds.
. Encyc.
7. An instrument used m surveying land,
constructed in the main Uke the mariner's
compass ; but with this difference, that the
needle is not fitted into the card, moving
with it, but plays alone ; the card being
drawn on the bottom of the box, and a cir-
cle divided into 360 degrees on the Hmb.
This instrument is used in surveying land,
and in directing travelers in a desert or
forest, miners, &c. Encyc.
Compass-saw, a saw with a broad edge and
thin back, to cut in a circular form.
Moron.
€OM'PASS, v.t. Literally, to measure with
a compass. Hence,
1. To stretch round ; to extend so as to em-
brace the whole ; hence, to inclose, encir-
cle, grasp or seize ; as, to compass with the
arms.
To surround ; to environ ; to inclose on
all sides ; sometimes followed by around,
round or about.
ssmgs
voice or of
Now all the bless;
Of a glad father compass thee about. "Shak.
With favor wilt thou compass him as with a
shield. Ps. v.
The willows of the brook compass him about.
Job 40.
3. To go or walk round.
Ye shall compass the city — and tlie seventh
day ye shall compass the city seven times.
Josh. vi.
For ye compass sea and land. Matli. xxiii.
4. To besiege ; to beleaguer ; to block up.
This is not a difterent sense, but a partic-
ular application.
Tliine enemies shall cast a trench about tliee,
and compass thee round, and keep thee in on
every side. Luke xix.
5. To obtain ; to attain to ; to procure ; to
bring within one's power ; to accompUsh.
If I can check my erring love, I will ;
If not, to compass her Pll use my skill.
Shak.
How can you hope to compass your de-
signs ? Denham,
Q. To purpose ; to intend ; to imagine ; to
plot ; to contrive ; as we say, to go about
to perform, but in mind only ; as, to com-
pass the death of the king.
COM
Compassing and imagining the death of the
king are synonymous terms ; coinpaas signify-
ing the purpose or design of the mind or will,
and not, as in common speech, the carrying
sucli design to efl'ect. Blackstone.
eOM'PASSED, ;)p. Embraced; surround-
ed; inclosed; obtained; imagined.
eOM'PASSING, ppr. Embracing; going
round ; inclosing' ; obtaining ; accomi)liiili-
ing ; imagining ; intending.
2. In ship-building, incurvated ; arclied.
Mar. Diet.
COMPAS'SION, n. [It. compassionc ; S[).
compasion ; Fr. compassion ; Low L. com-
passio, compatior; con and palior, passus,
to sufler. See' Patience.]
1. A suffering with another ; ])ainrul sympa-
thy ; a sensation of sorrow excited by tbo
distress or misfortunes of another; piiy ;
commiseration. Compassion is a mixed
passion, compounded of love and sorrow ;
at least some portion of love generally
attends the pain or regret, or is excited by
it. Extreme distress of an enemy even
changes enmity into at least temporary
aflFection.
He, being full of cotnpassion, forgave their
iniquity. Ps. Ixxviii.
His father had compassion, and ran, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him. Luke xv.
COMPAS'SION, V. t. To pity. [AV used.]
Shak.
■COMPAS'SIONABLE, a. Deserving of
pity. [lAtlle used.] Barrow.
eOMPAS'SIONATE, a. Having a temper
or disposition to pity ; inclined to show
mercy ; merciful ; having a heart that is
tender, and easily moved by the distresses,
sufferings, wants and infirmities of others.
There never was a heart truly great and gene
rous, that vvas not also tender and compassion-
ate. Soutli
■eOMPAS'SIONATE, i'. (. To pity; to
commiserate ; to have compassion for.
Compassionates my pains and pities mc.
Mdison.
€OMPAS'SIONATELY, udv. With com-
passion ; mercifidlv. Clarendon.
€OMPAS'SIONATENESS, n. The quality
of being compassionate.
•eOMPATERN'ITY, n. [con and palernitii.]
The relation of a godfather to the per.s'on
for whom he answers. Davies.
COMPATIBIL'ITY, n. [See Compatible.]
Consistency; the quality or power of coex-
isting with something else ; suitableness ;
as a compatibility of tempers.
COMPATIBLE, a. [Fr. compatible; Sj..
id. ; Port, compativel ; from the L. competo.
to sue or seek for the same thing, to
agree ; con and peto, to seek.]
1. Consistent ; that may exist with ; suita
ble ; not incongruous ; agreeable ; follow
ed by wiih ; sometimes by to, but less
properly.
The poets have joined qualities which by
nature are the most compatible. Broome
The office of a legislator and of a judge aie
deemed not compatible.
To pardon offenders is not always compaiible
with public safety.
COMPAT'IBLENESS, n. Consistency
fitness ; agreement ; the same as compati-
bUity, which is generally used.
COMPAT mL"V:, fulv. Fitly : .suitably ; con-
sistently.
voi: J.
COM
COMPA'TIENT, a. [L. con and paij
Suffering together. (Little iised.] Buck.
COMPATRIOT, K. [It. compatriolta ; Sp.
compatriota ; con or com and patriot.]
A fellow patriot ; one of the same country.
COMPATRIOT, a. Of the same country
Meiiside
COMPEE'R, n. [L. compar; con and par,
equal. See Peer.]
An equal ; a companion ; an associate ; a
mate. Philips.
COMPEE'R, V. t. To equal ; to match ; to
be equal with. Shak.
COMPEL', V. t. [L compello, cotnpellere ;
and pello, to drive ; Sp. compeler ; Port.
compellir. See Peal and Jlppecd.]
1. To drive or urge with force, or irresisti-
bly ; to constrain ; to oblige ; to necessi
tate, either by physical or moral force.
Thou shall not compel him to serve as a bond
servant. Levit. 2.'5.
And they compel one Simon — to bear li
cross. Mark xv.
Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my house may
be filled. Luke xiv.
Circumstances compel us to practice economy
2. To force ; to take by force, or violence
to seize.
The subjects' grief
Comes through commissions, which compel
from each
A sixth part of his substance. Shal
[This sense is harsh, and not very common
Johnson.
3. To drive together ; to gather; to unite in
a crowd or company. A Latinism, com-
pellere gregem.
In one troop compelled. Dryden.
4. To seize ; to overpower ; to hold.
And easy sleep their weary limbs compelled.
[ Unusual. ] Dryden
5. To call forth, L. compellare. Obs.
Spenser.
COMPEL'LABLE, «. That may be driv(
forced or constrained.
COMPEL'LABLY, adv. By compulsion,
COMPELLA'TION, n. [L. compcllalio ;
compello, compellare, the same word
the preceding, applied to the voice
scud or drive out the voice.]
.Style or manner of address ; the word ofl
salutation.
The compellation of the Kings of France
by sire. Teinph
COMPEL'LED, ;)p. Forced; constrained;
obliged.
COMPEL'LErJ, n. One who compels or
constrains.
COMPEL'LING, ppr. Driving by force
constrainine ; obliging.
COM'PEND,'^ } [h. compendium.] In
COMPEND'IUM, \ "• literature, an abri.Ig
ment ; a simmiary ; an epitome ; a brief
compilation or compo-sition, containing the
principal heads, or general principles, of a
larger work or system.
COMPENDIA'RIOUS, a. Short ; contract-
ed. [Little used.]
COMPEND'IATE, v. t. To sum or collect
together. [jVot used.]
COMPEND'IOUS, a. Short; summary
abridged ; comprehensive ; containing the
substance or general principles of a sub-
ject or work in a narrow compass ; as a
compendious system of chimistry ; a com-
pendious grammar.
13
C O M
2. Short; direct; near; not circuitous ; as a
compendious way to acquire science.
COMPENDIOUSLY, adv. In a short or
brief manner ; summarily ; in brief; in
ejiitome.
The substance of christian belief is compend-
iously expressed in a few articles. Anon.
COMPENU'lOl^NESS, n. Shortness ;
brevity ; coniprcliension in a narrow com-
pjuss. Bentley.
COMPENS'ABLE, a. [See Compensi^e.]
That may be compensated. [Little used.]
COM'PENSATE, v. t. [L. compenso ; con
and penso, to prize or value, from pendo,
to weigh, to value. See Pendent.]
1. To give equal value to; to recompense;
to give an equivalent for services, or an
amount lost or bestowed ; to return or
bestow that which makes good a loss, or
is estimated a suflicient remimeration ; as,
to compensate a laborer for his work, or a
merchant, for his losses.
2. To be equivalent in value or effect to ; to
counterbalance; to make amends for.
The length of the night and tlie dews do com-
pensate &ehcAto( the day. Bacon.
The pleasures of sin never compensate the
sinner for the miseries he suffers, even in this
life. Anon.
COM'PENSATE, v. i. To make amends :
to supply an equivalent : followed by for.
Notliing can compensate fur the loss of repu-
tation.
This word is generally accented on the sec-
ond syllable, most unfortunately, as any
ear will determine by the feebleness of
the last syllables in the participles, com-
pens'ated, compens'ating.
Each seeming want compensated of course.
Pope.
With the primary accent on the first sylla-
ble and the secondary accent on the third,
this defect and the difficulty of uttering
distinctly the last syllables are remedied.
COM'PENSATED,;)/*. Recompensed ; sup-
pUed with an equivalent in amount or ef-
fect; rewarded.
COMPENSATING, ppr. Giving an equiv-
alent ; recomi)ensing ; remunerating.
COMPENSATION, n. That which is giv
en or received as an equivalent for ser-
vices, debt, want, loss, or suffering ; a-
mends ; remuneration ; recompense.
All otlier debts may compensation find.
Dryden.
The pleasures of life are no compensation for
the loss of divine favor and protection.
2. In law, a set-off; the payment of a debt by
a credit of equal amount.
COMPENS'ATIVE, a. Making amends or
compensation.
COMPENSATORY, a. Serving for com-
pensation ; making amends.
COMPENSE, V. t. to recompense, is fotmd
in Bacon ; but is not now in use.
COMPE'TE, i>. i. [L. competo ; con and
peto.]
1. To seek, or strive for the same thing as
another; to carry on competition or ri-
valry.
Our manufacturers compete widi the English
in making cotton cloths.
2. To strive or claim to be equal.
The sages of antiquity will not dare to com-
pete with the inspired authors. Milner.
COM'PETENCE, ? [L. competens, compe-
COM'PETENCY, \ ""to, to be meet or fit ;
(I and peto, to seek ; properly, to pres.«,
COM
urge or come to.] Primarily, fitness ; suit-
ableness; convenience. Hence,
1. Sufficiency ; such a quantity as is suffi-
cient; property or means of subsistence
sufficient to furnish the necessaries and
conveniencies of hfe, without superfluity.
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words, health, peace, and compe-
tence. Pope.
2. Sufficiency, applied to other things than
property ; but this application is less com-
mon.
3. Legal capacity or qualifications ; fitness ;
as the competence of a witness, which
consists in his having the qualifications
required by law, as age, soundness of
mind, impartiality, &c.
1. Right or authority ; legal power or capa
city to take cognizance of a cause ; as the
rompetence of a judge or court to examine
and decide. Kent.
.'>. Fitness ; adequacy ; suitableness ; legal
sufficiency; as the cojn/idejici/ of evidence.
Seivall
COM'PETENT, o. Suitable ; fit ; conveni-
ent ; hence, sufficient, that is, fit for the
purpose ; adequate ; followed by to ; as
competent supplies of food and clothing
a competent force ; an army competent to
the preservation of the kingdom or state ;
a competent knowledge of the world. This
word usually inqjlies a moderate supply,
a sufficiency without superfluity.
2. Qualified; fit; having legal capacity
power ; as a competent judge or court ; a
competent witness. In a judge or court, it
implies right or authority to hear and de
termine ; in a witness, it implies a legal
right or capacity to testify.
;?. Incident; belonging; having adequate
power or right.
That is the privilege of the infinite author o
things, who never slumbers nor sleeps, but h
not competent to any finite being. Locke.
It is not competent to the defendant
ledge fraud in the plaintiff.
rOai'FETENTLY, adv. Sufficiently; ade-
quately ; suitably : reasonably ; as, the
fact has been competently proved ; a cliurch
is competently endowed.
€OMPET'IBLE, a. [Not now used. Sec
Compaiihle.]
COMPE'TING, 7^)-. Striving in rivalry.
COMPETr'TION, n. [Low L. competiiio.
See Compete and Competence.]
1. The act of seeking, or endeavoring to
gain, what another is endeavoring
ffain, at the same time ; rivalry ; mutual
strife for the same object ; also, strife for
superiority; as the competition of two
candidates for an office, or of two poets
for superior reputation.
3. A state of rivalship ; a state of having
equal claims.
A portrait, with which one of Titian's coi
not come in competition. Drydi
a Double claim; claim of more than one
the same thing ; formerly with to, now
with/o)-. .
Competition to the crown there is none nor
can be. Bacon.
Tliere is no competition but for the second
place. Dryden
COMPET'ITOR, n. One who seeks and
endeavors to obtain what another seeks
or one who claims what another claims ;
a rival.
C O M
They cannot brook competitors in love.
Shak
3. An opponent. Shak
€0MPET'1T0RY, a. Rivahng ; acting ir
competition. Dangers of the country
COMPET'ITRESS, } A female compel
€OMPET'ITRIX, \ "" itor.
COMPILA'TION, n. [See Compile.]
1. A collection of certain parts of a book or
books, into a separate book or pamphlet.
2. A collection or assemblage of other sub-
stances ; or the act of collecting and form-
ing an aggregate. Woodward.
COMPILA'TOR, ». A collector. [Not
■used.] Chancer.
eOMPI'LE, I', t. [L. compilo, to pilfer or
plunder ; con and pilo, to pillage, to peel, and
to drive close; compilatio, a pillaging; It,
compUare ; Fr. compiler ; Sp. Port, compi-
lar. The L. pUo is the English, to peel
to strip ; but pilo, to make thick, or diive
together, is the Gr. rttxou, lanas cogo, co-
arcto, constipo Compile is probably fron
peeling, jiicking out, selecting and put
ting together.]
To collect parts or passages of books or
writings into a book or pamphlet ; to se
lect and put together parts of an author,
or to collect parts of ditiijrent authors; or
to collect and arrange .sejiarate papers,
laws, or customs, in a book, code or system.
To write ; to compose.
In poetry, they compile the praises of virtu
ous men and actions. Temple
To contain ; to comprise. [jVot used.]
Spenser
To make up ; to compose. [JVot used.]
Shak
5. To put together ; to build. [Ao< used.]
Spenser
eOMPI'LED, pp. Collected from authors
selected and put together.
COMPI'LEMENT, n. The act of piling to
gether or heaping ; coacervation. [Little
used.] Woodward.
€OJMPI'LER, n. A collector of parts of au-
thors, or of separate papers or accounts ;
one who forms a book or comiiosition
from various authors or separate papers.
Bacon. Swift.
COMPI'LING, ppr. Collecting and arran-
ging parts of books, or separate papers
ill a body or composition.
€OMPLA'CENCE, \ [h-complacens, com-
COMPLA'CENCY, ^ "^^ placeo ; con andp/a-
cfo, to please ; Fr. complaire, complaisant :
It. compiacere, compiacente ; Sp. compla
cer.]
Pleasure; satisfaction; gratification. It
is more than approbation, and less than
delight or joy.
Others proclaim the infirmities of a great mat
with satisfaction and complacency, if they dis
cover none of tlie like in themselves. Add'.soa
2. The cause of pleasure or joy. Milton.
3. Complaisance ; civihty ; softness of man
uers ; deportment and address that afford
pleasure.
Complacency, and truth, and manly
Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth hi
thoughts. Addison
In the latter sense, complaisance, from tin
French, is now used. [See Complaisance.
€OMPLA'CENT, a. Civil ; complaisant.
They look up with a sort of complacent aw
to kings. Busici
COM
COMPLACEN'TIAL, a. iMarked by com-
placence ; accommodating.
Ch. Relig. Appeal.
COMPLA'CENTLY, adv. Softly ; in a com-
placent manner.
eOMPLA'IN, V. i. [Fr. complaindre; con or
co?rt and plaindre, plaint, to lament, to
bewail; Sp. planir; It. compiagnere, or
compiangere ; from the L. plango, to strike,
to lament. If n is not radical, the original
word was plago, coinciding with plaga,
Gr. riTiriyr;. But this is doubtful. The
primary sense is to drive, whence to strike
and to lament, that is, to strike the hands
or breasts, as in extreme grief, or to drive
forth the voice, as in appello.]
1. To utter expressions of grief; to lament.
I will complain m the bitterness of my spirit.
Job vU.
I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Ps. Ixxvii.
2. To utter expressions of censm-e or resent-
ment ; to munnur ; to find fault.
And when the people complained, it displeas-
ed the Lord. Num. xi.
3. To utter expressions of uneasiness, or
pain. He complains of thirst. He com-
plains of a head-ache.
4. To charge ; to accuse of an offense ; to
present an accusation against a person to
a proper officer.
To A B, one of the justices of the peace for
the county of S, complains C D.
This verb is regularly followed by of,
before the cause of grief or censure; as, to
complain o/ thirst, ^ignorance, o/ vice, of
an oflender.
5. To represent injuries, particularly in a
w rit of Audita Querela.
eOMPLA'IN, V. I. To lament ; to bewail.
They might the grievance inwardly complain .
This use of complain is uncommon, and
hardly legitimate. The phrase is proper-
Iv elliptical.
€OMPLA'INABLE, a. That may be com-
plained of [ATot in xise.] Feltham.
€OMPLA'INANT, n. [Ft. complaignant.]
A (irosecutor ; one who prosecutes by com-
plaint, or commences a legal process
against an offender for the recoverj' of a
right or penalty.
He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the
town ; and the other moiety to the use of the
complainant.
Stat, of Massachusetts.
2. The plaintifl'in a writ of Audita Querela.
Ibm.
COMPLA'INER, n. One who complains,
or expresses grief; one who laments ; one
who finds fault ; a murmurer.
These arc murmurers, complainers, walking-
after iheir own lusts. Jude 16.
eOMPLA'INFUL, a. Full of complaint.
[M)t used.]
COMPLAINING, ppr. Expressing grief,
sorrow, or censure ; finding fault ; mur-
muring ; lamenting ; accusing of an of-
fense.
COMPLAINING, n. The expression of re-
gret, sorrow, or injury.
COMPLA'INT, Ji. [Fr. fo»i;)/aj'n(e ,- It. cow-
pianto.] Expression of grief, regret, pain,
censiu'e, or resentment ; lamentation ;
murmuring ; a finding fault.
Even to day is my complaint bitter. Job
xxili.
C O M
COM
COM
I mourn in my complaint and make a noise.
Ps. Iv.
The Jews laid many and grievous complaints
against Paul. Acts xxv.
I lind no cause of complaint. Hooker.
2. The cause or subject of complaint, or
murmuring.
Tlie poverty of the clergy hath been the com-
plaint of all who wish well to the church.
Swift.
3. The cause of complaint, or of i>ain and
uneasiness in tlie body; a malady; a dis-
ease ; usually applied to disorders not vi-
olent ; as a complaint in tlie bowels or
breast.
4. Accusation ; a charge against an offender,
made by a private person or informer to a
justice of the peace or other proper officer,
alledging that the offender has violated the
law, and claiming tlie penalty due to the
prosecutor. It differs from an informalion,
which is the prosecution of an offender by
the Attorney or Solicitor General; and
from a presentment and indictment, ^vhich
are the accusation of a Grand Jury.
5. Representation of injuries, in a general
sense; and appropriately, in a writ of Au-
dita Querela.
eOM'PLAlSANCE, n. eom'plazance. [Fr.
complaisance, from complaisant, the parti-
cii)le of complaire ; con or com and plaire,
to please, whence plaisant, pleasing, plai-
sir, pleasure, L. placeo, placere, the in-
finitive changed into plaire ; It. compiacen-
za, from compiacere, piacere ; Sp. compla-
cencia, complacer. This is the same word
as complacence ; the latter we have from
the Latin orthography. This word affords
an example of a change of a palatal let-
ter in the Latin into a sibilant in French,
c into ».]
1. A pleasing deportment ; courtesy ; that
manner of address and behaviour in so-
cial intercourse which gives pleasure
civility ; obliging condescension ; kind and
affable reception and treatment of guests
exterior acts of civility ; as, the gentleman
received Os with complaisance.
2. Condescension ; obliging compliance witl
the wishes or humors of others.
In complaisance poor Cupid mourned.
Prior,
3. Desire of pleasing ; disposition to oblige ;
the principle for the act.
Your complai.^aiice will not permit youi
euests to be incommoded. Anon.
COM'PLAISANT, o. com'plazant. Pleas-
ing in manners ; courteous; obliging; de-
sirous to please ; as a complaisant gentle
man.
'i. Civil ; courteous ; polite ; as complaisant
deportment or treatment.
eOM'PLAISANTLY, adv. com'plazantly.
In a pleasing manner; withcivihty ; with
an obliging, affable address or deport
ment. Pope.
eOM'PLAISANTNESS, n. Civility; com
:)laisance. [Little used.']
)M'PLANATE, > , [L,
S, [L. complano ;
and planus, plain.
€0
€OMPLA'NE,
See Plane and Plain.
To make level ; to reduce to an even surfiice.
Derham.
COMPLEMENT, n. [L. complementum,
from compleo, to fill ; con and pleo, to fill.
Literally, a filling.]
1. Fulness; completion ; whence, perfection.
Thty as they feasted had their fill,
For a full complement of all their ill.
Hub. nies.
2. Full quantity or number ; the quantity or
number limited ; as, a company has its
complement o{ men; a ship has its comple-
ment of stores.
3. That which is added, not as necessary, but
as ornamental; something adventitious to
the main thing ; ceremony. [See Compli-
ment.]
Garnished and decked in modeal complement.
Shak.
4. In g-«onie<r^, what remains of the quadrant
of a circle, or of ninety degrees, after any
arch has been taken from it. Thus if the
arch taken is thirty degrees, its comple-
ment is sixty. Bailey. Johnson.
5. In (istronomy, the distance of a star from
the zenith. Johnson.
Ci. Arithmetical complement of a logarithm, is
what the logarithm wants of-1 0,000,000.
Chambers
7. In fmlif cation, the complement of the cur-
' I is iliai |>:ut in the interior side whicli
kcsili,' (Iciiiigorge.
€O.MI'l.lvMi:.\T AL, «. Filling; supplying
rienrv ; completing.
COMPLEMENT' ARY, n. One skilled ii
compliments. [.\'ot in use.] B. Jonson.
COMPLE'TE, a. [L. completiis, from com-
pleo ; con and pleo, inusit., to fill ; It. com-
piere. The Greek has jiIm^, to ajiproacli,
to fill, contracted from rtfXau, the primary
sense of which is, to tlirust or drive ; and
if the Latin pleo is from the Greek, which
is probable, then the original orthography
was peleo, compeleo ; in which case, maa.
rtf%jiu, pleo, is the same word as the Eng-
lish fill. The Greek n%ri6u is said to be a
derivative. Literally, filled ; full.]
1. Having no deficiency; perfect.
And ye are complete in him who is the head
of all principality and power. Col. ii.
2. Finished ; ended ; concluded ; as, the edi
fice is complete.
This course of vanity almost complete.
Prior.
In strict pro])riety, this word admits of
no comparison ; for that which is complete,
caimot be more or less so. But as the
word, like many others, is used with some
indefiniteness of signification, it is custom
ary to qualify it with nwre, most, less and
least. More complete, most complete, less
complete, are common expressions.
i. In botany, a complete flower is one furnish-
ed with a calyx and corolla. Vaillant. Or
having all the parts of a flower. Marty.
COMPLE'TE, V. t. To finish ; to end ; to
perfect ; as, to complete a, bridge, or an edi
fice ; to complete an education.
2. To fill ; to accomplish ; as, to compleU
hopes or desires.
3. To fulfil; to accomplish ; to perform; a.s,
the pmphecy of Daniel is completed.
COMPLE'TED,p;). Finished; ended; per
feoted ; fidrilled ; accomplished.
COMPLE'TELY, adv. Fully; perfectly
entirelv. StdJI.
COMPLE'TEMENT, n. The act of com-
plotinff : a finishing. Dryden.
COMPLE'TENESS, n. The state of being
rompletc ; perfection. Watts
COMPLE'TING, ppr. Finishing : perfi
ing ; accomplisliing.
COMPLE'TION, 71. Fulfilment; accom-
l)liBhnient.
There was a full entire harmony and consent
in the divine predictions, receiving their com-
pletion in Chiist. SoiUh.
2. Act of completing ; state of being com-
plete ; utmost extent ; perfect state ; as,
the gentleman went to the university
for the completion of his education or
studies.
The completion of a bad character is to hate
a good man. Anon.
COMPLETIVE, a. Filling; making com-
Harris.
CO.M PLETORY, a. Fulfilling ; accom-
plishing. Harrow.
C(;M'PLET0RY, n. The evening service ;
the complin of the Romish church.
Hooper.
COM'PLEX, \ [L.com;jtou*, complex,
COMPLEX'ED, S embracing, from com-
plector, to embrace ; con and plecto, to
weave, or twist ; Gr. nxixu ; L. plico ; W.
plygu ; \rtn. plega; Fr.plier; It. piegare ;
'egar ; ii. ' "
double.]
Sp. plegar ; 1). plooijen, to fold, bend.
L Composed of two or more parts or things ;
composite ; not simple ; including two or
more particulars connected ; as a complex
being ; a complex idea ; a complex term.
Ideas n>ade up of several simple ones, I call
complex ; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, the
universe. Locke.
3. Involved ; diflicult ; as a complex subject.
COM'PLEX, n. Assemblage ; collection ;
complication. [Little used.]
This parable of the wedding supper compre-
hends in it the whole complex of all the bless-
ings and privileges of the gospel. South.
COMPLEX'EDNESS, n. Complication ;
involution of parts in one integral ; com-
pound state ; as the complexedness of moral
ideas. Locke.
COMPLEX'ION, n. complex yon. Involu-
tion ; a complex state. [Little used.]
Watts.
2. The color of the skin, particularly of the
face ; the color of the external parts of a
body or thing; as a ts.\r complexion ; a dark
complexion ; the complexion of the sky.
3. The temperament, habitude, or natural
disposition of the body ; the peculiar cast
of the constitution, which gives it a par-
ticular physical character ; a medical term,
but used to denote character, or description ;
as, men of this or that complexion.
'Tis ill, though different your complexions are,
The family of heaven for men should war.
Dryden.
COMPLEX'IONAL, a. Depending on or
pertaining to complexion ; as compltxional
efflorescencies ; complexional prejudices.
Broitm. Fiddes.
COMPLEX'IONALLY, adv. By complex-
ion. Brown.
COMPLEX'IONARY, a. Pertaining to the
complexion, or to the care of it. Taylor.
COMPLEX'JONED, a. Having a certain
temperament or state. Addison.
COMPLEX' ITY, n. The state of being
complex ; complexness. Burke.
COM PLEXLY, adv. In a complex man-
"ess
COMPLEXNESS, n. The state of being
complex or involved. Smith.
COM
C O M
COM
COMPLEX'URE, n. The involution or
complication of one thing with others.
COMPLI'ABLE, a. [See Comply.] That
can bend or yield. Milton.
eOMPLI'ANCE, J!. [See Comply.] The act
of complying ; a yiekUng, as to a request,
wish, desire, demand or proposal ; conces-
sion ; submission.
Let the king meet compliance in your looks,
A free and ready yielding to his vrishes.
Rowe.
2. A disposition to yield to others.
He was a man of few words and great com-
pliance. Clarendon.
3. Obedience ; followed by unth ; as compli-
ance with a command, or precept.
4. Performance ; e.xccution ; as a compliance
loith the conditions of a contract.
COMPLI'ANT, a. Yielding, bending; as
the compliant boughs. [See Pliant, which
is generally used.] Milton
3. Yielding to request or desire ; civil ; obli-
COMPLIANTLY, adv. In a yielding man-
ner.
€OM'PLleACY, n. A state of being com-
plex or intricate. Mitford.
COM'PLl€ATE, 1'. <. [h.complico; con and
plico, to fold, weave or knit. See Com-
plex.]
1. Literally, to interweave ; to fold and twist
together. Hence, to make complex ; to in-
volve ; to entangle ; to unite or connect
mutually or intimately, as different things
or parts ; followed by with.
Our offense against God hath been complica-
ted with injury to men. Tillots.on.
So we say, a complicated disease ; a com-
plicated aflfah'.
Commotion in the parts may complicate and
dispose them after the manner requisite to make
them stick. Boyle.
2. To make intricate.
€OM'PLI€ATE, a. Complex; composed
of two or more parts united.
Though the particularactionsof war are com-
plicate in fact, yet tliey are separate and distinct
in right. Bacon.
2. In botany, folded together, as the valves
of the glume or chaff in some grasses.
Martyn.
COM'PLI€ATED, pp. Interwoven ; en-
tangled ; involved ; intricate ; composed
of two or more things or parts united.
COM'PLleATELY, adv. In a complex
COM'PLIeATENESS, n. The state of be-
ing comphcated ; involution ; intricacy ;
perplexity. Hale.
COMPLICATING, ppr. Interweaving ; in-
folding ; uniting.
COMPLICATION, n. The act of inter-
weaving, or involving two or more things
or parts ; the state of being interwoven,
involved or intimately blended.
The notions of a confu.sed knowledge are al-
ways full of perplexity and complications.
UTlkins.
2. The integral consisting of many things
involved or interwoven, or mutually uni-
ted.
By admitting a complication of ideas — the
mind is bewildered. Walts
•eOM'PLICE, n. [It. complice; Fr. Port. Sp.
id. ; L. complico, complicitum, complices
See Complicate and Complex.]
One who is united with another in the com-
mission of a crime, or in au ill design ; an
associate or confederate in some unlawful
act or design ; an accomplice. The latter
is now used. [See Accomplice.]
Shak. Clarendon
COiMPLI'ED, pi-et. of comply.
COMPLl'ER, n. One who complies, yields
or obeys ; a person of ready compliance
a man of an easy, yielding temper.
Swijl.
eOM'PLIMENT, n. [Fr. id.; It. eomplimen-
to ; Sp. cumplimiento, completion, perfec-
tioii, compliment ; Port, comprimento.
length, fulfilment, compliment, obliging
words, from the verb comprir, to fulfil, to
perform ; Sp. cumplir ; It. compiere ; L.
compleo. See Complete.]
1. An expression of civility, respect or re-
gard ; as, to send, or make one's compli-
ments to an absent friend. In this appli-
cation, the plural is always used.
He observed few compliments in matter of
arms. Sidney,
3. A present or favor bestowed. My friend
made me a compliment of Homer's Iliad.
COM'PLIiMENT, v. t. To praise ; to flatter
by expressions of approbation, esteem or
respect.
Monarchs
Should compliment their foes, and shun their
friends. Prior
She compliments Menelaus very handsome-
ly. Pope
2. To congratulate ; as, to compliment a
prince on the birth of a son.
3. To bestow a present ; to manifest kind-
ness or regard for, by a present or other
favor.
He complimented us with tickets lor the ex-
hibition.
COM'PLIMENT, v. i. To pass comph-
ments ; to use ceremony, or ceremonious
language.
I make the interlocutors upon occasion com
pUment with each other. Boyle
COMPLIMENT' AL, a. Expressive of civil
ity or respect ; implying comphments.
Languages — grow rich and abundant in com-
plimental phrases, and such froth. fVotton.
COMPLIMENT' ALLY, adv. In the nature
of a compUment ; by way of civility, or
ceremony. Broome,
COM'PLIMENTER, n. One who compli-
ments ; one given to compliments ; a flat-
terer. Johnson.
COM'PLINE, I [Fr. complie ; It. compieta ;
eOM'PLIN, S "-from L. compleo, compter
do, completus.]
The last division of the Romish breviary ;
the last prayer at night, to be recited
after sun-set ; so called because it closes
the service of the day.
Johnson. Eneyc. Taylo,
COMPLISH, iov accomplish, is not now used.
Spenser.
COM'PLOT, n. [con or com and plot] A
plotting together ; a joint plot ; a plot ; a
confederacy in some evil design ; a con-
spiracy.
I know their complot is to have my life.
Shak.
COMPLOT', V. t. To plot together; to eon-
spire ; to form a plot ; to join in a secret
design, generally criminal.
We find them complotting together, and con-
triving a new scene of miseries to the Trojans
Pope
COMPLOT'MENT,n. A plotting together;
conspiracy. A'tng.
COMPLOT'TED, pp. Plotted together;
contrived.
COMPLOT'TER, n. One joined in a plot ;
a conspirator. Dniden.
COMPLOT'TING, ppr. Plotting together;
conspiring ; contriving an evil design or
crime.
COMPLY', V. i. pret. complied. [The ItaUan
compiacere, to humor, to comply, is the
Latin complaceo, Fr. complaire. The Sp.
cumplir is from compleo, for it is rendered,
to discharge one's duty, to provide or
supply, to reach one's birth day, to fulfil
one's protnise, to be fit or convenient, to
suffice. The Portuguese changes I into
r; comprir, to fulfil, to perform ; hence,
comprimento, a complement, and a compli-
ment. Comply seems to be from the Span-
ish cumplir, or L. compleo ; formed like
supply, from suppleo. It is followed by
with.]
1. To comply with, to fulfil ; to perfect or
carry into effct ; to complete ; to perform
or execute ; as, to comply with a j)rotnise^
with an award, with a command, with
an order. So to comply with one's expec-
tations or wishes, is to fulfil them, or com-
plete them.
3. To yield to ; to be obsequious ; to accord ;
to suit ; followed by with ; as, to comply
u'ith a man's humor.
The truth of things will not comply with our
conceits. Tillotson.
COMPLY'ING loith, ppr. Fulfilling; per-
forming ; yielding to.
COMPO'NE. I In heraldnj, a bordure
COMPO'NED. ^ compone is that formed
or composed of a row of angular pans or
checkers of two colors.
COMPO'NENT, o. [L. componens, compono ;
con and pono, to place.]
Literally, setting or placing together ; hence,^
coniiX)sing ; constituting ; forming a com-
pound ; as tlie component parts of a plant
or fossil substance ; the component parts of
a society.
COMPO'RT, V. i. [It. comportare ; Fr. com-
porter ; Sp. Port, comportar; con and L.
porta, to bear. See Bear. It is follow-
ed by with.]
To comport with, literally, to bear to or with ;
to can-y together. Hence, to agree with ;
to suit ; to accord ; as, to consider how
far our cliarity may comport tvith our pru-
dence. His behavior does not comport
with his station.
COMPO'RT, V. t. With the reciprocal pro-
noun, to behave ; to conduct.
It is curious to observe how lord Somers —
comported himself on that occasion. Burke.
[Little used.]
3. To bear ; to endure ; as in French, Span-
ish and Italian. [M)t used.] Daniel.
COMPORT, n. Behavior; conduct ; man-
ner of acting.
I knew them well, and marked their rude
comport. Dryden.
This word is rarely or never used, but
may he admissible in poeti-y. We now
use deportment. The accent, since Shak-
spcare's time, has been transferred to the
first syllable.
eOMPO'RTABLE, a. Suitable : consis*.
tent.
COM
We cast the rules of this art into some com-
■MTtahlc methoil. IVollon
COMPORT ANCE, n. Behavior; deport
ineiit. Obs. Spenser.
COiMPORTA'TION, n. An assemblage.
[^roi used.] Bp. Richardson.
COMPO'RTMENT, n. Behavior ; dcmeuii-
or ; mauncr of acting. \J^ol now used.]
Hale. Addison.
Compos mentis. [L. con nnd pos, from the
root of possu/n, potis.] Possessed of mind;
in a sound state of mind.
€OMPO'SE, V. I. s as :. [Fr. composer ;
Arm. composi ; from the particii)le of the L.
compono, compositus ; con and ]>ono,positus,
to set, put or lay, Fr. poser, ami in a dif-
ferent dialect, Eng. to put ; Sj). componer ;
It. comporre.] Literally, to place or set to-
gether. Hence,
1. To form a compound, or one entire body
or thing, by uniting two or more things,
parts, or individuals ; as, to compose an ar-
my of raw soldiers; the parliament of G
Britain is composed of two houses, lords
and commons; the senate of the U. States
is composed of two senators from eacli
state.
Zeal ought to be composed of the highest de-
grees of all pious affections. Spratt
2. To invent and put together words and
sentences ; to make, as a discourse or
writing ; to write, as an author ; as,
compose a sermon, or a book.
3. To constitute, or form, as parts of a
whole ; as, letters compose syllables, sylla-
bles compose words, words compose sen-
tences.
A few useful tilings, confounded with many
trifles, fill their memories, and compose their in-
tellectual possessions. Watts.
4. To calm ; to quiet ; to appease ; to tran-
quiUze ; that is, to set or lay ; as, to com-
pose passions, fears, disorders, or whatev-
er is agitated or excited.
5. To settle ; to adjust ; as, to compose differ-
ences.
6. To place in proper form, or in a quiet
state. '
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
Dryden.
7. To settle into a quiet state.
The sea composes itself to a level surface.
It requires about two days to compose it after a
gale.
8. To dispose ; to put in a proper state for
any purpose.
The army seemed well composed to obtain
that by their swords which tliey could not by
their pen. Clarendon.
9. In printing, to set types or characters in a
composing stick, from a copy, arranging
the letters in the proper order.
10. In music, to form a tune or piece of mu
sic with notes, arranging them on the
. stave in such a manner as when sung
produce harmony.
COMPO'SED, pp. Set together, or in due
order ; formed ; constituted ; calmed
quieted ; settled ; adjusted.
2. a. Calm ; sedate ; quiet ; tranquil ; free
from agitation.
The Mantiian there in sober triumph sat.
Composed his posture, and his look sedate.
Pope
■COMPO'SEDLY, adv. Calmly ; seriously ;
sedately.
The man very composedly answered, I am he
Clarendon
COM
COMPO'SEDNESS, n. A state of being
•omposed ; caUnness ; scdateness ; tran-
(uility. Wilkins.
COMPOSER, ji. One who composes ; one
who writes an original work, as distin-
guished from a compiler ; an author ; al-
so, one who forms tunes, whether he
adapts them to particular words or not.
. One who quiets or calms ; one who ad-
justs a diflerence.
€OMPO'SlNG, ppr. Placing together ;
forming ; constituting ; writing an
ginal work ; quieting ; settling ; adjust-;
ing ; setting types.
eOMPO'SING-STlCK, n. Among printers}
an instrument on which types arc set
from the cases, adjusted to the length ot^
the lines.
COMPOSITE, a. In architecture, the Com-|
posite order is the last of the five orders
of columns ; so called because its capital
is composed out of those of the other or-j
ders or columns, borrowing a quarter-
round from the Tuscan and Doric, a row
of leaves from the Corinthian, and vo-1
lutes from the Ionic. Its cornice has sim-'
pie modiUions or dentils. It is called also
the Roman or th» Italic order. Encyc.
Composite numbers are such us can be meas-'
ured exactly by a number exceeding uni-
ty, as 6 by 2 or 3 ; so that 4 is the lowest
composite number. Composite numbers
between themselves, are those which have
a common measure besides unity ; as 12
and 15, both which are measm-ed by 3. j
Enci/c'
COMPOSI'TION, n. s as z. In a general
sense, the act of composing, or that which
is composed ; the act of forming a whole
or integral, by placing together and unit-!
ing difi'erent things, parts or ingredients ;
or tlie whole body, mass or compound,
thus formed. Thus we speak of the com-^
position of medicine.', by mixing divers in-
gredients, and call the whole mixture a
composition. A composition of sand and
clay is used for luting chiniical vessek.
Vast pillars of stone, cased over with a coni-
position that looks Uke marble. Addison}
Heat and vivacity, in age, is an excellent
composition for business Bacon
2. In literature, the act of inventing or com-
bining ideas, clothing them with words,
arranging them in order, and in general,
committing them to paper, or otherwise
writing them. Hence,
3. A written or printed work ; a writing,
pamphlet or book. Addison.
4. In music, the act or art of forming tunes ;|
or a tune, song, anthem, air, or other mu-
sical piece.
5. The state of being placed together ; un-
ion ; conjunction ; combination.
Contemplate things first in tiicir simple na-
tures, and then view them in composition.
Trails.
6. The disposition or arrangement of figures
connected in a picture.
By composition is meant the distribution and
orderly placing of things, both in general andl
particular. Vryd'
7. Adjustment ; orderly disposition. Benj
Jonson speaks of the composition of ges-
ture, look, pronunciation and motion, in <
preacher.
8. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions'
C O M
for the settlement of a difference or con-
troversy.
Thus we are agreed ;
I crave our composition may be written.
Shak.
9. Mutual agreement for the discharge of a
debt, on terms or by means different from
those required by the original contract, or
by law, as by the payment of a different
sura, or by making other compensation.
Hence, the sum so paid, or compensation
given, in lieu of that stipulated or required.
A real composition is when an agreement is
made between the owner of lands and the par-
son or vicar, widi the consent of the ordinary and
the patron, that such lands shall (or the future be
disch;u-gcd from die payment of titJies, by rea-
son of some land or other real recompense giv-
en to the parson, in lieu and satisfaction thereof.
Blackstone.
A bankrupt is cleared by a commission
of bankruptcy, or by composition with his
creditors.
10. Consistency ; congruity. ^Little vsed.]
Shak.
11. The act of uniting simple ideas in a com-
plex idea or conception ; opposed to anal-
ysis. jYewlon.
12. The joining of two words in a com-
pound, as in book-case ; or the act of form-
ing a word with a prefix or aflix, which
varies its signification ; as return, from
turn i preconcert, from concert; endless from
end.
13. The synthetical method of reasoning ;
synthesis ; a method of reasoning from
known or admitted truths or principles, as
from axioms, postulates or propositions
previously demonstrated, and from these
deducing a clear knowledge of the thing
to be proved ; or the act of collecting scat-
tered parts of knowledge, and combining
them into a system, so tliat the understand-
ing is enabled distinctly to follow truth
through its different stages of gradation.
This method of reasoning is opposed to
analysis or resolution. It begins with
first principles, and by a train of reason-
ing from them, deduces the propositions or
truths sought. Composition or synthesis
proceeds by collecting or combining ; anal-
ysis or resolution, by separating or unfold-
ing. Harris. Encyc.
14. In printing, the act of setting types or
characters in the composing-stick, to form
lines, and of an-anging the hnes in a gal-
ley, to make a column or page, tmd from
this to make a form.
15. In chimist?-!/, the combination of different
substances, or substances of different na-
tures, by affinity ; from which results a
compound substance, differing in proper-
ties irom either of the component parts.
Thus water is a compucition of hydrogen
and oxvgen, which are invisible gases.
COMPOS'lTOR, n. s as z.. In printing, one
who sets types, and makes up the pages
and forms.
2. One who sets in order.
COMPOS'SIBLE, a. [con and possible.]
Consistent. [Xot used.] Chilhngworth.
COM'POST, 71. [It. composta; L. composi-
turn, from compono. See Compose.]
In agriculture, a mixture or composition of
various manuring substances for fertilizing
land. CompoBt may be made by almost
C O M
COM
C O M
every animal and vegetable substance in
nature, with lime or other earthy matter.
COM'POST, V. t. To manure with compost.
Bacon.
€OMPOS'TURE, n. Soil; manure. [JVbt
used.] Sha/f.
eOMPO'SURE, n. compozlmr. [See Com-
pose.]
1. The act of composinfr, or that which is
composed; a composition; as a form of
prayer of public composure ; a hasty com-
posure.
in the composures of men, remember you
are a man. Watts,
In this use, this word has giveu way to
composition.
2. Composition ; combination ; arrange
ment ; order. [Little used.]
When such a cojupostire of
word, is iuleuiled to signify a cer
letters, such a
tain thing.
Holder.
3. The form, adjustment, or disposition of
the various parts.
In composure of his face,
Lived a lair but manly grace. Crashaw.
The outward form and composure of the
body. Duppa.
4. Frame ; make ; temperament.
His composure must be rare indeed.
Whom these things cannot blemish. Shah.
5. A settled state of the mind ; sedateness
calmness ; tranquility.
Wlien the passions are silent, the mind en-
joys its most perfect composure. Watts
[This is the most common use of this
word.]
G. Agreement ; settlement of differences ;
composition. [lAttle used.]
The treaty at Uxbridge gave the fairest hopi
of a happy composure. JKng Charles
€OMPOTA'TION, n. [L. compotatio ; con
and potatio, from poto, to drink.]
The act of drinking or tippling together.
Brown. Philips.
eOM'POTATOR, n. One who drinks with
another. Pope.
COMPOUND', V. t. [L. compono ; con and
pono, to set or put ; Sp. coinponer ; It. com-
porre, for componerc ; Port, compor.]
1. To mix or unite two or more ingredients
in one mass or body ; as, to compound
drugs.
Whoever compoundeth any like it — slial
cut off from his people. Ex. xxx.
3. To unite or combine.
We have the power of altering and c
pounding images into all the varieties of
ture. Addi
[jVot used.]
Shak.
more words ;
to form one word of two or more.
.5. To settle amicably ; to adjust by agree-
ment ; as a difference or controversy.
Bacon. Shak.
[In this sense we now use compose.]
C. To pay by agreement ; to discharge, as a
debt, by paying a part, or giving an
equivalent different from that stipulated
or required ; as, to compound debts. Gay
But we now use, more generally, to
compound toith. [See the Verb Intransi-
tive.]
To compound felony, is for a person rob-
bed to take the goods again, or other com-
pens.ation, upon an aijreement not to pros-
3. To compose ; to constitute.
4. In grammar, to unite two ot
to form
ecute thetliief or robber. This offense is,
by the laws of England, punishable by
fine and imprisonment. Blackstone.
COMPOUND', !'. i- To agree upon conces-
sion ; to come to terms of agreement, by
abating something of the first demand ;
followed by for before the thing accepted
or reinitted.
They were glad to compound for his bare
commitment to the tower. Clarendon
To bargain in the lump ; to agree ; fol-
lowed by with.
Compound with tliis fellow by the year.
Shak.
:j. To come to terms, by granting something
on each side ; to agree.
Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen for
thirty pounds. Carew.
-Paracelsus and his admirers have compounded
with the Galenists, and brought into practice a
mixed use of chimical medicines. Temph
1. To settle with a creditor by agreement,
and discharge a debt by paying a part of
its amount ; or to make an agreement to
pay a debt by means or in a manner
different from that stipulated or required
by law. A bankrupt may compound mth
his creditors for ten shillings on the pound,
or fifty cents on the dollar. A man may
compound with a parson to pay a sum of
money in lieu of tithes. [See Composition,
No. 9.]
To compound trith a felon, is to take the
goods stolen, or other amends, upoai
agreement not to prosecute him.
Blackstone.
COMPOUND, o. Composed of two or more
ingredients.
Compound substances are made up of two or
more simple substances. Watts.
9. In grammar, composed of two or more
words. Ink-stand, writing-desk, careless-
ness, are compound words.
3. In botany, a compound flower is a species
of aggregate flower, containing several
florets, inclosed in a common perianth, on
a common receptacle, with the anthers
connected in a cylinder, as in the sun-
flower and dandelion. Martyn. Harris.
A compound stem is one that divides into
branches.
A compound leaf connects several leaf-
lets ill one petiole, called a common pe-
tiole.
A compound raceme is composed of seve-
ral racemules or small racemes.
A compound spike is composed of several
spicules or spikelets.
A compound corymb is formed of several
small corymbs.
A compound umbel is one which has all
its rays or peduncles bearing umbellules
or small umbels at the top.
A compound fructification consists of sev-
eral confluent florets ; opposed to simple.
4. Compound interest, is interest upon inter
est ; when the interest of a sum is added
to the princi]ial, and then bears interest ;
or when the interest of a sum is put upoi
interest.
.'>. Compound motion, is that which is effect
ed by two or more conspiring powers
acting in different but not in opposite di
rections.
6. Compound number, is that which may be
divided by some other niinibpr besides
unity, without a remainder ; as 18, which
may be divided by 2, 6 and 9.
7. Compound ratio, is that which the pro-
duct of tlie antecedents of two or more ra-
tios has to the product of their conse-
quents. Thus 6 to 72 is in a ratio
compounded of 2 to 6, and of 3 to 12.
8. Compound quantities, in algebra, are such
as are joined by the signs -f and — plus
and minus, and expressed by more letters
than one, or by the same letters unequally
repeated. Thus a-|-i — c, and bb — h, are
compound quantities. Bailey.
9. Compound larceny, is that which is accom-
panied with the aggravation of taking
goods from one's liouse or person.
Blackstone.
COM'POUND, n. A mass or body formed
by the union or mixture of two or more
ingredients or different substances ; the
result of composition.
Man is a compound of flesh and spirit.
South,
npound of lime, sand and
Capable of being
od.
Mortar is a (
water.
COMPOUND'ABLE,
compounded. Sherwood
COMPOUND'ED, pp. Made up of different
materials ; mixed ; formed by union of two
or more substances.
COMPOUND' ER, n. One who compounds
or mixes different things.
Oiie who attempts to bring parties to
terms of agreement. ILitlle used.]
Sivijl.
COMPOUNDING, ppr. Uniting different
substances in one body or mass; forming
a mixed body ; agreeing by concession, or
abatement of demands ; discharging a debt
by agreement to pay less than the origi-
nal sum, or in a different manner.
COMPREHEND', v. t. [L. comprehendo ; con.
and prehendo, to seize or grasp ; It. com-
prendere, prendere ; Sp. Port, comprehen-
der, prender ; Fr. comprendre, prendre.
This word is a compound of the Latin
con and pra, and the Saxon hendan or hen-
tan, to take or seize ; ge-hentan, id. Hence
forehend, in Spenser.]
Literally, to take in ; to take with, or to-
gether.
1. To contain ; to include ; to comprise.
The empire of Great Britain comprehends
England, Scotland and Ireland, with their de-
pendencies.
2. To imply; to contain or include by impli-
cation or construction.
If there be any other commandment, it is
briefly comprehended in this saying, thou shall
love thy neighbor as thyself. Rom. xiii.
3. To understand ; to conceive ; that is, to
tiike, hold or contain in the mind ; to pos-
sess or to have in idea ; according to the
])opular phrase, " I take your meaning."
God doeth great things, which we cannot
comprehend. Job xxxvii.
It is not always safe to disbelieve a proposi-
tion or statement, because we do not compre-
hend it.
eOMPHKIlF.MI'En, pp. Contained; in
cliidc-il ; Iiii|iIh'(I ; iinilerstood.
CO.Ml'RKilK.MH.NC;,;)/!)-. Including; com
prising ; Mn(hn>taii(hng ; implying.
COMPJIEIIEN'SIBLE, a. [L. comprehensi-
bilis.]
1. That may be comprehended, or included ;
pos.sjble to bo comprised.
C O M
COM
C U M
S. Capable of being understood; intelligible
conceivable by the mind.
COMPK EHEN'SIBLENESS, n. Capability
of being understood. More
€OMPR£HEN'.SIBLY, adv. With great
extent of embrace, or comprehension
with large extent of signification ; in s
manner to comprehend a large circuit.
Tlie words wisdom and righteousness arc com-
monly used very comprehe7mbly, so as to sig-
nify all religion and virtue. Tillotaon.
This word is rarely used. [See Com-
prehensively.]
COMPREIIEN'SION, 71. [L. comprehensio.]
The act or quality of comprehending, or
containing ; a comprising.
In tlie OUI Testament there is a close
prehension of the J\'ew ; in the J\'ew, an open
discovery of the Old. Hooker.
2. An including or containing within a nar-
row compass ; a summary ; an epitome or
compend.
This wise and religious aphorism in the text
is the sum and comprehension of all the ingre
dients of human happiness. Rogers
3. Capacity of the mind to understand; pow
er of the understanding to receive ane
contain ideas; capacity of knowing.
The nature of spirit is not within our cofnpre
hension.
4. In rhetoric, a trope or figure, by which the
name of a whole is |)ut for a part, or that
of a part for a whole, or a definite number
for an indefinite. Han-is.
eOMPREHEN'SIVE, a. Having the quali-
ty of comprising much, or including a great
extent ; extensive ; as a comprehensive char-
ity ; a comprehensive view. It seems some-
times to convey the sense of comprehend-
ing much in a small compass.
2. Having the power to comprehend or un-
derstand many things at once ; as a com-
prehensive head. Pope.
COMPREHEN'SIVELY, ndv. In a loni-
prehensive manner ; with great extent of
embrace.
€OMPREIIEN'SIVENESS, n. Tbequalily
of being comprehensive, or of including
much extent ; as the comprehensiveness of
a view.
2. The quality of including much in a few
words or narrow compass.
Compare the beauty and comprehensiveness
of legends on ancient roins. Addisnn.
eOMPREHEN'SOR, n. One who has ob-
tained knowledge. [jXol in xise.] Hall.
eOMPRESBYTE'RIAL, a. Pertaining to
thepresbytcrian form of ecclesiastical min-
istration. Milton.
COMPRESS', I', t. [L. compressiis, compri-
mo ; con and premo, pressus, to ))ress. But
the verb premo and participle pressus may
be from different roots. Fr. prcsser ; D.
pressen ; Sp. apretar, and prensar. See
Press.]
i. To press together by external force; to
force, urge or drive into a narrower com-
pass ; to crowd ; as, to compress air.
Tlie weight of a thousand atmospheres will
compress water twelve and a half per cent.
Perkins.
2. To embrace carnally. Pope.
3. To crowd; to bring within narrow hmiis
or space.
Events of centuries — compressed within the
compass of a single life. D. Webster.
■COM' PRESS, n. In surgery, a bolster of soft
linen cloth, with several folds, used by sur
geons to cover a plaster or dressing, V
keep it in its place and defend the part
from the external air. Encyc.
COMPRESS'ED, pp. Pressed or squeezed
together ; forced into a narrow or narrow-
er compass ; embraced carnally.
2. In botany, flatted ; having the two oppositf
lides ])lane or flat ; as a compressed stem.
Martyn
COMPRESSIBILITY, n. The quahtyof
being compressible, or yielding to press
ure ; the quality of being capable of com
pression into a smaller space or compass
as the compressibility of elastic fluids, or of
any soft substance.
COMPRESS'IBLE, a. Capable of being
forced or driven into a narrower compass ;
yielding to pressure ; giving way to a force
applied.
Elastic fluids are compressible. Water is
compressible in a small degree.
COMPRESS'IBLENESS, n. Compressibil-
ity ; the quality of being compressible.
eOMPRES'SION, n. The act of compress-
ing, or of pressing into a narrower com-
pass ; the act of forcing the parts of a body
into closer union, or density, by the appli-
cation of force.
2. The state of being compressed.
COMPRESSIVE, a. Having power to com-
I>ress. Smith.
COMPRES'SURE, n. The act or force of
one body pressing against another ; press-
ure. Boijle.
COM'PRIEST, n. A fellow priest. [.Vol in
ttse.] Milton.
COMPRINT', V. {. [See Print.] T.. print
together. It is taken, in law, for the il< -
ceitful printing of another's copy, or licdk,
to the prejudice of the projn-ietor. [LillU
used.] Philips
tOMPRI'SAL, n. The act of comprising 01
comprehending. Barrow.
COMPRI'Sf:, V. t. s as z. [Fr. compris, par-
ticiple of comprendre, L. comprehendo. See
Comprehend.]
To comprehend ; to contain ; to include ; as,
the substance of a discourse may be com-
pi-ised in a few words.
COMPRI'SED, pp. Comprehended; con-
tained.
COMPRI'SING, ppr. Containing ; inclu-
dnig ; comprehending.
COM PROBATE, v. i. To agree in appro-
ving ; to concur in testimony. Elyot.
COMJ'ROBA'TION, n. [L. comprobalio,
comproho ; con and probo, to prove.]
Proof; joint attestatioji. [Little used.]
Bn
COM'PROMISE, )i. s as z. [L. compromis-
sum, from compromitlo,' to give bond to
stand to an award ; con and promitio, to
promise ; It. compromesso ; Fr. compromis ;
Sp. compromiso. See Promise.]
4. A mutual promise or contract of two par-
ties in controversy, to refer their diflcren-
ces to the decision of arbitrators.
2. An amicable agreement between parties
in controversy, to settle their differences
by mutual concessions.
3. Mutual agreement ; adjustment.
Chipman.
[This is its usual sieni/ication.]
COM'PROMISE, V. t. To adjust and settle
a differcnre by mutual agreement, with
oncessions of claims by the i)arties ; to
onijiound.
2. To agree ; to accord. Shale.
3. To conimit ; to put to hazard ; to pledge
by some act or declaration.
[In this sense, see Conipromit, which is
frenernlly ii.sfi/J
COM PROjMISED, pp. Settled by agree-
COM'PROMISER, n. One who compro-
€OM'PROiMISING, ppr. Adjusting by
agreement.
COMPROMISSO'RIAL, a. Relating to a
comj>romise. Todd.
COM'PROMIT, J'. <. [Fr. compromcttre ; If.
cumpromcttere ; Sp. comprometer ; L. com-
promitto, com and promitto, to promise.]
To pledge or engage, by some act or decla-
ration, which may not be a direct promise,
but which renders necessary some future
act. Hence, to put to hazard, by some pre-
vious act or measure, which cannot be re-
called ; as, to compromit the honor or the
safeU' of a nation.
COM'PROMITED, pp. Pledged by some
previous act or declaration.
COM'PROMITING,/;;w. Pledging; expo-
sing to hazard.
COMPROVIN'CIAL, n. [con and provin-
cial.]
One belonging to the same province or archi-
episcopal jurisdiction. Jlyliffe.
COMPT, n. [Fr. compte, from computo.]
Account; comi)Utati(>n. Obs. Shak.
COMI'T, V. t. To compute. 06.5. [See
Count.]
COMPT, a. [h.comptus.] Neat; spruce.
[.\ht used.]
tOMPT'IBLE, a. Accountable; .subject:
submissive. Obs. Shak.
COJIPT'LY, adv. Neatly. [.\ot in use.]
Sherwood.
COMPT'NESS, 71. Neatness. [Ab< in use.]
Shenoooa.
COMP'TONITE, n. A newly discovered
mineral, found in drusy cavities of masses
ejected from Mount Vesuvius ; so called
from Lord Compton, who brought it to
England in 1818. Ure.
COMPTROLL, from Fr. compter, L. compu-
to, to count or com])ute, and rolle, a regis-
ter. If this word were of geimine origin,
both the verb and its derivative, compt-
roller, as applied to a public ofticer, would
not be sense. But there is no such legiti-
mate word in Engh.sh, nor in any other
known l,ini:iia<Te. [See Control.]
COMPl I,.S ATIVE, I [L. compulsus,
COMPILS'ATORY, P' Iroin compeUo ;
Low L. compulso. See Compel.]
CompeUing ; forcing ; constraining ; opera-
ting bv force. Shak.
COMPULS'ATIVELY, adv. By constraint
or coinpul.sion.
COMPUL'SION, n. [Low L. compulsiu.
See Compel.]
1. The act of driving or urging by force,
physical or moral ; force applied ; con-
straint of the will ; the application of a
force that is irresistible.
If reasons were as plenty as blackberries, I
would give no man a reason on compulsion.
Shak.
A man is excused for acts done through una-
v'oidable force and compulsion. £lackstone.
C O M
CON
CON
2. The state of being compelled or urged by
violence.
COMPUL'SIVE, a. Having power to com-
pel ; driving ; forcing ; constraining ; ap-
plying force.
Uniformity of opinions cannot be cITected by
compulsive lueasures.
eOMPUL'SlVELY, adv. By compulsion;
by force.
COMPUL'SIVENESS, n. Force; com-
pulsion.
COMPULS'ORILY, adv. In a compulsory
manner ; by force or constraint.
COMPULSORY, a. Having the power or
(juality of compelling ; applying force ;
driving by violence ; constraining.
In the correction of vicious propensities, il
may be necessary to resort to compulsory meas-
ures.
COMPUNCTION, n. [L. compimclio, com-
fungo ; con and pungo, to prick or sting;
t. compunzione, compugnere, or compun-
gere ; Sp. compuncion ; Fr. componction.
See Pungency.^
1. A pricking ; stimulation ; irritation ; sel-
dom used in a literal sense. Broion. I
2. A pricking of heart ; poignant grief or re-
morse proceeding from a consciousness of
guilt ; the pain of soitow or regret for
having offended God, and incurred his
wrath ; the sting of conscience proceeding
from a conviction of having violated a
moral duty.
He acknowledged bis disloyalty to the king,
with expressions of great compunction.
Clarendon.
COMPUN€'TIOUS, a. Pricking the con-
science ; giving pain for offenses commit-
ted.
Let no com/junf (io«s visiiings of nature
Sliake my fell purpose. Shak.
COMPUN€'TIVE, a. Causing remorse.
Johnson.
COMPU'PIL, n. A fellow-pupil. [Little
used.'] Walton.
€OMPURGA'TION, n. [L. compurgo ; con
and purgo, to purify.]
In law,the actor practice of justifying a man
by the oath of others who swear to their
belief of his veracity ; wager of law, in
which a man who has given security to
make his law, brings into court eleven of
his neighbors, and having made oath him-
self that he does not owe the plaintiff, the
eleven neighbors, called compurgators,
avow on their oaths that they believe in
their consciences he has affirmed the
truth. Blackslone.
€OMPURGA'TOR, n. One who bears tes-
timony or swears to the veracity or inno-
cence of another. [See Compurgation.]
COMPU'TABLE, a. [See Compute.] Capa-
ble of being computed, niunbered or reck-
oned. Hale.
COMPUTATION, n. [L. computatio, fionj
compuio. See Compute.]
1. The act of computing, numbering, reck-
oning or estimating ; the process by which
iVifferent sums or particulars are number-
ed, estimated, or compared, with a view to
ascertain the amount, aggregate, or other
result depending on such sums or particu-
lars. We find by computation the quan-
tity of provisions necessary to sujiport an
army for a year, and the amount of money
to i)ay them ; nuiking- the ration and pay
of each man the basis of the computation.
By computations of time or years, we ascer-
tain the dates of events.
2. The sum, quantity or amount asce4-tained
by computing, or reckoning.
We pass for women of fifty : many additional
years are thrown into femaJe compulations ofi
this nature. Addison.
3. Calculation.
COMPU'TE, v.t. [L.computo; con and puto,
to lop or prune ; to think, count, reckon ;
to cast up. The sense is probably to cast
or throw together.]
1. To number ; to count ; to reckon ; to cast
together several sums or particulars, to
ascertain the amount or aggregate. Com-
pute the quantity of water that will fill a
vessel of certain dimensions, or that will
cover the surface of the earth. Com-
pute the expenses of a campaign. Com-
pute time by weeks or days.
2. To cast or estimate in the mind; to esti-
mate the amount by known or supposed
data.
3. To calculate.
COMPU'TE, ?i. Computation. [ATot used.]
Brown.
COMPU'TED, pp. Counted ; numbered ;
"reckoned ; estimated.
COMPU'TER, n. One who computes ; a
reckoner ; a calculator. Suriji.
COMPU'TING,^;jr. Counting; numbering;
reckoning ; estimating.
A computer. [JVo< used.]
COM'PUTIST,'
ffotton
COM'RADE, 71. [Fr. camarade ; It. camera-
ta ; S[). camarada ; Vort. camarada ; from
camara, camera, a chamber.]
Literally, one who lodges in the same room.
Hence in a more general sense, a fellow, a
mate or companion ; an associate in occu-
pation.
COM'ROGUE, )i. A fellow rogue. [Ml in
use.] B. Jonson.'
CON. A Latin inseparable preposition orj
prefix to other words. Ainsworth re-j
marks that con and cum, have the same sig-
nification, but that cum is used separately,
and con in composition. Con and cum may)
be radically distinct words. The Irisli!
comh, or coimh, is equivalent to the Latinj
con ; and the Welsh cym, convertible into!
cyv, apjieai-s to be the same word, dcno-j
ting, says Owen, a mutual act, quality or|
effect. It is precisely equivalent to thel
Latin com, in comparo, compono, and the
Latin com, in composition, may be the Cel-j
tic comh or cym. But generally it seemsj
to be con, changed into cojn. Ainsworth;
deduces cum frou) the Greek ow ; for ori-
ginally it was written cyn. But this is;
probably a mistake. |
Con coincides in radical letters and in slg-l
nification with the Teutonic gaiii, gen,
gean, igen, igien, in the English again,l
against ; Sax. gean, ongean ; Sw. igen ;\
Dan. igien. Whatever m<iy be its origin
or affinities, the primary sense of the word|
is probably from some root that signifies^
to meet or oppose, or turn and meet ; to ap-,
proach to, or to be with. This is the radi-
cal sense of most prepositions of the like
import. Sec the Enghsh with, again. So
in Irish, coinne, a meeting ; os coinne, op-
posite.
Cov, in comjiounds, is changed into / before
/, as in colligo, to collect, aud into m before
a labial, as in comparo, to compare. Be-
fore a vowel or h, the n is dropped ; as in
coalesco, to coalesce, to cooperate ; cohibeo,
to restrain. It denotes union, as in cow
join ; or opposition, as in conflict, contend.
Qu. W. gan, with.
CON, [abbreviated from Latin contra.
against.] In the phrase, pro and con, for
and against, con denotes the negative side
of a question. As a noun, a person who
is in the negative ; as tlie pros and cons.
CON, II. t. [Sax. cennan, connan, cunnan, to
know, to be able, to be skilful or wise ; and
cennan, to bear or bring forth, Gr. yfi-vow:
and cunnian, to try, to attempt, to prove,
L. Conor ; whence cunning, skilfiil, expe-
rienced, or skill, experience ; the latter
word, cunnian, coincides in sense with
Sax. ctTigtnnaw, ong^nnara, to begin, to try.
to attempt, L. Conor. D. kcnnen, to know,
iniderstand or be acquainted ; kunnen, to
be able, can, to know or understand, to hold
or contain ; the last signification coinci-
ding with the W. ganu, to contain. G.
kennen, to know ; and konnen, to be able.
Dan. kan, to be able, pret. kunde, whence
kundskab, knowledge, skill, ex-jierience.
Sw. kiinna, to know ; kuna, to be able, to
be skilled, to know. The primary sense
is, to strain or stretch, which gives the
sense of strength, power, as in can, and of
holding, containing, comprehending, as
contain, from contineo, teneo, Gr. iitva, L.
tendo. And this signification connects
the.se words with gin, in its compounds,
begin, Sax. bcginnan, anginnan, &c., to
strain, to try, to stretch forward and make
an effort ; also with the Greek ytvvaa, L.
gignor, to beget or to bring forth. See
Class Gn. No. 29. 36. 40. 42. 45. 58. In
the sense of know, con signifies to hold or
to reach.]
1. To know: Obs.
" I conne no skill."' Spenser.
" I shall not co)i?!£ answer." I shall not
know or be able to answer. Chaucer.
2. To make one's self mpster of; to fix in the
mind or commit to memory-, as, to con a
lesson. jiliUon. Holder.
To con thanks, to be pleased or obhged, or
to thank. Obs. Chaucer. Shak.
CONA'TUS, n. [L.] Effort ; attempt.
Paley.
i. The tendency of a body towards any
l)oijit, or to pursue its course in the same
line of direction. Paley.
CONCAM'ER.\TE, v. t. [L. concamero, to
arch ; con and camera, an arch, arched
roof, or chamber.]
To arch over ; to vault ; to lay a conca\ e
over : as a concamerated bone. Grew.
CONCAM'ERATED, pp. Arched over.
CONCAMER A TION, n. An arching ; an
arch or vault. Glanville.
CONCAT'ENATE, i>. t. [It. concatenare, to
link together ; concatenato ; Low Lat. con-
catenatus ; con and catena, a chain ; Sp.
concadenar, and encadenar, from cadcna.
Fr. cadene, a chain.]
To link together ; to unite in a successive
series or chain, as things depending on
each other. Harris.
CONCAT'ENATED,;)/>. Linked together;
united in a series.
CONCATENATION, n. A series of links
CON
CON
CON
uiiited ; a successive series or order of]
things connected or depending on each
other ; as a concatenation of causes
■60NCAUSE, n. Joint cause. [Ao< used.]
Fotherbij.
C0N€AVA'T10N, n. [See Concave.] The
act of making concave.
CON'CAVE, a. [L. concavus ; con and ca-
vus, hollow. See Cave.]
1. Hollow, and arched or rounded, as the
inner surface of a spherical body ; opposed
to convex ; as a concave glass.
'i. Hollow, in a general sense ; as the cdncave
shores of the Tiber. Shak
3. In botany, a concave leaf is one whose
edge stands above the disk. Martyn.
CON'CAVE, n. A hollow; an arch, or
vault ; as the ethereal concave.
CON'€AVE, V. t. To make hollow. Setvard.
€ON'CAVENESS, n. Hollowness.
CON€AV'ITV, n. [It. concaiith ; Ft. con-
caviU ; Sp. concandad.]
Hollowness ; the internal surface of a hol-
low spherical body, or a body of other fig-
ure ; or the space within such bodv.
'H'oUon.
CON€A'VO-€ON'€AVE, a. Concave or
hollow on both surfaces.
<:ON€A'VO-€ON'VEX, a. Concav
one side, and convex on the other.
Convex.]
CONCA'VOUS, a. [L. concavus.] Concave,
which see.
CON€A'VOUSLY, adv. With hollowness;
in a manner to discover the internal sur-
face of a hollow sphere.
■CONCE'AL, v. t. [Low L. conceh ; con and
celo, to v.ithhold from sight ; Sax. helan.
hcdan, gekitlan, gehelan, to heal anti to
conceal ; G. hehlen, to conceal, and heilen,
to heal ; D. heden, to heal and to conceal
Dan. hmler, to conceal ; W. celtt, to hide
Fr.celer; It. celare ; Sp. collar, to keep
silence, to dissemble, to al)ate, to grow
oalm; Port, calar, to conceal or keep
close, to pull or let down, " cala a boca,"
hold your peace ; also intransitive, to be
still or quiet, to keep silence ; coinciding
in origin with whole, all, holy, hold, &c.
The primary sense is to strain, hold, stop,
restrain, make fast or strong, all from the
same root as the Shemitic So, nSj, Mc^
'n^!\, Gr. xuMu. Class Gl. No. 3a. .30.]
. To keep close or secret : to forbear to
disclose ; to withhold from utterance or
declaration ; as, to conceal one's thoughts
or opinions.
I have not concealed tlie words of tlie Holv
One. Job vi.
8. To hide ; to withdraw from observation ;
to cover or keep from sight.
What profit is it if we slay our brother anc
conceal his blood ? Gen. xxxvii.
A party of men concealed themselves be-
hind a wall. A mask conceals the face.
CONCE'ALABLE, a. That may be con-
cealed, hid or kept close. Brown
■eONCE'ALED, ;)jo. Kept close or secret;
hid ; withdrawn from sight ; covered.
CONCE'ALER, «. One who conceals; ai
the concealer of a crime. Clarendon
€ONCE'ALING, ppr. Keeping close or
secret; forbouriiig to disclose; hiding
covering.
Vol. I.
CONCE'ALING, n. A hiding ; a withhold
ing from disclosure.
eONCE'ALMENT, n. Forbearance of dis
closure; a keeping close or secret ; as th(
concealment of opinions or passions.
2. The act of hiding, covering, or withdraw-
ing from sight ; as the concealnunt of the
face by a mask, or of the i>crson by any
cover or shelter.
3. The state of being hid or concealed ; pri-
vacy ; as a project formed in concealment.
. The place of hiding ; a secret place ; re-
treat from observation ; cover from sight.
The cleft tree
Offers its kind concealment to a few,
Their food its insects, and its moss their nests.
Th,„„snn.
eONCE'DE, v. t. [L. concedo ; con and cedo.
to yield, give way, depart, desist ; It. ron-
cedere, cedere ; Sp. conceder, ccder ; Fr. con-
ceder, ceder ; Ir. ceadaighim ; W. gadael, and
gadaw, to quit or leave, to permit. The
preterite cessi indicates that this word ni.ny
be from a root in Class Gs. See that Class
No 67. Samaritan. Sec also Class Gd.,
Cede, and Cong'e.]
1. To yield ; to admit as true, just or proper ;
to grant ; to let pass undisputed ; as, this
must not be conceded without Umitation.
Boyle.
The advocate concedes the point in ques-
tion.
To allow ; to admit to be true.
We concede that their citizens were Ihosei
who lived under different forms. Burhe.'.
eONCE'DED, pp. Yielded ; admitted
granted ; as, a question, proposition, fact or
statement is conceded.
eONCE'DING, pi)r. Yielding; admitting
grantinir.
€ONCE'iT, 71. [It. concetto ; Sp. concepto ;
Von. concetto ; L. conceptus, froin concipio.
to conceive ; co7i and capio, to take oi
seize.]
1. Conception ; that which is conceived, hn-
agined, or formed in the mind ; idea ;
thought ; image.
In lau»;hing there ever precedeth a conceit
of somewhat ridiculous, and therefore it is prop-
er to man. Hacon
2. Understanding; power or faculty of con-
ceiving ; apprehension ; as a man of quick
conceit. [J\early antiquated.]
How often did her eyes say to me, that tlicy
loved ! yet I , not looking for such a matter, had
not my conceit open to understand them.
Sidney.
Opinion ; notion ; fancy ; imagination ;
fantastic notion ; as a strange or odd con-
ceit.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ?
there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Prov. xxvi.
4. Pleasant fancy ; gayety of imagination.
On the way to the gibbet, a freak took hun in
the head to go off with a conceit. L'E.-itrange.
5. A striking thought ; aflected or unnatural
conception.
Some to conceit alone their works confine.
Pope.
fi. Favorable or self-flattering opinion ; a lofty
or vain conception of one's own person or
accomplishments.
By a little study and a great conceit of himself.
he has lost his religion. Bentley.
Out of conceit irith, not having a favorable
opinion of; no longer pleased with ; as, a'
44
man is out of conceit urith his dress. Hence
to pvt o)ie o!(/ of coticeit with, is to make
him indifl'iM-ent to a thing, or in a degrcn
displeased with it. TUlotson. .9ict/?.
CONCE'IT, r. ^ To conceive; to imagine;
j to think ; to fancy
The strong, by conceiting themselves weak,
I are thereby rendered inactive. South.
iCONCE'ITED, ;»;;. Conceived; imagined;
I fancied.
j2. part. a. Endowed with fancy, or ima-
I gination. Obs. KnoUts.
3. a. Entertaining a flattering opinion of
one's self; having a vain or too high con-
ception of one's own person or accom-
plishn)cnts; vain.
If you think me too conceited.
Or to passion quickly healed. Swifl.
Followed by of before the object of
conceit.
The Athenians were conceited of their own
wit, science and politeness. Bentley.
CONCEITEDLY, adv. In a conceited
manner; fancifully; whimsically.
Conceitedly dress her. Donne.
eONCE'ITE'DNESS, ji. The state of being
conceited; conceit ; vanity ; an overween-
ing fondness of one's own iierson or en-
dowments. Collier.
eONCE'ITLESS, a. Of dull conception ;
stupid; dull of apprehension. [Xotinuse.]
Shak.
CONCEIVABLE, a. [Fr. concevahk ; It.
concepibiie ; Sp. conceplible. See Conceive.]
1. That may be imagined, or thought j capa-
ble of being framed in the mind by the
fancy or imagination.
If it were possible to contrive an invention,
whereby any conceivable weight may be moved
by any conctivable power. Wilhins.
2. That may be understood or believed.
It is not conceivable, that it should be the
very person, whose shajje and voice it assumed.
Mterbury.
CONCE'IVABLENESS, n. The quality of
being conceivable.
CONCE'IVABLY, adv. In a conceivable or
intelligible manner.
CONCE'IVE, V. t. [Fr. concevoir ; It. conce-
pire ; Sp. concebir ; Port, conceber ; L. con-
cipio ; con and capio, to take.]
To receive into the womb, and breed ; to
begin the formation of the embryo or
fetus of an animal.
Then shall she be free and conceive seed.
Num. V. Heb. xi.
Elisabeth hath conceived a son in her old aec.
Luke i.
In sin did my mother conceive me. Ps. li.
2. To form in the mind ; to imagine; to de-
They conceive mischief and bring fortli vanitj .
Job XV.
Nebuchadnezzar hath conceived a purpose
against you. Jer. xlix.
3. To form an idea in the mind; to under-
stand ; to comprehend.
We cannot co7iceive the maimer in which
spirit operates upon matter.
4. To think ; to be of opinion ; to have an
idea ; to imagine.
You can hardly conceive this man to have
been bred in the same climate. Swift.
CONCEIVE, V. i. To have a fetus formed
m the womb ; to breed ; to become preg-
nant.
Thou shall conceive and bear a son. Judges
C O N
CON
CON
2. To think ; to have a conception or idea.
Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in
their own natures. Waits.
The grieved coinmous
Hardly conceive of inc. Shak.
ii. To untlerstand ; to cotnprehend ; to have
a complete idea of; as, I cannot conceive
by what means this event has been pro-
duced.
CONCE'IVED, pp. Formed in the womb ;
framed in liie mind ; devised ; imagined ;
understood.
€ONCE'IVER, n. One that conceives
one that comprehends.
CONCEIVING, ppr. Forming a fetus ii;
the womb; framing in the mind ; imagin-
ing; devi.sing ; tliinking; comprehending
CONCE'IVING, n. Apprehension ; concep-
tion. Slutk.
eONCEL'EBRATE, v. f. To celebrate to-
gether. [JVot used.] Sherwood.
CONCENT', n. [L. concentus, from concino,
to sing in accordance ; con and eano, to
sing.]
1. Concert of voices ; concord of sounds ;
harmony; as a concent of notes. Bacon.
2. Consistency ; accordance ; as, in concent
to a man's own principles. Alterhm-y.
eONCENT'ED, part. a. Made to accord.
Spenser.
CONCEN'TER, v. i. [Fr. concentrer; It.
concentrare ; Sp. and Port. concen(rar; con
and L. centrum, a center; Gr. xivtpoi', a
goad, a sharp point, a center; xivtiu, to
prick or goad. The primary sense is a
point.]
To come to a point, or to meet in a common
center; used of converging lines, or other
things that meet in a point.
All these are like so many lines drawn from
several objects, that iu some way relate to him,
and concenter in him. Hale.
CONCEN'TER, v. t. To draw, or direct to
a common center ; to bring to a point ; as
two or more lines or other things.
The having a part less to animate, will serve
to concenter the spirits, anil make them more
active in the rest. Decay of Piety.
CONCEN'TERED, pp. Brought to a com-
mon center ; united in a point.
CONCEN'TERING, ppr. Tending to a
common center ; bringing to a center.
CONCENT'FUL, a. Harmonious.
Fotherby.
eONCEN'TRATE, t'. t. [See Concenter.]
To bring to a common center, or to a closer
union ; to cause to approach nearer to a
point, or center ; to bring nearer to each
other; as, to concentrate particles of salt by
evaporating the water that holds them in
solution ; to concentrate the troops in an
army ; to concentrate rays of light into
focus.
CONCEN'TR.'VTED,^;). Brought to a point
or center ; brought to a closer union ; re
duced to a narrow compass ; collected into
a closer body.
€0NCEN'TR:ATING, ppr. Bringing to a
point or to closer union ; collecting into
a closer body, or narrow compass.
eONCENTRA'TlON, n. The act of con
centrating; the act of bringing nearer to
, gether; collection into a central point
compression into a narrow space ; the
state of being brought to a point.
Note. The verb conce7itrate is sometimes
tented on the first syllable. The reason
with the primary accent on the first syllabic
and a secondary accent on the third, the pro-
nunciation of the participles, concentrating,
concentrated, is much facilitated.
eONCEN'TRI€, a. [It. concentrico ; Fr
concentrique ; L. concenlricus ; con and cen
tram, center.]
Having a common center; as the concentnc]
coats of an onion ; the concentric orbits of]
the planets.
eONCENT'UAL, a. [from concent.] Har-
monious ; accordant. ff'arton.
€ONCEP'TA€LE, n. [L. concejitacuhim
from concipio. See Conceive.]
1. That ill which any thing is contained ; t
vessel ; a receiver, or receptacle.
Woodward.
2. In botany, a follicle ; a pericarp of one
valve, opening longitudinally on one side
and having the seeds loose in it. Martyn.
eONCEF'TIBLE, a. [See Conceivable.]
That may be conceived ; conceivable ; Intel
ligible. [JVot used.] Hale
eONCEP'TION, n. \\.. conceptio, from
concipio. See Conceive. It. cojicc: '
Sp. concepcion ; Fr. conception.]
1. The act of conceiving ; the first formation
of the embryo or fetus of an animal.
I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and tliycmi-
crption. Gen. iii.
2. The state of being conceived.
Joy had the like conception in our eyes.
Shak.
i. In pneiimatology, apprehension of any
thing by the mind ; the act of conceiving
in the mind; that mental act or combina-
tion of acts by which an idea or notion is
formed of an absent object of perception,
or of a sensation formerly felt. When we
sec an object with our eyes ojieu, we have
a perception of it; when the same object
is presented to the mind with the eyes
shut, in idea only or in memory, we have
a conception of it.
Kaims. Stewart. Encyc.
4. Conception may be sometimes used for
the power of conceiving ideas, as when
we say, a thing is not within our concep-
tion. Some writers have defined concep-
tion as a distinct faculty of the mind; but
it is considered by others as memory, and
perhaps with propriety.
5. Purpose conceived ; conception with ref-
erence to the performance of an act.
Shak.
G. Apprehension ; knowledge.
And as if beasts conceived what reason were.
And that conception should distinctly show.
Dailies
7. Conceit ; affected sentiment, or thought,
He is too full of conceptions, points of c])!-
gram, and witticisms. Dryden
€ONCEP'TIOUS, a. Apt to conceive;
fruitful ; pregnant. [.Vo< noie used.]
Shak
eONCEP'TIVE, a. Capable of conceiving
[lAttle used.'] Brown
CONCERN', V. t. [Fr. concerner ; It. con-
cernere ; Sp. eoncemir ; to concern, to re-
gard, to belong to ; L. Latin
con and cerno, to separate, sift, divide
see. If this is the true origin, as I sup-
pose, the primary sense is, to reach or
extend to, or to look to, as we use
gard.]
1. To relate or belong to.
Preaching the kingdom of God and teach
3. To relate or belong to, in an emphatical
manner; to affect the interest of; to be of
importance to.
Our wars with France have affected us in our
most tender interests, and concerned us more
than those with any other nation. Addison .
It much concerns us to secure the favor and
protection of God. Anon.
3. To interest or affect the passions ; to take
an mterest in ; to engage by feeling or
sentiment.
A good prince concerns liimself in the hap
piness of his subjects.
A kind parent concerns himself in the virtuour;
education of his children.
They tliink themselves out of the reach of
Providence, and no longer concerned to soli-
cit his favor. Sogers.
To disturb; to make uneasy. [Little
used.] Derhanu
5. To intermeddle.
We need not concern ourselves with the affairs
of our neighbors.
CONCERN', n. That which relates or be-
longs to one ; business ; affair ; a very gen-
eral term, expressing whatever occupies
the time and attention, or affects the inter-
ests of a person.
Intermeddle not in the private concerns
of a family. Religion is the main concern
of a rational being. We have no cojicfrn
in the private quarrels of our neighbor.s.
The industrious and prudent occupy their
time with their own concerns.
2. Interest ; importance ; moment ; tliut
which affects the welfare or happiness.
To live in peace, is a matter of no small con
cern to a nation.
Mysterious secrets of a high concern.
And weighty truths, solid convincing sense,
Explained by unaffected eloquence
3. Affection ; regard ; careful regard ; soli-,
citude; anxiety.
Why all this concern for the poor things of
this life?
O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns,
And gentle wishes, follow me to battle.
Addison.
An impenitent man feels no concern for his
soul. .inon.
4. Persons connected in business ; or their
aflairs in general ; as a debt due to the
whole concern ; a los-s affecting the whole
concern. Mercantile Usage.
CONCERN'ED, pp. or a. Interested ; enga-
ged ; having a connection with that which
may affect the interest, welfare or happi-
ness.
All men are concerned in the propagation of
truth.
We are concerned in the virtuous education
of our children.
2. Interested in business; having connection
in business ; as, A is concerned with B in
the East India trade. Of an advocate or
counselor we say, he is concerned in the
cause of A against B.
3. Regarding with care ; solicitous : anxious ;
as, we are concerned for the fate of our
fleet.
CONCERN'EDLY, adv. With affection or
interest. Clarendon.
CONCERNING, ppr. Pertaining to; re-
garding; having relation to.
The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.
Num. X.
CON
1 have accepted thee cancerning lliis tiling
Gen. xix.
This word lias been considered as a jjrepo-
sition, but most improperly : concerning,
when so called, refers to a verb, sentence
or proposition ; as in the first example,
the word applies to the preceding affirma-
tion. The Lord hath spoken good, which
speaking good is concerning Israel. Con-
cerning, in this case, refers to the first
clause of the sentence.
CONCERNMENT, n. The thing in whic
one is concerned or interested ; concern ;
affair; business; interest.
To mix with tliy concernments I desist.
Anilon.
Propositions which extend only to the present
life, are small, compared with those that have ui-
lliieuce upon our everlasting concernments
The great concernment of )
Watts.
th men.
Loclie.
2. A particular bearing upon the interest or
happiness of one; importance; moment.
Experimental truths are matters of great con-
cernment to mankind. Boyle
3. Concern ; interposition ; meddling ; as, the
father had no concernment in the marriage
of his daughter. In this sense, we gener
ally use concern.
4. Emotion of mind ; solicitude ; as, their
ambition is manifijst in their concernment
In this sense, concern is generally used.
CONCERT', V. t. [It. concertare, to contrive
Sp. concertar, to agree, to adjust, to cov-
enant ; Port. id. ; Fr. concerter ; from L. con-
certo, to strive together ; con and certo, tc
strive. The primary sense is to set or act
together.]
To contrive and settle by mutual communi-
cation of opinions or propositions ; to set-
tle or adjust, as a plan or system to be pur-
sued, by conference or agreement of two
or more parties ; as, to concert measures ;
to concert a plan of operations,
CON'CERT, n. Agreement of two or more
in a design or plan ; union formed by mu-
tual communication of opinions and views :
accordance in a scheme ; harmony.
The allies were frustrated for want of concert
in their operations.
The Emperor and the Pope acted in concert.
2. A number or company of musicians, play-
ing or singing the same piece of music at
the same time ; or the music of a compa
ny of players or singers, or of both united
3. A singing in company.
4. Accordance ; harmony.
CONCERTA'TION, n. Strife; contention
[Little used.]
*i CONCERT'O, n. [It.] A piece of music for
a concert. Mason.
CONCES'SION, n. [L. concessio, from con-
cedo. See Cottcede.]
1. The act of granting or yielding; usually
implying a demand, claim, orrequest from
the party to wliom it is made, and thus
distinguisheil i'roiu giving, which is volun-
tary or spontaneou.s.
The concession of these charters was in a
p^irliameiitary way. Hale
2. Tlu! thing yielded ; as, in the treaty of
place, each power made large concessions.
vf. In rhetoric or debate, the yielding, grant
ing, or allowing to the opposite party some
4)oint or fact that may bear dispute, witli
a view to obtain something vvhicli cannot
CON
be denied, or to show that even admitting
the point conceded, the cause is not with
the adverse party, but can be maintained
by the advocate "on other grounds.
. Acknowledgment by way of apology ;
confession of a fault.
CONCES'SIONAUY, a. Yieldingby indul-
gence or allowance.
CONCESSIVE, a. Implying concession;
as a concessive conjunction. howlh.
CONCES'SIVELY, adv. By way of con-
cession or yielding ; by way of admitting
what may be disputable. Brouii.
CONCET'TO, n. [It. See Conceit.] Affect-
ed wit ; conceit. [JVot English, nor in use.]
Shenstone.
CONCH, n. [L. concha; Gt.xoyxri; U. con-
ca ; Sp. concha ; Fr. conque ; probably W.
cocos, cockles, and perhaps allied to cogiaw,
to frown, to knit the brows, that is, to
wrinkle. See Cancer.]
A marine shell.
Adds orient pearls, which from the conchs he
drew. Dryden.
CONClIIF'EROUS,a. {L. concha, shell, and
fero, to bear.] Producing or having shells.
CONClIITE, n. A fossil or petrified conch
or shell. N'al. Hist.
CONCHOID, n. [cmch, supra, and Gr.
60s, form.]
The name of a curve, gives to it by its in-
ventor Nicomedes.
CONClIOID'AL, a. In mineralogy, resem-
bling a conch or marine shell ; having con-
vex elevations and concave depressions,
like shells ; as a conchoidal fracture.^
Kirwan.
CONCHOLOG'ICAL, a. [See Conchotogy.]
Pertaining to conchology.
eONCHOL'.OGlST, n. One ver.sed in the
natural history of shells or shell-fisli; one
who studies tlie nature, properties and
habits of shells and their included ani-
mals.
CONCHOL'OciV, n. [Gr. xoy^^, a shell
and J.oyo5, discourse.]
The dwtrine or science of shells and shell-
fish.
eONCUOM'ETER, ?i. [Gr. xoyx^j, a she[],
and ^frpfw, to measure.]
An instrument for measuring shells.
CONCHY LA'CEOUS, a. [from conch.] Per-
taining to shells ; reseinbhng a shell ; as
conchijlaceoHS impressions. Kinvan,
CONcllYLIOLOuIST, ) from L. conchyli-
CONCHYLIOL'OgY, I U171, a shell-fish,
are sometimes used as synonyms of the
preceding words ; but they are words of
inconvenient length, and useless.
CON'CIATOR, n. In glais-icorhs, the per
son who weighs and proportions the salt
on ashes and sand, and who works and
tempers them. Encyc.
CONCIL'IABLE, n. [L. conciliabulum.] A
small assembly. [JVot in use.] Bacon.
CONCIL'IAR, a. [from L.fo?irt7tU7n, a coun-
cil.] Pertaining or relating to a council.
[Little used.] Baker.
CONCILIATE, V. t. [L. concilio, to draw
or bring together, to unite ; a compound of]
con and calo, Gr. xoUu, to call ; Ch. 'Sdn i)J
Aph., from 'So.xS^ or nSo, to hold orkeep.
to trust, to finish, to call, to thunder ; W.
galw. The primary sense of the root is to
CON
strain, stretch, drive or draw. Calling i>
a straining or driving of voice. See Class
Gl. No. :«. :3G. 48. 49. and see Coj(»t«7.]
1. To lead orilraw to, by moral influence or
power ; to win, gain or engage, as the af-
fections, favor or good will ; as, politeness
and hospitality conciliate affection.
2. To reconcile, or bring to a state of friend-
ship, as persons at variance. We say, an
attempt has been made to conciliate the
contending parties.
CONCIL'IATED, pp. Won ; gained ; en-
gaged by moral influence, as by favor or
affection ; reconcded.
CONCILIATING, ppr. Wiiming; enga-
ging; reconciling.
2. a. Winning ; having the quality of gahi-
iiig favor ; as a conciliating address.
CONCILIA'TION, n. The act of winning
or gaining, as esteem, favor or affection ;
reconciliation.
eONCILIA'TOR, n. One who conciliates
conciles.
CONCILIATORY, a. Tending to concili-
ate, or reconcile ; tending to make peace
between persons at variance ; pacific.
The GeaeK^-TTrxic-^conciliatory proposition?
to the insurgents.
The Legislature adopted conciliatory mea?-
CONCIN'NITY, n. [L. concinnitas, from
concinnus, fit, concinno, to fit or prepare :
either from con and cano, to .sound in ac-
cord ; or the hist constituent of the word
may be the Heb. and Ch. jO to fit or
adapt.]
1. Fitness ; suitableness ; neatness. [Littlf
used.]
•2. A jingling of words. Tynvhitt.
CONCIN'NOUS, a. [L. co7icimms. Set
Concinnity.]
Fit; suitable ; agreeable; becoming; pleas-
ant ; as a concinnous interval in music ; a
concinnous system. Encyc.
CONCIONA'TOR, n. [Infra.] A preacher.
[JVo< in use.]
CON'CIONATORY, a. [L. concionatorius.
from conci'o, an assembly.)
Used in preaching or discourses to public as-
semblies. Howel.
CONCI'SE, a. [L. concisus, cut off", brief,
from cona'rfo ; con and ccedo, to cut. See
Class Gd. No. 2. 4. 8. 49. 59.]
Brief; short, apjilied to language or stile ;
containing few words ; comprehensive ;
comprehending much in few words, or
the principal matters only.
The concise stile, which expresseth not
enough, but leaves somewhat to be understood.
B. Jonson.
Where the autlior is too brief and cmicise,
amplify a litUe. fVatts.
In Genesis, we have a concise account of the
CONCISELY, adv. Briefly ; in few words ;
comprehen.sively.
CONCISENESS, n. Brevity in speaking
or writing.
Conciseness should not be studied at the ex-
pense of perspicuity.
CONCISION, n. s as z. [Low L. concisio,
from concisum, concido, to cut off"; It. con-
cisione.] Literally, a cutting off". Hence,
In scripture, the Jews or those who adhered
to circumcision, which, after our SaWor's
death, was no longer a seal of the cove-
nant, but a mere cutting of the flesh.
C O N
C O N
CON
Beware of dogs ; beware of the concision.
Phil. iii.
CONCITA'TION, n. [L. concitatio, from
concito, to stir or disturb ; con and cito, to
The act of stirring up, exciting or putting in
motion. Broivn.
CONCl'TE, V. t. [L. concito.] To excite.
[jVo< in iMe.]
eON€LAMA'TION, ?!. [L. conclamatio,
from conclavio ; con and c/amo, to cry out.
See C7ojm.]
\n outcry or shout of many together. Diet.
eON'€LAVE, ji. [L. conclave, an inner
room ; con and clavis, a key, or from the
same root, to make fast.]
1. A private apartment, particularly the
room ui which the Cardinals of the Ro
raish church meet in privacy, for the clcc
tion of a Pope. It consists of a range of
small cells or apartments, standinj
line along the galleries and hall of the
Vatican. Encyc.
"2. The assembly or meeting of the Cardi-
nals, shut up for the election of a Pope.
Encyc.
o. A private meeting ; a close assembly.
GaHh
€ON€LU'DE, V. t. [L. concludo ; con and
claudo or cludo, to shut ; Gr. xl-iihoa, oi
xXiM, contracted ; It. conchiudere ; Sp. con
cluir ; Port. id. ; Fr. conclure. The sense i:
to stop, make fast, shut, or rather to thrust
together. Hence in Latin, claudo signifies
to halt, or limp, that is, to stop, as well
to shut. See Lid.]
1. To shut.
The very person of Christ — was only, touch-
ing bodily substance, concluded in the grave.
Hooker.
[This use of the word is uncommon.]
2. To include ; to comprehend.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
Kom. xi.
The scripture hath concluded all under sin.
Gal. iii.
The meaning of the word in the latter
passage may be to declare irrevocably or
to doom
3. To collect by reasoning ; to infer, as from
premises ; to close an argument by infer-
ring.
Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom. iii.
4. To decide ; to determine ; to make a final
judgment or determination.
As touching the Gentiles who believe, we
have written and concluded tliat they observe
no such thing. Rom. xi.
o. To end ; to finish.
I will conclude this part with the speech of a
counselor of state. Bacon.
6. To stop or restrain, or as in law, to estop
from further argument or proceedings ; to
oblige or bind, as by authority or by one"
own argument or concession ; generally
in the passive.
If they will appeal to revelation for their crea-
tion, they must be concluded by it. Hale.
The defendant is concluded by his ovra plea
I do not consider the decision of that motion
upon affidavits, to amount to a res judicata,
which ought to conclude the present inqmiy.
€ONeLU'DE, V. i. To infer, as a conse
quence ; to determine.
Itut tliis verb is really transitive. Tiiej
world will conclude that I had a guilty con-\
science — that is here the object, referring!
to the subsequent clause of the sentence.
[See Verb Transitive, No. 3.]
2. To settle opinion ; to form a final judg-
ment.
Can we conclude upon Luther's instability,
as our author has done. .itterhury .
To end.
A train of lies,
That, made in lust, conclude in perjuries.
Dryden
The old form of expression, to conclude of, is
no longer in use.
€ON€LU'DED, pp. Shut; ended; finish^
cd ; determined ; inferred ; comprehend
ed ; stopped, or bound.
CON€LU'DENCY, n. Inference ; logical
deduction from premises. Hale.
CONeLU'DENT, a. Bringing to a close
decisive. Bacon.
CONCLU'DER, n. One who concludes.
Mountagu.
€ON€LU'DING, ppr. Shutting ; ending
determining ; inferring ; comprehending
3. a. Final ; ending ; closing ; as the con
chiding sentence of an essay.
eON€LU'DINGLY, adv. Conclusively
with incontrovertible evidence. [Little
j(Sfrf.] Dightj.
€ON€LU'SIBLE, a. That may be conclu-
ded or inferred ; determinable. [Little
used.] Hammond.
€ONeLU'SION, n. s as z. [L. conclusio.'
End ; close ; the last part ; as the conclu
sion of an address.
2. Tlie close of an argument, debate or rea
soning ; inference that ends the discus
siou ; final result.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole mat-
ter ; fear God, and keep his commandments
for this is the whole of man. Eccles. xU.
3. Determination ; final decision.
After long debate, the house of commons
came to this conclusion.
4. Consequence ; inference ; that which is
collected or drawn from premises ; par
ticular deduction from propositions, facts,
experience, or reasoning.
5. The event of experiments ; experiment,
We practice all conclusions of grafting and
inoculating. {Little used.] Bacon
6. Confinement of the thoughts ; silence
[M)t used.] Shak.
eON€LU'S10NAL, a. Concluding. [M)t'
used.] Hooper.l
CONCLU'SIVE, a. [It. conclusivo.] Final;
decisive ; as a conclusive answer to a pro-
position.
2. Decisive ; giving a final determination ;
precluding a further act.
The agreeing votes of both houses were not,
bv any law or reason, conclusive to my judg-
ment. King Charles.
3. Decisive ; concluding the question ; put
ting an end to debate ; as a conclusive
argument.
4. Regularly consequential.
Men, not knowing the true forms of syllo-J
gisms, cannot know whether they are made in
right and conclusive modes and figures.
Locke
CON€LU'SIVELY, adv. Decisively ; witli
final detertnination ; as, the point of law is
conclusively settled.
CONCLU'SiVENESS, n. The quality oil
being conclusive, or decisive ; the power
of determining the opinion, or of settling
a question ; as the concl^isiveness of evi-
dence or of an argtmient. Hale.
€ON€OAG'ULATE, v. t. [con and coagu-
late.] To curdle or congeal one thing with
another. Boyle.
CONCOAG'ULATED, pp. Curdled ; con-
creted.
€ONeOAG'ULATING, ppr. Concreting;
curdling.
€ON€OAGULA'TION, n. A coagidatiug
together, as difierent substances, or bodies,
in one mass. Crystalization of different
salts in the same menstruum. Coxe.
[This word is little used.]
€ONCO€T', V. t. [L. concoquo, concoctum :
I co?i and coquo, to cook. See Cook.]
1. To digest by the stomach, so as to tun.
food to chyle or nutriment.
The vital fmictions are performed by genera!
and constant laws ; the food is concocted.
Cheyne.
2. To purify or sublime ; to refine by sepa
rating the gross or extraneous matter ; as,
concocted venom. Thomson.
To ripen.
Fruits and grains are half a year in concoct -
ing. Bacon .
CON€OCT'ED, pp. Digested ; purified ;
ripened.
€ON€0€T'ING, ppr. Digesting; purify-
ing ; ripening.
€ON€Oe'TION, [L. concoctio.] Digestion
or solution in the stomach ; the process by
which food is turned into chyle, or other^
wise prepared to nourish the body ; the
change which food undergoes in the stom-
ach. Coxe. Encyr.
2. Blaturation ; the process by which moi
bid matter is separated from the blood oi
humors, or otherwise changed and pre
pared to be thrown off. Coxe.
1. A ripening; the acceleration of any thing
towards perfection. Johnson.
€ONCO€'TIVE, a. Digesting ; having the
power of digesting or ripening. Milton.
€ONeoL'0R, a. Of one color. [jVot in
Broivn.
€ON€OM'ITANCE, ) [L. con and comi-
€ON€OM'ITANCY, ^ "' tor, to accomjiany,
from comes, a companion. See Count.]
A being together, or in connection with an-
other thing.
The secondary action subsisteth not alone,
but in concomitancy with the other. Brown.
CON€OM'ITANT, a. Accompanying ; con-
joined with ; concurrent ; attending.
It has pleased our wise creator to annex to
several objects — a concomitant pleasure.
Locke.
€ON€OM'ITANT, n. A companion ; a per-
son or tiling that accompanies another, or
is collaterally connected. It is seldom ap-
plied to persons.
The other concomitant of ingratitude is hard-
heartedness. South.
Reproach is a concomitant to greatness.
jlddison.
CONeOlM'ITANTLY, adv. In company
with others. Pearson.
CONCOM'ITATE, v. t. To accompany or
attend ; to be collaterally connected. [JVot
used.] Harvey.
CON'€ORD, n. [Fr. concorde ; h. Concordia,
from concors, of con and cor, cordis, the
heart. See Accord.]
CON
CON
J. Agreement between persons ; union ui CONCORPORA'TION, ». Union oi thin-sj
' in one mass or body.
eON'COURSE, n. [Fr. concours; Sp. con-\
cuTSo ; It. concorso ; L. concursus, from
co7u:urro, to run together ; con anil cuiro,\
to run.]
opinions, sentiments, views or interests ;
2
suitableness ;
Cor.
2. Agreement between things
harmony.
If, nature's concord broke,
.^jnoPK the constellations war were sprung.
" Milton
•3. In music, consent of sounds ; harmony
tlie relation between two or more sounds
which are agreeable to the ear. [See
The man who hath not music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet
sounds.
Is fit for treasons. Shale
4. A compact ; an agreement by stipulation ;
treaty. Davks.
5. In law, an agreement between the parties
in a fine, made by leave of the court
This is an acknowledgment from the de
forciants that the land in question is the
right of the complainant. Blackstone
6. In grammar, agreement of words in con
struction ; as adjectives with nouns in gen
der, number and case ; or verbs with nouni
or pronouns in number and person. Or
concord may signify the system of ruler
for construction called syntax.
Form of concord, in ecclesiastical history, is i
book among tlie Lutherans containing a
system of doctrines to be subscribed as a
condition of communion, composed at
Torgaw in 157C. Encyc
CONCORD' ANCE, n. [Fr. concorrfance; It
concordanza ; L. concordans, from concordo,
to agree. See Concord.]
1. Agreement. In this sense, accordai
generally used.
■2. In grammar, concord. [M)t used.]
;!. A dictionary in which the principal words
used in the scriptures are arranged alpha-
betically, and the hook, chapter and verse
in which each word occurs are noted ; de-
signed to assist an inquirer in finding any
passage of scripture, by means of any
leading word in a verse which he can "-
collect.
CONCORD'ANCY, n. Agreement.
Mouniagu.
<'OXCORD'ANT, a. Agreeing; agreeable;
correspondent ; harmonious. Brown.
L (JNCORD'ANT, n. That which is ac-
cordant. Mouniagu.
CONCORD'ANTLY, adv. In conjunction.
-CONCORD'AT, n. In the canon law, a com-
pact, covenant, or agreement concerning
some beneficiary matter, as a resignation,
permutation, promotion and the like. In
particular, an agreement made by a prince
with the Pope relative to the collation of
benefices ; such as that between the E
peror Frederic III., the German princes,
and the Pope's legate, A. D. 1448.
Encyc. Span. Diet. Lunier.
CONCORD'IST, 71. The compiler of a con
cordance. Ch. Observer, March, 1811.
CONCOR'PORATE, v. t. [L. concorporo,
of con and corpus, a body.]
To unite different things in one mass or
body ; to incorporate. [Little used.]
Tayl
CONCOR'PORATE, v. i. To unite in one
mass or body. Cleaveland.
1. A moving, flowing or running together ;
confluence ; as a fortuitous concourse of at-
oms ; a concourse of men.
2. A meeting ; an assembly of men ; an as-
semblage of things ; a collection fonned
by a voluntary or spontaneous moving and
meeting in one place. Acts xi.x.
3. The place or point of meeting, or a meet-
ing ; the jjoint of junction of two bodies.
The drop will begin to move towards thej
concourse of the glasses. A'ewton.
[This application is unustud.]
COXCREA'TE, v. t. [con and create; It.
cuncreare.]
To create with, or at the same time.
Dr. Taylor — Insists that it is inconsistent with
the nature of virtue, that it should be concreated
with any person. Edwards, Orig. Sin.
CONCREA'TED, pp. Created at the same
time, or in union with.
CONCRED'IT, n. «. To entrust. [J^Totused.
Barrow.
CONCREMA'TION, n. [L. concremo, to
burn together ; con and cremo, to burn.]
The act of burning difl'erent things together.
[Little used.]
eON'CREMENT, n. [Low L. concremen-
tum, from concresco, to grow together.
See Concrete.]
.\ growing together ; tlie collection or mass
formed by concretion, or natural union.
Hale
CONCRES'CENCE, n. [L. concrescentia
concresco. See Concrete.]
Growth or increase ; the act of growing or
increasing by spontaneous union, or the
coalescence of separate particles. Raleigh
CONCRES'CIBLE, a. Capable of concre
ting ; that may congeal or be changed
from a liquid to a solid state.
They formed a genuine, fixed, concrescible oil
Fourcroy.
eON'CRETE, a. [L. cojic)f<tis, from coii
cresco, to grow together ; con and cresco.
to grow. See Grow.]
1. Literally, united in growth. Hence, form
ed by coalition of separate particles in one
body ; consistent in a mass ; united in a
solid form. |
The first concrete state or consistent surface
of the chaos. Burnet.
2. In logic, applied to a subject; not ab-
stract ; as the whiteness of snow. Here
whiteness is used as a concrete term, as it
expresses the quahty of snow.
Concrete terms, while tliey express the qual-
ity, do also express, or imply, or refer to a sub-
ject to which Ihey belons- Watts
A concrete number expresses or denotes
a particular subject, as three men ; but
when we use a number without reference
to a subject, as three, or Jive, we use the
term in the abstract. Bailey.
CONCRETE, n. A compound ; a mass]
fonned by concretion, spontaneous union]
or coalescence of separate particles
matter in one body
CON
Soap is a factitious concrete. Encyc.
3. Ill /og'ic, a concrete term ; a temi t' • :-
eludes both the quality and :• i
which it exists ; as nigrum.
CONCRE'TE, 1.'. i. To unite orcoales. •
separate particles, into a mass or sol.d
body, chiefly by spontaneous cohesion, or
other natural process ; as, saline particles
concrete into crystals ; blood concretes in a
bowl. Apphed to some substances, it is
equivalent to indurate ; as, metallic matter
concretes into a hard body. Applied to
other substances, it is equivalent to con-
geal, thicken, inspissate, coagulate ; as in
the concretion of blooil.
Jlrbuthnot. IVoodward. J^Tewton.
CONCRE'TE, V. t. To form a mass by tlic
cohesion or coalescence of separate parti-
cles. Hale.
CONCRETED, pp. United into a solid
mass ; congealed ; inspissated ; clotted.
CONCRETELY, adv. In a concrete man-
ner ; in a manner to include the subject
with the predicate ; not abstractlv. J^'orris.
CONCRE'TENESS, n. A state" of being
concrete ; coagulation.
CONCRE'TING, ppr. Coalescing or con-
gealing in a mass ; becoming thick; mak-
ing solid.
COlilCRE'TION, n. The act of concreting;
the process by which soft or fluid bodies
become thick, consistent, soUd or hard ;
the act of growing together, or of uniting,
by other natural process, tlie small parti-
cles of matter into a mns.s.
2. The mass or solid matter formed by grow-
ing together, by congelation, condensa-
tion, coagulation or induration ; a clot ; a
lump ; a solid substance formed in the soft
parts or in the cavities of animal bodies.
eONCRE'TIVE, a. Causing to concrete ;
having power to produce concretion ; tend-
ing to form a solid mass from separate
particles; as, concceiiK« juices. Brown.
CONCRE'TURE, n. A mass formed by
concretion. [Not used.]
CONCREW, 1'. J. To grow together. [.Vo«
Mserf.] Spenser.
CONCU'BINAciE, n. [Fr. See Concubine.]
The act or practice of cohabiting, as man
and woman, in sexual commerce, without
the authority of law, or a legal marriage.
In a .-nore general sense, this word is used
to express any criminal or prohibited sex-
ual commerce, including adultery, incest,
and fornication.
In some countries, concubinage is a mar-
riage of an inferior kind, or performed
. witli less solemnity than a true or formal
marriage ; or marriage with a woman of
inferior condition, to whom the husband
does not convey his rank or quahty. Tliis
is said to be still in use in Germany.
Encyc.
In law, concubinage is used as an excep-
tion against her that sueth for dower ; in
which it is alledged that she was not law-
fully married to the man in whose lands
she seeks to be endowed, but tliat she was
his concubine. Cowel.
CONCU'BINATE, n. Whoredom; lewd-
a porous concrete. Bentley.\\ ness. [Xof in use.] Taylor.
2. In philosophy, a mass or compound body, €ON'CUBINE, n. [Fr. fi-om L. concuhina,
made up of iiflerent ingredients: a mixed from concumbo, to lie together; con and
body or masj. ' cvmbo, or cubo, to lie down.]
CON
CON
CON
1. A wunian who cohabits with a man, with-
out tJio authority of a legal marriage ; a
woman kept for lewd purposes ; a kept
mistress. Bacon. Shak. Dryden.
% A wife of inferior condition ; a lawful
wife, but not united to the man by the us-
ual ceremonies, and of inferior condition.
.Such were Hagar and Keturah, the con-
I'ubines of Abraham ; and such concu-
bines were allowed by the Roman laws.
Encyc. Cnidtn.
CONCUL'CATE, v. I. [L. conculco.] To
tread on ; to trample under foot.
Mountagu.
CON€UL€A'TION, n. A trampling under
foot. [AV much ustdJ]
CONCUPISCENCE, n. [L. concvpiscenfia,
from concvpisco, to covet or lust after ; con
and cupio, to desire or covet.]
Lust ; unlawful or irregular desire of sexual
pleasure. In a more general sense, the
coveting of carnal things, or an irregular
appetite for worldly good ; inclination for
unlawful enjoyments.
We know even secret concupiscence to be sin.
Hooker.
Sin, taking occasion by Uie commandment,
wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.
Rorn. vii.
CONCU'PISCENT, a. Desirous of unlaw-
ful pleasure ; libidinous. Shak.
CONeU'PISCIBLE, a. Exciting or impell-
ing to the enjoyment of carnal pleasure ;
inclining to the attainment of pleasure or
good ; as concupiscible appetite. South.
CONCUR', V. i. [L. concurro, to run togeth-
er ; con and curro, to run ; It. concorrere ;
Sp. concurrir ; Port, concorrer ; Fr. con-
courir.]
1. To meet in the same point ; to agree.
Reason and sense concur. Temple.
2. To agree ; to join or unite, as in one ac-
tion or opinion ; to meet, mind with mind :
as, the two houses of parliament concur in
the measure.
It has idth before the person with wlioni
one agrees.
Mr. Burke concurred ivith Lord Chatliam in
opinion. -
It has to before the effect.
Extremes in man concur to general use.
Pope.
3. To unite or be conjoined, with the conse-
quential sense, of aiding, or contributing
power or influence to a common object.
Various causes may concur in the changes of
temperature.
CONCUR'RENCE, n. A meeting or comin:
together ; union ; conjunction.
We liave no other measure but of our ow
ideas, with the concurrence of otlier probable
reasons, to persuade us. Locke
2. A meeting of minds; agreement in opin-
ion ; union in design ; implying joint appro-
bation.
Tarquin the proud was expelled by the uni-
versal concurrence of nobles and people.
Swift
, 3. A meeting or conjunction, whether casu-
al or intended ; combuiation of agents
circumstances or events.
Struck with these greal concurrences of things
C'rashaw
4. Agreement ; consent ; approbation. See
No. a.
5. Agreement or consent, implying joint aid
or contribution of power or influence.
From t'.inv ewtilimn iiri.itroi wo rolli'Ct the
■eatness of the work, and the necessity of the
vine concurrence to it. Rogers.
f(. A meeting, as of claims, or jiower ; joint
rights ; implying equaUty in different per-
sons or bodies ; as a concurrence of juris-
diction in two different courts.
CONCUR'RENC Y, n. The same as concur-
rence ; but little used.
CONCUR'RENT, a. Meeting ; uniting ; ac-
companying ; acting in conjuctiou ; agree-
ing in the same act ; contributing to the
same event or effect; operating with.
I join with these laws the personal presence
of the King's son, as a C07icurrent cause of tliis
reformation. Dacics.
All combined.
Your beauty, and my impotence of mind.
And his concurrent tlame, that blew my fire.
Dryden.
2. Conjoined ; associate ; cnncomitaut.
There is no difference between the concur-
rent echo and the iterant, but the quickness or
slowness of the return. Bacon.
3. Joint and equal ; existing together and
operating on the same objects. The courts
of the United States, and those of the
States have, in some cases, concurrent ju-
risdiction.
CONCUR'RENT, ji. That which concurs
joint or contributory cause.
To all affairs of importance there are three
necessary concurrents — time, industry and fac-
ulties. Decay of Piety.
CONCURRENTLY, adv. With concur-
rence ; unitedly.
CONCUR'RING, ppr. Meeting in the same
point ; agreeing ; running or acting to-
gether ; uniting in action ; contributing to
the same event or effect ; consenting.
A concurring figure, in geometry, is one
which, being laid on another, exactly
meets every part of it, or one which cor-
responds with it in all its parts.
CONCUSSA'TION, n. [See Concussion.] A
violent shock or agitation.
CONCUS'SION, n. [L. concussio, from con-
cutio, to shake, from con and quatio, quasso,
to shake or shatter. From the sense ot
discutio, and percutio, we may infer that
the primary sense is to beat, to strike, or
to beat in pieces, to bruise, to beat down,
Fr. casser, Eng. to quash, L. cwdo, cudo.
See Class Gd. No. 38. 40. 76. and Class
Gs. No. 17.]
1. The act of shaking, particularly and prop
erly, by the stroke or impulse of another
body.
It is believed that great ringing of bells, in
populous cities, hath dissipated pestilent
which may be from the concussion of the a
Ba
2. The state of being shaken; a shock; as
the concussion of the brain by a stroke. It
is used also for shaking or agitation in gen-
eral; as the concussion of the earth.
Woodward.
CONCUS'SIVE, a. Having the power or
quality of shaking. Johnson
COND, V. t. [Fr. conduire.] In seamen's Ian
guage, to conduct a ship; to direct the
man at helm how to steer.
Bailey. Encyc.
CONDEMN, V. t. condem'. [L. condemno ,
con and damno, to condemn, to disapprove
to doom, to devote ; It. condannare, dan-
narc ; Port, conrfejiar; Sp.trf. ; Fr. conrfom-
vcr : Arm. rnndnnni ; D. docmen, verdoem-
en ; G. verdammen ; Sw. doma, f&rd&ma ;
Dan. d6mmer,ford6mmer ; Sax. deman, for-
deman, to deem, to doom, to judge, to con-
demn. See Damn, Deem, Doom.]
1. To pronounce to be utterly wrong ; to
utter a sentence of disapprobation against ;
to censure ; to blame. But the word of-
ten expresses more than censure or blame,
and seems to include the idea of utter re-
jection ; as, to condemn heretical opinions ;
to condemn one's conduct.
We condemn mistakes with asperity, where
we pass over sins with gentleness.
Bttckminster.
2. To determine or judge to be wrong, or
guilty ; to disallow ; to disapprove.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we
have confidence towards God. 1 John iii.
.3. To witness against ; to show or prove ta
be wrong, or guilty, by a contrary prac-
tice.
Tlic men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it.
Matth. xii.
4. To pronounce to be guilty ; to sentence
to punishment ; to utter sentence against
judicially ; to doom ; opposed to acquit or
absolve ; with to before the penalty.
The son of man shall be betrayed to the chief
priests, and to the scribes, and they shall con-
demn him to death. Matth. xx.
He that beUeveth on him is not condemned.
John iii.
To doom or sentence to pay a fine ; to
fine.
And the king of Egypt — condemned the
land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Chron.
xxxvi.
6. To judge or pronounce to be unfit for use
or service ; as, the ship was condemned as
not sea-worthy.
7. To judge or pronounce to be forfeited ;
as, the ship and her cargo were con-
demned.
CONDEM'N.\BLE, a. That may be con-
denmed ; blamable ; culpable. Broic^n.
eONDEMNA'TlON, n. [L. condemnatio.\
The act of condemning ; the judicial act
of declaring one guilty, and dooming him
to punishment.
For the judgment was by one to condemna-
tion. Rom. v.
2. The state of being condemned.
Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the
ime condemnation. Luke xxiii.
3. The cause or reason of a sentence of con-
demnation. John iii.
CONDEMNATORY, a. Condemning ;
healing condenmationn or censure ; as
a condemnatory sentence or decree.
CONDEMNED, pp. Censured ; pronoun-
ced to be wrong, guilty, worthless or for-
feited ; adjudged or sentenced to punish-
ment.
CONDEM'NER, n. One who condemns or
censures. Taylor.
CONDEM'NING, ppr. Censuring ; disal-
lowing ; pronouncing to be wrong, guilty,
worthless or forfeited ; sentencing to pun-
ishment.
CONDENS'ABLE, a. [See Condense.] Ca-
pable of being condensed ; that niaj' be
compressed into a smaller compass, and
into a more close, compact state ; as, va-
por is condensable.
CONDENS'ATE, v. t. [See Condense.] To
condense ; to compress into a closer {o rm
CON
CON
C O j\
to cause to take a more compact state ; to
make more dense.
COIMDENS'ATE, v. i. To become more
dense, close or hard.
eONDENS'ATE, a. Made dense ; con-
densed ; made more close or compact
Peacham,
€ONDENSA'TION, a. [L. condensatio. See
Condense.]
The act of making more dense or compact
or the act of causing the parts that com
pose a body to approacli or unite more
closely, either by mechanical pressure, or
by a natural process ; the state of being
condensed. Dew and clouds are supposed
to be formed by the condensation of va
por. It is opposed to rarefaclion and ex
pansion. Condensation is applicable to
any compressible matter ; and from (
densation proceeds increased hardness,
lidity, and weight.
eONDENS'ATIVE, a. Having a power or
tendency to condense.
CONDENSE, V. t. condens'. [L. condenso ;
con and denso, to make thick or close ; It
condensare ; So. Port, condensar ; Fr. con
denser. See Dense.]
1. To make more close, thick or compact
to cause the particles of a body to aji-
proach, or to unite more closely, either by
their own attraction or affinity, or by me
chanical force. Thus, vapor is said to be
condensed into water by the application of
cold ; and air is condensed in a tube by
pressure. Hence the word is sometimes
equivalent to compress.
3. To make thick; to inspissate; applied to
soft compressible substances.
. To .
3. To compress into a smaller compass, or
into a close body ; to crowd ; applied to
separate individuals. Thus we say,
condense ideas into a smaller compass.
Dryden.
CONDENSE, V. i. condens'. To become
close or more compact, as the particles of
a body ; to approach or unite more close-
ly ; to grow thick.
Vapors condense and coalesce into small par-
eels. J\'ewton.
CONDENSE, a. condens'. Close in texture
or composition ; compact ; firm ; dense ;
condensated. [See Dense, which is gene-
rally used.] Mi'
•eONDENS'ED, pp. Made dense, or n
close in parts ; made or become compact ;
compressed into a narrower compass.
€ONDENS'ER, n. He or that which con-
denses; particularly a pneumatic engine
or syringe in which air may be compress-
ed. It consists of a cylinder, in which is
a movable piston to force the air into a
receiver, and a valve to prevent the air
from escaping. Encyc.
eONDENS'ITY, n. The state of being con-
densed; denseness ; density. [The latter
are generally used.]
€OND'ER, n. [Fr. condiiire; L. conduco.
See Cond.]
1. A person who stands upon a cliff, or ele-
vated part of the sea-coast, in the time of
the herring fishery, to point out to the
fishermen by signs, the course of the shoals
offish. Cowel.
2. One who gives directions to a lielmsman
how to steer the ship. Encyc.
CONDESCEND', v. i. [It. condescendere ;
Sp. condescender ; Fr. condescendre ; coi
and L. descendo. See Descend.]
1. To descend from the privileges of siipe
rior rank or dignity, to do some act to an
inferior, which strict justice or the ordina-
ry rules of civility do not require. Hence
to submit or yield, as to an inferior, im-
plying an occasional relinquishment of
distinction.
Mind not high things, but condescend to mei
of low estate. Rom. xii.
To recede from one's rights in negotia
tion, or common intercourse, to do some
act, which strict justice does not require.
Spain's mighty monarch,
In gracious clemency does condescend.
On these conditions, to become your friend.
Dryden
3. To stoop or descend ; to yield ; to submit
implying a relinquishment of rank, or dig
nity of character, and sometimes a sinking
into debasement.
Can they think me so broken, so debased.
With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
Will condescend to such absurd commands ?
MIton
CONDESCEND'ENCE, n. A voluntary
yielding or submission to an inferior.
You will observe [in the Turks] an insulting
condescendence which bespeaks tlieir contempt
of you. Et,
CONDESCEND'ING, ppr. Descending
from rank or distinction m the intercourse
of life; receding from rights or claims;
yielding.
a. Yielding to inferiors ; courteous ; ol
;ONfiii
ESCEND'INGLY, adv. By way of
yielding to inferiors ; with voluntary sub-
mission ; by way of kind concession ;
courteously. Atterbury.
CONDESCEN'SION, n. Voluntary descent
from rank, dignity or just claims; relin-
quishment of strict right ; submission to
inferiors in granting requests or perform-
ing acts which strict justice does not re-
quire. Hence, courtesy.
It forbids pride and commands humility, mod-
esty and condescension to otliers. Tillotson
Raphael, amidst his tenderness, shows such i
dignity and condescension in all his behavior,
as are suitable to a superior nature. Addison.
eONDESCEN'SIVE, a. Condescending;
Barroiv.
eONDESCENT', n. Condescension. [Ao/
Bp. Hall.
ondis
used
CONDI'GN, a. condi'ne. [L. conai^
con and dignus, worthy. See Dignity.]
1. Deserved : merited ; suitable ; applied usu-
-Uy to punishment ; as, the malefactor has
jffered condign punishment.
2. Worthy ; merited ; as .condign praise.
Spenser. Shak
[In the latter sense, seldom tised.]
CONDIG'NITY, n. Merit ; desert. In school
divinity, the merit of human actions which
claims reward, on the score of justice.
Milner.
CONDI'GNLY, adv. condi'ndy. According
merit.
eONDI'GNNESS, n. condi'neness. Agreea-
bleness to deserts ; suitableness.
CON'DIMENT, n. [L. condimentum, from
condio, to season, pickle or preserve.]
Seasoning ; sauce ; that which is used to give
reUsh to meat or other food, and to gratify
the taste.
As for radish and the like, tUcy are for con-
diments, and not for nourisliniont. Bacon.
CONDISCI'PLE, n. [L. condiscipulus ; con
and disciputus. See Disciple.]
A school fellow ; a learner in the same school,
or uniler the same in.structor.
CONDI'TE, V. t. [L. condio, conditum.] To
prepare and preserve with sugar, salt, spi-
ces, or the like ; to pickle ; as, to condite
pears, jilums, quinces, mushrooms, &c.
[Little used.] Crete. Taylor.
CONDI'TEMENT, n. A composition of
conserves, powders, and spices, in the form
of an electuary. [Little used.] Baileii.
'CONDI'TING, ppr. Preserving. [LUtle
used.] Grew.
€ONDI"TION, 71. [L. conditio, Com conrfo,
to build or make, to ordain ; properly, to
set or fi.\, or to set together or in order ;
con and do, to give ; properly, to send.]
1. State ; a particular mode of "being ; applied
to external circumstances, to the body, to the
mind, and to things. We speak of' a good
condition or a bad condition, in reference to
wealth and poverty ; in reference to health
and sickness ; in reference to a cheerful
or depressed disposition of mind ; and with
reference to a sound or broken, perishing
state of things. The word signifies a set-
ting or fixing, and has a very general and
indefinite application, coinciding nearly
with slate, fi-om sto, to stand, and denotes
that particular frame, form, mode or dispo-
sition, in which a thing exists, at any given
time. A man is in a good condition, when
he is thriving. A nation, with an exhaust-
ed treasury and burthened with taxes, ii»
not in a condition to make war. A poor
man is in a humble condition. Rehgion
affords consolation to man in every condi-
tion of Ufe. Exhortations should be adapt-
ed to the condition of tlie mind.
Condition, circumstance, is not the tiling ;
Bliss is the same in subject or in king. Fopc.
!. Quality ; property ; attribute.
It seemed to us a condition and property of
divine powers and beings to be hidden and un-
seen to others. Bacoii.
!. State of the mind; temjier; temperament;
com|)lexion. [See No. 1.] Shak.
I. Moral quality ; virtue or vice.
Raleigh. South.
[These senses however fall within thejirst
dejinition.]
). Rank, that is, state with respect to the
orders or grades of society, or to propertj" ;
as, persons of the best condition.
Clarendon.
6. Terms of a contract or covenant ; stipu-
lation ; that is, that which is set, fixed, es-
tablished or proposed. What are the con-
ditions of the treaty ?
Make our conditions with yon captive king.
JJryden.
He sendeth and desireth conditions of peace.
7. A clause in a bond, or other contract con-
taining terms or a stipulation that it is to
be performed, and in case of failure, the
penalty of the bond is to be incurred.
8. Terms given, or provided, as the ground
of something else ; that which is establish-
ed, or to be done, or to happen, as requisite
to another act ; as, I will pay a sum of mon-
ey, on condition yon will engage to refuntl
CON
A eondition is a clause of contingency, on the
happening of which the estate granted may be
defeated. Blackstone.
CONDI"TION, V. {. To make terras ; to
stipulate.
It is one thing to condition for a good office
and another to execute it.
CONDI"TION, V. f. To contract; to stipu-
late.
It was conditioned between Saturn and Titan
that Saturn sliould put to death all his male
children. Raleigh.l
€ONDI"TIONAL, a. Containing or depend-]
ing on a condition or conditions ; madej
wi'th limitations ; not absolute ; made or|
granted on certain terms. A conditional'
promise is one which is to be performed,]
when something else stipulated is done or!
has taken place. A conditional fee, in law,!
is one which is granted upon condition,
that if the donee shall die without such
particular heirs as are specified, the estate
sliall revert to the donor. Hence it is a
fee restrained to particular heirs, to the
exclusion of others.
9. In grammar and logic, expressing a condi-
tion or supposition ; as a conditional word,
mode, or tense ; a conditional syllogism.
€ONDI"TIONAL, n. A limitation.
Bacon.
CONDITIONAL'ITY, n. The quality ofj
being conditional, or limited ; limitation by
certain terms.
<;ONDI"TIONALLY, adv. With certain
limitations; on particular terras or stipu-
lations; not absolutely or positively.
We see large preferments tendered to him, but
rondiiionally, upon his doing wicked offices.
South.
ilONDI 'TIONARY, a. Conditional; stipu-
lated. [.Vo< used.] JVorris.
CONDI"TIONATE, a. Conditional ; estab-
lished on certain terms. [Not used.]
Hammond.
€ONDI"TIONATE, v. t. To qualify ; to
reg:ulatc. [.Votinuse.] Broivn.
tONDP'TIONED, pp. Stipulated; con-
taining terms to be performed.
2. a. Having a certain state or qualities.
This word is usually preceded by some
qualifying term; as good-conditioned ; iU-
conditioned ; best-conditioned.
C0ND1"T10NLY, adv. On certain terms.
[JVot used.] Sidney.
CONDO'LE, V. i. [L. condoleo ; con, with,
and doleo, to ache, or to grieve.]
To feel pain, or to grieve, at the distress or
misfortunes of another.
Your friends would have cause to rejoice
ratlier than condole with you.
It is followed by ivith before the person
for whom we feel grief
CONDO'LE, V. t. To lament or bewail witi
another, or on account of another's misfor
time. ( Umtsual.]
Why should our poet petition Isis for her safe
detiveiy, and afterwards condole her miscar-
riage? Dry den. Milton.
CONDO'LEMENT, n. Grief; pain of mind,
at another's loss or misfortune ; sorrow ;
mourning. Shak^
€ONDO'LENCE, n. Pain of mind, or grief
excited by the distress, or misfortune of
another. Jlrhuthnot.
CONDO'LER, n. One who condoles.
€ONDO'LlNG, ppr. Grieving at nnother'.-
distress.
CON
CONDO'LING, n. E.xpression of grief lor,
another's loss.
€ON'DOMA, «. An animalof the goat kind,]
as large as a stag, and of a gray color. j
Diet. JVat. Hist.-
It is a species of Antelope, the Jl. strep-
€ONDONA'TION, n. [h. condono.] The
art of pardoning. [Little used.]
eON'DOR, n. The largest species of fowl
hitherto discovered ; a native of South
America. Some naturaUsts class it with
the vulture ; others, with the eagle. The
wings of the largest, when expanded, arc
said to extend 15 or 18 feet ; and the fowl
has strength to bear off a calf or a deer.
Diet. J\rat. lllsl.
The size of the Condor has been greatly ex-
aggerated. It is about the size of the
Ldmmer-geyer or vulture of the Alps, which
it resembles in its habits. It is properly a
vulture. Humboldt. Cuvier.
€ONDU'CE, V. i. [L. conduco ; con and duco,
lead ; Sp. condudr ; It. condmre.]
To lead or tend ; to contribute ; followed by
to.
They may conduce to farther discoveries for
completing the theory of light. JVeii-ton
To conduce to includes the sense of aiding
tending to produce, or furnishing the
means; hence it is sometimes equivalent
to promote, advance, or further. Virtue
conduces to the welfare of society. Reli
gion conduces to temporal happiness. Tem
perance conduces to health and long life.
In the transitive sense, to conduct, it is not
authorized.
CONDU'CEMENT, n. A leading or tend-
ing to ; tendency. Gregory.
eONDU'CENT, a. Tending or contributing
Laud.
€ONDUCIBLE, a. [L. conducibilis.] Lead-
ing or tending to ; having the power of
conducing ; having a tendency to promote
or forward.
Our Savior hath enjoined us a reasonable
vice ; all his laws are in themselves conducible
to the temporal interest of them that observe
them. Sentley
[This word is less used than conducive.]
eONDU'CIBLENESS, n. The quality of
leading or contributing to any end.
More.
eONDU'CIVE, a. That may conduce or
contribute ; having a tendency to pro
mote.
An action, however conducive to the good ot
our country, will be represented as prejudici; "
to it. Addisoi
CONDU'CIVENESS, n. The quality of cor
ducing or tending to promote. Boyl
eON'DU€T, n. [Sp. conducta ; It. condotta ;
Fr. conduite ; from the L. conductus, but
with a different sense, from conduco, to
lead ; con and duco. See Duke.]
Literally, the act of leading ; guidance ;
command. So Waller has used it.
Conduct of armies is a prince's art.
The act of convoying, or guarding ; guid-
ance or bringing along under protection.
Shuk.
Guard on the way ; convoy ; escort.
Shah
[These senses are now umisual, though not
improper.]
4. In a general sense, personal behavior ;
oiirse of actions ; deportment ; applicable
CON
equally to a good or had course of actions;
as laudable conduct ; detestable conduct.
The word seems originally to have been
followed with life, actions, affairs, or other
term ; as the conduct of life ; the conduct of
actions ; that is, the leading along of life or
actions.
Young men in the coruluct and manage of
actions embrace more than they can hold.
Bacon.
What in the conduct of our life appears.
Dry den.
But by custom, conduct alone is now
nsed to express tlie idea of behavior or
course of life and manners.
Exact behavior ; regular hfe. [Unusual.]
Swift.
ftlanagement ; mode of carrying on.
Christianity has humanized the conduct of
war, Pahy.
7. The title of two clergymen appointed to
■ prayers at Eton College in England.
Mason,
€ONDU€T', V. t. [Sp. condutir ; Port, con-
duiir, to conduct, and to conduce; Fr.
conduire ; It. condurre ; L. conduco. Bus
the English verb is from the noun conduct,
or the Lat. participle.]
1. To lead ; to bring along ; to guide ; to
acconqiany and show the way.
And Judah came to Gilgal — to conduct the
king over Jordan. 2 Sam. xix.
2. To lead ; to direct or point out the way.
The precepts of Christ will conduct ua to
happiness.
3. To lead ; to usher in ; to introduce ; to
attend in civility.
Pray receive them nobly, and conduct them
Into our presence. Shak.
4. To give a direction to : to manage ; ap-
plied to things ; as, the farmer conducts his
affairs with prudence.
5. To lead, as a commander ; to direct ; to
govern ; to command ; as, to conduct an
army or a division of troops.
6. With the reciprocal pronoun, to conduct
one's self, is to behave. Hence, by a cus-
tomary omission of the pronoun, to con-
duct, in an intransitive sense, is to behave ;
to direct personal actions. [See the
Noun.]
7. To escort ; to accompany and protect on
the way.
€ONDU€T'ED, pp. Led ; guided ; directed ;
introduced ; commanded ; managed.
CONDUeT'ING, ppr. Leading ; escorting ;
introducing ; commanding ; behaving ;
managing.
€ONDU€'TION, n. The act of training up.
[JVot ill use.] B.Jonson.
€ONDU€TI "TIOUS, a. [L. conductitius,
from conduco, to hire.]
Hired ; employed for wages. J}yliffe.
€ONDU€T'OR, n. A leader ; a guide ; one
wlio goes before or accompanies, and
shows the way.
2. A chief; a commander; one who leads
an army or a people.
3. A director ; a manager. Addison.
4. In surgery, an instrument which serves to
direct the knife in cutting for the stone,
and in laying up sinuses and fistulas; also,
a machine to secure a fractured limb.
Coxe. Encyc.
5. In electrical e.rperimenlo, any body that re-
3 and conniiunicates electricity ; such
CON
■as metals and moist substances. Bodies
which repel it, or into which it will not
pass, are called non-conductors. Hence,
6. A metallic rod erected by buildings or in
ships, to conduct lightning to the earth or
water, and protect the building from its
effects.
CONDUeT'RESS, n. A female who leads
or directs ; a directress.
eON'DUIT, n. [Fr. conduit, the participle_of
conduirc, L. conducere, to conduct ;
conducto ; It. condotto ; Port. cMirfitcte.]
1. A canal or pipe for the conveyance of
water ; an aqueduct. Conduits are made
of lead, stone, cast iron, wood, &c., above
or below the surface of the eartli.
a. A vessel that conveys the blood or other
fluid.
The conduits of my blood. Shak
"3. A conductor.
These organs arc the nerves which arc th(
conduits to convey them from without to their
audience in the brain. Locke.
4. A pipe or cock for drawing off liquor.
Shak.
5. Any channel that conveys water or fluids ;
a sink, sewer or drain.
CONDU' PLICATE, a. [L. conduplicalus,
from conduplico, to double or fold ; con
and duplico. See Double.]
Doubled or folded over or together ; as the
leaves of a bud. Martyn.
CONDU' PLICATE, I'. <. To double; to fold
together.
-eONDU'PLICATED, a. Doubled; folded
together.
CONDUPLICA'TION, n. [L. conduplica-
iio.] A doubling ; a duplicate.
Johnson.
-eON'DYL, n. [L. condylus ; Gr. xov6vJ.o;.]
A protuberance on the end of a bone ; a
knot, or joint; a knuckle. Coxe.
CON'DYLOID, a. [Gr. xovSvXos, and iiSos,
form.]
The condyloid process is the posterior pro-
tuberance at the extremities of the under
jaw ; an oblong rounded head, wliich is
received into the fossa of the temporal
bone, forming a movable articulation.
The anterior is called the coronoid pro-
cess. Encyc.
CON'DYLOID, n. The apophysis of a bone ;
the projecting soft end, or process of a
bone. Coxe.
CONE, n. [Fr. cone ; It. and Sp. cono ; from
L. conus ; Gr. xuroj ; \V. con, that which
shoots to a point, from extending ; W.
connyn, a tail ; conyn, a stalk ; cono, a spruce
fellow. It coincides in radical sense with
the root of can and begin.]
1. A solid body or figure having a circle for
its base, and its to]) terminated in a point
or vertex, like a sugar loaf
S. In botany, the conical fruit of several ever-
green trees, as of the pine, fir, cedar and
cypress. It is com))osed of woody scales,
usually opening, and has a seed at the base
of each scale. Martyn.
A cone of rays, in optics, includes all the rays
of light which proceed from a radiant
point and fall upon the surface of a glass.
£»ic^c.
A right cone, is when its axis is perpendicu-
lar to its base, end its sides equal. It is
formed by the revolution of a right-angled
plane triangle about one of its sides.
Vol. I.
CON
A scalene cone, is when its axis is inclined to
its base and its sides unequal. Bailey.
CO'NEPATE or CO'NEPATL, n. An ani-
mal of the weasel kind in America, resem-
bling the pole-cat in form and size, and in
its fetid stench. Diet. JVat. Hist.
CONEY. [See Cony.]
CONFAB'ULATE, t'. i. [L. confabulor ; con
and fabulor, to tell. Sec Fable.]
To talk famiUarly together ; to chat ; to
prattle.
If birds confabulate or no. [Little used.]
Cowper.
CONFABULA'TION, n. [L. confabulalio.]
Familiar talk ; easy, unrestrained, uncere-
monious conversation. [.VoJ aii elegant
word, and litlU used.]
CONFAB'L'LATORY, a. Belonging to fa-
miliar talk. [Little xised.]
CONFAMIL'IAR, a. Very familiar. [jVol
in use.]
CONFARREA'TION, n. [L. confarreatio ;
con and farreo, to join in marriage with a
cake, from far, corn or meal.]
The solemnization of marriage among the
Romans, by a ceremony in which the
bridegooni and bride tasted a cake made
of flour with sah and water, called/ar or
panis farreus, in presence of the high priest
and at least ten witnesses.
Aylifft. Mam.
CONFA'TED, a. Fated together. [A'o< in
use. ]
CONFECT', V. t. To make sweetmeats.
[^rot used. See Comfit.]
CON'FECT, n. [L. confectus, conficio. See
Comfit.]
Something prepared with sugar or honey, as
fruit, herbs, roots and the like ; a sweet-
meat. Harvey.
CONFECTION, n. [L. confectio, from con-
ficio ; con and facio, to make.]
1. Any thing prepared with sugar, as fruit;
a sweetmeat ; something preserved.
Bacon. Encyc.
2. A composition or mixture. Bacon.
3. A soft electuary'. Encyc.
CONFECTIONARY, ) One whose oc-
CONFECTIONER, S cupation is to
make, or to sell sweetmeats, &c.
Boyle. Shak.
[The latter word is most generally used.]
CONFECTIONARY, n. A place for sweet-
meats ; a place where sweetmeats and
similar things are made or sold.
9. Sweetmeats in general ; things prepared
or sold by a confectioner.
CONFEC'TOR, n. [L.] An officer in the
Roman games, whose business was to kill
any beast that was dangerous. Milner.
CONFEC'TORY, a. Perttjiuing to the art of
making sweetmeats. Beaum.
CONFED'ERACY, n. [Low L. confadera-
tio ; con and fmderatio, from fadus, a league.
See Federal and ff'ed.]
1. A league, or covenant; a contract be-
tween two or more persons, bodies of men
or states, combined in support of each
other, in some act or enterprise ; umtual
engagement ; federal compact.
The friendships of the vf orld are oft
Confederacies in vice. Addison.
A confederacy of princes to check innova-
tion. Anon.
2. The persons, states or nations imited by a
league.
45
CON
Virgil has a whole confederacy against him
Dry den.
3. In law, a combination of two or more i)er-
sons to commit an unlawful act. Encyc.
CONFEDERATE, a. [Low L. confcede-
ratus.]
United in a leajjuo ; allied by treaty ; enga-
ged in a confederacy.
These were confederate with Abram. Gen-
xiv.
Syria is confederate with Ephraira. Is. vii.
CONFEDERATE, n. One who is united
with others in a league ; a person or nation
engaged in a confederacy ; an ally.
Shak. Dryden.
CONFED'ER.ATE, v. i. [Fr. confederer;
1 Low L. confadero. But the English verb
seems to bo dirwtly from the adjective.
supra.]
To unite in a league ; to join in a mutual
j contract or covenant.
By words men come to know one another's
minds ; by these they covenant and confederate
j South.
' The colonies of .\merica confederated in
! 1775.
j Several States of Europe have sometimes
! confederated for mutual safety.
CONFED'ERATE, v. t. To unite in a
j league ; to ally.
, Witli tliese the Picrcics them confederate.
j Daniel.
CONFEDERATED, pp. United in a
I league.
CONFED ERATING, ppr. Uniting in a
league.
CONFEDERATION, n. [Fr. confederation :
It. confederazione ; Low L. confaderatio ;
con ai\d faderalio.]
1. The act of confederating; a league; a
compact for mutual support ; alliance ;
particularly of princes, nations or states.
The three princes enter into a strict league and
confederatioiu Bacon.
2. The United States of America are some-
times called the confederation.
CONFER', V. i. [Fr. conferer ; It. conferire ;
Sp. conferir ; L. confero ; con and fero, to
bear, to bring forth, to show, to declare.
See Bear.]
To discourse ; to converse ; to consult to-
gether ; implying conversation on some
serious or important subject, in distinction
from mere talk or light familiar conversa-
tion ; followed by icith.
Adonijah conferred with Joab and Abiathar.
1 Kings i.
Festus conferred with the council. Actsxxv.
CONFER', V. t. To give, or bestow ; follow-
ed by on.
Coronation confers on the king no royal au-
thority. South.
This word is particularly used to express
the grant of favors, benefits and privileges
to be enjoyed, or rights which are to bo
permanent ; as, to confer on one the priv-
ileges of a citizen ; to confer a title or an
honor.
2. To compare ; to examine by comparison ;
literally, to bring together. [See Compare.]
If we confer these observations with others
of the like nature. Boyle.
[This sense, though genuine, is now obso-
lete.]
3. To contribute ; to conduce to ; that is, to
bring to. The closeness of parts confers
much to the strength of the union, or in-
CON
C O xN
CON
omewhat, ii
Gal. ii.
t Ratisbon.
transitively, confers to tlie strength of the
union. Obs. Glanville.
eON'FERENCE, n. [Fr. conference; Sp.
conferencia ; It. conferenza. See Confer.]
1. The act of conversing on a serious sub-
ject ; a discoursing between two or more,
for the purpose of instruction, consulta-
tion, or deliberation ; formal d"
oral discussion.
For they who seemed to be
conference added nothing to me.
The ministers had a conference
1. A meeting for consuhation,
instruction,
n. Comparison; examination of things by
comparison.
The mutual conference of observations. The
conference of different passages of scripture.
Hooker.
[This sense is, I believe, noio obsolete.]
CONFER'RED, pp. Given ; imparted ; be-
stowed.
CONFER'RER, n. One who confers; one
who converses; one who bestows.
CONFER'RING, ppr. Conversing together;
bestowing.
CONFER'RING, «. The act of bestowhig.
9. Comparison ; examination.
CONFESS', v.t. [Fr. confesser ; It. confes-
sare; Sp. confesar; Port, confessor; from
L. confiteor, confessum; con &r\A faleor, to
own or acknowledge ; Ir. faoisdin.]
1. To own, acknowledge or avow, as a
crime, a fault, a charge, a debt, or some-
rhing that is against one's interest, or rej)-
iitation.
Human faults with human grief confess.
Prior.
I confess the argument against me is good
and not easily refuted.
Let us frankly coi}fess our sins.
" Confess thee freely of thy sins," used by
Siiakspeare, is not legitimate, unless in the
sense of Catholics.
'2. In the Catholic Church, to acknowledge
sins and faults to a priest ; to disclose the
state of the conscience to a priest, in pri-
vate, with a view to absolution ; some-
times with the reciprocal pronoun.
The beautlpjl votary cmfessed herself to this
celebrated father. Addison.
3. To own, avow or acknowledge ; publicly
to declare a belief in and adherence to.
Whoever shall confess me before men.
Math. X.
4. To own and acknowledge, as true disci-
ples, friends or children.
Him will I confess before my father who is
in heaven. •''""•
5. To own ; to acknowledge ; to declare to
be true, or to admit or assent to in words ;
opposed to deny.
Then will I confess to thee, that thine own
sight hand can save thee. Job xl.
These— confessed that Ihey were strangers
and pilgrims on earth. Heb. xi.
ti. To show by the effect ; to prove
test.
Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold.
Pope.
7. To hear or receive the confession of an-
other ; as, the priest confessed the nuns.
CONFESS', V. i. To make confession ; to
disclose faults, or the state of the con-
science ; as, this man went to the priest
to confess.
CONFESS'ANT, n. One who confesses to
a priest. Bacon.
CONFESS'ARY, n. One who makes a con-
fession. [JVot used.] Hall.
CONFESS'ED, pp. Owned ; acknowledg-
ed ; declared to be true; admitted in
words ; avowed ; admitted to disclose to a
priest.
CONFESS'EDLY, adv. By confession, or
acknowledgment ; avowedly ; uiidenia-|
bly. Demosthenes was confessedly the
greatest orator in Greece.
2. 'with avowed purpose ; as, his object was
confessedly to secure to himself a benefice.
CONFESSING, ;)pr. Owning; avowing;
declaring to be true or real ; granting or
admitting by assent ; receiving disclosure
of sins, or the state of the conscience of
another.
CONFES'SION, n. The acknowledgment
of a crime, fault or something to one's dis-
advantage ; open declaration of guilt, fail-
ure, debt, accusation, &c.
With the mouth confession is made to sal-
vation. Rom. X.
2. Avowal; the act of acknowledging; pro-
fession.
Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession. 1 Tim. vi.
3. The act of disclosing sins or faults to a
priest; the disburdening of the conscience
privately to a confessor ; sometimes called
auricular confession.
4. A formulary in which the articles of faith
are comprised ; a creed to be assented to
or signed, as a prehniinary to admission
into a church.
5. The acknowledgment of a debt by a
debtor before a justice of the peace, &;c.,
on which judgment is entered and execu-
tion issued.
CONFES'SIONAL, n. The seat where a
priest or confessor sits to hear confes-
sions ; a confession-chair.
eONFES'SIONARY, n. [Sp. confesiona-
rio.] A confession-chair, as above.
eONFES'SIONARY, a. Pertaining to au-
ricular confession.
eONFES'SIONIST, n. One who makes a
profession of faith. Mountagu.
€ONFESS'OR, ?i. [Fr. confesseur; Sp. con-
fesor.]
1. One who confesses ; one wlio acknowl-
edges his sins.
2. One who makes a profession of his faith
in the christian religion. The word is ap
propriately used to denote one who avows
liis religion in the face of danger, and ad
heres to it, in defiance of persecution and
torture. It was formerly used as synon-
ymous with martyr; afterwards it was ap
plied to those who, having been pcrsecu
ted and tormented, were permitted to die
in peace. It was used also for such chris-
tians as lived a good life, and died with the
reputation of sanctity. Enqjc.
3. A priest ; one who hears the confession:
of others, and has power to grant them
absolution. Romish Church
CONFEST', pp. [for confessed.] Owned
open ; acknowledged ; apparent ; not dis
puted.
CONFEST'LY, adv. [for confessedly.]
Avowedly ; indisputably. [Little used.]
eON'FlDANT, n. [See Confident.]
CONFI'DE, V. t. [L. confido ; con and fido,
to trust ; It. confidare ; Bp. Port, confi
Fr. confer ; Arm. fnyout. See Faith.]
To trust; to rely on, with a persuasion ©f
faithfulness or veracity in the person trust-
ed or of the reahty of a fact; to give cred-
it to ; to beheve in, with assurance ; fol-
lowed Ijy in. The prince confides in his
ministers. The minister confides in the
strength and resources of the nation. We
confide in the veracity of the sacred histo-
rians. We confide in the truth of a report.
CONFI'DE, V. t. To entrust ; to commit to
the charge oi, with a belief in the fidelity
of the person entrusted ; to deliver into
possession of another, with assurance of
safe keeping, or good management; fol-
lowed by to. We confide a secret to a
friend. The prince confides a negotiation
to his envoy. The common interests of the
United States are confided to the Congress.
They would take the property out of the
hands of those to whom it was confided by the
charter. Hopkinson.
Congress may, under the constitution, con-
fide to the circuit court, jurisdiction of all offen-
ses against the U. States. Story..
CONFI'DED, pp. Entrusted ; committed to
the care of, for preservation, or for per-
formance or exercise.
CON'FIDENCE, n. [L. confidentia ; It.
confidenza ; Sp. confianza ; Fr. confiance,
confidence. See Confide.]
1. A trusting, or reliance ; an assurance of
mind or firm belief in the integrity, stabil-
ity or veracity of another, or in the truth
and reality of a fact.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to pur
confidence in man. Ps. cxviii.
I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all
things. 2 Cor. vii.
Mutual cmtfidence is the basis of social hai>-
piness.
I place confidence in a statement, or in aTi
official report.
2. Trust ; reliance ; applied to one's own alii
ities, orforlume ; belief in one's own com-
petency.
His times being rather prosperous than calm,
had raised his confidence by success. Bacon.
3. That in which trust is placed ; ground of
trust ; he or tliat which supports.
Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confi-
dence. Jer. xlviii.
Jehovah shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii.
4. Safet}', or assurance of safety ; security.
They shall build houses and plant vineyards ;
yea, Ihey shall dwell with confidence. Ezek.
5. Boldness; courage.
Preaching Uie kingdom of God with all co7)fi-
dence. Acts xxviii.
6. Excessive boldness ;
proceed-
ing from vanity or a false opinion of one's
own abilities, or excellencies.
Their confidence ariseth from too much
credit given to their own wits. Hooker.
CON'FIDENT, n. Having full beUef; trust-
ing ; relying ; fully assured.
I am confident that much may be done to-
wards the "improvement of philosophy. Boyle.
The troops rush on, confident of success.
2. Positive ; dogmatical; as a con/5den< talker.
.3! Trusting ; without suspicion.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me.
As 1 am confident and kind to thee. Shcik.
4. Bold to a vice ; having an excess of assu-
rance.
The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv.
CON
CON
CON
eON'FIDENT, n. One entrusted with se
Crete ; a confidential or bosom friend.
Dryden. Coxe. Milford.
[This loord has been usually, but improp-
erly, wrilten confidant. / have followed the
regular English orthography, as Coxe and
Miford have done.]
CONfrlDEN'TIAL, a. Enjoying tlie confi-
dence of anotlier ; trusty ; that may be
safely trusted ; as a confidential friend.
2. That is to be treated or kept in confi-
dence ; private : as a coiMential matter.
3. Admitted to special confidence.
€ONFIDEN'TIALLY, adv. In confidence;
in reliance or secrecy.
CON'FIDENTLY, adv. With firm trust;
with strong assurance ; without doubt or
wavering of opinion ; positively ; as, to
believe confidently ; to assert confidently.
CON'FIDENTNESS, n. Confidence; the
quality or state of having full reliance.
eONFI'DER, 71. One who confides; one
who entrusts to another.
CONFIG'URATE, v. i. [L. ronfguro. See
Configure.]
To show hke the aspects of the planets to-
wards each other. Jordan.
CONFIGURA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. con-
figuro.]
1. External form, figure, shape ; the figure
which bounds a body, and gives it its ex-
ternal appearance, constituting one of the
principal differences between bodies.
Encyc.
2. Aspects of the planets ; or the face of the
horoscope, according to the aspects of the
planets toward each other at any time.
Bailey. Johnson.
3. Resemblance of one figure to another.
Baiky. Jones.
eONFIG'URE, V. t. [\.. configuro'; con and
figuro, to form ; figura, figure.]
To ibrm ; to dispose in a certain form, fig-
ure or shape. Bentley.
CONFI'NABLE, a. That may be confined
or limited. Bp. Hall.
eON'FINE, n. [L. confinis, at tlie end or
border, adjoining ; cotifinium, a limit ; con
and finis, end, border, limit ; It. confine,
confino ; Sp. confin ; Fr. Port. co»/7is.' Sec
Fine.]
Border ; edge ; exterior j)art ; the part of
any territory whicli is at or near the end
or extremity. It is used generally in the
plural, and applied chiefly to countries,
territory, cities, rivers, &c. We say, the
confines of France, or of Scotland, and
figuratively, the confines of light, of death,
or the grave; but never, the confines of a
book, table or small piece of land.
CON'FINE, a. Bordering on ; lying on the
border; adjacent; having a common boun-
dary. Johnson.
CON'FINE, v.i. [FT.confiner;&p.confinar;
It. coufinare.^
To border on ; to touch the limit ; to bo ad-
jacent or contiguous, as one territory,
kingdom or state to anotlier ; usually fol-
lowed by on ; sometimes by with. Eng-
land confines on Scotland. Connecticut
confines on Massachusetts, Now- York,
Rhode Island and the sound.
eONFI'NE, 1'. t. [Sp. confinar ; Fr. confi-
ner. See Supra.]
1. To bound or limit ; to restrain within
limits ; hence, to imprison ; to shut up ; to
restrain from escape by force or insur-
mountable obstacles, in a general sense;
as, to confine horses or cattle to an inclo-
sure ; to confine water in a pond, to dam ;
to confine a garrison in a town ; to confi
a criminal in prison.
2. To imnuire ; to keep close, by a voluntary
act ; to be much at home or hi retirement
as, a. man confines himself to his studies
or to his house.
3. To hmit or restrain voluntarily, in some
act or practice ; as, a man may coti^i
himself to the use of animal food.
4. To tie or bind ; to make fast or close ; as,
to confine air in a bladder, or corn in a bag
or sack.
5. To restrain by a moral force ; as, to
fine men by law.s. The constitution of tlie
United States confines the states to the ex
ercise of powers of a local nature.
eONFI'NED, pp. Restrained within limits
imprisoned ; limited ; secluded ; close.
eON'FINEI.ESS, a. Boundless ; unlimited ;
without end. Shak
CONFI'NEiMENT, n. Restraint withir
limits ; imprisonment ; any restraint of
liberty by force or other obstacle or neces-
sity ; as the confinement of a debtor or
criminal to a prison, or of troojis to a be
sieged town.
2. Voluntary restraint ; seclusion ; as the
confinement of a man to his house,
his studies.
3. Voluntary restraint in action or practice ;
confinement to a particular diet.
4. Restraint from going abroad by sickness,
particularly by cliild-birtli.
eONFI'NER, H. He or that which limit
or restrauis.
eON'FINER, n. A borderer; one who
lives on confines, or near tlie border ofii
country. Shak
2. He or that which is near the limit ; a near
neighbor ; he or that which is adjacent or
contiguous ; as confiners in art ; confincrs
between plants and animals, as oysters.
If'ollon. Bacon.
CONFI'NING, ppr. Restraining ; limiting ;
imprisoning.
CONFIN'ITV, n. [L. confinitas.] Contigu-
ity ; nearness ; neighborhood. Diet.
€ONlFIRM', v.t. conferm'. [I., corfirmo ;
con and firmo, to make firm. See Firm.]
1. To make firm, or more firm ; to add
strength to ; to strengthen ; as, health is
confirmed by exercise.
2. To fix more firmly ; to settle or establish.
Confirming the souls of the disciples. Acts
xiv.
I confirm thee in the priesthood. Maccabees.
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs.
Shak.
3. To make firm or certain ; to give new
assurance of truth or certainty ; to put
past doubt.
The testimony of Christ was confirmed in
you. 1 Cor. 1.
4. To fix ; to radicate ; as, the patient has
confirmed dropsy.
5. To strengthen ; to ratify ; as, to confirm
an agreement, jiroraise, covenant or title.
6. To make more firm ; to strengthen ; as, to
confirm an opinion, a purpose or resolution.
7. To admit to tlie full privileges of a chris-
tian, by the imposition of hands. Johnson.
CONFIRM' ABLE, a. conferm'aUe. That
may be confirmed, estabhshed or ratified :
capable of l>eing made more certain.
Brown.
CONFIRM .VTION, n. The act of confirm-
ing or establishing ; a fixing, settling, es-
tablishing or making more certain or firm ;
establishment.
In the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
ye are all partakers of my grace. Phil. i.
2. The act of ratifying; as the confirmation
of a promise, covenant, or stipulation.
3. The act of giving new strength; as the
confirmation of health.
4. The act of giving new evidence ; as the
ifirmation of opinion or report.
5. That which confirms ; that which give?
new strength or assurance ; additional ev-
idence ; proof; convincing testimony ; as.
this fact or this argument is a confirma-
tion of what was before alledged.
G. In law, an assurance of title, by the con-
veyance of an estate or right tn esse, from
one man to another, by w-liich a voidable
estate is made sure or unavoidable, or a
particular estate is increased, or a jiosses-
sion made perfect. Blackstone.
7. In church affairs, the act of ratifying the
election of an archbishop or bishop, by
the king, or by persons of his appointment.
Blackstone.
8. The act or ceremony of laying on of
hands, in the admission of baptized per-
sons to the enjoyment of christian privi-
leges. The person to be confirmed brings
his godfather and godmother, and takes
upon himself the baptismal vows. This is
practiced in the Greek, Roman and Epis-
copal churches. Hammond. Encyc.
CONFIRM'ATIVE, a. conferm' alive. Having
the power of confirming ; tending to es-
tablish.
CONFIRMA'TOR, 7t. He or that which
confirms. Brotcn.
CONFIRM'ATORY, a. conferm' atory. That
serves to confirm ; giving additional
strength, force or stability, or additional
assurance or evidence.
2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation.
Bp. Compton.
CONFIRM'ED,;);). conferm'ed. Made more
firm ; strengthened ; established.
2. Admitted to the fiiU privileges of the
church.
CONFIRM EDNESS, n. conferm'edness A
fixed state.
CONFIRM ER, n. conferm'er. He or that
which confirms, establishes or ratifies ;
one that produces new evidence ; an at-
tester. Shak.
CONFIRM'ING, ppr. confenn'ing. Slaking
firm or more firm ; strengthening ; ratify-
ing ; giving additional evidence or proof;
estabhshing.
CONFIRM'INGLY, adv. conferm'ingly. In
a manner to strengthen or make firm".
B. Jonson.
CONFISCABLE, a. [See Confiscate.] That
may be confiscated ; hable to forfeiture.
Browne.
CONFISC.VTE, v.t. [L. confisco ; con and
fiscus, a basket, hamper or bag ; hence,
revenue or the Emperor's treasure ; It.
confiscare ; Fr. confisquer ; Sp. confiscar.']
To adjudge to be Ibrfeited to the public
treasury, as the goods or estate of a traitor
or other criminal, by way of penalty ; or
C O N
CON
C O N
10 condemn private forfeited property to
public use.
The estate of the rebels was seized and con-
fiscated. Anon.
CON'FISCATE, a. Forfeited and adjudged
to the public treasury, as the goods of a
criminal.
€ON'FIS€ATED, pp. Adjudged to the pub-
fic treasury, as forfeited goods or estate.
CON'FISCATING, ppr. Adjudging to the
public use.
rONFISCA'TION, n. The act of condem-
ning as forfeited, and adjudging to the
public treasury ; as the goods of a crimi-
nal who has committed a public offense.
Ezra vii. 26.
CON'FIS€ATOR, ji. One who confiscates.
Burkt.
eONFIS'€ATORY, a. Consigning to for-
feiture. Burke.
CON'FIT, 71. A sweetmeat. [See Confect.]
CON'FITENT, n. [L. conftens. See Con-
fess.] One who confesses his sins and
faults. [jVb< much used.]
eON'FITURE, n. [Fr. from confre, conft;
L. confectura, conjicio ; con and facio. This
word is corrupted into comjit, which is now
used.]
A sweetmeat ; confection ; comfit. Bacon.
CONFIX', V. t. [L. configo, confixum ; con
and fgo, to fix, to thrust to or on. See
Fix.]
To fix down ; to fasten. Shak.
eONFIX'ED, pp. Fixed down or to ; fas-
tened.
eONFIX'ING, ppi: Fixing to or on ; fas-
tening.
CONFIX'URE, n. The act of fastening.
Mountagu.
eONFLA'GRANT, a. [L. conjlagrans, con-
fiagro ; con and flagro, to burn. See Fla-
grant.]
Burning together; involved in a common
flame. ' Milton.
CONFLAGRA'TION, n. [L. conjlagratio.
See Flagrant.]
1. A great fire or the burning of any great
mass of combustibles, as a house, but more
especially a city or a forest. Bentley.
2. The burning of the world at the consum-
mation of things, when " the elements
shall melt with fervent heat."
CONFLA'TION, n. [L. conjtatio, from con
Jlo ; co>)i and_^o, to blow. See Blow.]
1. The act of blowing two or more instru
ments together. Bacon
2. A melting or casting of metal. [Little
used.]
CONFLEX'URE, n. A bending. [J^ot
used.]
€0N'FLI€T, n. [L. confiictus, from conjli-
go ; con and Jligo, to strike, Eng. to Jlog,
to lick ; Sp. conjlicto ; It. conflitlo ; Fr. con-
flit.]
1. A striking or dashing against each other,
as of two moving bodies in opposition
violent collision of substances; as a conflict
of elements, or waves ; a conflict of part'
cles in ebullition.
2. A fighting ; combat, as between men,
and applicable to individuals or to armies ;
as, the conflict was long and desperate.
3. Contention ; strife ; contest.
In our last conflict, four of his five wits weni
hatting off, Shak,
4. A struggling with difficulties ; a striving,
to oppose, or overcome.
The good man has a perpetual conflict with
his evil propensities.
5. A struggling of the mind ; distress ; anxie-
ty. Col. ii.
i. The last struggle of life ; agony ; as the
conflict with death. Thomson.
7. Opposing operations ; countervailing ac-
tion ; collision ; opposition.
In exercising the right of freemen, the man
of religion experiences no conflict between his
duty and his inclination. J. Appleton.
CONFLICT', V. i. To strike or dash against ;
to meet and oppose, as bodies driven by
violence ; as conflicting waves or ele-
ments.
2. To drive or strike against, as contend-
g men, or armies ; tp fight ; to contend
ith violence ; as conflicting armies.
3. To strive or struggle to resist and over-
come ; as men coii/licling with difficulties.
4. To be in opposition or contradictory.
The laws of the United States and of the in-
dividual States, may, in some cases, cmtflicl
with each other. Ogden, fVheaton's Rep.
CONFLICT' ING, ppr. Striking, or dashing
together ; fighting ; contending ; strug-
gling to resist and overcome.
2. a. Being in opposition ; contrary ; contra-
dictory.
In the absence of all conflicting evidence.
Story.
eON'FLUENCE, n. [L. confluentia, from
confluo ; con and fluo, to flow. See Flow.]
1. A flowing together ; the meeting or junc-
tion of two or more streams of water, or
other fluid ; also, the place of meeting; as
the confluence of the Tigris and the Frat,
or of the Ohio and IVIississippi.
2. The running together of peo])le ; the act
of meeting and crowding in a j)lace ; a
crowd ; a concourse ; the latter word is more
generally used. Temple. Shak.
3. A collection ; meeting ; assemblage.
Boi/lc.
eON'FLUENT, a. [L. confluens.] Flowing
together ; meeting in their course, as two
streams ; as confluent streams.
Blackmore.
2. In medical science, running together, and
spreading over a large surface of the body ;
as the confluent small-pox. Encyc.
3. In botany, imited at the base ; growing in
tufts, as con^Hcnt leaves ; running into each
other, as confluent lobes. Martyn.
CON'FLUX, n. [Low L. confluxio, from con-
fluo. See Confluence.]
1. A flowing together ; a meeting of two or
more currents of a fluid. Shak
2. A collection ; a crowd ; a multitude col
lected ; as a general conflux of people.
Clarendon
CONFLUXIBIL'ITY, n. The tendency of
fluids to run together. [Little iiscd.]
Boyle.
CONFORM', a. [L. conformis ; con and
orma, form.]
ade to resemble ; assuming the same form ;
like ; resembling. [Little used.] Bacon.
CONFORM', V. f. [L. conformo ; con aiMl
formo, to form, or shape, from forma, form.]
1. To make like, in external appearance ; to
reduce to a like shape, or form, witl
something else ; with to ; as, to conforn
any thing to a model.
Mad
2. More generally, to reduce to a likeness »T
correspondence in manners, opinions or
moral quaUties.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre-
destinate to be conformed to the image of his
son. Rom. viii.
Be not conformed to this world. Rom. xii'.
3. To make agreeable to ; to square with a
rule or directory.
Demand of them why they conform not
themselves to the order of tlie church ?
Hooker.
CONFORM', V. i. To comply with or yield
to ; to live or act according to ; as, to con-
form to the fashion or to custom.
2. To comply with ; to obey ; as, to conform
to the laws of the state.
CONFORMABLE, a. Correspondent ; Lav-
ing the same or similar external form, or
shape ; hke ; resembling ; as an edifice
conformable to a model or draft.
2. Having the same or similar manners,
opinions or moral qualities.
The Gentiles were not made ccmforma1>U to
the Jews, in that which was to cease at the
coming of Christ. Hooker.
3. Agreeable ; suitable ; consistent ; as, na-
ture is conformable to herself. N'ewton.
4. Compliant ; ready to follow directions;
submissive ; obsequious ; peaceable ; dis-
posed to obey.
I have been to you a true and humble wife.
At all time to your will conformable.
Shak.
It is generally followed by to, but good
writers have used ivith. In its etymologi-
cal sense, that may be conformed, capable
of being conformed, it seems not to be used.
CONFORM'ABLY, adv. With or in con-
formity ; suitably ; agreeably.
Let us settle, in our own minds, what rules to
pursue and act conformably.
CONFORM A'TION, n.' The manner in
which a body is formed ; the particular
texture or structure of a body, or disposi-
tion of the parts which compose it ; form}
structure ; often with relation to some oth-
er body, and with adaptation to some pur-
pose or effect.
Light of different colors is reflected from
bodies, according to their different conforma-
tion. Varieties of sound depend on the con-
formation of the organs.
2. The act of conforming ; the act of produ-
cing suitableness, or conformity ; with to ;
as the coJi/ormah'on of our hearts and lives
to the duties of true religion. fVatts.
3. In medical science, the particular make or
construction of the body peculiar to an in-
dividual ; as a good or bad conformation.
Encyc.
CONFORMED, pp. Made to resemble;
reduced to a hkeness of; made agreeable
to ; suited.
CONFORM'ER, n. One who conforms;
one who complies with established forms
or doctrines.
CONFORM'ING, ppr. Reducing to a like-
ness; adapting; complying %vith.
CONFORM'IST, n. One who conforms or
comphes ; appropriately, one who com-
plies with the worship of the church of
England or of the established church, a&
distinguished from a dissenter, or noncon-
formist.
CONFORM'ITY, n. Likeness ; correspon-
dence with a model in form or manner ^
CON
resemblance ; agreement ; congruity witl:
something else ; followed by to or with.
A ship is constructed in conformity to a mo^
(lei, orin coj/ormiti/ t^itA a model.
True happiness consists in conformity of life
to the divine law.
8. Consistency ; agreement.
Many instances prove the conformity of the
essay ivith the notions of Hippocrates.
Arbuthnot
0. In theology, correspondence in manners
and principles ; compliance with customs.
Live not in conformity with the world.
Anon
eONFORTA'TION, n. [See Comfort.] The
act of comforting or giving strength. [JVot
used.] Bacon.
CONFOUND', V. t. [Fr. confondre ; L. con
/undo ; con and /undo, to pour out ; It. con
fondere ; Sp. Port, confundir. Literally, to
pour or throw together.]
1. To mingle and blend different things, so
that their forms or natures cannot be dis-
tinguished ; to mix in a mass or crowd, sc
that individuals cannot be distinguished
2. To throw into disorder.
Let us go down, and there confound theii
language. Gen. xi.
3. To mix or blend, so as to occasion a mis
take of one thing for another.
A fluid body and a wetting liquor, because
they agree in many things, are wont to be con-
founded. Boyle
Men may confound ideas with words.
4. To perplex ; to disturb the apprehension
by indistinctnes of ideas or words.
Men may confound each other by unintelli
gible terms or wrong application of words.
5. To abash ; to throw the mind into disor-
der ; to cast down; to make ashamed.
Be thou confounded and bear thy shame
Ezek. xvi.
Saul confounded tlie Jews at Damascus. Act
ix.
0. To perplex with terror ; to terrify ; to dis
may; to astonish; to throw into conster
nation ; to stupify with amazement.
So spake the Son of God ; and Satan stood
A while as mute, confounded what to say.
Araton.
The multitude came together and were con-
founded. Acts ii.
7. To destroy ; to overthrow.
So deep a malice to confound the race
Of mankind in one root. Milton.
CONFOUND'ED, pp. Mixed or blended in
disorder ; perplexed ; abashed ; dismay-
ed ; i)ut to shame and silence ; astonished
2. o. Enormous ; as a confounded tory
[Vuisctr.]
CONFOUND'EDLY, adv. Enormously;
greatly ; shamefully ; as, he was confound-
edly avaricious. [A low tvord.]
€ON'FOUND'EDNESS, n. The state of
being confounded. Milton.
■eONFOUND'ER, n. One who confounds
one who disturbs the mind, perplexes, re-
futeSj frustrates and puts to shame or si-
lence ; one who terrifies.
CONFOUND'ING, ppr. Mixing and blend-
ing ; putting into disorder ; peri)lexing
disturbing the mind; abashing, and put-
ting to shame and silence : astonishing.
CONFRATER'NITY, n. [It. confrate,-nita ;
Fr. confrateniM ; con and L. fratemitas,
fraternity, from frater, brother.')
A brothprhood ; a soeiery or body of men
CON
united for some purpose or in some pro-
fession ; as the confraternity of Jesuits.
CONFRl€A'TION, n. [It. confricazione.
friction ; L. confrico ; con unifnco, to rub.
See Friction.]
A rubbing against ; friction. Bacon.
eONFRI'ER, n. [Fr. confrere.] One of the
same religious order. H'eever.
CONFRONT', V. t. [It. confrontare ; Sp. Port.
ifrontar ; Fr. confronler ; con and front
the' forehead, or front, L. frons.]
face in full i '
view ; to face ;
To stand face to face
stand in front.
He spoke and then confronts the bull.
Drydi
2. To stand in direct opposition ; to oppose.
The East and West churches did both cor
front the Jews, and concur with them. Hooke
\\. To set face to face ; to bring into the
presence of; as an accused person and a
witness, in court, for examination and dis-
covery of the truth ; followed by vnth.
Tlic witnesses are confronted with the accu-
sed, the accused with one another, or the wit
nesses with one another. Encyc
4. To set together for comparison ; to com
pare one thing with another.
When I confront a medal witli a verse, I on
ly show you the same design executed by dif-
ferent hands. Addison
CONFRONTA'TION, n. The act of bring
ing two persons into the presence of eaclj
otlicr for examination and discovery of]
truth.
eONFRONT'ED, pp. Set face to face, or
in opposition ; brought into the presence
of
eONFRONT'ING, ppr. Setting or stand
g face to face, or in opposition, or ii
esence of.
CONFU'SE, V. I. 3 as z. [L. confusus ; Fr
confus ; from L. confundo. See Confound.]
1. To mix or blend things, so that they can-
not be distinguislied.
Stunning sounds and voices all confused.
Milton.
Every battle of the wanior is with confused
noise. Is. ix.
3. To tlisorder ; as, a sudden alarm confused
the troops ; a careless booklieeper has con-
fused the accounts.
3. To perplex ; to render indistinct ; as, the
clamor confused his ideas.
4. To throw the mind into disorder ; to cast
down or abash ; to cause to blush ; to agi-
tate by surprise, or shame ; to disconcert.
A sarcastic remark confused the gentleman
and he could not proceed in his argmnent.
Confused and sadly she at length repUed.
Pope.
CONFU'SED, pp. Mixed ; blended, so that
the things or persons mixed cannot be dis-
tinguished.
Some cried one thing, and some anotlier : for
the assembly was confused. Acts xix.
2. Perplexed by disorder, or want of system
as a confused accoimt.
3. Abashed ; put to the blush or to shame ;
agitated ; disconcerted.
CONFU'SEDLY, adv. In a mi.xed
without order or separation ; indistinctly ;
not clearly ; tuinultuously ; with agitation
of mind ; without regularity or system.
CONFU'SEDNESS, 21. A state of being
confused ; want of order, distinction or
clearness.
CON
Tlic cause of the confusedness of our n
CONFU'SION, n. In a general sense, a
mixture of several things promiscuously ;
hence, disorder ; irregularity ; as the con-
fusion of tongues at Babel.
2. Tumult; want of order in society.
The whole city was fdled with coiifusimi.
\cts xix.
God is not the author of confusion. 1 Cor.
siv.
3. A blending or confounding ; indistinct
combination ; opposed to distinctness or
perspicuity ; as a confusion of ideas.
4. Abashment; shame.
O Lord, let me never be put to collusion
Ps. Ixxi.
We lie in shame and our cnnfusinn covereth
5. Astonishment ; agitation ; pcrtubation :
distraction of mind.
Confusion dwelt in every face. Spectator
G. Overthrow ; defeat ; ruin.
The makers of idols shall go to confusion to-
getlier. Is. xlv.
7. A shameful blending of natures, a shock-
ing crime. Levit. xviii. 23. xx. 12.
CONFU'TABLE, a. [See Confute.] That
may be confuted, disproved or overthrown ;
that may be shown to be false, defective
or invaUd ; as, an argument or a course of
reasoning is confutable.
CONFU'TANT, n. One who confutes or
undertakes to confute. Milton.
eONFUTA'TION, n. The act of confu-
ting, disproving, or proving to be false, or
invalid ; refutation ; overthrow ; as of argu-
ments, opinions, reasoning, theory, or
CONFU'TE, V. I. [L. confuto ; con and ant.
futo ; Sp. confutar ; It. confutare. Cla.ss
Bd.]
L To disprove ; to prove to be false, defect-
ive or invalid ; to overthrow ; as, to confute
arguments, reasoning, theory, error.
2. To prove to be wrong ; to convict of error,
by argument or proof; a.«, to confute an
advocate at the bar; to confute a writer.
CONFUTED, ;>;). Disproved; proved to be
false, defective or unsound ; overthrown
by argument, fact or proof.
CONFU'TER, ;i. One who disproves, or
confutes. Morion.
CONFU'TING, ppr. Disproving ; proving to
be false, defective or invalid ; overthrow-
ing by argument or proof.
CON'CiE, n. con'jee. [Fr. congi, leave, per-
mission, discharge, contracted from con-
ged ; verb, congedier, to dismiss ; It. con-
gedo, leave, permission ; congedare, to give
leave ; Arm. congea. Tlie verb is a com-
pound of con and ged ; W. gadaiv, to quit,
to leave, to permit ; gad, leave. Gadaw is
the Celtic form of the L. cedo. Conged is
therefore concedo.]
1. Leave ; farewell ; parting ceremony.
Spenser.
2. The act of respect performed at the part-
ing of friends. Hence, the customary act
of civility, on other occasions ; a bow or a,
courtesy.
The captain salutes you with conge profound.
Swift.
CONgE', v. i. To take leave with the cus-
tomary civilities ; to bow or courtesy.
The preterite congeed is tolerable in En-
CON
CON
CON
glish ; but congeing will not be admitted,
and congeemg is an anomaly.
Conge (V etire, "in ecclesiastical affairs, the
king's license or permission to a dean and
chapter, to choose a bishop; or to an ab-
bey or priory of his own foundation, to
choose their abbot or jirior. The king ot
Great Britain, as sovereign patron, had
formerly the appointment of all ecclesias-
tical dignities ; investing by crosier and
ring, and afterwards i)y letters patent.
But now the king, on demand, sends his
conge (T elire to the dean and chapter, with
a letter missive, containing the nameof tlie
person he would have thera elect, and if
they delay the election twelve days, the
nomination devolves on the king, who may
appoint by letters patent.
Enciic. Vowel. Blachslone.
CON'UE, n. In architecture, a mold in form
of a quarter round, or a cavetto, which
serves to separate two members from one
another; such as that which joins the shaft
of the column to the cincture, called also
apophyge. Also, a ring or fernde, formerly
used on the extremities of columns to keep
them from splitting ; afterwards imitated
in stone-work. Encyc.
CONgE'AL, v. t. [L. congelo ; con and gelo,
to freeze ; Fr. congeler ; It. congelare ; Sp.
congelar ; Arm. caledi. This may be con-
nected with the W. ceulmv, to curdle or
coagulate, from caul, a calf's maw ; also,
rennet, cui-d and chyle. The li. gelo has
the elements of cooZ, but it may be a differ-
ent word.]
1. To change from a fluid to a solid state, as
by cold, or a loss of heat, as water in free-
zing, liquid metal or wax in cooling, blood
in stagnating or cooling, &c. ; to harden
into ice, or into a substance of less solidity.
Cold congeals water into ice, or vapor into
lioar frost or snow, and blood into a less
solid mass, or clot.
2. To bind or fix with cold. Applied to the
circulating blood, it does not signify abso-
lutely to harden, but to cause a sensation
of cold, a shivering, or a receding of the
blood from the extremities ; as, the fright-
ful scene congealed his blood.
€0NGE'AL, v. i. To grow liard, stiff or
thick ; to pass from a fluid to a solid state ;
to concrete into a solid mass. Melted lead
congeals ; water congeals ; blood cons:eats.
€ON'gE'ALABLE, a. That may be'con-
gealed; capable of being converted from a
fluid to a solid state. Bacon.
eON6E'ALED, p;?. Converted into ice, or
a solid mass, by the loss of heat or other
process ; concreted.
€ONGE'ALING, ppr. Changing from a h-
quid to a solid state ; concreting.
€ONgE'ALMENT, n. A clot or concretion
that which is formed by congelation. Also
congelation.
€ONgELA'TION, n. [L. congelatio.] The
process of passing, or the act of converting,
from a fluid to a solid state ; or the state
of being congealed ; concretion. It differs
from crystalization in this : in congelation
the whole substance of a fluid may become
solid ; in crystalization, when a salt is form
ed, a portion of liquid is left. But the con
gelation of water is a real crystalization.
Encyc.
CONgE'NER, n. [L. congener; con and
gencr, kind, race.]
A thing of the same kind or nature.
The cherry tree has been often grafted on tlic
laurel, to which it is a congener. Miller.
eONGE'NER, ? Of the same kind
CONgEN'EROUS, ^ "• or nature; aUied in
origin or cause ; as congeneroits bodies ;
congenerous diseases.
Brown. Arhullwol
CONt;EN'ERACY, n. Similarity of origin
€ONgENER'I€, a. Being of the same kind I
gmg into ice, or the state of being convert-
ed to ice ; a freezing ; congelation.
CONgEN'EROUSNESS, n. The quality ol
being from the same original, or of belong-
ing to the same class. Did
CONgE'NIAL, a. [L. con and genus
whence genialis, genial. See Generate.]
1. Partaking of the same genus, kind or na-
ture ; kindred ; cognate ; as congenial
souls.
3. Belonging to the nature ; natural ; agree
able to the nature ; usually followed by to ;
as, this severity is not congenial to hiin.
3. Natural; agreeable to the nature ; adapt
ed ; as a soil congenial to a plant.
CONGENIALITY, > Participation of
eONGE'NIALNESS, ^ "" the same genus,
nature or original ; cognation ; natural af-
finity ; suitableness. M'otton.
€ONgEN'ITE, I [L. congenilus; con
CONgEN'ITAL, S and genitus, born,
from gigno, to beget, gignor, to be born.]
Of the same birth ; born with another; con-
nate ; begotten together.
Many conclusions of moral and intellectual
truths seem to be congenite with us. Hale.
Native or congc/iital varieties of animals.
Lawrence.
€0N'GER, ?i. co7ig'gur. [L. conger or con-
grus ; Gr. xoyypo;, or -/oyyfjo; ; It. gongro ;
Fr. congre.]
The sea-eel ; a large species of eel, sometimes
growing to the length of ten feet, and
weighing a hundred jtounds. In Corn-
wall, England, it is an article of com-
merce, being shipped to Spain and Por-
tugal. Encyc.
CONgE'RIES, n. [L. from congero, to bring
together, to amass ; con and gero, to bear.]
A collection of several particles or bodies in
one mass or aggregate. Boyle.
CONGEST', V. i. [L. congero, congestuni ;
con and gero, to bear.]
To collect or gather into a mass or aggre-
gate. Rnieigh.
eONGEST'IBLE, a. That may be collected
into a mass.
CON6ES'TION, n. [L. congeslio.] A col
lection of humors in an animal body, hard
ened into a tumor. An accunnilation of
blood in a part. Encyc. Coxe
eON'GlARY, n. [L. congianum, from con-
gius, a measure ; Fr. congiaire.]
Properl}', a present made by the Roman em-
jierors to the people ; originally in corn oi
wine measured out to them in a congius, a
vessel holding a gallon or rather more.
In present usage, a gift or a donative
represented on a medal.
Encyc. Addison.
CONGLA'CIATE, v. i. [L. conglacio ; con
and glacio, to freeze ; glacics, ice.]
To turn to ice ; to freeze. Brown.
eONGLACIA'TION, n. The act of chan-
CONGLO'BATE, a. [L. conglobatus, from
conglobo ; con and globo, to collect or tn
make round ; globus, a ball. See Globe.]
Formed or gathered into a ball. A conglobati
gland is a single or lymphatic gland, a small
smooth body, covered in a fine skin, ad-
milting only an artery and a lymphatic,
vessel to pass in, and a vein and a lymph-
atic vessel to pass out. Parr. Coxe.
IjCONGLO'BATE, v. f. To collect or form
into a ball or hard, round substance.
Greic.
;C0NGL0'B.\TED, pp. Collected or formed
into a ball.
CONGLO'BATELY, adv. In a round or
roundish form.
€ONGLOBA'TION, n. The act of forming
into a ball ; a round body.
eONGLO'BE, V. t. [L. conglobo ; con and
globo, from globus, a round body.]
To gather into a ball ; to collect into a round
mass. Milton.
l€ONGLO'BE, v. i. To collect, unite or coa-
lesce in a round mass. Milton.
CONGLO'BED, pp. Collected into a ball.
eONGLO'BING, ppr. Gathering into a
round mass or ball.
eONGLOB'ULATE, v. i. To gather into a
little round mass, or globule. Johnson.
eONGLOM'ERATE, a. [L. conglomero ;
con and glomero, to wind into a ball, from
glomus, a ball, a clew. See Glomerate.]
1. Gathered into a ball or round body. A
conglomerate gland is composed of many
smaller glands, whose excretory ducts
unite in a common one, as the liver, kid-
neys, pancreas, parotids, &c. Each little
granulated portion furnislics a small tube,
which unites with other similar ducts, to
form the common excretory duct of the
gland. Coxe. Encyc.
2. In botany, conglomerate flowers grow on
a branching peduncle or foot stalk, on
short pedicles, closely compacted together
without order ; opposed to diffused.
Marty n.
3. Conglomerate rocks. [See Pudding-
stone.]
CONGLOMERATE, v. t. To gather into a
ball or round body ; to collect into a round
mass. Grew.
eONGLOM'ERATE, n. In mineralogy, a
sort of pudding-stone, or coarse sandstone,
composed of pebbles of quartz, flint, sili-
ceous slate, &c. Cleaveland.
eONGLOM'ERATED, pp. Gathered into
a ball or round mass.
CONGLOM'ER.'VTING, ppr. Collecting in-
to a ball.
€ONGLO.MERA'TION, n. The act of gath-
ering into a ball ; the state of being thus
collected : collection ; accumulation.
eONGLU'TINANT, a. [See Conglutinate.]
Gluing; uniting; healing. Bacon.
eONGLU'TINANT, n. A medichie that
heals wounds.
€ONGLU'TINATE, v. I. [L. congluUno ;
con and glutino, from gluten, glue. See
Glue.]
To glue together;
gill-
to unite by
tinous or tenacious substance.
2. To heal; to unite the separated parts of a
wound by a tenacious substance.
CON
CON
CON
eONGLU'TINATE, v. i. To coalesce ; toj
unite by the intervention of a cnlliis.
Johnson.]
CONGLU'TINATED, ;;;>. Glued together;
united by a tenacious substance.
€ONGLU'TINATING, ppr. Gluing togeth-
er ; uniting; or closing by a tenacious sub-
stance.
€ONGLUTINA'TION, n. The act of gluing
together ; a joining by means of some tena-
cious substance ; a healing by uniting the
parts of a wound ; union. Arhuthnol.
eONGLU'TINATlVE, a. Having the pow-
er of uniting by glue or other substance of
like nature.
eONGLU'TINATOR, n. That which has
the power of uniting wounds.
If'oodward.
CON'GO, n. cong'go. A species of tea from
China.
CONGRAT'ULANT, a. Rejoicing in parti-
cipation. Milton.
€ONGRAT'ULATE, v. t. [h. congratulor ;
con and gralutor, from grains, grateful,
pleasing. See Grace.]
To profess one's pleasure or joy to another
on account of an event deemed happy or
fortunate, as on the birth of a child, suc-
cess in an enterprise, victory, escape from
danger, &c.; to wish joy to another.
We congratulate the nation on the resto-
ration of peace.
Formerly this verb was followed by to.
" The subjects of England may congratu-
late to themselves." Dryden. But this use
of to is entirely obsolete. The use of ivith
after this verb, " 1 congratulate ivith my
country," is perhaps less objectionable,
but is rarely used. The intransitive sense
of the verb may therefore be considered as
antiquated, and no longer legitimate.
CON<iU AT I I.AI'MD, pp. Complimented
with i\|i!i s-hihs .it' joy at a hui)py event.
CON<;i; \ r I I.Al'LNG, ppr. Professing
one's Joy or ^^^tlslaction on account of
some lia|)py event, prosperity or success.
€ONGRATULA'TION, n. The act of pro
fessing one's joy or good wishes at the sue
cess or happiness of another, or on ae
count of an event deemed fortunate to both
parties or to the conmumity.
CONGRAT'ULATOR, n. One who offers
congratulation. Milton
€ONGRAT'UL.\TORY, a. Expressing joy
for the good fortune of another, or for an
event fortunate for both parties or for the
commimity.
CONGREE', V. i. To agree. [jVo< in use.]
Shak.
eONGREE'T, t'. t. To salute mutually.
Wot in tise.] Shak.
CON'GREGATE, v. I. [h. coyigrego ; con
apd grex, a herd, W. gre. See Grega-
To collect separate persons or things into an
assemblage ; to a.ssemble ; to bring into
one place, or into a crowd or united body
as, to congregate men or animals ; to coil-
gregate waters or sands.
Hooker. Milton. Shak
CON'GREGATE, v. i. To come together
to assemble ; to meet.
Equals with equals often congiegate.
Venham.
.-CON'GREGATE, a. Collected; compact;
close. [lAttle used.] Bacon.
CON GREGATED, pp. Collected ; assera-
s <;i! r,<;A'rii\G, ppr. Collecting; as-
, liihliML' ; coTMing together.
COiN(;|{|;<;.V TION, n. The act of bringing
together, or assembling.
2. A collection or assemblage of separate
things; as a congrcg-a/ionof vapors.
Shak.
3. More generally, an assembly of persons ;
and appropriately, an assembly of persons
met for the worship of God, and for reli-
gious instruction. Hooker
4. An assembly of rulers. Numb. xxxv.
An assembly of ecclesiastics or cardinals
appointed by the pope ; as the congrega-
tion of the holy office, &c. Also, a compa-
ny or society of religious cantoned out of
an order. Encyc.
6. An academical assembly for transacting
business of the university. England.
eONGREGA'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to m
congregation ; appropriately used of sucli
christians as hold to church government
by consent and election, maiutainiuj^ that
each congregation is independent of oth-
ers, and has the right to choose its own
pastor and govern itself ; as a congrega-
tional church, or mode of worship.
CONGREGATIONALISM, n. Ecclcsiast
ical goveinniciil in llie hands of eacl
churcli, as .in iiiili|)(ii(liMit body.
CONGRK<iA rioNAl.lST, n. One who
belongs to a cDngrrg.itional church
ciety ; one who holds to the independence
of each congregation or church of christ
ians, in the right of electing a pastor, and
in governing the church.
CON'GRESS, n. [L. congressus, from con
gredior, to come together ; con and gradior,
to go or step ; gradus, a steji. See Gradi
and Degree.]
1. A meeting of individuals ; an assembly of
envoys, commissioners, deputies, &c., par
ticularly a meeting of the representatives
of several courts, to concert measures for
their common good, or to adjust their mu
tual concerns. Europe
2. The assembly of delegates of the several
British Colonics in America, which united
to resist the claims of Great Britain in 1774,
and which declared tlie colonies independ-
ent.
3. The assembly of the delegates of the sev-
eral United States, after the declaration ut
Independence, and until the adoption of
the present constitution, and the organiza-
tion of the government in 1789. During
these periods, the congress consisted of
one house only.
4. The assembly of senators and representa-
tives of the several .states of North Ameri-
ca, according to the present constitution,
or political compact, by which they are
united in a federal republic ; the legislature
of the United States, consisting of two
houses, a senate and a house of representa-
tives. Members of the senate are elected
for six years, but the members of the house
of representatives are chosen for two years
only. Hence the united body of senators
and representatives for the two years, dur-
ing which the representatives "hold their
seats, is called one congress. Thus we say
the first or second session of tlie sixteenth
congress.
5. A meeting of two or more ]iersons in a
contest ; an encounter ; a conflict. Dryden.
a. The meetingof the sexes in sexual com-
merce.
eONGRES'SION, n. A company. [Mt in
use.]
eONGRES'SIONAL, a. Pertaining to a
congress, or to the congress of the United
States ; as congressional debates.
The congressional institution of .Amphictj-
ons in Greece. Barlow.
CONGRES'SIVE, a. Meeting, as the .sexes.
Brown .
2. Encountering.
CONGRU'E, r. 7. To agree. [Xot used.]
Shak.
CONGRUENCE,? [L. congruentia, from
CONGRU ENCy, ^ congruo, to agree, or
suit.]
Snitiitilctifs-i of one thing to another; o^rce-
iiifnt ; cnii-i-iency. More.
( ( >,N <Jl!ri',.\T, a. Suilalilc ; agreeing; cor-
rcs|i(p|:ilc-iit. Davtes.
CONGRU ITY, )i. Suitableness; the rela-
tion of agreement between things.
There is no congruUy between a mean sub-
ject and a lofty stjie ; but an obvious congruili/
between an elevated station and dignified de-
portment.
2. Fitness; pertinence.
A whole sentence may fail of its congruiti/
by wanting a particle. &dncy.
3. Reason ; consistency ; propriety.
Hooker.
4. In school divinity, the good actions which
are supposed to render it meet and equita-
ble that God should confer grace on those
who perform them. The merit of con-
gruity is a sort of imperfect qualification
for the gift and reception of God's grace.
Milner.
5. In geometry, figures or lines, which when
laid over one another, exactly correspond,
are in congndly. Johnson.
CON'GRUOUS, a. [L. congruus.] Suita-
ble ; consistent ; agreeable to. Light airy
music and a solemn or mournful occasion
are not congruous. Obedience to God is
congruous to the light of reason. Locke.
■3. Rational; fit.
I It is not congruous that (lod should be al-
! ways frightening men into au acknowledgment
! of the truth. Atterbury.
t()\ (iRUOUSLY, adv. Suitably ; perti-
nently ; ;iL;reeably; consistently. Boyle.
lOiV It', } [L. conicus ; Gr. »unxof.
CON RAL, S See Cone.]
1. Having the form of a cone ; round and
I decreasing to a point; as a co«ic figure;
[ a conical vessel.
2. Pertaining to a cone ; as conic sections.
Conic Section, a curve line formed by the in-
tersection of a cone and plane. The conic
sections are the parabola, hyperbola, and
ellipsis. Bailey.
CON'lCiVLLY, adv. In the form of a cone.
BoyU.
CON'ICALNESS, n. Tlie state or quality of
I being conical.
iCON'ICS, »i. That part of geometry which
treats of the cone and the curves which
arise from its sections. Johnsott.
CONIFEROUS, a. [L. conifer, coniferus ;
from eonus and fero, to bear.]
Bearing cones ; producing hard, dry, scaly
I seed-vessels of a conical figure, as the pine,
! fir, cypress and beech. Martyn. Encyc.
CON
■CO'NIFORM, a. [cone and /orm.] In form
of a cone; conical; as a coniform moun-
tain of Potosi. Kirwan
CO'NITE, n. [Gr. xows, dust.] A mineral
of an ash or greenish gray color, which
becomes brown by exposure to the air.
occurring massive or stalactitic ; found in
Saxony and in Iceland. Ure.
CONJE€T', V. t. To throw together, or to
tlu'ow. [JVot used.] Mounfagu.
€ON.rE€T', V. i. To guess. [Not used.]
Shak.
CONJE€'TOR, 71. [L. from conjido, to
cast together ; con and jado, to throw.]
One who guesses or conjectures. [See
Conjecture.] Swift.
CONJECTURABLE, a. That may be
guessed or conjectured.
€ON.IEC'TURAL, a. Depending on con-
jecture ; done or said by guess ; as a con-
jectural opinion.
CONJE€'TURALLY, adv. Without proof
or evidence ; by conjecture ; by guess ; as
this opinion was given conjecturally.
CONJEe'TURE, n. [L. conjectura ; Fr.
conjecture ; It. congettura, or conghieltura ;
Sp. conjetura ; Port, conjectura or conjei-
tura. See Conjector.]
\. Literally, a casting or throwing together
of possible or probable events ; or a cas
ting of the mind to something future, or
something past but unknown ; a guess
formed on a supposed possibility or prob-
ability of a fact, or on shght evidence ;
preponderance of opinion without proof
surmise. We speak of future or unknown
things by conjecture, and of probable or
imfoimded conjectures.
2. Idea ; notion. Shak.
CONJECTURE, v. t. To guess ; to judge
by guess, or by the probability or the pos-
sibility of a fact, or by very slight evi-
dence ; to form an opinion at random.
What will be the issue of a war, we may
conjecture, but cannot know. He con-
jectured that some misfortune had hap-
pened.
CONJECTURED, pp. Guessed ; surmised.
€ONJE€'TURER, «. One who guesses ; a
gucsser ; one who forms or utters an opin-
ion without proof. Addison.
•eONJEC'TURING, ppr. Guessing; sur-
mising.
CONJOIN', V. t. [Fr. conjoindre ; It. con-
giugnere, or congiungere ; L. conjungo ; con
and jungo, to join. See Join.]
1. To join together, without any thing in-
termediate ; to unite two or more persons
or things in close connection ; as, to
join friends ; to conjoin man and woman
in marriage. Drijden. Shak.
2. To associate, or connect.
Let that which he leams next be nearly con-
joined with what he knows already. Locke
CONJOIN', V. i. To unite; to join; to
league. Shak.
CONJOIN'ED, pp. Joined to or with; uni-
ted ; associated.
CONJOIN'ING, ppr. Joining together
uniting ; connecting.
CONJOINT', a. United ; connected ; asso
ciate.
Conjoint degrees, in music, two notes wliicl
follow eacli other immediately in the order
of the scale; as ut and re. John
Conjoint tetrachords, Uvo tetrachords
CON
fourths, where the same chord is the high
est of one and the lowest of the other.
Encyc
CONJOINT'LY, adv. Jointly; unitedly;
in union ; together. Dryden.
CON'JUGAL, a. [L. conjugalis, from conju-
gium, marriage ; conjugo, to yoke or cou-
ple ; con andjMgo, id. See Join and Yoke.]
1. Belonging to marriage ; matrimonial ;
connubial ; as conjugal relation ; conjugal
ties.
2. Suitable to the married state ; becoming
a husband in relation to his consort, <
consort in relation to her husband ; as
conjugal affection.
CON 'JUG ALLY, adv. Matrimonially ; con
nubiallv.
CON'JUGATE, tJ. t. [L. conjugo, conj^igatns
to couple ; con and nigo, to yoke, to marry
See Join and Yoke.]
1. To join ; to unite in marriage. [.Vo< noto
used.] fVotton
2. In grammar, to distribute the parts or in
flections of a verb, into the several voices,
modes, tenses, numbers and persons, so as
to show their connections, distinctions,
and modes of formation. Literally, to con-
nect all the inflections of a verb, according
to their derivation, or all the variations of
one verb. In English, as the verb under-
goes few variations, conjugation consist!
chiefly in combining the words which uni
tedly form the several tenses in the several
persons.
CON'JUG.-VTE, n. A word agreeing in de
rivation with another word, and therefore
generally resembling it in signification.
We have learned in logic, that coiiju^ates
are sometimes in name only, and not in deed.
Bramhall.
CON'JUGATE, a. In hotany, a conjugate
leaf is a pinnate leaf whicli has only one
pair of leaflets; a conjugate raceme has two
racemes only, united by a common pedun-
cle. Martyn.
Conjugate diameter or axis, in geometry, a
right line bisecting the transverse diame-
ter ; the shortest of the two diameters of
an ellipsis. Chambers. Encyc.
CONJUGA'TION, n. [L. conjugatio.] A
couple or pair ; as a conjugation of nerves.
[Little used.] Brown.
2. The act of uniting or compiling ; union ;
assemblage. Bentley. Taylor.
.3. In grammar, the distribution of the several
inflections or variations of a verb, in their
different voices, modes, tenses, numbers
and persons ; a connected scheme of all
the derivative forms of a verb.
CONJUNCT', a. [L conjundus, from con-
jungo. See Conjoin.]
Conjoined ; united ; concurrent. Shak.
CONJUNCTION, n. [L. conjunctio. See
Conjoin.]
1. Union ; connection ; association by treaty
or otherwise. Bacon. South.
2. In astronomy, the meeting of two or more
stars or planets in the same degree of the
zodiac ; as the conjunction of the moon
with the sun, or of Jupiter and S.iturn.
3. In grammar, a connective or connecting
word ; an indeclinable word which serves
to unite sentences or the clauses of a i
tence and words, joining two or more
simple sentences into one compound one
CON
and continuing it at the pleasure of the
writer or speaker.
This hook cost one dollar and ten cents.
God called the light day and the darkness
he called night.
Virtue and vice are not compatible.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.
but the expectation of the wicked shall neri«h
Prov. X.
4. The copulation of the sexes.
Smith's Tour.
CONJUNCTIVE, a. Closely united. Shak.
^3. Uniting ; serving to unite.
•3. In gramrnar, the conjunctive mode is that
which follows a conjunction, or expresses
some condition, or contingency. It is
more generally called subjunctive.
CONJUNCTIVELY, adv. In conjunction.
or union ; together. Brown.
CONJUNCTIVENESS, n. The quality of
conjoining or uniting.
CONJUNCT'LY, adv. In union; jointly:
together.
CONJUNCTURE, n. [Fr. conjoncture. See
Conjoin.']
1. A joining ; a combination or union, as of
causes, events or circumstances ; as an un-
happy conjuncture of affairs.
2. An occasion ; a critical time, proceeding
from a union of circumstances. Junc-
ture is used in a like sense.
At that conjuncture, peace was very desi-
rable.
3. Union ; connection ; mode of union ; as
the conjunctures of letters in words.
Holder.
4. Connection ; union ; consistency.
1 was willing to grant to presbytery what with
reason it can pretend to in a conjuncture with
episcopacy. 'King Charles.
CONJURA'TION, n. [See Conjure.] The
act of using certain words or ceremonies
to obtain the aid of a superior being ; the
act of summoning in a sacred name ; the
practice of arts to expel evil spirits, allay
storms, or perform supernatural or extra-
ordinary acts.
CONJU'RE, D. t. [L. conjuro, to swear to-
gether, to conspire ; cmi and juro, to
swear ; It. congiurare ; Sp. conjuror ; Fr.
conjurer.]
1. To call on or summon by a sacred name,
or in a solemn manner ; to implore with
solemnity. It seems originally to have
signified, to bind by an oath.
I conjure you ! let him know,
■ftTiate'er was done against him, Cato did if.
jlddison.
2. To bind two or more by an oath ; to unite
in a conmion design. Hence intransi-
tively, to conspire. [JVot usual.] Milton.
CON'JURE, V. t. To expel, to drive or to
affect, in some manner, by magic arts, as
by invoking the Supreme Being, or by the
use of certain words, characters or cere-
monies toengage supernatural influence ;
as, to conjure up evil spirits, or to conjure
dotvn a tempest ; to conjure the stars.
Note. It is not easy to define this word,
nor any word of like import ; as the practices of
conjurors are little known, or various and in-
definite. The use of this word mdicates that
an oath or solemn invocation originally formed
a part of the ceremonies.
CON'JURE, V. i. To practice the arts of a
conjurer ; to use arts to engage the aid of
spirits in performing some extraordinary
act. Shak.
CON
CON
CON
2. In o vul/rar sense, to behave very strange-
ly ; to art like a witch ; to play tricks.
CONJli'RRI), pp. Bound by an oath.
CONJU'REMENT, n. Serious injunction ;
solemn demand. Milton.
eON'JURER, n. One who practices conju
ration ; one who pretends to the secret
art of performing things supernatural or
extraordinary, by the aid of superior pow-
ers ; an impostor who pretends, by un-
known means, to discover stolen goods,
&c. Hence ironically, a man of shrewd
conjecture ; a man of sagacity.
Addison. Prior.
CONJU'RING, ppr. Enjoining or imploring
solemnly-
€ONNAS"'CENCE, n. [L. con and nascor,
to be born.]
1. The common birth of two or more at the
same time ; production of two or more to
gether.
2. A being born or produced with another.
liroion.
3. The act of growing together, or at the
same time. Wisem
€ON'NATE, a. [L. con and natus, bo
from nascor.]
1. Born with another; being of the same
birth ; as connate notions. South.
2. In botany, united in origin ; growing from
one base", or united at their bases ; united
into one body ; as connate leaves or
thers. MaHyn.
CONNAT'URAL, a. [con and natural.]
1. Connected by nature ; united in nature ;
born with another.
These affections arc connatural to us, ami as
we grow up, so do they. L'Estrange.
2. Participating of the same nature.
And mix wUh our connatural dust. Milton.
CONNATURAL'ITY, n. Participation o(
the same nature ; natural union.
Johnson. Hale.
CONNAT'URALLY, ade. By the act of]
natin-e ; originallv. Hate.
€ONNAT'URALNESS, n. Participation of]
the same nature ; natural union.
Johnson. Pearson
■CONNECT', V. t. [L. conyiecto ; eon and
necto ; It. connetterc. See Class Ng. No.
33. 38. 40. 41.]
1. To knit or link together ; to tie or fasten
together, as by something intervening, or
by weaving, winding or twining. Hence,
2. To join or unite ; to conjoin, in almost
any manner, either by junction, by any
intervening means, or by order and rela-
tion. We conned letters and words in a
sentence ; we connect ideas in the mind ;
we connect arguments in a discourse. The
strait of Gibraltar co?ineefe the Mediterra-
nean with the Atlantic. A treaty connects
two nations. Tiie interests of agriculture
are connected with those of commerce.
Families are connected by marriage or by
friendship.
■CONNECT', I), i. To join, unite or cohere ;
to have a close relation. This argument
connects with anotlier. [This use is rare
and not well authorized.]
CONNECTION, ji. [L. conneMO ; It. con-
nessione. Sec Connect.]
The act of joining or state of being joined : a
state of being "knit or fastened together;
union by junction, by an intervening sub-
stance or medium, by dependence or rela-
Vol. I.
tion, or by order in a series ; a loord ofveiy
freneral import. There is a connection of
links in a chain ; a connection between all
parts of the human body; a connection be-
tween virtue and happiness, and between
this life and the future ; a connection be-
tween parent and child, master and ser-
vant, husband and wife ; between motives
and actions, and between actions and their
consequences. In short, the word is appli-
cable to almost every thing that ha.-> a de-
pendence on or relation to another thing.
CONNECTIVE, a. Having the power of
connecting.
CONNECTIVE, n. In gramviar, a word
that connects other words and sentences ;
a conjunction. Harris uses the word for
conjunctions and prepo.-^itions. Hermes.
CONNECTIVELY, adv. In union or con-
junction ; jointly. Swift.
CONNEX', v.t.'[L. connexum.] To link
together; to join. [JVbt in use.] Hall.
CONNEX'ION, n. Connection. But for
the sake of regular analogy, I have inser-
ted connection, as the derivative of the
English connect, and would discard con
nexion.
CONNEX'IVE, a. Connective ; having the
power to connect ; uniting ; conjunctive
as connexive panicles. [Little used.]
Watts.
CONNI'VANCE, ?i. [See Connive.] Prop-
erly, the act of winking. Hence^gura-
lively, voluntary blindness to an act ; inten-
tional forbearance to see a fault or othei
act, generally implying consent to it.
Every vice interprets a connivance to be ap-
probation. South
CONNI'VE, V. i. [L. conniveo, connivi or
connixi ; con and the root ofnicto, to wink.
Class Ng.]
To wink ; to close and open the eyelids
rapidly. Spectator.
In a figurative sense, to elose the eyes
upon a fault or other act ; to pretend igno^
ranee or blindness ; to forbear to see ; tc
overlook a fault or other act, and suffer it
to pass unnoticed, uncensured or impun^
ished ; as, the father connives at the vices
of his son.
CONNI'VENCY, n. Connivance, whicli
see. Bacon
CONNIVENT, a. Shutting the eyes; for-
bearing to see. Milton
2. In anatomy, the connivent valves are those
wrinkles, cellules and vascules, which are
found on the inside of the two intesTmes,
ilium and jejunum. Encyc
3. In botany, closely united ; converging to-
gether. Eaton.
eONNI'VER, n. One who connives.
CONNI'VING, ppr. Closing the eyes against
faults ; permitting faults to pass uncen
sured.
CONNOISSEU'R, ?i. connissu're. [Fr. from
the verb connoitre, from L. cognosco, to
know.]
A person well versed in any subject ; a skil-
ful or knowing person ; a critical judge or
master of any art, particularly of paint-
ing and sculpture.
CONNOISSEU'RSHIP, n. The skill of a
connoisseur.
CON'NOTATE, v. t. [con and note, L. nolo,
nota u«.]
46
To designate with something else ; to impl.\
[Utile used.] Hammond.
CONN6tA'TION, n. The act of making
known or designating with something ;
implication of something beside itself; in-
ference. [Little used.] Halt.
CONNO'TE, v. t. [L. con and nota ; noio,
to mark. See JVbte.]
To make known together; to imply ; to de-
note or designate ; to include. [lAtth
used.] South.
CONNU'BIAL, a. [L. connubiaiis, from
connubium; con and jiuto, to marry.]
Pertaining to marriage ; nuptial ; belonging
to the state of Imstianil and wife ; as, con-
nubial rite?; connubial love.
CONNLMERA'TION, n. A reckoning to
gether. Porson.
C()N'NIJSANCE, n. yFr.connoissance, from
connoitre, to know, L. coenosco.] Knowl-
edge. [See Cognizance.]
CON'NUSANT, a. Knowing: informed;
apprised.
A neutral vessel, breaking a blockade, is liable
to confiscation, if connusani of the blockade.
^rou' fir.
CON'NY, a. [W. C07w.] Brave ; fine. [Lo-
cal.] Grose.
CO'NOID, n. [Gr. xuroiiBr; ; xco.os, a cone,
and ftSos, form.]
In geometry, a solid formed by the revolu-
tion of a coni* section about its axis. If
the conic section is a parabola, the rcsuh-
ing solid is a parabolic conoid, or parabo-
loid ; if a hyperbola, the solid is a hyper-
bolic conoid, or hyperboloid ; if an ellipse,
an elliptic conoid, a spheroid, or an ellip-
soid. Edin. Encyc.
2. In anatomy, a gland in the third ventri-
cle of the Ijrain, resembling a cone or
pine-apple, and called the pineal gland.
Encyc.
CONOID'IC, ) Pertaining to a conoid;
CONOID'ICAL, I "■ having the form of a
conoid.
CONQUASSATE, v. t. [L. conquasso.] To
shake. [Little used.] Harvey.
CON'QUER, c. t. conker. [Fr. ronquerir,
from the L. conquiro ; con and qutero, to
seek, to obtain, to conquer ; Arm. conqeuri.
As queero is written, it belongs to Class
Gr. and its preterit to Class Gs. See Ar.
lj.3 Kr.rau or quarau, and Ileb. Ch. ipn
to seek. Class Gr. No. 51. 55.]
. To subdue ; to reduce, by physical force,
till resistance is no longer made ; to over-
come ; to vanquish. Alexander conquered
Asia. The Romans conquered Carthage.
2. To gain by force ; to win : to take posses-
sion by violent means ; to gain dominion
or sovereignty over, as the subduing of the
power of an enemy generally implies pos-
session of the person or thing subdued by
the conqueror. Thus, a king or an army
conquers a countr)', or a city, which is after-
ward restored.
3. To subdue opposition or resistance of the
will by moral force ; to overcome by ar-
gument, persuasion or other mfluence.
Anna conquers but to .^ave,
And governs but to bless. Smith.
He went forth conquering, and to conquer
Rev. vi.
4. To overcome, as difficulties ; to surmount,
obstacles ; to subdue whatever oppo-
CON
CON
CON
ses ; aS, to conquer the passions ; to con-
quer reluctance.
5. To gain or obtain by effort ; as, to con-
quer freedom ; to conquer peace ; a French
application of the word.
€ON'QUER, V. i. To overcome ; to gain the
victory.
The champions resolved to conquer or to die.
Waller.
€ON'QUERABLE, a. That may be con-
quered, overcome or subdued. South.
CON'QUERED, pp. Overcome ; subdued ;
vanquished ; gained ; won.
€ON'QUERESS, n. A female who con-
quers ; a victorious female. Fairfax.
CON'QUERING, ppr. Overcoming ; sub-
duing ; vanquishing ; obtaining.
CON'GIUEROR, n. One who conquers;
one who gains a victory ; one who sub-
due.s and brings into subjection or posses-
sion, by force or by influence. Tlie man
who defeats his antagonist in combat is a
conqueror, as is the general or admiral
who defeats his enemy.
CON'QUEST, n. [Fr. conquHe ; It. conquis-
ta ; Sp. id.; L. conquisifus, quwsitus, quas-
tus, from quaro, to seek. The L. quw-
sivi, qiuesitiis, coincides in elements with
the W. ceisiaw, Eth.'MUUJ. Class Gs.No.
35. The primary sense is to seek, to press
or drive towards.]
1. The act of conquering; the act of over-
coming or vanquishing opposition by
force, physical or moral. Applied to per-
sons, territory and the like, it usually implies
or includes a taking possession of; as the
conquest of Canada by the British troops.
So we speak of the conquest of the heart,
the passions, or tlie will.
2. Victory ; success in arms ; the overcom-
ing of opposition.
In joys of conqttest he resigns his breath.
.Addison
3. That which is conquered ; possession
gained by force, physical or moral ; as, Ja
inaica was a valuable conquest for Eng
land.
4. In o feudal sense, acquest ; acquisition
the acquiring of property by other means
than by inheritance, or the acquisition of
property by a number in community or by
one for all the others, lilackstone. Encyc.
5. In the law of nations, the acquisition of
sovereignty by force of arms.
The right of conquest is derfved from the
laws of war. Encyc.
(i. The act of gaining or regaining by effort ;
as the Conquest of liberty or peace ; «
French phrase.
<-.ONSANGUIN'EOUS, a. [L. consang^uine-
»«, infra.) Of the same blood ; related by
l)irth ; descended from the same parent oi
ancestor. Shak
fONSANGUIN'lTY, n. [L. consan^initas ;
con and sanguis, blood.]
The relation of persons by blood ; the rela
tion or connection of persons descended
from the same stock or common ancestor,
in distinction from affinity or relation by
marriage. It is lineal or collateral.
Blackstone
€ON'SCIENCE, n. con'shens. [Fr. from L,
conscientia, from conscio, to know, to be
privy to ; con and scio, to know ; It
enza, or coscienza ; Sp. conciencia.]
1. Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of
right and wrong ; or the faculty, power or
principle within us, which decides on the
lawfuhiess or unlawfulness of our own ac-
tions and affections, and instantly ap-
proves or condemns them.
Conscience is called by some writers
the moral sense, and considered as an ori-
ginal faculty of our nature. Others ques-
tion the propriety of considering con-
science as a distinct faculty or principle.
They consider it rather as the general
principle of moral approbation or disap-
probation, applied to one's own conduct
and affections ; alledging that our notions
of right and wrong are not to be deduced
from a single principle or faculty, but from
various powers of the understanding and
will. Encyc. Hucheson. Reid.
Edin. Encyc.
Being convicted by their '
ing of obligation we experience, which precedes,
attends and follows our actions. E. T. Fitch.
Conscience is first occupied in ascertaining
our duty, before we proceed to action ; then in
judging of our actions when performed.
J. M. Mason.
9. The estimate or determination of con-
science; justice; honesty.
What you require cannot, in conscience, be
deferred. .Milton
3. Real sentiment ; private thoughts ; truth
as, do you in conscience believe the story ?
4. Consciousness ; knowledge of our own
actions or thoughts.
The sweetest cordial we receive at last,
Is cottscience of our virtuous actions past.
Denham.
[Thisprimary sense of the word is nearly,
perhaps wholly obsolete.]
5. Knowledge of the actions of others.
B. Jonson.
6. In ludicrous language, reason or reasona-
bleness.
Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, a?
many as you should require. Swift
To make conscience or a matter of conscience.
is to act according to the dictates of con-
science, or to scruple to act contrary to
its dictates. Locke.
Court of conscience, a court established for
the recovery of small debts in London
and other trading cities and districts.
Blackstone.
eON'SCIENCED, a. Having conscience.
South.
CON'SCIENT, a. Conscious. [ATot used.]
Bacon.
eONSCIEN'TIOUS, a. Influenced by con-
science ; governed by a strict regard to
the dictates of conscience, or by the known
or supposed rules of right and wrong
a conscientious judge.
2. Regulated by conscience ; according to
the dictates of conscience ; as a conscien-
tious probity. L'Estrange.
eONSCIEN'TIOUSLY, adv. According to
the direction of conscience ; with a strict
regard to right and wrong. A man may
err conscientiously.
CONSCIEN'TlOilSNESS, n. A scrupulous
regard to the decisions of conscience ; a
sense of justice, and strict conformity to
its dictates. Locke.
All his conduct seemed marked with an exact
and imvarying conscientiousness.
J. L. Kingsley, Eulogy on Prof. Fisher.
€ON'SCIONABLE, a. According to con-
science ; reasonable ; just.
Let my debtors have conscionable satisfac-
tion. Wotton.
CON'SCIONABLENESS, n. Reasonable-
ness; equity. Diet.
eON'SCIONABLY, adv. In a manner
agreeable to conscience ; reasonably ;
justly. Taylor.
ON'SCIOUS, a. [L. conscius.] Possessing
the faculty or power of knowing one's
own thoughts, or mental operations. Thus,
man is a conscious being.
2. Knowing from memory, or without ex-
traneous information; as, I am not con-
scious of the fact.
The damsel then to Tancred sent.
Who, conscious of the occasion, feared the
event. Dryden.
3. Knowing by conscience, or internal per-
ception or persuasion ; as, I am not con-
scious of having given any offense. Some-
times followed by to ; as, I am not conscious
to myself
jEneas only, conscious to the sign.
Presaged the event. Dryden.
So we say, conscious of innocence, or of
ignorance, or of a crime.
€ON'SCIOUSLY, adv. With knowledge of
one's own mental operations or actions.
If these perceptions, with their conscious-
ness, always remained in (he mind, the same
thinking thing would be always consciously
present. Locke.
CON'SCIOUSNESS, n. The knowledge of
sensations and mental operations, or of
what passes in one's own mind ; the act
of the mind which makes known an inter-
nal object. Locke. Reid. Encyc.
Consciousness of our sensations, and con-
sciousness of our existence, seem to be simul-
taneous. Edin. Encyc.
Consciousness must be an essential attri-
bute of spirit. Watts.
2. Internal sense or knowledge of guilt or
innocence.
A man may betray his consciousness of g-uilt
by his countenance.
3. Certain knowledge from observation or
experience. Gibbon.
€ON'S€RIPT, a. [L. conscriptus, from coji-
scribo, to enroll ; con and scribo, to write.]
Written ; enrolled ; as conscript fathers, the
senators of Rome, so called because their
names were written in the register of the
senate,
€ON'S€RIPT, n. An enrolled soldier; a
word used in France.
€ONS€RIP'TION, «. [h. conscriptio.] An
enrolling or registering.
2. Soldiers or forces levied by enrolling.
€ON'SE€RATE, v. t. [L. consccro ; con and
sacro, to consecrate, from sacer, sacred.
See Sacred.]
1. To make or declare to be sacred, by cer-
tain ceremonies or rites ; to appropriate to
sacred uses ; to set apart, dedicate, or de-
vote, to the service and worship of God ;
as, to consecrate a church.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
Ex. xxix.
All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass
and iron, are consecrated to the Lord. Josh. vi.
2. To canonize ; to exalt to the rank of a
saint ; to enroll among the gcds, as a Ro-
man emperor.
.3. To set apart and bless the elements in
the eucharist.
CON
CON
CON
4. To render venerable ; to make respected
as, rules or principles consecrated by time
€ON'SE€RATE, a. Sacred ; consecrated ;
devoted ; dedicated.
They were assembled in that consecrate
place. Bacon.
[This word is now seldom used, unless in
poeiru.]
20NSE€
€ON'SECRATED, pp. Made sacred by cer
einonies or solemn rites ; separated from
a common to a sacred use ; devoted or
dedicated to the service and worship of
God ; made venerable.
CON'SE€R.\TING, ppr. 3Iaking sacred ;
appropriating to a sacred use ; dedicating
to the service of God ; devoting ; render-
ing venerable.
CONSECRA'TION, n. The act or ceremo-
ny of separating from a common to a sa-
cred use, or of devoting and dedicating a
per.son or thing to the service and wor-
ship of God, by certain rites or solemni-
ties. Consecration does not make a per-
son or thing really holy, but declares it to
be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to di-
vine service ; as the consecrcUion of the
priests among the Israelites ; the consecra-
tion of the vessels used in the temple; the
consecration of a bishop.
2. Canonization ; the act of translating into
heaven, and enrolling or numbering among
the saints or gods ; the ceremony of the
apotheosis of an emperor. Hale.
3. The benediction of the elements in tl
eucharist ; the act of setting apart and
blessing the elements in the communion.
Encyc.
CON'SECRATOR, n. One who conse-
crates ; one who performs the rites by
which a person or thing is devoted or ded-
icated to sacred purposes. Atterbiiry.
€Ox\'SECRATORY, a. Making sacred.
Bp. Morton
CON'SE€T.4RY, a. [L. consectarius, from
consector, to follow ; con and sector, sequor.
See Seek.]
Following; consequent; consequential; de-
ducible. Broicn.
€ON SECTARY, n. That which follows;
consequence ; ileduction from premises ;
corollary. Woodioard.
eONSEeU'TION, 71, [L. conseculio, from
consequor, to follow ; con and sequor,
follow. See Seek.]
1. A following or sequel ; train of conse-
quences from premises ; series of deduc-
tions. Hah
2. Succession ; series of things that follow
each other ; as a consecution of colors.
JVewton.
3. In astronomy, consecution month is the
space between one conjunction of the
moon with the sun and another.
BaUey.
CONSE€'UTIVE, a. [It. conseculivo ; Fr
conseculif. See Consecution.]
\. Following in a train ; succeeding one an-
other in a regular order ; successive ; un-
interrupted in course or succession ; as,
fifty consecutive years. Arhuthnot.
2. Following ; consequential ; succeeding ;
as, the actions of men consecutive to voli-
tion. Locke.
3. Consecutive chords, in music, imply a suc-
cession or repetition of the same conso-
nance in similar motion. Encyc.
CONSECUTIVELY, adv. By way of con-
si i|iii>iiic (.1- succession, in opposition to
anlniilntlhi nr casually. Diet.
€O.NSI;m;.~ CI^NCE, ? [L. consenesco,
€Oj\SI:m;^( I:NCY, S to grow old.]
A growing olil ; decay from age ; as the
consenescence of tho world. Ray.
eONSENSION, n. [L. consensio. See Con-,
sent.]
Agreement ; accord. [LilUe used.]
Bentley.\
CONSENT', n. [L. consensus; It. consenso ;\
Fr. consentement ; Sp. consentimiento ; from
L. consentio, to be of one mind, to agree ;!
con and sentio, to think, feel or perceive ;|
Sp. consentir ; Port. Fr. id. ; It. consentirci
See Sense and Assent.]
1. Agreement of the mind to what is propo-j
sed or stated by another ; accord ; hence,
a yielding of the mind or will to that which
is proposed ; as, a parent gives his consent
to the marriage of his daughter.
We generally use this word in cases
where power, rights and claims are con-
cerned. We give consent, when we yield!
that which we have a right to withhold ;
but we do not give consent to a mere opin-
ion, or abstract proposition. In this case,!
we give our assent. Bui assent is also used
in conceding what we may withhold. We
give our assent to the marriage of a daugh-
ter. Consequently, assent has a more
extensive application than consent. But thcj
distinction is not always observed. Con-
sent often amounts to permission. 1
Defraud ye not one another, except with co7i-
sent for a lime. 1 Cor. vii. !
2. Accord of minds ; agreement ; unity of
opinion.
All with one consent began to make excuse.'
Luke xiv. {
The company of priests murder by consent.,
Hos. vi.
3. Agreement ; coherence ; correspondence^
in parts, qualities, or operation. j
Such is the world's great harmony that springs
From union, order, full consent of things. !
Pope.
4. In the animal economy, an agreement, or
sympathy, by which on'e affected part of
tiie system affects some distant part. This'
consent is supposed to e.xist in, or be pro-
duced by the nerves ; and the affections
to be communicated from one part to an-
other by means of their ramifications and!
distribution through the body. Thus, the!
stone in the bladder, by vellicating the!
fibers, will produce spasms and colic ini
the bowels ; a shameful thing seen or'
heard will produce blushing in the cheeks.l
Qtdncy. Encyc\
But many facts indicate that other caus-i
es than nervous communication produce!
sympathy. j
CONSENT', V. i. [L. consentio. See thei
Noun.] I
Literally, to think with another. Hence, toi
agree or accord. More generally, to agree
in mind and will ; to yield to what one has,
the power, the right, or the disposition to^
withhold, or refuse to grant. [
If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Prov. i. I
And Saul was cmuenting to Stephen's death.
Acts viii. I
Only let us consent to them, and lliey willj
dwell with us. Gen. xxxiv. !
2. To agree.
Whun thou sawest a thief, Ibou consent-
edst witli him. Ps. 1.
3. To assent.
consent to the law thai it is good. Rom.
CONSENTA'NEOUS, a. [L. consentaneus.
See Consent.]
Agreeable ; accordant ; consistent with ; suit-
able.
The practice of virtue Ls not consentane-
ous to tlie unrenewed heart. Anon.
CONSENTANEOUSLY, adv. Agreeably;
lemly ; suitably.
CONSENTANEOUSNES3, n. Agreement :
accordance ; consistencv. Diet.
CONSENT'ER, ii. One who consents.
CONSEN'TIENT, a. [L. consentiens, con-
sentio.]
Agreeing in mind ; accordant in opinion.
The authority due to the consentient judg-
ment of the church. Pearsort.
CON'SEQUENCE, n. [L. consequentia, from
consequor ; con and sequor, to follow. Sec
Seek.]
1. That which follows from any act, cause,
jirinciple, or series of action.*. Hence, an
event or effect produced by some prece-
ding act or cause.
Shun the bitter consequence ; for know.
The day lliou eatest thereof, thou shall die.
Milton.
The consequences of intemperance arc dis-
grace, poverty, disease and premature death.
2. In logic, a proposition collected from the
agreement of other previous propositions ;
the conclusion which results from reason
or argument ; inference ; deduction.
Every rational being is accomitable to his
maker ; man is a rational being ; the conse-
quence then must be, that man is accountable
to his maker.
From this train of argument, the consequence
is obvious.
3. Connection of cause and effect ; conse-
cution.
I felt
That I must after thee, with this my son ;
Such fatal consequence unites us three.
Milton.
4. Influence ; tendency, as to effects. The
sense of consequence, in this use, is modifi-
ed by the words connected with it ; as,
" it is of little consequence," that is, of lit-
tle importance, small effects will follow ;
" it is of no consequence," of no moment,
no effect of importance will follow ; " it
is of great consequence," of great impor-
tance, great effects will follow.
5. Importance ; extensive influence : dis-
tinction ; as a man of great consequence in
society.
In consequence, by means of: as the effect of.
CON'SEQUENT, a. [L. consequens.] Fol-
lowing, -as the natural effect ; with to
or on.
The right w.is consequent to, and built on, an
act perfectly personal. Locke.
His poverty was consequent on his \ices.
2. Following by necessary inference or ra-
tional deduction ; as a proposition conse-
quent to other propositions.
CON'SEQUENT, n. Effect ; that which fol-
lows a cause.
Tliey were ill governed, which is always a
consejufni of inpayment. Davies.
CON
CON
CON
3. That which follows from propositions by
rational deduction ; that which is deduced
from reasoning or argumentation ; a con
elusion or inference.
CONSEQUENTIAL, a. Following as the
effect ; produced by the connection of ef-
fects with causes ; as a consequential evil.
9. Having the consequence justly connected
with the premises ; conclusive.
These arguments are highly consequential
and concludent to my purpose. Hale.
3. Important.
4. Conceited ; pompons ; applied to persons.
€ONSEaUEN'TIALLY, adv. With just
deduction of consequences ; with right
connection of ideas. Addison.
2. By consequence ; not immediately ; event-
ually. South.
3. In a regular series ; in the order of cause
and effect. Addison.
4. With assumed importance ; with conceit.
Campbell.
CONSEQUEN'TIALNESS, n. Regular
consecution in discourse. Did.
eON'SEQUENTLY, adv. By consequence ;
by necessary connection of efl'ects with
their causes ; in consequence of somfc-
thing.
€ON'SEQUENTNESS, n. Regular connec-
tion of propositions, following each other ;
consecution of discourse. [Little used.] I
Digby.l
eONSER'TION, n. [L. consero, conseHmn.]\
Junction ; adaptation. luMng'.|
€ONSERV'ABLE, a. [See Conserve.] That
may be kept or preserved from decay or
injury.
CONSERVANCY, 71. [L. conservans. See
Conserve.]
A court of conservancy is held by the Lord
Mayor of LondoTi, for the preservation of
the fishery on the Thames. Johnson.
CONSERV'ANT. a. Preserving ; having the
power or quality of preserving from decay
or destruction.
€ONSERVA'TION, n. [L. conservatio. See
Conserve.]
The act of preserving, guarding or protect-
ing ; preservation from loss, decay, injury,
or violation ; the keeping of a thing in a
safe or entire state ; as the conservation ofj
bodies from perishing ; the conservation ofj
the peace of society ; the conservation of
jn-ivilegcs.
CONSERVATIVE, a. Preservative ; hav
ing power to preserve in a safe or entire
state, or from loss, waste or injury.
Peacham.
OONSERVA'TOR, n. A pre.'ierver; one
who preserves from injury or violation.
Appropriately, an officer who has the
charge of preserving the public peace, as
judges and sheriffs ; also, an officer who
has the charge of preserving the rights
and privileges of a city, corporation or
community, as in catholic universities. It
is a word of extensive application.
% In Connecticut, a person appointed to su-
perintend idiots, lunatics, &c., manage
their propertv, and preserve it from waste.
eONSERVATORY, a. Having the quahty
of preserving from loss, decay or injury.
CONSERVATORY, n. A place for pre-
serving any thing in a state desired, as
from loss, decay, waste or injury. Thus
a fish-pond for keeping fish, a granary for'
corn, an ice-house for ice and other
things, a receptacle for water, &c., ar
called conservatories.
3. A large green-house for exotics, in which
the plants are planted in beds and bor-
ders, and not iu tubs or pots, as in the
common green-house.
CONSERVE, V. t. conserv'. [L. conservo ; con
and servo, to hold, keep or guard ; Fr. con
server ; It. conservare ; Sp. conservar. See
Class Sr. No. 34. 38. 39. 40. 45. and Class
Dr. No. 32.]
To keep in a safe or sound state ; to save ;
to preserve from loss, decay, waste, or in-
jury ; to defend from violation ; as, to con-
serve bodies from perishing ; to conserve
the peace of society ; to conserve fruits,
roots and herbs, with sugar, &c.
CON'SERVE, n. A sweetmeat made of the
inspissated juice of fruit, boiled with su
gar. Johnson
•2. In pharmacy, a form of medicine contri
ved to preserve the flowers, herbs, roots
or fruits of simples, as nearly as possible,
in their natural fresh state. Fresh vege-
tiibles and sugar of the consistence of
honey. Encyc. Coxe
3. A conservatory. [JVof usibal.] Evelyn
CONSERVED, >/». Preserved in a safe and
sound state; guarded ; kept; maintained ;
protected ; prepared with sugar.
CONSERVER, n. One who conserves ; one
who keeps from loss or injury ; one who
lays up for preservation ; a preparer of
conserves. Hayward. Temple
CONSERVING, /p;)r. Keeping in safety;
defending ; maintaining ; preparing with
sugar.
CONSES'SION, n. [L. consessio. See Ses-
sion.]
A sitting together. [Ldttle used.]
CONSES'SOR, n. One that sits with oth-
s. [Ldttle used.]
CONSID'ER, V. t. [L. considero, to consider
to view attentively, fiom consido or con
sideo, to sit by ; con and sedeo, to sit. See
Sit. The literal sense is, to sit by or close,
or to set the mind or the eye to; hence, to
view or examine with attention.]
1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a care
fill examination ; to think on with care ;
to ponder ; to study ; to meditate on.
Know, therefore, this day, and consider it in
thy heart. Dcut. iv.
Hast thou considered my servant Job .' Job i.
Consider the lilies of the field how they
gi-ow. Matth. vi.
To view attentively ; to observe and ex-
The priest shall consider (he leprosy. Lev. xiii.
3. To attend to ; to relieve.
Blessed is he that considercth the poor. Ps.
xli.
4. To have regard to ; to respect.
Let us consider one another, to provoke to
ove, and to good works. Heb. x.
5. To take into view in examination, or in-
to account in estimates.
In adjusting accounts, services, time, and ex-
pense ought to be considered.
6. In the imperative, consider is equivalent
to, think with care, attend, examine the
subject with a view to truth or the coiis(;-
quences of a measure. So we use see, ob-
serve, think, attejtd.
7. To requite ; to reward : particularly for
ffratuitous services.
CONSID'ER, V. i. To think seriously, ma-
turely or carefully ; to reflect.
None considereth in his heart, neither is there
knowledge or understanding. Is. xliv.
In tlie day of adversity consider. Eccles. vii.
2. To deliberate ; to turn in the inind; as in
the case of a single person ; to deliberate
or consult, as numbers ; sometimes follow-
ed by of; as, I will consider your case, or
of your case.
The apostles and elders come together to con-
sider of this matter. Acts xv.
3. To doubt ; to hesitate. Dniden.
CONSID'ERABLE, a. [Fr. Sp. See Con-
sider.] That may be considered ; that is
to be observed, remarked or attended to.
W'k considerable, \h3.t some urns have had
inscriptions on them, expressing tliat the lamps
were burninc;. Wilkins.
[This primary use of the word is obsoles-
cent or very rarely used.]
2. Worthy of consideration ; worthy of re-
gard or attention.
Eternity is infinitely the most considerable
duration. THllotson.
As that which is worthy of regard is in
some measure important, hence
3. Respectable ; deserving of notice ; of
some distinction ; applied to persons.
Men considerable in all worthy professions,
eminent in many ways of Ufe. Spratf.
4. Important; valuable; or moderately large,
according to the subject. Considerable.
aid was expected from the allies. A
man has a considerable estate in Norfolk.
A considerable sum of money was collect-
ed. Sometimes followed by to. He
thought his aid considerable to him.
CONSID'ERABLENESS, n. Some degree
of importance, moment or dignity ; a de-
gree of value or importance that deserves
notice.
The considerabkness of things is to be esti-
mated by their usefulness, or by their effects on
society.
CONSID'ERABLY, adv. In a degree de-
serving notice ; in a degree not trifling, or
unimportant.
And Europe still considerably gains
Both by their good examples and their pains.
Roscommon.
CONSID'ERANCE, n. Consideration ; re-
flection ; sober thought. [JYot used. See
Consideration.] Shak.
CONSID'ERATE, a. [L. consideratus. See
Consider.]
1. Given to consideration, or to sober reflec-
tion ; thoughtful ; hence, serious ; circum-
spect ; careful ; discreet ; prudent ; not
hasty or rash ; not neghgent.
jEncas is patient, considerate, and careful of
his people. Drydtn.
2. Having respect to ; regardful ; as, con-
siderate of praise. [Little used.]
3. Moderate ; not rigorous. Johnson.
CONSID'ERATELY, adv. With delibera-
tion ; with due consideration ; calmly ;
prudently. Bacon.
CONSID'ER ATENESS, n. Prudence ; calm
leliberation.
CONSIDERA'TION, n. [L. consideraiio.
See Consider.]
1. The act of considering ; mental view ; re-
gard ; notice.
Let us take into consideration the conse-
quences of a hasty decision.
2. Mature thought : serious dehbcration.
CON
Let us Uiink with consideration. Sidney
v'i. Contemplation ; meditation.
Tlie love you bear to Mopsa hath brought you
to the consideration of her virtues. Sidney
4. Some degree of importance ; claim to no-
tice, or regard ; a moderate degree of re-
spectability.
Lucan is an author of consideration among
the Latin poets. Addison.
-"». That whicli is considered ; motive of ac-
tion ; influence; ground of conduct.
He was obliged, antecedent to all other con-
siderations, to search an asylum. Dryden.
fj. Reason ; that wiiich induces to a deter-
mination.
He was moved by the considerations set be-
fore him.
7. In latv, the reason which moves a con-
tracting party to enter into an agreement
the material cause of a contract; the price
or motive of a stipulation. In all con-
tracts, each party gives something in ex-
change for what he receives.
A contract is an agreement, upon suf-
ficient consideration. Tliis consideration
is express or implied ; erpress, when the
thing to be given or done is specified ; i—
plied, when no specific consideration
agreed upon, but justice requires it and
the law implies it ; as when a man labo:
for another, without stipulating for wi
ges, the law infers that he shall receive a
reasonable consideration. A good consid-
eration is that of blood, or natural love ; a
valuable consideration is such as money
marriage, &c. Hence a consideration i:
an equivalent or recompense ; that which
is given as of equal estimated value with
that which is received.
eONSID'ERATIVE, a. Taking into con
deration. [Little used.]
CONSID'EREB, pp. Thought of will
pondered ; viewed attentively; del"
on ; examined.
eONSID'ERER, n. A thinker ; one who
considers; a man of reflection. [Consid-
erator is not in use.]
CONSID'ERING, ppr. Fixing the mind on
meditating on ; pondering ; viewing with
care and attention ; deliberating on.
Note. We have a peculiar use of this word,
which may be a corruption for considered, oi
which may be a deviation from analogy by an
insensible change in the structure of the phrase.
" It is not possible for us to act otherwise, con-
sidering the weakness of our nature." As a
participle, this word must here refer to us, oi
the sentence cannot be resolved by any rule ol
English syntax. It would be correct to say,
•' It is not possible for us to act othei-wise, tlie
weakness of our nature being considered ,-" or
■' We, considering the weakness of our nature,
cannot act other^vise." But the latter phrase is
better grammar, than it is sense. We use oth-
er participles in like manner ; as, " Allowing foi
tare, the weight could not be more than a hun-
lircd pounds." These and similar phrases are
anomalous. But considering is no more a kind
of conjunction, in such phrases, tli.iii it is a
CONSID'ERING, 71. The act of delibera-
ting, or carefully attending to ; hesitation
as, many mazed considerings. Sliak.
CONSID'ERINGLY, adv. With con.'iider-
tioii or deliberation. fVliote Duly of Man.
-CONSI'GN, V. t. consi'ne. [L. consigno, to
seal or sign ; con and signo, to seal 01
stamp ; signwn, a sign, seal or mark ; It
C O i\
consegnare, to d(!posit, deliver, consign :
Sp. consignor; Yr. consigner. See Sign.
The sense is to set to, to thrust or send^
1. To give, send or set over; to transfer or
deliver into the possession of another, or
into a different state, with the sense ofj
fixedness in that state, or permanence of
possession.
At the day of general account, good men are
to be consigned over to another state.
Atterbury
At death the body is consigned to the grave
2. To deliver or transfer, as a charge oi
trust; to commit ; as, to consign a youth
to the care of a preceptor; to consign
goods to a factor.
3. To set over or commit, for pennanent
preservation ; as, to consign a history to
writing. Addison
4. To appropriate. Dryden
eONSI'GN, V. i. consi'ne. To submit to the
same terms with another ; also, to sign ; to
agree or consent. Obs. Shak
CONSIGNA'TION, n. The act of consign-
ing ; the act of delivering or connnittins
to another person, place or state.
Despair is a certain consignation to eternal
ruin. Taylor. Park
[Little used. Sec Consignment.]
€ONSIGNATURE, n. Full signature
joint signing or stamping.
eONSI'GNED, pp. Delivered; committed
for keeping, or management ; deposited
in trust.
CONSIGNEE', n. The person to whom
goods or other things are delivered in trust,
for sale or superintendance ; a factor.
CONSIGNER, I The person who con
CONSI'GNOR, ^ ■ signs ; one who sends,
delivers, or commits goods to another
for sale, or a ship for si^perinteudeuce.
bills of lading, papers, &c.
eONSIGNIFICA'TION, n. [See Signify.]
Joint signification. Harris.
€ONSIGNIF'l€.\TIVE, a. [See Signify
Having a like signification, or jointly
significative. Valtancey, Gram. 57.
€0?*SIGNING, ppr. Delivering to another
in trust ; sending or committing, as ;
possessioh or charge.
CONSIGNMENT, n. The act of consign
ing ; consignation ; the act of sending or
committing, as a charge for safe-"
or management ; the act of depositing
with, as goods for sale.
■2. The thing consigned ; the goods sent or
delivered to a factor for sale ; as, A re
ceivcd a large coyisignment of goods irom
B.
3. The writing by which a-ny thing is con-
signed.
CONSIM'ILAR, a. Having common re
semblance. [Little used.]
CONSIMIL'ITUDE, n. Resemblance. [LU
tie used.]
CONSIST', v.i. [L.consisto; con and sislo,
to stand ; S]i. consistir ; It. consistere ; Fr,
consisler.]
1. To stand together ; to be in a fixed oi-
permanent state, as a body composed of
parts in union or connection. Hence, to
be ; to exist ; to subsist ; to be supported
and maintained.
He was before all things, and by him alli
things consist. Col. i.
CON
■l"o stand or be ; to lie ; to be contained ;
followed by in.
The beauty of epistolary writing consists in
ease and freedom.
3. To be composed ; followed by of.
A landscape should consist of a variety of
To consist together, to coexist ; to have be-
: concurrently.
Vecessity and election cannot consist togeth-
in the same act. Bramhall.
To consist ivith, to agree ; to be in accord-
ce with ; to be compatible.
Health consists with temperance alone.
Pope.
CONSIST'ENCE, > A standing togeth-
CONSIST'ENCY, S "' er ; a lieing fixed in
union, as the parts of a body ; that state
of a body, in which its component parts
remain fixed.
The co/isis/e;!cy of bodies is divers; dense,
rare, tangible, pneumalical, volatile, Sac.
Bacon.
2. A degree of density or spissitude, but in-
definite.
Let tlie juices or liquor be boiled into the con-
sistency of syrup. Arbuthnot.
3. Substance ; make ; firmness of constitu-
tion ; as, friendship of a lasting consisten-
cy ; resolutions of durable consistence.
South. Hammond.
4. A standing together, as the parts of a sys-
tem, or of conduct, &c. ; agreement or har-
mony of all parts of a complex thing
among themselves, or of the same thing
with itself at different times ; congruity ;
uniformity; as the consistency of laws, reg-
ulations or judicial decisions ; consistency of
opinions ; consistency of behavior or of
character.
There is haruiony and consistency in all
God's works. /. Lathrop.
5. A standing ; a state of rest, in whicli
tilings capable of growth or decrease, re-
main for a time at a stand. Cluimhers.
CONSIST'ENT, a. [L. consistens. See
Consist.] Fixed ; firm ; not fluid ; as the
consistent parts of a body, distinguished
from tUeJluid. Harvey.
2. Standing together or in agreement; com-
patible ; congruous ; uniform ; not contra-
dictory or opposed ; as, two opinions or
schemes are consistent ; let a man be con-
sistent leith himself ; the law is coTisislent
jotVA justice and ))oUcy.
So two consistent motions act Oie soul.
Pope.
CONSIST'ENTLY, adv. In a consistent
manner ; in agreement ; agreeably ; as, to
command confidence, a man must act
consistently.
CONSISTO'RIAL, } [See Consistory.]
CONSISTORY, S Pertaining or rela-
ting to a consistory, or ecclesiastical court
of an archbishop or bishop. Ayliffe.
Every archbishop and bishop of a diocese
hath a consistory court. Encyc.
CONSISTO'RIAN, a. Relating to an order
of presbyterian assemblies. Bp. Bancroft.
CONSIST'ORY, n. [L. consistorium, from
consisto. See Consist.] Primarily, a place
of meeting ; a council-house, or place of
justice. Hence,
1. A place of justice in the spiritual court,
or the court itself; the court of every dio-
cesan bishop, held in their cathedral
churches, for the trial of ecclesiastical
CONSO'CIATE, i: i. To i
CON
causes, arising within tlie diocese. Tlie
bishop's chancellor or his commissary is
the judge. Blackstone.
2. An assembly of prelates ; the college of
cardinals at Rome.
Piiif? was then hearing causes in consistory.
Bacon.
.3. A solemn assembly or council.
Milton. Pope.
4. A place of residence. [Not used.] Shak.
5. In the Reformed churches, an assembly
or council of ministers and elders.
CONSO'CIATE, n. [L. consociatus. See
the next word.]
An associate; a iiuitiicr or confederate; an
accomplice. Hayward.
tONSO'CIATE, r. I. [L. consociakis, from
consocio ; con and socio, to unite ; socius, a
companion. See Social.]
1. To unite ; to join ; to associate. Tf'otlon.
y. To cement, or hold in close union. Burnet.
3. To unite in an assembly or conventioi],
as pastors and messengers or delegates of
churches. Saybrook Platform.
1 unite ; to coalesce.
Bentley.
2. To unite, or meet in a body ; to forn:
consociation of pastors and messengers.
Saybrook Platform.
CONSOCIA'TION, n. Intimate unibn of
persons ; fellowship : alliance ; compan
ionship ; union of things. [This leord is
less iised than association.] Wotion
2. Fellowship or union of churches by theii
pastors and delegates ; a meeting of the
pastors and delegates of a number of con-
gregational churches, for aiding and sup-
porting each other, and forming an advi-
sory council in ecclesiastical affairs.
Trumbull, Hist, of Connecticut.
CONSOCIA'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to a
consociation. Trumbull.
€ON'SOL, n. [from consolidate.] Consols, in
England, are the funds or stocks formed
by the consolidation of different annuities.
Crabbe.
CONSO'LABLE, a. [See Console.] That
admits comfort ; capable of receiving con-
solation.
CON'SOLATE, i-. /. To comfort. Obs. [See
Console.]
€ONSOLA'TION, n. [L. consolatio. See
Console.]
1. Comfort ; alleviation of misery, or distress
of mind ; refreshment of mind or spirits ;
a comparative degree of happiness in dis-
tress or misfortune, springing from any
circumstance that abates the evil, or sup-
ports and strengthens the mind, as hope,
joy, courage and the like.
Against such craelties.
With inwaM consolations lecompens'd.
.Milton.
We have great joy ami consolation in thy
love. Philein. 7.
2. That which comforts, or refreshes the
spirits; the cause of comfort ; as the con-
solation of Israel. Luke ii.
CON'SOLATOR, n. One who comforts.
eONSOL'ATORY, a. [L. consolatorius.]
Tending to give comfort; refreshing to
the mind ; assuaging grief Howell.
€ONSOL'ATORY, )i. A speech or writing
containing topics of comfort. Milton
eONSO'LE, D. /. [L. ronsolor; h. conso
lare ; Sp. consolar ; Fr. consoler. The pri
CON
niary sense is either to set or allay, to give
rest or quiet, Ar. i)^^ , Heb. rh\tf; or the
sense is to strengthen, in which cai
coincides with the root of solid. The
ter is most probable.]
To comfort ; to cheer the mind in distress or
depression ; to alleviate grief, and giv<
freshment to the mind or spirits ; to give
contentment or moderate happiness by re
lieving from distress.
The promises of the gospel may well console
the christian in all the atiiictions of life.
It is a consoling reflection that the evils of
life are temporary.
I am much consoled by the reflection that
the religion of Christ has been attacked in vain
by all the wits and philosophers, and its triuiiiplj
has been complete. P. Henry.
eON'SOLE, n. [Fr.] In architecture, a
bracket or shoulder-piece ; or an orna-
ment cut upon the key of an arch, which
has a projecture, and on occasion se
to support little cornices, figures, busts
and vases. Encyc.
CONSO'LED, pp. Comforted ; cheered.
eOlNSO'LER, n. One that gives comfort.
eONSOL'IDANT, a. [See Consolidate.]
Having the quality of uniting wounds or
forming new flesh.
eONSOL'IDANT, n. A medicine that heali
or unites the parts of wounded flesh. Coxe.
eONSOL'IDATE, v. t. [It. consolidare ; Fr.
consolider ; Sp. consolidar ; con and L. soli-
dus, solid. See Solid.]
1. To make solid ; to unite or press together
loose or separate parts, and form a com
))act mass ; to harden or make dense and
firm.
He fixed and consolidated the earth above
the waters. Burnet.
2. To unite the parts of a broken bone or the
lips of a wound, by means of ajiplications.
Encyc.
3. To unite two parliamentary bills in one.
Johnson.
4. In laic, to combine two benefices in one.
Encyc.
eONSOL'IDATE, v. i. To grow firm and
hard ; to unite and become solid.
In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness ma-
keth them more apt to consolidate. Bacon.
Moist elav consolidates bv di-ying.
CONSOLIDATE, a. Fonned into a solid
mass. Elyot.
eONSOL'IDATED, pp. Made solid, hard,
or compact ; united.
CONSOL'IDATING, ppr. Making solid;
uniting.
CONSOLIDA'TION, n. The act of making
or process of becoming solid ; the act of
forming into a firm compact mass, body
or system.
2. The annexing of one bill to another in
parliament or legislation.
3. The combining of two benefices in one.
Cowel.
4. The uniting of broken bones or wounded
flesh.
eON'SONANCE, n. [Fr. from L. consonan-
tia, consonans, from consono, to sound to-
gether ; con and sono, to sound. See
Sound and 7'o?ie.]
1. Accord or agreement of sounds. In mu-
sic, consonance is an accord of sounds
which produces an agreeable sensation in
the ear, as the third, fifth and eiiihlh.
CON
It denotes also the according intervals.
When the interval of a consonance is in-
variable, it is called perfect ; but when it
may be either major Or minor, it is termed
inqierfect. Busby.
2. Agreement ; accord ; congruity ; consist-
ency ; agreeableness ; suitableness ; as the
consonance of opinions among judges ; the
consonance of a ritual to tlie scriptures.
CON'SONANT, a. Agreeing; according;
congruous ; consistent ; followed generally
by to ; sometimes by unth ; as, this rule is
consonant to scripture and reason.
2. In music, composed of consonances ; a?
consonant intervals.
CON'SONANT, n. A letter, so named be-
cause it is considered as being sounded
only in connection with a vowel. But
some consonants have no sound, even
when united with a vowel, and othere have
a very imperfect sound. The consonants
are better called articulations, as they are
the names given to the several closings or
junctions of the organs of speech, which
precede and follow the openings of the or-
gans, with which the vowels are uttered.
These closings are perfect, and wholly in-
tercept the voice, as in the syllables ek, ep.
et ; or imperfect, and admitting some slight
sound, as in em, en. Hence some articu-
lations are called mutes, and others, semi-
voioels. The consonants begin or end syl-
lables, and their use is to determine the
manner of beginning or ending the vocal
sounds. These closings or configurations
of the organs being various, serve to diver-
sify the syllables, as in uttering ba, da, pa,
or ab, ad, ap ; and although b and p may
be considered as representing no sounds
at all, yet they so modify the utterance of
ab, ap, or ba, pa, that the slight difference
between these articulations may be percei-
ved as far as the human voice can be dis-
tinctly heard.
CON'SONANTLY, adv. Consistently; in
agreement.
CON'SONANTNESS, n. Agreeableness;
consistencv.
CON'SONOUS, a. [L. consonus.] Agreeing
in sound ; symphonious.
CONSO' PI ATE, 11. «. To lull asleep. [Xot
used.]
CONSOPIA'TION, n. A lulhng asleep.
[.Vo< iised.]
CON'S
SOPITE, ti.<. [h. consopio.] To com-
pose ; to lull to sleeji. [J^ot used.]
eON'SOPlTE, a. Calm ; composed. [JVot
used.] More.
CON'SORT, n. [L. consors ; con and sors,
sort, state, kind.]
1. A companion ; a partner ; an intimate as-
sociate ; particularly, a partner of the bed ;
a wife or husband.
He single chose to live, and shunn'd to wed,
\Vell pleased to want a consort of his bed.
I>ryden.
2. An assembly or association of persons,
convened for consultation. Spenser.
i. Union; conjunction; concurrence.
JUterbury.
4. A number of instruments played together ;
a symphony; a concert. In this sense, con-
cert is now used.
5. In navigation, any vessel keeping company
with another.
(^uecn consort, the wife of a lung, as disliu-
CON
guislied from a queen regent, who rules
alone, awd a queen, dowager, the widow of
a king. . .
CONSORT', V. i. To associate ; to unite in
company ; to keep company ; followed by
idth.
Which of tlie Grecian chiefs consorts wUh
thee. JDryden.
CONSORT', V. t. To join ; to marry.
With his consorted Eve. Milton.
2. To unite in company.
He begins to consort himself with men.
^ Locke.
3. To accompany. [JVot used.] Shak.
eONSORT'ABLE, a. Suitable. ffotton.
CONSORT' ED, pp. United in marriage.
CONSORT'ING, ppr. Uniting in company
with ; associating.
CONSOR'TION, n. Fellowship. [Mot vsed.]
Brotvn.
CON'SORTSHIP, n. Fellowship ; partner-
ship. Bp. Hall.
CON'SOUND, n. The name of several spe-
cies of plants.
CONSPICU'ITV, Ji. Conspicuousness ;
brightness. [Little used.] Shak.
CONSPICUOUS, a. [h. conspicuus, from
conspicio, to look or see ; con and specio, to
see. See Species.] .
1. Open to the vipw ; obvious to the eye
easy to be seen ; manifest ; as, to stand in
a conspicuotis place.
Or come 1 less conspicuous. Milton
2. Obvious to the mental eye ; clearly or ex-
tensively known, perceived or understood.
Hence, eminent ; famous ; distinguished ;
as a man of conspicuous talents ; a lady of
conspicuous virtues.
CONSPICUOUSLY, adv. In a conspicuous
manner ; obviously ; in a manner to be
clearly seen ; eminently ; remarkably.
CONSP"lC'UOUSNESS, »i. Openness orex
posure to the view ; a state of being visible
at a distance ; as the conspicuousiiess of
tower.
Eminence ; fame ; celebrity ; renown ;
state of being extensively known and di
tinguislied ; as the conspicuousness of an
author.
CONSPIR'ACY, n. [h. conspiratio, from
conspiro. See Conspire.]
I. A combination of men for an evil purpose
. an agreement between two or more per
sons, to commit some crime in concert
jjarticularly, a combination to commit trea-
son, or excite sedition or insurrection
against the government of a stale ; a plot ;
as a conspiracy against the life of a king ;
a conspiracy against the government.
More than forty had maJe this conspiracy
Acts xxiii.
3. Ill law, an agreement between two oi
more persons, falsely and maliciously tc
indict, or procure to be indicted, an inno-
cent person of felony. Blackstone
•3. \ concurrence; a general tendency of
two or more causes to one event.
Sidney.
CONSPI'RANT, a. [L. conspirans.] Con
spiring; plotting; engaging in a plot to
commit a crime. Shak.
CONSPIRATION, n. Conspiracy; agree
ment or concurrence of things to one end
CONSPIR'ATOR, n. One who conspires
one who engages in a plot to commit a
crime, particularly treason.
CON
2. In luu; one who agrees with another
fulM-K ami nialic-iously to indict an inno-
ci-iii |'..-i-,Hi nfirlony. By the Britisli stat-
nti-, ;i (n]i-|,ii:it(ji- is defined to he one who
bind- liiiii-. II' hy oath, covenant, or other
alliance, to assi.st another falsely and mali-
ciously to indict a person, or falsely to
maintain pleas. Encyc,
CONSPI'RE, V. i. [L. consviro, to plot ;
con and spiro, to breathe. But the priina-
ry sense is to throw, to wind ; hence spira,
a fold, circle, wreath orband ; and the sense
of the verb is, to breathe together, or more
probably, to wind or band together.]
To agree, by oath, covenant or otherwise,
to commit a crime ; to plot ; to hatch trea-
son.
The servants of Ammon conspired against
him, and slew the king in his own house. 2
Kings .Yxi.
They conspired against Joseph to slay him.
2. In law, to agree falsely and maliciously to
indict an innocent person of felony.
To agree ; to concur to one end.
The press, the pulpit, and the stage,
Conspire to censure and expose our age.
Roscommon.
All things conspire to make us prosperous.
CONSPI'RER, n. One who conspires or
plots ; a conspirator. Shak.
CONSPI'RING, ppr. Agreeing to commit a
crime ; plotting ; uniting or concurring to
one end.
2. In mechanics, conspiring powers are such
as act in a direction not ojiposite to one
another ; cooperating powers. Harris.
eONSPI'RINGLY, adv. In the manner of
conspiracy ; by conspiracy. .Milton.
CONSPISSA'TION, n. [L. conspissatus.]
The act of making thick or viscous; thick-j
ness. More.\
eONSPURCA'TION, n. [L. conspurco ; coii
and spurco, to defile.]
The act of defiling ; defilement; pollution.!
[JVot in use] Bp. Hall.l
CON'STABLE, n. [Sp. condestable ; Port.
id.; It. conestabile ; Fr. connetable ; Sp.
conde, It. conte, a count, and L. stabulum, a
stable ; L. comes stabuli, count of the stable.]
1. The Lord High Constable of England,
the seventh officer of the crown. He liadi
the care of the common peace, in deeds of I
arms, and matters of war; being a judge
of the court of chivalry, now called the
court of lienor. To this officer and to thej
Earl Marshal belonged the cognizance of:
contracts, deeds of arms, without the,
realm, and combats and blazonry within
the realm. The power of this officer was
so great and so improperly used, that it!
was abridged by the 13th Richard II., andi
was afterwards forfeited in the person of|
Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in
1521. It has never been granted to any
jierson, since that time, except pro hac vice,
or on a particular occasion. Encyc.
2. An oflicer of the peace. In England,
there are high constables, petty constables,
and constables of London. The high con-
stables are chosen at the court leets of the
franchise or hundred over which they pre-
side, or in default of that, by the justices of
the quarter sessions, and are removable by
the same authority that appoints them.
The petty constables are chosen by the
CON
jury of the court leet, or if no court is held,
they are appointed by two justices of the
peace. In London, a constable is nomi-
nated in each precinct by the inhabitants,
and confirmed at the court of wardmote.
The duty of constables is to keep the peace,
and for this puri>ose they are invested with
the power of arresting and unprisoning,
and of breaking open houses.
In Ike United States,constables arc town
or city officers of the peace, with powers
similar to those possessed by the consta-
bles in Great Britain. They are invested
also with powers to execute civil as well
as criminal process, and to levy executions.
In JVew England, they arc elected by the
inhabitants of towns in legal meeting.
To overrun the constable, to sjjend more than
a man is worth or can pay ; a vulgar
phrase.
CON'STABLESIIIP, n. The office of a con-
stable.
CON'STABLEWICK, n. The district to
which a constable's power is limited.
Hale.
CON'STANCY, n. [L. constantia, from con-
sto ; con and sto, to stand.]
1. Fixedness ; a standing firm ; hence, ap-
plied to God or his works, immutability ;
unalterable continuance ; a i)ernianent
■ state. Hooker.
2. Fixedness or firmness of mind ; persevcr-
! ing resolution; steady, unshaken deter-
mination ; particularly applicable to firm-
ness of mind under sufferings, to steadiness
in attachments, and to perseverence in en-
terprise. Lasting affection; stabiUty in
love or friendship.
3. Certamty; veracity; reality.
Shak. Johnson.
CON'STANT, n. [L. constans.] Fixed;
fii'm ; o|)posed Xojluid.
To turn two fluid liquors uito a co«s(a;i( body.
Boyle.
[In this sense, not used.]
2. Fixed ; not varied ; unchanged ; perma-
nent ; immutable.
The world's a scene ofclianges, and to be
Constant, in nature were inconstancy.
Cowkij.
3. Fixed or firm in mind, purpose, affection
or principle ; unshaken ; unmoved ; as a
constant friend or lover.
4. Certain; steady; firmly adherent ; with
to ; as a man constant to his purpose, or to
his duties.
CONSTANTINOPOL'ITAN, a. Relating
to Constantinople, the metropolis of Tur-
key in Eurojie.
CON'STANTLY, adv. Firmly; steadily:
invariably ; continually ; perseveringly.
Rhoda constantly allirmcd that it was even
so. Acts xil.
Tliese things I will that thou aflirm constant-
ly. Tit.iii.
CONSTAT, n. [L. it appears.] In Eng-
land, a certificate given by the clerk of the
pipe and auditors of the exchequer, to a
person who intends to plead or move for
a discharge of any thing in that court.
The eflect of it is to show what appears
upon the record, respecting the matter in
question.
2. An exemplification under the great seal
of the enrollment of any letters patent.
Encyc.
CON
CON
eON'STELLATE, v. i. [Low L. consteUa-
lus; con and stello, to shine, Stella, a star.
To join luster; tosli
siatuo, to set. See Statue, Statute. Ii
constitxiire ; Sp. constituir ; Fr. constitutr.
AunYted radiancelll. To set; to fix; to enact; to establish
We must obey laws appointed and constituted
The several things which ^..^1.^^ —
tions shine forth and constellate in God
Boyle.
COiN'STELLATE, v. I. To unite several'
shining bodies in one splendor. [Irt'fWei
used. Brown.\
CON'STELLATED, pp. United in one
splendor. . Brou-n.V.^ '^^^ appoint, depute or elect to an office or
M. Starry; set or adorned with stars or con-|i p j' !,„ent; to make and empower.
stellations. •'• ^?';"'"';i! A. sheriff is con^fitufed a conservator of the
CONSTELLATION, n. A cluster oj fixed|j p^^^^
stars ; an asterism ; a number ot starsi. j^ has consiituted B his attorney oragent
Taylo
. To form or compose ; to give fornial ex
istence to ; to make a thing what it is.
Perspicuity constitittes the prime excellence
of style.
Truth and reason constitute that intellectual
gold that defies destrucUon. Johnson
which appear as if situated near each other
in the heavens, and are considered as form-
ing a particular division. The constella-
tions are reduced mostly to the figures of
certain animals or other known thing
the bear, the bull, the ram, the balance,
&c.
For (lie stars of heaven, and the constellations
thereof, shall not s^ive their light. Is
a. An assemblage of splendors or excellen-
(.igs_ Hammond.
CONSTERNA'TION, n. [L. ronsternatio,
from consferno ; con and sterna, to throw or
strike down.]
Astonishment; amazement or horror that]
confounds the faculties, and incapacitates
a person for consultation and execution
excessive terror, wonder or surprise.
South.
CON'STIPATE, V. I. [L. co7is/i>o ; con and
stipo, to crowd, or cram, Eng. to slvjj, to
stoT). See Stuff and Stop.]
1. To crowd or cram into a narrow com-
pass ; to thicken or condense. Bacon
2. To stop, by filhng a passage, and prevent
ing motion ; as, to constipate capillary ves
gglg Arbuthnot.
■ crowd the intestinal canal, and
CON'STITUTED, pp. Set; fixed; estab
lished ; made ; elected ; appointed.
CON'STITUTER, n. One who constitutes
or appoints.
€ON'STITUTING,;)p;-. Settmg; establish-
ing; composing; electing; appointing.
eONSTITU'TION, n. The act of consti-
tuting, enacting, establishing, or appoint-
ing.
2. The state of being; that form ofbein^
peculiar structure and connection of parts
which makes or characterizes a sys'
or body. Hence the particular frame or
temperament of the human body is called
its constitution. We speak of a robust or
feeble constitution ; a cold, phlegmatic,
sanguine or irritable constitution. We
speak of the constitution of the air, or other
substance ; the constitution o{ the solar sys-
tem ; the constitution of things.
3. The frame or temper of mind, affections
3. To fill I
make costive
CON
being constitutional ; the state of being in-
herent in the natural frame ; as the consti-
tutionality of disease.
Coxe. Med. Repository.
2. The state of being consistent with the
constitution or frame of government, or of
being authorized by its provisions.
The judges of the supreme court of the Uni-
ted States have the power of determining the
constitutionality of laws.
CONSTITUTIONALLY, adv. In consist-
ency with the constitution or frame of
government.
€ONSTITU'TIONIST, n. One who ad-
leres to the constitution of the country.
Bolinghrokt
eON'STITUTIVE, a. That constitutes,
forms or composes ; elemental; essential.
The constitutive parts of a schismatic, being
the esteem of himself and contempt of others.
Decay of Piety.
2. Having power to enact or establish ; in-
stituting.
CONSTRATN, v. t. [Fr. contraindre ;_ It.
constrignere, or costringere : Sp. constrcnir ;
Port, constringir ; from L. constringo : con
and stringo, to strain, to bind. See Strain.]
Broun
eONSTiPA'TION, n. The act of crowding
any thing into a less compass ; a pressing
together ; condensation ; as a close consti-
pation of particles. Bentley.
2. More generally, a crowding or filling to
hardness the intestinal canal, from defec-
tive excretion; costiveness; obstipation
Encyc. Co.te
eONSTIT'UENT, a. [L. constituens, con
stituo ; con and statuo, to set. See Statue.
StatiUe.]
Setting ; constituting : applied to vails of a
thing that are essential to it. Hence, ne-
cessary or essential ; elemental ; forming,
composing or making as an essential part
Body, soul, and reason, are the three constit-
uent parts of a man. Dryden
Oxygen and hydrogen are the constituent
narts of water.
CONSTIT'UENT, n. He or that which sets,
fixes or forms ; he or that which consti
tutes or composes.
Their first composure and origination requires
a hieher and nobler constituent than chance.
^ Hale.
9. That which constitutes or composes, as a
part, or an essential part.
The lymph in those glands is a necessary f on-
stituent of the aliment. Arbuthnot
3. One who appoints or elects another to ar
ofiice or employment. Burke.
CON'STITUTE,%-.«. {\.. constiluo ; con and
In a general sense, to strain ; to press ;
to urge ; to drive ; to exert force, physical
or moral, either in urging to action or in
restraining it. Hence,
1. To compel or force ; to urge with irresist-
ible power, or with a power sufficient to
produce the effect.
The spirit '"' "
xxxii.
I was constrained to appeal to Cesar. Acts
viUiin me constraineth i
Jot.
or passions.
The established form of government m a
state, kingdom or country ; a system of
fundamental rules, principles and ordinan
ces for the government of a state or na
tion. In free states, the constitution i
paramount to the statutes or laws enacted
by the legislature, limiting and controlling
its power ; and in the United States, the
legislature is created, and itspowers desig-
nated, by the constitution.
5. A particular law, ordinance, or regula
tion, made by the authority of any superior,
civil or ecclesiastical ; as the constitutioiis
of the churches; the novel cojistitulions of
Justinian and his successors.
6. A svstem of fundamental principles for
the "government of rational and social
beings.
The New Testament is the moral constitution
of modern societv. Grimke.
CONSTITUTIONAL, a. Bred or inherent
in the constitution, or in the natural frame
of body or mind ; as a constitutional in-
firmity ; constitutional ardor or didness.
2. Consistent with the constitution ; author-
ized by the constitution or fundamental
rules of a government ; legal.
An act of congress prohibiting the importation
of slaves into the United States is constitu-
tional.
3. Relating to the constitution ; as a consti-
tutional doubt. Palcy.
CONSTITUTIONALIST, n. An adherent
to the constitution of government.
2. An innovator of the old constitution,
framer or friend of the new constituti(
France. Burke
For the love of Christ cmistraineth us. 2
Cor. v.
2. To confine by force ; to restrain from o-
cape or action ; to repress.
Mv sire in caves constrains the winds.
Drydc,
3. To hold by force ; to press ; to confine.
How the strait stays the slender waist con-
strain. Gay.
4. To constringe ; to bind.
When winter frosts constrain the field with
cold. Dryden.
5. To tie fast ; to bind ; to chain ; to confine.
He binds in chains
The drowsy prophet, and his limbs constrains.
Dryden.
6. To necessitate.
Did fate or we the adulterous act constrain ?
Pope.
7. To force ; to ravish. [.M'ot used.] Shak.
8. To produce in opposition to nature ; as a
constrained voice ; constrained notes.
Waller.
CONSTRA'INABLE, a. That may be con-
strained, forced, or repressed; Uable to
constraint, or to restraint. Hooker.
CONSTRAINED, pp. Urged irresistibly or
powerfully ; compelled ; forced ; restrain-
ed ; confined ; bound ; imprisoned ; neces-
sitated.
CONSTRAINEDLY, adv. By constraint;
by compulsion. Hooker.
CONSTRA'INER, n. One who constrains.
CONSTRAINING, ppr. Urging with irre-
sistible or powerful force; compelling;
forcing; repressing; confining; holding
by force ; pressing ; binding.
CONSTRATNT, n. [Fr. contrainte.] Irre-
sistible force, or its effect ; any force, -
CONSTITUTIONALTTY, n. The state of| power, physical or moral, which compels
CON
CON
C O N
to act or to forbear action, or which ur
ges so strongly as to i)roduec its effect up-
on tlie body or mind ; compulsion ; res-
traint ; confinement.
Not by constraint, but by my choice, I came
Dryden
Feed tlie flock of God, taking the oversight
thereof, not by ccmstraint, but wUingly. 1
Pet. V.
€ONSTRA'INTIVE, a. Having power to
compel. [RL] Careiv.
CONSTRICT', V. t. [L. constringo, constric-
turn. See Constrain.]
To draw together ; to bind ; to cramp ; to
draw into a narrow compass ; hence, to
contract or cause to slirink. Arhuthnot.
€0NSTR1€T'ED, pp. Drawn together;
bound ; contracted.
€ONSTRIeT'ING,p;)r. Drawing together;
binding ; contracting.
CONSTRICTION, n. A drawing together
or contraction by means of some inlierent
power, or by spasm, as distinguished
from compression, or the pressure of ex-
traneous bodies ; as the constriction of a
muscle or fiber. It may perhaps be some-
times U6ed as synonymous wiili compres-
sion.
CONSTRICT'OR, n. That which draws
together or eonlracts. In anatomy, a mus-
cle which draws tog'ether or closes an ori-
fice of the body ; as the constrictor labiorum,
a muscle of the lips. Encyc.
2. A species of serpents, the black snake of
the United States. Encyc.
Also, the Boa constrictor, the largest of
known serpents.
CONSTRINtiE, V. t. constrinj'. [L. con-
stringo. See Co)istrain.]
To draw together ; to strain into a narrow
compass ; to contract ; to force to con-
tract itself.
Strong liquors constringe, liarden Uie fibers,
and coagulate the fluids. Arhuthnot.
CONSTRlN'6ED, pp. Contracted ; drawn
together.
CONSTRIN'gENT, a. Having the quality
of contracting, binding or compressing.
Bacon. Thomson.
CONSTRIN'GING, ppr. Drawing or com-
pressing into a smaller compass; contrac-
ting ; binding.
CONSTRUCT', V. t. [L. constnio, conslntc-
tuvi ; con and stnto, to lay, dispose or set
in order ; Sp. construir ; Fr. construirc ;
It. id. See Structure.]
1. To put together the parts of a thing in
their proper place and order ; to build ;
to form ; as, to cojistruct an edifice.
2. To devise and compose, as to construct
a new system ; or simply to frame or form,
as to construct a telescope. The word may
include the invention, with the formation,
or not, at the pleasure of the writer. A
man consti-ucts a ship according to a mod-
el; or a grammar by a new arrangement
of principles ; or a planetarium of a new
form.
3. To interpret or understand. [See Con
slrue.]
CONSTRUCT'ED,^;). Buih ; formed ; com
posed ; compiled.
CONSTRUCT'ER, n. One who constructs
or frames.
CONSTRUCT'ING, ppr. Building ; fram
ing ; composing.
CONSTRUCTION, n. [L. coiutnictio.]
Vol. I.
1. The act of building, or of devising and
forming ; fabrication.
2. The form of building ; the manner of put
ting together the parts of a building, <
machine, or a system; structure; confor-
mation.
The sailing of a ship and its capacity depend
chiefly on its construction.
3. In grammar, syntax, or the arrangement
and connection of words in a sentence,
according to established usages, or the
practice of good writers and speakers.
4. Sense ; meaning ; interpretation ; expla
nation ; or the maimer of understanding
the arrangement of words, or of under-
standing facts. Let us find the true con-
struction ; or let us give th(! autlior's words
a sound, rational, consistent construction
What construction can be put upon this
affair, or upon the conduct of a man.'
5. The manner of describing a figure oi
problem in geometry. Johnsoyi.
Tlie drawing of such lines, such figure,
&c., as are previously necessary for ma-
king any demonstration appear more plain
and undeniable. Encyc.
G. In algebra, the construction of equations
is the method of reducing a known equa
tion into lines and figures, in order to ;
geometrical demonstration. Johnson.
CONSTRUCTIONAL, a. Pertaining to
construction ; deduced from construc^tion
or inter()retation. [ Unusual.] IVaterland.
CONSTRUCTIVE, a. By construction;
created or deduced by construction, or
mode of interpretation ; not directly ex-
pressed, but inferred ; as constructive trea-
son. Blackstone.
.'stipulations, expressed or implied, formal or
contructive. Paleu.
CONSTRUCTIVELY, adv. In a construc-
tive manner; by way of construction or
intei'pretation ; by fair inference.
Chauncey. U. States.
A neutral must have notice of a blockade, ei-
ther actually by a fomial information, or con-
stniclicely by notice to his government. Kent.
CONSTRIJC'TURE, n. An edifice ; pile ;
fabric. [For this, structure is more gener-
ally used.] Blackmore.
CON'STRUE, I', t. [L. construo. See Con-
struct.] __
. To arrange words in their natural order ;
to reduce from a transposed to a natural
order, so as to discover the sense of a
sentence ; hence, to interpret ; and when
applied to a foreign language, to translate ;
to render into English ; as, to construe
Greek, Latin or French.
2. To interpret ; to explain ; to show or to
understand the meaning.
1 pray that I may not be so understood or
construed. Hooker.
Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase
our own words. Slillingfleet.
CON'STRUED, pp. Arranged in natural
order ; interpreted ; understood ; transla-
ted.
ICON'STRUING, ppr. Arranging in natural
order ; expounding ; interpreting ; trans-
lating.
CON'STUPRATE, t). <. [L. constupro ; con
and stupro, to ravish.] To violate ; to de-
bauch ; to defile.
CONSTUPRA'TION, n. The act of rav-
ishing ; violation ; defilement. Bp. Hall.
47
CONSUBSIST', v.i. To subsist together.
[Se<! Subsist.]
CONSUBSTAN'TIAL, a. [L. consubstanli-
alis ; con and substantia. See Substance.]
1. Having the same substance or essence :
co-essential.
The orthodox believe tlie Son to be eensub-
stantial with the Father. Encyc.
2. Of the same kind or nature.
It continuclh a body conaubstantial with
ours. Hooker.
CONSUBSTAN'TIALIST, ii. One who
believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.
CONSUBSTANTIAL'ITY, n. The exist-
ence of more than one in the same sub-
stance ; as, the co-eternity and amsubslan-
tiality of tlie Son with the Father.
Hammond.
2. Participation of the same nature.
Johnson.
CONSUB.STAN'TIATE, v. t. [L. con and
substantia, substance.]
To unite in one common substance or na-
ture. Johnson.
CONSUBSTAN'TLATE, v. i. To profess
consubstantiation. Dryden.
CONSUBSTANTIA'TION, n. The uiuon
of the body uf our blessed Savior with
the sacramental elements. The Luther-
ans maintain that after consecration of the
elements, the body and blood of Christ
are substantially "present with the sub-
stance of the bread and wine, which is
called consubstantiation or impanation.
Encyc.
CON'SUL, n. [L. consul, from consulo, to
consult.]
1. The chief magistrate of the Ancient Ro-
man Republic, invested with regal author-
ity for one year. There were two con-
suls, aimually chosen in the Campus Mar-
tins. In the first ages of Rome, they were
elected from Patrician families or noble-
men ; but in the year of Rome 388, the
people obtained the privilege of electing
one of the consuls from their own body,
and sometimes both were plebeians.
Encyc.
2. In modem usage, the name consul is given
to a person cotnmissioned by a king or
state to reside in a foreign country as an
agent or representative, to protect the
rights, commerce, merchants and seamen
of the state, and to aid the government in
any commercial transactions with such
foreign country.
3. An adviser. [J'l/bt well authorized.] Bacon.
CON'SULAGE, n. A duty laid by the Brit-
ish Levant Company on imports and ex-
ports for the support of the company's af-
fairs. Eton.
CON'SULAR, a. Pertaining to a consul;
as consular power ; consular dignity, or
privileges.
CON'SULATE, n. [L. consulatus.] The
ofiice of a consul. Addison.
[This is applicable to modem consiJs, as
well as to the Roman.l
2. The jurisdiction or extent of a consul's
authority. Kent.
CON'SULSHIP, n. The ofiice of a consul;
or the term of his ofiice ; applicable only to
Roman consids.
CONSULT', t'. {. [L. consulto, from consulo,
to consult, to ask counsel. The last syl-
C O N
CON
CON
lable may be from tlic Ar. _J L«, , Heb.Ch.
Sam. Eth. biW to ask.]
1. To seek the opinion or advice of another,
by a statement of facts, and suitable in-
quiries, for the purpose of directuig one's
own judgment ; followed by mth.
Rehoboam consulted with "the old men. ]
Kings xii.
David consulted with the captains of thou
sands. 1 Chron. xiii.
2. To take counsel together ; to seek opin-
ions and advice by mutual statements, en
quiries and reasonings; to dehberate in
common.
3. To consider with deliberation. Luke xiv.
CONSULT', V. t. To ask advice of; to seek
the opinion of another, as a guide to one'
own judgment ; as, to consult a friend or
parent.
2. To seek for information, or facts, in some-
thing; as by examining books or papers.
Thus, I consulted several authors on the
subject ; I consulted the official documents,
3. To regard ; to have reference or respect
to, in judging or acting ; to decide or to act
in favor of. We are to consult the neces-
sities, rather than the pleasures of life.
We are to consult public as well as |)rivate
interest. He consulted his own safety in
flight.
Ere fancy you ecmsult, eonsiilt your purse.
Franklin.
4. To plan, devi.se or contrive.
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house, by
cutting off many people. Hal), li.
[This sense is unusual and not to be
countenanced.]
CONSULT', n. The act of consulting; the
effect of consultation ; determination ; a
council, or dehberating assembly.
Dn/den. Bacon.
This word is, I believe, entirely obsolete,
except in poetry. It would be naturally
accented on the first syllable, but the
poets accent the last.
<:ONSULTA'TION, J^. The act of consult-
ing ; deliberation of two or more persons,
with a view to some decision.
The chief priests held a consultation with the
elders and scribes. Mark xv.
2. The persons who consult together; a
number of persons seeking mutually each
others opinions and advice ; a council for
deliberation ; as, a consultation of physi
cians was called. Wiseman
IVrit of consultation, in law, a writ award-
ed by a superior court, to return a cause,
which had been removed by prohibition
li-om the court christian, to its original
jurisdiction; so called because the judges
on consultation find the prohibition ill foun-
ded. Blackstone.
CONSULT' ATIVE, a. Having the privilege
of consulting. Bramhall.
CONSULT'ED, pp. Asked; enquired of,
for opinion or advice ; regarded.
CONSULT'ER, n. One who consults, oi
asks counsel or information ; as a consult
er with familiar spirits. Deut. xviii.
eONSULT'ING, ppr. Asking advice ; seek-
ing information ; deliberating and enquir-
ing mutually ; regarding.
CONSU'MABLE, a. [See Consume.] That
may be consumed ; possible to be destroy-
My flesh is consumed away. Job
5. To destroy ; to bring to utter ruin ;
ed, dissipated, wasted or spent ; as, asbes-
tos is not consumable by fire. H'ilkins.
The importation and exportation of
able commodities. Locke.
CONSU'ME, V. t. [L. consumo ; con and su
mo, to take. So in English we say, it
takes up time, that is, it consumes time.
Sp. consumir; It. consumare ; Fr.
mer. Class Sin.]
1. To destroy, by separating the parts of a
tiling, by decomposition, as by fire, or by
eating,_ devouring, and annihilating the
form of a substance. Fire consumes wood,
coal, stubble ; animals consume flesh and
vegetables,
3. To destroy by dissipating or by use ; to
expend ; to waste ; to squander ; as, to
consume an estate.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss
that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James
3. To spend ; to cause to pass away, ai
time ; as, to consume the day in idleness.
Their days did he fonsume in vanity. Ps.
4. To cause to disappear ; to waste slowly.
toex-
termniate.
Let me alone — that I may consume them
Ex. xxxii.
CONSU'ME, v.i. To waste away slowly;
to be exhausted.
Their flesh — their eyes — their tongue shall
consume away. Zech. xiv.
The wicked shall perish — they shall consume
Ps. xxxvii.
eONSU'MED, pp. Wasted ; burnt up ; des-
troyed ; dissipated ; squandered ; expen
ded.
CONSU'MER, n. One who consumes
spends, wastes or destroys ; that which
consumes.
CONSU'MING, ppr. Burning; wasting
destroying ; expending ; eating ; devour-
2. a. That destroys.
The Lord tliy God is a consuming fire
Deut. iv.
CON'SUMMATE, v. t. [L. consummo, con-
summatus ; con and summo, from summa.
sum ; Fr. consommer ; Sp. consumar. See
Sum.]
To end ; to finish by completing what was
intended ; to perfect ; to bring or carry to
the utmost point or degree.
He had a niiud to consummate the happiness
of (he day. Taller.
eONSUM'MATE, a. Complete; perfect;
carried to the utmost extent or degree ;
as consummate greatness or felicity.
CON'SUMMATED, pp. Completed ; per-
fected ; ended.
CONSUM'MATELY, adv. Completely ;
perfectly. H'aHon.
CON'SUMMATING, ppr. Compl
plishina ; perfecting.
CONSUMMA'TION, n. [L. consumtnatio.]
Completion ; end ; perfection of a work,
process or scheme. Mdison.
2. The end or completion of the present sys-
tem of things; the end of the world.
Hooker.
3. Death ; the end of life. Shak.
Consummation of marriage, the most inti-
mate union of the sexes, which completer
the connubial relation.
[L. consumptio. See
CONSUMPTION,
Consume.]
1. The act of consuming; waste; destruc-
tion by burning, eating, devouring, scat-
tering, dissipation, slow decay, or by pas-
sing away, as time; as the consumption
of fuel, of food, of commodities or estate,
of time, &c.
2. The state of being wasted, or diminished.
Etna and Vesuvius have not suffered any con-
siderable diminution or consumption.
Woodward.
3. In medicine, a wasting of flesh ; a gradual
decay or dnninution of the body ; o word
of extensive signification. But particular-
ly, the disease called phthisis pulmonalis,
pulmonic consumption, a disease seated
in the lungs, attended with hectic fever,
cough, &c.
CONSUMP'TIVE, o. Destructive; wast-
ing ; exhausting ; having the quality of
consuming, or dissipating ; as a long co?i-
sumptive war. Addison.
2. Affected with a consumption or pulmo-
nic disease, as consumptive lungs ; or in-
clined to a consumption ; tending to the
phthisis pulmonalis ; applied to the incipi-
ent state of the disease, or to a constitution
predisposed to it.
CONSUMP'TIVELY, adv. In a way tend-
ing to consumption. Beddocs.
CONSUMP'TIVENESS, n. A state of be-
ing consumptive, or a tendency to a con-
sumption.
CONTAB'ULATE, v. t. [L. contahulo ; coi<
and tabula.] To floor with boards.
Gayton.
CONTABULA'TION, n. The act of laying
with boards, or of flooring.
CON'TACT, n. [L. contactus, from conlin-
go, to touch ; con and tango, to touch,
originally tago. See Touch^
A touching ; touch ; close union or juncture -
of bodies. Two bodies come in contact,
when they meet without any sensible in-
tervening space ; the parts that touch are
called the points of contact.
CONTAC'TION, n. The act of touching.
Broii^n.
CONTA'GION, n. [L. contagio, from the
root of contingo, tango, primarily tago, to
touch.]
1. Literally, a touch or touching. Hence,
the communication of a disease by con-
tact, or the matter communicated. More
generally, that subtil matter which pro-
ceeds from a diseased person or body, and
comnumicates the disease to another per-
son ; as in cases of small pox, measles, an-
ginas, and malignant fevers ; diseases
which are communicated without contact.
This contagion proceeds from the breath
of the diseased, from the perspiration or
other excretions.
2. That which communicates evil from one
to another ; infection ; that which propa-
gates mischief ; as the confu^'oJi of vice or
of evil examples. Milton.
1. Pestilence ; a pestilential disease ; venom-
ous exhalations. Shak.
CONTA'GIOUS, a. Containing or genera-
ting contagion ; catching ; that may be
comnnmicated by contact, or by a subtil
excreted matter : as a contagious disease.
Poisonous ; pestilential ; containing con-
CON
tagion ; as contagious air ; contagious
clothing.
8. Containing mischief that may be propa-
gated ; as contagious example.
4. That may be communicated from one
to another, or may excite like affections
in otliers.
His genius rendered his courage more
tagwus.
Wirt
■eONTA'GlOUSNESS, n. Tlic quality of
beinju; contagious.
' €ONTA'IN, V. t. [L. contineo ; con and teneo,
to hold ; It. conitnere ; Fr. contenir ; Sp.
coniener. See Tenet, Tenure.]
1. To hold, as a vessel ; as, tlie vessel con
tains a gallon. Hence, to have capacity
to be able to hold ; applied to an empty
vessel.
2. To comprehend ; to hold within specified
limits.
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens
cannot contain thee. 1 Kings viii.
3. To comprehend ; to comprise. Thehis-
tory of Livy contains a hundred and forty
books.
4. To hold within limits prescribed : to re-
strain ; to witlihold from trespass or dis-
order.
Tlie King's person contains the unruly people
from evil occasions. 06s. Spenser.
Fear not, my Lord, we can contain oursi'lves.
Shak.
5. To include. This article is not contained
in the account. This number does not
contain the article specified.
G. To inclose ; as, this cover or envelop con
tains a letter.
€ONTA'IN, V. i. To live in continence or
chastitv. Arbuthnot and Pope. 1 Cor. vii.
€ONTA'INABLE, a. Tliat may be contain-
ed, or comprised. Boyle.
CONTA'INED, pp. Held; comprehended;
comprised ; included ; inclosed.
CONTAINING, ppr. Holding ; having ca-
pacity to hold ; comprehending ; compris-
ing ; including ; inclosing.
eONTAM'INATE, v. t. [L. contamino ; con
and ant. tamino. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Koa
to defile. Class Dm. No. 19.]
To defile ; to pollute ; usually in a figura-
tive sense ; to sully ; to tarnish ; to taint
Lewdness contamiiiates character ; cow-
ardice contaminates honor.
Shall wc now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ?
Shak.
iVONTAM'INATE, a. Polluted ; defiled :
corrupt. Shak.
CONTAM'INATED,?/). Polluted; defiled;
tarnished.
CONTAMINATING, ppr. Polluting ; de-
filing ; tarnishing.
CONTAMINATION, n. The act of pollut-
C O N
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned.
Ps. XV.
3. To shght ; to neglect as unworthy of re-
gard ; to reject with disdain.
Wherefore do the wicked contemn God.
Ps. X.
They contemn the counsel of the Most High,
nig ; pollution ; defilement ; taint.
CON'TECK, »i. Quarrel; contention. [.Vo/
English.]
t'ONTEC'TION, n. [L. contego.] A cover-
ing. [J^ot used.] Sir T. Browne.
CONTEMN', V. t. contem'. [h.contemno ;con
and temno, to despise ; It. contennere ; Ar.
-Li to drive away, to despise. Class
Dm. No. 1. 4.]
1 . To desi)ise ; to consider and treat
and despicable ; to scorn.
CONTEMNED, pp. Despised ; scorned ;
slighted ; neglected, or rejected with dis-
dain.
CONTEM'NER, n. One who contemns ; a
despiser ; a scorner.
CONTEM'NING, ppr. Despising ; slighting
as vile or despicable ; neglecting or re-
jecting, as unworthy of regard.
CONTEM' PER, v. t. [Low L. contempero ;
con and tempera, to mix or temper. See
Temper.]
To moderate ; to reduce to a lower degree
by mixture with opposite or different qual-
ities; to temper.
The leaves qualify and contemper the heat.
Ray.
CONTEM'PERAMENT, n. Moderated or
qualified degree ; a degree of any quality
reduced to that of another ; temperament.
Derham.
CONTEM'PERATE, v. t. [See Contemper.]
To temper ; to reduce the quality of, by
mixing sometliing opposite or different ; to
moderate. Brown, fyiseman.
eONTEMPERA'TION, n. The act of re
ducing a quality by admixture of the con-
trary ; the act of moderating or tempering.
Brown.
Temperau)ent ; proportionate mi.xture
as the contemperaincnl of humors in differ
ent bodies. Hale.
[Inj^tead of these words, temper and temper-
ament are now generally used.]
eON'TEMPLATE, v. i. [L. conlemplor. If
m is radical, see Class Dm. No. 3. 4. 35.]
1. To view or consider with continued at
tention ; to study ; to meditate on. Thii
word expresses the attention of tlip mind
but sometimes in connection with i]i;ii (j
the eyes ; as, to contemplate the licavcns
More generally, the act of the niim
is intended ; as, to contemplate the
ders of redeinption ; to contemplate the
state of the nation and its future pros-
pects.
2. To consider or have in view, in reference
to a future act or event ; to intend.
A decree of the National Assembly of France,
June 26, 1792, contemplates a supply from tlie
United Slates of four millions of livres
There remain some paruculars to complete
the information contemplated by those resolu-
tions. Hamilton's Report.
If a treaty contains any stipulations which
contemplate a state of future war.
Kent's Commentaries.
eON'TEMPLATE, v. i. To think studi-
ously ; to study ; to muse ; to meditate.
He delights to contemplate on tlie works of
CON
Contemplation is keeping the idea, brought
0 the mind, some time actually in view.
Locke.
2. Holy meditation ; attention to sacred
things; a particular application of the fore-
going definition.
To have in contemplation, to intend or l)ur-
pose, or to have under consideration.
CONTEM'PLATIVE, a. Given to contem
plation, or continued application of the
mind to a subject ; studious ; thoughtful ;
as a contemplative philosopher, or mind.
2. Employed in study ; as a contemplative life.
Bacon.
3. Having the appearance of .study, or a stu-
dious habit ; as a contemplative look.
Denham.
4. Having the power of thought or medita-
tion ; as the contemplative faculty of man.
Ray.
CONTEMPLATIVELY, adv. With con-
templation ;attentively; thoughtfully ; with
deep attention.
CON'TEMPLATOR, n. One who contem-
jdates ; one employed in study or medita-
tion ; an inquirer after knowledge.
Raleigh. Brown.
CONTEMPORA'NEOUS, a. [See Cotem-
porary.] Living or being at the same
time.
CONTEMPORARY, a. [It. Sp. conlempora-
neo ; Fr. contemporain ; L. contemporalis :
con and temporalis, temporarius, from teni-
pus, time. For the sake of easier pro-
nunciation and a more agreeable sound,
this word is often changed to cotempo-
rary.]
Coetaneous ; living at the same time, appli-
ed to persons ; being or existing at the same
time, applied to things ; as contemporary
kings; contemporary events. [See Colem-
porary, the preferable word.]
CONTEMPORARY, n. One who lives at
the same time with another.
Socrates and Plato were contemporaries.
""'J CONTEMPORISE, v. t. To make contem-
' "'i; porary ; to place in the same age or time.
'"'^' ■ [.\ot used.] Brown.
"0 ^CONTEMPT', n. [L. contemptus. See Con-
temn "
CON'TE.MPLATEn, /;/'• Considered witl
atteiitif'ii ; iiii-iruiiii-il on; intended.
CON'TE.MIM, \'ri.\(;, ppr. Considering
with continued attention ; meditating on ;
musing.
CONTEMPLA'TION, n. [L. contemplaiio.
The act of the mind in considering with
attention ; nipditalinn ; study ; continued
attention of the mind to a particular sub-
ject.
1. The act of despising ; the act of viewing
or considering and treating as mean, vile
and worthless ; disdain ; hatred of what
is mean or deemed vile. This word is
one of the strongest expressions of a mean
opinion which the language affords.
Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the
contempt of which is great. Addison.
2. The state of being despised; whence in a
scriptural sense, shame, disgrace.
Some shall awake to everlasting contempt.
Dan. xii.
3. In law, disobedience of the rules and or-
ders of a court, which is a punishable of-
fense.
CONTEMPT'IBLE, a. [L. contemplilnlis.]
1. Worthy of contempt; that describes scorn,
or disdain ; despicable ; mean ; vile. In-
temperance is a contemptible vice. No
plant or animal is so contemptible as not to
exhibit evidence of the wonderful power
and wisdom of the Creator.
The pride that leads to duelling is a contempt-
ible passion.
2. Apt to despise ; contemptuous. [Not le-
gitimnfe.] Shak.
CONTEMPT'IBLENESS, n. The state of
CON
being contemptible, or of being despised ;
despicableness ; meanness ; vileness.
€ONTEMPT'IBLY, adv. In a contemirti
ble manner ; meanly ; in a manner de-
serving of contempt.
€ONTEMPT'UOUS, a. Manifesting or ex-
pressing contempt or disdain ; scornful ;
as contemptuous language or manner ; a
contemptuous opinion. Applied to men, apt
to despise ; haughty ; insolent ; as a na-
tion, proud, severe, contemptuous.
Milton.
CONTEMPT'UOUSLY, adv. In a con-
temptuous manner ; with scorn or disdain ;
despitefully.
The apostles and most eminent christains
were poor, and treated co)ttemptuously.
Tayh
€ONTEMPT'UOUSNESS, n. Disposition
to contempt ; act of contempt ; insolence
scorufulness ; hauglitiness.
■CONTEND', V. i. [h. contendo ; con and
tcndo, to stretch, from leneo, Gr. *sii'w
See Tend, Tenet]
1. To strive, or to strive against ; to strug
gle in opposition.
Distress not tlie Moabites, nor contend with
tliem in battle. Deut. ii.
% To strive ; to use earnest efforts to obtain,
or to defend and preserve.
Yoii sit above, and see vain men below
Contend for what you only can bestow.
Dryden.
Ye should earnestly contend for the faitli
once delivered to the saints. Jude 3.
3. To dispute earnestly ; to sti-ive in debate.
They that were of the circumcision contended
with him. Acts xi. Job ix.
4. To reprove sharply ; to chide ; to strive
to convince and reclaim.
Then contended I with the rulers. Neh. xiii.
5. To strive in opposition ; to punish.
The Lord God called to contend by fire. Amo
vii.
C. To (juarrel ; to dispute fiercely ; to wran
gle. The parties contend about trifles.
To contend for, to strive to obtain ; as
two competitors contend for the prize.
CONTEND', V. t. To dispute ; to contest.
■WTien Cai-thage shall contend the world with
Rome. Dryden.
This transitive use of contend is not
strictly legitimate. The phrase is ellipti-
cal, for being understood after contend;
but it is admissible in poetry.
CONTEND'ED, pp. Urged in argument or
debate ; disputed ; contested.
CONTEND'ENT, n. Au antagonist or op-
poser. UEstrange.
CONTEND'ER, n. One who contends ; a
combatant ; a champion. Locke. Watts.
CONTENDING, ppr. Striving ; struggling
to oppose ; debating ; urging in argument ;
quarreling.
'J. a. Clashing ; opposing ; rival ; as contend-
ing claims or interests.
(ONTEN'EMENT, n. [con and tenement]
Land, or freehold contiguous to a tene-
ment. Blackstone. JVorm. Diet
CONTENT', a. [L. contentus, from conli-
neor, to be held ; con and teneo, to hold.]
Literally, held, contained within limits;
hence, quiet ; not disturbed ; having a
mind at peace ; easy ; satisfied, so as not
10 repine, object, or oppose.
Content wilh science in the Vido of peace.
Pope.
CON
Having food and raiment, let us be therewith
content. 1 Tim. vi.
CONTENT', V. t To satisfy the mind ; to
make quiet, so as to stop complaint or op-
position ; to appease ; to make easy in any
situation ; xtsed chiefly with the reciprocal
pronoun.
Do not content yourselves with obscure and
confused ideas, where clearer are to be obtained.
Watts.
Pilate, willing to content the people, released
Barabbas. Mark xv.
2. To please or gratify.
It doth much content me,
hear him so inclined. Shak.
CONTENT', n. Rest or quietness of the
mind in the present condition ; satisfac-
tion which holds the mind in peace, re-
straining complaint, ojjjjosition, or furthei
desire, and often implying a moderate de-
gree of happiness.
A wise content his even soul secur'd ;
By want not shaken, nor by wealth allm-'d.
Smith.
2. Acquiescence ; satisfaction without exam
ination.
The style is excellent ;
Tlie sense they humbly take upon content.
Pope
3. The term used in the House of Lords in
England, to express an assent to a bill or
CON'TENT, n. often in the plural, contents.
That which is contained ; the thing
things held, included or comprehended
within a limit or line ; as the contents of a
cask or bale; of a room or a ship; the
contents of a book or writing.
3. In geometry, the area or quantity of mat-
space included in certain lines.
3. The power of containing ; capacity ; ex-
tent within limits ; as a ship of great con-
tent Bacon.
[But in this sense the plural is generally
used.]
CONTENTA'TION, )(. Content ; satisfac
tion. Obs. Arbuthnot
CONTENT'ED,;)^. or a. Satisfied; quiet;
easy in mind ; not complaining, opposing
or demanding more. The good man is
contented with his lot. It is our duty to be
contented with the dispensations of provi-
dence.
eONTENT'EDLY, adv. In a contented
manner ; quietly ; without concern.
CONTENT'EDNESS, n. State of resting
in mind ; quiet ; satisfiiction of mind with
any condition or event. Walton.
CONTENT'FUL, a. Full of contentment.
[JSfol used.] Barrow.
CONTEN'TION, ?!. [L. contentio. See
Contend.]
Strife ; struggle ; a violent effort to obtain
something, or to resist a person, claim or
injury; contest; quarrel.
Multitudes lost their Uves ia a tumult raised
by contention ainong the partizans of the seve-
ral colors. Mam.
3. Strife in words or debate ; quarrel ; an-
gry contest ; controversy.
Avoid fooUsh questions, and genealogies, and
contentions, and strivings about the law. Til. iii.
A fool's lips enter into contention. Prov. xviii.
3. Strife or endeavor to excel ; emulation.
Shak.
4. Eagerness ; zeal ; ardor ; velienieiKo of
endeavor. Obs.
CON
j This is an end worthy of our utmost conten-
tion to obtain. Movers
CONTEN'TIOUS, a. [Fr. contentieux; It
I contenzioso.]
il. Apt to contend ; given to angry debate ;
quarrelsome; perverse.
A continual dropping in a rainy day, and a
[ cmitmtious woman are alike. Prov. xxvii.
|2. Relating to contention in law ; relating to
litigation ; having power to decide causes
between contending parties ; as a court of
I contentious jurisdiction. Blackstone.
3. Exciting or ada|)ted to provoke conten-
tion or disputes ; as a contentious subject.
Milner.
eONTEN'TIOUSLY, adv. In a contentious
manner ; quarrelsomely ; perversely.
Brown.
CONTEN'TIOUSNESS, n. A disposition to
contend; proneness to contest; perverse-
ness; quarrelsomeness. Bentleu.
CONTENT'LESS, a. 'Discontented ; dis-
satisfied ; uneasy. Shak.
CONTENTLY, adv. In a contented way.
Obs.
CONTENT'MENT, n. [Fr. contentement]
1. Content ; a resting or satisfaction of mind
without disquiet; acquiescence.
Contentment, without external honor, is hu-
mility. Grew.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim. vi.
2. Gratification.
At Paris the prince spent a day, to give liis
mind some contentment. Wotton.
CONTERM'INABLE, a. [L. con and termi-
nus.] Ca])able of the same bounds.
Wotton.
CONTERM'INATE, a. Having the same
bounds. B. Jonson.
eONTERM'INOUS, a. [L. conterminus ; con
and terminus, a border.]
Bordering upon ; toueliing at the boundary ;
contiguous ; as a people conterminous to
the Roman territory.
CONTERRA'NEAN, >
eONTERRA'NEOUS, I '
terra, country.]
Being of the same country
[L. conterrane-
us ; con and
[N'ot used.]
Did.
CONTEST', V. t [Fr. contester, to dispute.
The Sp. and Port, contestar, and L. con-
testor, have a different sense, being equiv-
alent to the Eng. attest. See Test]
\. To dispute ; to strive earnestly to hold or
maintain ; to struggle to defend. The
troops contested every inch of ground.
2. To dispute ; to argue in opposition to ; to
controvert ; to litigate ; to oppose ; to call
in question ; as, the advocate contested ev-
ery point.
None have contested the proportion of these
ancient pieces. Dryden.
CONTEST', V. i. To strive ; to contend ;
followed by with.
The difficulty of an argument adds to the plea-
sure of contesting with it, when there arc hopes
ofvictoiy. Burnet.
2. To vie ; to emulate.
Of man who dares in pomp with Jove con-
test. Pope.
CON'TEST, n. Strife ; struggle for victory,
superiority, or in defense ; struggle in
arms. Ail Europe engaged in the con-
test against France. The contest was fu-
rious.
CON
3. Dispute ; debate ; violent controversy
strife in argunieiit.
Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clam-
ors, and brawling language. Watts
CONTEST' ABLE, a. That may be disputed
or debated ; disputable ; controvertible
CONTEST' ABLENESS, n. Possibility of
being contested
CONTESTA'TION, n. Tlie act of contest-
ing ; strite ; dispute.
After years spent in domestic contestations.
she found means to withdraw. Clarendon.
2. Testimony ; proof by witnesses.
Barrow.
CONTEST'INGLY, adv. In a contending
manner. Mountagu.
CON'TESTLESS, a. Not to be disputed.
HiU.
CONTEX', V. t. To weave together. [JVot
used.] Boyle.
CON'TEXT, n. [L. contexlus, from contexo
con and lexo, to weave.]
The general series or composition of a dis
course ; more particularly, the parts of a
discourse which precede or fnllow the
sentence quoted; the passages of scrip
tare which are near the text, either before
it or afler it. The sense of a passage ol
scripture is often illustrated by the context
CONTEXT', a. Knit or woven together ;
clo.se ; firm. Derham
CONTEXT', V. t. To knit together, [mi
used.]
CONTEX'TURE, n. The manner of inter
weaving several parts into one body ; the
disposition and union of the constituent
parts of a thing, with respect to each oth-
er ; composition of parts ; constitution ;
as a silk of admirable contexture.
He was not of any delicate contexture ; hi:
limbs rather sturdy than dainty. Wotton
CONTEX'TURAL, a. Pertaining to con-
texture, or to the human frame. Smith
CONTIONA'TION, n. [L. contignatio ; con
and lignum, a beam.] A frame of beams
a story. Wotton.
2. The act of framing together, or uniting
beams in a fabi-ic. Burke.
CONTIGU'ITY, n. [See Contiguous.] Ac
tual contact of bodies ; a toucTiing. Hale.
CONTIG'UOU.S, a. ["L. contiguus ; con and
tango, tago, to toucli.]
Touching ; meeting or joining at the surface
or border ; as two contiguous bodies
not con-
Encyc
CON
Icmales. Scipio the younger exhibited
llie noblest example oi continence recorded
in Pagan history ; an example surpassed
only by that of Joseph in sacred history.
3. Forbearance of lawful pleasure.
Content without lawful vencry, is continence ;
without unlawful, is chastity. Grew.
4. Moderation in the indulgence of sexual
enjoyment.
Chastity is either abstinence or continence :
abstinence is that of virgins or widows ; cimti-
nence, that of married persons. Taylor.
5. Continuity ; uninterrupted course. [JVol
now used.] Mifft
CON'TliVENT, a. [L. continens.] Retrain
j ing from unlawtul sexual conmicrce, or
moderate in the indulgence of lawful
pleasure ; chaste.
2. Restrained ; moderate ; temperate.
Have a cmitinmit tbrbearance. Shale.
.3. Opposing; restraining. Shak.
4. Continuous ; connected ; not interrupted,
The Nortli East part of Asia, if not continent
with America — Brerewood
A continent fever. More generally we
now say a continued fever.
CON'TINENT, n. In geography, a great
extent of land, not disjoined or interrupt-
ed by a sea ; a connected tract of land of
great extent ; as the Eiistern and West
em continent. It differs from an isle only
in extent. New Holland may be denomi-
nated a continetit. Britain is called f
continent, as o])posed to the isle of Angle-
sey. Henry, Hist. Brit. i. 34
In Spenser, continent is used for ground
in general.
2. That which contains any thing. [JVot
used.] Shak.
CONTINENT'AL, a. Pertaining or rela-
ting to a continent ; as the continental pow-
ers of Europe. In America, pertaining to
the United States, as continental money,
in distinction from what pertains to the
separate states ; a word much used during
the revolution.
CON'TINENTLY, adv. In a contment
manner ; chastely ; moderately ; tempe-
rately.
CONTIN'GENCE, I [L. contingens ; con
CONTIN'tiENCY, <, "-Hugo, to fall or hap-
pen to ; con and tango, to touch. See
Touch.]
1. The quality of being contingent or casual ;
a happening ; or the possibility of coming
Tlic houses in ancient Rom
tiguirus.
Usually followed by to. Baci
with, but he has not been followed
CONTIG'UOUSLY, adv. In
touch ; without intervening space.
Dryden.
CONTIG'UOUSNESS, n. A state of con-
tact; close union of surfaces orbwders.
COxM'TINENCE, ) [L. continentia, from
CON'TINENCY, S "' contineo, to hold, or
withhold ; coji and teneo, to hold. See
Tenet.]
1. In a general sense, the restraint which t
person imposes upon his desires and pas-
sions ; self-command.
2. Appropriately, the restraint of the passion
for sexual enjoyment ; resistance of con
cupiscence ; forbearance of lewd pleas
ures ; lience, chastity. But the term is
usually applied to males, as chastity is to
C O N
Each prince furnishes his contingent of
nun, niDiiey and munitions.
CONTIX (;1:N ri,V, adv. Accidentally;
witlimit licsi^'M or foresight.
eONTlN (iKN'I'NESS, n. The state ofbc-
ing contingent ; fortuitousness.
CONTINUAL, a. [Fr. coiUinuel ; L. con-
linuus. See Continue.]
1. Proceeding without interruption or cessa-
tion ; unceasing ; not intennitt'uig ; used
in reference to time.
He that hath a merry heart hatli a continual
feast. Prov. xv.
1 have great heaviness and continual sorrow
of heart. Rom. ix.
2. Very frequent; often repeated; as, the
charitable man has continual applications
for alms.
3. Continual fever, or continued fever, a fe-
ver that abates, but never entirely inter-
mits, till it comes to a crisis ; thus distin-
guished from remitting and intermitting
fever.
4. Continual claim, in law, a claim that is
made from time to time within every year
or day, to land or other estate, the posses-
sion of which cannot be obtained without
hazard. Cowel.
5. Perpetual.
CONTIN'UALLY, adv. Without pause or
cessation ; unceasingly ; as, the ocean is
continually rolling its waves on the shore.
2. Very often ; in repeated succession ; from
time to time.
Thou shalt eat bread at mv table continually.
2 Sam. ix.
CONTIN'UALNESS, n. Permanence.
HaUs.
CONTIN'UANCE, n. [See Continue.] A
holding on or remaining in a particular
state, or in a course or series. Applied to
time, duration ; a state of lasting ; as the
continuance of rain or fair weather for a
day or a week. Sensual pleasure is of
short continuance.
2. Perseverance ; as, uo excuse will justify
a continuance in sin.
By patient continuance in well doing. Rom.
We are not to build certain rules on the con-
tingency of human actions. South.
2. Casualty ; accident ; fortuitous event.
The success of the attempt wiU depend
on contingencies. [See.^cn'rfe/tf and Cas-
ualti/.] I
CONtlN'GENT, a. Falling or coming by,
chance, that is, without design or expec-i
tation on our part ; accidental ; casual.
On oin- part, we speak of chance or coii-
tingendes ; but with an infinite being.i
nothing can be contingent. j
3. In law, depending on an uncertainty ;'
as a contingent remainder. Blacltstone!
CONTIN'tiENT, n. A fortuitous event ; that
wliicli conies without our design, foresight,
or expectation. |
2. That which falls to one in a division or'
apportionment among a number ; a quota ;!
an eqtial or suitable share ; proportion.!
5. Progression of time.
, during (
' contt
3. Abode ; residence ;
uance in Paris.
4. Succession uninterrupted ; continuation ;
a prolonging of existence ; as, the brute
regards the continuance of his species. _
Addison.
cxxxix.
In law, the deferring of a suit, or the giv-
ing of a day for the parties to a suit to ap-
pear. After issue or demurrer joined, as
well as in some of the previous stages of
proceeding, a day is continually given, and
entered upon record, for the parties to ap-
pear on from time to time. The giving of
this day is called a continvMnce.
Blackstont.
7. In tilt United States, tlie deferring of a
trial or suit from one stated term of the
court to another.
8. Continuity ; resistance to a separation of
parts ; a holding togetlier. [.Vo< used.]
Bacon.
CONTIN'UATE, v. t. To join closely to-
gether. Potter.
CON
CONTIN'UATE, o. [L. continuatus.] Im-
mediately united ; holding together. [Lit-
tle jised.] Hooker.
2. Uninterrupted ; unbroken. [Little used.]
Peacham.
eONTIN'UATELY, adv. With continuity ;
without interrujition. [Little Jtsed.]
IVilkins.
CONTINUA'TION, n. [L. continuatio.] Ex-
tension of existence in a series or line ;
succession uninterrupted.
These things must be the works of providence,
for the continuation of the species. Roy.
2. Extension or carrying on to a further
point; as the continuation of a story.
3. Extension in space ; production ; a carry-
ing on in length ; as the continuation of a
line in surveying.
eONTIN'UAtlVE, n. An expression no-
ting permanence or duration.
To these may be added continuatives : as,
Rome remains to this day ; which includes at
least two propositions, viz. Rome was, and
Rome is. Watts.
2. In grammar, a word that continues.
Harris.
CONTINUA'TOR, n. One who continues
or keeps up a series or succession.
■CONTIN'UE, V. i. [Fr. continuer ; L. contin-
uo ; con and teneo, to hold ; It. continuare ;
Sp. continuar. See Tenet.]
1. To remain in a state, or place ; to abide
for any time indefinitely.
Tlie multitude continue with me now three
days, and have nothing to eat. Matt. xv.
2. To last ; to be durable ; to endure ; to be
permanent.
Thy kingdom shall not continue. 1 Sam. xiii.
3. To persevere ; to be steadfast or constant
in any course.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed. John viii.
CONTIN'UE, V. t. To protract ; not to
cease from or to terminate.
O continue thy loving kindness to them that
know thee. Ps. xxxvi.
2. To extend from one thing to anotlier ; to
produce or draw out in length. Continue
the line from A to B. Let the line be con-
tinued to the boimdary.
3. To persevere in; not to cease to do or
use ; as, to continue the same diet.
4. To hold to or unite. [JSTot used.]
The navel continues the infant to its motlier.
Sroiim.
€ONTIN'UED, pp. Drawn out ; protract-
ed ; produced ; extended in length ; ex-
tended without interruption.
2. a. Extended in time without intermission ;
proceeding without cessation ; unceasing
as a continued fever, which abates bu
never entirely intermits. A continued base
is performed through the whole piece.
Continued proportion, in arithmetic, is where
the consequent of the first ratio is the
same with the antecedent of the sec-
ond, as 4 : 8 : : 8 : 16, in contradistinc-
tion from discrete proportion. Encyc.
CONTIN'UEDLY, adv. Without interrup-
tion ; without ceasing. N'orris.
eONTIN'UER, «. One who continues ;
one that has the power of perseveranc
Shak.
€ONTIN'UING, ppr. Remaining fixed or
permanent; abiding; lasting ; enduring ;
persevering; protracting; ])roducinj
Jengtli.
CON
2. a. Permanent.
Here we have no continuing city. Heb. xiii
eONTINU'ITY, n. [L. continuUas.] Con
nection uninterrupted ; cohesion ; close
union of j)arts ; unbroken texture.
Philosojjhers talk of the solution of contin-
uity.
eONTIN'UOUS, a. [L. continuus.] Joined
without intervening space ; as continuous
depth. Thomson.
CONTORT', V. t. [L. contorqueo, contorlus ;
con and torqueo, tortus.] To twist togeth-
er ; to writhe.
CONTORT'ED, pp. Twisted together. A
contorted corol, in botany, has the edge of
one petal lying over the next, in an ob-
lique direction. Martyn.l
CONTOR'TION, ? [Fr. contorsion ; L.
eONTOR'SION, I "• contortio.] \
1. A twisting ; a writhing ; a wresting ; aj
twist ; wry motion ; as the contorsion of j
the muscles of the face. SwiJlJ
In medicine, a twisting or wresting of a[
limb or member of the body out of its;
natural situation ; the iliac passion ; par-
tial dislocation ; distorted spine ; contract-'
ed neck. Encyc. Coxc.\
CONTOUR', n. [Fr. contour ; It. contorno ;
Sp. id. ; con and tour, torno, a turn.]
The outline ; the line that defines or termi-
nates a figure. Encyc. Johnson.
CONT6URNIATED, a. Having edges ap-
pearing as if turned in a lathe. Encyc.
eON'TRA. A Latin preposition signifying
against, in opposition, entering into the
composition of some English words. It
appears to be a compound of con an<l ira,
like intra ; Ira for W. tras. Fr. contre.
eON'TRABAND, a. [It. contrabbando, con-
trary to proclamation, prohibited ; Sp.
contrabando ; Fr. contrebande. See Ban.]
Prohibited. Contraband goods are such as
are prohibited to be imported or exported,
either by the laws of a particular kingdom
or state, or by the law of nations, or by
special treaties. In time of war, arms and
munitions of war are not permitted by
one belligerent, to be transported to the
other, but ai-e held to be contraband and
liable to capture and condemnation.
eON'TRABAND, n. Prohibition of trading
in goods, contrary to the laws of a state
or of nations.
2. Illegal traffick.
CON'TRABANDIST, n. One who traffickst
illegally.
CONTRACT', V. t. [L. contraho, contractum ;
con and traho, to draw; It. contrarre;
Sp. contraer ; Port, contrahir ; Fr. contrac-
ter. See Draw.]
1. To draw together or nearer; to draw into
a less compass, either in length or breadth;
to shorten ; to abridge ; to narrow ; to
lessen ; as, to contract an inclosiu'e ; to con-
tract the faculties ; to contract the period
of life; to contract the sphere of action.
2. To draw the parts together ; to wrinkle ;
as, to contract the brow.
3. To betroth ; to affiance. A contracted his
daughter to B. The lady was contracted'
tu a man of merit. I
4. To draw to; to bring on; to incur; to!
gain. We contract vicious habits by in-
dulgence. We contract debt by extrava-
gance. I
CON
5. To shorten by omission of a letter or syl-
lable ; as, to contract a word.
0. To epitomize ; to abridge ; as, to contract
an essay.
CONTRACT', v.i. To shrink; to become
shorter or narrower.
A hempen cord contracts by moisture.
2. To bargain ; to make a mutual agreement,
as between two or more persons. We
have contracted for a load of flour ; or we
have contracted with a farmer /or a quanti-
ty of provisions.
CONTRACT', for contracted, pp. Afiianced :
betrothed. Shal<.
CON'TRACT, n. An agreement or covc^
nant between two or more persons, in
which each party binds himself to do or
forbear some act, and each acqubes arighi
to what the other promises ; a mutual
promise upon lawful consideration or
cause, which binds the parties to a per-
formance; a bargain; a compact. Con-
tracts are executory oi- executed.
Sup. Court, Cranch's Rep.
2. The act by which a man and woman are
betrothed, each to the other. Shah:
3. The writing which contains the agree-
ment of parties with the tenns and condi-
tions, and which serves as a proof of the
obligation.
CONTRACT'ED, pp. Drawn together, or
into a shorter or narrower compass ;
shrunk ; betrothed ; incurred ; bargained.
2. a. Narrow ; mean ; selfish ; as a man of
a contracted soul or mind.
CONTRACT'EDLY, adv. In a contracted
manner. Bp. Mewton.
eONTRACT'EDNESS, n. The state of
being contracted.
2. Narrowness ; meanness ; excessive sel-
fishness.
CONTRACTIBIL'ITY, n. Pos.sibiUty of
being contracted ; quality of suffering con-
traction ; as the contraciibility and dilati-
bilityofair. Arbuthnot.
eONTRACT'IBLE, a. Capable of con-
traction.
Small air bladders, dilatable and contractible.
Arbuthnot.
eONTRACT'IBLENESS, n. The quality
of suffering contraction ; contraetibility.
Did.
CONTRACTILE, a. Tending to contract ;
having the power of shortening or of
drawinj; into smaller dimensions ; as the
contractile force- of certain elastic bodies.
CONTRACTILITY, n. The inherent qual-
ity or force by which bodies shrink or con-
tract. " Beddoes.
CONTRACT'ING, ppr. Shortening or nar-
rowing ; draw ing together ; lessening di-
mensions ; shrinkuig ; making a bargain ;
betrothing.
2. a. Making or having made a contract or
treaty ; stipulating ; as the contracting par-
ties to a league.
CONTRACTION, n. [L. contraclio.] The
act of drawing together, or shrinking ; the
act of shortening, narrowing or lessening
extent or dimensions, by causing the parts
of a body to ap])roach nearer to each oth-
er; the state of beinir contracted.
CON
Oil of vitriol will tlirovv the stomach into in-j
.oluntai-y contractions. Aibuthnot.
The cmitraction of the heart is called systole.
Some things induce a contraction of the
nerves. Bacon.
2. The act of shortening, abridging, or re-
ducing witliin a narrower compas.s by any
means. A poem uiay be improved by
omissions or contractions.
3. In grammar, tlie shortening of a word, by
the omission of a letter or syllable ; as,
can't for cannot ; burst for bursted or burst-
en ; Swedish and Danish ord, a word.
4. A contract ; marriage contract. [JVot
used.] Shak.
5. Abbreviation.
■eONTRACT'OR, n. One who contracts;
one of the parties to a bargain ; one who
covenants to do any thing for another.
Taylor.
9. One who contracts or covenants with a
government to furnish provisions or other
supplies or to perform any work or service
for the public, at a certain price or rate.
€ON'TRA-DANCE, > [Fr. contre-danse ;
COUN'TER-DANCE, ^"Tt. contraddanza ;
Sp. contradanza.]
A dance in which the partners are arranged
in opposition, or in opposite lines.
CONTRADICT', v. t. [L. contradico ; con
tra and dico, to spells.]
1. To oppose by words ; to assert the con-
trary to what has been asserted, or to
deny what has been affirmed.
It is not lawfiJ to contradict a point of histo
ry known to all the world. Dryden.
The Jews — spoke against those things which
were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blas-
pheming. Acts xiii.
2. To oppose ; to be directly contrary to.
No truth can contradict another truth.
Hooker.
CONTRADIeT'ED,;>p. Opposed in words;
opposed ; denied.
CONTRADICT'ER, n. One who contra-
dicts or denies ; an opposer. Suifl.
CONTRADlCT'ING, ppr. Affirming the
contrary to what has been asserted ; de
flying; opposing.
CONTRADICTION, n. [L. contradictio:
An assertion of the contrary to what has
been said or affirmed ; denial ; contrary
declaration.
2. Opposition, whether by words, reproach
es or attempts to defeat.
Consider him that endured such contradic
lion of sinners against himself. Heb. xii.
3. Direct opposition or repugnancy ;' incon
sistency with itself; incongruity or contra
riety of things, words, thoughts or propo
sitions. These theorems involve a contra-
diction.
If we perceive ti-uth, we thereby perceive
Vfhatevcr is false in contradiction to it.
Grew.
CONTRADIC'TIONAL, a. Inconsistent.
[JMot in use.] Milton.
CONTRADICTIOUS, a. Filled with con-
tradictions; inconsistent. Collier.
2. Inclined to contradict ; disposed to deny
or cavil.
3. Opposite ; inconsistent.
CONTRADICTIOUSNESS, n. Inconsist-
ency ; contrariety to itself Nbn-is.
2. Disposition to contradict or cavil.
CONTRADICT'ORILY, adv. In a contra-
C O N
dictory manner ; in a manner inconsistent
with itself, or opposite to others. Brown.
CONTRADICT'ORINESS, n. Direct op-
position ; contrariety in assertion or effect.
Baxter.
CONTRADICTORY, <i. Affirming the con-
trary ; iiiiplyirifj ;i drnlul of what has been
arserted ; :l^ aiidrudidurtj assertions.
2. Inconsistent; opposite; contrary; ascon-
tradictory schemes.
CONTRADICTORY, »i. A proposition
which denies or opposes another iu all its
terms ; contrariety ; inconsistency.
It is common with princes to will contradict-
ories. Bacon.
CONTRADISTINCT', a. Distinguished by
>p(isiti' i|iiMlities. Smith.
COKTUAIHSTINCTION, n. [con<ra and
dislini-lioii.] Distinction by opposite quali-
ties.
We speak of sins of infirmity, in contradis-
tinction to those of presumption. South.
CONTRADISTINCTIVE, a. Distinguish-
ing by opposites. Harris.
CONTRADISTIN'GUISH, v.t. [eon<ra and
distinguish.]
To distinguish not merely by differential, but
by opposite qualities.
These are our complex ideas of sou! and body,
as contradistliis;uished. Locke.
CONTRADIS TIN (UISIIED, pp. Distin-
c6n'tRA|'>V<T1a'gi'is:HING, ppr. Dis-
tinguishing by opposites.
CONTRAFIS'SURE, ,1. [contra and fissure.
In surgery, a fissure or fracture in th(
cranium, on the side opposite to that which
received the blow, or at some distance
from it. Coie. Encyc.
CONTRAIN'DleANT, n. A symptom that
li)rbids to treat a disorder in the usual way
Burke
CONTRAIN'DICATE, v. t. [contra and
indicate.] In medicine, to indicate some
method of cure, contrary to that which
the general tenor of the disease requires
or to forbid that to be done which the main
scope of the malady points out.
Harvey. Encyc.
CONTRAINDICATION, n. An indication,
from some pccuhar symptom or fact, that
forbids the method of ctu-e which the main
symptoms or nature of the disease re-
quires, •irbuthnot.
CON TRAMURE, »i. An out wall. [See
Co„„hr.„„n.]
€()N ri!A\ \ T I'RAL, a. Opposite to na
tur.'. [.'Jill, ii.^ed.] Bp. Rust.
CONTRA.M'TKNCY, v. [L. contra and
nitor, to strive.] Reaction ; resistance to
force.
CONTRAPOSF'TION, n. [contra and posi
lion.] A placing over against ; opposite
iiositioii.
CONTRAPUNTIST, n. One skilled in
counterpoint. Mason.
CONTRAREGULAR'ITY, ?i. [contra and
regulaiity.] Contrariety to rule, or to
regularity. jVorris.
CONTRA "RIANT, a. [Fr. from contrarier,
to contradict, or run counter.]
Contradictory ; opposite : inconsistent. [Lit-
tle used.] Ayliffe.
CON'TRARIES, >i.;);j«. [Qce Contrary.] In
logic, propositions which destroy each]
CON
other, but of which the falsehood of on«
does not establish the truth of the other.
If two universals differ in quality, they are
contrariea; as, every vine is a tree; no vitie is
a tree. These can never be both true together ;
hut they may be both false. fVatts.
CONTRARl'ETY, n. [L. contrarielas. See
Conlraiy.]
1. Opposition in fact, essence, quaUty or prin-
ciple ; repugnance. The expedition failed
by means of a con<raric<i/ of winds. There
is a contrariety in the nature of virtue and
vice; of love and hatred; of truth and
falsehood. Among men of the same pro-
fession, we find a con<rane<i/ of opinions.
2. Inconsistency ; quality or position des-
tructive of its opposite.
How can these contrarieties agree. Shatc.
CON'TRARILY, adv. In an opposite man-
ner ; in opposition ; on the other side ; in
opposite wavs.
CON'TRARINESS, n. Contrariety; oppo-
sition. Diet.
CONTRA'RIOUS, a. Contrary; opposite;
repugnant. Milton.
CONTRA'RIOUSLY, adv. Contrarily ; op-
i)ositely. Shai.
CONTRARIWISE, adv. [contrary and
icise, manner.]
On tlie contrary ; oppositely ; on the other
hand.
Not rendering evil for e^il, nor railing for
railing; but contrariwise, blessing. 1 Pet. ill.
CON'TRARY, a. [L. contrarius, from con-
tra, against ; Fr. contraire ; Sp. It. con-
Irario.]
1. Opposite ; adverse; moving against or in
an opposite direction ; as contrary winds.
2. Opposite ; contradictory ; not merely dif-
ferent, but inconsistent or repugnant.
The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary,
the one to the other. Gal. v.
This adjective, in many phrases, is to be
treated grammatically as an adverb, or as
an adjective referring to a sentence or
affirmation ; as, this happened contrary to
my expectations The word here really
belongs to the affirmation or fact declared,
this happened ; for contrary does not, like
an adverb, express the manner of happen-
ing, but that the fact itself was contrary
to my expectation. According, agreeablt,
pursuant, antecedent, prior, anterior, ifc,
arc often used in the like manner.
CON'TRARY, n. A thing that is contrary
or of op])osite qualities.
No cmitraries hold mofe antipathy.
Than I and such a knate. Shak.
2. A |)roposition contrary to another, or a
fact contrary to what is alledged ; as, this
is stated to be a fact, but I will endeavor
to show the contrary.
On the contrary, in opposition ; on the other
side. SwiJJ.
To the contrary, to an opposite purpose, or
fact.
Tliey did it, not for want of instruction to the
contrary. Stillin^et.
He said it was just, but I told him to the con-
trary.
CON'TRARY, v.t. [Fr. contrarier.] To
contradict or oppose. Obs.
CONTRARY-MINDED, a. Of a different
mind or opinion. Hall.
CONTRAST', r. t. [Fr. contraster. Norm.
id., to contrast ; It. contrastare, Sp. Port.
CON
CON
CON
i:ontrastar, to resist, withstanti, strive, de-
bate, quarrel. The primary sense is to
set against, or to strain, to strive.]
1. To set in opposition two or more figures
of a like kind, vpith a vie w to show the dif-
ference or dissimilitude, and to manifest
the superior excellence of the one by the in-
feriority of the other, or to exhibit the ex-
cellence of the one and the defects of the
other in a more striking view ; as, to con-
trast two pictures or statues.
2. To exhibit differences or dissimilitude in
painting and sculpture, by position or atti-
tude, eitlier of the whole figure or of its
members ; or to show to advantage by
opposition or difference of position.
3. To set in opposition different things or
qualities, to show the superior excellence
of one to advantage.
To contrast the goodness of God with our
rebellion, will tend to make us humble and
thankful. Clark, Serm. July 4, 1814.
eON'TRAST, n. Opposition or dissimili-
tude of figures, by which one contributes
to the visibility or efiect of the other.
Johnson.
Contrast, in this sense, is applicable to
things of a similar kind. We never speak
of a co7itrast between a man and a
tain, or between a dog and a tree ; but we
observe the contrast between an oak an<l i
shrub, and between a palace and a cot-
tage.
2. Opposition, or difference of jiosition, atti-
tude, &c., of figures, or of their several
members ; as in painting and sculpture.
3. Opposition of things or qualities ; or the
placing of opposite things in view, to ex-
• hibit the superior excellence of one to more
advantage. What a contrast between
modesty and impudence, or between a
wellbred man and a clown !
CONTRAST'ED, pp. Set in opposition;
examined in opposition.
eONTRAST'ING,j3;))-. Placing in opposi-
tion, with a view to discover the difference
of figures or other things, and exhibit the
advantage or excellence of one beyond
that of the other.
€ON'TRA-TEi\OR, n. In music, a middle
part between the tenor and treble ; coun-
ter.
CON'TRATE-WHEEL, n. In watch-work,
the wheel next to the crown, the teeth and
hoop of which he contrary to those of the
other wheels, whence its name.
€ONTRAVALLA'TION, n. [L. contra and
vallo, to fortify ; Fr. contrevallation.]
In fortification, a trench guarded with a para-
pet, thrown round a place by the besiegers,
to secure themselves, and check the sallies
of the garrison.
■eONTRAVE'NE, D.«. [L. contravenio ; con-
tra and venio, to come.]
Literally, to come against ; to meet. Hence
to oppose, but used in a figurative or moral
sense; to oppose in principle or effect;
to contradict ; to obstruct in operation ; to
defeat ; as, a law may contravene the i)ro-
visions of the constitution.
CONTRAVE'NED, pp. Opposed ; ob
structed.
CONTRAVE'NER, »i. One who opposes.
CONTRAVE'NING, ppr. Opposing in prin
ciple or effect.
CONTRAVEN'TION, n. Opposition; ob-
struction ; a defeating of the operation or
effect.
The proceedings of the allies were in direct
contravention of the treaty.
€ONT RAVER SION,
versio, a turning.]
A turning to the opposite side ;
[L. contra and
I promote, m concur-
tistrophe.
Congreve.
CONTRAYER'VA, n. [Sp. contrayerba ;
Port, contraherva ; contra and yerha, herva,
an herl), L. hcrlya ; a counter herb, an anti-
dote for poison, or in general, an antidote.]
The genus of plants, Dorstenia ; all low
herbaceous plants, natives of the warm
climates of America, and useful as diapho-
retics. Encyc.
€ONTRE€TA'TION, n. [L. contrectatio,
tracto.] A touching or handUng.
Ferrand.
eONTRIB^UTARY, a. [See Contribute.]
Paying tribute to the same sovereign ; con-
tributing aid to the same chief or princi-
pal.
It was situated on the Ganges, at the place
where this river received a contrilnitary stream,
D'Anville, An. Geog.
eONTRIB'UTE, v. t. [L. contrihuo ; con and
tribuo, to grant, assign, or impart ; It. con-
tribuire ; Sp. contribuir ; Fr. contribuer.
See Tribe, Tribute.]
To give or grant in common with others;
to give to a common stock or for
mon purpose ; to pay a share.
England contributes much more than any
other of the allies. .iddison.
It is the duty of christians to contribute :
portion of their substance for the propagation o!
tlie gospel.
2. To impart a portion or share to a com
mon purpose.
Let each man contribute his influence to cor-
rect public morals.
eONTRlB'UTE, y. i. To give a part ; to
lend a portion of power, aid or influence ;
to have a share in any act or effect.
There is not a single beauty in the piece, to
which the invention must not contribute.
Pope.
€ONTRIB'UTED, pp. Given or advanced
to a common fund, stock orpurpose ; paid
as a share.
CONTRIB'UTING, ppr. Giving in common
with others to some stock or purpose ; im-
parting a share.
eONTRIBU'TION, n. The act of giving to
a common stock, or in common with oth-
ers ; the act of lending a portion of power
or influence to a common purpose ; the
payment of each man's share of some com-
mon ex])ense.
2. That which is given to a common stock
or purpose, either bj' an individual or by
many. We speak of the contribution of
one person, or the confn'iuh'on of a society.
Contributions are involuntary, as taxes and
imposts ; or voluntary, as for some under
taking.
3. In a military sense, impositions paid by a
frontier country, to secure themselves from
being plundered by the enemy's army ; or
impositions upon a country in the ])Ower
of an enemy, which are levied under vari-
ous ])retenses, and for various purposes,
usually for the support of the army.
eONTRIB'UTIVE, a. Tending to contrib-
ute ; contributing ; having the power or
quality of giving a portion of aid or influ-
ence ; lending aid
rence with others.
This measure is contribtUive to the same end.
Taylor.
CONTRIBUTOR, n. One who contrib-
utes ; one who gives or pays money to a
common stock or f imd ; one who gives aid
to a common purjjose in conjunction with
others.
eONTRIB'UTORY, a. Contributing to the
same stock or pur})ose; promoting the
same end ; bringing assistance to some
joint design, or increase to some common
stock.
€ONTRIS'TATE, t>. t. [h. contristo.] To
make sorrowful. [Mitused.] Bacon.
€ONTRISTA'TION, n. The act of making
sad. [M)t used.] Bacon.
€ON'TRlTE, a. [L. contritus, from contero,
to break or bruise ; con and tero, to bruise,
rub or wear. See Tnte.]
Literally, worn or bruised. Hence, broken-
hearted for sin ; deeply affected with grief
and sorrow forhaving offended God ; hum-
ble ; penitent ; as a contrite sinner.
A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou
wilt not despise. Ps. li.
eON'TRITELY, adv. In a contrite manner ;
with |)enitence.
€ON'TRITENESS, n. Deep sorrow and
penitence for sin.
€ONTRI"TION, n. [L. contritio.] The act
of grinding or rubbing to powder.
Mwton.
Penitence ; deep sorrow for sin ; grief of
heart for having offended an infinitely holy
and benevolent God. The word is usually
understood to mean genuine j)enitence,
accompanied with a deep sense of ingrati-
tude in the sinner, and sincere resolution
to live in obedience to the divine law.
Fruits of more pleasing savor, from thy seed
Sown with contrition in his heart. Afitton.
Imperfc ct repentance is by some divines
called attrition.
eONTRI'VABLE, a. [See Confnre.] That
may be contrived ; capable of being plan-
ned, invented, or devised.
Perpetual motion may seem easily contriva-
ble. Wilkins.
€ONTRI'VANCE, n. [See Contrive.] The
act of inventing, devising orjilanning.
Tliere is no work impossible to these contri-
vances. Wilkins.
2. The thing invented or planned ; a scheme ;
))lan ; disposition of jiarts or causes by
design.
Our bodies are made according to the most or-
derly contrivance. Glanville.
3. Artifice ; plot ; scheme.
He has managed his contrivance well.
eONTRI'VE, J), f. [Fr. eonfr-ouuer; con and
trouver, to find ; It. conirovare.]
. To invent ; to devise ; to plan.
Our poet has always some beautiful design,
which he first establishes, and then contrives the
means which will naturally conduct him to his
end. Dryden.
. To wear out. Obs. Spenser.
[This must be from the L. contero, con-
trivi, and if the French controuver, and
Italian conirovare, ai-e the same word dif-
ferently applied, the primary sense is, to
invent by rubbing, that is, by ruminating ;
or to strike out, as in/o;ge. But the word
is probalily from trouver, to find.]
CON
CON
CON
CONTRIVE,
To form or design ;
■ shame
This verb is really transitive, but followed
III a verb, in the place of an object or name.
CONTRI'VED, pp. Inventea ; planned ;
devised.
CONTRI'VEMENT, n. Contrivance; in
vention.
CONTRI'VER, n. An inventor; one who
plans or devises ; a schemer.
Swifl. Shak.
CONTRIVING, ;>/>r. Plamiing; forming in
design.
CONTROL, I [Fr. controlle, a coun-
CONTUOLL, S ter-register ; contre am]
rolle, a roU, list or catalogue; Arm. coun-
ter roll]
1. Primarily, a book, register or account,
kept to correct or check another accoimt
or register; a counter- register. Hence,
check ; restraint ; as, to speak, or to act with
out control. The wind raged without con
trol. Our passions should be under the
control of reason.
'1. Power ; authority ; government ; com-
mand. Children should be under the con-
trol of their parents. The events of life
are not always under our control.
ft. He or that whicli restrains. Burke.
CONTROL, ? , To keep under check
CONTROLL, S "' I'y a counter-register or
double account. The proper officer con-
trols the accounts of the treasury.
2. To check ; to restrain ; to govern.
I feci my virtue struggling in my soul :
But stronger passion does its power control
Dryd,
n. To overpower ; to subject to authority ;
to counteract ; to have under command.
The course of events cannot be controlled
by human wisdom or power.
4. To direct or govern in opposition ; to have
superior force, or authority over.
A recital cannot control the plain words in the
granting part of a deed. Johnsmi's Reports
CONTROLLABLE, a. That may be con-
trolled, checked or restrained ; subject to
command.
Passion is the drunkenness of the mind, and
not always controllable by reason. South
CONTROLLED, p;). Checked; restrained
governed.
CONTROLLER, n. [Norm, countre-rouler.]
One who controls, or restrains ; one that
has the power or authority to govern or
control.
The great controller of our fate
Oeign'd to be man, and lived in low estate.
jyryden
'i. An officer appointed to keep a counter-
register of accounts, or to oversee, control
or verity the accounts of other officers; as
in Great Britain, the controller of the han-
aper, of the household, of the pipe, and
of the pells. In the United States, the
duty of the controller of the treasury is to
superintend the adjustment and preserva
tion of the public accounts ; to examiiK
all accounts settled by tlie auditor, and
certify to the register the balances due
thereon ; to countersign all warrants drawn
by tlie secretary of the treasury which
shall be warranted by law ; to report tc
the secretary the official forms of all pa-
pers to be issued in the different offices for
collecting the public revenue, and the
Vol. I.
manner and form of keeping and stating
the accounts of the persons employed in
them, &c. Stat, of United Stales.
CONTROLLERSHIP, n. The office of a
controller.
CONTROLMENT, ) The power or act
CONTROLLMENT, S "" ofcontrolling;the
ctate of being restrained ; control ; re-
straint.
2. Opposition ; resistance ; counteraction ;
refutation.
For this word, control is now generally
usc.l.
€().\ TKOVERSE, n. and v. Controversy,
and tc, .ll>|M,tc. Obs.
CON 'I'HOVKRSER, > A disputant. Obs.
CON 'TROV I;RS0R, ^ "■ Mountain.
CONTROVER'SIAL, a. [Sec Controvert,
Controversy.]
Relating to "disjiutes ; as a controversial dii
course.
CONTROVERSIALIST, n. One who ca:
ries on a controversy ; a disputant.
CON'TROVERSY, n. [L. controversia. See
Controvert.]
1. Dispute; debate; agitation of contrary
opinions. A dispute is commonly oral,
and a controversy in writing. Johnson.
Dispute is often or generally a debate of
short duration, a temporary debate ; i
controversy is often oral and sometime:
continued in books or in law lor months
or years.
This left no room for controversy, about the
title. Locke.
Without controversy, great is the mystery of
godliness. 1 Tim. iii.
2. A suit in law ; a case in which opposing
parties contentl for their respective claims
before a tribunal.
And by their word shall every controversy and
every stroke be tried. Deut. xxi.
3. Dispute ; opposition carried on.
The Lord hatli a controversy with the na
lions. Jer. xxv.
4. Opposition ; resistance.
.4nd stemming [the torrent] with hearts of
controversy. Shak
CON'TROVERT, I', t. [L. controverto, con-
troversor; contra and verto, verso, to turn.
Literally, to turn against.]
To dispute ; to oppose by reasoning ; to con-
tend against in words or writings ; to deny
and attempt to disprove or confute ; to
agitate contrarj' opinions ; as, to controvert
opinions, or principles ; to controvert the
justness of a conclusion.
CONTROVERTED, pp. Disputed ; oppo
sed in debate.
CON'TROVERTER, n. One who contro-
verts; a controversial writer.
B. Jonson.
CONTROVERT'IBLE, a. That may be
disputed ; disputable ; not too evident to
exclude difTerence of opinion ; as, this is
a controvertible jroint of law.
CON'TRO VERTING, pp. Disputing; de-
nying and attempting to refute.
CON'TROVERTIST, n. One who contro-
verts ; a disputant; a man versed or en-
gaged in controversy, or disputation.
How unfriendly is the spirit of the controverl-
ist to the discernment of the critic. Campbell.
CONTUMA'CIOUS, a. [L. contwnax, from
con and lumeo, to swell.]
1. Literally, swelling against ; haughty.
Hence, obstinate ; perverse ; stubborn ; in-
48
flexible; unyielding; disobedient; as u
contu7nacious child.
2. In latv, wilfully disobedient to the orders
of a court. Blackstone.
CONTUMA'CIOIJSLY, adv. Obstinately;
stubbornly ; perversely ; in disobedience
of orders.
CONTUMA'CIOUSNESS, n. Obstinacy :
perverseness ; stubbornness ; contumacy.
CON'TUMACY, n. [L. conlumada.] Stub-
bornness; unyielding obstinacy; inflexi-
bility. Milton.
2. In law, a wilful contempt and disobedi-
ence to any lawful summons or order of
court ; a refusal to appear in court when
legally summoned, or disobedience to its
rules and orders. Ayliffe.
CONTUME'LIOUS, a. [L. conlumeliosus.
See Contumely.]
1. Haughtily rejiroachful ; contemptuous;
insolent ; rude and sarcastic ; as contume-
lious language. SiviJJ.
2. Haughty and contemptuous ; disposed to
utter reproach, or to insult ; insolent ;
proudly rude ; as a contumelious person.
ShaJi.
3. Reproachful; shameful; ignominious.
Decay of Piety.
eONTUME'LIOUSLY, adv. In a contu-
melious manner ; with pride and con-
tempt; reproachfully; rudely; insolently.
CONTUME'LIOUSNESS, n. Reproach;
rudeness ; contempt.
CON'TUMELY, n. [L. contunulia, from
contumco ; con and tumeo, to swell.]
Rudeness or reproach compounded of
haughtiness and contempt; contemptuous-
ness ; insolence ; contemptuous language.
The oppressor's wrong ; the proud man's con-
tumely. Shak.
CONTUND', V. t. [L. contundo.] To beat ;
to bruise by beating. [Little used.]
Gayton.
CONTU'SE, I'. /. s as :. [L. contusus, con-
tundo.]
To beat ; to bruise; to injure the flesh or
substance of a living being or other thing
without breaking the skin or substance,
sometimes with a breach of the skin or
substance. Bacon.
CONTU'SION, n. s as z. [L. contusio, fi-oni
contimdo ; con and (undo, to beat.]
1. The act of beating and bruising, or the
state of being bruised.
2. The act of reducing to powder or fine
particles by beating. Bacon.
3. In surgery, a bruise ; a hurt or injury to
the flesh or some part of the body by a
blunt instrument, or by a fall.
CONUNDRUM, n. A low Jest; a mean
conceit.
CON'USANCE, n. [Fr. connoi^sance.] Cog-
nizance ; knowledge ; notice. [See Con-
nusance.]
CONUSANT, a. Knowing; having notice
of
CONVALESCENCE, > [L. convalesco,
CONVALES'CENCY, l"' to grow stron-
ger ; con and valesco, to get strength, valeo,
to be strong, Eng. weU. See fFell and
Avail.]
Renewal of health; the insensible recovery
of health and strength after disease ; the
state of a body renewing its vigor after
sickness or weakness.
CON
CON
CON
CONVALES'CENT, a. Recovering health
and stiongtli after sickness or debility.
€ON'VALLAllY, n. A genus of plants,
Convuiiaria. Muhlenberg.
eONVE'NABLE, a. [See Convene.] That
may be convened, or assembled.
Panoplist, May 1809.
2. Consistent. Obs. Spenser.
€ONVE'NE, V. i. [L. convenio ; con and ve-
nio, to come.]
1. To come together ; to meet ; to unite ; as
tilings?. [Unusual.]
The rays of light converge and convene in the
eyes. JYewton
2. To come together; to meet in the sam(
place ; to assemble ; as persons. Parlia
ment will convene in November. The two
liouses of the legislature convened at twelv<
o'clock. The citizens convened in tlie state
house.
eONVE'NE, V. t. To cause to assemble ,
to call together ; to convoke. The Presi-
dent has power to co7ivene the Congress,
on special occasions.
2. To summon judicially to meet or appear
By the papal canon law, clerks can be cim-
vened only before an ecclesiastical judge.
Jlyliffe
€ONVE'NED, pp. Assembled; convoked.
€ONVE'NER, n. One who convenes oi
meets with others ; one who calls together
CONVE'NIENCE, ) [L. convenientia,
eONVE'NIENCY, ^ from convenio.]
Literally, a coming together ; a meeting.
Hence,
1. Fitness; suitableness; propriety; adap-
tation of one thing to another, or to cir-
cumstances. Hooker.
1i. Commodiousness ; ease ; freedom from
difficulty.
Every man must want something for the coti-
venience of his life. Calamy
There is another convenience in this method
Swift
3. That which gives ease ; accommodation :
that which is suited to wants or necessi-
ty. A pair of spectacles is a great conve-
nience in old age.
4. Fitness of time or place. Sliak
CONVE'NIENT, a. Fit; suitable; proper;
adapted to use or to wants ; commodious ;
followed by to or for ; usually by for.
Some arts are peculiarly convenient to partic-
ular nations. Tillotson.
Feed me with food convenient for me. Prov.
XXX.
CONVE'NIENTLY, adv. Fitly ; suitably ;
with adaptation to the end or effect. That
house is not conveniently situated for i
tradesman.
9. Commodiously ; with ease ; without trou
blc or difficulty. He cannot conveniently
accept the invitation.
•CONVE'NING, ppr. Coining together; call-
ing together.
CONVE'NING, n. The act of coming to-
gether ; convention.
€ON'VENT, n. [L. convenius, from conve
nio, to assemble ; Fr. convent.]
^. An assembly of persons devoted to reh
gion ; a body of monks or nuns.
2. A house for persons devoted to religion
an abbey ; a monastery ; a nunnery.
CONVENT', V. t. [L. conventus, convenio.
To call before a judge or judicature.
ifhak. Bacon
CONVENT', V. i. To meet; to concur.]
[.Vo( used.] Beaum\
eONVENT'ICLE, n. [L. conventicidum.,\
iX\m. o( conventus.] \
1. An assembly or meeting ; usually applied[
to a meeting of dissenters from the estab-
lished church, for religious worship. In
this sense it is used by English writers
and in English statutes. Hence, an as-
sembly, in contempt. Atterbury.
In the United States, this word has noj
appropriate application, and is little used,
or not at all.
2. A secret assembly or cabal ; a meeting
for plots. Shak.
eONVENT'ICLE, v.i. To belong to a con-
venticle. South.
CONVENT'ICLER, n. One who supports
or frequents conventicles. Dryden.
CONVEN'TION, n. [L. conventio. See
Convene.]
1. The act of coming together; a meeting
of several persons or individuals. Boyle.
Union ; coalition.
3. An assembly. In this sense, the word in-
cludes any formal meeting or collection
of men for civil or ecclesiastical purposes;
particularly an assembly of delegates or
representatives for consultation on impor-
tant concerns, civil, pohtical or ecclesias-
tical.
In Great Britain, convention is the
name given to an extraordinary assembly
of the estates of the realm, held without
the king's writ ; as the assembly which
restored Charles II. to the throne, and that
which declared the throne to be abdicated
by James II.
In the United States, this name is given
to the assembly of representatives which
forms a constitution of government, or
political association ; as the convention
which formed the constitution of the Uni-
ted States in 1787.
4. An agreement or contract between two
parties, as between the commanders of
two armies ; an agreenient previous to a
definitive treaty.
CONVEN'TIONAL, a. [Fr. conventionnel.]
Stipulated ; formed by agreement.
Cotiventional services reserved by tenures on
grants, made out of the crown or knights ser-
vice. Hale.
CONVEN'TIONARY, a. Acting under
contract ; settled by stipulation ; conven
tional ; as conventionary tenants. Carew.
eONVEN'TIONER, n. One who belongs
to a convention.
CONVEN'TIONIST, n. One who makes a
contract. Sterne.
eONVEN'TUAL, a. [Fr. conventuel.] Be-
longing to a convent ; monastic ; as con-
ventual priors.
CONVEN'TUAL, n. One that lives in a
convent ; a monk or nun. Addison
CONVERGE, V. i. converj'. [Low L. con-
vergo ; con and vergo, to incline. See
Verge.]
To tend to one point ; to incline and ap-
proach nearer together, as two lines which
continually approach each other ; opposed
to diverge. Lines which converge in one
direction, diverge in the other.
The mountains converge into a single rlilge.
Jtfferson.
CONVERg'ENCE, ) The quality of cob-
€ONVER6'ENCY, < "• verging ; tenden-
Gregory.
Tending to one point ;
approaching each other, as they proceed
or are extending.
CONVERU'ING, ppr. Tending to one
point; approaching each other, as lines
e.^tended.
Converging rays, in optics, those rays of
light, which proceeding from different
points of an object, approach, meet and
cross, and become diverging rays. Encyc.
Converging series, in mathematics, is that
in which the magnitude of the several
terms gradually diminishes. Encyc.
CONVERS'ABLE, a. [It. conversabUe ; Fr.
conversable. See Converse.]
Qualified for conversation, or rather dispo-
sed to converse ; ready or inclined to mu-
tual communication of thoughts; sociable;
free in discourse. Addison.
CONVERS'ABLENESS, n. The quality
of being free in conversation; disposition
or readiness to converse ; sociability.
eONVERS'ABLY, adv. In a conversable
manner.
CON'VERSANT, a. [It. conversante. See
Converse.]
Keeping company ; having frequent or
customary intercourse ; intimately associ-
ating ; familiar by fellowship or cohabita-
tion ; acquainted.
But the men were very good to us — as long
as we were conversant with them. 1 Sam. xsv.
Never to be infected with delight.
Nor cotiversant with ease and idleness.
Shak.
2. Acquainted by familiar use or study. ^^' e
correct our style, and improve our taste,
by being conversant with the best classical
writers.
In the foregoing applications, this word
is most generally followed by with, accor-
ding to present usage. In "was formerly
used ; and both in and among may be
used.
Concerning; having concern, or relation
to ; having for its object ; followed by
about.
Education is co7iversant about children.
Wotton.
CONVERSA'TION, n. General course of
manners ; behavior ; deportment ; espe-
cially as it respects morals.
Let your conversation be as becometh the
gospel. Phil. i.
Be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
1 Pet. i.
2. A keeping company ; familiar intercourse ;
intiiniitc fellowship or association; com-
nii'i'i'i- ill snci:il life. Knowledge of men
and iiKiiiiK Ts is best acipiired by conversa-
tion \\ ith the best conijiany.
3. Intimate and familiar acquaintance; as
conversation witli books, or other object.
4. Familiar discourse ; general intercourse
of sentiments ; chat; unrestrained talk;
opposed to a formal conference.
What I mentioned in convei'satian was not a
new thought. Swifi.
[This is now the most general use of the
joord.]
OONVERSA'TIONED, a. Acquainted with
the manner of acthig iu life. [.Vof H,?erf.]
Beattin.
CON
CONVERS'ATIVE, a. Relating to an in
tercourse with men ; opposed to conletn
plative.
She chose to endue him with conversative
qualities of youth. Wotton.
CONVERSAZIO'NE, n. [It.] A meeting
of company. Gray.
CONVERSE, v.i. comers'. [L. conversor,
con and versor, to be turned ; Fr. convers-
er i It. conversare ; Sp. conversar. Liter-
ally, to be turned to or with ; to be turned
about.]
1. To keep company ; to associate ; to co-
habit ; to hold intercourse and be intimate-
ly acquainted ; followed by unth.
For him who lonely loves
To seek the distant hills, and there converse
With natuie. Thomson
2. To have sexual commerce. Guardian.
3. To talk familiarly ; to have free inter
course in mutual communication of
thoughts and opinions ; to convey thoughts
reciprocally ; followed by vnlh before the
person addressed, and on before the sub-
ject. Converse as friend with friend. We
have often conversed with each other on the
merit of Milton's poetry.
{This is now the most general use of the
iBord.]
CON' VERSE, n. Conversation: familiar
discourse or talk ; free interchange of]
thoughts or opinions.
Formed by thy converse happily to steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe
Pope.
2. Acquaintance by frequent or customary
intercourse ; cohabitation ; familiarity
In this sense, the word may include dis
course, or not ; as, to hold converse with
persons of different sects; or to hold eon-
verse with terrestrial things.
3. In maihemaiics, an opposite proposition
thus, after drawing a conclusion from some
thing supposed, we invert the order, ma
king the conclusion the supposition oi
premises, and draw from it what was first
supposed. Thus, if two sides of a triangf
are equal, the angles opposite the sides
are equal : and the converse is true ; if
these angles are equal, the two sides are
equal. Chambers. Bailey.
CON'VERSELY, adv. With change of or
der ; in a contrary order ; reciprocally.
Johnson.
CONVER'SION, 71. [L. conversio. See
Convert.}
1. In a general sense, a turning or change
from one state to another; with regard
to substances, transmutation ; as a conver-
sion of water into ice, or of food into chyle
or blood.
'2. In military affairs, a change of front, as
when a body of troops is attacked in the
flank, and they change their position to
face the enemy.
. 3. In a theological or moral sense, a change
of heart, or dispositions, in which the en-
mity of the heart to God and his law and
the obstinacy of the will are subdued, and
are succeeded by supreme love to God
and his moral government, and a reforma-
tion of life.
4. Change from one side or party to an-
other.
That conversion will be suspected that ap-
parently concurs with interest. Johnson
CON
5. A change from one religion to another
as the conversion of the Gentiles. Acts xv
6. The act of appropriating to private use ;
as in trover and conversion.
Conversion of equations, in algebra, the re-
duction of equations by multiplication, or
the manner of altering an equation, when
the quantity sought or any member of it is
a fraction ; the reducing of a fractional
equation into an integral one.
Encyc. Bailey. Johnson.
Conversion of propositions, in logic, is a chai
ging of the subject into the place of the
predicate, and still retaining the quality of
the proposition. Bailey.
Conversion of the ratios, in arithmetic, is the
comparing of the antecedent with the dif-
ference of the antecedent and consequent,
in two equal ratios or proportions.
Bailey.
CONVERT', V. t. [L. conveHo ; con and ver-
to, to turn J coinciding in elements and
signification with barter, and probably
from the root oi' vary, vario, veer, Sp. birar.
Port. inVor, to turn. Class Br.]
1. To change or turn into another substance
or form ; as, to convert gases into wate
water into ice.
2. To change from one state to another
to convert a barren waste into a fruitful
field ; to convert a wilderness into a gar
den ; to convert rude savages into civilized
men.
3. To change or turn from one religion to
another, or from one party or sect to an
other ; as, to convert pagans to Christianity ;
to convert royalists into republicans.
4. To turn from a bad life to a good one ; to
change the heart and moral character,
from enmity to God and from vicious ha
bits, to love of God and to a holy life.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out. Acts iii.
He that converteth a sinner from the error of
his way, shall save a soul from death. James v.
5. To turn toward a point.
Crystal will callify into electricity, and con-
vert the needle freely placed. [ Vnusual.]
Brown.
6. To turn from one use or destuiation to
another; as, to convert hberty into an en-
gine of oppression.
7. To appropriate or apply to one's own
use, or to personal benefit ; as, to convert
public property to our own use.
8. To change one proposition into another,
so that what was the subject of the first
becomes the predicate of the second ; as,
all sin is a transgression of the law ; but
every transgression of the law is sin.
Hale
9. To turn into another language.
B. Jonson.
CONVERT', V. i. To tiu-n or be changed :
to undergo a change.
The love of wicked friends converts to fear :
That fear, to hate. SAo/r,
CON'VERT, n. A person who is converted
from one opinion or practice to another
person who i-enounces one creed, religious
system or party, and embraces another
applied particularly to those who changi
their religious opinions, but applicable to
political or philosophical sects.
2. In a more strict sense, one who is tiu-ned
from sin to holiness.
CON
Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and
her converts with righteousness. Is. i.
3. In monasteries, a lay-friar or brother, ad-
mitted to the service of the house, without
orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.
Encyc.
CONVERT' ED, pp. Turned or changed
from one substance or state to another ;
turned from one religion or sect to another ;
changed from a state of sin to a state of
holiness ; ap|)Ued to a particular use ; ap-
I>ropriated.
CONVERTER, ji. One who converts; one
who makes converts.
IcONVERTIHIL'lTY, n. [from conveHibk.]
1. The quality of being jiossible to be con-
verted or changed from one substance,
form or state to anotlier ; as the conver-
tibility of land into money. Burke
2. Thequality of being changeable from one
letter to another ; as the convertibility of m
with 6, or of d into /. Jls. Researches.
CONVERTIBLE, a. [Fr. from conrerftr.]
L That may be changed ; susceptible of
change ; transmutable ; transformable.
I Minerals are not convertible into another spe-
cies, though of the same genus. Harvey.
2. So much alike that one may be used for
j another. Usury and interest are not now
I convertible terms, though formerly they
I were.
3. That may be changed, as one letter for
I another; as 6, p and /are convertible let-
ters.
CONVERT'IBLY, adv. Reciprocally ; with
interchange of terras. South.
CON'VERTITE, n. A convert. [JVot in
e.]
CON'VEX, a. [L. convexus ; It. convesso.']
Rising or swelling on the exterior surface
into a spherical or round form ; gibbous ;
opposed to concave, which expresses a
round form of the interior surface ; as a
coniifx mirror or lens.
CON'VEX, n. A convex body ; as heaven's
convex. Ticket.
CON'VEXED, a. Made convex ; protube-
rant in a spherical form. Brown.
CONVEX'EDLY, adv. In a convex form.
CONVEX'ITY, n. [L. convexitas.} The°ex-
terior surface of a convex body ; a gibbous
or globular form ; roundness.
.Vfzf/on. Bentley.
CON'V^EXLY, adv. In a convex form; as a
body convexly conical.
CON'VEXNESS, n. Convexit)', which see.
JCONVEX'O-CON'CAVE, a. Convex on one
side and concave on the other ; having the
hollow on the inside corresponding to the
convex surface.
CONVEXO-CONVEX, a. Convex on both
sides.
CONVEY', V. t. [L. conveho ; con and veho,
to carry, Sax. wcegan, wegan, Eng. to
weigh. See Weigh and Way.}
1. To carr)', bear or transport, either by
land or water, or in air ; as, to convey a
letter or a j)ackage ; to convey goods from
England to France.
2. To pass or cause to pass ; to transmit ; as,
to convey a right or an estate from father
to son.
3. To transfer ; to pass a title to any thing
from one person to another, as by deed,
CON
assignment or otherwise ; as, to convey
lands by bargain and sale.
4. To cause to pass ; to transmit ; to carry,
by any medium; as, air conveys so mid ;
words convey ideas.
5. To manage ; to carry on. [JVot used.]
I will coneey tlie business as I shall find means.
Shak.
6. To impart ; to communicate.
CONVeY'ABLE, a. Tbat may be conveyed
or transferred. Burke on the Sublime.
CONVEY'ANCE, n. The act of conveying ;
the act of bearing, carrying, or transport-
ing, by land or water, or through any me-
dium.
2. The act of transmitting, or transferring,
as titles, estates or claims from one person
to another ; transmission ; transferrence ;
assignment.
3. The insti-ument or means of passing a
thing from place to place, or person to per-
son J as, a vehicle is a conveyance for per-
sons or goods; a canal or aqueduct is a
conveyance for water; a deed is a convey-
ance of land.
4. Removal; the act of removing or carry-
ing. Shak.
5. Management ; artifice ; secret practices.
[In this sense, obsolete.] Spenser.
CONVEY' ANCER, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to draAv conveyances of property,
deeds, &c.
eONVEY'ANCING, n. The act or practice
of drawing deeds, leases or other writings
for transferring the title to property from
one person to another.
CONVEY'ER, n. One \vho conveys; he or
that which conveys, carries, transports,
transmits or transfers from one person or
place to another.
2. A juggler. Shak.
CONVEY'ING, ppr. Carrying ; transport-
ing ; transferring.
CONVICIN'ITY, 71. Neighborhood ; vicin-
ity. IVartoa.
CONVICT', V. t. [L. convinco, convictum ;
con and vinco, to vanquish or subdue ; Sp.
convencer ; It. convincere ; Fr. convaincre.
See Convince. The verb vinco is allied to
vincio, to bind, the primary sense of which
is to strain, force, make fast, hence to sub
due ; and as n apjwars to be casual, the
root is Vg or Fc]
1. To determine the truth of a charge against
one ; to prove or find guilty of a crime
charged ; to determine or decide to be
guilty, as by the verdict of a jury, by con
fession, or other legal decision. The jury
convicted the prisoner of felony.
2. To convince of sin ; to prove or deter-
mine to be guilty, as by the conscience.
They who heaid it, being convicted by tlieii
own conscience, went out one by one. John viii.
3. To confute ; to prove or show to be false.
Ohs. Brown.
4. To show by proof or evidence. Obs.
Hooker.
CONVICT', pp. for convicted. Proved oi
found guilty. Shak
CON'VICT, n. A person proved or found
guilty of a crime alledged against him, ci
ther by the verdict of a jury or other legal
decision.
CONVICT'ED, pp. Proved or determined
to be guilty, eitlicr by venhct of a jury or
by the decision of conscience.
CON
CONVICT'ING, ppr. Proving or finding
guilty.
eONVIC'TION,n. The act of proving, find-
ing or determining to be guilty of an of-
fense charged against a person before a
legal tribunal ; as by confession, by the
verdict of a jury, or by the sentence of
other tribunal, as in the summary convic-
tions before commissioners of the revenue,
2. The act of convincing, or corajjelling onel
to admit the truth of a charge ; the act of
convincing of sin or sinfulness ; the state
of being convinced or convicted by
science ; the state of being sensible of
guilt ; as, the convictions of a sinner may
be temporary, or lasting and efficacious.
By conviction, a siimer is brought to re-
pentance. Men often sin against the con-
viction of their own consciences.
3. The act of convincing of error ; confuta-
tion ; the act of compelling one to ac-
knowledge his error, or the truth of what
is alledged ; as, the conviction of a heretic
may induce him to abandon his eiTors.
CONVIC'TIVE, a. Having the power to
convince or convict.
CONVIC TIVELY, adv. In a convmcing
manner. More.
CONVINCE, V. t. convins'. [L. convinco ; con
and vinco, to vanquish; Sp. convencer ; It.
convincere ; Fr. convaincre.]
1. To persuade or satisfy the mind by ev
dence ; to subdue the opposition of the
mind to truth, or to what is alledged, and
compel it to yield its assent
vince a man of his errors ; or to convince
him of the truth.
For he mightily convinced the Jews — show
ing by the sciiptuies that Jesus was the Christ
Acts xviii.
2. To convict; to prove guilty; to constrain
one to admit or acknowledge himself to
be guilty.
If ye have respect to persons, ye
and are convinced of [by] the law as transgres
sors. James ii.
To convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds. Jude 15.
3. To envince ; to prove. Obs. Shi
To overpower; to surmount ; to vanqui;
Obs. Shak.
CONVIN'CED, pp. Persuaded in mind;
satisfied with evidence ; convicted.
CONVINCEMENT, n. convins' ment. Con-
viction. [Little xtsed.]
CONVIN'CER, n. He or that which con-
vmees ; that which makes manifest.
More.
CONVIN'CIBLE, a. Capable of coiivictioi
2. Capable of being disproved or refuted.
[Little used.]
o'
by evidence ; convicting.
2. a. Persuading the mind by evidence
pable of subduing the opposition of the
mind and corapellmg its assent. We
have convincing proof of the truth of tlie
scriptures, and of God's moral govern-
ment of the world.
CONVIN'CINGLY, adv. In a convincing
manner ; in a manner to leave no room to
doubt, or to compel assent. Clarendon.
CONVIN'CINGNESS, n. The power of
CON
CONVI'VE, v. t. To entertain ; to feast.
[.Yot in use.] Shak.
CONVIVIAL, a. [L. convivalis, from con-
viva, a guest, or convivo, to live or eat and
drink together ; con and vivo, to live. See
yictuals.]
Relating to a feast or entertainment ; festal ;
social ; jovial ; as a convivial meeting.
Denham.
CONVIVIAL'ITY, n. The good humor or
j mirth indulged at an entertainment.
2. A convivial spirit or disposition.
IcON'VOCATE, V. t. [L. convoco, to con-
i voke ; con and voco, to call. See Voice.]
To convoke ; to call or summon to meet ; to
assemble bv summons. [See Convoke.]
CONVOCA'tlON, re. [Y.. convocatio.] The
act of calling or assembling by summons.
2. An assembly.
In the first day there shall be a holy cmivoca-
tion. Ex. xii.
CONVI'TIOUS, a. [L. conwiior.}
proachful. Obs.
Re
3. In England, an assembly of the clergy,
by their representatives, to consult on ec-
clesiastical affairs. It is held during the
session of parliament, and consists of an
uj)per and lower house. In the upper
house sit the archbishops and bishops; in
the lower house sit the inferior clergy,
represented by their proctors, consisting
of all the deans and arch-deacons, of one
proctor for every chapter, and two for the
clergy of every diocese, in all one hun-
dred and forty-three divines, viz. twenty-
two deans, fifty-three arch-deacons, twen-
ty-four prebendaries, and forty-four proc-
tors of the diocesan clergy. Encyc.
4. An academical assembly, in which the
business of the university is transacted.
Lajid.
CONVO KE, v. t. [L. convoco; Fr. convo-
quer. See Voice.]
jTo call together ; to summon to meet ; to
' assemble by summons.
It is the prerogative of the President of the
U. States to convoke the senate.
CONVO'KED,^;). Summoned or assembled
by order.
CONVO'KING, ppr. Summoning to con-
vene; assembling.
CON'VOLUTE, I Rolled together, or
CON'VOLUTED, \ "' one part on anoth-
er ; as the sides or margins of nascent
leaves in plants, or as the petal.s and stig-
mas in Crocus. .Martipi. Lee.
CONVOLU'TION, n. [L. conmlnf'io.] The
act of rolling or winding together, or one
thing on another; the state of being roU-
I ed together.
'2. A winding or twisting ; a winding mo-
I tion ; as the convolution of certain vines ;
I the con j)o?!t<ion of an eddy. Thomson.
CONVOLVE, V. t. convolv'. [L. convolvo ; con
I and volvo, to roll. See Wallow.]
JTo roll or wind together; to roU one part
on another.
CONVOLVULUS, n. [L. from co7ivolvo.]
Bindweed, a genus of plants of many spe-
cies.
CONVOY', V. t. [Fr. convoyer ; It. conviare;
Sp. convoyar ; Port, comboyar ; con and
voie, via, way, or the same root ; or more
<lirectly from the root of L. veho, to carry,
Sax. tv(egan, ivegan, to bear or carry, to
bring along.]
JTo accompany on the way for protection, ei-
! tiler by sea or laud ; as, ships of war con-
coo
coo
coo
royed tlic Jamaica fleet ; the troops convoy-^
td the baggage wagons.
When persons are to be protected, the^
word escort is used.
CON'VOY, n. A protecting force accompa-
nying sliips or property on their way from
place to place, either by sea or land. By
sea, a ship or ships of war which accom-
pany mcri-haiitineii for protection from an!
eniniy. By land, any body of troops'
whicli accompany provisions, ammunition)
or other property for protection. I
9. The ship or fleet conducted and protect-]
ed ; that which is conducted by a protect-'
ing force; that which is convoyed. The
word sometimes includes both the protect-
ing and protected fleets. j
Admiralty RtjioHs. Anderson. Burchett]
Encyc. State Papers.
3. The act of attending for defense.
Shak. Milton.
4. Conveyance. Obs. Sluik.
eONVOV'ED, pp. Attended on a pas.sage
by a protecting force.
€ONVOY'ING,ppr. Attending on a voyage
or passage for defense from enemies ; at-
tending ajid guarding.
CONVULSE, V. t. convuW. [L. convello, con-
vulsum, convutsus ; con and vello, to pull or
pluck.]
1. To draw or contract, as the muscular
parts of an animal body ; to aftect by ir-
regular spasms ; as, the whole frame may
be convulsed by agony.
2. To shake ; to attect by violent irregular
action.
Convulsing heaven and earth. Thomson .
€ONVULS'ED, pp. Contracted by spasms ;
shaken violently.
€ONVULS'lNG,p;»-. Affecting by spasmod-
ic contractions ; shaking with violence.
€ONVUL'SION, n. [L. cotividsio.] A pre-
ternatural, violent and involuntary con-
traction of the muscular parts of an ani-
mal body. Encyc.
2. Any violent and irregular motion ; tumult ;
commotion ; as political convidsions.
€ONVUL'SIVE, a. That produces convul-
sion ; as convulsive rage ; convulsive sor-
row. Drydcn. Prior.
2. Attended with convulsion or spasms ; as
convulsive motions ; conmdsive strife.
Dryden. Hale.
CONVUL'SIVELY, adv. VVitli violent shak-
ing or agitation.
CO'NY, I [D. konyn ; G. kanin ; Sw
eO'NEY, S kanin; Ban. kanine ; Fr. co
nin or conil ; L. cuniculus ; It. conigtio ;
Sp. conejo ; Ir. cuinin ; W. civning. The
primary sense is a shoot, or a shooting
along.]
A rabbit ; a quadruped of the genus Lepus,
which has a short tail and naked ears. In
a wild state the fur is brown, but the color
of the domestic rabbit is various.
CO'NY-BURROW, n. A place where rab
bits burrow in the earth.
€0'NY-€ATCH, v. i. [cony and catch.] In
the cant of thieves, to cheat ; to bite ; to
trick. Shak
CO N V-CATCHER, n. A thief; a cheat ; t
sharper. Ohs.
CO NY-CATCHING, n. Banter. Obs.
Shak
COO, I', i. [probably from the sound.]
To cry, or make a low sound, as ])igeona or
doves. Thomson.
COO'ING, ppr. Uttering a low sound, as a
dove.
COO'ING, n. Invitation, as the note of the
dove. Young.
COOK, V. t. [Sax. gecocnian; Sw. koka;
Dan. koger ; D. kooken ; G. kochen ; It.
cuocere ; Sp. cocer, and cocinar ; Port.
cozinhar ; L. coquo.\
1. To prepare, as victuals for the table, by
boiling, roasting, baking, broiling, &c.
To dress, as meat or vegetables, for eat-
ing.
2. To prepare for any purpose. Shak.
3. To throw. [Ohs. or local] Grose.
COOK, v. i. To make the noise of the
cuckoo.
CQQK, «. [Sax. coc; D. kok ; G.koch; Sw.
kock ; Dan. kok ; It. cttoco ; Ir. coca ; L.
coquus.}
One whose occupation is to prepare victuals
for the table ; a man or woman who dress-
es meat or vegetables for eating.
€OQK'ED,pp. Prepared for the table.
CQOK'ERY, n. The art or the practice of
dressing and preparing victuals for the
table.
CPOK'ING, ppr. Preparing victuals for the
table.
CWK'MAID, n. [cook and maid.] A female
servant or maid who dresses provisions.
COOK'ROOM, n. [cook and room.] A room
for rookery ; a kitchen. On board of ships,
a galley or caboose.
COOL, a. [Sax. col ; D. koel; G. kuhl ; Sw.
kalt ; Dan. kold, cold ; kioler, to cool ;
kidde, chilliness ; kuler, to blow strong.]
1. Moderately cold ; being of a temperature
between hot and cold ; as cool air ; cool
water.
2. Not ardent or zealous ; not angry ; not
fond; not excited by passion of any kind;
indifferent ; as a cool friend ; a cool tem-
per ; a cool lover.
3. Not hasty ; deUberate ; calm ; as a cool
purpose.
4. Not retaining heat ; light ; as a cool dress
COOL, n. A moderate state of cold ; mode
rate temperature of the air between hot
and cold ; as the cool of the day ; the cool
of the morning or evening.
COOL, v.t. [Sax. colian, arolian; D. koelen;
G. kuhlen ; Dan. kiiiler.]
1. To allay heat ; to make cool or cold; to
reduce the temperature of a substance ;
as, ice cools water.
Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his
finger in water, and cool my tongue. Luke xvi.
2. To moderate excitement of temper ; to
allay, as passion of any kiud ; to calm, as
anger ; to abate, as love ; to moderate, as
desire, zeal or ardor ; to render inthffer-
ent.
COOL, t!. I. To become less hot; to lose
heat. Let tea or coffee cool to the temper-
ature of the blood, before it is drank.
2. To lose the heat of excitement or passion ;
to become less ardent, angry, zealous, or
affectionate ; to become more moderate.
Speak not in a passion ; fii-st let your tem-
per cool.
COOL-CUP, ji. A beverage that is cooling.
COOL'ED, pp. Made less hot, or less ardent.
COOL'ER, n. That which cools; any sub-
stance which abates heat or excitement ;
as, acids are coolers to the body.
2. A vessel in which Uquors or other things
are cooled.
COOL-HEADED, a. Having a temper not
easily excited ; free from passion.
Burke.
COOLING, ppr. Abating heat or excite-
ment ; making or becoming cool.
COOL'ISH, a. Somewhat cool.
Goldsmith.
COOL'LY, adv. Without heat or sharp cold.
2. In a cool or indift'erent manner ; not cor-
dially ; without passion or ardor. He was
coolly received at court.
3. Without haste ; calmly ; deliberately. The
design was formed coolly, and executed
with flrnmcss.
COOL'NESS, 71. A moderate degree of
cold ; a temperature between cold and
heat ; as the coolness of the summer's
evening.
2. A moderate degree, or a want of passion ;
want of ardor, or zeal ; indifference ; want
of affection ; as, they parted with coolness.
COOM, n. [Fr. cambouis ; Sw. kim, soot.]
Soot that gathers over an oven's mouth ;
also, the matter that w'orks out of the
naves or boxes of carriage wheels. In
Scotland, the useless dust which falls from
coals.
COOMB or COMB, n. [Qu. L. cumulus, or
Gr. xi>i8oj.]
A dry measure of four bushels, or half a
quarter.
COOP, n. [D. ktiip, a tub ; kuiper, a cooper ;
G. kufe ; Fr. cuve ; L. cupa, from bend-
ing, liollowness, or containing, holding.
Qu. Gr. xv^o;. The Latin cupa seems to
be both coop and cup. See Ctip.]
1. A bo.x of boards, grated or barred on one
side, fur keeping fowls in confinement. It
is usually applied to long boxes for keep-
ing poultry for fattening or conveyance
on board of ships, as cage is used for a
small box to keep singing birds in houses.
I do not know that it is ever used in Ame-
rica for a pen to confine other animals.
2. A pen ; an inclosed place for small ani-
mals. Johnson.
3. A barrel or cask for the preservation of
liquors. Johnson.
4. A tumbrel or close cart.
Encyc. Jamicson''s Did.
[The three last senses, not American.]
COOP, V. t. To put in a coop ; to confine iu
a coop. Hence, to shut up or confine in
a narrow compass ; usually followed by
up, to coop up ; sometimes by in.
The Trojans cooped unthin their walls.
Dryden.
Tliey are cooped in close by the laws of the
country. Locke.
COOP'ED, pp. Shut up in a coop ; confined
to narrow hmits.
CQOP'ER, »i. [from coop; D. kuiper; G. jtu-
fir.]
One whose occupation is to make barrek,
hogsheads, butts, tubs and casks of vari-
ous kinds.
COOP'ERAgE, n. The price paid for coop-
er's work : also, a place where cooper's
work is done.
CO-OPERATE, V. i. [L. con and opero, to
work ; Fr. cooperer ; It. cooperare ; Sp. co-
operar.]
COP
COP
COP
1. To act or operate jointly with another orij
others, to the same end ; to work or labor I
with mutual efforts to promote the same I
object. It has ttiith before the agent, and |
to before the end. Russia cooperated with\\
Great Britain, Austria and Prussia, to re-1
duce the power of Buonaparte. I
% To act together ; to concur in producing
the same effect. Natural and moral events |
cooperate in illustrating the wisdom of the I
Creator.
CO-OP'ERATING, ppr. Acting or opera- ;€OP^ARCENARY,
ting together.
CO-OPERA'TION, n. The act of working,
or operating together, to one end ; joint
operation ; concurrent effort or labor ; as
the cooperation of the combined powers:
the cooperation of the understanding and
the will.
€0-OP'ERATIVE, a. Operating jointly to
the same end.
€0-OP'ERATOR, n. One who endeavors
jointly with others to promote the same
end.
€0-OP'TATE, V. t. [L. coopto.] To choose,
or choose with another. [jYot used.]
CO-OPTA'TION, n. Adoption ; assumption.
Howell.
CO-OR'DINATE, a. [L. con and ordinatus,
from ordino, to regulate. See Order.]
Being of equal order, or of the same rank or
degree ; not subordinate ; as, two courts of
co-ordinate jurisdiction.
€0-OR'DlNATELY, adv. In the same or
der or rank ; in equal degree ; withou
subordination.
eO-OR'DINATENESS,n.The state of be
ing coordinate ; equality of rank and an
thority.
€0-ORDINA'TION, n. The state of hold
ing equal rank, or of standing in the same
relation to something higher.
In the high court of Parliament there is a
coordination of power. Howell.
COOT, n. [D. koet; W. cwliar, from cwta,
short, bob-tailed.]
A fowl of the genus Fulica, frequentinj
lakes and other still waters. The com
nion coot has a bald forehead, a black
body, and lobated toes, and is about fif-
teen inches in length. It makes its nest
among rushes, with grass and reeds, float
ing on the water.
COP, n. [Sax. cop, or copp ; W. cop, cob ; D.
kop; G.kopf; Fr. covpeau; Or. xiiISjj.]
The head or top of a thing, as in cob-castle
for cop-castle, a castle on a hill ; a tuft on
the head of birds. This word is little used
in America, unless cob, the spike of maize,
may be the same word. Chaucer.
COP'AIBA, n. [Sp. Port.] Balsam of copai-
ba or capivi, is a liquid resinous juice,
flowing from incisions made in the stem
of a tree called Copaifera officinalis, grow
ing in Spanish America, in the province of
Antiochia. This juice is clear, transi
rent, of a whitish or pale yellowish color,
an agreeable smell, and a bitterish pi
gent taste. It is of the consistence of oil,
or a little thicker. As a medicine,
corroborating and detergent. Encyc.
CO'PAL, n. [Mexican copalli, a generic
name of resins. Clavigero.]
The concrete juice of a tree growing in Me.x
ico or Nevv Spain, hard, shining, trans
parent, citron-colored, and odoriferous.
It is not strictly a gum nor a resin, as it
has not the solubility in water common to
gums, nor that in spirit of wine common
to resins. In these respects it rather re-
sembles amber. It may be dissolved by
digestion in lintseed ofl, with a heat little
less than sufficient to boil or decompose
the oik This solution, diluted with spirit
of turpentine, forms a beautiful transpa-
rent varnish. Encyc. Nicholson.
\co or con and Norm
parcenier, [)arcenary. See Coparcener.]
Partnership in inheritance ; joint heirship ;
joint right of succession or joint succes-
sion to an estate of inheritance.
€OP>ARCENER, n. [con and parcener,
from part, Fr. parti, L. pars, or the ver"
partir, to divide.]
A coheir ; one who has an equal portion of
the inheritance of his or her ancestor with
others.
All the coparceners together make but one
heir, and have but one estate among them.
Blackstone.
Coparceners take by descent ; joint-tenants,
by purchase. Id.
€OP>ARCENY, n. An equal share of ai
nheritance.
eOP'ARTMENT, Ji. The same as com
partment. [M)t in use.] Warton
eOP'ARTNER, n. [con and paHner. See
Coparcener.]
1. One who has a share in a common stock
for transacting business, or who is jointly
concerned with one or more persons, in
carrying on trade or other business ; a
partner ; an associate, particularly in trade
or manufactures.
2. A sharer ; a partaker ; as, copartners o£ nvx
loss. Milton
COPARTNERSHIP, n. Joint concern ii
business; a state of having a joint shan
in a common stock, or a joint interest and
concern in business, particularly in trade
and manufactures.
3. The persons who have a joint
CO'PATAN, n. [See Cop.] High raised
pointed. [jVb< in use.] Shak
COPE, n. [W. cob; Sax. cceppe ; D. kap ,
Dan. kappe, kaabe ; Svi. kajjpa or kapa.
Fr. chape, whence chapeau, a hat ; Sp.
capa; It. cappa ; Port, capa.]
A cover for the head.
2. A sacerdotal ornament or vestment worn
in sacred ministrations. An ornament
worn by chanters and subchanters, when
they officiate in solemnity. It reaches
from the shoulders to the feet.
3. Any thing spread or extended over the
head ; the arch or concave of the sky ; the
roof or covering of a house ; the arch over
a door, &c.
An ancient tribute due to the king or lord
of the soil, out of the lead mines in some
part of Derbyshire. Encyc.
COPE, 11. t. To cover as with a cope.
Mdison.
i2. To pare the beak or talons of a Iiawk.
Bailey.
4. To embrace. Obs. Shak.
COPE, V. i. [Dan. kiv, contention ; kives, to
strive ; kappes, to strive, to equal, to en-
vy ; Sw. kif, strife ; kifwa, to contend or
quarrel ; kappas, to strive, to ernidate
Ar. li^a kafaa, to turn back, to drive
away, to thrust, to oppose, to equal ;
i^, kafai, to be sufficient, to be
equal, to be like, to be a substitute. Class
Gb. No. 53. 55.]
. To strive or contend on equal terms, or
with equal strength ; to equal in combat ;
to match ; to oppose with success.
Their Generals have not been able to cope
with tlie troops of Athens. Jlddison.
Till Luther rose, no power could cope with
the pope. Z». A. Clark.
He was too open and direct in his conduct.
and possessed too little management — to cope
with so cool and skilful an adversary. IVirt.
I. To contend ; to strive or struggle ; to
combat.
Host cop'd with host, dire was the din of
war. Philips.
•3. To encounter ; to interchange kindness
or sentiments. Shak.
To make return ; to reward. Obs.
Shak.
5. To exchange, or barter. [JVot in use.]
Bailey.
CO'PEMAN, n. A chapman. [JVot used.]
Shak.
COPER'NICAN, a. Pertaining to Coper-
nicus, a Prussian by birth, who taught the
world the solar system now received,
called the Copernican system.
CO'PESMATE, n. [cope and mate.] A com
lanion or friend. Obs. Hubberd.
COP'IED, pp. [See Copy.] Taken off; writ-
ten or transcribed from an original or
form ; imitated.
COP'IER, } One who copies ; one who
COP'YIST, \ "■ writes or transcribes from
an original or form ; a transcriber ; an im-
itator ; also, a plagiary.
Addison. Dryden.
CO'PING, n. [See Cope, n.] The top or
cover of a wall, made sloping to carry off"
the water. 1 Kings vii. 9. A coping over,
is a projecting work beveling on its under
side.
CO'PIOUS, a. [Fr. copieux; It. copioso ;
Sp. id. ; L. copiosus, from copia, abundance,
Ir. coih. Qu. Ch. 33J to collect, gather,
accumulate; Ar. Lxi. jabau, id. Class
Gb. No 2. 5. 55.] ' ' '
1. Abundant; plentiful; in great quantities ;
full ; ample ; furnishing full supplies.
The tender heart is peace.
And kindly pours its copious treasures forth
In various converse. Thomson.
2. Furnishmg abundant matter; not barren;
rich in supplies.
Tlie redemption of man is a copious subject
of contemplation.
Hail, Son of God, Savior of men ! thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my song.
Milton.
CO'PIOUSLY, adv. Abundantly; plenti-
fully ; in large quantities.
2. Largely ; fully ; amply ; diffusely.
The remains of antiquity have been copiously
described by travelers. Addison.
CO'PIOUSNESS, 71. Abundance; plenty:
great quantity ; fiill supply.
2. Diffusiveness of style or "manner of treat-
ing a subject; as the copiousness of Ho-
mer. Dryden.
CO'PIST, n. A copier; an ill formed 'u-ord.
COP
COP
COP
COP'LAND, n. A piece of ground termi-
nating in a cop or acute angle. [JVot used
in America.] Did.
CO-PLANT', V. t. To plant together. [JVot
in use.] Howel.
€O-P0RTION, n. Equal share. [M>t used.]
Spenser.
COP'PED, ? [See Cop.] Rising to a
COP'PLED, \ "• point, or head.
Copped like a sugar loaf. Wiseman
€OP'PEL. [See Cupel.]
eOP'PER, n. [D. koper ; G. kupfer ; Sw,
koppar ; Ir. copar ; Corn, cober ; L. cu-
prum ; Fr. cuivre ; Sp. cobre ; Port, id.;
Arm. cuevr, coevr ; supposed to be so called
from Cyprus, an isle in the Mediterranean.
This opinion is probable, as the Greeks
called it ;ta»,xos xunpioj, Cyprian brass,
brass of Cyprus. In this case, copper was
originally an adjective.]
A metal, of a pale red color, tinged with yel-
low. Next to gold, silver and platina, it is
the most ductile and malleable of the met-
als, and it is more elastic than any metal, ex-
cept steel, and the most sonorous of all the
metals. It is found native in lamins or
fibers, in a gangue almost always quart
zous ; it is also found crystulized, and ii
grains or superficial lamins on stones or
iron. It is not altered by water, but
tarnished by exposure to the air, and is at
last covered with a green carbonated
oxyd. Copper in sheets is much used for
covering the bottoms of ship.s, for boilers
and other utensils : mixed with tin and
zink, it is used in enamel-painting, dyeing,
&c. : mixed with tin, it forms bell-metal
with a smaller proportion, bronze ; and
with zink, it forms brass, pinchbeck, &c.
When taken into the body it operates as
violent emetic, and all its preparations are
violent poisons. Fourcroy. Encyc. Hooper.
COP'PER, a. Consisting of copper.
Cleaveland.
€OP'PER, n. A vessel made of copper
particularly a large boiler.
2. Formerly, a small copper coin.
My friends filled my pocket with coppers.
Franklin
€OP'PER, V. t. To cover or sheathe witl
sheets of copper ; as, to copper a ship.
€OP'PERAS, n. [Fr. couperose; D. koper-
rood, that is, red copper, and kopetroest is
copper rust, verdigris ; Arm. couperosa, or
couperos.]
Sulphate of iron, or green vitriol ; a salt of a
peculiar astringent taste, and of various
colors, green, gray, yellowish, or whitish,
but more usually green. It is much used
in dyeing black and in making ink, and in
medicine, as a tonic. The copperas of
commerce is usually made by the decom-
position of iron pyrites. The term cop-
peras was formerly synonymous with vit-
riol, and included the green, blue and white
vitriols, or the sulphates of iron, copper
and zink. Cleaveland. Fourcroy.
COPPER-BOTTOMED, a. Having a bot-
tom sheathed with copper.
€OP'PERED, pp. Covered with sheets of
copper ; sheathed.
COPPER-FASTENED, a. Fastened with
copper bolts.
COP'PERISH, a. Containing copper; like
copper or partaking of it.
COPPER-NOSE, n. A red nose. Shak.
COP'PER-PLATE, n. A plate of copper
on whicli concave lines are engraved
corroded, according to some delineated
figure or design. This plate, when char-
ged with any colored fluid, imparts an im-
pression of the figure or design to paper
or parchment. Encyc,
COP'PER-SMITH, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to manufacture copper utensils.
COP'PER- WORK, n. A place where cop
per is wrought or manufactured.
Woodward.
COP'PER-WORM, n. A httle worm in
ships ; a worm that frets garments
worm that breeds in one's hand.
Ainsworlh
COP'PER Y, a. Mixed with copper; con
taining copper, or made of copper; like
copper in taste or smell. iVoodward.
COP'PICE, / [Norm, coupiz, from cou
COPSE, \ "• per, to cut, Gr. xortt^.]
A wood of small growth, or consisthig of
underwood or brushwood ; a wood cut
at certain times for fuel.
The rate of coppice lands will fall on the dis-
covery of coal-mines. Locke
COP'PLED,a. [from cop.] Rising to a point
conical. IVoodivard.
COP'PLE-DUST, n. Powder used in puri-
fvin'' metals.
COP'PLE-STONES, n. Lumps and frag
ments of stone broke from the adjacent
chffs, rounded by being bowled and tum-
bled to and again by the action of water
Johnson. Woodward.
In New England, we pronounce th
word cobble, cobble-stones, and if the word
is a diminutive of cob, cop, a head, (
heap, we follow the Welsh cob, as the
English do the same word, cop, in the
Saxon dialect. We apply the word to
small round stones, from the size of an
inch or two, to five or six inches or more
in diameter, wherever they may be found
COPSE, n. [See Coppice.]
COPSE, V. t. To preserve underwoods.
SmiJ^.
COP'SY, a. Having copses. Dyer.
COP'TIe, a. Pertaining to the descendants
of the ancient Egyptians, called Copts, or
Cophti, as distinct from the Arabians and
other inhabitants of modern Egypt. The
name is supposed to be taken from Cop
tos, the metropohs of the Thebaid ; a:
Egypt, Atyvnto;, is probably from that
name ; Sanscrit, agupta, inclosed, fortifi-
ed. So Misraim and Mazor are from Tiy
to inclose, to bind, to fortify. Whatev
may be the origin of Copt, the adjecti
Coptic now refers to the peojile called
Copts, who are christians, and to their
language. Hence,
COP'Tle, n. The language of the Copts
[See Class Gb. No. 8. 14.]
COP'ULA, n. [L. See Copulation and Cou-
ple.] In logic, the word which unites the
subject and predicate of a proposition,
Religion is indispensable to happiness.
Here is is the copula joining religion, the
subject, with indispensable to happiness, the
predicate.
COP'ULATE, a. .Toined. [Little used.]
COP'ULATE, v.t. [L. copulo, to couple;
Sp. copular ; It. copidare ; Fr. coupler.
See Couple.]
To unite ; to join in pairs. [Little used.]
COP'ULATE, v. i. To unite in sexual em
brace ; applied to animals in general.
COPULA'TION, n. [L. copulatio.] The act
of coupling ; the cndirace of the sexes in
the act of generation ; coition.
COP'ULATIVE, a. That unites or couples.
In grammar, the copulative conjunction
connects two or more subjects or predi-
cates, in an affirmative or negative propo-
sition ; as, riches and honors are tempta-
tions to pride ; the Romans conquered
Spain and Gaul and Britain ; neither
wealth nor honors will purchase immortal
happiness.
COP'ULATIVE, n. A copulative conjunc-
tion.
2. Connection. [JVot in use.]
COP'Y, n. [Fr. copie ; Arm. copy ; It. copia ;
Sp. and Port, copia ; Ir. coib, coiheadli.
This word is from the root of cope, in
the sense of likeness, resemblance, Ar.
i:S) to be like ; or it is from doub-
ling, and the root of cuff, Ar- ^^.
Class Gb. No. 50. See Cope and Cuff.]
Literally, a likeness, or resemblance of
any kind. Hence,
1. A writing like another writing ; a trans-
script from an original ; or a book printed
according to the original ; hence, any sin-
gle book, or set of books, containing a com-
jjosition resembling the original work ; as
the copy of a deed, or of a bond ; a copy
of Addison's works ; a copy of the laws ; a
copy of the scriptures.
2. The form of a picture or statue according
to the original ; the imitation or likeness
of any figure, draught, or almost any ob-
ject.
3. An original work ; the autograph ; the
archetype. Hence, that which is to be
imitated in writing or printing. Let the
child write according to the copy. The
copy is in the hands of the printer. Hence,
a pattern or example for imitation. His
virtues are an excellent copji for imitation.
4. Abundance. [L. copia.] 6bs.
COP'Y, v. t. To write, print or engrave, ac-
cording to an original ; to form a hke
work or composition by writing, printing
or engraving; to transcribe ; often follow-
ed by out, but the use is not elegant.
The men of Hezekiah copied certain proverbs
of Solomon.
2. To paint or draw according to an origi-
nal.
3. To form according to a model, as in arch-
itecture.
4. To imitate or attempt to resemble ; to
follow an original or pattern, in manners
or couree of life. Copy the Savior in his
humility and obedience.
COP'Y, V. i. To imitate or endeavor to be
like ; to do any thing m imitation of some-
thing else. A painter copies from the
life. An obedient child copies after his
parent.
They never fail, when they copy, to follow
the bad as well as the good. Dry den.
COP'YBQQK, 71. A book in which copies
are written or printed for learners to imi-
tate.
COP'YKD, pp. Transcribed; imitated; us-
ually written copied.
COR
COP'YER, n. One who copies or
scribes ; usually written copier.
COP'YHOLD, n. In England, a tenure of
estate by copy of court roll; or a tenure
for which the tenant hath nothing to show,
except the rolls maJe by the steward of
the lord's court. Blackstone.
COPYHOLDER, n. One wlio is possess-
ed of land in copyhold.
eOP'YIST, n. A copier ; a transcriber.
€OP' YRIGHT, n. The sole right which an
author has in liis own original Uterary com-
positions ; the exclusive right of an author
to print, publish and vend his own literary
works, for his own benefit; the hke right
in the hands of an assignee.
COQUAL'LIN, u. A stnall quadruped of
the squirrel kind, but incapable of climb-
ing trees. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
€0'QUELleOT, ? [Fr.] Wild poppy
CO'QUELleO, ^"- cornrose; hence, the
color of wild poppy.
COQUET', f [Fr. coqttet, a beau, a gen
COQUETTE, I "• eral lover, a cock-boat
coquette, a jilt; from the Welsh or Celtic
coegen, a vain saucy wench, a coquet,
from coeg, vain ; Sp. coqueta ; It. civetta, an
owl ; civettare, to play the wag, to trifle, to
coquet ; civeUeria, coquetry ; civettino, t
vain young fellow.]
A vain, airy, trifling girl, who endeavors tc
attract admiration and advances in love
from a desire to gratify vanity, and then
rejects her lover ; a jilt.
The light coquettes in sylphs aloft repair,
And sport and flutter in the fields of air.
Pope
Note. In French, coquet is masculine and
coquette feminine : but as our language has
such termination for gender, it may be better to
write coquet (ov both sexes, and for distinction
prefix male to the word when applied to a man.
COQUET', V. t. To attempt to attract no-
tice, admiration or love, from vanity ; to
entertain with compliments and amorous
tattle; to treat with an appearance of am-
orous tenderness.
You are coquetting a maid of honor. Swift.
COQUET', V. {. To trifle in love ; to act the
lover from vanity ; to endeavor to gaii
admirers.
COQUET'ISH, a. Practicing coquetry.
CO'QUETRY, n. [Fr. coquetterie.] Attempt:
to attract admiration, notice or love, from
vanity ; affectation of amorous advances ;
trifling in love. Addison.
COR'ACLE, n. [W. cxm-ivgle.] A boat used
in Wales by fishermen, made by covering
a wicker fi-ame with leather or oil-clotli
Johnson.
COR'ACOID, n. [Gr. xopol, a crow, and
!i8o5, form.]
A small sharp process of the scapida, shaped
like a crow's beak. Hooper.
COR'ACOID, a. Shaped like a beak.
BucJdand.
COR'AL, »i. [L. corallium ; Gr. xofaVkiov;
Fr. corail, or coral ; It. corallo ; Sp. coral
D. koraal ; G. koralle ; Dan. koral.]
1. In zoology, a genus belonging to the order
of vermes zooi>hyta. The trunk is radi-
cated, jointed and calcarious. The spe-
cies are distinguished by the form of their
branches, and are found in tlje ocean ad-
hering to stones, liones, shells, Arc. Co-
C O R
ral was formerly supposed to be a vegeta
ble substance, but is now known to be
composed of a congeries of animals. Co
ral is red, white and black. It is properly
the shells of marine animals of the polype
kind, consisting of calcarious earth com-
bined with gelatine and other animal mat-
ter. In the South Sea, tlie isles are most-
ly coral rocks covered with earth.
Encyc. J^icholson
Corals seem to consist of carbonate of|
lime and animal matter, in equal projjor
tions. Ure.
2. A piece of coral worn by children about
their necks.
COR'AL, a. Made of coral ; resemblinj
A genus of plants, Ery-
thrina, of several species, natives of Afri
ca and America. They are all shrubby
flowering plants, adorned chiefly with tri-
foliate or three-lohed leaves, and scarlet
spikes of papilionaceous flowers.
COR'AL- WORT, n. A genus of plants. Den-
taria, called also tooth-wort or tooth-violet
Fam. of Plants.
oral.
Like coral, or par-
CORALLA'CEOUS
taking of its qualiti
COR'ALLIFORM, n. [coral and form.] Re
sembling coral ; forked and crooked.
Kirwan.
COR'ALLINE, a. Consisting of coral ; hke
coral ; containing coral.
COR'ALLINE, n. A submarine plant-like
body, consisting of many slender, jointed
branches, resembling some species of
moss ; or animals growing in the form of
plants, having their stems fixed to other
bodies. These stems are composed of ca
pillary tubes, which pass through a calca
rions crust and open on the surface. In
the Linnean system, corallines are class
ed with the zoophytes. They have been
distributed by Ellis into vesiculated, fur
nished with small bodies like bladders ;
tubular, composed of simple tubes; cellife-
rous, which, when magnified, appear to he
fine thin cells, the habitations of small an-
imals ; and arlicidated, consisting of short
pieces of stony or cretaceous brittle mat-
ter, covered with pores or cells, joined by
a tough, membranous, flexible substance,
composed of many small tubes. But in
this arrangement of Ellis, the term coral-
line is synonymous with the more ancient
term lithophyta, including all the polype-
bearing animals, and nearly coincicling
with the zoophyta of Linne, and the poly-
piers of the French naturalists.
Encyc. Cyc.
COR'ALLINITE, n. A fossil polypier or
coralline. Did. Mtt. Histi
COR'ALLITE, n. A mineral substance or
petrifaction, in the form of coral ; or a fos-
sil polypier, larger than a coralhnite.
Kirwan. Did. jYat. Hist
COR'ALLOID, I [coral, and £1605,
CORALLOID'AL, ^ "■ form,;
Having the form of coral ; branching like
coral. Diet. Mit. Hist
COR'ALLOID, ?i. Eschara or hornwrack.
a species of coralline, resembling woven
cloth jn texture, consisting of arrange-
ments of very small cells. One species i
called narrow-leaved hornwrack ; anotli
er, the broad-leaved hornwrack. This
COR
name is given also to the keratophyta,
horn-plant, or sea-shrub, a species of Gor-
goma. Enciic,
CORANT', n. [Fr. courant, running ; courir.
to run, L. curro.]
A lofty sprightly dance. Johnson. Temple.
CORB, n. [L. corbis. See the next word.]
1. A basket used in coaleries.
a. An ornament in a building. Spenser
CORB' AN, n. [h. corbis; D. korf; G. korh :
Sw. korg ; Dan. kurv ; Fr. corbeiUe ; Eth.
Tl4n karbo, a wicker absket ; Rusa.kor-
han, a chuch box or chest, a treasmy.
But in Ethiopic, korban is an oblation,
that which is offered to God, a gilt, a
sacrifice, coinciding with the Heb. pnp,
from a^p to ajiproacb, to cause to ap-
proach, to bring or offer.]
L In Jeieish antiquity, an offering which had
life ; an animal offered to God ; in opposi-
tion to the mincha, which was an offerin"
without hfe. "
It is a gift, cnrban, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profiled by me ; that is, I have de-
voted that to God which you ask of me, and it is
no longer mine to give. Encyc.
2. An alms-basket ; a vessel to receive gifts
of charity ; a gift ; an alms ; a treasury of
the church, where offerings are deposited.
Calmd.
3. Among Mohammedans, a ceremony per-
formed at the foot of mount Arrarat in
Arabia, near 3Iecca. It consists in killing
a number of sheep, and distributing them
amotig the poor. Encyc.
CORBE, a. [Fr. rourbe.] Crooked. [J^ot
in use.] Spenser.
CORB'EIL, n. [Fr. corbeille ; It. corbello.
See Corban.]
In forliflcalion, a little basket, to be filled with
earth, and set upon a parapet, to shelter
men from the fire of besiegers. Johnson.
CORB'EL, n. [See the preceding words.]
1. In architecture, the representation of a
basket, sometimes set on the heads of ca-
ryatides.
3. The vase or tambour of the Corinthian
column ; so called from its resemblance to
a basket. Encyc.
CORB'EL, n. A short piece of timber in a
wall, jutting six or eight inches, as occa-
sion requires, in the manner of a shoulder-
piece ; sometimes placed for strength un-
der the semigirder of a platform. The
under part is sometimes cut into the form
of a houltin ; sometimes of an ogee, or of
a face, &c. Encyc. Johnson.
2. A niche or hollow left in walls for ima-
ges, figures or statues. Chambers.
eOR'BY, n. A raven. [Mt in use.]
CORCELET, I [Fr.corsekt,from
CORSELET, I"- "»"'''■ corps, L. corpus,
body.] .
In natural history, that jDart of winged in-
sects, which answers to the breast of oth-
er animals. Encyc.
CORC'ULE, } ^ [L. corcuhm, hut in a dif-
CORC'LE. ^ ■ ferent sense. It is a dimi-
nutive from cor, the heart.]
In botany, the heart of the seed, or rudiment
of a future plant, attached to and involved
in the cotyledons. It consists of the
plume or ascending part, and the rostel, or
radicle, the simple descending part.
Martyn.
COR
COR
COR
CORD, n. [W. cwd; Fr. corde; It. corda;
Sp. cuerda ; D. koord ; L. chorda ; Gr
a;op&i7. Accorilin},' to the Welsh, this word
signifies a twist, from cor, tlie root of cAo-
1. A string, or small rope, composeil of sev-
eral strands twisted together. Rahali
let down the spies by a cerd tlirough the
window. Josh. ii.
2. A quantity of wood, or other material,
originally measured with a cord or line.
The cord is a pile roiitaining 128 cubic
feet ; or a jtile eight feet long, four feet
high, and four feet broad.
3. In scripture, the cords of the wicked are
the snares with wliich they catch the un-
wary. I's. exxix.
The cords of sin are bad habits, or the con-
sequences of sin. Prov. v.
The cords of a man are the fair, gentle or
natural means of alluring men to obedi-
ence. Hos. xi.
The cords ofvaniti) are worldly vanities and
pleasures, profit or prcfcrmont ; or vain
and deceitful arguments and pretenses,
which draw men to sin. Is. v.
To stretch a line or cord about a city, is to lev-
el it, or utterly to destroy it. Lam. ii.
The cords of a tent denote stability. To
loosen or break the cords, is to weaken oi
destroy ; to lengthen the cords, is to en
large." Job XXX. I.s. liv. Jer. x.
CORD, I', t. To bind with a cord or rope
to fasten with cords.
2. To pile wood or other material for mcas
uremeiit and sale by the cord.
CORD'MAKER, ?i. One whose occupation
is to make ropes ; but in America, called
rope-mak€r.
CORD' WOOD, n. Wood cut and piled for
sale by the cord, in distinction from long
wood ; properly, wood cut to the length of
four feet ; but in this respect, the practice
is not uniform. In Scotland, cord-wood is
wood conveyed to market on board of|
vessels, in opposition to that which is
floated. Encyc,
CORD'AtiE, n. [Sp. cordage; Fr. id.; from
cord.]
All sorts of cords or ropes, used in the
iiing rigging of a ship, or kept in rcservej
to supply the place of that which may be
rendered unserviceable. In a more gene-
ral sense, the word includes all ropes and
lines used on board of ships.
CORD'ATE, ) [L. eorrfataj, with a dif-
CORD'ATED, S ftrent signification,
from cor, the heart.]
Having the form of a heart ; heart-shaped ;
a term used by naturalists ; as a cordate
leaf in botany, resembhng the longitiuiiiialjjCORDUROV
section of the heart. Hence, cordate-
iMong, heart-shaped lengthened ; cordate
lanceolate, heart-shaped, gi-adually tajjer-
with cords, or made of two pieces o:
wood. Encyc
CORDELIER, n. [Fr. from corde, a girdle
or cord worn by the order.]
A Franciscan friar; one of the order of reli
gious founded by St. Francis ; a gray fr
ar. The cordeliers wear a thick gray
cloth, a little cowl, a chaperon, and a
cloke, with a girdle of rope or cord, tied
with three knots. Encyc
CORDIAL, a. [Fr. and Sp. cordial ; It. cor-
diale ; from L. cor, the heart.]
1. Proceeding from the heart; hearty;
cere ; not hypocritical ; warm ; aflection
ate.
Whh looks of cordial love. .Milton.
V»'e (jive our fiiends a cordial reception.
2. Reviving the sjiirits ; cheering ; invigora
ting ; giving strength or spirits ; as cordial
waters. Wist
CORD'IAL, n. In medicine, that whicl
deuly excites the system, and iucrciscs
the action of the heart or circulatic
languid ; any medicine which increases
strength, raises the spirit.s, and gives life
and cheerfulness to a person when weal
and depressed.
2. Any thing that comforts, gladdens and ex
hilarates ; as, good news is a cordial to the
mind.
CORDIALITY, n. Relation to the heart
Vo< used.] Broum
2. "Sincerity ; freedom from hypocrisy ; sin
cere affection and kindness.
Our friends were received with cordiality.
CORD lALLY, adv. Heartily ; sincerely
without hypocrisy; with real affection.
The christian cordially receives the doctrine
of grace.
CORD'IERITE, n. The mineral called oth
iolite and dichroite.
CORD'IFORM, a. [L. cor, the heart, and
forma, form.]
Heart-shaped ; having the form of the hu
heart.
CORD'L\ER, 71. [J^'ot used. See Cord
loainer.]
CORDON, n. [Fr. Sp. cordon ; It. cordone
Port, cordam. See Cord.]
. In fortification, a row of stones jutting
before the rampart, and tlie basis of the
parapet ; or a row of stones between the
wall of a fortress which lies aslope, and
the parapet which is perpendicular; serv
ing ;is an ornament, and used only in for
tifications of stone-work.
Johnson. Encyc.
: In military language, a line or series of
milirarv posts; as a cordon of troops.
CORD'OVAN. n. Spanish leather.
V thick cotton stuft'ribbed
"a lance; cordate-sagittate, heart-shaped,!
but resembling the head of an arrow.
Martyn.l
CORD'ATELY, adv. In a cordate form. I
CORD'ED, pp. Bound or fastened with!
cords. )
2. Piled in a form for measurement by thej
cord.
3. Made of cords ; furnished with cords.
Shak.l
4. In heraldry, a cross corded ii! one wound
Vol. I.
eORD'WAl.N, II. [Sp. cordohan; Port
Fr. curdouan ; fr
Cordova, or
dovam
Cordoba, in Spain.]
Spanish leather; goat-skin tanned and dress-
ed. Spenser. Sp. Did.
CORD'WAINER, n. [from cordtcain.] A
shoemaker. This word was formerly
written cordiners. It is evidently from the
French cordouan, cordouannier ; properly
a worker in cord wain, or cordovan leather.
CORE, >i. [Fr. cffiur; Norm, core; Sp. cora-
zon ; Port, coracatn ; It. cuore : from L.
cor, the heart, "Gr. xtop. See Class Gr.]
1. The heart or inner part of a thing ; par-
ticularly, the central part offruit, contain-
49
ing the kernels or seeds ; as the core of an
ai)ple or quince. It was formerly applied
to place ; as, in the core of a square.
Raleigh.
2. The itnicr part of an ulcer or boil.
Dryden.
•i. A body. Fr. corps. [JVot used.] Bacon.
4. A disorder of .sheep, occasioned by worms
in the liver. Chambers.
CORED,'/. In the herrijig fishery, rolled
in salt and prepared for drying. .^s/i.
CO-RE (iENT, ji. A joint regent orruler.
ffraxall.
CORIA'CEOUS, a. [L. coriaceus, from cori-
um, leather.]
1. Consisting of leather, or resembling leath-
er ; tough ; as coriaceous concretions.
.^rbuthnot.
2. In botany, stiff, hke leather or parchment :
applied to a leaf, a calyx or capsule.
Martyn.
COJUAN'DER, n. [L. coriandrum ; Gr.
xopior, xofuivov.]
A genus of plants of two species. The seeds
of one species, the sativum, have a strong
smell, and in medicine are considered as
stomachic and carminative.
( f)|{l.\ DON, n. [See Corundmn.]
COR IiNTll, «. A city of Greece. Hence,
"i. A ^^mall fruit, now called currant, which
see. Philips. Broome.
CORINTH lAC, a. Pertaining to Corinth.
D'^ni-ille.
CORINTH'IAN, a. Pertaining to Corinth,
a celebrated city of Greece ; as Corinthian
column ; Corinthian order ; Corinthian
brass. The Corinthian order, in architec-
ture, is the most delicate of all the orders,
and enriched with a profiision of oma-
ments. The capital is usually adorned
with olive leaves or acanthus. Encyc.
CO-RI'VAL, n. [con and nVa/ ; written im-
properly corrival.]
A rival, or fellow rival ; a competitor.
Sliak.
CORI'VAL, V. I. To rival ; to pretend to
equal. Sliak.
CORK, n. [D. kurk; G. kork; Sw.korck;
Dan. kork ; Sp. corcho ; Russ. korka ; Fr.
ecorce ; L. cortex, bai'k, rind, shell, crust.]
1. A glandiferous tree, a species of Quercus,
growing in Spain and Portugal, having a
thick, rough, fungous, cleft bark.
2. The outer hark of the tree, or epidermis,
of which stopples for bottles and casks
ai-e made. This outer bark is taken off,
and a new epidermis is formed, which, in
six or seven years, becomes fit for use.
This bark is also burnt to make a kind of
light black, called Spanisli black.
3. A stopple for a bottle or cask, cut out of
cork.
CORK, r. t. To stop bottles or casks with
corks ; to confine or make fast with a
cork.
CORK'ING-PIN, n. A pin of a large size.
Swifl.
CORK'-SCREW, n. A screw to draw corks
from bottles.
CORK'Y, a. Consisting of cork ; resembling
cork: made of cork; tough.
CORMORANT, «. [Fr. cormoran; Sp. cor-
vrjon. Cormorant is supposed to be cor-
ru|)tcd from cormis marinas, sea raven.
The Welsh also call the fowl morvran,
sea crow.]
COR
COR
1. The water raven, a large fowl of the pel-| CORN'€RAKE, n. The crake or land rail ;
lean kind : the head and neck are black ;
the coverts of the wings, the scapulars and
the back are of a deep green, edged with
black and glossed with blue. The base of
the lower inaudible is covered with a na-
ked yellow skin, which extends under the
chin and forms a sort of pouch. This
fowl occupies the chfTs by the sea,
on tish, and is extremely voracious.
Enajc.
2. A glutton.
CORN, n. [Sax. com ; D. kown ; G. kom ;
Dan. Sw. kom. Not improbably this word
is the L. granum. Such transpositions
are not uncommon. The word signifies
not only the hard seeds of certain plants,
but hail and shot, L. grando, Ir. gran,
grain, hail, shot. Johnson quotes an old
Runic rhyme.
llagui er kaldastur korna.
Hail is the coldest com. See Grain.]
1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat,
rye, barley and maiz; a grain. In this
sense, it has a plural ; as, three barley
corns make an inch. It is generally ap-
plied to edible seeds, which, when ripe,
are hard.
2. The seeds of certain plants in general, in
bulk or quantity ; as, com is dear or scarce.
In this sense, the word comprehends all
the kinds of grain which constitute the
food of men and horses. In Great Britain,
corn is generally ap])lied to wheat, rye,
oats and barley. In the United States, it
has the same general sense, but by cus-
tom, it is appropriated to maiz. We are
accustomed to say, the crop of wheat is
good, but the corn is bad ; it is a good
year for wheat and rye, but bad for corn.
In this sense, com has no plural.
3. The plants which produce corn, when
growuig in the field; the stalks and ears,
or the stalks, ears and seeds, after i-eaping
and before thrashing. We say, a field of
corn, a sheaf or a shock of corn, a load of
corn. The plants or stalks are included in
the term corn, until the seed is separated
from the ears.
4. In sitrgtry, a hard excrescence, or indu-
ration of tlie skin, on the toes or some
part of the feet, occasioned by the pres-
sure of the shoes ; so called from its hard-
ness and resemblance to a corn.
5. A small hard particle. [See Grain.]
CORN, V. t. To preserve and season with
salt in grains ; to sprinkle Avith salt ; as.
to com beef
2. To granulate ; to form into small grains.
CORN-BIND,?!. Climbing buck-wheat. [Lo-
cal.] Grose.
eORN'BLADE, n. The leaf of the maiz.
Cornblades are collected and preserved
as fodder, in some of the southern states
of America.
CORN'-CHANDLER, n. [Chandler, a deal-
er in candles, is supposed to be from the
French chandelier ; but what has this
word to do with corn and ship, in cor
chandler and ship-chandler"^ In these won
chandler seems to be a corruption of tlie
Teutonic handler, a trader ; Sw. homhand-
tare, a corn-dealer; Dan. handler; G.id.;
D. handelaar.] A dealer in corn
GORN'CLAD, a. Covered with growing
corn. Barlmi.
the corn-crow, for kr&ka, in Sw., and kra
ge, in Dan., is our word crow, and the name
is probably taken from its cry. The Dutch
kraai, a crow, is contracted from kraug,
and kraaijen is to crow, to vaunt, to tell
tales ; G. krahe, kriihen.
CORN'-CUTTER, n. [_com and cut.] One
who cuts corns, or indurations of the skin.
CORNFIELD, n. A field where corn is
growing.
ORN'FLAG, re. A genus of plants, the
Gladiolus, of several species, bearing red
or white flowers.
CORN FLOOR, n. A floor for corn, or for
thrashing corn. Is. xxi. Hos. ix.
CORNFLOWER, ?i. A flower or plant
growing among corn ; as the blue-bottle,
wild poppy, &c. Bacon.
CORN'HEAP, n. A heap of corn. Hall.
CORN'LAND, n. Land appropriated or suit-
able to the production of corn, or grain.
CORN'LOFT, ?!. An apartment for corn; a
granary. Sherwood.
CORN-MARYGOLD, n. A genus of i)lants,
the Chrysanthemum.
CORN'MASTER, n. One who cultivates
corn for sale. [Ab< rised.] Bacon.
CORN'METER,n. One who measures corn.
CORN'MILL, n. A mill for grinding corn,
generally called a grist-mill.
eORN'-PARSLEY, n. A genus of plants,
the Sison.
CORN'PIPE, n. A pipe made by slitting the
joint of a green stalk of corn. Johnson.
CORN'-ROCKET,7i. A genus of plants, the
Bunias.
CORN'ROSE, n. A species of poppy, or
Papaver.
CORN'-SALLAD, n. A plant, a species of
Valeriana, whose top leaves are said to be
a good sallad.
CORN'STALK, re. A stalk of corn, particu-
larly a stalk of the maiz. America.
CORN'-VIOLET, n. A species of Campanu-
la. Tate.
CORN'AGE, 11. [from Fr. come, L. cornu, a
horn.}
An ancient tenure of lands, which obliged
the tenant to give notice of an invasion by
blowing a horn. Blackstone.
CORN'EA, re. [from L. cornu, a horn.] The
transparent membrane in the fore-part of
the eye, through which the rays of hght
pass; situated in the sclerotica, and con-
sidered by some as a portion of it.
CORN'EL, } [L. cormis, from
CORN'EL-TREE, } re. cornu, a horn, or
CORNE'LIAN-TREE, ) its root, from
the hardness of the wood ; Sp. corno ; It.
corniolo ; Fr. comouiller.]
The cornelian cherry or dog-wood, a ge-
nus of plants of several species. Tl)e mas-
cula, or cornehan cherry tree, has a stem
of twenty feet high, branching and Ibrm-
ing a large head, garnished with oblong
leaves and small umbels of yellowii '
green flowers, succeeded by small, red,
acid, eatable, cherrv-like fruit. Encyc.
CORNELIAN. [See Carnelian.]
CORNEMUSE, ) [rr.cornemuse; come,
CORN'AMUTE, S "• a horn, and muse ; It.
comamusa.]
A kind of rustic flute. Drayton.
CORN'EuUS, a. [L. corneua, Worn cornu, a
horn. Sec Horn.]
COR
iHorny ; like horn ; consisting of a homy sub-
stance, or substance resembling horn ;
hard. Brown.
CORN'ER, re. [W. corntl, from com, a j.oint
or projection, a horn ; Corn, komal ; Arm.
corn ; Ir. ceama ; Sw. horn. See Horn
and Grain. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar. ]-0
karan, to shoot. '
1. The point where two converging lines
meet ; properly, the external point ; an
angle ; as, we meet at the comer of the
state-house, or at the comer of two streets.
2. The interior point where two Unes meet ;
an angle.
3. The space between two converging hues
or walls which meet in a point. Hence,
4. An inclosed place ; a secret or retired
place.
This thing was not done in a comer. Acta
xxvi.
5. Indefinitely any part ; a part. They
searched every comer of the forest.
They exjilored all comers of the coun-
try.
t). The end, extremity or limit ; as the cor-
ner* of the head or beard. Lev. xxi. xix.
Comer-teeth of a horse, the foreteeth between
the middling teeth and the tushes, two
above and two below, on each side of the
jaw, which shoot when the horse is four
years and a half old. Farrier's Diet.
eORN'ERED, a. Having corners ; having
three or more angles.
CORN'ER-STONE, re. The stone which
lies at the corner of two walls, and unites
them ; the principal stone, and especially
the stone which forms the corner of the
foundation of an edifice.
Who laid the corner-stone thereof? Job
xxxviii.
Christ Iiimself being the chief comer -sione.
Eph. ii.
CORN'ER-WISE, adv. Diagonally ; with
the corner in front ; not parallel.
eORN'ET, re. [Fr. cornet, cornette; It. cor-
netta, cometto ; Sp. comela ; from L. cornu,
a horn. See Horn.]
1. An instrument of music, in the nature of
a trumpet, sounded by blowing with the
mouth. It was of a winding shape like a
liorn ; used in armies and on occasions of
joy-
David played before the Lord on comets. 2
Sam. vi.
2. In modern usage, an officer of cavalry,
who bears the ensign or colors of a troop.
He is the third officer in the company.
Encyc.
3. A company of cavalry ; a troop of horse.
[JVot used.] Clarendo7i. Bacon.
4. The cornet of a horse [coronet] is the
lowest part of his pastern, that runs roimd
the coffin and is distinguished by the hair
that joins and covei-s the upper part of the
hoof. Farrier's Did.
5. A little cap of jiaper in which retailers
inclose small wares.
6. A scarf anciently worn by doctors.
Did.
7. A head dress. Diet.
CORN'ETCY, n. The commission or rank
of a cornet. Chesterfield. Stephens.
CORN'ETTER, ? One who blows a cor-
CORN'ETER, $ "• net. HakeuiU.
COR'NICE, n. [It. cornice; Fr. corniche ;
Sp. cornisa; from L. coronis, Gi: xopun-
j:ofiu>')j, a sunmiit, a crouni.l
COR
COR
COR
1. In nrchitecture, the uppermost meinlier of
the entablature of a column, or the high-
est projecture ; that which crowns an or-
der. Johnson. Encyc.
2. A little projecture in joinery or masonry ;
as the cornice of a chinmey. Encyc.
Cornice-ring of a cannon, is the ring next
from the muzzle-ring backward. Encr/c.
CORN'l€LE, Ji, [L. corniculum, from cor-
nu, a horn.] A little horn. Brown.
CORNIC'ULATI-^ a. [from L. cornu,
horn.]
1. Horned ; having horns. More.
2. In botany, producing horned pods ; bear-
ing a little spur or horn. Chambers.
eORNlG'EROUS, a. [L.comtger; cornu, a
horn, and gero, to bear.]
Horned ; having horns ; as comigerovs ani-
mals. Brown.
€ORN'ING-HOUSE, n. A house or place
where powder is graniduted.
€ORN'ISH, a. Pertaining to Cornwall, in
England ; and as a noun, the language
of Cornwall.
•CORN'IST, n. A performer on the cornet
or horn.
eORN'LESS, a. Destitute of corn;
camkss dwelling places.
Tooke's Russia.
€ORNU€0'PIA, )!. [L. cornu, a horn, and
copia, plenty.]
1. The horn of plenty, an emblem of abun-
dance of fruits.
2. In architecture and sculpture, the figure of
a horn, from which fruits and flowers are
represented as jiroceeding.
CORNU'TE, V. t. [L. comutus, from cornu,
a horn.] To bestow horns; to cuckold.
Burton.
tORNU'TED, pp. or a. Grafted with horns ;
horned ; cuckolded.
'>. In botany, horn-shaped.
COllNU'TO, n. [It.] A man that wears
the horns; a cuckold.
COKNU'TOR, 71. A cuckold-maker.
Jordan.
iORN'Y, a. [L. cornu, a horn.] Horny ;
strong, stiff or hard like horn ; resembling
iKirn. Milton.
VORN'Y, a. [from corn.] Producing corn
containing corn. Prior. Dryden
COR'ODY, ) [It. con-crfo, provision ; cor
COR' ROD Y, \ "■ redare, to furnish.] An
allowance of meat, drink or clothing, due
to the king from au abbey or other reli-
gious house, for the sustenance of sucli
one of his servants, as he thinks good tci
bestow on it. An allowance for the main-
tenance of any of the king's servants liv-
ing in an abbey. Cowel.
Corodies are a right of sustenance, or to re-
ceive certain allotnrOnts of victuals and
provision for one's maintenance. In lieu
of which, a pension or sum of money is
sometimes substituted. Blachstone.
Tiic king is entitled to a corody out of ever)'
liisliopric, that is, to send one of his chap-
lains to be maintained by the bishop, or
lo have a pension allowed, till the bishop
jirninotes him to a benefice. [This has
fiillen into disuse.] Blachstone
Aiionling to the Italian, the latter word is
orrect orthography.
corolla, a little crown.]
botany, the inner gov-
The corol surrounds
Tiie correci urinogri
COIJ OL, l„ [L.
rOKOL'L.\,] "• In
oiing of a flower.
the parts of fructification, and is composed
of one or more flower leaves, called petals.
It is distinguished from the perianth, by
the fineness of its texture and the gayness
of its colors ; but there are many excep-
tions. It is sometimes inaccurately called
blossom and Jloiver.
Marlyn. Encyc. Darwin.
COROLLA'CEOUS, a. Pertaining to a co-
rol ; inclosing and protecting like a wreath.
A corrollaceous coveriug. Lee
COR'OLLARY, n. [L. coroUarium, a coro-
net, from corolla, a crown. Finis coronal
opus. Johnson. Fr. corollaire.]
1. A conclusion or consequence drawn from
premises, or from what is advanced or de-
monstrated. If it is demonstrated that a
triangle which has equal sides, has also'
equal angles, it follows as a corollary thav
a triangle which has three equal side.s, has
its three angles equal. Encyc.
A corollary is an inference from a preceding
proposition. J. Day.
2. A surplus. Shak.
eOR'OLLET, ) One of the partial flow-
COR'OLLULE, \ ""ers which make a com-
jwund one ; the floret in an aggregate
flower. Marlyn. Encyc.
CORO'NA, n. [L. a crown.] In architec-
ture, a large flat member of a cornice,
crowning the entablature, and the whole
order ; called by workmen the drip.
Chambers.
2. In ana^onii/, the upper surface of the mo-
lar teeth or grinders.
3. In botany, the circumference or margin
of a radiated compound flower. Encyc.
Also, the appendage to the top of seeds,
which enables them to disperse. Martyn.
4. In optics, a halo or luminous circle around
the sun, moon or stars. Encyc.
COR'ONAL, a. Belonging to the crown or
to]> of the head ; as the coronal suture.
€OR'ONAL, n. A crown ; wreath ; gar-
land. Spenser.
2. The first suture of the skull. Encyc.
€OR'ONARY, a. Relating to a crown ;
seated on the top of the head ; or placed
as a crown. Brown.
Coronary vesseh, in anatomy, certain vessels
which furnish the substance of the heart
with blood. Encyc.
Coronary arteries, two arteries which spring
from the aorta, before it leaves the peri-
cardium, and supply the substance of the
heart with blood. Coxe. Encyc.
Coronary vein, a vein diffused over the exte-
rior surface of the heart, receiving the
blood from the heart. Coxe. Enci/c.
Stomachic coronary, a vein inserted into the
trunk of the splenic vein, which, by uni-
ting with the mesenteric, forms the vena
porta. Encyc.
CORONA'TION, n. [from corona, a crown.]
The act or solemnity of crowning a king
or emi>eror ; the act of investing a prince
with (he insignia of royalty, on his suc-
ceeding to the sovereignty.
2. The pomp or assembly attending a coro-
nation. Pope.
Coronation-oath, the oath taken by a king at
his coronation.
€OR'ONEL, 71. kur'nel. [Sp. coronet ; Port.
id. ; Fr. colonel ; It. colonnetlo. We follow
the Sp. and Port, orthography in our pro-
nunciation.]
The oflicer who commands a regiment. Obs.
Spenser.
COR'ONER, 71. [Law Lat. corortalor, from
corona, a crown.]
An officer whose office is concerned princi-
pally with pleas of the crown. One chief
I)art of his duty is, when a person is slain
or dies suddenly or in prison, to inquire
into the manner of his death. This must
be done by a jurj-, on sight of the body,
and at the place wlierc the death happen-
ed. In England, the coroner is to inquire
also concerning .shipwrecks, and certify
whether wrecks or not, and who is in pos-
session of the goods; also concerning
treasure-trove. As a ministerial oflicer,
the coroner is the sheriff's substitute ; and
when an exception can be taken to the
sheriff, for suspicion of partiality, process
is awarded to the coroner. Blackstone.
In some of the States, in America, there is a
coroner, but his principal or only duty is
to inquire into the causes of untimely
death. In Connecticut there is no such
officer, the duty being performed by a con-
1 stable or justice of the peace.
CORONi^T, n. [from corona, a crown.]
An inferior crown worn by noblemen.
The coronet of a duke is adorned with
strawberry leaves ; that of a marquis has
leaves with pearls interposed; that of an
eurl raises the pearls above the leaves ;
that of a viscount is surrounded with
pearls only ; that of a baron has only four
pearls. Johnson.
2. In poetical language, an ornamental head
dress.
Coronet of a horse. [See Cornel.]
COR'ONIFORM, o "
and forma, form.]
crown.
COR'ONOID,
fi6o5, form.]
Noting the upper and anterior process of the
end of the lower jaw, called the coronoid
process. Coxe.
€OR'ONULE, 71. [from corona, a crown.]
A coronet or little crown of a seed ; the
downy tuft on seeds. Martyn.
eORTORAL, 71. [It. caporale ; Fr. caporal ;
Sp. cavoral ; from L. caput, head, or more
directly from the Celtic root of caput, Sp.
cabo. It. capo, Eng. cape. Our orthography
is a corruption.]
1. The lowest officer of a company of infan-
try, next below a sergeant. He has charge
over one of the divisions, places and re-
lieves sentinels, &c.
2. The corporal of a ship of war, is an officer
imder the master at arms, employed to
teach the sailors the use of small arms; to
attend at the gangways or entering jKirt^,
and see that no spirituous liquors are
brought, except by permission ; to extin-
"Tuish fire and candles, &c.
COR'PORAL, a. [L. corporalis, from corpus,
body.]
1. Belonging or relating to the body ; as cor-
pora/ pain, opposed to mental.
2. Material ; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]
Shak.
CORPORAL, / A fine linen cloth, used
€OR PORALE, S to cover the sacred el-
ements in the eucharist, or in which the
sacrament is put. Paley. Todd.
Corporal oath, a soleijin oath, so called from
. [L. corona, a crown,
Havhig the form of a
[Gr. xopwi';;, a crow, and
COR
COR
COR
the ancient usage of touching the corpo-
rale, or clolli that covered the consecrated
elements. Palty.
•CORPORAL'ITY, n. The state of being a
body or embodied ; opposed to spirituality.
If this light hath any coiporality, it is most
subtile and pure. Raleigh.
COR'POllALLY, adv. Bodily ; iu or with
the body ; as, to be corporally present.
COR'PORALSHIP, n. [from corporal.] A
corporal's connnand in a Russian com-
pany, or a division of tv>'enty-three men.
Each squadron consists of two companies,
and each of these, of three corporalships or six-
ty nine men who come m the front. Tooke.
COR'PORAS, n. The old name of tlie cor-
poral or communion cloth.
COR'PORATE, a. [L. coiporatus, from cor-
poror, to be shaped into a body, from cor-
pus, body.]
1. United in a body, or community, as a
number of individuals, who are empower-
ed to transact business as an individual ;
formed into a body ; as a corporiUe. asseni-
bly, or society ; a coiporale town. Swijl.
2. United ; general ; collectively one.
They answer in a corporate voice. Shak.
€OR'PORATENESS, n. The state of a
corporate body. Dirl.
CORPORATION, n. A body politic or cor-
porate, formed and authorized by law to
act as a single person ; a society having'
the capacity of transacting business as an
individual. Corporations are aggregate or
sole. Corporations aggregate consist of
two or more persons united in a society,
which is preserved by a succession of
members, either forever, or till the corpo-
ration is dissolved by the power that for-
med it, by the death of all its members, by
surrender of its charter or franchises, oi-
by forfeiture. Such cor[)orations are the
mayor and aldermen of cities, the head
and fellows of a college, the dean and
chapter of a cathedral church, the stock-
holders of a bank or insurance company,
&c. A corporation sole consists of one
person only and liis sticres.sors, as a king
or a bishoij. Blackstone.
CORPORATOR, n. TJie member of a cor-
poration. Sergeant.
COR'PORATURE, ji. The state of being
embodied. [JVol in use.] More
CORPO'REAL, ) Having a body ; con-
CORPO'REOUS, I "-sisting of a niaterial
body ; niaterial ; opposed to .'spiritual or
immaterial : as our corporeal frame ; cor-
poreal substance
CORPO'REALIST, n. One who denies the
existence of spiritual substances.
eORPO'REALLY, adv. In body ; in a bod-
ily form or manner. Richardson.
COiaPORE'ITY, n. The state of having a
body, or of being embodied; materiality.
The one attributed cnrporeily to God.
StilUnfifteet.
CORPO'RIFY, V. I. To embody ; to form
into a body. [Not used.] - Bayk.
COR'POSANT, n. [Sp. cuerpo sanlo, holy
body.]
A name given by seamen to a luminous ap-
pearance often beheld, in dark tempestu-
ous nights, about the ilecks and rigginj!
of a ship, but particularly at the mast-
heads and yard-arms, supposed to be elec-
srieal. Mar. Diet.
CORPS, n. [Fr. from L. corpus, body. It is
pronounced kore, and is an ill word in En-
glish.]
1. "in military language, a body of troops ;
any cU vision of an army ; as a corps de re-
2. A body, in contempt, as used by Milton
and Dryden, but probably pronounced in
the English manner, as corpse.
3. A carcase ; a dead bodv. [See Corpse.]
Shak.
4. In architecture, any part that projects be-
yond a wall, serving as the ground of some
decoration. Encyc.
CORPSE, 71. corps. [L. corpus, a body ; Ir.
corp ; W. corv ; Arm. corf; It. corpo ; Sp.
cuerpo.] The dead body of a human be-
ing. Mdison.
COR'PULENCE, ? [L. corpulentia, from
COR'PULENCY, I "• corpus, body.]
J. Fleshiness; excessive fatness; a state of
being loaded with flesh ; as the body of a
human being. Arbutlmot.
2. Spissitude ; grossness of matter ; as corpx
Zence of water. [Uttle used.] Ray.
COR'PULENT, a.- Fleshy; having a great
or excessive quantity of fat or fiesh, in
jnoportion to the frame of the body; as a
corpulent child.
Corpus Chrisli. [Body of Christ.] A festival
of the church of England, kept on tl
next Tliiirsday after Trinity-Sunday, in
honor of the Eucharist. Encyc.
COR'PUSCl.E, n. [L. corpusculum, dim. of
corpus, body.]
A minute particle, or physical atom ; corpus-
cles are the very small bodies which com-
pose large bodies, not the eletnentary
principles of matter, but such small parti-
cles; simple or compound, as are not dis-
solveil or dissipated by ordinary heat.
It will add much to our satislaction, if those
corpuscles can be discovered by microscopes
JYewton
CORPUS' eULAR, a. Relating to corpus-
cles, or small particles, supposed to be the
constituent materials of all large bodies
The corpuscular philosophy attempts to
account for the phenomena of nature, by
the motion, figure, rest, position, &c., of
the mimite particles of matter. Encyc.
CORPUSeULA'RIAN, a. Corpuscidar, as
above.
CORPUSCULA'RIAN, n. An advocate for
the corpiiscular philosophy.
CORRADIA'TION, n. [L. eon and radialio.
See Ray.] A conjuuctioii of rays in one
point. Baron.
CORRECT', a. [L. correclus, from corrigo :
con and rego, to set right ; rectus, right,
straight, feee Rigid.]
Literally, set right, or made straight. Hence,
right; conformable to truth, rectitude or
jn-opriely, or conformable to a just stand-
ard ; not faulty ; free from error. A cor-
rect edition of a book is exactly according
to the original copy. Correct manners cor
respond with the rules of morality and re
ceived notions of decorum. Correct prin
ciples coincide with the truth. Con-ect
language is agreeable to established usage
CORRECT', V. t. [L. correclus, corrigo ; con
and rego. See Right.]
1. To make right ; to rectify ; to bring to the
standard of truth, justice, or propriety
to coircct manners or principles. Hen
2. To amend ; to remove or retrench &ult9
or errors ; to set right ; as, to correct a
book ; to correct a copy for the press ; or
in printing, to correct the press, or errors of
the press.
3. To bring back or attempt to bring back
to propriety in morals; to punish for
faults or deviations from moral rectitude ;
to chastise ; to discipline ; as, a child
should be corrected for lying.
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest.
Prov. xxix.
4. To obviate or remove whatever is wrong
or inconvenient ; to reduce or change the
qualities of any thing by mixture, or other
application ; to counteract whatever is in-
jurious ; as, to correct the acidity of the
stomach by alkaline preparations ; to cor-
rect the relaxing quality of water by boil-
ing it with animal substances. Jtrbuthnot.
CORRECTED, pp. Set right ; freed from
errors; amended; punished.
CORRECT'ING, ppr. Bringing to the stand-
ard of truth, justice or propriety ; amend-
ing ; chastising.
CORRECTION,?!. [I., corrertio.] The act
of correcting ; the act of bringing back,
from error or deviation, to a just standard,
as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety:
as the correction of opinions or maimers.
All scripture is protitable for correction. 2
Tim. iii.
2. Retrenchment of faults or errors; amend-
ment ; as the correction of a book, or of
the press.
3. That which is substituted in the place of
what is wrong; as the corrections of a
copy are numerous ; set the corrections in
the margin of a proof-sheet.
4. That which is intended to rectify, or to
cine faults ; punishment ; discipUne ; chas-
tisement ; that which corrects.
Withhold not correction from the child. Prov.
xxiii.
5. In scnptural language, wliatever tends to
correct the moral conduct, and bring back
from error or sin, as afflictions.
They liave refused to receive correction.
Jer. V.
My son, despise not the chastening of the
Lord, nor be weary of his correction. Prov. iii.
6. Critical notice; animadversion. Brown.
7. Abatement of noxious quahties ; the coun-
teraction of what is inconvenient or hurt-
ful in its effects ; as the correction of acidity
in the stom.nch.
House of correction, a house where disorderly
liersons are confined; a bridewell.
CORRECTIONAL, o. Tending to or in-
tended for correction. Walsh.
CORREC'TIONER, n. One that has been
in the house of correction. [.Vo< used.]
Shak.
eORRECT'IVE, a. Having the power to
correct ; having the quality of removing or
obviating what is wrong, or injm-ious ;
tending to rectify; as corrcchVe penalties.
Mulberries are pectoral, corrective of bilious
alkali. Arbuthnot.
CORRECT'IVR, n. That which has the
power of correcting ; that which has the
qnality of allcriiig or obviating what is
wrong, or injurious ; as, alkaKes are cor-
rectives of acids ; penalties are conietives
of immoral conduct.
2. Limitation ; restriction. \ZAttle used.]
COR
COR
COR
CORRECT'LY, adv. In a correct niaiiiicr
in coiilbrmity with truth, justice, rectitude
or propriety ; according to a standard
agreeable to a copy or original ; exactly ;
accurately ; without fault, or error ; as, to
behave correctly ; to write, sjieak or think
correctly ; to judge correctly.
eORRE€T'NESS, n. Conformity to truth,
justice, or propriety ; as the correctness of
opinions, of juuginent, or of manners.
2. Conformity to settled usages or rules ; as
correctness in writing or speaking.
3. Conformity to a co|)y or original ; as the
correctness of a book.
4. Conformity to established rules of taste or
proportion ; as the correctness of design in
painting, sculpture or architecture.
€ORREeT'OR, n. One who corrects ; one
who amends faults, retrenches error, and
renders conformable to truth or propriety,
or to any standard ; as a corrector of the
press ; a corrector of abuses.
■J. One who punishes for correction ; one
who amends or reforms by chastisernent,
reproof or instruction.
3. That which corrects ; that which abates
or removes what is noxious or inconveni-
ent ; an ingredient in a composition which
abates or counteracts the force of another;
as, an alkali is a corrector of acids.
Turpentine is a corrector of quicksilver.
Qiiincu
CORREG'IDOR, n. [Sp.] A Spanish ma
gistrate. Smollett
eOR'RELATE, n. [L. con and relate. See
Relate.]
One who stands in an opposite relatiou, as
father and son. South.
€0RRELA'TION, n. Reciprocal relation.
Paley.
CORREL'ATIVE, a. [L. con and relativiis.
See Relate and Relative.]
Having a reciprocal relation, so that the ex-
istence of one in a certain state depends
on the existence of another ; as father and
son, husband and wife, are correlative^
terms. The term son is correlative to that
offather.
CORREL'ATIVE, n. That which is oi)po-
sed to something else in a certain relation.
The son is the correlative of his father.
Darkness and light are correlatives. Rest is
the correlative of motion.
•eORREL'ATIVELY, adv. In a correlative
relation. 1
€ORREL'ATIVENESS, n. The state of|
being correlative. I
•eORREP'TION, Ji. [L. corripio.] Chiding;
reijroof; reprimand. Hammond.]
CORRESPOND', v.i. [It. corrispondere ;
Fr. correspondre ; Sp. corresponder ; from!
L. con and respondeo, to answer ; re and
spondeo, to promise. See Sponsor.]
1. To suit ; to answer ; to agree ; to fit ; to
be congruous ; to be adapted to. Levity
of manners docs not correspond with the
dignity of the clerical character. The
length of a room should correspond tvith the
breadth. Actions should correspond ivith
words.
2. To be equal ; to be adequate or pro}»r-
tioncd. Let the means of prosecuting a
war correspond with the magnitude of the
contest.
3. To communicate by letters sent and re-
ceived : to hold intercourse with a person
at a distance by sending and receiving let-|
ters. We delight to correspond with those
we love and respect.
CORRESPONDENCE,? Relation; fit-
CORRESPOND'ENCY I "' ness ; cougru-
ity ; mutual adaptation of one thing to
another. There is no correspondence be-
tween a ])olite education and clownish
manners.
2. Intercourse between persons at a distance,
by means of letters sent and answers re-
ceived. The ministers of the two courts
have had a correspondence on the subject of
commerce. Hence,
3. The letters which pass between corres-
pondents. The correspondence of the min-
isters is published.
4. Friendly intercourse ; reciprocal exchange
of offices or civiUties ; connection.
Let inililary persons hold good rnrrespond-
ence with the other great men in the state.
GORRESPOND'ENT,
congruous ; agreeable
Suitable ; fit ;
erablc ; adapt-
Let behavior be correspondent to pro-
fession, and both be correspondent to good
morals.
CORRESPOND'ENT, n. One who corres-
ponds ; one with w hom an intercourse is
carried on by letters or messages. When
A is the correspondent of B, B is the cor-
respondent of A.
CORRESPOND'ENTLY.adr. In a corres-
ponding manner.
CORRESPOND'ING,p;)r. Carrying on in-
tcrcoin-se by letters.
a. Answering ; agreeing ; suiting.
ORRESPON'SIVE, o. Answerable ;
adapted. Shale.
GOR'RIDOR, n. [Fr. ; Sp. corredor, from
correr, It. correre, L. citrro, to run, to flow.
The termination dor may perliaps be the
L. tor, as in curator, cursilor. Corridor sig-
nifies a runner; hence, a running, flowing,
or long line]
L \narchilritiiri',n gallery or long aisle round
a Imildiui:, hading to several chambers at
a distance from each other. Harris,
2. In fortiJiccUion, the covered way lying
round the whole compass of the fortifica-
tions of a place. Harris.
eOR'RKilBLE, a. [Fr. from L. corrlgo, to
. That may be set right, or amended ; as a
corrigible defect.
2. That may he reformed ; as, the young
man may be corrigible.
3. Punishable; that may be chastisecl fur
correction. He was adjudged corrigible
for abusive words.
CORRl'VAL, n. A fellow rival ; a compet-
itor. More correctlv co-rival, which see.
COR'RIVATE, u. «. (h. con and rivtis.] To
draw water out ot several streams into
one. [Litllc u.^ed.] Burton.
CORRIVA'TION, n. The running of diflfer-
ent streams into one. [JVot much used.]
Burton.
CORROB'ORANT, a. [See Corroborate.]
Strengthening ; having the power or qual-
ity of giving strength ; as a corroborant]
medicine. I
CORROBORANT, n. A medicine that!
strengthens the human body when weak.l
eORROB'ORATE, r. t. [L. corrobwo ; con
and robor
strength.
>, to .Ktrengtlii
Class Rb.]
robur
1. To strengthen ; to make strong, or to give
additional streiigtli to ; as, to corroborate
the nerves ; to corroborate the judgment,
authority or habits. IVaits. IVottmi.
2. To confirm ; to make more certain. The
news was doubtful, but is corroborated by
recent advices.
CORROBORATED, pp. Strengthened :
confirmed: rendered more certain.
CORROBORATING, ppr. Strengthening:
giving firmness or additional assurance.
CORROBORATION, n. The act of
strengthening, or confij-miug ; addition of
strength, assurance, or security ; confiniia-
tion ; as the corroboration of an argument,
or of intelligence.
CORROBORATIVE, a. Having the power
of giving strcnjjtli, or additional strength ;
tending to confirm.
CORROBORATIVE, n. A medicine that
strengthens; a corroborant.
CORRODE, V. t. [L. corrodo; con androdo,
to gnaw, Ar. ^^ \ aradha, to eat or
gnaw, [qu. raw and crude ;] It. corrodere,
rodcre ; Fr. corroder ; Sp. corroer ; W.
rhwliatv, to corrode, to nib or fret.]
1. To eat away by degrees ; to wear away,
or diminish, by gradually separating small
particles from a body, in the manner an
animal gnaws a substance. Thus, nitric
acid corrodes copper.
2. To wear away by degrees ; to prey upon ;
to impair ; to consume, or diminish "by slow
degrees. Jealousy and envy corrode the
constitution. Substances are corroded by
time. The anxious man is a victim to cor-
roding care.
CORRODED, pp. Eaten away gradually ;
worn, diminished, impaired, by slow de-
grees.
CORRODENT, a. Having the power of
corroiling, or wasting by degrees.
CORRO'DENT, n. Any substance or medi-
cine tliat corrodes. Coxe.
CORRODIBIL'ITV, n. Tlie quality of being
corrodible.
CORRO'DIBLE, a. That may be corroded.
Brown.
CORRODING, ppr. Eating away gradual-
ly ; impairing; wasting.
cdR'RODV. [See Corody.] But corrody ia
the iH'ist correct orthography.
{ (tl!l!<) .<II5LE, a. [See Corfodible.]
C( »l! !!( )SIHIL ITY, n. [See Con-odibaity.]
t'(»l>l!0 .-^iON, n. s as :. [from corrode.]
Tlie action of eating or wearing away by
slow degrees, as by the action of acids on
metals, by which the substance is gradu-
ally changed. This is cft'ected by the af-
finity of the menstruum with the" compo-
nent parts of the substance, in consequence
of which the two .substances unite and
fiirm new combinations.
CORRO'SIVE, a. Eating; wearing away;
having the power of gradually wearing,
consuming or impairing ; as corrosive sub-
limate : corrosive care ; a corrosive ulcer.
2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
Corrosive sublimate, the corrosive muriate
or perchloride of mercury.
CORRO'SIVE, n. That which has the
qualit)' of eating or wearing gradually.
COR
2. Tiiat which has the power of freltiiig'.
Hooker,
CORROSIVELY, adv. Like a corrosive
witli the power of corrosion ; in a corro-
sive manner.
CORRO'SIVENESS, n. The qiiahtyofcor
roding, eating away or wearing ; acri-
mony. Boyle.
COR'RUGANT, a. [See Corrugate.] H
ing the power of contracting into wi
COR'RUGATE, j'. t. [L. corrugo ; con and
rugo, to Wrinkle, in onr vulgar language
to ruck, W. rhy^u, to furrow.]
To wrinkle ; to draw or contract into folds
as, to corrugate the skin. Bacon.
COR'RUGATE, a. Wrinkled. You7ig.
€OR'RUGATED, pp. Wrinkled.
eOR'RUGATING, ppr. Contracting into
wrinkles.
€ORRUGA'TION, n. A wrinkling; con
traction into wrinkles.
€OR'RUGATOR, n. A muscle which con
tracts the skin of the forehead into wrin
kles. Coxe.
CORRUPT', V. t. [L. comiptus, from cor
rumpo ; con and rumpo, for rupo, to hreak
■ Fr. corrompre ; It. corrompert ; Sp. cor
romper. Class Rh.]
Literally, to break, separate or dissolve.
Hence,
1. To change from a sound to a putrid or
putrescent state ; to separate the compo-
nent parts of a body, as by a natural |)ro-
cess, which is accompanied by a fetid
smell.
2. To vitiate or deprave ; to change from
good to bad.
Evil communicalions corrupt good
1 Cor. XV.
3. To waste, spoil or consume.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt. Math. vi.
4. To defile or pollute. E.x. xxxii.
5. To entice from good and allure to evil.
2 Cor. xi.
C. To pervert ; to break, disobey or make
void. Mai. ii. j
7. To pervert or vitiate integrity ; to bribe ;>
as, to corrupt a judge. I
8. To debase or render impure, by altera-
tions or innovations ; as, to corrupt lan-
guage.
9. To pervert ; to falsify ; to infect with er-
rors ; as, to corrupt the sacred text.
CORRUPT', V. i. To become putrid ; to pu-
trefy ; to rot. Animal and vegetable sub-
stances speedily corrupt in a warm and
moist air.
2. To become vitiated ; to lose puritv.
CORRUPT', a. [L. comiptus ; It. c'orrotlo.]
1. Changed from a sound to a putrid state, as
by natural decomposition.
2. Spoiled ; tainted ; vitiated ; unsound ; as
corrupt air, or bread. Knolles.
3. Depraved ; vitiated ; tainted with wicked-
ness.
They are corrupt ; they have done abomina-
ble works. Ps. xiv.
The earth was corrupt before God. Gen. vi.
4. Debased ; rendered impure ; changed to
a worse state ; as corrupt language.
5. Not genuine ; infected with errors or mis-
takes. The text is corrupt.
CORRUPTED,
pp.
rfli-d :
I'itiatcd
COR
depraved ; spoiled ; marred ; bribed ; in-
fected with errors.
CORRUPT'ER, n. One who corrupts ; one
who vitiates, or taints ; as a corrupter ol
morals, or of Christianity.
2. One who bribes ; that which depraves oi
destroys integrity.
3. One who introduces errors.
CORRUPTIBIL'ITY, n. The possibility of|
being corrupted.
eORRUPT'IBLE, «. [Fr. corruptible ; It
corruttibilc]
L That may be corrupted; that may be-
come putrid ; subject to decay and des-
truction. Our bodies are corruptible.
2. That may be vitiated in qualities or prin-
ciples; susceptible of depravation. Man-
ners are corruptible by evil example.
CORRUPTIBLE, n. That which may de-
cay and perish ; the hmnan body.
This corruptible must put on iiicorrupUoii.
1 Cor. XV.
CORRUPT'IBLENESS, n. Susceptibility
of corrujition ; corruptibility.
CORRUPTIBLY, adv. In such a manner
as to be corrupted or vitiated.
CORRUPT'UMG, ppr. Putrefying; depi
ving; vitiating.
CORRUP'TION, n. [L. corruptio.] The
act of corrupting, or state of being corrupt
or putrid ; the destruction of the natural
form of bodies, by the separation of the
component parts, or by disorganization, in
the process of putrefaction.
Thou wilt not suffer thy holy One to see cor-
ruption. Ps xvi.
2. Putrid matter ; pus.
Putrescence ; a foul state occasioned by
putrefaction.
Depravity ; wickedness ; perversion or
deterioration of moral principles ; loss of
purity or integrity.
Having escaped the corru/ition that is in the
world through lust. 2 Pet. i.
Corruption in elections is the great enemy of
freedom. J. Adams.
5. Debasement ; taint ; or tendency to a
worse state.
Keep my honor from corruption. Shak.
G. Impurity ; depravation ; debasement ; as a
orruption of language.
7. Bribery. He obtained his suit by corrup-
tion.
In laiv, taint; impurity of blood, in conse-
quence of an act of attainder of treason or
felony, by which a person is disabled to
inherit lands from an ancestor, nor can
retain those in his possession, nor trans-
mit them by descent to his heirs.
Corruption of blood can be removed only by
act of parliament. Blackstone.
CORRUPT'IVE, a. Having the quality of
corruiHing, tainting or vitiating.
It should be endued wilh some corruptive
quality. May.
CORRUPT'LESS, a. Not susceptible of
corruption, or decay. Dryden.
eORRUPT'LY, adv. In a corrupt manner ;
with corruption ; viciously ; wickedly ;
without integrity.
We have dealt very corruptly against thee.
Neh. i.
2. By bribery. A judgment was obtained
corrtipthi.
CORRUPT'NESS, n. The state of bring
corrupt : putrid state or putrescence.
COR
2. A state of moral impurity ; as the cir-
ruplnesa of a judge.
3. A vicious state ; debasement ; impurity ;
as the corruptness of language.
CORRUPT'RESS, n. A female that cor
rupts others. Beaum.
eOR'SAIR, n. [Fr. corsaire ; Sp. cormno, a
cruising by a privateer ; corsear, to cruise ;
It. corsare, a. pirate, from cor«o, a course or
career, L. cursus, from curro, to nm.]
A pirate ; one who cruises or scours the
ocean, with an armed vessel, without a
commission from any prince or state, to
seize and plunder merchantmen.
COR'SAK, n. A species of fox. Pennant.
CORSE, n. [Fr. corps; L. corpus.] A
corpse ; the dead body of a hmnan being ;
a poetical loord. Addison.
CORSE-ENCUMBERED, a. Loaded with
dead bodies ; as the corse-encumbered
plains. Barlow.
CORSE-PRESENT, n. A mortuary or
present paid at the interment of a dead
body. Blackstone.
CORSELET, n. cors'let. [Fr. corselet; It.
corsaletto ; from corse.]
A little cuirass, or an armor to cover the
body for protection, worn formerly by
pike-men. Encyc.
[See Corcelet.]
CORSELET, V. t. cors'let. To encircle with
a corselet. Beaum.
CORS'ET, n. [Fr. from corse.] A boddiee ;
jumps; something worn to give shape to
the body ; used by ladies and dandies.
CORS'NED, n. [Sax. corsna:de, comp. of
corse, curse, and snmd, a mouthful, piece
or bit. It is called also ned-bread, need-
bread, bread of necessity.]
The morsel of execration, or curse ; a piece
of bread consecrated by exorcism, and to
be swallowed by a suspected person, as a
trial of his innocence. If guilty, it was
supposed the bread would produce con-
vulsions and paleness, and find no pas-
sage. If innocent, it was believed it would
turn to nourishment. Blackstone.
CORTE'GE, n. [Fr. from the It. corteggio,
from corte, court.] A train of attendants.
CORT'ES, n. plu. [from corte, court.] The
Spanish name of the States of the king-
dom, composed of nobility, clergy and
representatives of cities ; the assembly of
the States, answering, in some measure,
to the parliament of Great Britain.
COR'TICAL, a. [from L. corfcr, bark. See
Chart.] Belonging to bark ; consisting of
bark or rind ; resembling bark or rind ;
external ; belonging to the external cov-
ering ; as the cortical part of the brain.
Cheyne.
A cortical bud in |»lants proceeds from
the scales of the hark. Martyn.
COR'TICATE, I [L. corticatus, from
COR'TICATED, ^ "• cortex, bark.] Re-
sembling the bark or rind of a tree.
Brown.
CORTICIF'EROUS, o. [cortex and fero, to
produce.]
Producing bark, or that which resembles
it. Dicl.
CORTIC'IFORM, a. [cortex nmX form.] Re-
sembling biirk.
iCORT'ICO.-^F,, ) Barky; full of bark.
IcORT'ICOUS, ]"■ Diet.
COS
CORUND'UM, n. The corintlon-liarmo
pliane of HaUy, corindon udamantin of
Broiigniart, the korund of Werner, and
the adamantine spar of Kirwan. It is
octahedral, rhoniboidal or prismatic.
Ckaveland. Ure.
€ORUS'€ANT, a. [See Coruscate.] Flash-
ing ; glittering by flashes.
COR'USCATE, V. i. [L. eorusco, to flash.]
To flash ; to lighten ; to ghtter. Barlow.
eORUSCA'TION, n. [L. coruscatio.] A
flash ; a sudden burst of light in the clouds
or atmosphere. Bacon.
2. The light produced by the combustion of
imflammable gas in the earth. Newton.
Artificial coruscations are produced by phos-
porus and sulphuric acid, or by sulphuric
acid and iron tilings. Encyc.
eOR'VET, n. [Fr. corvette ; Sp. corveta, a
leap, a curvet, a boat.] A sloop of war ;
an advice boat.
eORV'US, n. [L. corvus, a raven.] In as-
tronomy, a constellation of the southern
hemisphere, containing nine stars.
3. A militaiy engine or gallery used by the
Romans for boarding ships in war. It
was a strong platform of boards at the
prow, movable as on a spindle, and thrown
over the side of the enemy's ^ essel, when
grappled. Encyc.
CORYBAN'TIe, a. Madly agitated ; in-
flamed like the Corybantes, the frantic
priests of Cybele. Cudworth.
eOR'YMB, n. [L. corymhus ; Gr. xvpvfieos.]
Primarily, a top, head or cluster. In mod-
em botany, a species of inflorescence, in
which the lesser or partial flower-stalks
are produced along the eoninion stalk on
both sides, and though of unequal length,
rise to the same higlith, so as to form an
even surface ; as in spirtea opulifolia, scur-
vy-grass, &c. Milne. Maiiyn.
eORYM'BIATED, a. Garnished with cor-
ymbs.
€ORYMBIF'EROUS, a. [L. corymbifer ;
corymhus and /cro, to bear.]
Producing corymbs ; bearing fruit or bciries
in clusters, or producing flowers in clus-
ters. Milne.
CORYM'BOUS, a. Consisting of corymbs;
in clusters. Barton. Lee.
eORYM'BlJLOUS, a. Having or consist-
ing of little corymbs. Barton.
€ORYPHENE, ji. A fish with a sloping
truncated head, and the dorsal fin extend-
ing the whole length of the back.
Pennant.
CORYPHE'US, n. [Gr.] The chief of a
chorus; the chief of a company. South.
€OSCINOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. «o«i.w, a
sieve, and fuivtaa, divination.]
The art or practice of divination, by suspend-
ing a sieve and taking it between two
fingers, or by fixing it to the point of a pair
of shears, then repeating a formula of
words, and the names of persons suspect-
ed. If the sieve trembles, shakes or turns,
wlien any name is repeated, the person is
deemed guilty. This divination is men-
tioned by Theocritus, and is said to be still
practiced in some parts of England. The
prai-tice and the name are strangers in
America.
CO-SE'€ANT, M. [SeeSecanf.] Ingeoynetry,
COS
the secant of an arc which is the comple-
ment of another to ninety degrees. Encyc.
CO'SIER, n. [Fr. cousu, coudre.] A botch-
er. [Not used.] Shak.
eOS'INAoE, n. s as z. [Fr. cousinage, kin-
dred. See Cousin.]
In law, a writ to recover possession of an es-
tate in lands, when a stranger has entered
and abated, after the death of the tresail,
or the grandfather's grandfather, or oth-
er collateral relation. Blackstone.
CO'-SINE, n. [Sec Hine.] Ingeometry, tliej
sine of an arc which is the complement of
another to ninety degrees. Encyc,
COSMET'IC, a. s as :. [Gr. xotr^jjf 1x05, from
xooiiOf, order, beauty.]
Beautifying ; improving beauty, particular-
ly the beauty of the skin.
COSMET'IC, n. Any preparation that ren-
ders the skin soft, pure and white, and
helps to beautify anil improve the com-
plexion. Encyc.
COS'MICAL, a. s as x. [Gr. xoij/tixoj, Irom
xoa/ios, order, the world.]
1. Relating to the world, or to the whole sy
tern of visible bodies, including the earth
and stars.
2. In astronomy, rising or setting with the
sun ; not acronical. Encyc.
COS'MICALLY, adv. With the sun at ri-
sing or setting ; a star is said to rise or set
cosmically, when it rises or sets with the sun.
COSMOG'ONIST, ji. [See Cosmogony.]
One who treats of the origin or formation
of the universe. Enfield.
COSMOG'ONY, n. s as z. [Gr. xoufioyoioa ;
xoo^oj, world, and ywi;, generation.]
The generation, origin or creation of the
worltl or universe. In physics, the science
of the origin or formation of the universe.
Enfield. Encyc.
COSMOG'RAPHER, n. [See Cosmogra-
phy.] One who describes the world or
universe, including the heavens and the
€()'sM(')(;H Al'Il'le, ) Relating
tOr^.MOC.KArH'ICAL, J "' the general
<lc,-(-ri|iiiiiii oltlie universe.
COSMOGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In a man
ner relating to the science of describing
the universe, or corresponding to cosmog-
raphy.
COSMOG'RAPHY, n. sasz. [Gr. xoo^oypo^-
la ; xoBfioj, the world, and ypcKjiu, to des-
cribe.]
A description of the world or universe ; or
the art which teaches the construction of
the whole system of worlds, or the figure,
disposition and relation of all its parts,
and the maimer of repi-esenting them on a
plane. • Encyc.
COS'MOLABE, n. s asz. [Gr. xoa^o;, world,
and ^afiSwu, to take.]
An ancient instrument for measuring dis-
tances in the heavens or on earth, much
the same as the astrolabe, and called also
paiitacosm. Encyc.
COSMOL'ATORY, n. s as :. [Gr. xoa^oj,
world, and XaTpfiu, to worship.]
The worship paid to the world or its parts
by heathens. Cudworth.
COSJMOLOti'ICAL, a. [See Cosmologi/.]
Relating to a discourse or treatise of tlie
world, or to the science of the universe.
COSMOL'OgIST, n. One who describes
the universe.
COS
COSMOL'OtiY, n. 4 as :. [Gr. xo(j^o?.o)'io ;
xoafioj, the universe, and 7.0705, discourse.]
The science of the world or universe ; or a
treatise relating to the structure and parts
of the system of creation, the elements of
bodies, the modifications of material things,
the laws of motion, and the order and
course of nature. Encyc. Enfield.
COSMOPLAS'TIC, a. [Gr. xo^ixof, world,
and jixooou, to form.]
World-forming ; pertaining to the formation
of the world. HaUywell.
COSMOPOL'ITAN, \ [Gr. xoa^of,
COSMOPOLITE, ^ "• « as z. ^,^^,^,^ ^^j
jioXiTjjj, a citizen.]
A person who has no fixed residence ; one
who is no where a stranger, or who is at
home in every place ; a citizen of the
world. Howell.
COSS, n. A Hindoo measure of one Enghsh
mile and a quarter nearly. Asiat. Res.
COS'SACK, n. The Cossacks inhabit the
Ukraine, in the Russian empire.
COS'SAS, n. Plain India muslins, of vari
ous qualities and breadths.
COS'SET, n. [Qu. G. kossat, hke D. huis-
lam, and from the root of co<, or house ; It.
casiccio, from casa, a house.]
.\ lamb brought up by hand, or without the
aid of the dam.
COS'SIC, a. Relating to algebra. Bp. Hall.
COST, n. caust. [G. D. Sw. Dan. host ; Ir.
cosdas ; W. cost, coast and cost ; Fr. coiit :
Arm. const. See the Verb.]
1. The price, value or equivalent of a thing
purchased ; the amount in value paid,
charged or engaged to be paid for any
thing bought or taken in barter. The
word is equally applicable to the price in
money or connnodities ; as the cost of a
suit of clothes ; the cost of a house or farm.
2. Expense; amount in- value expended or
to be expended ; charge ; that which is
given or to be given for another thing.
1 will not oft'er burnt offerings without cost.
1 Chron. xxl.
Have wc eaten at all at the king's cost ? 2
Sam. xix.
The cost of maintaining armies is iimnense
ami often ruinous. Anon.
3. In law, the sum fixed by law or allowed
by the court for charges of a suit awarded
against the party losing, in favor of the
party prevailing, &c. The jury find that
the plaintiff' recover of the defendant ten
dollars with costs of suit or with his cost.
4. Loss or expense of any kind ; detriment ;
pain ; suffering. The vicious man indul-
ges his propensities at a great cost.
5. Sumptuousness ; great expense. Shak.
COST, V. t. pret. and pp. cost. [G. and
D. kosten ; Dan. koster ; Sw. kosta ; Fr.
couter, for coiister ; Arm. cousia, cotts-
tein ; W. costiaw ; It. costare ; Sp. costar ;
Port, cu.itar ; Ir. costiam. The noun cost
coincides in most of these languages with
coast and L. costa, a rib, the e.xterior part.
The i)rimary sense of the verb is, to throw
or send out, to cast, as we say, to lay out.
Qu. the Ar. and Pers.
.ILt.
bal-
ance, or pair of scales, from la^^j to
distribute. I call this a transitive verb.
In the phrase, a hat costs six dollars, the
C O T
sense is, it expends, lays out, or causes to
be laid out six dollars.]
I . To require to be given or expended in
barter or purchase ; to be bought for ; as,|
this book cost a dollar ; the army audi
navy cost four millions a year. j
f). To require to be laid out, given, bestow-,
e<l or employed ; as, Johnson's Dictionary
cost him seven years labor.
COT
word signifies a cot, a hovel or stye, ai
abrupt termination, a rump, a tail, a skirt
Cwlti, short, abrupt, bob-tailed ; ctotaii, to
shorten. This indicates that cot is from
cutting off, and hence defending.]
1. A small house ; a hut ; a mean habitation ;
also, a shed or inclosure for beasts. 2
Chron. xxxii.
|ia. A leathern cover for a sore finger.
y. To require to be borne or suffered. Our;
sins cost us many pains. A sense of in-|
gratitude to his maker costs the penitent,
sinner many ])angs and sorrows. j
COST'AL, a. [Fr. costal, from L. casta,'
a coast, side or rib ; Sp. costa, cost, and
a coast ; costenr, to pay costs, to coast
along. A coast or side is the extreme
part, a limit, from extending, throwing or
shooting out, Eng. to cast.] \
Pertaining to the side of the body or the ribs ;
as costal nerves.
€OST'ARD, «. A hoiul. [jVot xised.] Shil..
2. An apple, round and bulky, like the head.
Jolmsoii.
€OST'ARD-MUi\GF,R, ;
i. An abridgement otcotquean.
4. A cade lamb. [Local] Orosc.
5. A little boat.
€0-TAN'GENT, n. The tangent of an arc
which is the complement of another to
ninety i
Harris.
An appli'-sellcr
Burton.
eOST'ER-MONGER, n. An apple-seller.
CO.S'TIVE, a. [contracted from It. cosli-
paio, costipare, from the L. constipo, to
cram, to stvff; con and stipo, to cram.]
1. Literally, crowded, stuffed, as the intes-
tines ; hence, bound in body ; retaining fe-
cal matter in the bowels, in a hard and dry
state ; having the excrements obstructed,
or the motion of the bowels too slow.
2. Dry and hard ; as costive clay. [jVot used.]
Mortimer.
€OS'TIVENESS, n. A preternatural de-
tention of the iiT.il inatter of the bowels,;
with har.liir-s .in.l dryness ; an obstruc-;
tion or in-rii niaiural slowness of evacua-!
tions fioiii thr li..\v. Is. Medicine.'
€OST'LINl':S,-!, „, [Sep Coslhj.] Expen-'
siveness: .threat cnsf, or exiieiise ; sumptii-
ousness. Rev. xviii. 111. Sidney.
€OST'LErf.S, a. Costing nothing. lianow:
€OST'LY, a. [tiom cost.] Of a high price
sumptuous ; expensive ; purchased at
great expense ; as a costly habit ; coslhj
furniture.
Mai-y took a pound of spikenard, very costly.
John xii.
€OST'MARY, n. [Gr. ^tojoj, L. costus, an
aromatic plant, and Maiia. Ar. and Pers.j
k«.a kost.] j
A species of tansy, or Tanacetum ; alecost.l
■eOS'TREL, n. A bottle. [Mot in use.] j
€OS'TUME, n. [Fr. costume, custmn.] ]n|
painting, a rule or precept by which atij
artist is enjoined to make every person
and tiling sustain its proper character, ob-
serving tlie scene of action, the country or
l)lace, and making the habits, arms, man-l
ners, and proportions correspond. Hence,
the observance of this rule in execution.
Encyc.
9. An established mode of dress.
€0-SUF'FERER, n. One who suffers with,
another.
CO-SUPRE'ME, n. A partaker of suprem
acy. Shak
€0-SU'RETY, n. One who is surety withj
another. Mass. Rep'
eOT, } „ fSax. cot, cote, cyle ; G. koth; D
€OTE, )i. A sheepfold. [See Cot.]
COTE, V. t. To pass by and turn before ; to
gain ground in coursing and give a com-
petitor the turn. [Little tised.]
Shak. Chapman
COTEMPORA'NEOUS, a. [infra.] Living
or liciiii;- at the same time.
C( )T!',,M I'ORARY, a. [L. con, co, and tem
.cTot
Living or being at the same time ; as cotem-
porari/ authors. Josephus was cotempora-
rij with Vespasian. Locke. Blackstone
eOTEM'PORARY, n. One who lives a
the same time with another.
[I consider this word as preferable to
contemporary, as beii.'g more easily pro-
nomiced.]
€0-TEN'ANT, n. A tenant in common.
Kent.
COTERIE', n. [Fr.] A friendly party, <
.■ibic association.
COTIC'ULAR, a. [L. coticuht, from cos,
whetstone.]
Pertaining to whetstones ; like or suitable
for whetstones. Kirw
COTIL'LON, n. cotil'yun. [Fr. a petticoat.]
A brisk dance, performed by eight per
sons together ; also, a tune which regit
lates the dance.
COT'LAND, ?!. Land appendant to a cot
tage. Johnson.
COt'QUEAN, n. A man who busies him-
self with the affairs which properly be-
long to women.
CO-TRUSTEE', n. A joint trustee. Kent
COTS'WOLD, n. [Sax. cote and wold.]
Sheepcotes in an open country.
COTT, n. [Sax. cot, cnU; a bed. Qu. Gr
xoitri.] A small bed ; on In, arc! of ships, a
bed frame suspendi'il lioin to.' boams, for
the officers to sleep in, lirtwi^en the (leek:
a piece of canvas, extended by a frame.
Mar. Diet.
COT'TAGE, n. [from cot.] A cot ; a lint
a small mean habitation.
The sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages
for shepherds. Zeph.li.
COT'TAgED, a. Set or covered with cot
tages. Collins
COT'TAGER, n. One who lives in a hut or
ottage.
2. In law, one who lives on the common,
without paying any rent, or having land of
his own. Johnson.
COT'TER, cottar or COT'TIER, n.
A cottager.
COT'TON, p. coin. [Fr. colon ; It. colone ;
h: cadas; Sp. algodon, the cotton-plant oi
the wool; colon, i)riii1ed cotton ; Port, al
COTI
'• /,Y1
w.
rt. In Welsh, thej| godam ; B.kalnf}i: W. co/irm, cotton, (
COT
wool, as if from cot, a short tail. But it
G O J
seems to be an x\jrabic word, I^J, cor-
responding with a word in Ethiopic antl
Syriac, which signifies to be thin or fine.
And with a common dialectical variation,
it may coincide with the first syllable of
gossypiiim andg-o«samer.]
. A soft downy substance, resembling fine
wool, growing in the cap.siiles or pods of a
shrub, called the cotton-plant. It is tbe
material of a large proportion of clotli for
rel and furniture,
oth made of cotton.
Lavender-cotton, a genus of plants, Santolina.
of several species ; shrubs cultivated in
gardens. One species, the chamacyparys-
sus or abrotaniun foemina, female south-
ernwood, is vulgarly called brotany.
Encyc.
Philosophic cotton, flowers of zink, which re-
semble cotton.
Silk-cotton tree, a genus of plants, the Bom-
bax, growing to a ^reat size in the Indies,
and producing a kind of cotton in cap-
sules. Encyc.
COT'TON, a. Pertaining to cotton ; made
of cotton ; consisting of cotton; as cotton
cloth ; cotton stockings.
COT'TON, V. i. To rise with a nap.
Johnson.
2. To cement ; to unite with ; a cant word.
Swijt.
COT'TON-(';IN, n. A machine to separate
the seeds from cotton, invented by that
celehratcil iMivli.miriaii, E. Whitney.
COT'TON-Ci; \SS, ,1. A genus of plants,
the Erio]ilionwn. M^ihlenberg.
COTTOX-:\! ACMlNE, "- A machine for
COT'TdN-.MlLL, ». A mill or building,
with machinery for carding, roving and
spinning cotton, by the force of water or
steam.
COT'TON-PLANT, ? A plant or shrub of
COT'TON-SIIRFB, S "'the genus Gossyp-
ium, ofseveral species, all growing in warm
climates. The principal species are, J.
the liriliaci-ons <-ottoii, with smooth leaves
and mIIow Ho',-, ( r-, succeeded by round-
isi] caipsnlrs, lull olsccd.s and cotton;2. the
hairy American cotton, with hairy stalks
■ and leaves, and yellow flowers succeed-
ed by oval pods ; 3. the Barbadoes shrub-
by cotton, has a shrubby stalk, yellow
flowers and oval pods; 4. the arboreum
or tree cotton, with a woody perennial
stalk, bears yellow flowers and large jiods.
The first three species are annual plants ;
the last is perennial. Encyc.
In the southern states of America, the
cotton cultivated is distinguished into three
kinds ; the luntkeen ration, so called from
its color ; llir aran seed cotton, producing
white ciitton with green seeds. These
grow in ll]<' middle and upper country, and
are called short staple cotton. The" black
seed cotton, cultivated in the lower country
near the sea, and on the isles near the
shore, ])roduces cotton of a fine, white,
silky appearance, vei-y strong and of a
long staple. The seeds of the long sta-
ple Cotton are separated by roller-gins.
I The seeds of the short staple cotton av-
c o u
separated with more difficulty, by a saw-
gin invented by E. Wliitney.
Ramsay. Drayton.
eOT'TON-TlIISTLE, n. A plant, the Ono-
pordnm. MiMenherg.
COT'TON-WEED, n. A plant, the Filago.
The name is given also to the Gnaphaliuin,
cud-weed, or goldy-locks.
COTTONY, a. Downy ; nappy ; covered
with hairs or pubescence like cotton.
Martyn.
2. Soft like cotton.
€0'TYLE. n. [Gr. xotxfK^.] Tlie cavity
a bone which receives the end of another
in articulation.
eOTYL'EDON, n. [Gr. xotMkrjSuv, from
xorv^, a liollow or cavity.]
1. In botany, the perishable lobe or placent
of the seeds of plants. It involves and
nourishes the embryo plant, and then per-
ishes. Some seeds have two lobes ; oth-
ers one only, and others none.
Milnt. Martyn. Encyc.
2. In anatomy, a little plandular body adher-
ing to the chorion of some animals.
Coxe. Encyc.
3. A genus of plants, navel- wort, or kidney-
wort, of several species. Encyc.
€OTYLED'ONOUS, a. Pertaining to cotyl-
edons ; having a seed-lobe.
€OUCH, V. i. [Fr. couche, a bed ; coucher, to
lay down ; Norm, couche, a couch, and lai(
double; Sp. gacho, bent down, slouching
agacharse, to stoop, to crouch ; Port.
agacharse, acagaparse, to stoop, croucl:
squat ; Arm. coacha and scoacha, our
gar scooch ; D. hukken ; G. hoclten ; Dan.
huger. The primary sense is to lay or
throw down. See Class Cg. Gk. No. 7.
8.9.1
1. To lie down, as on a bed or place of re-
to stoop and
recline on the knees, as a beast.
Fierce tigers couched around. Dryden,
3. To lie down in secret or in ambush ; to
lie close and concealed.
The earl of Angus couched in a furrow.
Hayward
Judah couched as a lion. Gen. xlix.
4. To lie ; to lie in a bed or stratum.
Blessed of the Lord be liis land — for the dew,
and for the deep that coucheth beneath. Deut
5. To stoop ; to bend the body or back ; to
lower in reverence, or to bend under la-
bor, pain, or a burden.
Issachar is a strong ass, couching down be-
tween two burdens. Gen. xlix.
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
Shak.
■eOUCH, V. t. To lay down ; to repose on a
bed or place of rest.
Where unbruised youth, %vith unstuffed brain
Doth couch his limbs. Shak.
3. To lay down ; to spread on a bed or floor :
as, to couch malt. MoHimer.
3. To lay close, or in a stratum.
The waters coucA themselves, as close a? may
be, to tlie center of the globe. Burnet.
4. To hide ; to lay close, or in another body.
It is in use at this day, to couch vessels in
walls, to gather the wind from the lop, and pass
it down in spouts into rooms. Bacon
5. To include secretely ; to hide ; or to ex-
Vol. I.
c o u
press in obscure terms, that imply what is
to be understood ; with under.
All this, and more, lies couched under this al-
legory. L'Estrange.
Hence,
To involve ; to include ; to comprise ; to
comprehend or express.
This great argument for a future state, wliich
St. Paul hath couched in the words read.
Jltterbury.
7. To lie close. Spenser.
8. To fix a spear in the rest, in the posture
of attack.
They couched their spears.
Milton. Dryden.
'. To depress the condensed crystaline hu-
mor or film that overspreads the pupil of
the eye. Johnson
To remove a cataract, by entering a nee-
dle through the coats of the eye, and
pu.shing the lens to the bottom of the vi
treous humor, and then downwards and
outwards, so as to leave it in the under
and outside of the eye. Encyc.
The true phrase is, to couch a cataract ;
but we say, to coicch the eye, or the patient.
€OUCIl, n. A bed ; a place for rest or sleep,
Milton. Dryden.
2. A seat of repose ; a place for rest and
ease, on which it is common to lie down
undressed. Milton. Dryden.
3. A layer or stratum ; as a couch of malt.
Moiiimer
4. In painting, a lay or impression of color,
in oil or water, covering the canvas, wall,
or other matter to be painted. Encyc
5. Any lay, or impression, used to make ii
thing firm or consistent, or to screen il
from the weather. Encyc
C. A covering of gold or silver leaf, laid on
any substance to be gilded or silvered.
Encyc.
COUCH' ANT, a. [Fr. See Couch.] Lying
down ; squatting. In heraldry, lying down
with the head raised, whichdistinguishes
the posture of couchant from that of dor-
mant, or sleeping ; applied to a lion or oth-
er beast. Encyc
Levant and couchant, in law, rising up and
lying down ; applied to beasts, and indi
eating that they have been long enough on
land to lie down and rise up to feed, or
one night at least. Blackstone.
COUCH'ED, pp. Laid down ; laid on ; hid ;
included or involved ; laid close ; fixed in
the rest, as a spear ; depressed or removed
as a cataract.
COUCH'EE, n. [Fr.] Bedtime: late visit-
ing at night. Drtjden.
COUCH'ER, n. One who couches cataract.s,
2. In old English statutes, a factor ; a resi-
dent in a country for traffick. Encyc.
3. A book in which a religious house regis-
ter their acts. Encyc.
COUCH'-FELLOW, n. A bed fellow ; j
companion in lodging.
COUCH'-GRASS, n. A species of grass, ve
ry injurious to other plants.
COUCH'ING, ppr. Lying down ; laying
down ; lying close ; involving ; includinj
expressing ; depressing a cataract.
COUCH'ING, n. The act of stooping or
bowiiiff. Shak
COUGH"; n. kauf. [Qu. D. kuch. The ele-
ments are not both of the same organ ; but
gh and / are sometimes interchanged, as
50
C O L
ill rough, ruff. See Class Cg. No. 21). 3(j.
InPers. ^Xi^ chaftah,and ^i^i cliafa.
is a cough.]
A violent effort of the lungs to throw offot-
fendmg matter; a violent, sometimes in-
voluntary, and sonorous expiration, sud-
deidy expelhng the air through the glot-
tis. The convulsion of the muscles serv-
ing for exspiration gives great force to
the air, while the contraction of the glot-
tis produces the sound. The air forced
violently carries along with it the phlegm
or irritating matter which causes the con-
vulsion or effort of the muscles. Encyc.
COUGH, t!. i. To have the lungs convulsed ;
to make a violent effort with noise to ex-
pel the air from the lungs, and evacuate
any offending matter that irritates the
j)arts or renders respiration difficult.
COUGH, V. t. To expel from the lungs by a
convulsive effort with noise ; to expecto-
rate ; followed by up ; as, to cough up
phlegm.
COUGH'ER, n. One that coughs.
COUGH'ING, ppr. Ex|)eHing from the lungs
by a violent effort with noise; expecto-
rating.
COULD, pron. COpD. [The past tense ofcaii,
according to our customary arrangement
in grammar ; but in reality a distinct word,
can having no past tense. Could, we re-
ceive through the Celtic dialects, W. gal-
lu. Corn, gaily. Arm. gallout, to be able ;
Heb. St, Ch. hr\2, Eth. '(\})f\ to be
able, to prevail ; L. caUeo. Either of the
Oriental verbs may be the root, and all
may be of one family. In the past tense,
couW signifies, was able, had power.]
1. Had sufficient strength or i)hysical pow-
er. A sick man could not lift" his hand.
Isaac was old and could not see. Alexan-
der could easily conquer the effeminate
Asiatics.
2. Had adequate means or instruments. The
I men could defray their own expenses.
I The country was exhausted and could not
support the war.
3. Had adequate moral power. We heard
the story, but could not believe it. The
intemperate man could have restrained bis
appetite for strong drink. He could have
refrained, if he would.
My mind could not be towards tliis people.
Jer. XV.
4. Had power or capacity by the laws of its
nature. The tree could not grow for want
of water.
5. Had competent legal power ; had right,
or had the requisite quahfications. For-
merly, a citizen cowW not vote for officers
of government without the possession of
some property. AB could not be elected
to the office of senator, for want of estate.
BC, not being of the blood of the ances-
tor, coitld not inherit his estate.
G. Had sufficient capacity. The world could
I not contain the books. John xxi.
7. Was capable or susceptible, by its nature
or constitution, as of some change. He
found a .substance that cokW not be fused.
8. Had adequate strength or fortitude ; as,
he could not endure the pain or the re-
proach.
9. Had motives sufficient to overcome oh-
COL
C O U
C O U
jections. He thought at first he could not
comply with the request ; but after
sitleration lie determined to comply.
10. Had competent knowledge or skill. He
could solve the most difficult problems.
COUL'TER. [See Colter.]
€OUN'CIL, n. [Fr. concile ; Sp. concilia ; It.
conciglio, concilio ; from L. concilium; con
and calo, to call, Gr. xa.\iu>, W. galw, Ch.
thj in Aph., to call. See Hold. Class Gl.
This word is often confounded with coun-
sel, with which it has no connection.
Council is a collection or assembly.]
1. An assembly of men summoned or con-
vened for consultation, deliberation and
advice.
The chief priests and all the council sought
false witness. Matth. xx.
The kings of England were formerly assisted
by a grand council of peers.
The word is applicable to any body of
men, appointed or convened for consulta-
tion antl advice, in important affairs ; as,
a council of divines or clergymen, with
their lay delegates; a council of war, con-
sisting of the principal officers, to advise
the commander in chief or admiral ; a
council of physicians, to consult and ad-
vise in difficult cases of disease.
2. A body of men specially designated to
advise a chief magistrate iu the adminis-
tration of the government, as in Great
Britain.
3. In some of the American states, a branch
of the legislature, corresponding with the
senate in other states, and called legisla-
tive council. JVew Jersey.
4. Anassembly of prelates and doctors, con-
vened for regulating matters of doctrine
and disciphne in the church.
5. Act of deliberation ; consultation of a
council. Millon.
Common-Council of a city. In London, a court
consisting of the lord mayor antl alder-
men in one house, and of representatives
of the several wards, called covimon-coun-
cil-men, in the other. But more generally
the conniion-council is considered as the
body of representatives of the citizens, as
distinct from the mayor and aldermen.
Thus iu Connecticut, the cities are incor-
porated by the name of "The Mayor, Al-
dermen, Common-Council and Freemen, of
the city of Hartford, New-Haven, &c."
Ecumenical Council, in church history,
general council or assembly of prelates
and doctors, representing the ' '
church ; as the council of Nice, o
sus, and of Chalcedou. Encyc.
Privy Council, a select council for advising
a king in the administration of the
ernment.
AuLic €ocscii-. [See Autic]
€OUN'CIL-BOARD, n. Council-table ; the
table round which a council holds consul-
tation. Hence, the council itself in delib-
eration or session.
COUN'CILOR, n. The member of a coun-
cil. [See Counselor.']
COUNCIL-TABLE, n. C(juncil-board.
€0-UNLTE, V. t. To unite. [JVol used.]
More
-COUN'SEL, n. [Fr. conseil; Arm. consailh
It. consiglio ; Sp. consejo ; Port, conselho
from L. consilium, from the root of con
sido, to consult, which is probably the
Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Etii. hm, Ar. J 1.1
to ask. Class SI. No. 16. 42. The radical
sense of the verb, to ask, is to set upon,
urge, or press. Hence the Oriental verb
is probably the root of the L. salio, assilio,
or from the same root. See the like anal-
ogies in L. peto, to ask, to assail.]
1. Advice ; opinion, or instruction, given up-
on request or otherwise, for directing the
judgment or conduct of another ; opinion
given upon deliberation or consultation.
Every piujjose is established by counsel.
Prov. XX.
Thou hast not hearliened to my counsel.
2 Chron. xxv.
2. Consuhation ; interchange of opinions.
We took sweet counsel together. Ps. Iv.
3. DeUberation ; examination of consequen-
ces.
They all confess that, in the working of that
tirst cause, counsel is used, reason followed, and
a way observed. Hooker.
4. Prudence ; deliberate opinion or judg-
ment, or the faculty or habit of judging
with caution.
0 how comely is the wisdom of old men,
and understanding and counsel to men ol honor.
Ecckis. xxv. ^
The law shall perish from the priest, and
counsel from the ancients. Ezek. vii.
5. In a bad sense, evil advice or designs ;
art ; machination.
The counsel of tlie froward is carried head-
long. Job v.
6. Secresy ; the secrets entrusted in consul-
tation ; secret opinions or purposes. Let
a man keep his own counsel.
7. In a scriptural sense, purpose ; design ;
will ; decree.
what thy counsel determined before to be
done. Acts iv.
To show the immutability of his counsel.
Heb. vi.
8. Directions of God's word.
Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel. Ps.
Ixxiii.
9. The will of God or his truth and doc-
trines concerning the way of salvation.
1 have not sbunned to declare to you all the
counsel of God. Acts xx.
10. Those who give counsel in law; any
counselor or advocate, or any number of
counselors, barristers or Serjeants ; as the
plaintiff's counsel, or the defendant's coun
set. The attorney -general and solicitor
general are the king's counsel. In this
sense, the word has no plural ; but in the
singular numbei', is applicable to one or
more persons.
COUN'SEL, v. «. IL. consUior.] To give ad-
vice or deliberate opinion to another for
the government of his conduct ; to advise,
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
five. Rev. iii.
2. To exhort, warn, admonish, or instruct.
We ought frequently to counsel our chil
dren against the vices of the age.
They that will not be counseled, cannot be
helped. Frankh
3. To advise or recommend ; as, to counsel a
crime. [Mil much used.] Druden
€OUN'SEL-KEEPER, n. One who cai
keep a secret. Shak
eOUN'SEL-KEEPING, a. Keeping se
crets. Shak
eOUN'SELABLE, a. Willing to receive
counsel ; disposed to follow the advice or
opinions of others. Clarendon.
eOUN'SELED, pp. Advised ; instructed ;
admonished.
eOUN'SELING, ppr. Advising ; instruct-
ing; admonishing.
COUNSELOR, n. Any person who gives
advice ; but properly one who is authoriz-
ed by natural relationship, or by birth, of-
fice or ])rofession, to advise another in re-
gard to his future conduct and measures.
Ahithophef was J)a.\'uVs counselor. His
mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
2 C'hron. xxii. In Great Britain, the peers
of the realm are hereditary counselors of the
2. The members of a counsel ; one appoint-
ed to advise a king or chief magistrate, in
regard to the administration of the gov-
ernment.
3. One who is consulted by a client in a law-
case; one who gives advice in relation to
a question of law ; one whose profession
is to give advice in law, and manage caus-
es for chents.
Privy Counselor, a m.inber of a prKy coun-
I sel.
€OUN'SELORSHIP, n. The office of a
counselor, or privy counselor.
COUNT, v.t. [Fr. conter; It. contare ; Sp.
Port, center ; Arm. cownte or conte'n. Qu.
the root. The Fr. has compter, also, from
the L. computo; the Sp. and Port, compu-
tar, and the It. computare. The Eng.
count is directly from conter ; and it may
be a question whether conter and contar
are from the L. computo.]
1. To number ; to tell or name one by one,
or by small numbers, for ascertaining the
whole number of units in a collection; as,
to count the years, days and hours of a
man's life ; to count the stars.
Who can count the dust of Jacob ? Njmb.
xxiii.
2. To reckon ; to preserve a reckoning ; to
compute.
Some tribes of mde nations count their years
by the coming of certam birds among them at
certain seasons, and leaving them at others.
Locke.
3. To reckon ; to place to an account ; to
ascribe or impute ; to consider or esteem
as belonging.
Abraham believed in God, and he counted it to
him for righteousness. Gen. xv.
4. To esteem ; to account ; to reckon ; to
think, judge or consider.
I co^int them my enemies. Ps. cxxxix.
Neither count I my life dear to myself. Acts
I count all things loss. Phil, iii,
5. To impute ; to charge. Rowe.
COUNT, V. i. To count on or upon, to reckon
upon ; to tbund an account or scheme on ;
to rely on. We cannot count on the friend-
ship of nations. Count not on the sincer-
ity of sycophants.
COUNT, n. [Fr. conie and compte ; Sp.
cuenta and cuento ; It. conto. The Span isli
has also computo, and the It. id.]
il. Reckoning ; the act of numbering ; as,
this is the number according to my count.
|2. Number. Spenso:
|3. In law, a particular charge in an imlirt-
nifut, or narration in pleading, setting
1 forth the cause of complaint. There may
c o u
c o u
c o u
be different counts in the same declara-
tion.
COUNT, n. [Fr. cointe ; It. conte ; Sp- conde
Port. id. ; Arm. condt ; from L. comes, comi
tis, a companion or associate, a fellow
traveler. Qu. con and eo.]
A title of foreign nobility, equivalent to the
English earl, and whose domain is a
county. An earl ; the alderman of a shire,
as the Saxons called him. The titles of
Enghsh nobility, according to their rank,
are Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and
Baron. Blackstone. Encyc
•COUNT-WHEEL, n. The wheel in a clock
which moves round and causes it to
strike.
COUNTABLE, a. That may be numbered.
Spenser.
COUNT'ED, pp. Numbered ; told
ed ; reckoned ; imputed.
COUN'TENANCE, n. [Fr. contenance,
from contenant, containing, from contenir,
to contain, L. contineo ; con and teneo, t<
hold.]
] . Literally, tlie contents of a body ; the out
line and extent which constitutes the
whole figure or external api)oarance.
Appropriately, the human face ; the whole
form of the face, or system of features ;
visage.
A lueriy heart maketh a cheerful countenance.
Prov. XV.
Be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad counte-
nance. Matt. vi.
'2. Air ; look ; aspect ; appearance of the
face ; as in the phrase, to change or alter
the countenance.
•3. The face or look of a beast ; as a horse
of a good countenance.
4. Favor ; good will ; kindness.
Thou hast made him glad with thy counte
nance. Ps. xxi.
Hence in scriptural language, the light
of God's countenance is his smiles or fa
vorable regards, his favor and grace ; and
to hide his face or countenance is
fest his displeasure, and withdraw his
gracious aids. So the rebuke of his counte-
twnce indicates his anger and frowns. Ps,
Ixxx.
This application of face or cou7itenanc(.
which seems to be of high antiquity, |)ro-
ceeded probably from the practice of turn-
ing away the face to express anger, dis-
pleasure and refusal; a practice still com-
mon, but probably universal among rude
nations. The opposite conduct would of
course express favor. The grant of a pe
tition is accompanied with a look directed
to the petitioner ; the refusal or denial,
with an averted face. Hence,
5. Support ; aid ; patronage ; encourage
ment ; favor in promoting and maintain
ing a person or cause.
It is the province of the magistrate, to give
countenance to piety and virtue. Jitlerlturij .
Let religion enjoy the countenance of tlie
laws.
Give no countenance to dolations of mora)
duty.
5. Show ; resemblance ; superficial ajipear
ance.
The election being done, he made countC'
nance of great discontent thereat. Msch
7. In km; credit or estimation. Couel.
To keep the countenance, is to preserve a
calm, composed or natural look, unruffled
by passion ; to refrain from expressing
laugliter, joy, anger or other passion, by
an unchanged countenance.
In countenance, in favor ; in estimation.
If the profession of religion were in counte-
nance among men of distinction, it would have
a happy effect on society.
To keep in countenance, to give assurance or
courage to ; to support ; to aid by favor ;
to prevent from shame or dismay.
To put in countenance, to give assurance ; tc
encourage ; or to bring into favor ; to sup-
port.
Out of countenance, confounded ; abashed ;
with the countenance cast down ; not bold
or assured.
To put out of countenance, to cause the coun-
tenance to fall ; to abash ; to intimidate ;
to di.sconcert.
COUNTENANCE, J). <. To favor; to
courage by opinion or words.
The design was made known to the
but he said nothing to countenance it. Jinon
2. To aid; to .support; to encourage; to
abet ; to vindicate ; by any means.
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man
in his cause. Ex. xxiii.
3. To encourage : to appear in defense.
He countenanced the landing in his long
boat. Wottmi.
4. To make a show of
Each to these ladies love did countenance.
Spenser.
5. To keep an appearance. Shak.
COUNTENANCED, pp. Favored ; encour-
aged ; supported.
COUN'TENANCER, n. One who counte-
nances, favors or supports.
COUN'TENANCING, ppr. Favoring; en-
couraging ; supporting.
COUNT'ER, n. [from cotmt.] A false piece
of money or stamped metal, used as
of reckoning ; any thing used to keep an
account or reckoning, as in games.
2. Money, in contempt. Shak.
3. A table or board on which money is
counted ; a table on which goods in i
shop are laid for examination by piu-cha
scrs.
In lieu of this, we sometimes see written
the French comptoir, from compter, compu
to ; but counter is tlie genuine orthogra-
pi'y-
4. The name of certain prisons in London.
5. One that counts or reckons ; also, an au-
ditor.
G. Encounter. [.Yot used.]
7. In ships, an arch or vault, whose upper
part is terminated by the bottom of the
stern. The upper or second counter is
above the former, but not vaulted.
Counter of a horse, that part of a liorse's
forehand which lies between the shoulder
and under the neck. Farrier's Diet
COUN'TER, mlv. [Fr. conlre; L. contra;
Sp. It. contra; probably a compound of
con and fra, as in extra, tiltra.]
1. Contrary ; in opposition ; in an opposite
direction ; used chiefly with run or go
to run counter to the rides of virtue ; he
went counter to his own interest.
2. The wrong way ; contrary to the right
course. Shak.
3. Contrariwise ; in a contrary manner.
Locke.
4. The face, or at the face. [.Vot used.]
Sandys.
Thi.s word is prefixed to many other;-,
cliiefly verbs and nouns, expressing oppo-
sition.
COUNTERACT', v. t. [counter and ad.]
To act in op|)osition to ; to hinder, defeat
or frustrate by contrary agency. Good
precepts will sometimes counteract the ef-
fects of evil example ; but more generally
good precepts are counteracted by bad ex-
amples.
COUNTERACTED, pp. Hindered ; frus
trated ; defeated bv contrary agencj'.
COUNTERACTING, ppr. Hindering ; frus-
tratiiig.
COUNTERACTION, n. Action in opposi-
tion ; hindrance.
COUNTER-ATTRACTION, n. [counter
and attraction.] Opposite attraction.
Shenstone.
COUNTERBAL'ANCE, v. t. [counter and
balance.]
To weigh against ; to weigh against with an
equal weight ; to act against with equal
power or eflect ; to countervail. A col-
unni of thirty inches of quicksilver, and a
column of thirty-two feet of water, coun-
terbalance the weight of a like column of
the whole atmosphere. The pleasures of
sin never counterbalance the pain, misery
and shame which follow the commission
of it.
COUNTERBAL'ANCE, n. Equal weight,
power or agency acting in opposition to
any thing.
Money is the counterbalance of all things
purchasable. Locke.
COUNTERBALANCED, pp. Opposed by
cqu;il U(-ij;lil, |iiiwi-r or etmct.
COUN ri'.KI! AI. WCING, ppr. Opposing
bv 0(|ii;il wi-ivhl, |)cjwer or operation.
COUN 'J'EKBO.NO, n. [counter and bond.]
A bond to save harmless one who has giv-
en bond for another.
COUNTERBUFF', v. i. [counter and buff.]
To strike back or in an opposite direction ;
to drive back ; to stop by a blow or im-
pulse in front. Dryden.
COUN'TERBUFF, n. A blow in an o])po-
site direction ; a stroke that stops motion
or causes a recoil. Sidney.
COUNTERBUFF'ED, pp. Struck with a
blow in opposition.
COUN'TERCAST, n. Delusive contriv-
ance ; contrary cast. Spenser.
COUN'TERCASTER, n. [counter and cas-
ter.] A caster of accounts ; a reckoner ; a
bookkeeper, in contempt. Shak.
COUN'TERCHaNgE, n. [counter and
change.] Exchange ; reciprocation.
COUNTERCHA'N6E, v.t. To give and
receive ; or to cause to change places.
COUNTERCHA'NtiED, pp. Exchanged.
In heraldry, intermixed, as the colors of
the field and charge.
COUN'TERCHARM, >i. [counter and
charm.] That which has the power of
dissolving or opposing the effect of a
charm. Pope.
COUNTERCH'ARM, v. t. To destroy the
effect of enchantment.
COUNTERCHECK', v. t. [counter and
check.] To oppose or stop by some obsta-
cle : to check.
COUNTERCHECK, n. Check; stop; re-
buke ; or a censure to check a reprover.
Bculey.
c o u
c o u
c o u
COUNTEReUR'RENT, a. [counter and
current] Running in an opposite direction.
Kirwan.
€OUN'TER€URREi\T, n. A current in an
opposite direction.
€OUNTERDISTIN€'TION, n. CoiBtradis-
tinction. More.
COUNTERDRAVV, v.t. [counter anAdraiv.]
In painting, to copy a. design or painting,
by means of a fine linen cloth, an oiled
paper, or other transparent matter, where-
on the strokes appearing throvigh, tliey arej
traced with a pencil. The same is done
on glass, and with frames or nets divided
into squares with silk or thread, or by
means of instruments, as the parallello-
gram. Encyc.
eOUNTERDRAVV'ING, ppr. Copying by
means of lines drawn on some transpa-
rent matter.
€OUNTERDRAW'N, pp. Copied from lines
drawn on something else.
€OUNTER-EV'IDENCE, n. [counter and
evidence.] Opposite evidence ; evidence or
testimony wliich opposes other evidence.
Burnet.
COUNTERFEIT, t). <. coun'terfit. [fr.con-
trefaire, contrefait ; contre and /aire, to
make ; L. contra and facio ; It. contraffixre,
contraffatto ; Sp. contrahacer, contraheeho.]
1. To forge ; to cojiy or imitate, without au-
thority or right, and with a view to deceive
or defraud, by passing the copy or thing
forged, for that which is original or genu
ine ; as, to counterfeit coin, bank notes, ;
seal, a bond, a deed or other instrument
in writing, the hand writing or signature
of another, &c. To make a likeness or
resemblance of any thing with a view to
defraud.
2. To imitate ; to copy ; to make or put on a
resemblance ; as, to counterfeit the voice of
another person ; to counterfeit piety.
eOUN'TEREEIT, v. i. To feign ; to dis-
semble ; to carry on a fiction or deception.
Shak.
€OUN'TERFEIT, a. Forged; fictitious;
false; fabricated without right; made in
imitation of something else, with a view
to defraud, by passing the false copy for
genuine or original ; as counterfeit coin ; a
counterfeit bond or deed ; a counterfeit bill
of exchange.
2. Assuming the appearance of something;
false ; hypocritical ; as a counterfeit friend.
3. Having the resemblance of; false; not
genuine ; as counterfeit modesty.
eOUN'TERFEIT, n. A cheat ; a deceitful
person ; one who pretends to be what lie
is not ; one who personates another ; an
impostor.
% In law, one who obtains money or goods
by counterfeit letters or false tokens.
Encyc.
X That which is made in imitation of some-i
thing, but without lawful authority, and
with a view to defraud, by passing the
false for the true. We say, the note is a
counterfeit.
COUN'TERFEITED, pp. Forged; made
in imitation of something, with a view to
defraud ; copied ; imitated ; feigned.
COUNTERFEITER, n. One who coun-
terfeits ; a forger.
•3. One who copies or imitates ; one who as-
sumes a false appearance.
3. Onfi who endeavors to set ofl' a thing i
false colors.
eOUN'TERFEITLY, adv. By forgery
falsely ; fictitiously.
eOUNTERFER'MENT, n. [counter and
ferment.] Ferment opposed to ferment.
Addison
€OUNTERFE'SANCE, n. [Fr. contrefai-
sanee.] The act of forging ; forgery. Obs
COUNTERFOIL, i That part of a tal-
COUN'TERSTOCK, P- ly struck in the
Exchequer, which is kept by an oflicer in
that court, the other being delivered to
the person who has lent the king money
on tlie account, and is called the stock.
Bailey.
COUN'TERFORT, n. [counter and fort.]
A buttress, spur or pillar serving to sup-
port a wall or terrace subject to bulge.
Chambers.
COUN'TERGAGE, n. [cotmter and g'ige.]
In carpentry, a method used to measure
the joints, by transferring the breadth of a
mortise to the place where the tenon is to
be, in order to make them fit each other.
Chambers.
COUN'TERGUARD,n. [counter and guard.]
In fortification, a small rampart or work
raised before the point of a bastion, con-
sisting of two long faces parallel to the
faces of the bastion, making a salient an-
gle, to preserve the bastion. It is some-
times of a different shape, or differently
situatefl. Encyc.
COUNTER-INFLUENCE, v. t. To hin-
der by opposing influence. [lAttle used.]
Scott.
COUN'TERLIGHT, n. [counter and ligU.]
A light opposite to any thing, which makes
it appear to disadvantage. Chambers.
COUNTERM>AND, v. t. [Fr. contremander ;
contre and mander, L. inando, to com-
mand.]
1. To revoke a former command; or to give
an order contrary to one before given,
which annuls a former command and for-
bids its execution ; as, to countermand or-
ders.
3. To oppose ; to contradict the orders of
another. Hooker.
3. To prohibit. [Little used.] Harvey.
eOUN TERMAND, n. A contrary order ;
revocation of a former order or command.
Shak.
eOUNTERxMANDED, pp. Revoked; an-
nulled, as an order.
COUNTERM'ANDING, ppr. Revoking a
former order; giving directions contrary
to a former command.
COUNTERArARCH, v. i. [counter and
march.] To march back.
COUN'TERMARCH, n. A marching back ;
a returning. Collier,
2. A change of the wings or face of a battal-
ion, so as to bring the right to the left or
the front into the rear. Cyc.
3. A change of measures; alteration of con-
duct. Burnet.
COUN'TERMARK, n. [counter and mark.]
A second or third mark put on a bale of]
goods belonging to several .merchants, that
it may not be opened, but in the presence
of all the owners.
2. The mark of the goldsmiths' company, to
show the metal to be standard, added to
that of the artificer.
3. An artificial cavity made in the teeth ol
hordes, that have outgrown their natural
mark, to disguise their age.
4. A mark added to a medal, a long time
after it has been struck, by which its sev-
eral changes of value may be known.
Chambers.
COUNTERM'ARK, v. t. To mark the cor-
ner teeth of a horse by an artificial cavity,
to disguise his age. Farrier^s Diet.
COUN'TERMINE, n. [counter and mine.]
In military affairs, a well and gallery sunk
in the earth and running under ground, in
search of the enemy's mine, or till it meets
it, to defeat its effect. Military Diet.
2. Means of opposition or counteraction.
Sidney.
3. A stratagem or project to frustrate any
contrivance. L' Estrange,
COUNTERMI'NE, v. t. To sink a well and
gallery in the earth, in search of an ene-
my's mine, to frustrate his designs.
2. To counterwork ; to frustrate by secret
and opposite measures.
COUN'TER-MOTION, n. [counter and
motion.] An opposite motion ; a motion
counteracting another. Digbu. Collier.
COUN'TER-MOVEMENT, n. Amovemeut
in opposition to another.
COUN'TERMURE, n. [Fi: contremur ; con-
tre and tnur, L. murus, a wall.]
A wall raised behind another, to supply its
place, when a breach is made.
COUN'TERMURE, n. To fortify with a
wall behind another.
COUNTER-NATURAL, a. [counter and
natural.] Contrary to nature. Harvey.
COUNTER-NEGOTIA'TION, n. [counter
and negotiation.] Negotiation in opposi-
tion to other negotiation.
COUN'TERNOISE, n. [counter and noise.]
A noise or sound by which another noise
or sound is overpowered. Calamy.
COUNTER-OPENING, ,i. [counter and
opening.] An aperture or vent on the op-
posite side, or in a different place. Shai-p,
COUN'TERPACE, n. [counter and pace.]
A step or measure in opposition to anoth-
er ; contrary measure or attempt. Stvijt.
COUN'TERPALED, a. [counter and pale.]
In heraldry, is when the escutcheon is di-
vided into twelve pales parted perfesse,
the two colors being counterchanged ; so
that the upper and lower are of different
colors. Encyc.
COUN'TERPANE, n. A particular kind of
coverlet for a bed. [See Coiinterpoint.]
3. One part of an indenture. Obs.
B. Jonson.
COUN'TERPART, n. [counter and part.]
The correspondent part ; the part that an-
swers to another, as the two papers of a
contract or indentures ; a copy ; a dupli-
cate. Also, the part which fits another,
as the key of a cipher.
Addison. Johnson.
9. In music, the part to be applied to anoth-
er ; as, the base is the counterpart to the
reble. Bailey. Encyc.
COUNTERPAS'SANT, a. [counter and
passant] In heraldry, is when two hons in
a coat of arms are represented as going
contrary ways. Bailey. Encyc.
COUNTER-PETI "TION, n. A petition in
opposition to another. Clarendon.
c o u
C<">(iN'TERPLEA, n. [counter and plea.]
Ill law, a replication to a plea, or request
Cowel.
COUNTERPLOT', V. t. [counter and plot.]
To oppose one plot to another ;
tempt to frustrate stratagem by stratagein.
eOUN'TERPLOT, n. A plot or artifice op-
posed to another. L'E^trange.
eOUN'TERPLOTTING, n. A plotting in
opposition to u stratagem.
COUN'TERI'OINT, n. [Fr. contrepoiiUe ;
Arm. contrepoentenn ; contre and point.]
1. A coverlet ; a cover for a bed, stitclieil or
woven in squares ; written corruptly coim-
terpane.
1. In music, counterpoint is when the musi-
cal characters by which the notes in eacli
part are signified, are placed in such ii
maimer, each with respect to each, as ti:
show how the parts answer one to anoth-
er. Hence counterpoint in composition is
the art of combining and modulating con-
sonant sounds. Enci/c. Busby
3. An opposite point. Sandys.
COUNTERPOISE, v. t. s as :. [Fr. contre-
peser ; It. contrappesare ; Sp. contrapesnr ;
contre, contra, and peser, pesar, to weigh.
See Poise.]
1. To counterbalance ; to weigh against
with equal weight ; to be equiponderant
to ; to equal in weight.
The force and distance of weights counterpois-
I'ji^each other, ought to be reciprocal. Jiigby.
The heaviness of bodies must be counterpois-
ed by a plummet fastened about the pulley to
the axis. WUkins.
2. To act against \v\th equal power or ef-
fect ; to balance. The wisdom of the sen-
ate may be able to counterpoise the rash
impetuosity of a democratic house.
€OUN'TERPOISE, )i. [Fr. contrepoid^s ;
It. contrappeso ; Sp. contrapeso.]
1. Equal weight acting in opposition to
something ; equiponderance ; a weight
sufficient to balance another in the oppo-
site scale ; equal balance. Milton.
2. Equal power or force acting in opposi-
tion ; a force sufficient to balance another
force; equipollence.
The second nobles are a counterpoise to the I
higher nobility. Bacon.
3. In the manege, a position of the rider in
which his body is duly balanced in bis
seat, not inclined more to one side than
the other. Encyc.
COUN'TERPOISED, pp. Balanced by an
equivalent opposing weight, or by equal
power.
€OUN'TERPOISING, ppr. Balancing by
equal weight in the opposite scale, or by
equal power.
COUN'TERPOISON, n. s as r. [counter and
poison.] One poison that destroys the ef-
fect of another ; an antidote ; a medicine
that obviates the effects of poison.
Arbuthnot.
€OUNTERPRA€'TICE, n. Practice
position to another.
COUNTERPRESS'URE, n. [counter and
pressure.] Oj)posing pressure ; a force or
pressure that acts in a contrary dhection.
Blackmore.
COUN'TERPROJECT, n. [counter and
project]
A project, scheme or proposal, of one party,
lop-
c o u
given in opposition to another, before given
by the other party ; as in the negotiation
of a trcNity. Sivijl
COUN'TERPROOF, ?i. [counter ami proof .]
In rolling-press printing, a print taken ofl
from another fresh printed, which, by being
passed througli the press, gives the figure
ot' the former, but inverted. Encyc.
CODN'TERPROVE, v. t. [counter and
prove.']
To take off a design in black lead or red
chalk, by passing it through a rollin^
press with another piece of paper, both
being moistened with a sputige.
Chainbers.
cor VTF.R-R EVOLUTION,,!, a revolu-
i.'ii n|i|]ii-.il lo a former one, and restor-
I.,:. :i ruiirirr ,-tate of tilings.
t(tl XTl.a KKVOLU'TIONARY, a. Per-
taiiiing to a counter-revolution.
€OUXTER-REVOLU'TIONIST, n. One
Hi);i;aged in or befriending a counter-revo
Union.
COUN'TERROLL, n. [counter and roll.]
In law, a counterpart or copy of the rolls,
relating to appeals, inquests, &c. Bailey.
3. As a verb, this word is contracted into
control, which sec.
COUNTERRO'LMENT, n. A counter ac-
count. [See Control.]
COUNTER-SA'LIANT, a. [Fr. contre and
saillir, to leap.]
In heraldry, is when two beasts are borne in]
a coat leaping from each other. Bailey!
COUN'TERSCARP, n. [Fr. contrescarpe ■<
It. contrascarpa ; Sp. contraescarpa ; contre]
and escarpe, Scarpa, escarpa, a slope, from
the root of carve.]
In fortification, the exterior talus or slope of
the ditch, or the talus that supjiorts tliel
earth of the covered way: but it nftrn si^-'
nifies the whole covercil \v;iy, hiiIi its
parapet and glacis; as win n u l-^.^lll, ilic
enemy have lodged tli(iii~( U. < en the]
counterscarp. Harris. Encyc.l
COUN'TERSel'FFLE, n. Opposite sciif-j
fle: contest.
eOUN'TERSEAL, v.t. To seal with anotli-
Shak.l
€OTTNTER-SEeU'RE, v. t. [counter and'
secure.] To secure one who has given
securitv.
COUNTER-SE€U'RITY, n. Security given
to one who has entered into bonds or be-
come surety for another. Bailey.
€OUN'TERSENSE, n. Opposite meaning,
Hoicetl.
eOUN'TERSIGN, v. t. [counter and sign.
Literally, to sign on the opposite side o;
an instrument or writing'; hence, to sign
as secretary or other subordinate officer
a writing signed by a principal or superior
to attest the authenticity of the writing
Thus charters signed ''y a Icing are coun-
tersigned by a secretaiy. Bank notes
signed by the president are countersigned
bv the cashier.
COUNTERSIGN, n. A private signal, word
or phrase, given to soldiers on guard, with
orders to let no man pass unless he first
names that sign ; a military watchword.
Advance and give the countersign.
COUN'TERSIGNAL, n. A signal to answer
r correspond to another ; a naval term.
eOUNTER-SIG'NATURE, n. The name of
c o u
a secretary or other subordinate officer,
countersigned to a writing.
Below tlic Imperial name is commonly a
countersignature of one of the cabinet minis-
•ers- 7\>oke.
COUNTERSIGNED, pp. Signed by a sec-
retary or other subordinate officer.
COUNTERSIGNING, ppr. Attesting by
tlic sij;ii;iiiire of a subordinate officer.
COI.NTl.KSTAT'UTE, «. A contrary
statiiic. or ordinance. Miiton.
COIN TKKSTROKE, n. A contrary
stroke ; a stroke returned. Spenser.
COUNTER-SURETY, n. Acouoterbond,
or a surety to secure one that has given
.security.
eOUN'TERSWAY, n. Contrary sway ;
opposite influence. Miiton.
COUN'TERTALLY, n. A tally correspond-
ing to another.
COiiN'TERTASTE, n. [counter and taste.]
Opposite or false taste. ShenMoru.
COUNTERTEN'OR, ) [counter ami ten-
COUNTER, \ "■ or.] In music,
one ot the middle parts, between the tenor
and the treble ; high tenor.
COUN'TERTIDE, n. [counter and tide.]
do. Dryden.
COU.N TKRTIME, n. [counter and time.]
In the manege, the defense or resistance of
a horse that interrupts his cadence and
the measure of his manege, occasioned by
a bad horseman or the had temper of the
horse. Encyc.
9. Resistance; opposition. Drtiden.
COUN'TERTURN, n. The highth of a play,
which puts an end to expectation.
Dniden.
COUNTERVA'IL, v. t. [counter and L. valeo.
or be strong.]
To act against with equal force, or power :
to equal ; to act with o(|iiivalent effect
against any thing ; to balance ; to com-
pensate. -
The profit will hardly countervail tlic incon-
veniences.
Although tlie enemy could not countervail
the king's damage. Eslh. \ni.
eOUN'TERVAIL, n. Equal weight or
strength ; power or value sufficient to ob-
viate any effect ; equal weight or value ;
compensation ; requital.
Spenser. South.
COUNTERVAILED, pp. Acted against
with equal force or power; balanced;
compensated.
COUNTERVAILING, ppr. Opposijig with
equal strength or value ; balancing ; ob-
viating an effect.
COUN'TERVIEW, n. [cowiier and view.]
An ojiposite or opposing view ; opposition ;
a posture in which two persons front each
other. Milton.
2. Contrast ; a position in which two dissim-
ilar things illustrate each other by opposi-
Stcijl.
kote in oppo-
tion,
COUN'TERVOTE, v.t. To
sition ; to outvote. Scott.
COUNTERWEIGH, v. t. [See fVeigh.] To
weigh against ; to counterbalance.
^ischam.
COUN'TERVVHEEL, v. t. To cause tt)
wheel in an opposite direction.
COUN'TERWIND, n. Contrary wind.
COUNTERWORK'. [See ffork.] To vork
c o u
c o u
c o u
iii opposition to ; to counteract; to hinder
any effect by contrary operations.
That counterworks each folly and caprice.
Pope.
COUNTERWROUGHT, pp. counterraut' .
Counteracted ; opposed by contrary ac-
tion.
COUNT'ESS, n. [Ft: comiesse ; It. coniessa ;
Sp. condesa. See Count] The consort of
au earl or count.
COUNTING-HOUSE, ) [See Count, the
COUNTING-ROOM, ^ "• verb.]
The house or room appropriated by mer-
chants, traders and manufacturers to the
business of keeping their books, accounts,
letters and papers.
COUNT'LESS, a. [count txwl less.] That
cannot be counted ; not having tlie niuu-
ber ascertained, nor ascertainable ; innu-
merable. The sands of the sea-shore are
countless.
COUN'TRY, n. ku7i'tnj. [The correct or-
thography would be conlry, Fr. contrie,
It. contrada, contracted from L. conterra,
con and terra, land adjacent to a city.
Hence the citizen says, let us go into the
country. The Latin has conterraneus, a
countryman.]
1. Properly, the land lying about or near a
city ; the territory situated in the vicinity
of a city. Our friend has a seat in the
country, a few miles from town. See Mark
V. Liike viii. Hence,
•2. The whole territory of a kingdom or
state, as opposed to city. We say, tlie
gentleman has a seat in the country, at any
distance from town indefinitely. Hence,
3. Any tract of land, or inhabited land ; any
region, as distinguislied from other re-
gions ; a kingdom, state or lesser district.
We speak of all the countries of Europe or
Asia.
And they came into the country of Moab.
Ruth i.
4. The kingdom, state or territory in which
one is born ; tlie land of nativity ; or the
particular district indefinitely in which one
is born. America is my country, or Con-
necticut is my country.
Laban said, it must not be so done in our coun-
try. Gen. xxix.
5. The region in which one resides.
He sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country. Heb. xi.
6. Land, as opposed to water ; or inhabited
territory.
The shipmen deemed that they drew near to
some country. Acts xxvii.
5. The inhabitants of a region.
AU the country wept with a loud voice. 2
Sam. XV.
8. A place of residence ; a region of i)erma-
nent habitation.
They declare plainly that they seek a country.
Hell. xi.
They desire a better country, a heavenlv.
Heb. xi.
9. In laiv, a jury or jurors ; as, trial by tlic
country, per pais.
COUN'TRY, a. Pertaining to the country
or territory at a distance from a city ; ru
ral ; rustic ; as a country town ; a country
seat ; a country squire ; a country life ; the
country party, as opposed to city party.
2. Pertaining or peculiar to one's own coun
He spoke in his country language.
Maccabees.
3. Rude ; ignorant. Dryden.
Country-dance, an erroneous orthography.
[See Contra-dance.]
COUNTRYMAN, n. One born in the same
coinitry with another. This man is my
countryman. [See 2 Cor. xi. 26.]
3. One who dwells in the country, as oppo-
sed to a citizen ; a rustic ; a farmer or lius-
bandman ; a man of plain unpolished man-
ners.
3. An inhabitant or native of a region.
What countryman is he .'
COUN'TY, n. [Fr. comt^ ; Sp. condado ; It.
contia ; L. comitatus. See Count]
1. Originally, an earldom ; the district or ter-
ritory of a count or earl. Now, a circuit
or particular portion of a state or king-
dom, separated from the rest of the terri-
tory, for certain purposes in the adminis-jl
tration of justice. It is called also a shire.\'
[See Sliire.] Each county has its sheriff
and its court, with other officers employed
in the administration of justice and the
execution of the laws. In England there
are fifty two counties, and in each is a
Lord Lieutenant, who has command of the
militia. The several states of America are
divided by law into counties, in each of
which is a county court of inferior jurisdic
tion ; and in each, the supreme court of
the state holds stated sessions.
2. A count ; an earl or lord. 06*. Shak.
County court, the court whose jurisdiction is
limited to a county, whose powers, in
America, depend on statutes. In Eng-
land, it is incident to the jurisdiction of the
sheriff.
County palatine, in England, is a county dis-
tinguished by particular privileges ; so
called a palafio, the palace, because the
owner had originally royal powers, or the
same powers in the administration of jus-
tice, as tlie king had in his palace; but
their powers are now abridged. The
counties palatine, in England, are Lan-
caster, Chester and Durham.
County corporate, is a county invested with
particular privileges by charter or royal
grant ; as London, York, Bristol, &c.
COUN'TY, a. Pertaining to a county ; as
county court.
eoUPEC, n. [Fr. couper, to cut.] A mo-
tion in dancing, when one leg is a little
bent and suspended from the ground, and
with the other a motion is made forward.
Chambers.
COUP'LE, n. kup'pl [Fr. couple ; L. copula ;
It. Sp. id.; Arm. couUe ; D. loppel ; G.
kuppel ; kw.koppel; Ban. kobbel ; Heb.
bSD ; Ch. id. and 'jSp to double or fold ;
Syr. id.; Sam. to shut.]
1. Two of the same species or kind, and i
in ))lace, or considered together ; as a
couple of men ; a couple of oranges. I have
planted a couple of cherry trees. We can
not call a horse and an ox a couple, unless
we add a generic term. Of a horse and
ox feeding in a pasture, we should say,
couple ofariimals. Among huntsmen and
soldiers, brace is used for couple ; i
?rtace of ducks; a trace of pistols. Couple
differs from pair, which implies strictly.
not only things of the same kind, but like-
ness, equality or customary association.
A pair is a cotiple ; but a couple may or
may not be a pair.
2. Two things of any kind connected or
linked together.
3. A male and a female connected by mar-
riage, betrothed or allied ; as a married
couple ; a young couple.
4. That which links or connects two things
together; a chain.
COUP'LE, X). «. [Fr. coupler; Ucopulo; Sp.
copular ; It. copulare.]
1. To link, chain or connect one thing with
another ; to sew or fasten together.
Thou shall couple the curtains with taches.
Ex. xxvi.
2. To mari-y ; to wed ; to unite, as husband
and wife. Swifl.
COUPLE, V. i. To embrace, as the sexes.
Dryden .
COUP'LED, pp. United, as two things :
linked ; married.
COUP'LEMENT, H. Union. Spenser.
COUP'LET, n. cup'plet [Fr.] Two verses:
a pair of rhymes.
2. A division of a hymn or ode in which an
equal number or equal measure of verses
is found in each pi:rt, called a strophe.
3. A pair ; as a couplet of doves. [JVot used.]
Shak.
COUP'LING, ppr. Uniting in couples ; last-
eningor connecting together; embracing.
COUP'LING, n. That which couples or con-
nects. 2 Chron. x.x.\iv.
2. The act of coupling.
COUR'AgE, n. kur'rage. [Fr. from fffi'/ .
L. cor, the heart; "Arm. couraich ; Sp.
corage; Port, coragem ; ll. coraggio.]
Bravery ; intrepidity; that quality of mind
which enables men to encounter danger
and difficulties with firmness, or without
fear or depression of spirits ; valor ; bold-
ness ; resolution. It is a constituent part
of fortitude ; but fortitude implies patience
to bear continued suffering.
Cowage that grows from constitution, often
forsakes a man when he has occasion for it ;
courage which arises from a sense of dut}% acts
in a uniform manner. .Addison.
Be strong, and of good courage. Deut. xxxi.
COURA'GEOUS, a. Brave ; bold; daring;
intrepid ; hardy to encounter difficulties
and dangers ; adventurous ; enterprising.
Be thou strong and courageous. Josh. i.
COURA'6EOUSLY, adv. With courage;
bravely ; boldly ; stoutly.
C0URA'GE0USNESS,«. Courage; bold-
ness; bravery; intrepidity; spirit; valor.
COURANT', I „ [Fr. co'urante, running.]
COURAN'TO, ^ A piece ofmusic in triple
time; also, a kind of dance, consisting of
a time, a step, a balance and a coupee.
Encyc.
2. The title of a newspaper.
COURAP', n. A distemper in the East In-
dies; a kind of herpes or itch in the arm-
pits, groin, breast and face. Encyc.
COURB, V. i. [Fr. courier.] To bend. [M>t
in use.]
COURB, a. Crooked. [J^U in use.]
COURBARIL, n. Gum anime, which flows
from the HyinensBa,a treeof South Amer-
ica ; used for varnishing. Fourcroy.
COUR'IER, ji. [Fr. courier, from courir, to
run, L. curro.]
c o u
c o u
c o u
^ messenger sent express, for conveying let-
ii'is or dispatches ou public business.
< OIRSE, n. [Fr. course; Sp. curso ; It
nirso ; Ir. cursa ; from L. cursus, from curro,
to run, W. gi/ni, Ens. hurry. See Class
Gr. No. 7. 1.1 aa. 34.]
1. In its freneral sense, a passing ; a moving,
or motion forward, in a direct or curving
line ; applicable to any body or substance,
bolid or fluid.
Applied to animals, a running, or walk-
ing ; a race ; a career ; a passing, or pass-
age, with any degree of swiftness indefi-
nitely.
Applied to fluids, u flowing, as in a stream
in any direction ; as a straight course, or
winding course. It is applied to water or
other liquids, to air or wind, and to light,
in the sense of motion or passing.
Applied to solid bodies, it signifies motion
or passing ; as the course of a rolling stone ;
the course of a carriage ; the course of the
earth in its orbit.
Applied to navigation, it signifies a pass-
ing or motion on water, or in balloons in
air ; a voyage.
2. The direction of motion ; line nf advan-
cing; point of compass, in wliirli iiintinn i-
directed; as, what course shall ilir |)il(j|
steer? In technical languafjc, (lie ai
contained between the nearest meridian
and that pointof compass on which a ship
sails in any direction. Mar. Diet.
3. Ground on which a race is run.
4. A passing or process; the progress of any
thing ; as the course of an argument, or of
a debate ; a course of thought or reflexion.
5. Order of proceeding or of passing from
an ancestor to an heir ; as the course of
descent in inheritance.
6. Order ; turn ; class ; succession of one to
another in office, or duty.
The chief fathers of every course. 1 Chron
xxvii.
Solomon appointed the courses of the priests
2 Chron. viii.
7. Stated and orderly method of proceeding ;
usual manner. He obtained redress in
due course of law. Lea\ e nature to Jiei
course.
8. Series of successive and methodical pro-
cedure ; a train of acts, or applications
as a course of medicine administered.
9. A methodical series, applied to the arts or
sciences ; a systemized order of principles in
arts or sciences, for illustration or instruc-
tion. We say, the author has completed
a course of principles or of lectures in phi-
losophy. Also, the order pursued by a
student ; as, he has completed a course of
studies in law or physics.
10. Manner of proceeding ; way of life or
conduct; deportment; series of actions.
That I might finish my course with joy.
Acts XX.
Their course is evil. Jcr. xxiil.
11. Lineof conduct ; manner of proceeding;
as, we know not what course to ])ursue.
12. Natural bent ; propensity ; uncontrolled
will. Let not a perverse child take his
own course.
13. Tilt; actof running in the lists.
14. Orderly structure ; system.
The tongue settcth on tiie the course of na-
• tare. J-ames iii. '
15. Any regular series. In architecture, a
continued range of s
! hightli, Ihrougli
level or ol tht
!• whole lengtl;
of the building, and not iiitcniipted by any
aperture. A laying (illiricks. &c.
IC. The dishes set on table at one time; ser-
vice of meat.
17. Regularity; order; regular
as, let the classes follow in course
18. Empty form ; as, coni|iliments are often
words of course.
Of course, by consequence ; in rcgula
natural order ; in the commou manner of
proceeding ; without special direction or
provision. This effect will follow of course
If the defendant resides not in the state.
lofc
the cause i.-s ci
€OURSEt^, n. ,
sails, as the njaiii >:iil, lijre sail, and mizen ;
sometimes the ntiriii' i.s given to the stay
sails on the lower masts; also to the main
stay sails of all brigs and schooners.
Mar. Did
2. Catamenia ; menstrual flux.
COURSE, V. t. To hunt ; to pursue ; tc
chase.
We coursed him at the heels. Shale
2. To cause to run ; to force to move with
sjieed. Ma;;.
■i. To run through or over.
The blood courses the winding arteries.
The bounding steed courses tlie dusty plain.
COURSE, v.i. To run ; to move with speed :
to run or move about ; as, the blood coxirses,
Shak
The grayhounds coursed through the fields.
COURSED, /ip. Hunted; chased; pursued;
caused to run.
COURSER, n. A swift horse; a runner; a
war-horse ; a tcord used chiefly inpoelry.
Dry den. Pope.
2. One who hunts; one who pursues the
sport of coursing hares. Johnson
3. A disputant. [Mt in use.] Wood.
COURSEY, n. Part of the hatches in a gal-
ley. Sherwood.
COVKBING, ppr. Hunting; chasing; run-
ning ; flowing; compelling to run.
COURSING, n. The act or sport of chasing
and hunting hares, foxes or deer,
COURT, n. [Sax. curt; Fr. four; Arm. court ;
It. corte ; Sp. corte ; Port, corte ; L. curia ; Ir.
cuirt. The primary sense and application
are not perfectly obvious. Most probably
the word is from a verb which signifies to
go round, to collect. W. cut, a circle ;
Ar. \^ to go round, to collect, to bind
Hence apphed to a yard or inclosure. See
Class Gr. No. 32. 34. It may i)ossibly be
allied to yard, Goth, gards ; or it may be
derived from a verb signifying to cut off
or separate, and primarily signify tl
fence that cuts off or excludes access. The
former is most probable.]
A place in front of a house, inclosed by a
wall or fence ; in popular language, a
court-yard. Bacon. Dryden.
2. A space inclosed by houses, broader than
a street ; or a space forming a kind of re-
cess from a public street.
3. A palace ; the place of residence of a king
or sovereign prince. Europe.
4. The hall, chamber or place where justice
administered.
St. Paul was brouglit into the highest court
in Athens. Mterlniry.
5. Persons who compose the retinue or
council of a king or emperor. Temple.
C. The persons or judges assembled for
hearing and deciding causes, civil, crimi-
nal, military, naval or ecclesiastical ; as a
court of law; a court of chancery ; a court
martial; a court of admiralty ; an ecclesi-
asticaT court; court baron ; &.c. Hence,
7. Any jurisdiction, civil, miUtary or eccle-
siastical.
8. The art of pleasing ; the art of insinua-
tion; civility; flattery ; address to gain fa-
vor. Hence the phrase, to make court, to
attempt to please by flattery and address.
9. In scnpture, an inclosed part of the en-
trance into a palace or house. The taber-
nacle had one court; the temple, three.
The first was the court of the Gentiles;
the second, the court of Israel, in which
the people worshiped ; the third was the
court of the ])riests, where the priests and
Le\ itcs exercised their ministry. Hence
places of public worship are called the
cotirts of the Lord.
10. In the U. Stales, a legislature consisting of
two houses; as the Genera/ Court of Alas-
saihusetts. The. original constitution of
Connecticut estabhshed a General Court
in 163i). B. Trumbull.
11. A session of the legislature.
COURT, V. t. In a general sense, to flatter ;
to endeavor to please by civilities and ad-
dress ; a use of the word derived from the
manners of a court.
a. To woo ; to solicit for marriage.
A thousand court you, though they court in
vain. Pope.
3. To attempt to gain by address ; to solicit ;
to seek ; as, to court connncndation or ap-
plause.
eOURT-BAR'ON, n. A baron's court; a
court incident to a manor. Blackstone.
COURT-BRED, a. [See Breed.] Bred at
court. Churchill.
COURT-BREEDING, n. Education at a
court. Milton.
COURT-BUBBLE, n. The trifle of a court.
COURT-CHAPLAIN, n. A chaplain to a
kins or prince.
COURT-CUPBOARD, n. The sideboard of
ancient days. Shak.
COURT-DAY, n. A day in which a court
sits to administer justice.
COURT-DRESS, n. A dress suitable for an
ppearance at court or levee.
COURT-DRESSER, n. A flatterer.
Locke.
COURT-FASHION, n. The fashion of a
court. Fuller.
€0URT-F.\VOR, n. A favor or benefit be-
stowed bv a court or prince. L'Estrange.
COURT-HAND, n. The hand or manner of
writing used in records and judicial pro-
ceedings. Shak.
COURT-HOUSE, n. A house in which es-
tablished courts are held, or a house ap-
propriated to courts and public meetings.
America.
COURT-LADY, n. A lady who attends or
is conversant in court.
COURT-LEET, n. A court of record held
onco a year, in a particular hundred, lord-
c o u
^lii]) or manor, before the steward of tlie
Ic't. Blackstone
eOURT-IVrARTIAL, n. A court consisting
of military or naval officers, for the trial of
offences of a military character.
COURTED, pp. Flattered ; wooed ; solicited
in marriage ; songht.
€OURT'EOUS, a. hirt'eous. [from court
Fr. courtois ; It. coriese; Sp. co)-/es.]
1. PoUte ; wellbred ; being of elegant man-
ners; civil; obliging; condescending ; a^-
plied to persons.
a. Polite ; civil : graceful ; elegant ; com-
plaisant ; applied to manners, &c.
€OURT'EOUSLY, adv. In a courteous
manner ; with obliging civility and con
descension ; complaisantly.
COURT'EOUSNESS, n. Civility of man
ners ; obhging condescension ; complai
COURTER, ?(. One who courts; one who
solicits in marriage. Sherwood.
€OURT'ESAN, n. kuH'ezan. [Fr. courtisane ;
Sp. corlesana ; from court.]
A prostitute ; a woman who prostitutes her-
self for hire, especially to men of rank.
€OURT'ESY, n. kurt'esy. [Fr. courtoisk ;
Sp. It. cortesia ; Port, cortezia ; from Fr.
courtois, Sp. cortes, courteous, from court.]
1. Elegance or politeness of manners ; espe-
cially, politeness connected with kindness ;
civility ; complaisance ; as, the gentleman
shows great courtesy to strangers ; he
treats his friends with great courtesy.
a. An act of civility or respect ; an act of
kindness or favor performed with polite
ness. Shah. Bacon.
3. The act of civility, respect or reverence,
performed by a woman ; a fall or inclina-
tion of the body, corresponding in design
to the bow of a gentleman. Dryden.
4. A favor ; as, to hold upon courtesy, that
is, not of right, but by indulgence.
Tenure by courtesy or curtesy, is where a
man marries a woman seized of an estate
of inheritance, and has by her issue born
alive, which was capable of inheriting her
estate ; in this case, on the death of hisj
wife, he holds the lands for his life, as ten-
ant by eurtesy. Blackstone.
eOURT'ESY, V. i. To perform an act of
civility, respect or reverence, as a woman.
Note. This word was formerly applied to
the other sex ; but is now used only of
the acts of reverence or civility, perform
ed by women.
COURT'ESY, i>. /. To treat with civility
[J^ot in use.]
COURTIER, n. ko'rtyur. [from court.] A
man who attends or frequents the courts
of princes. Bacon. Dryden.
2. One who courts or solicits the favor of
another ; one who flatters to please ; one
uho possesses the art of gaining favor by
address and complaisance.
There was not among all our princes a greater
courJierofthe people than Richard III. Suchling.
COURTIER Y, n. The manners of a court-
B. Jonson.
Flattering ; attempting to
i ; wooing ; soliciting in
C O V
COURTLING, ra. A courtier; a retainer to
a court. B. Jonson.
COURTLY, a. [couH and like.] Relating to
a court ; elegant ; polite with dignity ; ap-
plied to men and manners ; flattering, ap-
plied to language. Pope.
COURTLY, adv. In the manner of courts ;
elegantly ; in a flattering manner.
COURTSHIP, n. The act of soliciting favor.
Swifl.
2. The act of wooing in love ; solicitation of|
woman to marriage. Dryden.
3. Civility ; elegance of manners. Obs.
Donne.
COUSIN, n. kuz'n. [Fr. cousin. Qu. con-
tracted from L. consobrinus or consangui-
neus, or is it allied to the Persian
W^.)-
relatcd, kindred.]
[Afot used.]
ITI
COURTING, ppc
gain by addre
marriage.
COURTLIKE, a
COURTLINESS
gance of
ity ; complaisance with dignity. Digby.
Polite ; elegant. Camden
n. [See Courtly.] Ele-
gi'ace of mien ; civil
jl. In a general sense, one collaterallj' rela-
ted more remotely than a brother or sis-
ter. But,
3. .Ippropriately, the son or daughter of an
uncle or aunt; the children of brothers
and sisters being usually denominated
cousins or cousin-germans. In the second
generation, they are called second cous-
ins.
■i. A title given by a king to a nobleman,
particularly to those of the council.
Johnson.
COUSIN, a. kuz'n. Allied. Obs. Chaucer
COVE, 71. [Sax. cof, cofe, an inner room, c
den. Qu. Obs. L. covum. The Spanish
has the word with the Arabic prefix, ah
coba, an alcove ; Port, alcova ; It. alcovo.
It may be allied to cubby, W. civb, a hollow
place, a cote or kennel ; or to cave, Ar.
4_^3 to arch, or ^la to make hollow.]
A small inlet, creek or bay ; a recess in the
sea shore, where vessels and boats may
sometimes be sheltered from the winds
and waves.
COVE, V. t. To arch over; as a corerf ceiling.
Swinburne
CO'VENABLE, a. [Old Fr.] Fit ; suitable
~ Obs. Wickliffe.
COVENANT, n. [Fr. convenant, the parti-
ciple o^ convenir, to agree, L. convenio, con
and venio, to come ; Norm, conevence, a
covenant; It. convenzione, from L. con-
ventio. Literally, a coming together ;
meeting or agreement of minds.]
1. A mutual consent or agreement of two or
more persons, to do or to forbear some
act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A
covenant is created by deed in writing,
sealed and e.xecuted ; or it may be imphed
in the contract. Encyc. Blackstone.
2. A writing containing the terms of agree-
ment or contract between parties ; or the
clause of agreement in a deed containing
the covenant.
3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that
implied in the commands, 'prohibitions, and
promises of God ; the promise of God to
man, that man's perfect obedience should
entitle him to happiness. This do, and
live ; that do, and die.
The covenant of redemption,\s the mutual
agreement between the Father and Son,
respecting the redemption of siimers by
Christ.
C O V
The covenant of grace, is that by which
God engages to bestow salvation on man,
upon the condition that man shall beheve
in Christ and yield obedience to the terms
of the gospel. Cruden. Encyc.
4. In church affairs, a solemn agreement be-
tvveen the members of a church, that they
will walk together according to the pre-
cepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection
COVENANT, V. i. To enter into a formal
agreement ; to stipulate ; to bind one's
self by contract. A covenants with B to
convey to him a certain estate. When
the terms are expressed, it has /or before
the thing or price.
They covenanted with him for thirty pieces
of silver. Matth. xxvi.
COVENANT, V. t. To grant or promise by
covenant.
COVENANTED, pp. Pledged or promised
by covenant.
COVENANTEE', »^. The person to whom
covenant i;- made. Blackstoni .
COVENANTING, ppr. Making a cove
He who makes a cov
enant. Blackstont
CO' VENOUS, ) „ [See Covin.] Collusive ;
CO' VINOUS, <, "• fraudulent ; deceitful :
as a covenous lease of lands. Bacon.
COVER, V. t. [Fr. couvrir; Sp. Port, cubrir :
It. coprire; Norm, coverer and converer :
from L. cooperio.]
1. To overspreail the surface of a thing with
another substance ; to lay or set over ; as,
to cover a table with a cloth, or a floor with
a carpet.
The valleys are covered with com. Ps. l.xv.
The locusts shall cover the face of the earth .
Ex. X.
2. To hide ; to conceal by something over-
spread.
If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me—
Ps. cxxxix.
3. To conceal by some intervening object;
as, the enemy was covered from our sight by
a forest.
4. To clothe ; as, to cover with a robe or
mantle ; to cover nakedness. 1 Sam. xxviii.
14. Ex. xxviii. 42.
5. To overwhelm.
The waters covered the chariots and horse-
men. Ex. xiv.
Let them be covered with reproach. Ps.
Ixxi.
To conceal from notice or punishment.
Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1
Pet. iv.
To conceal ; to refrain from disclosing or
confessing.
He that covereth his sin shall not prosper.
Prov. xxviii.
8. To pardon or remit.
Blessed is he whose sin is covered. Ps.
xxxii.
9. To vail, applied to women. 1 Cor. xi.
To wear a hat, applied to men. Be cov-
ered, sir.
10. To wrap, infold or envelop ; as, to cover
a |)ackage of goods.
11. To shelter; to protect; to defend. A
squadron of horse covered the troops on
the retreat.
.And the soft wings of peace cowec him around.
Cowlt-y.
2. To brood ; to incubate ; as, a hen cover-
ing her eggs. Addison.
C O V
C O V
c o w
J 3. To copulate with a feinale.
14. To equul, or be of equal extent ; to be
equivalent to ; as, the receipts do not cover
the expenses; a mercantile use of the word.
15. To djsguise ; to conceal hypocritically.
16. To include, embrace or comprehend,
This land was covei-ed by a mortgage.
Johnsori's Rep.
COVER, n. Any thing which is laid, set or
spread over another thing ; as the cover of
a vessel; the cover of a bed.
2. Any thing which vails or conceals ;
screen ; disguise ; superficial appearance.
Affected gravity may serve as a ewer for
a deceitful heart.
3. Shelter ; defense ; protection. The troops
fought under cover of the batteries.
4. Concealment and protection. The army
advanced under cover of the night.
5. Slielter ; retreat ; in hunting.
■eOV'ERCMIEF, 71. A covering for the
head. Obs. Chaucer.
€OV'ER€LE, n. [Fr.] A small cover; a lid,
COV'ERED, pp. Spread over ; hid ; con-
cealed; clothed; vailed; having a hat on ;
wrapped ; inclosed ; sheltered ; protected :
disguised.
COVERING, ppr. Spreading over ; laying
over ; concealing ; vailing ; clothing ;
wrapping ; inclosing ; protecting ; dis-
guising.
COVERING, n. That which covers; any
thing spread or laid over another, whether
for security or concealment.
Noah removed tlic covering of the ark. Gen.
He spread a cloud for a covering. Ps. cv.
Destruction hath no covering. Job xxvi.
2. A cover ; a lid.
Every open vessel that hath no covering.
Numb. xix.
3. Clothing ; raiment ; garments ; dress.
They cause the naked to lodge without cloth-
ing, that they have no covering in the cold.
Job xxiv.
COVERLET, n. [cover, and Fr. lit, a bed.]
The cover of a bed ; a piece of furniture
designed to be spread over all the other
covering of a bed. Dryden.
COVER-SHAME, n. Something used to
conceal infamy. Dryden.
COVERT, a. [Fr. couveH, participle of cou-
vrir, to cover.]
■1. Covered; hid; private; secret; conceal-
ed.
Whether of open war, or covert guile.
.Milton.
2. Disguised ; insidious.
3. Sheltered ; not open or exposed ; as a
covert alley, or place. Bacon. Pope.
4. Under cover, authority or protection ;
a feme-covert, a married woman who
considered as being under the influence
and protection of her husband.
COVERT, ?!. A covering, or covering place ;
a place whicli covers and shelters ; a shel-
ter ; a defense.
A tabernacle — for a covert from storm and
rain. Isa. iv.
I will trust m the covert of thy wings. Ps.
Ixi.
2. A thicket ; a shady place, or a hiding
place. I Sam. xxv. Job sxxviii.
COVERTLY, adv. Secretly ; closely ; in
private ; insidiously.
■. Among the poets, Persius covertly strikes at
Nero. Drydm.
Vol. I.
COVERTNESS, n. Secrecy ; privacy. ,
COVERTURE, n. Covering ; shelter ; de-|
fense. Milton. Bacon.l
2. In law, the state of a married woman, wliol
is considered as under coi'er, or the power
of her husband, and therefore called ul
feme-cnvert, or femme-couvert. The covert-
ure of a woman disables her from making'
contracts to the prejudice of herself or
husband, without his allowance or confir-
mation.
COVERT- WAY, n. In fortif cation, a space
of ground level with the field, on the edge
of the ditch, three or four fathoms broad,
ranging quite round the half moons or oth-
er works, towards the country. It has a
parapet raised on a level, together with its
banquets and glacis. It is called also the
corridor, and sometimes the counterscarp,
because it is on the edge of the scai-p.
Harris. Encyc.
COVET, V. t. [Fr. convoiler, to covet ; Norm.
coveitant, covetous ; covetise, greediness ;
\V. cybyz, a covetous man ; cybyzu, to cov-
et, riie Welsh word is pronounced cy-
bythu ; and cy has the power of con, and
may be a contraction of it. The last con-
stituent part of the word coincides in ele-
ments with the Latin peto, and more near-
ly with the Gr. ttoeto, to desire.]
1. To desire or wish for, with eagerness ; to
desire earnestly to obtain or possess ; in a
good sense.
Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Cor. xii.
2. To desire inordinately ; to desire that
which it is unlawful to obtain or possess ;
in a bad sense.
Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house,
wife or servant. Ex. xx.
COVET, V. i. To have an earnest desire.
1 Tim. vi.
COVETABLE, a. That may be coveted.
COVETED, pp. Earnestly desired ; great
ly wisho<l or longed for.
COVETING, ppr. Earnestly desiring or
wishing for ; desiring inordinately to ob-
tain or possess.
COVETING, n. Inordinate desire. Sliak.
COVETISE, n. Avarice. [Ao< in use.}
1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old fowl
with her brood of young. Hence, a small
flock or number of fowls together : as a
covey of partridges. Addison.
2. A company ; a set.
CO'VIN, n. [Qu. Ar.
gabana
COV'ETOUS, a. [Fr. convoiteux.-] Very de
sirous ; eager to obtain ; in a good sense
as covetous of wisdom, virtue or leaming.
Taylor. Shak
2. Inordinately desirous ; excessively eager
to obtain and possess; directed to mon-
ey or goods, avaricious.
A bishop then must not be covetous. 1 Tim
COVETOUSLY, adv. AVith a strong or in-
ordinate desire to obtain and possess ; ea-
gerly; avaricioush'.
COVETOUSNESS, n. A strong or inor-
dinate desire of obtaining and possessing
some supposed good ; rtsurdly in a bad
sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of
wealth or avarice.
Out of the heart proceedeth covetousness
Mark vU.
Mortify your members— and covetoustiess
which is idolatr}\ Col. iii.
2. Strong desire ; eagerness. Shak
COV'EY, n. [Fr. couvee, a brood ; couver, to
sit on or brood, to lurk or lie hid ; It
covare ; Sp. cobijar, to brood, to cover ; L
cubo, incubo. See Clasa Gb. No. 14. 25
31. 36. 88.]
51
defraud. More probably this word be-
longs to some verb in Gb. signifying to
conceal, or to agree. In Norm. Fr. covyne
is a secret place or meeting.]
In law, a collusive or deceitful agreement
between two or more to prejudice a third
person. Encyc. Cotoel.
CO'VING, n. [See Cove.] In building, a
term denoting an arch or arched projec-
ture, as when houses are built so as to
project over the ground-plot, and the turn-
ed projecture arched with timber, lathed
and plastered. Harris. Johnson.
CO'VINOUS, a. Deceitful ; collusive ; fraud-
ulent.
COW, n. phi. cows; old plu. kine. [Sax.
cu ; D. koe ; G. kuh ; Sw. ko ; Dan. koe : L.
ceva ; Hindoo gaj, or gou : Pers. koh ;
Palilavi,g'ao ; Sans. go, a cow, and gau, an
ox; godama, a cowherd.]
The female of the bovine genus of animals;
a quadruped with cloven hoofs, whose
! milk furnishes an abundance of food and
profit to the farmer.
Sea-cow, the Manatus, a species of the Tri-
; chechus. [See Sea-coio.]
COW, V. t. [Qu. Ice. kufwa, or kuga, to de-
j press.] To depress with fear; to sink the
! spirits or courage ; to oppress with habit-
ual timidity. Shak.
JCOW'-BANE, n. [cow and bane.] A popu-
j lar name of the JEthusa cynapium.
C0W'H.\GE, ^ _ a leguminous plant of
COW-ITCH, p- the genus Z>o/kAo«, a na-
tive of warm climates. It has a fibrous
root and an herbaceous cUmbing stalk, with
red papilionaceous flowers, and legumin-
ous, coriaceous pods, crooked and cov-
ered with sharp hairs, which penetrate the
skin, and cause an itching. Encyc.
COWHERD, n. [See Herd.] One whose
occupation is to tend cows.
COW'-HOUSE, n. A house or builduig in
which cows are kept or stabled.
Mortimer.
COW-KEEPER, ji. One whose business
is to keep cows. Broome.
COW-LEECH, n. [See Leech.] One who
professes to heal the diseases of cows.
COW'-LEECHING, n. The act or art of
healing the distemi>ers of cows.
Mortimer.
COW'-LICK, n. A tuft of hair that
pears as if licked by
COW'-PARSNEP, n. A plant of the genus
Heracleum.
COW-PEN, n. A pen for cows.
COW-POX, >i. The vaccine disease.
COW-QUAKES, n. Quaking
Briza, a genus of plants.
COWSLIP, ) A plant of the genus Pri-
COW'S-LIP, ^ ■ mula, or primrose, of sev-
eral varieties. The American cowshp be-
longs to the genus Dodecatheon ; the Je-
rusalem and moimtaiu cowshp, to the ge-
nus Puhiionaiiu.
COW'S -LUNGWORT,
genus Verbascum.
ap-
grass, the
A plant of the
cow
C R A
C R A
€OW'-WEED, 71. A plain of the genus
Chffiro|)liylluni, or chervil.
COW-WHEAT, n. A plant of the genus
Melanipyrum.
eOW'ARD, n. [Fr. couard; Arm. couhard;
Sp. andPort. cobarde. The original French
orthography was culvert, and it has been
supposed to be from culum vertere, to turn
the tail. This suggestion receives coun-
tenance from the corresponding word in
Italian, codardo, codardia, which would
seem to be from coda, the tail ; and it de-
rives confirmation from the use of the
word in heraldry. In Welsh, it is cagan,
cafgi, from the same root as L. caco.]
1. A person who wants courage to meet
danger ; a poltroon ; a timid or pusillani-
mous man.
A coteard does not always escape with dis-
giace, but sometimes loses his life. South.
2. In heraldry, a term given to a lion borne
in the escutcheon with his tail doubled
between his legs. Encyc.
COW'ARD, a. Destitute of courage; timid;
base ; as a coward wretch.
3. Proceeding from or expressive of fear, or
timidity ; as coward cry : coward joy.
Shak. Prior.
COWARDICE, 71. [Fr. couardise ; Sp. co-
bardia.] Want of courage to face dan-
ger ; timidity ; pusillanimity ; fear of ex-
posing one's person to danger.
C'owctrdice alone is loss of fame. Dryden.
Did cowardice ; did injustice ever save a
sinking state. Ames.
COW'ARDLIKE, a. Resembling a cow-
ard ; mean.
COWARDLINESS, n. Want of courage
timidity ; cowardice.
COWARDLY, a. Wanting courage to
face danger ; timid ; timorous ; fearful
pusillanimous. Bacon
2. Mean ; base ; befitting a coward ; as a
cowardly action.
3. Proceeding from fear of danger ; as cow-
ardly silence. South
COWARDLY, adv. In the manner of a
coward ; meanly ; basely. Knolles.
COW'ARDOUS, 'a. Cowardly. [Mt used.]
Barret.
COWARDSHIP, n. Cowardice. [M>t
used.] Shak.
COWER, V. i. [W. cwrian, to squat, or
cower ; cwr, a circle ; G. kauern. See
Class Gr. No. 32. 34. 37.]
To sink by bending the knees ; to crouch
to squat ; to stoop or sink downwards.
Our dame sits cowering o"er a kitchen fire.
Dn/dei
COWER, V. I. To cherish with care. '[M'ol
used.] Spenser.
COW'ISH, a. Timorous; fearful; coward
ly. {Uttle used.] Shak
COWL, n. [contracted from Sax. cugle,
cugele ; L. cucullus ; Ir. cochal ; Sp. cogtdla
Port, cogula, citcxda.]
1. A monk's hood, or habit, worn by the
Bernardines and Benedictines. It is ei
ther white or black.
What differ more, you cry, than crown and
cowl ? Pope.
2. A vessel to be carried on a pole betwixt
two persons, for the conveyance of water
Johnson
COWL'-STAFF, Ji. A staff or pnle on
which a vessel is supported between two
persons. Sucklin
COWL'ED, a. Wearing a cowl ; hooded ;
in shape of a cowl, as a cowled leaf.
COW'LIKE, a. Resembling a cow. Pope.
CO-WORK'ER, n. One that works witli
another ; a co-operator.
COWRY, 71. A small shell, the Cyprwa mo-
neta, used for coin in Africa and the East
Indies.
COX'CO.'WB, n. [cock's comb.] The top of
the head. Shak.
2. The comb resembhng that of a cock,
which licensed fools wore formerly in
their caps. Shak.
3. A fop ; a vain showy fellow ; a superficial
pretender to knowledge or accomplish-
ments. Dryden. Pope.
4. A kind of red flower ; a name given to a
species of Celosia, and some other plants.
COX'COMBLY, a. Like a coxcomb. [JVo<
used.] Beawn.
COXCOM'ICAL, a. Foppish ; vain ; con
ceited ; a low word.
COY, a. [Fr. coi, or coy, quiet, still, con
tracted probably from the L. quietus or its
root, or from ca.uttis.]
Modest ; silent ; reserved ; not accessible ;
shy ; not easily condescending to familiar-
ity.
Like Daphne she, as lovely and as coy.
Waller.
COY, V. i. To behave with reserve ; to be
silent or distant ; to refrain from speech
or free intercourse. Dryden.
2. To make difficulty ; to be backward or
unwilling ; not freely to condescend.
Shak
3. To smooth or stroke. Shak.
COY, for decoy, to allure. [Aot in use.]
Shak.
eOY'ISH, a. Somewhat coy, or reserved.
eOY'LY, culv. With reserve; with dis'
clination to familiarity. Chapiih
COY'NESS, 71. Reserve ; unwillingness
become familiar; disposition to avoid free
intercourse, by silence or retirement.
When the kind nymph would coyness feign,
And hides but to be found again. Dryden
COYS'TREL, 7J. A species of degenerate
' awk. Drydtn
COZ. A contraction of cousin. Shak
COZ'EN, v.t. cuz'n. [Qu. Arm. cougzyeia
couchiein, concheza, to cheat, or to waste
and fritter away. In Russ. koznodei is a
cheat. Qu. chouse and cheat.]
1. To cheat ; to defraud.
He that suffers a government to be abused by
carelessness and neglect, does the same thing
w ith him that corruptly sets himself to cozen it .
L'Estrange.
2. To deceive ; to beguile.
Children may be cozened into a knowledge
of the letters. Locke.
COZ'ENAtiE, n. Cheat; trick; fraud; de-
ceit; artifice; the practice of cheating.
Dn/den. Sicijl.
COZ'ENED, pp. Cheated ; defrauded ; be-
guiled.
COZ'ENER, n. One who cheats, or de-
frauds.
COZ'ENING, ppr. Cheating ; defrauding ;
beguiling.
CRAB, n. [Sax. crabba and hrefen ;
krabba ; Dan. krabbe, krcsbs ; D. krab.
kreefl ; G. krabbe, krebs ; Fr. ecrevisse ; W
crav, claws; cravavc, a crab; cravu, U
scratdi ; Gr. xapagoj ; L. carabxis. It may
be allied to the Ch. 3-0 kerabh, to plow
Eng. to grave, engrave, L. scribo, Gr
ypoijju, literally, to scrape or scratch. See
Class Rb. No. 30. 18. &c.]
1. A crustaceous fish, the cray-fish. Cancer, a
genus containuig numerous species. They
have usually ten feet, two of which are
furnished with claws ; two eyes, pedun-
culated, elongated and movable. To this
genus belong the lobster, the shrimp, &c.
2. A wild apjile, or the tree j)roducing it ; so
named from its rough taste.
3. A peevish morose person. Johnson.
4. A wooden engine with three claws for
lanchiiig ships and heaving them into the
dock. Phillips.
5. A pillar used sometimes for the same pur-
se as a capstan. Mar. Did.
6. Cancer, a sign in tlie zodiac.
Crab's claws, in the materia medica, the tips
of the claws of the common crab; used as
absorbents. Encyc.
Crab's eyes, in pharmacy, concretions form-
ed in the stomach of "the cray-fisb. They
are rounded on one side, and depressed
and einuated on the other, considerably
heavy, moderately hard, and without
smell. They are absorbent, discussive
and diuretic. Encyc.
Crab-lice, small insects that stick fast to the
skin.
CRAB, a. Sour ; rough ; austere. [Qu
frail, supra, or L. acerbu^.]
CRAB'-APPLE, n. A wild apple. [See
Crab, No. 9.]
CRAB'-GRASS, 71. A genus of plants, the
Digitaria. Muhlenberg.
CRAB'-TREE, 77. The tree that bears
crabs. Shak.
CRAB'-YAWS, 77. The name of a disease
in the West Indies, being a kind of ulcer
on the soles of the feet, with hard callous
lips. Encyc.
CRAB'BED, a. [from crai.] Rough; harsh;
austere : sour ; peevish ; morose ; cynical ;
applied to the temper. Shak.
2. Rough ; harsh ; applied to things.
3. Diti;ciilt; perplexing; as a eroWerf author
subject. Dryden.
CRAB'BEDLY, adv. Peevishly ; roughly ;
morosely ; with perplexity. Johnson.
CRAB'BEDNESS, 7i. Roughness ; harsh-
ness.
2. Sourness ; peevishness ; asperity.
Difficulty ; perplexity.
CRAB'BY, a. Difficult. Moxon.
CRAB'ER, 71. The water-rat. H'allon.
CRACK, V. t. [Fr. craquer ; D. kraaken ; G.
krachen ; Dan. krakker ; It. croccare ; W.
rhecain ; Sp. rajar ; Port, rachar ; probably
from the root of break, tcreek, and coinci-
ding with the Gr. fpsixu, priyniu ; also with
Eng. creak, croak. The W. has also crig, a
crack, from rhig, a notch. Owen. See
Class Rg. No. 34.]
1. To rend, break, or burst into chinks ; to
break partially ; to divide the parts a lit-
tle from each other ; as, to crack a hoard
or a rock : or to break without an entire
severance of the parts ; as, to crack glass,
or ice.
2. To break in pieces ; as, to crack nuts.
3. To break with grief; to aflect deeply ; to
pain; to torture; as, to crack the heart.
We now use break, or 7e7irf. Shak.
4. To open and drink ; as, to crack a bottle
of wine. [Loic]
C R A
C R A
C R A
t>. To thrust out, or cast with smartness ; as,|
to crack a joke.
G. To snap ; to make a sharp sudden noise ;
as, to crack a whip.
7. To break or destroy.
8. To impair the regular exercise of the m-,
tcllectual faculties ; to disorder ; to uiake
crazy ; as, to crack tlie brain.
€RACK, V. i. To burst ; to open in chinks :
as, the earth cracks by frost : or to be mar-
red without an opening; as, glass cracks
by a sudden apphcation of heat.
2. To fall to ruin, or to be impaired.
The credit of the exchequer cracks, when lit-
tle comes in and much goes out. IJSTot ele-
gant.] Dryden.
3. To utter a loud or sharp sudden sound ;
as, the clouds crack ; the whip craclcs.
Shak.
4. To boast ; to brag ; that is, to utter vain,
pompous, blustering words ; with of.
The Ethiops of their sweet complexion crack.
\_JVot elegant.] Shak.
CRACK, n. [Gr. poyaj.] A disruption ; a
chinkor fissure ; a narrow breach ; a crev-
ice ; a partial separation of the parts of a
substance, with or without an opening ;
as a crack in timber, in a wall, or in glass.
2. A burst of sound ; a sharp or loud sound,
uttered suddeidy or vrith vehemence ; the
sound of any thing suddenly rent; a vio-
lent report ; as the crack of a falling house ;
the crack of bl whip.
3. Change of voice in puberty. Shak
4. Craziness of intellect ; or a crazy person
Addison
5. A boast, or boaster. [Low.'\
6. Breach of chastity ; and a prostitute
[Loiv.]
7. A lad ; an instant. [jVo< used."]
€RACK'-BRAINED, a. Having intellects
impaired ; crazy.
€RACK'E1), pp. Burster split; rent; bro-
ken ; partially severed.
2. Impaired ; crazy.
€RACK'ER, n. A noisy boasting fellow.
Shak
2. A rocket ; a quantity of gunpowder con-
fined so as to explode with noise.
3. A hard biscuit. America.
4. That which cracks any thing.
€RACK'-HEMP, > A wretch fated to th
CRACK' -ROPE, S gallows ; one who
deserves to be hanged. Shak.
CRACK'ING, ppr. Breaking or dividing
partially ; opening ; impairing ; snapping
littering a sudden sharp or loud sound
boasting ; casting jokes.
CRACK'LE, V. i. [dim. of crack.] To make
slight cracks ; to make small abrupt noises,
rapidly or frequently repeated ; to decrep-
itate ; as, burning thorns crackle.
■CRACK'LING, ppr. Making shght cracks,
or abrupt noises.
CRACK'LING, n. The making of small
abrupt cracks or reports, frequently re-
peated.
The crackling of thorns under a pot. Ecclcs.
vii.
CRACK'NEL, n. A hard brittle cake or
biscuit. 1 Kings xiv. 3.
CRA'DLE, n. [Sax. cradel ; W. cn/rf, a
, rocking or shaking, a cradle ; cryku, to
shake, or tremble ; cn/rfmn, crydiaw, id. ;
fi-om rhjjd, a moving": Ir. rreathnm, to
fdiake ; Gr. xpaioM, id. and to swing ;
Heb. Tin, to tremble or shake, to palpi-
tate ; Syr. in Ethp., to rub or scrape. With-
out the first letter, VV. rhyd, Heb. Ch. Eth.
TyT to tremble, to shake. In Ar. Ac ,
raada,to thunder, to impress terror, to trem-
ble ; and i I. ,
I hither and thither.
to move one way and the other, to trem
ble or shako. The Arabic j^s to
thunder, coincides with the Latin rurfo,
roar, and the W. grydiaw, to utter a rough
sound, to shout, whoop or scream, gri/dwst.
a murmur, from f^rt/d, a shout or whoop,
and this from rhyd ; so that crydiaw and
grydiaw are from tlic same root," atid from
this we have cry, and cry implies rough
ness, coinciding with the Syriac, supra, to
scrape, whence /grate, gride, &c. See
Owen's Welsh Dictionary, and Castle's
Heptaglot.]
1. A movable machine of various construe
tions, placed on circular pieces of board,
for rocking children or infirm persons to
sleep, for alleviating pain, or giving mod-
erate exercise.
Me let the tender office long engage.
To rock the cradle of reposing age. Pope.
2. Infancy. From the cradle, is from tlic
state of infancy ; in the cradle, in a state of
infancy.
3. That part of the stock of a cross-how.
where the bullet is put. Encyc.
4. In surgery, a case in which a broken leg
is laid, after being set. Encyc.
5. In ship-building, a frame placed under
the bottom of a ship for lanching. It sup-
ports the ship and slides down the timbers
or passage called the ways. Encyc.
6. A standing bedstead for wounded sea-
men. Mar. Diet.
7. In engraving, an instrument, formed of
steel, and resembling a chisel, with one
sloping side, used in scraping mezzotintos,
and preparing' the plate. Encyc.
8. In husbandry, a frame of wood, with long
bending teeth, to which is fastened a
sythe, for cutting and laying oats and oth
er grain in a swath.
CRA'DLE, V. t. To lay in a cradle ; to rock
in a cradle ; to compose, or quiet.
It cradles their fears to sleep. D. A. Clark.
3. To nurse in infancy. D. Webster.
3. To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.
CRADLE, V. t."To lie or lodge in a cradle.
Shak.
CRA'DLE-eLOTHES, n. The clothes used
for covering one in a cradle.
CRA'DLED, pp. Laid orrocked in a cradle ;
cut and laid with a cradle, as grain.
CRA'DLING, ppr. Laying or rocking in a
cradle ; cutting and laying with a cradle
as grain.
CR'AFT, n. [Sax. crwfl, art, cunning, pow-
er, force ; G. Sw. Dan. krafl, power,
faculty ; W. crev, cryv, strong ; crevu, to
cry, to scream, to crave ; cryvau, to strength-
en, to wax strong ; craf, a clasp ; crafu,
to hold, to comprehend, to perceive ; cra-
fus, of quick perception. The primary
sense is to strain or stretch. Hence,
strength, skill, a crying out, holding, &c.'
1. Art; ability; dexterity; skill.
Poesy is t'le poet's skill or crafl of making—
B. Jonson.
2. Cunning, art or skill, in a bad sense, or
applied to bad purposes ; artifice ; guile ;
skill or dexterity employed to effect pur-
poses by deceit.
The chief priests and scribes sought how they
might take him by crafl, and put him to deatii.
Mark xiv.
3. Art ; skill ; dexterity in a particular man-
ual occupation ; hence, the occupation or
employment itself; manual art; trade.
Ye know that by this craft we have our
wealth. Actsxix.
4. All sorts of vessels employed in loading
or unloading ships, as lighters, hoys, bar-
ges, scows, &.C.
Small crafl is a term given to small vessels
of all hinds, as sloops, schooners, cutters,
&c.
CR'AFT, V. i. To play tricks. [jVo( in use.\
Shak.
CR AFTILY, adv. [See Crafty.] With craft,
cunning or guile ; artfully ; cunningly ;
with more art than honesty.
CRAFTINESS, n. Artfulness; dexterity
in devising and effecting a purpose ; cun-
ning ; artifice ; stratagem.
He takelh the wise in their own craflinesf
Job V.
Not walking in craftiness, nor handhng tlie
word of God deceitfully. 2 Cor. iv.
CRAFTSMAN, n. An artificer; a mechan-
ic ; one skilled in a manual occupation.
CRAFTSMASTER, n. One skilled in his
j craft or trade.
jCR'AFTY, a. Cunning; artful; skilful in
devising and pursuing a scheme, by de-
ceiving others, or by taking advantage of
their ignorance; wily; sly; fraudulent.
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty.
Job V.
2. Artful ; cunning ; in a good sense, or in a
laudable pursuit.
Being crafty, I caught you with guile. 2
Cor. xii.
CRAG, n. [W. Scot. Ir. craig ; Gaelic,
creag; Corn, karak ; Arm. garrecq ; prob-
ably Gr. pa;i;io, pajfij, from the root of pjpy-
nu, to break, like rupes,m Latin, from the
root of rumpo, rupi, and crepido, from cre-
po. See Crack. The name is taken from
breaking, L. frango, for frago ; and/rog-o-
sus, and craggy, are the same word with
different prefixes; Eng, ragged. The
Kpayoj in Cilicia, mentioned by Straho and
Pliny, retains the Celtic orthography.]
A steep iTjgged rock ; a rough broken rock,
or point of a rock.
CRAG, n. [Sax. hracea, the neck ; Scot,
crag-, or craig ; Gr. paxn. The same word
probably as the preceding, from il.-< rough-
ness, or break. We now call it rack.]
Tlie neck, formerly applied to the neck of a
human being, as in Spenser. We now
apply it to the neck or neck-piece of mut-
ton, and call it a rack of mutton.
CRAG'GED, a. Full of crags or broken
rocks ; rough ; rugged ; abounding with
prominences, points and inequaUties.
CRAG'GEDNESS, n. The state of abound-
ing with crags, or broken, pointed rocks.
CRAG'GINESS, n. The state of being
craggy. ^
CRAG'GY, a. Full of crags ; abounding
with broken rocks ; rugged with projec-
C R A
ting points of rocks ; as the craggy side
of a mountain; a craggi/ cliff.
CRAKE, n. A boast. [See Crack.]
Spenser.
€RAKE, n. [Qu. Gr. *p«l, fi-om xpsxu.] Tlie
corn-crake, a migratory fowl, is a species
of the rail, Ralhis, found among grass,
corn, broom or furze. Its cry is very sin-
gular, crek, crek, and is imitated by rub-
bing the blade of a knife on an indented
bone, by which it may be decoyed into a
net. Encyc.
CRAKE-BERRY, n. A species of Enipe-
trinn or berry-bearing heath.
CRA3I, V. t. [Sax. crammian ; Sw. krama :
coinciding in sense and probably in origin
with ram.]
1. To press or drive, particularly in filling
or thnisting one thing into another ; to
stuff; to crowd ; to fill to supei-fluity ; as,
to cram any thing into a basket or bag
cram a room with people ; to cram victuals
down the throat.
2. To fill with food beyond satiety ; to stuff.
Children would be more free from diseases, if
they were not crammed so much by fond
mothers. Locke.
3. To thrust in by force ; to crowd.
Fate lias crajnmed us all into one lease.
Lhydcn,
CRAM, V. i. To eat greedily or beyond sa-
tiety ; to stuff. ' Pope.
CRAM'BO, n. A rhyme; a play in which
one person gives a word to which' anoth-
er finds a rhyme. Swift.
CRAM'MED, 'pp. Stuffed; crowded; thrust
in ; filled with food.
CRAM'MING, ppr. Driving in ; stufling ;
crowding ; eating beyond satiety or suffi-
ciency.
CRAMP, n. [Sax. hramma; D. kramp ; G.
Dan. Sw. krampe ; It. rampone, a cramp-
iron. Qu. Ir. crampa, a knot. If jn is
radical, this word may accord with the
Cehic croin, G. knimm, crooked, from
shrinking, contracting. But '\{p is radical,
this word accords with the W. craf, a
clasp, a cramp-iron, crafu, to secure hold
of, to comprehend, Ir. crapadh, to shrink
or contract. The sense is to strain or
stretch.]
J . Spasm ; the contraction of a limb, or some
muscle of the body, attended with pain,
and sometimes with convulsions, or numb-
ness.
0. ilestraint ; confinement: that which hin-
ders from motion or expansion.
A narrow fortune is a. cramp to a great miad.
L'Estrange.
■',. A piece of iron bent at the ends, serving
to hold together pieces of timber, stones,
&c. ; a cramp-iron. [Fr. crampon; It.
rampone.]
CRAMP, V. t. To pain or affect with
i. To confine ; to restrain ; to hinder from
action or expansion ; as, to cramp the ex-
ertions of a nation ; to cramp the genius
3. To fasten, confine or hold with a cramp
or cramp-iron.
CRAMP, a. Difficult ; knotty. {Uttle used.]
Goodman
CRAMP'ED, pp. Affected with spasm ; con
vulsed ; confined ; restrained.
CRAMP'-FISH, n. The torpedo, or electric
ray, the touch of which aftects a person
C R A
like electricity, causing a slight shock and
producing numbness, tremor, and sickness
of the stomach.
CRAMP'ING, ppr. Affecting with cramp ;
eonfiuing.
CRAMP'-IRON, n. An iron used for fast-
enmg things together ; a cramp, which
see.
CRA'NAGE, n. [from crane. Low L. cran-
agium.]
The liberty of using a crane at a wharf for
raising wares from a vessel ; also, the mon-
ey or price paid for the use of a crane.
Cowel. Encyc.
CRAN'BERRY, n. [crane and herry.] A
species of Vaccinium ; a berry that grows
on a slender, bending stalk. Its botanical
name is oxycoccus, [sour berry,] and it is
also called moss-beriy, or moor-berry, as
it grows only on peat-bogs or swampy
land. The berry when ripe is red, and of
the size of a small cherry or of the haw-
thorn berry. These berries form a sauce
of exquisite flavor, and are used for tarts.
The cranberry of the United States is a
distinct species, the V. macrocarpon. [The
common pronunciation, cramberry, is erro-
iieous.]
CRANE, n. [Sax. cran ; G. krahn; D.
kraan ; Sw. kran, or trana ; Dan. krane, or
trane ; W garan ; Corn, kiuna ; Arm.g-a-
ran ; Gr. yjparoj, whence geranium, the
plant, crane's-bill. The word in Welsh
signifies a shank or shaft, a a-ane or heron.
This fowl then may be named from its
long legs. Qu. pp to shoot.]
1. A migratory fowl of the genus Ardea, be-
longing to the grallic order. The bill is
straight, sharp and long, with a fiu-row
from the nostrils towards the point ; the
nostrils are linear, and the feet have four
toes. These fowls have long legs, and a
long neck, being destined to wade and
seek their food among grass and reeds in
marshy grounds. The common crane is
about four feet in length, of a slender
body, with ash-coloured feathers.
2. A machine for raising great weights, con-
sisting of a horizontal arm, or piece of
timber, projecting fiom a post, and fur-
nished with a tackle or pulley.
.3. A siphon, or crooked pipe for drawing
liquors out of a cask.
CRA'NE'S-BILL, n. The plant Geranium,
of many species ; so named from an appen-
dage of the seed-vessel, which resembles
the beak of a crane or stork. Some of the
species have beautiful flowers and a fra-
grant scent, and several of them are valu-
ed for their astringent properties. [See
Crane.] Encyc.
A pair of pinchers used by surgeons.
CRA'NE-FLY, n. An insect of the genus
Tipula, of many species. The mouth is a
prolongation of the head ; the upper jaw
is arched ; the palpi are two, curved and
longer than the head ; the proboscis is
short. Encyc.
CRANIOG'NOMY, n. [Gr. xpavi.w, the
skull, and yrui^a, knowledge.]
The knowledge of the cranium or skull; the
science of the expression of human tem-
per, disposition and talents. Good.
CRANIOLOG'ICAL, a. Pertaining to cra-
niology.
C R A
CRANIOL'OgIST, n. One who treats oi
craniology, or one who is versed in tlic
science of the craniimi.
CRANIOL'OGY, n. [Gr. xpavm, the skull,
and >.oyos, discourse.]
A discourse or treatise on the craninm or
skull; or the science which investigates
the structure and uses of the skulls in va-
rious animals, particularly in relation to
their specific character and intellectual
powers. Ed. Encyc.
€RANIOM'ETER,re. [x(,mi.ov, the skull, and
fiirfxn, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the skulls of
animals.
CRANIOMET'RICAL, a. Pertaining to
craniometry.
CRANIOM'ETRY, n. The art of measur-
ing the cranium, or skulls, of animals, for
discovering their specific differences.
CRANIOS'COPY, n. [xporiw, supra, and
axoTtiu, to view.]
The science of the eminences produced in
the cranium by the brain, intended to dis-
cover the particular part of the brain in
which reside the organs which influence
particular passions or faculties.
Ed. Encyc.
CRA'NIUM, 71. [L. fi-om Gr. xpo..«.r.] The
skull of an animal ; the assemblage of
bones which inclose the brain.
CRANK, n. [This word probably belongs
to the root of cringe, krinkle, to bend. D.
krinkel, a curl ; kronkel, a bend or wind-
ing ; and krank, weak, is probably from
bending; Ir. freanc, to make crooked,
Qu. ;ro, or the root of a-ook.]
1. Literally, a bend or turn. Hence, an iron
axis with the end bent like an elbow, for
moving a piston, the saw in a saw-mill,
&c., and causing it to rise and fall at
every turn.
2. Any bend, turn or winding. Shak.
3. A twisting or turning in speech ; a con-
ceit which consists in a change of the
form or meaning of a word.
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton.
4. An iron brace for various purposes.
Mar. Diet.
CRANK, a. [D. krank ; G. id., weak ; Sw.
krhncka, to affiict ; Dan. krxnker, id., or
krcenger, to careen a ship.]
In seamen''s language, liable to be overset,
as a ship when she is too narrow, or has
not sufficient ballast to carry full sail.
2. Stout; bold; erect; as a cock crowing
crank. Spenser.
CRANK, > , . [SeeCrnnk,n., and Crin-
CRANK'LE, 5 ^' *• kle.] To run in a wind-
ing course ; to bend, wind and turn.
See how this river comes me crankling in.
Shak.
CRANK'LE, V. t. To break into bonds,
turns or angles; to crinkle.
Old Vaga's stream
Crankling her banks. Philips.
CRANK'LE, M. A bend or turn ; a crinkle.
CRANK'NESS, n. Liability to be overset,
as a ship.
2. Stoutness ; erectness.
CRAN'NIED, a. [See Cranny.] Having
rents, chinks or fissures ; as a crannied wall.
Brown. Shak.
CRAN'NY, n. [Fr. cran; Arm. cran, a
notch ; L. crena ; from the root of
rend, Sax. hrendan or rendan ; Arm. ran-
C R A
C R A
C R A
jta, to split ; crenna, to cut off; W. rhanu,
to divide ; rhan, a piece ; Ir. roinnim, or
ndnnim, to divide; Gr. xpiru; L. ctmo.
See Class Rn. No. 4. 13. l(i.]
I. Properly, a rent ; but commonly, any small
nan-ow opening, fissure, crevice or chink,
as in a wall, or other substance.
In a firm buildiiis;, tile caviiics ought to be
filled with brick or stone, fitted to the crannies.
Dry den.
3. A hole ; a secret retired place.
He peepeil into every cranny. ^rh\ithnot.
3. In glass-making, an iron instrument for
fortnin;^ the necks of glasses. Encyc.
CRANTS, n. [G. kranz.) Garlands carried
before the bier of a maiden and hung over
her grave. Shak.
€RAPE, n. [Fr. cripe, and creper, to curl,
to crisp, to frizzle ; Arm. crrp ; Sp. cres-
pon, crape ; crespo, crisp, cinleil ; crespar,
to crisp or curl ; Port, crespam. Crape is
contracted from cresv, crisp. [D. krip, G.
krepp, Dan. krep.] bee Crisp.]
A thin transparent stuff, made of raw silk
gummed and twisted on the mill, woven
without crossing, and much used in mourn-
ing. Crape is also used for gowns and the
dress of the clergy.
A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn.
Pope.
CR.\PE, V. t. To cm-l ; to form into ring-
lets ; as, to crape the hair.
CRAP'LE, n. [W. crav.] A claw. Spenser.
CRAP'NEL, n. A hook or drag. Qu. grapnel.
CRAP'ULENCE, n. [L. crapula, a surfeit.
See Crop.]
Cropsickness ; drunkenness; a surfeit, or
the sickness occasioned by intemperance.
Did.
€RAP'ULOUS, a. Drunk ; surcharged with
liquor ; sick by intemperance. Diet.
CRASH, V. t. [Fr. ecraser, to crush. Crash
seems to be alUed to crush and to rush,
Sax. hreosan.]
To break ; to bruise. Shak.
CRASH, V. 7. To make the loud, clattering,
nmltifarious sound of many things falling
and breaking at once.
When convulsions cleave the lab'ring earth,
Before the dismal yawn appears, the ground
Trembles and heaves, the nodding hoi
crash. Sm
CRASH, n. The loud mingled sound of]
many things falling and breaking s
as the sound of a large tree falling and
its branches breakuig, or the sound of a
falling bouse.
CRASH'ING, n. The sound of many things
falling and breaking at once.
There shall be a great crashing from the hills.
Zeph. i.
CRA'SIS, n. [Gr. xpoms, from xspavvviii, oi
xfpou, to mix, to temper.]
1. The temper or healthy constitution of the
blood in an animal body ; the tempera-
ment which forms a particular constitu-
tion of the blood. Core.
'2. In grammar, a figure by which two dif-
ferent letters are contracted into one long
letter or into a diphthong ; as aJujSta into
<Af;8Tl ; tvxfoi into tvzmi.
■CRASS, a. [L. crassus, the same as gross,
which see.] Gross; thick; coarse; not
thin, nor fine ; applied to fluids and solids ;
as, a-ass and fumid exhalations. [LAttle
used.] Brown
€RASS'AMENT, n. The thick red part ol
the blood, as distinct from the serum, or
aqueous part ; the clot.
CRASS'lTUDE, n. [L. crassiludo.] Cross-
ness ; coarseness ; thickness ; applied to
liquids or solids. Bacon. It'oodward.
CRASS'NESS, ji. Grossnes.s. GlanvUle.
CRATCH, ,1. [Fr. crecAe.] A rack ; a grated
crib or manger.
[/ believe not used in JVew England.]
CRATCH. [See Scratch.]
CRATCH'ES, n. plu. [G. kralze, the itch,
cratches ; kratzen, to scratch.]
In the manege, a swelling on the jjastern,
under the fetlock, and sometimes under
the hoof of a horse,
JCRATE, n. [L. crates.] A kind of basket or
! hamper of wicker-work, used for the
transportation of chuia, crockery and sim
ilar wares.
CRA'TER, n. [L. crater, Gr. xpoT.;p, :
great cup.]
1. The aperture or mouth of a volcano.
2. A constellation of the southern bemi
sphere, said to contain 31 stars.
CR>AUNCH, 17. t. [D. schranssen ; Vulgai
scraunch.] '
To crush with the teeth ; to chew with vio-
lence and noise.
CR'AUNCHING, ppr. Crushing with the
I teeth with violence.
CRAVAT', n. [Fr. cravate ; It. cravatta ;
I Sp. corbata ; Port, caravata. In Dan.
j krage, and krave, is a collar, a cape, the
neck of a shirt, &c.]
A neck-cloth ; a piece of fine muslin or other
cloth worn by men about the neck.
CRAVE, V. t. [Sax. crafian, to crave, ask,
implore ; W. creuit, to cry, to cry for, to
crave ; creu, a cry, a scream ; Sw. kr'ajia ;
Dan. krmver ; Ice. krefa. See Class Rb. No.
2. 4. Syr. So also D. roepen. Sax. hreopen,
Goth, hropyan, to cry out, as our vulgar
phrase is, to rip out. The primary sense
is to cry out, or call.]
1. To ask with earnestness or importunity ;
to beseech ; to implore ; to ask with sub-
mission or humility, as a dependent ; to
beg ; to entreat.
As for my nobler friends, I crave tlieir par-
dons. Shak.'
Joseph — went in boldly to Pilate, and craved
the body of Jesus. Mark xv. j
2. To call for, as a gratification ; to long}
for ; to require or demand, as a passion
or appetite ; as, the stomach or appetite
craves food.
3. Sometimes intransitively, with for before
the thing sought ; as, I crave for mercy.
CRA'VED, pp. Asked for with earnestness ;
implored ; entreated ; longed for ; re-
quired.
CRA'VEN, } [Qu. from crave, that is,
CRA'VENT, > n. one who begs for his
CRA'VANT, ) life, when vanquished.]
1. A word of obloquy, used formerly by one
vanquished in trial by battle, and yielding
to the conqueror. Hence, a recreant ; a
coward ; a weak-hearted spiritless fellow.
Shak.
2. A vanquished, dispirited cock. Shak.
CRA'VEN, II. t. To make recreant, weak or
cowardly. Shak.
CRA'VER, n. One who craves or begs.
CRA'VING, ppr. Asking with importunity :
urging for earnestly ; begging ; entreating.
2. Calling for with urgency ; requiring ; de-
manding gratification ; as an appetite era-
ving food.
CRA'VING, n. Vehement or urgent desire,
or calling for; a longing for.
CRAW, n. [Dan. kroe ; Sw. kr&fva. This
word coincides in elements with crop ; W.
cropa ; Sax. crop ; D. krop ; G. kropf. The
Danish kroe signifies the craw, and a vict-
ualhng house, tavern or alehouse. It
seems to be named from gathering.]
The crop or first stomach of fowls. Ray.
CRAW-FISH, I ^ [Craw is contracted from
CRAY-FISH, ^"•fra6, or from the Welsh
crag, a shell ; pysgod cragen, shell-fish.
See Crab. Qu. is imtflsh, in these words,
from the last syllable of the French ecre-
visse ?]
A species of Cancer or crab, a crustaceous
fish, found in streams. It resembles the
lobster, but is smaller, and is esteemed
very delicate food.
CRAWL, V. i. [D. krielen ; Scot, crowl; Dan.
kravkr, to crawl up, to climb ; Sw. krbla,
to ciawl, to swarm ; D. grielen, to swarm;
grillen, to shiver or shudder ; Fr. grouiller,
to stir about, to crawl with insects ; It.
grillare, to simmer. Qu. Dan. kriller, to
itch.]
1. To creep; to move slowly by thrusting
or drawing the body along the ground,
as a worm ; or to move slowly on the
hands and knees or feet, as a human be-
ing. A worm crawls on the earth ; a boy
crawls into a cavern, or up a tree.
2. To move or walk weakly, slowly, or tim-
orously.
He was hardly able to crawl about the room.
.^rbuthnot.
3. To creep; to advance slowly and slyly;
to insinuate one's self; as, to crawl into fa-
vor. [This use is vulgar.]
4. To move about ; to move in any direc-
tion ; used in contempt.
Absurd opinions crawl about the world.
Sotilh.
5. To have the sensation of insects creeping
about the body ; as, the flesh crawls.
CRAWL, n. [Qu. D. kraal.) A pen or in-
closure of stakes and hurdles on the sea
coast for couiaining fish. Mar. Diet.
CRAWL'ER, n. He or that which crawls ;
a creeper ; a reptile.
CRAWL'ING,/>^r. Creeping; moving slow-
ly along the ground, or other substance ;
moving or walking slowly, weakly or timo-
rously ; insinuating.
CRAY or CRA'YER, n. AsmaUsea vessel,
[JVot in use.]
CRAY-FISH, n. The river lobster. [See
Craiv-fish.]
CRA'YON, n. [Fr. from craie, chalk, from
L. creta, Sp. greda.]
1. A general name for all colored stones,
earths, or other minerals and substances,
used in designing or painting in pastel or
paste, whether they have been beaten and
reduced to paste, or are used in their prim-
itive consistence. Red crayons are made
of blood-stone or red chalk ; black ones,
of charcoal or black lead. Encyc.
2. A kind of pencil, or roll of paste, to draw
lines with. Dryden.
3. A drawing or design done with a pencil
Oi- crayon. Johnson.
CRA'YON, V. t. To sketch with a crayon.
Hence.
C R E
9. To sketch ; to plan ; to commit to paper
one's first thoughts. Bolingbroke.
€RA'yON-PAINTING, n. The act or art
ofdrawhig with crayons.
■GRAZE, V. t. [Fr. ecraser ; Sw. krossa ; to
break or bruise, to crush. See Crush.]
1. To break; to weaken; to break or im-
pair the natural force or energy of.
Till length of years,
And sedentary numbness, craze my limbs.
Milton.
3. To crusli in pieces ; to grinJ to powder ;
as, to craze tin.
3. To crack the brain ; to shatter; to impair
the intellect ; as, to be crazed with love or
grief. Shak.
CRA'ZED, pp. Broken ; bruised ; crushed ;
impaired; deranged in intellect; decrepit.
CRA'ZEDNESS, >i. A broken state ; de-
crepitude ; an impaired state of the intel-
lect. Hooker.
€RA'ZE-M1LL, I A mill resembling a
CRA'ZING-MILL, $ "" grist mill, used for
grinding tin. Enct/c.
€RA'Z1LY, adr. [See Crazy.] In a broken
or crazv manner.
eRA'ZINESS, n. [See Crazy.] The state
of being broken or weakened ; as the era
ziness of a ship or of the limbs.
2. The state of being broken in mind; imbc
cility or weakness of intellect ; derange
ment.
€RA'Zy, a. [Fr. ecrasi.] Broken; de
crepit ; weak; feeble ; applied to the body,
or constitution, or any structure ; as a crazy
body; a crozj/ constitution ; acrozi/ship.
2. Broken, weakened, or disordered in Intel
lect ; deranged, weakened, or shattered in
mind. We say, the man is crazy.
•GREAGHT, n. [Irish.] Herds of cattle
[J\rot used.] Davies.
GREAGHT, v. i. To graze on lands. [JVol
used.] Dai '
■CREAK, V. i. [W. crecian, to scream,
crash ; crec, a scream, a shriek ; connected
with creg, cr^g-, rough, hoarse, harsh, from
rhyg, Eng. i-ye, -but the sense of which is
rough, rugged. Indeed this is radically the
same word as rough, L. raucus. The L.
rueio is probably fiom the same root, and
perhaps rugo. The Sax. cearcian, to
creak, may" be the same word, the letters
transposed ; as may the Sp. cruxir, to rus-
tle, Gr. xpzxa, to comb, scrape, rake, and
Russ. crik, a cry, krichu, to cry. On this
word are formed shriek and screech.
To make a sharp harsh grating sound, of
some continuance, as by the friction of
liard substances. Thus, the hinge of a
door creaks in turning; a tight firm shoe
creaks in walking, by the friction of the
leather.
GRE'AKING, ppr. Making a harsh grating
sound ; as creaking hinges or shoes.
GRE'AKING, n. A harsh grating sound.
CREAM, n. [Fr. crime; L. cremor ; G.
rahm ; Sax. ream ; Ice. riome ; D. room ;
Sp. crema. Class Rm.]
1. In a general sense, any part of a liquoi
that separates from the rest, rises and col-
lects on the surface. More particularly,
the oily part of milk, which, when the milk
stands unagitated in a cool place, rises and
forms a scum on the surface, as it is spe-
i-ifically lighter than the other part of the
liijuor. This by agitation forms butter
C R E
2. The best part of a thing ; as the cream of a
jest or story.
Cream of lime, the scum of lime water ; or
that part of lime which, after being dissol-
ved in its caustic state, separates from the
water in the mild state of chalk or lime-
stone. Encyc.
Cream of tartar, the scum of a boiling solu-
tion of tartar. Coxe.
The purified and crystahzed supertar-
trate of potash. C'A.'m.
GREAM, V. t. To skim ; to take off cream
by skinmiing.
To take off the quintessence or best part
of a thing.
GREAM, V. i. To gather cream ; to flower
or mantle.
2. To grow stiff, or formal. Shak.
GRE'AM-BOWL, n. A bowl for holding
cream.
GRE'AM-FACED, a. White ; pale ; having
a coward look. Shak,
GRE'AM-POT, n. A vessel for holding
cream.
GRE'AMY, a. Full of cream; like cream :
bavins the nature of cream ; luscious,
GRE'ANCE, ?i. [Fr. from L. credo, credens.]
l\\ falconry, a fine small hue, fastened to a
hawk's leash, when she is first lured.
Bailey.
GREASE, n. [Qu. G. kraxisen, Sw. krusa,
Dan. kruser, Scot, creis, to curl, to cris
Class Rd. No. 73. 83. ; or Fr. creuser, i
make hollow, from creux, hollow, Clai
Rg. See Cnsp.]
A line or mark made by folding or doubling
any thing ; a hollow streak, like a groove.
GREASE, II. t. To make a crease or mark
in a thing by folding or doubling.
CRE'AT, n. [Fr.] In (/le majifg-e, an usher
to a riding master. Encyc.
GREA'TE, I', t. [Fr. creer ; It. creare ; Sp
and Port, criar ; L. creo ; Ann. croui .,
Corn, gurei. In W. crUu signifies to create
and creu, to cry, to crave, to caw, to beg
W. creih and crez, constitution, temper
also, a trembling or shivering witli ookl.
Ir. croth or criith, form, shape : mithaighim,
to create, to prove, assert, maintain. From
the Celtic then it appears that the L. ereo
is contracted by the loss oCs. d or th. The
Welsh has also cri, a cry, and criatc, to
cry, both deduced by Owen from ere;
but ere is a contraction ofcrevu, to cry, or
otgryd, a crying or whooping, or cryd, a
shaking. In Welsh also cri signifies rough,
raw, crude; all which unite in the root of
cry, cradle, L. rudo, to bray. The primary
sense of create and of cry is the same, to
throw or drive out, to produce, to bring
forth, precisely as in the Shemitic N13.
But the Welsh creu and creu may perhaps
be from different roots, both however
with the same primary sense.]
1. To produce ; to bring into being from
nothing ; to cause to exist.
In the beginning, God created the heaven
and the earth. Gen. i.
a. To make or form, by investing with a new
character ; as, to create one a peer or bar-
on : to create a manor.
I create you
Companions to our person. Shak
3. , To produce ; to cause ; to be the occasion
of
C R E
Your eye i
Would create soldiers, and make women f
fiak
Long abstinence creates uneasiness in the
stomach ; confusion is created by hurry.
To beget ; to generate ; to bring forth.
The people which shall be created, shall
praise the Lord. Ps. cii.
To make or produce, by new combina-
tions of inatter already created, and by
investing these combinations with new
forms, constitutions and qualities ; to shape
and organize.
God created man in his own image. Gen. i.
G. To form anew ; to change the state or
character ; to renew.
Create in me a clean heart. Ps. li.
We are his workmanship, created in Ghrist
Jesus. Eph. ii.
GREA'TED, pp. Formed from nothing ;
caused to exist ; produced ; generated ;
invested with a new character; formed
into new combinations, with a pecuUar
shape, constitution and properties ; re-
newed.
GREA'TING, ppr. Forming fi-om nothing ;
originating ; producing ; giving a new
character; constituting new beings from
matter by shaping, organizing and invest-
ing with new properties ; forming anew.
GREA'TION, n. The act of creating; the
act of causing to exist ; and especially, the
act of bringing this world into existence.
Rom. i.
2. The act of making, by new combinations
of matter, invested with new forms and
properties, and of subjecting to different
laws ; the act of shaping and organizing :
as the creation of man and other animals,
of plant.s, minerals, &c.
3. The act of investing with a new charac-
ter; as the creation of peers in England.
4. The act of producing.
:,}. The things created ; creatures ; the world ;
the universe.
As subjects then the whole creation came.
j Denham.
<3. Any part of the things created.
Before the low creation swarmed with men.
Pamel.
7. Any thing produced or caused to exist.
A false creation.
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain.
Shal:.
GREA'TIVE, a. Having the power to cre-
ate, or exerting the act of creation; as
creative fancy ; creative power.
GREA'TOR, n. [L.] The being or person
that creates.
Remember thy creator in the days of thy
youth. Eccles. ,\ii.
2. The thing that creates, produces or
GREA'TRESS, n. A female that creates
anv thins. Spenser.
GRE'ATURE, n. [Fr.] That which is
created ; every being besides the Crea-
tor, or every thing not self-existent. The
sun, moon and stars; the earth, animals,
))lants, light, darkness, air, water, &c., are
the creatures of God.
2. In a restricted sense, an animal of any
kind ; a living being ; a beast. In a more
restricted sense, man. Thus we say, he
was in trouble and no creature was present
to aid him.
3. A human being, in contempt; as an idle
C R E
C R E
C R E
trtature ; a poor creature ; what a crea-
ture !
4. With words of endearment, it denotes a
hiiiiiaii being beloved; as a pretty creature;
a sweet creature.
5. That which is produced, formed or ima-
gined ; as a crtature of the imaginntiun.
C. A person who owes his rise and fortune
to another ; one who is made to be what
he is.
Great princes thus, when favorites they raise,
Tojustify their graee, their creattcres praise.
Drydeyi
7. A dependent ; a person who is subject v
the will or influence of another.
CRE'ATURELY, a. Having the qualities of,
a creature. [Little used.] Cheyre.
€RE'ATURF,SHIP, n. The state of a crea-
ture. [LAtUe used.] Core.
€RE'DENCE, n. [It. eredenza : Fr. aeance ;
from L. credens, from credo, to believe. See
Creed.]
1. Belief; credit ; reliance of the mind on
evidence of facts derived from other sour-
ces than personal knowledge, as from the
testimony of others. We give credence to
a historian of unsuspected integrity, or to
a story which is related by a man of known
veracity,
2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief
or confidence ; as a letter of credence, whicti
is intended to conimcinl the bearer to the
confidence ofa third person.
CREDEN'DA, n. [L. Sec Creed.]
In theologu, things to be believed ; articles of
faith ; uistiugiiislied from agenda, or prac-
tical duties. Johnson
•GRE'DENT, a. Believing; giving credit
easy of belief. Shak
9. Having credit ; not to be questioned.
Shak
[ This word is rarely used, and in the latter
sense is improper.]
€REDEN'TIALS, n. plu. [Rarely or nev(
xised in the singular.]
That which gives credit ; that which gives
title or claim to confidence ; the warrant
on which belief, credit or authority
claimed, among strangers ; as the letters
of commendation and power given by a
government to an embassador or envoy
•which give him credit at a foreign court
So the power of working miracles given
to the apostles may be considered as their
credentials, authorizing them to propagate
the gospel, and entitling them to credit.
eREDIBIL'lTY, n. [Fr. credibilite, from L-
credibilis.]
Credibleness ; the quality or state ofa thing
which renders it possible to be believed,
or which adtnits belief, on rational prin
pies ; the quality or state ofa thing which
involves no contradiction, or absurdity
Credibility is less than certainty, and great
er than possibihty ; indeed it "is less than
probability, but is nearly allied to it. [Si
Credible.]
CRED'IBLE, a. [L. credilnlis.] That may
be believed ; worthy of credit. A thing is
credible, when it is known to be possible,
or when it involves no contradiction or ab-
surdity : it is more crflible, when it is known
to come within the ii^ 11 nary laws or ope
rations of nature. WUh regard to the
Divine Being and his operations, everj'
thing is credible which is consistent withj
his perfections, and supported by evidence
or unimpeachable testimony, for his pow-
er is unlimited. With regard to human
affairs, we do not apply the word to things
barely possible, but to things which come
withhi the usual course of human conduct,
and the general rules of evidence.
2. Worthy of belief; having a claim to cred-
it : applied to persons. A credible person is
one of known veracity and integrity, or
whose veracity niuy be fairly deduced from!
circumstances. We believe the history of
Arisiides and Themistocles, on the au-
thoritv ot' credible historians.
€RED'iBLENFSS, 71. Credibility; worthi-
ness of belief; just claim to credit. [See
Creilihility.]
€RE1» IBLY, adv. In a manner that de-
serves belief; with good authority to sup-
pi irt htlief
CRED'IT, 71. [Fr. credit; h. credito ; Sp.
id.; L. creditum. See Creed.]
I. Belief; faith; a reUance or resting of the
mind on the truth of something said or
done. We give credit to a man's declara-
tion, when the mind rests on the truth of
it, without doubter suspicion, which is at-
tended with wavering. We give credit to
testimony or to a report, when we rely on
its truth and certainty.
"2. Reputation derived from the confidence of
others. Esteem ; estimation ; good opin-
ion founded on a belief of a man's veraci-
ty, integrity, abilities and virtue ; as a
physician in high credit with his brethren.
Hence,
.'?. Honor ; reputation ; estimation ; applied
to men or things. A man gains no credit
by profaneness ; and a poem may lose no
credit by criticism. The credit of a r
depends on his virtues; the credit of
writings, on their worth.
4. That which procures or is entitled to be-
lief; testimony ; authority derived from
one's character, or from the confidence of
others. We beUeve a story on the credit
of the narrator. We believe in miracles
on the cre(/?< of inspired men. We trust to
the credit of an assertion, made by a man
of known veracity.
."5. Influence derived from the reputation of
veracity or integrity, or from the good
opinion or confidence of others; interest;
power derived from weight of character,
from friendship, fidelity or other cause.
A minister may have great credit with a
prince. He may employ his credit to good
or evil purposes. A man uses his credit
with a friend ; a servant, with his master.
6. In covimerce, trust ; transfer of goods in
confidence of future payment. When the
merchant gives a credit, he sells his wares
on an expressed or implied promise that
the purchaser will pay for them at a future
time. The seller believes in the solvability
and probity of the purchaser, and delivers
his goods on that belief ortrust ; or he de
livers them on the credit or reputation of
the purchaser. The purchaser takes what
is sold, on credit. In like manner, money
is loaned on the credit of the borrower.
7. The capacity of being trusted ; ortherep-
utation of solvency and probity which en-
titles a man to be trusted. A ciistomerj
has good credit or no credit with a mer-l
chant. I
6. In book-keeping, the side of an account lU
which payment is entered ; opposed to
debit. This article is carried to one's credit,
and that to his debit. We speak of the
credit side of an account.
9. Public credit, the confidence which men
entertain in the ability and disposition ofa
nation, to make good its engagements with
its creditors ; or the estimation in which
individuals hold the public promises of
paynient, whether such promises are ex-
pressed or implied. The term is also
applied to the general credit of individuals
in a nation ; when merchants and others
are wealthy, and punctual in fulfilling en-
gagements"; or when they transact busi-
ness with honor and fidelity ; or when
transfers of property are made with ease
for ready payment. So we speak of the
credit of a bank, when general confidence
is placed in its ability to redeem its notes ;
and the credit of a mercantile house rests
on its supposed ability and probity, which
induce men to trust to its engagements.
Cherish /)uA/ic credit. IVashington.
When the public credit is questionable,
it raises the premium on loans.
10. The notes or bills which are issued by
the public or by corporations or individ-
uals, which circulate on the confidence of
men in the ability and disposition in those
who issue them, to redeem them. They
are sometimes called bills of credit.
11. The time given for payment for lands or
goods sold on trust ; as a long credit, or a
short credit.
12. A sum of money due to any person ; any
thing valuable standing on the creditor
side of an account. A has a credit on the
books of B. The credits are more than
balanced by the debits.
[In this sense the icord has the plural num-
ber.]
CRED'IT, V. t. [from the Noun.] To be-
lieve; to confide in the truth of ; as, to
credit a report, or the man who tells it.
2. To trust ; to sell or loan in confidence of
future payment ; as, to credit goods or
money.
3. To procure credit or honor; to do credit ;
to give reputation or honor.
May here her monument stand so.
To credit tliis rude age. Waller.
4. To enter upon the credit side of an ac-
ount ; as, to credit the amount paid.
5. To set to the credit of ; as, to credit to a
man the interest paid on a bond.
€RED'ITAPLE, a. Reputable ; that may
be enjoyed or exercised with reputation or
esteem"; estimable. A man pursues a
creditable occupation, or way of Uving.
^rbtUhnot.
CRF.D'ITABLENESS, ti. Reputation ; es-
timation. Johnson.
CREDITABLY, adv. Reputably; with
credit; without disgrace.
CREDITED,;);). Believed; trusted; pass-
ed to the credit, or entered on the credit
side of an account.
CREDITING, ppr. Believing; trusting;
entering to the credit in account.
CRED'ITOR, 71. [L. See Creed.] A person
to whom a sum of monej' or other thing is
due, by obligation, promise or in law ; pro-
perly, one who gives credit In commerce ;
but in a general aenae, one who has a just
C R E
C R E
C R E
claim for money; correlative to debtor. In
a figurative sense, one who Las a just claim
to services. Addison.
Creditors have better memories than debtors.
Pranklin.
9. One who believes. [JVb< used.'] Shak.
€RED'ITRIX, n. A female creditor.
GREDU'LITY, n. [Fr. creduliU, L. creduH-
tas, from credo, to believe. See Creed and
Credulous.]
Easiness of belief ; a weakness of mind by
which a person is disposed to believe, or
yield his assent to a declaration or propo-
sition, without sufficient evidence of the
truth of what is said or proposed ; a dis-
position to believe on slight evidence or
no evidence at all.
CRED'ULOUS, a. [L. credulus, from credo.
See Creed.]
Apt to believe without sufficient evidence ;
unsuspecting ; easily deceived.
CRED'ULOUSNESS, n. Credulity ; easi
ness of belief; readiness to believe with
out sufficient evidence.
Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of
atheists, who believe that chance could make
the world, when it cannot build a house.
S. Clarke.
CREED, n. [W. credo ; Sax. credo ; It. and
Sp. credo. This word seems to have been
introduced by the use of the Latin credo, I
believe, at the beginning of the Apostles"
creed, or brief system of christian faith.
L. credo ; W. credu ; Corn, credzhi ; Arm,
cridi ; Ir. creidim ; It. credere ; Sp. creer ;
Port, crer ; Fr. croire ; Norm, crere, criier.
The primary sense is probably to throw,
or to throw on ; or to set, to rest on. See
■Creed. Class Rd.]
1. A brief summary of the articles of chris-
tian faith ; a symbol ; as the Apostolic
creed.
2, Tliat which is believed ; any system ofi
principles which are believed or professed
as a political creed.
€REEK, V. t. To make a harsh sharp noise
[See Creak.] Shak.
CREEK, n. krik. [Sax. crecea ; D. kreek ;
Fr. criqiie ; W. crig, a crack ; crigyll, a
creek ; rhig, a notch or groove. See
Crack.]
1. A small inlet, bay or cove; a recess in the
shore of the sea, or of a river.
They discovered a certain creek with a shore.
Acts xxvii.
2. Any turn or winding. Shak.
3. A prominence or jut in a winding coast,
{This sense is probably not legitimate.]
Davies.
4. In some of the American Slates, a small
river. This sense is not justified by ety-
mology, but as streams often enter
creeks and small bays or form them, the
name has been extended to small streams
in general.
CREEKY, a. krik'y. Containing creeks ; full
of creeks ; winding. Spenser.
CREEP, V. i. pret. and pp. a-epl. [Sax,
creopan, cnfpan ; W. crepian, cropian ; D
krmpen ; Sw. krypa ; to creep ; Dan. krjj-
ben, a creeping ; Ir. dreapam ; Sp. aiid
Port, trepar ; L. repo ; Or. t prtu. The sense
is to catch, to grapple ; and the latter '
from the same root, Welsh crapiaw, allied
to L. rapio, and to W. cripian, to scrape or
scratch. Class. Rb.]
To move with the belly on the ground, or
the surface of any other body, as a worm
or serpent without legs, or as many in-
sects with feet and very short legs; to
crawl.
2. To move along the ground, or on the sur-
face of any other body, ui growth, as a
vine ; to grow along.
3. To move slowly, feebly or tintorou.sly ;
as an old or infirm man, who creeps about
his chamber.
1. To move slowly and insensibly, as time.
To morrow, and to morrow, and to morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
Shak.
5. To move secretly ; to move so as to es-
cape detection, or prevent suspicion.
Of this sort are they who creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women. 2 Tim. iii.
C. To steal in ; to move forward unheard
and unseen ; to come or enter unexpect-
edly or unobserved ; as, some error has
crept into the copy of a history.
7. To move or behave with serviUty ; to
fawn. 'Shak.
CREE'PER, n. One who creeps; that
which creeps ; a reptile ; also, a creeping!
plant, which moves along the surface of
tlie earth or attaches itself to some other
body, as ivy.
2. An"u-on used to slide along the grate in
kitchens. Johnson
•3. A kind of patten or clog worn by women.
Johnson.
4. Creeper or creepers, an instrument of
iron with hooks or claws, for drawing up
tilings from the bottom of a well, river or
harbor.
5. A genus of birds, the Certhia, or ox-eye,
of many species. These birds run along
the body or branch of a tree, and when
they observe a person near, they run
the side opposite, so as to keep out of sight.
Ejicyc
CREE'PHOLE, n. A hole into whicli ai
animal may creep to escape notice or dan-
ger ; also, a subterfuge ; an excuse.
Johnson.
CREE'PING, ppr. Moving on the belly, or
close to the surface of the earth or other
body ; moving slowly, secretly, or silently
moving insensibly ; stealing along.
CREE'PINGLY, adv. By creeping ; slow-
ly ; in the manner of a reptile. Sidney.
CREE'PLE. [Kotused.] [^qq Cripple.]
CREESE, n. A Malay dagger.
CREMA'TION, n. [L. crematio, from cremo,
to burn.]
A burning ; particularly, the burning of the
dead, according to the custom of many
ancient nations. " Encyc.
CRE'MOR, n. [L. See Cream.] Cream;
any expressed juice of grain ; yeast ;
scum ; a substance resembling cream.
Coie.
CRE'NATE, > [L. crena, a notch,
CRE'NATED, \ ' whence crejia<««, notcl
ed. See Cranny.]
Notched ; indented ; scolloped. In botany,
a crenate leaf has its edge, as it were, cut
with angular or circular incisures, not in
dining towards either extremity. When
the scallops are segments of small circles,
it is said to be obtusely crenated ; whei
the larger segments have smaller ones
upon them, a leaf is said to be doubly cre-
nate. MaHyn.
CREN'ATURE, n. A scoUop, like a notch,
in a leaf, or in the style of a plant.
Bigdow.
CRENKLE, I re. r< • 1 ^
CRENGLe! \ [^^^ Cnngle.]
CREN'ULATE, a. [dim. used by Unne.]
Having the edge, as it were, cut into very
small scollops. Martyn.
CRE'OLE, n. In the fVest Indies and Span-
ish America, a native of those countries
descended from European ancestors.
CREP'ANCE, ? [L. crepo, to burst.] A
CREP'ANE, \ 'chop or cratch in a horse's
leg, caused by the shoe of one hind foot
crossing and striking the other hind foot.
It sometimes degenerates into an ulcer.
Eneye.
CREP'ITATE, V. i. [L. crepito, to crackle,
from crepo, to crack, to burst with a sharp
sound : It. crepitare, crepare ; Fr. crever ;
Sax. hreopan ; Goth, hropyan ; D. roepen ; al-
Ued to Eng. rip, and probably from the root
ofrumpo, rupi, &c. See BTI and o j,.^
garafa. Class Rb. No 27. and No. 18. 2G.
30.]
To crackle ; to snap ; to burst with a small
sharp abrupt sound, rapidly repeated ; as
salt in fire, or iluring calcination. It dif-
fers from detonate, which signifies, to biu'St
with a single loud report.
CREP'ITATING, ppr. CrackUng ; snap-
ping.
CREPITA'TION, n. The act of bursting
with a frequent repetition of sharp sounds ;
the noise of some salts in calcination ;
crackling. Coxe. Encyc.
2. The noise of fractured bones, when moved
by a surgeon to ascertain a fracture.
Encyc.
CREPT, pret. and pp. of creep.
CREPUS'CLE, ) [L. crepusculum, from
CREPUSCULE, I "• crepo or its root, a lit-
tle burst or break of light, or broken light.
Creperus is from the same root.]
Twilight ; the light of the morning from the
first dawn to sunrise, and of the evening
from sunset to darkness. It is occasioned
by the refraction of the sun's rays.
CREPUSCULAR, ) „ Pertaining to twi-
CREPUSCULOUS, I "" light ; glimmering ;
noting the imperfect light of the morning
and evening ; hence, imperfectly clear or
luminous. Brown. Glanville.
CREPUSC'ULINE, a. Crepuscular. [JVot
used.]
CRES'CENT, a. [L. crescens, (comcresco, to
grow ; Fr. croissant. See Grow.]
Increasing ; growing ; as crescent horns.
Milton.
CRES'CENT, n. The increasing or new-
moon, which, when receding from the
sun, shows a curving rim of light, termi-
nating in pohits or horns. It is applied to
the older decreasing moon, in a like state,
but less properly. Dryden.
2. The figure or likeness of the new moon ;
as that borne in the Turkish flag or natio-
nal standard. The standard itself, and
figuratively, the Tinkish power. Gibbon.
3. In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a
half moon.
C R E
C R I
C R 1
4. The name of a military order, instituted
by Renatus of Aujou, king of Sicily; sc
called from its syiiiliol or badge, a cres-
cent of gold enameled. Encyc.
I'RES'CENT, V. t. To form into a crescent.
Seward.
CRESCENT-SHAPED, a. In botany, lu
nate ; lunated ; shaped like a crescent ; as
a leaf. Martyn.
CRES'CIVE, a. [L. msco, to grow.] In-
creasing ; growing. Shak
CRESS, n. [Fr. cresson ; It. crescione ; Arm
creczon ; D. kers ; G. kresse ; Sax. carse or
cressen. Qh. its alliance to grass, or to L,
cresco.]
The name of several species of plants, most
of them of the class tetradvnamia. Water-
cresses, of the genus Sisymbrium, are
used as a salad, and are valued in medi-
cine for their antiscorbutic qualities. The
leaves have a moderately j)ungent taste.
They grow on the brinks of rivulets and
in other moist grounds. The word is
erally used in the plural.
•CRESS'ET, n. [Fr. croiselte, dim. of croix,
cross, because beacons formerly had cross-
es on their tops. See Cross.]
A great light set on a beacon, lighthouse,
watch tower. Johnson. Skak.
2. A lamp or torch. Milton. Holinsked.
CREST, ji, [Fr. a-He; L. crista; It. cresta;
Sp. creston. This is probably, a growing
or shooting up, from the root of cresco,
Fr. croiire ; Norm, crtsl, it rises, it accr
Russ. rastu, or roslu, to grow; rost, growth,
size, talhiess.]
1. The plume of feathers or other material
on the top of the ancient helmet ; the hel-
met itself S
% The ornament of the helmet in heraldry.
Encyc.
3. The comb of a cock ; also, a tuft of feath-
ers on the head of other fowls.
4. Any tuft or ornament worn on the head
Dryden
5. Loftiness ; pride ; courage ; spirit ; a lofty
mien. Shak
CREST, V. t. To furnish with a crest ; to
serve as a crest for. Sht
2. To mark with long streaks.
CREST'ED, a. [from crest.] Wearing
crest ; adorned with a crest or plume ;
having a comb ; as a crested helmet ; a
crested cock.
2. In natural history, having a tuft like a
crest.
CREST'-FALLEN, a. Dejected ; sunk ;
bowed; dispirited; heartless; spiritless.
Shak. Howell.
2. Having the upper part of the neck han^
ing on one side, as a horse. Enaic.
CREST'LESS, o. Without a crest ; not
dignified with coat-armor ; not of an em-
inent family ; of low birth. Shak.
CRETA'CEOUS, a. [L. cretaceus, from cre-
ta, chalk. Sp. It. id. ; Fr. craic ; D. knit ;
G. kreide ; Sw. krita.]
Chalky; having the qualities of chalk; like
chaik ; abounding with chalk.
CRE'TIC, n. [Gr, xpij-fixos.] A poetic foot
of three syllables, one short between two
long syllables. Bentley.
CRE'TIN, n. A name given to certain de-
formed and helpless id'iots in the Alps.
CREVICE, n. [Fr. crevasse, from crever, to
Vol. I.
burst, to crack ; It. crepatura ; L. crepo, to
burst. See Crepitate and Rip.]
A crack ; a cleft ; a fissure ; a rent ; an
opening ; as a crevice in a wall. Addison.
CREVICE, V. t. To crack ; to flaw.
IVotlon.
CREVIS, n. The craw-fish. [Utile used.]
CHEW, n. [contracted from Sax. cread, or
crvlh, a croicd ; D. rot ; G. rotle ; Sw. rote ;
Eng. rout, an assembly, a collection, from
gathering or pressing. Class Rd.]
1. A company of people associated ; as a
noble crew ; a gallant crew.
Spenser. Chevy-Chase.
2. A company, in a lotv or bad sense, which is
now most usual; a herd; as a rebel crew.
Milton.
So we say, a miserable crew.
3. The company of seamen who man a ship,
vessel or boat ; the company belonging to
a vessel. Also, the company or gang of a
carpenter, gunner, boatswain, &.c. It is
appropriated to the comtnon sailors.
CREW, pret. oCcrow, but the regular pre-
terit and participle, crowed, is now most
commonly used.
CREWEL, n. [Qu. D. klewel] Yarn twist
ed and wound on a knot or ball, or two
threaded worsted. Johnson. Bailey.
CREWET. [See Cruet.]
CRIB, n. [Sax. crybb; D.krib; Sw.krubba;
Dan. krybbe ; Ir. grib. Qu. the root of
grapple, to catch.]
The manger of a stable, in which oxei
and cows feed. In America, it it distin-
guished from a rack for horses.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean. Prov
The manger for other beasts.
The ass knoweth his master's crib. Is. i.
2. A small habitation or cottage. Shak.
A stall for oxen.
A case or box in salt works. Encyc.
A small building, raised on posts, for stor-
ing Indian corn. U. States.
CRIB, V. t. To shut or confine in a narrow
habitation ; to cage. Shak.
CRIB'BAGE, n. 'A game at cards.
CRlB'BF.l), pp. Shut up; confined; caged,
ClUH'BI.K, ;(. [L. cribellutn, from cribrum.
and tills iVoin cribro, to sift ; Sp. criba, cri-
bar ; Port, crivo ; It. cribro, cribrare, and
crivello, crivellare ; Fr. crible, cribler ; W.
cribaw, to comb or card ; Arm. kribat ; Ir.
riobliar, a sieve ; allied to Eng. garble. See
Ch. Sa-O, Ar. J.j^i , Ch. Sai, to sift or
riddle. Class Rb. No. 30. 34. 46.]
1. A corn-sieve or riddle.
2. Coarse flour or meal. [JVot used in the U.
States.]
CRIB'BLE, V. t. To sift; to cause to pass
through a sieve or riddle.
CRIBRA'TION, n. [See Cribble.] The. act
of siftinsr or riddling ; used in pharmacy.!
CRIBRIFORM, a. [L. cribrum, a sieve, and'
forma, form.]
Resembling a sieve or riddle ; a term appli-
ed to the lamen of the ethmoid bone,
through which the fibers of the olfactory
nerve pass to the nose. Anal
CRICH'TONITE, ji. A mineral so called
from Dr. Crichton, physician to the Em-:
peror of Russia. It has a velvet black
color, and crystalizes in very acute smallj
53
rhomboids. It occurs in primitivo rocks
with octahedrite. Urc.
CRICK, n. [See Creak.] The creaking of a
door. [JVot used.]
2. A spasmodic affection of some part of tlie
body, as of the neck or back; local spasm
or cramp.
CRICK'ET, n. [D. krekel, from the root of
creak ; W. cricell, cricket, and cricellti, to
chirp or chatter ; crig, a crack.]
An insect of the genus Gryllus, belonging to
the order of Hemipters. There are seve-
ral species, so named probably on ac-
count of their creaking or chirping voice.
The cricket chirping in the heartli.
Goldsmith.
CRICK'ET, 71. [Qu. Sax. cricc, a stick.] A
play or exercise with bats and ball. Pope.
2. A low stool. [British kriget, a little ele-
vation. Whitaker. Qu. Sw. krycka, stilts
or crutches.]
CRICK'ETER, n. One who plays at crick-
et. Duncombe.
CRICK'ET-MATCH, n. A match at crick-
et. Duncombe.
CRI'ED, pret. and part, of en/.
CRl'ER, / ^ [See Cry.] One who cries ;
CRY'ER, ^ ■ one who makes proclama-
tion. The crier of a court is an officer
whose duty is to proclaim the orders or
commands of the court, to open or adjourn
the court, keep silence, &c. A crier is
also employed to give notice of auctions,
and for other purposes.
CRIME, n. [L. crimen; Gr. xpi^; It cn'me;
Port.trf. ; Sp. crimen ; Fr. crime ; Arm. crim ;
Norm, crisme. This word is from the root of
Gr. xptiu, L. cerno, to separate, to judge, to
decree, to condemn. But this verb seems
to be composed of two distinct roots, for
in Latin, the pret. is crevi, which cannot be
fortned from cerno ; and in Greek, the de-
rivatives, s!pi9u, xpcffif, xpitTji, cannot be
regularly formed from xpivu. The Gr.
xfii/M is undoubtedly a contraction, for in
Norman the word is crism. The root
then of these derivatives is the same as of
the Ir. criathar, a seive, W. rhidyll, Eng.
riddle ; W.rhidiaw,to secrete, to separate.
^Ve have screen, a riddle, from the root of
xpiru, and 7-iddle, from the Celtic root of
xpidij, xptrijs. To judge is to decide, to
separate or cut oft', hence to condemn ; a
cnme is that which is condemned.]
1. An act which violates a law, divine or
human ; an act which violates a rule of
moral duty ; an offense against the laws
of right, prescribed by God or man, or
against any rule of duty plainly implied in
those laws. A crime may consist in omis-
sion or neglect, as well as in commission,
or positive transgression. The command-
er of a fortress who suffers the enemy to
take possession by neglect, is as really
criminal, as one who voluntarily opens the
gates without resistance.
But in a more common and restricted
sense, a crime denotes an offense, or \io-
lation of public law, of a deeper and more
atrocious nature ; a public wrong ; or a
violation of the commands of God, and the
offenses against the laws made to preserve
the public rights; as treason, murder, rob-
bery, theft, arson, &c. The minor wrongs
committed against individuals or private
rights, are denominated trespasses, and the
C R I
minor wrongs against public rights are
called misdemeanors. Crimes and misde-
meanors are punishable by indictment, in-
formation or public prosecution ; tres|)ass-
es or private injuries, at the suit of the in-
dividuals injured. But in many cases an
act is considered both as a pubUc ofFeiif^e
and a trespass, and is punishable both by
the public and the individual injured.
1. Any great wickedness; iniquity; wrong.
No crime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love
Pope
Capital crime, a crime punishable with death
€RI'MEFUL, a. Criminal ; wicked ; par
taking of wrong ; contrary to law, right or
duty. S^"*
eUI'MELESS, a. Free from crime; iiino
C-RIM'INAL, a. Guilty of a crime ; applied
to persons.
2. Partaking of a crime ; involving ;
that violates public law, divine or human ;
as, theft is a cmiinaZ act.
8. That violates moral obligation ; wicked
4! Relating to crimes ; opposed to civil ; as a
rriminal code ; criminal law.
CRIM'INAL, n. A person who has commit
ted an offense against public law ; a vio
later of law, divine or human. More par-
ticularly, a person indicted or charged wit
a public offense, and one who is found
guilty, by verdict, confession or prool.
Criminal conversation, the illegal commerce
of the sexes; adultery.
CRIMINAL'ITY, ), The quality of be-
C.RIM'INALNESS, S ing criminal, or a
violation of law; guiltiness; the quality ol
being guilty of a crime.
This is by no means the only ciiteiion of
criminality. Blackstone, iv. ch. 17.
Panophst. Encyc.
€RIM'INALLY, adv. In violation of public
law ; in violation of divine law ; wickedly ;
in a wrong or iniquitous manuer.
CRIM'INATE, V. t. [L. criminor, crimina-
tus.] . ,
To accuse ; to charge with a crime ; to ai
ledge to be guilty of a crime, offense or
Oiu municipal laws do not require the offend
cr to plead guilty or criminate himself.
Scott on Lev. vi. Beloc's Herod.
Christ. Ob.
Accused ; charged
C R I
C R 1
The fowler— treads tlie crimp earth. iiCRIN'GER, n. One who cringes, (
Philips.n and flatters with servility.
boWr
Not consistent. [Qu. Da
or supra, easily broken.]
I. krum, crooked,|
[J^ot nsed.]
Arhuthnol
CRIMP, V. t. [W. crimpiaiv, to pinch, to
form into a ridge or rim.]
To catch ; to seize ; to pinch and hold. [See
Crimple.]
CRIMP, V. t. [Sax. gecrympt.] To curl or
frizzle ; as, to crimp the hair. This is
evidently tlie same word as the forego-
CRIMP, n. In England, an agent for coal
merchants, and for persons concerned m
shipping. Bailey
2. One who decoys another into the naval
or military service.
X A game at cards. Obs.
CRIMPLE, i>.<. [D.krimpen; G. id.; Sw.
krimpa ; Dan. krymper ; Scot, crimp ; W
oimpiau', to shrink, to pinch ; crwm, crom
curving, bending, shrinking; cnmu, t<
bend. See Crumple and Rumple, from th(
same root, W. rhimp, rim, a rim.]
To contract or draw together ; to shrink ; to
cause to shrink; to curl. fiiseman
CRIMP'LED, pp. Contracted ; shrunk
urlcd. , . , .
CRIMP'LING,;)^)-. Contracting ; shrinking ;
curhng; hobbhng. . . '^s^.
CRIM'SON, n. krim'zn. [It. cremisi, cremi-
sino ; Fr. rramoisi ; Sp. carmesi ; Arm.
earmonsy ; D. karmozyn ; G. karmosin ;
Sw. karmesin; Ban. karmesie ; from Ar,
• ^j.j .v..,...^v.>,, kermes, the eochincul
insect or berry.]
A deep red color ; a red tinged witl
also, a red color in general; as the virgin
crimson of modesty. '5'"'«'-
He made the vail of blue, and purple
crimson. 2 Chron. iii.
CRIM'SON, a. Of a beautiful deep red ; as
the ci-imson blush of modesty ; a crimson
stream of blood.
CRIM'SON, I', t. To dye with crimson ; to
dye of a deep red color ; to make red
CRIM'SON, V. i. To become of a deep red
color ; to be tinged with red ; to blush
CRIN'GING, ppr. Shrinking ; bowing ser-
vilely.
CRIN'GLE, n. cring'gl. [D. kring, krinkel,
kronkel, a bend, turn, ring, or twist. Sec
Crank and Cringe.]
1. A withe for fastening a gate. [Local]
2. In marine language, a hole in the bolt-
rope of a sail, formed by intertwisting the
division of a rope, called a strand, alter-
nately round itself, and through the
strand of the bolt-rope, till it becomes
three-fold, and takes the shape of a ring.
Its use is to receive the ends of the ropes
by which the sail is drawn up to its yard,,
or to extend the leech by the bow-line-
bridles.
Iron-cringles or hanks, are open rings run-
ning on the stays, to which the heads of
the stay sails are made fast. Mar. Did.
CRINKi'EROUS, o. [L. criniger ; crinis,
hair, and gero, to wear.] Hairy; over-
grown with hair. Did.
CRI'NITE, a. [L. crinitus, from crinis, hair.
Qu. W. crinaw, to parch, to frizzle.] Hav-
kin
Her cheeks crimsoned at the entrance of her
CRIMINATED, pi
with a crime. . „ ,
CRIM'INATING, ppr. Accusing ; ailed
to be guilty. . . .. ., „,
CRIMINA'TION, n. [L. cmnnatio.] I he
act of accusing ; accusation ; charge ot
having been guilty of a criminal act, of-
fense or wrong. Johnson.
CRIM'INATORY, a. Relating to accusa-
tion ; accusing. .
CRIM'INOUS, a. Very wicked ; hainous
involving great crime. {Kot used.]
Hammond.
CRIM'INOUSLY, adv. Criminally ; hain-
ously ; enormously. [JVot used^
CRIM'INOUSNESS, n. Wickedness; guilt:
criminality. [Kot used.] King Charles
CRIM'OSIN. [See Crimson.]
CRIMP, a. [Sax. ocn/mman, to crumble ; I).
kruim, a crum ; 'kruimelen, to crumble,
See Crumble.] ^^ .. ii„„t,vtai-.
1. Easily crumbled ; friable; brittle. [Li«-|leRINGL,
tie used.]
CRIM'SONED, pp. Dyed or tinged with a
deep red.
CRIM'SONING, ppr. Dyeing or tinging
with a deep red.
CRINC'UM, n. A cramp; a contraction ;
a turn or bend ; a whim. [A vulgar word.]
Hiidibras.
CRINGE, V. t. crinj. [probably from the root
of crank, crinkle, Heb. and Ch. ;?13; or
from the root of crook, with a nasal sound
of the last consonant; G. kriechen; V\ .
crycu, to curl.]
Properly, to shrink; to contract; to draw
together ; a popular use of the word. [Vul
garly, scringe.]
You see him cringe bis face. Shah
CRINGE, V. i. cnnj. To bow ; to bend witl
servility ; to fawn ; to make court by mean
compliances. . .
Flatterers are always bowing and cringing.
Arhuthnot
aim. A bow ; servile civihty.
Philips.
ng the appearance of a tuft of hair.
CRINK'LE, V. i. crink'l. [D. krinkelen, to
wind or twist. Qu. crank, and ring. Sax.
hring.]
To turn or wind ; to bend ; to wrinkle ; to
run in and out in Uttle or short bends or
turns ; as, the lightning crinkles.
CRINK'LE, V. t. To form with short turns
wrinkles ; to mold into inequalities.
CRINK'LE, n. A wrinkle; a winding or
turn ; siiuiositv.
CRl'NOSE, a. Hairy. [See Crinile.] [Little
nsed.]
ClUNOS'ITY, ?i. Hairiness. [Little used.]
CKIPTLK, n. crip't. [D. kreupel ; G. kriip-
pit: Diiu. krypHng, krbppel, and krobling,
from krOb, a creeping animal ; Ice. crypen,
to move crooked. It would seem that
this is from the root oi creep.]
A lame person ; primarily, one who creeps,
halts or hmps ; one who has lost, or never
enjoyed the use of his limbs. Acts xiv.
The word mav signify one who is par-
tially or totally disabled from using his
limbs. . , •
See the blind beggar dance, the cripple smg.
Pope.
CRIP'PLE, a. Lame. Shak.
CRIP'PLE, 1'. (. To lame ; to deprive of the
use of the Umbs, particularly of the legs
and feet.
2. To disable ; to deprive of the power of
exertion. We say, a fleet was crippled in
the engagement.
CRIP'PLED, pp. Lamed ; rendered impo-
tent in the limbs; disabled.
CRIP'PLENESS, n. Lameness.
CRIP'PLING, ppr. Laming; depriving ol
the use of the hmbs; disabling.
CRI'SIS, n. plu. cri'ses. [Gr. xpiois, L. crisis,
from the root of3£pww,to separate, to de-
termine, to decide. Sec Crim^.]
1. In medical science, the change of a disease
which indicates its event ; that change
which indicates recovery or death. It is
sometimes used to designate the excretion
of something noxious from the body, or of
the noxious fluids in a fever.
Encyc. Parr.
2. The decisive state of tilings, or the point
C R I
C R I
C R O
of time when an affair is aiTived to its
hightli, anj must soon terminate or sufler
a material change.
This hour's the very crisis of your fate.
Dryden.
■CRISP, a. \L. crispus; It. crespo ; G. kraus.
See the Verb.]
1. Curled ; formed into curls or ringlets.
3. Indented : winding ; us crisp channels.
3. Brittle ; friable ; easily broken or crum-
bled. Bacon.
€RIS1', V. t. [L. crispo ; It. crespare ; Sp.|
crcspar ; Fr. cr(per ; Dan. kruser ; Sw.j
krtisa ; W. ms, a crust ; crisb,^ a crisp
coating ; crisbin, crisp, friable ; from rhisj
broken into points, mince ; allied to cresu,\
crasu, to roast or parcli. From tlie Gothic,
dialects, we observe that p is not radical.'
Class Rd. No. 20. 73. Ar.] 1
1. To curl ; to twist ; to contract or form in-
to ringlets, as the hair ; to wreathe or iii-j
ter weave, as the branches of trees.
B. Jonson. Milton.
2. To indent. Johnson. To twist or eddy.
Mason.'
But the sense is, to curl ; to wrinkle in'
little undulations, as a fretted surface. I
I'rom that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,!
Rollinf; on orient pearl and sands of gold, I
Ran nectar, visiting each plant. Milton.,
€RISPA'TION, n. The act of curling, or
state of being curled. Bacon.
€RISP'ATURE, n. A curling; the state of
being curled. Lee. Botany!
CRISP'ED, pp. Curled ; twisted ; frizzled. !
€RISP'ING, ppr. Curling ; frizzling.
€RISP'ING-PIN, n. A curling-iron.
Isaiah.]
€RISP'NESS, n. A state of being curled -
also, brittleness. I
CRISP' Y, a. Curled; formed into ringlets ;
as crispy locks. Shak.\
a. Brittle ; dried so as to break short ; as a{
crispy cake.
€RIST'ATE, I [L. cristatus, from cris
CRIST' ATED, \ "" to, a crest.]
In botany, crested; tufted; having an ap-i
pendage like a crest or tuft, as some an-'
thers and flowers. Martijn:
CRITE'RION, )!. plu. criteria. [Gr. xpif w'"",!
from the root of xpiiu, to judge. See Cn'ntf .]
A standard of judging ; any established law,
rule, i)rinciple or fact, by which facts,
propositions and opinions are compared,
in order to discover their truth or false-
hood, or by which a correct judgment
mav be formed.
CRitH'OMANC Y, n. [Gr. xp<.6n, barley, and
ftwTfio, divination.]
A kind of divination by means of the dough
of cakes, and the meal strewed over the
victims, in ancient sacrifices. Encyci
CRIT'IC, n. [Gr. xpinxoj, from xpirjjs, a
judge or discerner, from the root of xptnj,'
to judge, to separate, to distinguish. See'
Crime.'] !
3. Aperson skilled in judging of the merit of
literary works ; one who is able to discern'
and distinguish the beauties and faults of
writing. In a more general sense, a per
son skilled in judging with propriety of
any combination of objects, or of "any
work of art ; and particularly of what are!
. denominated the Fine Arts. A critic is
oae who, from experience, knowledge,!
habit or taste, can perceive the diirerenco
between propriety and impropriety, in ob-
jects or works presented to his view ; be-
tween the natural and unnatural ; the high
and the low, or lofty and mean ; the con-
gruous and incongruous ; the correct and
incorrect, according to the established
rules of the art.
. An examiner ; a judge.
And make each day a critic on tlie last.
Pope.
3. One who judges with severity ; one who
censures or finds fault.
Pope. Watts. Swift.
CRIT'IC, a. Critical ; relating to criticism,
or the art of judging of the merit of a lite-
rary performance or discourse, or of any
work in the fine arts. [See Critical.]
CRIT'IC, V. i. To criticise ; to play the crit-
ic. [Little used.] Temple.
CRIT'ICAL, a. [L. criticua ; Gr. xpinxos.
See Critic]
1. Relating to criticism ; nicely exact ; as a
critical dissertation on Homer.
2. Having the skill or power nicely to dis-
tinguish beauties from blemishes ; as a
critical judge; a critical auditor; a critical
ear ; critical taste.
3. Making nice distinctions ; accurate ;
critical rules.
4. Capable of judging with accuracy ; dis-
cerning beauties and faults ; nicely judi
cious in matters of literature and the fine
arts ; as, Virgil was a critical poet.
5. Capable of judging with accuracy ; con
forming to exact rides of propriety ; ex
act ; particular ; as, to be critical in rite:
and ceremonies, or in the selection of
books.
6. Inclined to find fault, or to judge with se-
verity.
7. [See Cmis.] Pertaining to a crisis; mark-
ing the time or state of a disease wliicl
indicates its termination in the death oi
recovery of the patient ; as critical days, or
critical symptoms.
8. Producing a crisis or change in a disease ;
indicating a crisis ; as a critical sweat.
9. Decisive ; noting a time or state on which
the issue of things depends; important, as
regards the consequences ; as a critical
time or moment ; a critical juncture.
10. Formed or situated to determine or dc
cide, or having the crisis at command ;
important or essential for determining ; as
a critical post. Mitford.
CRIT'ICALLY, adv. In a critical manner ;
with nice discernment of truth or false-
hood, propriety or impropriety ; with nice
scrutiny ; accurately ; exactly ; as, to ex-
amine evidence critically ; to observe crit-
ically.
2. At the crisis ; at the exact time.
3. In a critical situation, place or condition,
so as to command the crisis ; as a town
critically situated. Mitford.
CRIT'ICALNESS, n. The state of being
critical ; incidence at a particular point of
time.
2. Exactness ; accuracy ; nicety ; minute
care in examuiation.
CRITICISE, V. i. s as -. To examine and
judge critically ; to judge with attention
to beauties and faults ; as, to criticise on a
literary work, on an argument or dis-
course.
3. To write remarks on the merit of a pi.r-
formance ; to notice beauties and faults.
Cavil you may, but never criticise. Pope.
3. To animadvert upon as faulty ; to utter
censure ; as, to criticise on a man's man-
ners, or his expenses. Locke.
CRITICISE, V. t. To notice beauties and
blemishes or faults in ; to utter or write
remarks on the merit of a performance ;
as, to criticise the writings of Milton.
2. To pass judgment on with respect to
merit or blame ; as, to criticise an author;
to criticise the conduct.
CRITICISED, pp. Examined and judged
with rc.'-pect to beauties and faults.
CRIT'ICISING, ppr. Examining and judg-
ing with regard to beauties and faults ; re-
marking on ; animadverting on.
CRIT'ICiSM, n. The art of judging with
propriety of the beauties and faults of a
literary performance, or of any production
in the fine arts; as the rules of criticism.
2. The act of judging on tlie merit of a per-
formance ; animadversion ; remark ou
beauties and faults; critical observation,
verbal or written. We say, the author's
criticisms arc candid, or they are severe.
CRITIQUE, I [Fr. critique.] A critical
CRIT'IC, S "■ e.xamination of the mer-
its of a performance ; remarks or animad-
versions on beauties and faults.
.•\ddison wrote a critique on Paradise
Lost.
2. Science of criticism ; standard or rules of
judging of the merit of performances.
If ideas and words were distinctly weighed,
and duly considered, they would afford us an-
other sort of logic and critic. Locke.
CRIZ'ZEL, I [See Crisp.] A kind
CRIZ'ZELING, I "• of roughness on the
surface of glass, which clouds its transpa-
rency. Encyc.
CROAK, v.i. [Sax. craceltan ; Goth, hruk-
yan ; L. crocio, crocito ; Sp. croaxar ; It.
crocciare ; Fr. croasser ; Arm. crozal ; G.
ki-dchzen ; D. kraaijen, to crow, and kruch-
gen, to groan ; Ir. grag, gragam ; coincid-
ing in elements with W.crfg-, cn/g-, hoarse,
crygu, to make rough or hoarse ; Sax.
hreog, rough, and hreoician, to rue ; Gr.
xfiu^u, xpajftof, and xfa^a, xpo/jtif. These
all appear to be of one family, and from
the root of rough, and creak, W. rhyg. See
Crow.]
1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat,
as a frog or other animal.
2. To caw ; to cry as a raven or crow.
3. To make any low, muttering sound, re-
sembUng that of a frog or raven ; as, their
bellies croak. Locke.
4. In contempt, to speak witli a low, hollow
voice.
CROAK, )i. The low, harsh sound uttered
by a frog or a raven, or a like sound.
CROAKER, ?i. One that croaks, murmurs
or grumbles ; one who complains unrea-
sonably.
CROAKING, ppr. Uttering a low, harsh
sounrl from the throat, or other similar
sound.
CROAKING, n. A low, harsh sound, as of a
frog, or the bowels.
CRO'ATS, n. Troops, natives of Croatia.
CRO'CALITE, n. [from crocus, saffron.]
A mineral, a variety of zeolite, of an or-
ange or brick red color. It is sometimes
C R O
C R O
C R O
found in reniform or globular masses, with
a radiated texture. Cleaveland,
CRO'CEOUS, a. [L. croctus, from crocus,
saffron.]
Like saffron ; yellow ; consisting of saffron.
€RO'CHES, n. Little buds or knobs about
the tops of a deer's horn. Bailey.
CROCITA'TION, n. [L. crocito.] A croak-
ing.
CROCK, n. [Sax. cruce, crocca ; D. kruik ; G.
krug ; D. krukke ; Svv. kruka ; Fr. crucli
W. cregen, an earthern vessel; crocan, a
pot.]
An earthern vessel ; a pot or pitcher; a cup,
Obs.
CROCK, n. [Qu. from crock, supra, or from
Cli. pn, Ar. 0^=. charaka, to burn.]
Soot, or the black matter collected from
combustion on pots and kettles, or in a
chimney. Rny.
CROCK, y.<.ort. To black with soot, or other
matter collected from combustion ; or to
black with the coloring matter of cloth.
JVew England.
CROCK'ERY, n. [W. crocaji, a boiler or
pot; crocemi, to make earthern vessels;
crocenyz, a potter. See Crock.]
Earthern ware ; vessels formed of clay, gla-
zed and baked. The term is applied to
the coarser kinds of ware ; the finer kinds
being usually called china or porcelain.
CROCODILE, n. [Gr. xpoxo8fao,- ; [qu.
jtpoxo;, saffron, and Siaoi, fearing ;] L. croc-
ndilus ; It. coccodrillo ; Sp. cocodrilo.]
An amphibious animal of the genus Lacerta
or lizard, of the largest kind. It has a
naked body, with four feet and a tail ; it
has five toes on the fore feet, and four on
the hind feet. It grows to the length of
sixteen or eighteen feet, runs swiftly on
land, but does not easily turn itself. It in-
habits the large rivers in Africa and Asia,
and lays its eggs, resembling those of a
goose, in the sand, to be hatched by the
heat of the sun. [See Alligator.]
Encyc.
■I. In rhetoric, a captious and sophistical ar-
gument contrived to draw one into a
CROCODILE, a. Pertaining to or like a
crocodile ; as crocodile tears, that is, false
or affected tears, hypocritical sorrow.
CRO'CUS, n. [Gr. xpoxos, from the Shemitic
pT , and its yellow color.]
i. Saffron, a genus of plants.
a. In chimistry, a yellow powder ; any metal
calcined to a red or deep yellow color.
Encyc.
CROFT, n. [Sax. crofl ; allied probably to
L. crypto, Gr. xpurt-ru, to conceal.]
A little close adjoining or near to a dwelling-
house, and used for pasture, tillage or other
purposes. Encyc.
CROISA'DE, n. [Fr. from croix, a cross.]
A holy war ; an expedition of christians
against the infidels, for the conquest of
Palestine. [See the more common word
Crusade.]
CROIS'ES, n. [See Cross.] Soldiers en
rolled under the banners of the cross.
Burke
2. Pilgrims who carry the cross.
CRO'KER, n. A fowl that inliabits the
Chesapeak and the large rivers in Virgin-
ia ; sometimes of three feet in length.
Penna7it.
CROM'LECH, J!. [W.cromlep; crom, bent,
concave, and llec, a fiat stone.]
Huge flat stones resting on other stones,
set on end for that purpose ; supposed to
be the remains of druidical altars.
Rowland, Mon. Anliq.
CRONE, n. [Ir. criona, old ; cnon, withered ;
crionaim, to wither, fade, decay ; W. crin-
aw, to wither, to become brittle ; Gr. yifiuv.
old.]
1. An old woman. Shak. Dryden
2. An old ewe. Tusser,
CRO'NET, n. [coronet.] The hair which
grows over the top of a horse's hoof
Johnso7i.
The iron at the end of a tilting spade.
Bailey
CRONICAL, CRONYCAL. [See Acroni-
cal.]
CRO'NY, n. [See Crone. But this word
seems to carry the sense of fellowship.
and is precisely the Ar. /, »]> karana, to
join, to associate ; whence its derivative,
.\n intimate companion ; an associate ; a
familiar friend.
To oblige your crony Swift,
Bring oui- dame a new year's gift. Swift
Hence an old crony is an intimate friend of
long standing.
CRQQK, n. [Sw. krok ; Dan. krog ; Fr. croc,
crochet ; Arm. crocq ; Ir. cruca ; W. crwg,
crwca, croca ; Goth, hrugg, a shepherd's
crook, which in Italian is rocco ; W. cnig,
a heap, a rick ; Sax. hric ; Eng. a ndge ;
G. riicken, the back, or ridge of an ani-
mal. These words appear to be connect-
ed with L. ruga, a wrinkle, Russ. kryg,
okrug, a circle. Wrinkling forms rough-
ness, and this is the radical sense of
hoarseness. It. roco, hoarse, L. raucus,
Eng. rough, W. cryg, rough, hoarse. The
radical sense of crook is to strain or draw
hence, to bend.]
1. Any bend, turn or curve ; or a bent or
curving instrument. We speak of a crook
in a stick of timber, or in a river ; and any
hook is a crook.
2. A shepherd staff, curving at the end ; a
pastoral staff. When used by a bishop or
abbot, it is called a crosier.
He left his crook, he Icit his flocks. Prior.
3. A' gibbet.
4. An artifice ; a trick. Cranmer.
CRQQK, t;. t. [Fr. crochuer ; Sw. kroka ;
Dan. kroger ; W. crwcau, crocau.]
1. To bend ; to turn from a straight line ; to
make a curve or hook.
9. To turn from rectitude ; to pervert.
Bacon.
•X To thwart. [Little used.]
CROOK, t'. i. To bend or be bent ; to be
turned from a right line ; to curve ; to
wind. Camden
CROQK'-BACK, n. A crooked back ; one
who has a crooked back or round slioul
ders. Shak
CRQOK'-BACKED, a. Having a round
back, or shoulders. Dryden
CRQQK'ED, p/). oro. Bent; curved; curv
ing ; winding.
'2. Winding in moral conduct; devious; fro
ward ; perverse ; going out of the path ot
rectitude ; given to obhquity or wander-
ing from duty.
They are a perverse and crooked generation.
Deut. xxxii.
CROOK'EDLY, adv. In a winding manner.
2. Uiitowardly ; not compliantly.
CROOK'EDNESS, n. A winding, bending
or turning ; curvity ; curvature ; inflection.
Hooker.
9. Perverseness ; imtowardness ; deviation
from rectitude ; iniquity ; obhquity of con-
duct.
3. Deformity of a gibbous body.
Johnson. Taylor.
CROOK'EN, V. t. To make crooked. [M>t
in use.]
e.RQQK'lNG,ppr. Bending; winding.
CRQQK'-KNEED, a. Having crooked
knees. Shak.
CROOK'-SHOULDERED, o. Having bent
shoulders.
CROOP, } ^^ [Scot.croup, crope,crupe, crowp,
CROUP, ^ ■ to croak, to cry or speak with
a hoarse voice ; Goth, hropyan ; Sax.
hreopan, to call out.]
The disease called technically cynanche Ira-
chealis, an affection of the throat accom-
panied with a hoarse difficult respiration.
It is vulgarly called rattles.
CROP, n. [Sax. crop, cropp, the crop of a
fowl, a cluster, ears of corn, grapes, grains
of corn ; D. krop ; G. kropf; W. crop, the
crop or craw ; cropiad, a gathering into a
heap, a creeping ; cropian, to creep. Here
we see that crop is a gathering, and that it
is connected with creep, whose radical
sense is to catch or take hold. Hence
crop coincides with L. carpo, carpus, and
perhaps with reap, rapio, as it does with
grapple. Hence we see how the crop of a
fovi'l, and a crop of grain or hay, are con-
sistently the same word.]
1. The first stomach of a fowl; the craw.
2. The top or highest part of a thing; the
end. [JVot in use.] Chaucer.
.3. That which is gathered ; the corn, or
fruits of the earth collected ; hai-vest. The
word includes every species of fruit or
produce, gathered for man or beast.
Corn and other cultivated plants while
growing ; a popular use of the word.
5. Any thing cut off or gathered.
C. Hair cut close or short.
CROP, v.t. To cut off the ends of any thing;
to eat oft'; to pull off; to pluck ; to mow;
to reap ; as, to crop flowers, trees, or grass.
Man crops trees or plants with an instru-
ment, or with his fingers ; a beast crops
with his teeth.
2. To cut off prematurely ; to gather before
it falls.
While force our youth, like fruits, untimely
crops. Denham.
CROP, V. i. To yield harvest. [M>t in use.]
Shak.
CROP'-Ex\R, n. [crop and ear.] A horse
whose ears are cropped. Shak.
CROP'-EARED, a. Having the ears crop-
ped. B. Jonson.
CROP'FUL, c. Having a full crop or belly ;
s.itiated. Milton.
CROP'PED, > Cut off ; plucked ; eaten
CROPT, I P^' off; reaped, or mowed.
CROP'PEB, 71. A pigeon with a large crop.
Johnson. Jf'altoti.
C R O
C R O
C R O
eROP'PING, ppr. Cutting off; pulling off
eating off; reaping, or mowing.
■CROP'PING, n. The act of cutting off.
2. The raising of crops.
€ROP'-SICK, a. Sick or indisposed from a
surcharged stoinacli ; sick with excess in
eating or drinking. Tale.
€ROP -SICKNKSS, n. Sickness from re-
pletion of the .stomach. L. crapula.
CRO'SIER, n. kro'zhur. [Fr. crosse, a cro-
sier, a bat or gaff-stick ; crasser, to playl
at cricket : Arm. cro^z ; from the root of
cross.]
1. A bishop's crook or pastoral staff, a sym^
bol of pastoral authority and care. It
consists of a gold or silver staff, crooked
at the top, and is carried occasionally be
fore bishops and abbots, and held in the
hand when they give solemn benedictions.
The use of crosiers is ancient. Originally
a crosier was a staff with a cross on the
top, in form of a crutch or T. Encyc
2. In astronomy, four stars in the southern
hemisphere, in the form of a cross.
Encyc.
CROS'LET, n. [See Cross.] A small cross
In heraldry, a cross crossed at a small dis-
tance from the ends. Encyc.
€ROSS, n. craus. [W. croes ; Arm. croaz ;
G. kreuz; Sw. kors ; Dan. kryds and kors ;
Russ. krest. Class Rd. But the English
cross would seem to be from the L. crur.
through the Fr. croix, croiier ; It. croce j
Sp. cruz; W. cr6g, coinciding with the Ir.
regh, riagh. Qu. the identity of these words,
The Irish has cros, a cross ; crosadh, cro-
saim, to cross, to hinder. If the last rad-
ical is g or c, this word belongs to the
root of crook. Chaucer uses croiiche for
cross.]
1. A gibbet consisting of two pieces of tim-
ber placed across each other, either in
form of a T or of an X. That on which
our Savior suffered, is represented on coins
and other monuments, to have been of the
former kind. Encyc
2. The ensign of the christian religion ; and
hence figuratively, the religion itself.
Roice
3. A monument with a cross upon it to e.\
cite devotion, such as were anciently set
in market places. Johnson. Shak.
4. Any thing in the form of a cross or gib
bet.
5. A line drawn through another. Johnson.
6. Any thing that thwarts, obstructs, or per-
plexes ; hindrance ; vexation ; misfortune ;
opposition; trial of patience.
Heaven prepares good men with crosses.
B. Jonson.
7. Money or coin stamped with the figure of
a cross. Dryden.
8. The right side or face of a coin, stamped
with a cross. Encyc.
9. The mark of a cross, instead of a signa-
ture, on a deed, formerly impressed by
those who could not write. Encyc.
10. Church lands in Ireland. Davies.\
11. In theology, the sufferings of Christ by
crucifixion.
That he might reconcile both to God in one
body by the cross. Eph. ii.
J12. The doctrine of Christ's sufferings and
of the atonement, or of salvation by
Christ.
The preaching of the cross is to them that
perish, foolishness. 1 Cor. i. Gal. v.
To take up the cross, is to submit to trou-
bles and afflictions from love to Christ.
13. In mining, two nicks cut in the surface
of the earth, thus -f.
Cross and pile, a play with money, at which
it is put to chance whether a coin shall
fall with that side up, which bears the
cross, or the other which is called pile or
reverse.
€ROSS, a. craus. Transverse ; oblique ;
passing from side to side ; falling athwart;
as a cross beam.
The cross refraction of a second prism.
J\'ewtoti.
2. Adverse ; opposite; obstructing; some-
times with to ; as an event cross to our in-
chnations.
3. Perverse ; untractable ; as the cross cir-
cumstances of a man's temper. South.
4. Peevish ; fretful ; ill-humored : applied to
persons or things ; as a cross woman or
liusband : a cross answer.
5. Contrary ; contradictory ; perplexing.
Contradictions that seem to lie cross and ui
couth. Sout
6. Adverse ; unfortunate.
Behold Uie cross and unlucky issue of my di
sign. Glanvill
7. Interchanged ; as a cross marriage, when
a brother and sister intermarry with two
persons who have the same relation to
each other. Bailey.
Noting what belongs to an adverse i)arty ;
as a cross interrogatory. Kent.
CROSS, prep. Athwart ; transversely ; over ;
from side to side ; so as to intersect.
And cross their limits cut a sloping way.
Dryden.
This is admissible in poetry, as an abbrevia-
tion of across.
€ROSS, II. /. To draw or run a line, or lay
a body across another ; as, to cross a word
in writing ; to cross the arms.
2. To erase ; to cancel ; as, to cross an ac-
count.
3. To make the sign of the cross, as catho-
lics in devotion.
1. To pass from side to side ; to pass oi
move over ; as, to cross a road ; to cross a
river, or the ocean. I crossed the English
channel, from Dieppe to Brighton, in a
steam-boat, Sept. 18, 1824. fK
5. To thwart; to obstruct; to hinder; to
embarrass ; as, to cross a purpose or de-
sign.
J. To counteract ; to clash or interfere with
to be inconsistent with ; as, natural appe
tites may cross our principles.
". To counteract or contravene ; to hinder
by authority ; to stop. [See No. 5.]
B. To contradict. . Bacon. Hooker.
9. To debar or preclude. Shak.
To cross the breed of an annnal, is to produce
young from different varieties of the spe-
cies.
€ROSS, V. 1. To lie or be athwart.
2. To move or pass laterally, or from one
side towards the other, or from place to
place, either at right angles or obliquely ;
as, to cross from Nantucket to New Bedford.
3. To be inconsistent ; as, men's actions do
not always cross with reason. [jVot used.]
Sidney.
€ROSS'-ARMED, a. With arms across.
In botany, brachiate ; decussated ; having
branches in pairs, each at right angles
with the next. Martyn.
CROSS'-BARRED, a. Secured by trans-
verse bars. Milton.
€ROSS'-BAR-SHOT, n. A bidlet with aii
iron bar passing through it, and standing
out a few inches on each side ; used in
naval actions for cutting the enemy's rig-
gii'ff- Encyc.
€ROSS-BEARER, n. In the Romish church,
tlie chaphiin of an archbishop or primate,
who bears a cross before him on solemn
occasions. Also, a certain officer in the
inquisition, who niakes a vow before the
intpiisitors to defend the Catholic faith,
though with the loss of fortune and life.
Encyc.
CROSS'-BILL, 71. In chancery, an original
bill by which the defendant prays relief
against the plaintiff. Blackstoru.
eROSS'-BILL, 71. A species of bird, the
Loxia curvirostra, the mandibles of whose
bill curve opposite ways and cross each
other. Encyc.
CROSS'-BITE, n. A deception ; a cheat.
UEstrange.
€ROSS'-BITE, V. t. To thwart or contra-
vene by deception. Collier.
€ROSS'-B0W, 7!. In archery, a missive
weapon formed by placing a now athwart
a stock. Baiky.
CROSS'-BOWER, n. One who shoots with
a cross-bow. Raleigh.
CROSSCUT, V. t. To cut across.
CROSSCUT-SAW, n. A saw managed
by two men, one at each end.
CROSS'ED, pp. Having a line drawn over;
canceled; erased; passed over; thwart-
ed ; opposed ; obstructed ; counteracted.
CROSS-EXAMINA'TION, n. The exam-
ination or interrogation of a witness called
by one party, by the opposite party or his
counsel.
CROSS-EXAMINE, v. t. To examine a
witness by the opposite party or his coun-
sel, as the witness for the plaintiff by the
defendant, and vice versa.
The opportunity to cross-examine the wit-
nesses has been expressly waived. Kent.
CROSS-EXAM'INED, pp. Examined or
interrogated bv the opposite partv.
CROSS'-FLOW", V. i. To flow across.
MMott.
CROSS'-GRAIXED, a. Having the grain
or fibers across or irregular ; as in timber,
where a branch shoots from the trunk,
there is a curling of the grain.
2. Perverse; untractable; not condescend-
ing.
CROSS'ING, ppr. Drawing; running or
passing a line over ; erasing ; canceOng ;
thwarting ; opposing ; counteracting ; pas-
sing over.
€ROSS'ING, n. A thwarting ; impediment;
vexation. Shak.
CROSS'-JACK, 71. cro-jeck. A sail extend-
ed on the lower yard of the mizen mast ;
but seldom used. Encyc.
CROSS'-LEGGED, a. Having the legs
across.
CROSSLY, adv. Athwart ; so as to inter-
sect something else.
2. Adversely; in opposition ; unfortunately.
3. Peevishly ; fretfully.
CROSS'NESS, 71. Peevisliness ; frctfulness;
ill humor; perverseness.
CROSS-PIECE, 71. A rail of timber extend-
ing over the windlass of a ship, furnished
C R O
C R U
C R O
with pins with which to fasten tlie rig-
ging, as occasion requires. Encyc
CROSS'-PURPOSE, n. A contrary pur-
pose ; contradictory system ; also, a con-
versation in which one person does or pre-
tends to misunderstand another's mean-
ing. An enigma ; a riddle. Mason.
€ROSS'-QUESTION, v. t. To cross exam-
ine. Killingbeck.
€ROSS'-R0W, n. The alphabet, so named
because a cross is placed at the beginning,
to show that the end of learning is piety.
Johnson. Shak.
2. A row that crosses others.
€ROSS'-SEA, n. Waves running across
others ; a swell running in different direc-
tions.
€ROSS'-STAFF, n. An instrument to take
the altitude of the sun or stars.
CROSS'-STONE, n. A mineral called also
harmotome, and staurolite. It is almost
always in crystals. Its single crystals are
rectangular four-sided prisms, "broad oi-
compressed, and terminated by four-sided
pyramids, witli rhombic faces, which
stand on the lateral edges. But this min-
eral is generally found in double crystals,
composed of two of the preceding crys-
tals, so intersecting each other, that the
two broader planes of one prism are per-
pendicidar to the broader planes of the
other, throughout their whole length. Its
color is a grayish white or milk white,
sometimes with a shade of yellow or red.
Cleaveland.
.€ROSS'-TINING, «. In husbandnj, a har-
rowing by drawing the harrow or draj;
back and "forth on the same ground.
Encyc.
CROSS'-TREES, n. In ships, certain pieces
of timber, supported by the cheeks and
trestle-trees, at the upper ends of the low-
er masts, to sustain the frame of the top.
and on the top masts, to extend the top-
gallant shrouds. Mar. Did,
€ROSS'-WAY, ) A way or road that
€ROSS'-ROAD, I crosses another road
or the chief road ; an obscure path inter
secting the main road. Johnson. Shiik
CROSS'-WIND, n. A side wind ; an unfa
vorable wind. Boyle
CROSS- WISE, adv. Across ; in the forn
of a cross.
CROSS'-WORT, )!. A plant of the genu:
Valantia.
CROTCH, n. [Fr. croc, a hook. See Crook
and Crutch.']
1. A fork or forking ; the parting of two
legs or branches ; as the crotch of a tree.
2. In ships, a crooked timber placed on tl
keel, in the fore and aft parts of a shij).
3. A piece of wood or iron, opening on the
top and extending two horns or arms, like
a half moon, used for supporting a boom,
a spare topmast, yards, &c. Mar. Diet.
CUOTCH'ED, a. Having a crotch ; forked,
CROTCH'ET, 71. [Fr. crochet, croche, from
croc. See Crook.]
1. In printing, a hook including words, a
sentence or a passage distinguished from
the rest, thus [ ].
2. In music, a note or character, equal in
time to half a minim, and the double of
quaver, thus •
0. A piece of wood resembling a fork, used
as a support in buildin".
4. A pecuUar turn of the mind ; a whim, or
fancy ; a perverse conceit.
AU the devices and crotchets of new inven-
tioDs. Howell.
CROTCH'ETED, a. Marked with crotch-
ets.
CROUCH, V. i. [G. kriechen, kroch, kroche,
to creep, to stoop, to cringe, probably al-
lied to crook, Fr. crochu, as cringe to
crank. Class Rg. Vulgarly, crooch,
scrooch.]
1. To bend down ; to stoop low ; to lie close
to the ground ; as an animal. A dog
crouches to his master ; a lion crouches in
the thicket.
3. To bend servilely ; to stoop meanly ; to
fawn ; to cringe.
Every one that is left in thine house shall
come and crouch to him for a piece of bread.
1 Sam. ii.
CROUCH, v.t. [See Cross.] To sign with
the cross ; to bless. [JSTot in use.]
Chaucer.
CROUCH'ING, ppr. Bending ; stooping ;
cringing-.
CROUP, ^ [Fr. croupe, a ridge, top, but-
CROOP, I "■ locks ; Sp. grupa ; Port, gam-
pa ; It. groppa ; W. crib : Russ. krivei,
crooked ; knvlyii, to bend.]
1. The rump of a fowl; the buttocks of a
horse, or extremity of the reins above the
hips.
2. [Scot, croup. See Croop.] The cyuanche
trachealis, a disease of the throat.
GROUPA'DE, I [from croup, or its root.]
CROOPA'DE, I "• In the manege, a leap in
which the horse pulls up his hind legs, as
if he drew them up to his belly. Encyc.
CROUT, I [G. kraut, cabbage, an herb ;
KROUT, I "■ D. kndd.] Sour crout is
made by laying minced or chopped cab-
bage in layers in a barrel, with a handful
of salt and caraway seeds between the
layers ; then ramming down the whole,
covering it, pressing it with a heavy
weight, and suffering it to stand, till it has
gone through fermentation. It is an effi-
cacious preservative against scurvy in long
voyages. Encyc.
GROW, n. [Sax. cratoe: Dan. krage ; Sw.
kr&ka ; D. tract ; G. krahe ; so named from
its cry, G. krahen, D. kraaijcn, Goth.
hruk, a croaking, hrukyan, to croak or crow,
L. crocio, Gr. xpafu, xpu|w, xexpaya. It
has no connection with L. corvus, butJ-ooAr
is of the same family.]
1. A large black fowl, of the genus Corvus ;
the beak is convex and eultrated, the nos-
trils are covered with bristly feathers, the
tongue is forked and cartilaginous. This
is a voracious fowl, feeding on carrion
and grain, particularly maiz, which it pulls
up, just after it appears above ground.
To pluck or pull a croiv, is to be industri-
ous or contentious about a triile, or thing
of no value. Johnson.
2. A bar of iron with a beak, crook or two
claws, used in raising and moving heavy
weights. Moxon.
•3. The voice of the cock. [See the Verb.]
CROW, t>. i. pret. and pp. croioed ; former-
ly, pret. crew. [Sax. crawan ; D. kraaijen ;
G. krahen ; Gr. xpa^u. See the Noun.]
1. To cry or make a noise as a cock, in joy,
gaycty or defiance.
2. To boast in triumph ; to vaunt; to vapor ;
to swagger. [^ popular, but not an elegant
use (^ the word.] Grandison.
CROW-BAR, n. A bar of iron sharpened at
one end, used as a lever for raising
weights.
CROW-BERRY, n. A plant of the genus
Empetrum, or berry-bearing heath. One
species bears the crow-crake berries.
Encyc.
CROW'S-BILL, n. In surgery, a kind of for-
ceps for extracting bullets and other things
from wounds. Encyc.
CROW'S-FEET, n. The wrinkles under the
eyes, which are the effects of age. Obs.
Chaucer.
CROW -FLOWER, n. A kind of campion.
CROW-FOQT, n. On board of ships, a com-
plication of small cords spreading out from
a long block ; u.sed to suspend the awn-
ings, or to keep the top sails from striking
and fretting against the tops. Encyc.
2. In botany, the Ranunculus, a genus of
plants.
CROW'S-FOOT, n. In the military art, a ma-
chine of iron, with four points, so termed
that in whatever way it falls, there is one
l)oint upwards, and intended to stop or
embarrass the approach or march of the
enemj's cavalry ; a caltrop.
Encye.
CROWING, ppr. Uttering a particular voice,
as a cock; boasting in triumph ; vaunting;
bragging.
CROW-KEEPER, n. A scarecrow. [JVot
used.] Shak.
CROW-NET, n. In England, a net for catch-
ing wild fowls ; the net used in New Eng-
land for catching wild pigeons.
CROW-SILK, n. A plant, the Confena
livalis. Fam. oj Plants.
CROW-TOE, n. A plant ; as the tufted
crow-toe. Milton.
CROWD, \ [Ir. emit ; W. cricth, a
GROWTH, \ "• swelling or bulging, a mu-
sical instrument.]
An instriunent of music with si.x strings ; a
kind of violin.
CROWD, )i. [Sax. cruth, eread. See
Crew.]
1. Properly, a collection ; a number of things
collected, or closely pressed together.
2. A number of persons congregated and
pressed together, or collected into a close
body without order ; a throng. Hence,
3. A multitude; a great number collected.
4. A number of things near together ; a
number promiscuously assembled or lying
near each other ; as a crowd of isles in the
Egean Sea.
5. The lower orders of people ; the popu-
lace ; the vulgar. Dryden.
CROWD, V. t. To press ; to urge ; to drive
together.
2. To fill by pressing numbers together with-
out order ; as, to crowd a room with peo-
ple ; to crowd the memory with ideas.
3. To fill to excess.
Volumes of reports crowd a lawyer's library.
4. To encumber by multitudes. Shak.
5. To urge ; to press by solicitation ; to dun.
G. In seamanship, to crowd sail, is to cany
an extraordinary force of sail, with a view
to accelerate the course of a ship, as in
chasing or escaping from an enemy ; to
carry a press of sail.
CROWD, 1'. J. To press in numbers ; as, the
C R O
C R U
C R U
multitude crowded through the gate or into
the room.
2. To press; to urge forward ; as, the man
crowded into the room.
3. To swarm or be numerous.
€ROWD'ED, pp. Collected and pressed;
pressed together ; urged ; driven ; filled
by a promiscuous multitude.
€ROWD'ER, rt. A fiddler; one who plays
on a crowd.
€ROWD'lNG, ppr. Pressing together ;
pushing ; thrustmg ; driving ; assembling
in a promiscuous multitude ; filUng ; ur-
CROWN, )i. [Fr. couronne ; Arm. curun ;
W. coron ; D. kroo7i ; G. krone ; Sw. krona ;
Dan. krone ; Ir. coroin ; L. corona ; Sp. It.
id.; Gr. xopui);. The radical letters appear
to be Cr, as corolla, without n, indicates
Qu. a top or roundness. See Chorus.]
1. An ornament worn on the head by king;
and sovereign princes, as a badge of imjie-
rial or regal power and dignity. Figura-
tively, regal power ; royalty ; kingly gov-
ernment, or executive authority.
2. A wreath or garland.
3. Honorary distinction ; reward.
They do it to obtain a corraptible crown ; we,
an incorruptible. 1 Cor. ix.
4. Honor ; splendor ; dignity.
The crown has fallen from our heads. Lam
V. Phil.iv.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
Prov. xii.
5. The top of tlie head ; the top of a moun-
tain or other elevated object. The end of
an anchor, or the point from which the
arms proceed.
6. The part of a hat which covers the top of
the head.
7. A coin anciently stamped with the figure
of a crown. The English crown is five
shillings sterling. The French crown is a
hundred and nine cents. Other coins
bear the same name.
8. Completion ; accomplishment.
9. Clerical tonsure in a circular form ; a lit-
tle circle shaved on the top of the head,
as a mark of ecclesiastical office or distinc-
tion.
10. Among jewelers, tlic upper work of s
rose diamond.
11. In botany, an appendage to the top of a
seed, which serves to bear it in the wind,
CROWN, V. t. To invest with a crown or
regal ornament. Hence, to invest with
regal dignity and power.
2. To cover, as with a crown ; to cover the
top.
And peaceful olives crowned his hoary head.
Dryden.
3. To honor ; to dignify ; to adorn.
Tliou hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Ps. viii.
4. To reward ; to bestow an honorary re-
ward or distinction on ; as the victor
crowned with laurel.
5. To reward ; to recompense.
She'll crown a grateful and a constant flame
Jioscommon
6. To terminate or finish ; to complete ; to
perfect.
7. To terminate and reward ; as, our effort
were crowned with success.
CROWN ED, pp. Invested with a crown, o
with regal power and dignity ; honored
dignified ; regarded with a crown, wreath
garland or distinction ; recompensed ; ter-
miiiatcd ; completed ; perfected.
CROU N'ER, n. He or that which crowns
or completes.
CR0WN'P:T, n. A coronet, which see.
Shakspeare has used it for chief end or
last purpose ; but this sense is singular.
CROWN-GLASS, n. The finest sort of
English window-glass.
CROWN-IMPERIAL, n. A plant of the
genus Fritillaria, having a beautiful
tlower.
CROWN'ING, ppr. Investing with acrown,
or with royalty or su))renie power ; hon
oring with a wreath or with distinction
adorning; rewarding; finishing; perfect
ing.
CROWN'ING, 71. In architecture, the finish
ing of a member or any ornamental work.
3. In marine language, tlie finishing part of
a knot, or interweaving of the strands.
CROWN'-OFFICE, 71. In England, an of-
fice belonging to the court of King's
Bench, of which the king's coroner or at-
torney is commonly master, and in which
the attorney general and clerk exhibit in
formations for crimes and misdemeanors.
CROWN'-POST, n. In building, a post which
stands upright in the middle, between two
|)rincipal ratlers. Bailey.
CROWN'-SCAB, n. A scab formed round
the ciiriMis of a horse's hoof, acanceroiis
iiiid ii.-iiiiliil s(ii-o. Farrier's Diet.
t KuW N - rillSTLE, n. A flower.
CROW ,\ -W IIF.EL, n. In a watch, the up-
pciwlicci licM the balance, which drives
till- lialancc, :iM(l in royal pendulums, is call-
ed the fwiiig-u-heel.
CROWN'-WORK, n. In fortification, an out-
work running into the field, consisting ol
two demi-bastions at the extremes and an
entire bastion in the middle, with curtains.
It is designed to gain some hill or ndv£
tageous post, and cover the other works.
Diet.
CROYL'STONE, n. Crystalized cauk, in
which the crystals are small.
IVoodward. Johnson.
CRU'CIAL, a. [Fr. cruciale, from L. crux,
a cross.]
In surgery, transverse ; passing across
tersecting; in form of a cross ; as crucial
incision. Sha.
CRU'CIAN, n. A short, thick, broad fish, of
a deep yellow color. Diet, of .Vat. Hist
CRU'CI.\TE, V. t. [L. crude, to torture, from
crux, a cross.]
To torture ; to torment ; to afflict with ex-
treme pain or distress ; hut the verb is sel-
dom used. [See Excruciate.]
CRU'CIATE, a. Tormented. [Little used.]
CRUCIA'TION, 71. The act of torturin,
tormein. [Little used.] Hall.
CRU'CIBLE, n. [It. crogiuolo,anil crociuolo ;
Sp. msol ; Port, chrysol or crisol ; Fr.
creuset ; D. kroes, smeU-kroes. It is from
crux, a cross, as Lunier supposes, from
the figure of the cross, formerly attached
to it. But qu.]
1. A chimical vessel or melting pot, made of
earth, and so tempered and baked, as
endure extreme heat without melting. It
is used for melting ores, metals, &c.
3. .\ hollow place at the bottom of a chim
ical furnace. Fourcroy.
CRUCIF'EROUS, a. [h.crucifcr; crux, u
cross, and fero, to bear.] Bearing tho
cross. Diet.
CRU'CIFIER, n. [See Crucify.] A person
who crucifies ; one who puts another to
death on a cross.
CRU'CIFIX, n. [L. crucifius, from crucifigo,
to fix to a cross; crux and/g-o, to fix.]
1. A cro.ss on which the body of Christ is
fasteiied in efligy. Encyc.
2. A representation, in painting or statuary,
of oiu- Lord fastened to the cross.
Johnson.
3. Figuratively, the religion of Christ. [Lit-
tle used.] Taylor.
CRUCIFIX'ION, n. [See Crucifx.] Tho
nailing or fastening of a person to a cross,
for the purpose of putting him to death;
the act or punishment of putting a criminal
to death by naihng him to a cross.
Mdison.
CRUCIFORM, a. [L. crux, a cross, and
forma, form.] Cross-shaped.
In botany, consisting of four equal petals, dis-
posed in the form of a cross. Martyn.
CRU'CIFY, 17. t. [L. crucifigo; cntx, cross,
&m\figo, to fix ; Fr. erucifier; It. crocifig-
gere ; Sp. crucificar.]
1. To nail to a cross ; to put to death by nail-
ing the hands and feet to a cross or gibbet,
sometimes anciently, by fastening a crim-
inal to a tree, with cords. Encyc.
But tliey cried, crucify him, crucify him.
2. In scriptural language, to subdue ; to mor-
tify ; to destroy the power or ruling influ-
ence of.
They that are Christ's have crucifiedihe flesh,
with the aflbctions and lusts. Gal. v.
3. To reject and despise.
They crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh. Heb. vi.
To be crucified leith Christ, is to become
dead to the law and to sin, and to have
indwelling corruption subdued. Gal. ii.
and vi.
4. To vex or torment. [JVot used.]
Burton.
CRU'CIFYING, ppr. Putting to death on a
cross or gibbet ; subduing; destroying the
life and power of
CRUD, n. Curd. [Sec Curd, the usual or-
thogra]>hy.]
CRUDE, o. [L. crudus ; Fr. crud, cru ; Sp.
It. crudo : Port, cru ; Arm. cnz ; W. en ;
D. ranuw ; Sax. hreaw ; G. roh ; Eng. raw ;
either from the root of cry, from rough-
ness, [W. cri, a cry and crude :] or from
_-£
the Ar. ^ji. \ to eat, to corrode, to ran-
kle, to become raw, L. rodo, rosi. Class
Rd. No. 35.]
\. Raw; not cooked or prepared by fire or
heat ; in its natural state ; undressed ; as
crude flesh ; crude meat. In this sense,
raw is more generally used.
2. Not changed from its natural state ; not
altered or prepared by any artificial pro-
cess; as crurfe salt; fn«/e alum.
3. Rough ; harsh ; unripe ; not mellowed by
air or other means ; as crude juice.
4. Unconcocted ; not well digested in the
stomach. Bacon.
|5. Not brought to perfection; unfinished;
I immature ; as the crude materials of the
I earth. Milton.
C R U
C R U
C R U
6. Having indigested notions. Milton.
7. Indigested ; not matured ; not well form-
ed, arranged, or prepared in the intellect
as, crude notions ; a crude plan ; a crude
theory. Milton.
CRU'DELY, adv. Without due preparation :
without form or arrangement ; without
maturity or digestion.
•GRU'DENESS, n. Rawness; miripeness
an undigested or unprepared state ; as the
cj-urfeness of flesh or plants, or of anybody
in its natural state.
2. A state of being unformed, or indigested ;
immatureness ; as the crudeness of ;
theory.
€RU'DITY, fl. [L. cruditas.] Rawness
crudeness. Among physicians, undigested
substances in the stomach ; or unconcoct
ed humors, not well prepared for expul
sion ; excrements. In the latter senses, it
admits of the plural. Coxe. Encyc.
€RUD'LE, V. t. To coagulate. Bui this
word is generally written curdle, which
see.
€RUD'Y, a. Concreted; coagulated. [jVo<
in use. See Curd.'\ Spen
S. Raw ; chill. [A/ot Jised. See Crude.]
SI
CRU'EL, a. [Fr. cruel ; L. crudelis ; It.
crudele. See Crude and Rude.]
1. Disposed to give pain to others, in body or
mind ; willing or pleased to torment, vex
or afflict ; inhuman ; destitute of pity,
compassion or kindness ; fierce ; fero-
cious; savage; barbarous; hardhearted;
applied to persons or their dispositions.
They are cruel, and have no mercy. Jer. vi.
% Inhuman ; barbarous ; savage ; causing
pain, grief or distress ; exertetlin torment-
ing, vexing or afflicting.
Cursed be their wrath, for it was cruel. Gen.
TTie tender mercies of the wicked ai
Prov. xii.
Others had trials of cruel mockings
: cruel
Heb.
€RU'ELLY, adv. In a cruel manner ; with
cruelty ; inhumanly ; barbarously.
Because he cruelly oppressed, he shall die in
his iniquity. Ezek. xviii.
2. Painfully ; with severe pain, or torture
as, an instrument may cut the flesh most
cruelly.
CRU'ELNESS, n. Inhumanity ; cruelty.
Spenser.
€RU'ELTY, n. [L. crudelitas ; Fr. cruaut^:]
1. Inhumanity ; a savage or barbarous dis-
position or temper, which is gratified in
giving unnecessary pain or distress to oth-
ers ; barbarity ; applied to persons ; as the!
crue% of savages ; the cruelty and envy of
the people. Shak
2. Barbarous deed ; any act of a human be-
ing which inflicts unnecessary pain; any
act intended to torment, vex or afflict, oi
which actually torments or afflicts, with
out necessity; wrong; injustice; oppres
sion.
With force and with cruelty have ye ruled
them. Ezek. xxxiv.
€RU'ENTATE, a. [L. cruentatus.] Smear-
ed with blood. [LAttle used.] Glanville.
€RU'ET, n. [Qu. Fr. creux, hollow, or cru-
chette, from cruche. See Cruse.]
A vial or small glass bottle, for holding vine-
gar, oil, &c.
|€RUISE, n. [See Cruse.]
'CRCISE, V. I. s as z. [D. krimsen, from
j kruis, a cross ; G. kreuzen ; Dan. krydsi
Fr. croiser. See Cross.]
To sail back and forth, or to rove on the
ocean in search of an enemy's ships for
capture, or for protecting commerce ; or
to rove for plunder as a pu-ate. The ad
miral cndsed between the Bahama isles
and Cuba. We cruised oft" Cape Finis
terre. A pirate was cruising in the gulf of|
Mexico.
€RUISE, n. A voyage made in a-ossing
courses ; a sailing to and fro in search o't
an enemy's ships, or by a pirate in search
of plunder.
CRUISER, 71. A person or a sliip that
cruises ; usually, an armed ship that sails
to and fro for capturing an enemy's ships,
for protecting the commerce of the coun-
try, or for plunder.
CRCISING, ppr. Saihng for the capture of
an enemy's ships, or for protecting com-
merce, or for plunder as a pirate.
€RUM, n. [Sax cruma ; D. kruim ; G.
krume ; Heb. Ch. D1J to gnaw, or break.
Class Rm. No. 14. 16. 19. 25. 26.]
A small fragment or piece ; usually, a small
piece of bread or otlier food, broken or cut
oft-.
Lazarus, desiring to be fed with the cnims
which fell from the rich man's table. Luke
CRUM, V. t. To break or cut into small pie-
ces ; as, to crum bread into milk.
CRUM'BLE, V. t. [D. kruimelen ; G. kriim-
eln.]
To break into small pieces ; to divide into
minute parts.
€RU3I'BLE, II. i. To fall into small pieces ;
to break or part into small fragments.
I a stone is brittle, it will crumble into
gravel. Arbuthnot.
2. To fall to decay; to perish; as, our flesh
shall crumble into dust.
CRUM'BLED, pp. Broken or parted into
small pieces.
CRUM'BLING, ppr. Breaking into small
fragments; falling into small pieces; de-
caying.
€RU'MENAL, n. [L. crumena.] A purse.
[jYot used.] Spenser.
CRUM'MY, a. Full of crums ; soft.
CRUMP, a. [Sax. crump; D. krom ; G.
krumm ; Dan. krum ; W. crom, crwm, crook-
ed ; Ir. crom, whence cromaim, to bend,
croman, the hip-bone, the rump. Crump,
rump, rumple, crumple, crimple, are doubt-
less of one family.]
Crooked ; as cru»(/;-shouldered.
CRUMP'ET, n. A soft cake.
CRUMP'LE, V. i. [from crump. See Rum-
ple, the same word without a prefix.]
To draw or press into wrinkles or folds ; to
rumple. Addison.
CRUMP'LE, v.i. To contract; to shrink.
Smith.
CRUMP'LED, pp. Drawn or pressed into
wrinkles.
CRUMP' LING, ppr. Drawing or pressing
into wrinkles.
CRUMP'LING, n. A small degenerate ap-
|)lo. Johnson
CRUNK, > . To crv like a crane
CRUN'KLE, I "• '• [JVot used.]
CRU'OR, n. [L.] Gore ; coagulated blood.
GreenhiU.
CRUP or CR6UP, n. The buttocks.
CR UP, a. Short; brittle. [.Vo< iVi ««.]
CRUP'PER, n. [Fr. croupiere; It. groppie-
ra ; Sp. grupera ; from croupe, groppa, gru-
pa, a ridge, the buttocks of a horse. See
Croup.]
1. In the manege, the buttocks of a horse;
the rump.
2. A strap of leather which is buckled to a
saddle, and passing under a horse's tail,
prevents the saddle from being cast for-
ward on to the horse's neck.
CRUPPER, v.t. To put a crupper on; as,
to crupper a horse.
CRURAL, a. [L. cruralis, from cms, cruris,
the leg.]
Belonging to the leg ; as the crural artery,
which conveys blood to the legs, and the
crural vein, which returns it. Encyc.
€RUSA'DE, n. [Fr. croisade; It. crociata;
Sp. cruzuda ; from L. crux, Fr. croix, Sp.
cruz. It. croce, a cross. Class Rg.]
A military expedition imdertaken by chris-
tians, for the recovery of the Holy Land,
the scene of our Savior's life and sufier-
ings, from the power of infidels or Mo-
hammedans. Several of these expedi-
tions were carried on from Europe, under
the banner of the cross, from which the
name originated.
CRUSA'DE, ?i. A Portuguese coin, stamp-
ed with a cross.
CRUSA'DER, n. A person engaged in a
crusade. Robertson.
CRUSE, n. [D. kroes. See Crucible.] A
small cup.
Take with thee a cruse of honey. 1 Kings
xiv.
In New England, it is used chiefly or
wholly for a small bottle or vial for vine-
gar, called a vinegar-cruse.
CRU'SET, n. [Fr. creuset, formerly croiaet.
See Crucible.]
A goldsmith's crucible or melting pot.
PhiUips.
CRUSH, II. t. [Fr. ecrascr ; Ir. scriosam. In
Sw. krossa, in Dan. kryster signifies, to
squeeze. In It. croscio is a crushing ; and
crosciare, to throw, strike, pour, or rain
hard. There are many words in the Shem-
itic languages which coincide with crush
in elements and signification. Cb. Heb.
Syr. D1J to break in pieces ; Ar. ijMj.sa.
id.;Eth. (\^a^ to grind, whence grtst;
Heb. and Ch. j'ln, and Ch. Syr. Heb. yyi to
break, to crush ; Ar. ^ the same. So
crash, in English, and Fr. biiser, Arm./reu-
sa, to bruise. See Class Rd. No. 16. 20. 22.
41. 48. and Syr. No. m. See Rush.]
1. To press and bruise between two hard
bodies ; to squeeze, so as to force a thing
out of its natural sha])e ; to bruise by pres-
sure.
Tlie ass — crushed Balaam's foot against the
wall. Numb. xxii.
To cmsh grapes or apples, is to squeeze
them till bintised and broken, so that the
juice escapes. Hence, to crush out, is to ' .
force out by pressure.
2. To pre.ss with violence ; to force together
nto a mass.
C R U
CRY
CRY
y. To overwhelm by pressure ; to beat or
force Jown, by an incumbent weight, with
breaking or bruising; as, the man wi
crushed by the fall of a tree.
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
Drydei
Wio are crushed before the moth. Job iv.
"1. To overwhelm by power ; to subdue ; I
conquer beyond resistance ; as, to crush
one's enemies ; to crush a rebellion.
5. To oppress grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed al-
ways. Deut. xxvUi.
6. To bruise and brealc into fine particles by
beating or grinding; to comminute.
CRUSH, V. i. To be pressed into a smaller
compass by external weight or force.
CRUSH, n. A violent collision, or rushing
together, which breaks or bruises the
bodies ; or a fall that breaks or bruises in-
to a confused mass ; as the crush of a large
tree, or of a building.
The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.
Addison.
CRUSH'ED, pp. Pressed or squeezed so as
to break or bruise ; overwhelmed or sub
dued by power ; broken or bruised by a
fall ; grievously oppressed ; broken or
brtiised to powder ; conmiitiuted.
CRUSHING, ppr. Pressing or squeezing
into a mass, or until broken or bruised ;
overwhelming ; subduing by force ; oj
pressmg ; comnnnutmg.
CRUST, n. [L. crusta ; Fr. croiUe ; It. cros
ta; D. koTst ; G. kruste ; W. crest, from
cresu, to parch or scorch, cres, a harden-
ing by heat. But the primary sense is
probably to shrink, contract, harden
whetlier by cold or heat, and it is prob-
ably alUed to crystal, freeze, crisp, &c.
See Class Rd. No. 19. 33. 73. 7G. 83. 85.
88.]
1. An external coat or covering of a tiling,
■which is hard or harder than the internal
substance ; as the crust of bread ; the crust
of snow ; the crust of d
a pie.
2. A piece of crust; a waste piece of bread.
Dryden. UEslrmige.
3. A shell, as the hard covering of a crab
and some other animals.
4. A scab.
5. Tlie superficial substances of the earth
are, in geologv, called its c
CRUST, V. t. To cover with a hard case or
coat ; to spread over the surface a sub
stance harder than the matter covered ;
to incrust ; as, to crust a thing with clay
to crust cake with sugar ; crusted with bark,
Mdison.
2. To cover with concretions. Sivift.
CRUST, V. i. To gather or contract into o
hard covering ; to concrete or freeze, as
See Crvstalosy.]
Fr. crustacee, from
sup
€RUSTACEOLO()Y.
CRUSTA'CEOUS, a.
L. cjT«<a.]
Pertaining to crust ; like crust ; of the na
ture of crust or shell. Crustaceous ani
nials, or Crustacea, have a crust or shell
composed of several jointed pieces, and in
their external form have a great resemb-
lance to insects ; but in their internal
structure and economy, they are quite dif-
ferent. They were arranged by Linne, in
the same class with the insect.s, but now
Vol. I.
form a class by themselves. They include
the crab, lobster, shritnp, &c. Ed. Encyc.
CRUSTA'(.'EOUSNESS, n. The quahty of
having a soft and jointed shell.
CRUSTALOti'lCAL, a. [See Cntstaiogy.]
Pertaining to crustalogv.
CRUSTAL'OtilST, n. One who describes,
or is versed in the science of crustaceous
animals.
eRUSTAL'06Y, n. [L. cn««a, a shell, and
I Gr. Myof, discourse.]
That part of zoology which treats of crusta-
j ceous animals, arranging them in orders,
j tribes and families, and describing their
I forms and habits.
'.[Crustaceology, the word sometimes u.sed,
is ill-formed, and its derivatives incon-
j veniently long. Who can endure such
I words as crustaceolo^cal?]
CRUST' ATED, a. Covered with a crust
i crustafed basalt. Encyc
CRUSTA'TION, n. An adherent crust ; m
CRUSTED, pp. Covered with a crust.
CRUST'ILY, adv. [from a-usty.] Peev
ly ; harshly ; morosely.
CRUST'INESS, n. The quality of crust;
hardness.
2. Peevishness ; moroseness ; surliness.
CRUST'ING, ppr. Covering with crust,
CRUST'Y, a. Like crust ; of the nature of
crust ; pertaining to a hard covering ;
hard ; as a crusty coat ; a critsty surface
or substance.
9. Peevish ; snappish ; morose ; surly ; a
word used in familiar discourse, but not
deemed elegant.
CRUTCH, n. [It. croccia, or gri^ccia ; D,
kruk ; G. krucke ; S. krycka ; Dan. krykke ;
radically the same as crotch and crook.]
1. \ staff with a curving cross piece at the
head, to be placed under the arm or
shoulder, to support the lame in walking.
2. Figuratively, old age. Shak.
CRUTCH, V. t. To support on crutches ; to
; the crust of I prop or sustain, with miserable helps, that
which is feeble.
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense o
verse. Dryder,
CRUX, 71. [L. enuc, a cross.] Any thing that
puzzles and vexes. [Little used.]
Dr. Sheridan.
CRU'YSHA6E, «. A fish of the shark kind,
Imving a triangular head and mouth.
Diet. A'at. Hist.
CRi', V. i. pret. and pp. cried. It ought to
he cryed. [Fr. crier. The Welsh has cri
a cry, and rough, raw, cnatt', to cry
clamor or weep ; and crevu, to cry, tc
crave ; both deduced by Owen from ere, i
combining cause, a principle, beginning or
first motion ; also, what pervades or pen-
etrates, a cry. This is the root of create,
or from the same root. Cre, Owen dedu-
ces from rhe, with the prefi,x cy : and rhe,
he renders a run or swift motion. This '
certainly contracted from rhed, a race, the
root of Virfe ; Owen to the contrarj'
withstanding. All the senses of these
words unite in that of shooting forth, dri
ving forward or producing. There is i
class of words a little different from th(
foregoing, which exactly give the sense ofl
cry. It. eridare ; Sp. and Port, gritar ;
Sax. grcedan ; Sw. grS'a ; Dan. grceder ;
D. krylen ; W. grydiaw, to utter a rough
53
sound, from rhyd, the Welsh root of eryr
du, to shake or tremble, whence cradle.
[VV. creih. a trembling or shivering with
cold, from cre ; also, constitution, disposi-
tion.] Tlie latter root rhyd, crydu, would
give cri, rough, raw, crude. Cry is a con-
tracted word ; but whether from the form-
er or latter class of roots, may be less ob-
vious— possibly all are from one source.
If not, I think cry is from the French cmr,
and this from gridare, gritar.]
I. To utter a loud voice ; to speak, call or
exclaim with vehemence ; I'ji a very gener-
al sense.
:. To call importunately ; to utter a loud
voice, by way of earnest request or prayer.
The people cried to Pharoah for bread. Gen.
xli.
The people cried to Moses, and he prayed.
Numb. xi.
1. To utter a loud voice in weeping ; to ut-
ter the voice of sorrow ; to lament.
But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart. Is. Ixv.
Esau cried with a great and bitter cry. Gen.
xxvii.
Also, to weep or shed tears in silence ; a
popular use of the word.
4. To utter a loud sound in distress; as,
Heshbon shall cry. Is. xv.
He pveth food to the young ravens which
cry. Ps. cxlvii.
5. To exclaim ; to utter a loud voice ; with
aut.
.^nd, lo, a spirit taketh hira, and he suddenly
crieth out. Luke ix.
6. To proclaim ; to utter a loud voice, in
giving public notice.
Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem. Jer. ii.
The voice of him that crieth In the wilderness.
Is. .xl.
'\7. To bawl ; to squall ; as a child.
8. To yelp, as a dog. It may be used for the
uttering of a loud voice by other animals.
To cry against, to exclaim, or utter a loud
voice, by way of reproof, threatening or
Arise, go to Nineveh, and cry agai7ist it.
Jonah i.
To cry out, to exclaim ; to vociferate ; to
scream ; to clamor.
2. To complain loudly.
To cry out against, to complain loudly, with a
view to censure ; to blame ; to utter cen-
To cry to, to call on in prayer ; to implore.
CRY, V. t. To proclaim; to name loudly and
publicly for giving notice ; as, to cry goods ;
to cry a lost child.
To cry dmim, to decry ; to depreciate by
words or in writing ; to dispraise ; to con-
demn.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, be-
cause they would not be under the restraints of
it. TUIotson.
2. To overbear.
Cry down this fellow's insolence. Shak.
To cry up, to praise ; to applaud ; to extol ;
as, to cry up a man's talents or patriotism,
or a woman's beauty ; to cry up the ad-
ministration.
2. To raise the price by proclamation ; as, to
cry up certain coins. [JVol in use.]
Temple.
To cry off, in the vulgar dialect, is to publish
intentions of marriage.
CRY, n. plu. cries. In a general sense, a
lound sound uttered by the mouth of an
C R Y
CRY
CUB
animal ; applicaljle to the voice of man
or beast, and aiticulate or inarticulate.
9. A loud or vehement sound, uttered in
weeping, or lamentation ; It may be a
shriek or scream.
And there shall be a great cry in all the land
of Egypt. Ex. xi.
3. Clamor; outcry; as, war, war, is the pub-
lic cry.
And there arose a great ciy. Acts xxiii.
4. Exclamation of triumph, of wonder, or of
other passion.
5. Proclaination ; public notice.
At midnight there was a cry made. Matt
x,xv.
6. The notices of hawkers of wares to be
sold in the street are called crks ; as the
cries of London.
7. Acclamaviou ; expression of jiopular fa-
vor.
The cry went once for thee. Shak
8. A loud voice in distress, prayer or request ;
importunate call.
He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Ps.
There was a great cry in Egj-pt. Ex. xii.
9. Public reports or complaints ; noise ; fame.
Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great — I will go down, and see whether they
have done altogether according to the cry of it.
Gen. xviii.
10. Bitter complaints of oppression and in-
justice.
He looked for righteousness, and behold a
cry. Is. V.
11. The sound or voice of irrational animals ;
expi-ession of joy, fright, alarm, or want
as the cries of fowls, the yell or yelping of
dogs, &c.
12. A pack of dogs. Shak.
€RY'AL, n. [W. cregyr, a screamer.] The
heron. ,1inswm-th.
€RY'ER, n. A crier, which see.
€RY'ER, n. A kind of hawk, called the fal-
con gentle, an enemy to pigeons, and very
swift. jtinsworth.
CRY'ING, ppr. Uttering a louil voice ; pro-
claiming ; &c.
CRY'ING, a. Notorious ; common ; great ;
as a cn/iitg sin or abuse. jiddison.
CRY'ING, n. Importunate call ; clamor ;
outcry.
CRY'OLITE, n. [Gr. X|.vos, cohl, and uOo;,
stone, ice-stone.]
A fluatedf soda andalumin, found in Green-
land, of a pale grayish white, snow white,
or yellowish brown. It occurs in masses
of a foliated structure. It has a glistening,
vitreous luster. Jameson. Cleaveland.
CRYOPH'ORUS, n. [Gr. *pi.05, frost, and
fofieu), to bear.]
Frost-bearer ; an instrument for showing the
relation between evaporation at low tem-
peratures and the production of cold.
fVollaston.
CRYPT, n. [Gr. xpvXfu, to hide.] A sub-
terranean cell or cave, especially under a
church for the interment of persons ; also,
a subterranean chapel or oratory, and the
grave of a martyr.
CRYP'TIC, } [supra.) Hidden ; se
CRVP'TICAL, v"' cret ; occuk. fVatis
CRYP'TICALLY, adv. Secretly.
CRYP'TOGAM, n. [See Cryptogamy.\ In
botany, a [ilant whose stamens and pistils
are not distinctly visible.
CRYPTOGAM'IAN, a. Pertaining to plants
of the class Cryptogamia, including ferns,
mosses, sea- weeds, mushrooms, &c.
CRYPTOG'AMY, n. [Gr. xpvrtToj, conceal-
ed, and yo.aos, marriage.]
Concealed marriage ; a terra applied to
plants whose stamens and pistils are uoi
well ascertained, or too small to be num-
bered with certainty. Smith. Ed. Encyc.
CRYPTOGRAPHER, ji. One who writes
in secret characters.
CRYPTOGRAPH'ICAL, a. Written ii
cret characters or in cipher, or with sym-
pathetic ink.
CRYPTOGRAPHY, n. [Gr. xprxfoj, hid
den, and ypo^ju, to write.]
The act or art ot writing in secret charac-
ters ; also, secret characters or cypher.
CRYPTOL'OgY, n. [Gr. xpvrtTos, secret,
and "Koyoi, discourse.] Secret or enigmati-
cal language.
eRYS'TAL,~"?t. [L. crijslallus; Gr. xpvj'aT.^.o; ;
Fr. cristal ; Sp. cnstal ; It. crislalto ; D.
kristal ; G. krystaU ; W. crisial, from cris,
it is said, a bard crust. It is from the same
root as crisp, and W. cresu, to parch, crest,
a crust, crasu, to roast. The Greek, from
which we have the word, is composed of
the root of xpuof, frost, a contracted word,
probably from the root of the Welsh
words, supra, and si^%u, to set. The pri-
mary sense of the Welsh words is to
shrink, draw, contract ; a sense equally ap-
plicable to the effects of heat and cold.
Qu. Ar. u«j.ji karasa, Ch. tyip kerash,
to congeal. Class Rd. No. 83. 85.]
1. In chimistry and mineralogy, an inorganic
body, which, by the operation of affinity,
has assumed the form of a regular solid,
terminated by a certain number of j)lane
and smooth surfaces. Cleaveland.
9. A factitious body, cast in glass houses,
called crystal glass ; a species of glass,
more perfect in its composition and man-
ufacture, than conmion glass. The best
kind is the Venice crystal. It is called al-
so factitious crystal or paste.
Encyc. J'^cholson.
3. A substance of any kind having the form
of a crystal.
4. The glass of a watch-case.
Bock crystal, or mountain ciystal, a general
name for all the transparent crystals of!
quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless
quartz.
Iceland crystal, a variety of calcarious spar,j
or crystalized carbonate of hme, broughti
from Iceland. It occurs in laminated|
masses, easily divisible into rhombs, and is:
remarkable for its double refraction. |
Cleaveland.'
CRYS'TAL, a. Consisting of crystal, or
like ci-j'stal ; clear ; transparent ; lucid ;'
pellucid. 1
By crystal streams tl:;^t murmur through the'
meads. IhyiUn)
CRYS'TAL-FORM, a. Having the form of
crystal. Encyc'
CRYS'TALINE, a. [L. cnjslallinus ; Gr,
xpufaT.^ti'Oj.]
1. Consisting of crystal ; as a crystaline pal-
ace. Shak,
2. Resembling crystal ; pure ; clear ; trans-
parent ; pellucil ; as a cryslaline skv.
Milton
Cryslaline heavens, in ancient astronomy, two
spheres imagined between the primuni
mobile and the firmament, in the Ptole-
maic system, which supposed the heavens
to be solid and only susceptible of a single
motion. Encyc.
Crystaline humor, ) a lentiform pellucid body,
Crystaline lens, ^ composed of a very white,
transparent, firm substance, inclosed in a
membranous capsule, and situated in a de-
pression in the anterior part of the vitreous
liumor of the eye. It is somewhat con-
vex, and serves to transmit and refract the
rays of light to the vitreous humor.
Encyc. Hooper.
Cl^YS'TALIZABLE, a. [from cnjstalize.]
That may be crystalized ; that may form
or be formed into crystals.
Clavigero. Lavoisier.
CRYSTALIZA'TION, n. [from crystalize.J
The act or process by which the parts of
a solid body, separated by the intervention
of a fluid or by fusion, again coalesce or
unite, and form a solid body. If the
process is slow and undisturbed, the par-
ticles assume a regular arrangement, each
substance taking a determinate and regu-
lar form, according to its natural laws ;
but if the process is rapid or disturbed, the
substance takes an irregular form. This
process is the eflfect of refrigeration or
evaporation. Lavoisier. Kirwan.
2. The mass or body formed by the process
of crystalizing. Woodward.
CRYS'TALIZE, v. t. To cause to fomi
crystals.
Common salt is crystalized by the evapora-
tion of sea water.
CRYS'TALIZE, v. i. To be converted into
a crystal ; to unite, as the separate parti-
cles of a substance, and form a determi-
nate and regular solid.
Each species of salt crystalizes in a peculiar
form. Lavoisier.
CRYS'TALIZED,;7p. Formed into crystals.
CRYS'TALIZING, ppr. Causing to crys-
talize ; forming or uniting in crystals.
CRYSTALLITE, n. A name given to
whinstone, cooled slowly after fusion.
Hall. Thomson.
CRYSTALOG'RAPHER, n. [infra.] One
who describes crystals, or the manner of
their formation.
CRYSTALOGRAPH'le, ? Pertaining
CR YSTALOGRAPH'ICAL, ^ "to crystal-
jrapliy.
CRYSTALOGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In the
manner of cry sialography.
CRYSTALOG'RAPHY, ' n. [crystal, as
above, and ypofTi description.]
1. The doctrine or science of crystalization,
teaching the principles of the process, and
the foriTisand structure of crystals.
■2. A discourse or treatise on crystalization.
CVB, n. [allied perhaps to Ir. caobh, a
branch, a shoot. But the origin of the
word is uncertain.]
1. The young of certain quadrupeds, as of the
bear and the fox; a puppy; a whelp.
Waller uses the word for the young of the
whale.
3. A young boy or girl, in contempt.
Shak. Cortgreve.
CUB, n. A stall for cattle. [.Vo« in use.']
CUB, V. t. To bring forth a cub, or cubs. la.
CUB
rontempt, to bring forth young, as a wo-
man. Dn/den.
•eUB, V. I. To sl.ut u{. or confine. [jVo< in
use.] Jiurlon.
■eUBA'TION, n. [L. ctibatio, from cubo, to
lie down.]
The act of lying down ; a reclining. Did.
■CU'BATORY, a. Lying down ; rechning ;
incumhent. Did.
CU'BATURE, n. [from cube.] The finding
exactly tlie solid or cubic contents of a
body. Harris.
CUBE, n. [Gr. xuSoj ; L. aibua, a die or
cube ; Fr. cube ; It. ctibo ; Sp. cubo ; Port.
cubo. In the two latter languages, it signifies
also a i)ail or tub, and in Port, the nave of
a wheel. W. cub, a bundle, .heap or aggre-
gate, a cube ; Cli. apy to s(iunrc, to form
into a cube ; N'3lp the game of dice, Gr.
xvStia, It seems to bo allied to L. cubo, to
set or throw down, and to signify tliat
which is set or laid, a solid mass.]
1. In geometry, a regular solid body, with six
equal sides, and containing equal angles.
2. In 'arithmetic, the product of a number
multiplied into itself, and that iirodiict
multiplied into tli<: same niuiiber ; or ii i-^
formed by iiuiltiplving any number Iwicr
by itself;" as, 4X4=1G, anil l()X4=tU, ih.
cube of 4.
The law of the planets is, that the squares of
the times of their revolutions arc in proportion
to the cubes of their mean distances.
Cube root, is the number or quantity, which,
multiplied into itself, and then into the
product, produces the cube ; or which,
twice multiplied into itself, produces the
number of which it is the root; thus, 3 is
the cube root c
and 3X9=27.
r side of 27, for 3X3=9,
CUBE-ORE, n.
Hexahedral olivenite, oi
arseniate of iro
color.
u, a mineral of a greenish
CU'BEB, n. [Ar.
*.U^. Class Gb. No.
45. Sp. cuicio.
'
The suiiill s[ticy berry of the Piper cubeba,
I Java and the other E. India isles.
cue
CU'BIFORM, a. Having the form of a cube.
Coie.
CU'BIT, n. [L. cubitus, the elbow ; Gr. xv-
Sifor ; probably allied to L. cubo, and sig-
nifying a turn or corner.]
1. In anatomy, the fore arm ; the ulna, a
bono of the arm from the elbow to the
wrist. Coxe. Encyc.
2. In mensuration, the length of a man's arm
from the elbow to the extremity of the
middle finger. The cubit among the an-
cients was of a different length among
different nations. Dr. Arbuthnot states
the Roman cubit at seventeen inches and
four tenths ; the cubit of the scriptures
at a httle less than 22 inches ; and the
English cubit at 18 inches. Encyc.
CU'BITAL, a. Of the length or measure of
a cubit. Broitm.
2. Pertaining to the cubit or ulna ; as the
cubital nerve ; cubital artery ; cubital mus-
cle. Hooper. Core.
eU'BITED, a. Having the measure of a cu-
bit. Sheldon,
€UBO-DOI)ECAHE'DRAL, a. Presenting
the two forms, a cubo and a dodecahe-
(Iniii. Cleavetand.
il lioll), a. Having the form of a cube, or
ilili; ring little from it.
(I UOID.AL, a. [Gr. xvSos, cube, and n8o5,
form.]
Cubiform ; in the shape of a cube ; as the
cuboidal bone of the foot. Walsh.
€UBO-OeTAHE'DRAL, a. [cube and octa-
hedral.']
Presenting a combination of the two forms,
a cube and an octahedron. Cleaveland.]
eUCK'INGSTOOL, n. [Qu. from choke.}
An engine for punishing scolds and re-
fractory women ; also brewers and bak-
ers ; called also a tumbrel and a trebuchet.
The culprit was seated on the stool and
thus immersed in water. Old Eng. Law.
eUCK'OLD, n. [Chaucer, cokewold. The
first syllable is Fr. cocu, which seems to
be the first .syllable oi coucou, cuckow ; W.
cog; Sw. ghk; Dan. giog. The Dutch
call a cuckold, hoorndraager, a. horn-wearer ;
and the Germans, hahnrei, from hahn, a
cock ; the Spaniards and Portuguese, cornu-
do, Ital. cornuto, horned ; Fr. comard,
obs. See Spelman's Glossary, voc. Jlrga.]
A man whose wife is fals-e to his bed ; the
from
It was formerly called, from its short!
stems, Piper caudatum, or tailed pepper.j
It resembles a grain .of pepper, but isj
somewhat longer. In aromatic warmth|| husband of an adidteress. Sidjl.
and pungency, it is far infermr to pepper. euCK'OLD, v. t. To make a man a cuckold
by criminal conversation with his wife
Coxe. Encyc.
■t;U'Bl€, > [L. cubicus, from cubus.
CU'BICAL,]"- See Cube.]
Having the form or properties of a cube ;
that may be or is contained within a cube.
A cubic foot of water is the water that may
be contained within six equal sides, each a
foot square.
Cubic number, is a number proilueed by mul-
■ tiplying a number into itself, and that pro-
duct by the same iiumhrv; or it is the
number arising from the niultiplic-ation ofi
a square number by its root. [See Cube.
€U'BI€ALNESS, n. The state or quality of
being cubical.
CUBle'IILAR. a. [L. cubiculum.] Belong-
ing to a chamber.
€UBI€'ULARY, a. [L. cubiculum, a bed-
room.]
Fitted for the posture of lying down. [Little
ipplied to the seducer. Shak.
2. To make a husband a cuckold by crimi-
nal conversation with another man ; ap-
plied to the wife. Dryden.
eUCK'OLDDOM, n. The act of adultery ;
the state of a cuckold. Johnson. Dn/den.,
eUCK'OLDLY, a. Having the qualities of
a cuckold ; mean ; sneaking. Shak.
eUCK'OLD-MAKER, n. One who has
criminal conversation with another man's
wif<- ; one who makes a cuckold. Dn/den.
eyCK'OO, n. [L. cuculus ; Gr. xoxxii': Fr,
coucou ; Arm. coitcoui/ ; Sax. geac ; Dan,
giog; Sw.gok; W.cog; D. koekoek; G,
kuckuck ; Sp. cuco or cuclUlo ; It. cuculo
See Gawk.]
A bird of the genus Cuculus, whose name isi
supposed to be called from its note. The!
note is a call to love, and continued onlyl
during the amorous season. It is said the!
CUD
cuckoo lays its eggs in a nest formed by
another bird, bv which thev are hatched.
CUCKOO-FLOWER, ( A plant, a spe-
CUCK'OO-BUD, l eies of Carda-
mine.
eyCK'OO-PINT, n. A plant, of the genus
Arum.
CUCK'OO-SPIT, f A dew or exu-
ciJCK'OO-SPITTLE, <, "• dation found on
plants, especially about the joints of lav-
ender and rosemary. Brown.
Or a froth or spume found on the leaves
of certain plants, as on white field-lychnis
or catcli-fiy, called sometimes spatling
poppy. Encyc.
CUC'CIUEAN, n. [Fr. coquine.] A vile lewd
woman. [JVolinuse.] B. Jonson.
eU'CULLATE, ( [L. cucuUalus, irom
CU'CULLATED, I"' cucuUus, a hood, a
cowl.]
1. Hooded | cowled ; covered as with a
hood.
2. Having the shape or resemblance of a
hood ; or wide at the top and drawn to a
point below, in shape of a conical roll of
paper ; as a cucullale leaf
CU'CUMBER, n. [Fr. coucombre, or concom-
bre, from L. cucumer or cucumis ; Sp. co-
hombro ; \). komkommer ; It. cucamhar.]
The name of a plant and its fruit, of the ge-
nus Cucumis. The flower is yellow and
bell-shaped ; and the stalks are long, slen-
der and trailing on the ground, or chmb-
ing by their clas])ers.
eU'CURBIT, n. [L. cucurbita, a gourd ; It.
id. ; Fr. cucurbite ; from L. curmtas.]
A chimical vessel in the shape of a gourd ;
but some of them are shallow, with a
wide mouth. It may be made of copper,
glass, tin or stoneware, and is used in dis-
tillation. This vessel, with its head or
cover, constitutes the alembic.
CUCURBITA'CEOUS, a. Resembling u
gourd ; as cucurbitaceous i)laiits, such as
the melon and pumi)kin or pompion.
Milne. Marty n.
CUD, n. [As this word is often vulgarly
pronounced ^utrf, I suspect it to be a cor-
ruption of the D. kaauwd, gekaauwd,
chewed, from kaauwen, to chew, Arm.
chaguein. Sax. ceowan. See Chew and
Jaw.]
1. The food which ruminating animals chew
at leisure, when not grazing or eating; or
that portion of it which is brought from
the first stomach and chewed at once.
2. A portion of tobacco held in the month
and chewed.
3. The inside of the mouth or throat of a
beast that chews the cud. Encyc.
CUD'DEN, I A clown ; a low rustic ; a
CUD'DY, (, "• dolt. [AW used.]
Dryden.
CUD'DLE, V. i. [Arm. cuddyo ; W. cuziaw, to
hide, to lurk, to cover or keep out of
sight ; Sax. cudele, the cuttle-fish. Qu. hide
and cheat. See Class Gd. No. 26. 30. 31. 38.]
To retire from sight ; to lie close or snug ; to
squat. Prior.
CUD'DY, n. In ships, an apartment; a cab-
in under the poop, or a cook-room. It is
applied to different apartments, in different
kinds of ships.
2. The cole-fish.
CUD'(5EL, Ji. [W. cogd, from cog, a mass,
lump, or short piece of wood. The Scot.
C U F
ntd, Teiit. kodde, kudse, ia a differentl
word ; dg in English being generally from
P-, as in pledge, bridge, alledge, &c.] |
A short thick stick of wood, such as may be;
used by the hand in beating. It diftersi
strictly'frora a club, which is larger at one;
end than the other. It is shorter than ai
pole, and thicker than a rod.
Di-yden. Locke.\
To cross the cudgels, to forbear the contest ;,
a phrase borrowed from the practice of;
cudgel-players, who lay one cudgel over;
another. Johnson]
CUD'GEL, v. t. To beat with a cudgel, or
thick stick. SidJlJ
9. To beat in general. Shak.i
eUD'GELLER, n. One who beats with a
cudgel.
CUD'GEL-PROOF, a. Able to resist a
cudgel ; not to he hurt by beating.
Hudibras.
€UD'LE, n. [Qu. Scot, cuddle.] A small
sea fish. C'af-ew.
€UD'WEED, J!. A plant of the genus Ona-
phalium, goldv-locks or eternal flower, ol
many species." The flowers are remarka-
ble for retaining their beauty for years, if,
gathered in dry weather. Encyc.
€UE, n. [Fr. queue ; L. cauda ; It. Sp. corfo.J
The tail ; the end of a thing ;_ as the long
curl of a wig, or a long roll of hair.
2. The last words of a speech, which a
player, who is to answer, catches and re-
gards as an intimation to begin. A hint
given to an actor on the stage, what or
when to speak. Johnson. Encyc.
3 A hint ; an intimation ; a short direction.
Swijl.
' in his
Shak
iVul-
4. The part which any man is to play i
turn.
Were it my cue to fight.
5. Humor ; turn or temper of mind.
C. A farthing, or farthing's worth. Beawn.
7. The straight rod, used in playing bU-
liards. , > i
CUER'PO, n. [Sp. cuerpo, L. corpus, body.]
To be in cuerpo, or to walk in cuerpo, are
Spanish phrases for being without a cloke
or upper garment, or without the formali-
ties of a full dress, so that tlie shape of the
body is exposed. Encijc.
CUFF, n. [Pers. Li» kafa, a blow ; Ch.
^IpJ id. ; Ar. i_iii nakafa, to strike
Heb. tpj, to strike oft', to sever by striking,
to kill. The Frencli coup coincides with
cuff in elements, but it is supposed to be
contracted from It. colpo, L. colaphus. Cuff
however agrees with the Gr. xo«tu.]
I A blow with the fist ; a stroke ; a bo.x
Shak. Swift.
•i. It is used of fowls that fight with their
talons. Johnson
To be atjlsty-cuffs, to fight with blows of the
fist.
CUFF, V. t. To strike with the fist, as a man ;
or with talons or wings, as a fowl.
Congreve. Dryden.
CUFF, V. i. To fight ; to scuffle. Drj/den.
CUFF, n. [This word probably signifies a
fold or doubling ; Ar. o ^ to double
C U L
the border and sew together; Ch. t^D to
bend ; Heb. t^2 ; Gr. xv?tr« ; Low L. dp-
pus. Class Gb. No. 65. 68. 75.]
The fold at the end of a sleeve ; the part
of a sleeve turned back from the hand.
Jhbuthnot.
CUIN'A6E, n. The making up of tin into
igs, &c., for carriage. Bailey. Coroel.
CUIRASS', n. kweras'. [Fr. cuirasse ; It. co-
; Sp. coraza ; Port, couraga ; W. cu-
Qu. from cor, the heart.]
A breast-plate ; a piece of defensive armor,
de of iron plate, well hammered, and
he body from the neck to the
irdle. Encyc.
ctflRASSIE'R, n. kwerassee'r. A soldier
armed with a cuirass, or breast-plate.
Milton
CUISH, n. kwis. [Fr. cuisse, the thigh or leg ;
W. coes; Ir. cos.]
Defensive armor for the thighs.
Shak. Dryden.
CUL'DEE, 71. [L. cullores dei, worshipers
of God.]
A monkish priest, remarkable for religious
duties. The Culdees formerly inhabited
Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Encyc.
CU'LERAgE, n. [Fr. cul.] Another name
of the arse-smart.
eU'LICIFORM, a. [L. culex, a gnat or flea,
anA forma, form.]
Of the form or shape of a flea ; resembling
a flea. Encyc.
CULINARY, a. [L. culinarius, from culina,
a kitchen, W. cyl. See Kiln.]
Relating to the kitchen, or to the art of
cookery ; used in kitchens ; as a culinary
fire ; a culinary vessel ; culinary herbs.
.(Vfic/OH.
CULL, V. t. [Qu. Fr. cueillir. It. coglien
gather; Norm, culhir ; It. scegliere. To
adl, is rather to separate, or to take.]
To pick out ; to separate one or more things
from others ; to select from many ; as, to
cull flowers ; to cidl hoops and staves for
market. Pope. Prior. Laws of Conn.
CULL'ED, pp. Picked out; selected from
y.
ER, n. One who who picks or choos
oiii many.
3. An inspector who selects merchantable
hoops and staves for market.
Laws of Mass. and Conn.
CULLIBIL'ITY, »i. [from cully.] Credulity
easiness of belief [jYot elegant nor used.
Stvift.
CDLL'ING, ppr. Selecting ; choosing fi
iny.
CULL'ION, 11. cuiyon. [It. coglione.] A mean
wretch. If from cully, one easily deceiv-
ed; a dupe. Dryden
2. A round or bulbous root; orchis. L. co-
leits.
CULL'IONLY, a. Mean; base. [A bad
Shak
couler, t(
CUL
To deceive ; to trick, cheat or impose on ;
to jilt.
CUL'LYISM, n. The state of a cully.
[Cully and its derivatives are not elegant
words.]
CULM, n. [L. culmus; Ir. colbh ; W. colov ;
a stalk or stem ; L. caulis ; D. kool. See
Quill and Haulm.]
1. In botany, the stalk or stem of corn and
grasses, usually jointed and hollow, and
supporting the leaves and fructification.
Martyn.
3. The straw or dry stalks of corn and
grasses.
3. A species of fossil coal, found in small
masses, not adhering when heated, difii-
cult to be ignited, and burning with little
flame, but yielding a disagreeable smell.
JVicholson. Journ. of Science.
CULMIF'EROUS, a. [L. culmus, a stalk,
and fero, to bear.]
Producing stalks. Culmiferous plants have
a smooth jointed stalk, usually hoUovv, and
wrapped about at each joint with single,
narrow, sharp-pointed leaves, and their
seeds contained in chafiy husks, as wheat,
rye, oats and barley. Mine. Quincy.
CUL'MINATE, v. i. [L. culmen, a top or
dge.]
To be vertical ; to come or be in the merid-
ian ; to be in the highest point of altitude ;
as a planet. Milton.
CULMINATION, n. The transit of a plan-
et over the meridian, or highest point of
altitude for the day. Eiicyc.
Top; crown.
CULPABILITY, n. [See Culpable.] Blam-
ableness ; culpableness.
CUL'PABLE, a. [Low L. culpabilis; Fr.
coupable ; It. colpabile ; from L. culpa, a
fault ; W. cwl, a fault, a flaggi:ig, a droop-
ing, like fault, from fail.]
Blamable ; deserving censure ; as the per-
son who has done wrong, or the act, eon-
duct or neghgence of the person. We
say, the man is culpable, or voluntary ig-
norance is culpable.
Sinful; criminal; immoral; faulty. But
generally, culpable is apjilied to acts less
atrocious than crimes.
Guilty of; as culpable of a crime. [JVot
word, and not used.]
CUL'LIS, n. [Fr. coulis,
strain.]
1. Broth of boiled meat strained. Beaum
2. A kind of jelly. Marston
CUL'LY, n. [See the Verb.] A person who
is meanly deceived, tricked or imposed on,
as by a sharper, jilt, or strumpet ; a mean
dupe. Hudibras.
CUL'LY, V. t. [D. kvUen, to cheat, to gull.]
used.] Spenser.
CUL'PABLENESB, Ji. Blamableness ; guilt ;
the quality of deservuig blame.
CUL'PABLY, adv. Blaniably ; in a faulty
manner ; in a manner to merit censure.
CUL'PRIT, n. [supposed to be formed from
cid, for culpable, and pnl, ready ; certain
abbreviations used by the clerks in noting
the arraignment of criminals ; the prison-
er is guilty, and the king is ready to prove
him so. Blackstone.]
1. A person arraigned in court for a crime.
Dnjden,
Any person convicted of a crime ; a crim-
inal.
CUL'TER, n. [L.] A colter, which see.
CUL'TIVABLE, a. [See Cultivate.] Capa-
ble of being tilled or cultivated.
Med. Bepos. Edwards, ff. Ind.
CUL'TIVATE, V. t. [Fr. cultiver ; Sp. Port.
cuUivar ; It. coltivare ; from L. colo, cultus,
to till, to dwell.]
1. To till ; to prepare for crops ; to manure,
plow, dies.", sow and reap ; to labor on.
C U L
CUM
C U N
manage and improve in husbandry ; as, to
cultivate land ; to cultivate a farm.
Sinclair.
2. To improve by labor or study ; to advance
the growth of; to refine and improve by
correction of faults, and enlargement of
powers or good qualities ; as, to cultivate
talents ; to cultivate a taste for poetry.
3. To study ; to labor to improve or ad-
vance ; as, to cuUivate philosophy ; to cul-
tivate the mind.
4. To cherish ; to foster ; to labor to pro
mote and increase ; as, to cultivate the love
of excellence; to cidlivale gracious affec-
tions.
5. To improve ; to meliorate, or to labor to
make better ; to correct ; to civilize ; as,
to cultivate the wild savage.
6. To raise or produce by tillage ; as, to cul-
tivate corn or grass. Sinclair.
€UL'TIVATED, pp. Tilled ; improved in
excellence or condition; corrected an('
enlarged ; cherished ; meliorated ; civili
zed ; produced by tillage.
CUL'TIVATING, ppr. Tilling ; preparing
for crops; improving in worth or good
qualities; meliorating; enlarging; cor
recting; fostering; civilizing; producing
by tillage.
CULTIVA'TION, »i. The art or practice
of tilling and preparing for crops; hus-
bandry; the management of land. Land
is often made better by cultivation.. Ten
acres imder g-ood cultivation will produce
more than twenty when badly tilled.
2. Study, care and practice directed to im-
provement, correction, enlargement or
increase ; the apphcation of the means of
improvement; as, men may grow wiser
by the cultivation of talents ; they may
grow better by the cultivation of the mind,
of virtue, and of piety.
3. The producing by tillage ; as the culliva
lion of corn or grass.
€UL'TIVATOR, n. One who tills, or pre-
pares land for crops ; one who manages a
farm, or carries on the operations of hus-
bandry in general ; a farmer ; a husband-
man ; an agriculturist.
3. One who studies or labors to improve, to
promote and advance in good qualities, or
in growth.
eUL'TRATED, a. [L. cullratus, from atlter,
a knife.]
Sharp-edged and pointed ; formed like a
knife ; as, the beak of a bird is convex and
cull rated. Encyc. art. Cormts.
CUL'TURE, n. [L. cultura, from coh. See
Cultivaie.^
1. The act of tilling and preparing the eartl
for crops ; cultivation ; the application of
labor or other means of improvement.
We ought to blame the culture, not the soil
Pope
2. The application of labor or other means
to improve good qualities in, or growth ;
as the culture of the mind; the culture of
virtue.
3. The application of labor or other means
in producing ; as the culture of corn, or
grass.
4. Any labor or means employed for im-
provement, correction or growth.
CUL'TURE, V. t. To cultivate. Thomson
CUL'VER, n. [Sax. culfer, culfra ; Arm
eolm ; L. colwnba.]
.'^o
A pigeon, or wood pigeon. Thomson.]
CULVER-HOUSE, n. A dove-cote.
Harmar.
CUL'VERIN, n. [Vr.couleuvrinc; It. colubri-
na ; Sp. culehrina ; from L. coluhrinus,
from coluber, a serpent.]
A long slender piece of ordnance or artillery,
serving to carry a ball to a great distance.
Encyc.
CUL'VERKEY, n. A plant or flower.
IValton.
CUL'VERT, n. A passage under a road
or canal, covered with a bridge ; an arch
ed drain for the passage of water. Cyc.
CUL'VERTAIL, ?i. [culver and taU.] Di
tail, in joinery and car|)entry.
CUL'VERTAILED, o. United or fastened,
as pieces of timber by a dove-tailed joint ;
a term used by shipwrights. Encyc.
eUM'BENT, a. [L.cumfto.] Lying down,
CUM'BER, V. t. [Dan. kummer, distress,
cumbrance, grief; D. kommeren ; G. kiim-
mern, to arrest, to concern, to trouble, to
; Fr. encnmbrer, to encumber.]
'o load, or crowd.
A variety of frivolous arguments cumbers tlie
memory to no purpose. Locke
2. To check, stop or retard, as by a load or
weight ; to make motion difficult ; to ob-
struct.
Why asks he what avails him not in fight.
And would but cumber and retard liis flight.
Dryden
;{. To perplex or embarrass ; to distract or
trouble.
Martha was cumbered about much serving.
Luke X.
4. To trouble ; to be troublesome to ; to
cause trouble or obstruction in, as any
thing useless. Thus, brambles cumber a
garden or field. [See Encumber, which
more generally used.]
€UM'BfcR, n. Hinderance ; obstructior
burdcnsomeness ; embarrassment ; di
turbance ; distress.
Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers
spring. Spenser.
VThis ivord is now scarcely tised.]
CUM'BERSOME, a. Troublesome; bur-
densome ; embarrassing ; vexatious ; as
cumbersome obedience. Sidney.
2. Unwieldy ; unmanageable not easily
borne or managed ; as a cumbersome load ;
a cumbersome machine.
eUM'BERSOMELY, adv. In a manner to
encumber. Sherwood
CUM'BERSOMENESS, n. Burdensome
ness ; the quality of being cumbersome
and troublesome.
eUM'BRANCE, n. That which obstructs,
retards, or renders motion or action dif-
ficult and toilsome ; burden ; encum-
brance ; hinderance ; oppressive load ;
embarrassment. Milton.
eUM'BROUS, a. Burdensome ; trouble-
some; rendering action difficult or toil-
some ; oppressive ; as a cumbrous weight
or charge. Milton. Dryde
2. Giving trouble ; vexatious ; as a cloud of
cumbrous gnats. Spenser.
3. Confused ; jumbled ; obstructing each
other ; as the cumbrous elements. Milton
eUM'BROUSLY, adv. In a cumbrous man-
A genus of pla
the
f^yinpliylum ; sometimes written comfrey,
comfn/, and comphry.
CUM LN, n. [L. cumxnU7n ; Gr. xviiifOf ; Ori-
ental [1D3 kamon. Tlie verb with which
this word seems to be connected, signifies,
in Ar. Ch. Syr. and Sam., to retire from
sight, to lie concealed.]
An annual plant of one species, whose
seeds have a bitterish warm taste, with
an aromatic flavor. Encyc.
CUMULATE, v.t. [L.cumulo; Russ. *om,
a mass or lump ; L. cumulus, a heap; Fr.
combler,cumuler ; Sp. cumulnr ; It. cumulare.]
To gather or throw into a heap ; to form a
heap ; to heap together. Woodward.
[jlccumulate is more generally used.]
CUMULA'TION, n. The act of heaping to-
gether ; a heap. [See ^ccumidation.]
CU'MULATIVE, a. Composed of parts in
a heap ; forming a mass. Bacon.
2. That augments by addition ; that is ad-
ded to something else. In law, that aug-
ments, as evidence, facts or arguments of
the same kind.
CUN, V. t. To know. [Xot used.] [See
Con.]
2. To direct the course of a ship. [See
Cond, the true orthography.]
CUNCTA'TION, n. [L. cunctor, to delay.]
Delay, [^'ot much used.]
CUNCTA'TOR, n. One who delays or lin-
gers. {^Little used.] Hammond
CUND, V. t. To give notice. [See Cond.]
CU'NEAL, a. [L. cuneus, a wedge. See
Coin.] Having the form of a wedge.
Cu'nEaIeD,!"- Wedge-shaped.
CU'NEIFORM, I [L. cuneus, a wedge, and
CU'NIFORM, i "■ forma, form.] Having
the shape or form of a wedge.
CUN'NER, n. [lepas.] A kind of fish, less
than an oyster, that sticks close to the
rocks. Ainsworth.
CUN'NING, a. [Sax. cunnan, connan ; Goth.
kunnan, to know ; Sw. kunna, to be able,
to know ; kunnig, known ; also, knowing,
skilful, cunning; D. kunnen, can, to be
able, to hold, contain, understand, or
know ; G. konnen. See Can.]
1. Knowing; skilful; experienced; well-in-
structed. It is applied to all kinds of
knowledge, but generally and appropri-
ately, to the skill and dexterity of artifi-
cers, or the knowledge acquired by expe-
rience.
Esau was a cunning hunter. Gen. xxiii.
I will take away the cunning artificer. Is.
A cunning workman. Ex. xxx\-iii.
2. Wrought with skill ; ciuious ; ingenious.
With cherubs of cunning work shalt thou
make them. Ex. xxvi.
[The foregoing senses occur frequently in
our version of the scriptures, but are nearly
or quite obsolete.]
3. Artful; shrewd; sly; crafty ; astute ; de-
signing ; as a cunning fellow.
They are resolved to be cunning ; let others
run the hazard of being sincere. South.
In this sense, the purpose or final end of
the person may not be illaudable ; but cun-
ning' implies the use of artifice to accom-
plish the purpose, rather than open, candid,
or direct means. Hense,
CUP
4. Deceitful ; irickisli ; employing stratagems
for a bad purpose.
Assumed with subtilty ; artful
it a
Sidney
tUN'NING, «. Knowledge; art; skill;
dexterity. Obs.
Let my right haml forget her cunning.
Vs. cxxxvii.
9. Art ; artifice ; artfulness ; craft ; shrewd-
ness ; the faculty or act of using strata-
gem to accomplish a purpose. Hence in
a bad sense, deceitfulness or deceit; fraud-
ulent skill or dexterity.
Discourage cunning in a child ; cunning is
the ape of wisdom. Locke.
CUN'NINGLY, adv. Artfully ; craftily ; with
subtilty ; with fraudulent contrivance.
We have not followed cunningly devised fa-
bles. 2 Pet i.
CUN'NINGMAN, n. A man who pretends
to tell fortunes, or teach how to recover
stolen or lost goods. Butter.
€UN'NINGNESS, n. Cunning ; craft ; de-
ceitfulness.
€UP, n. [Sax. cop, or cupp ; D. kop ; Dan.
id.; S\\. kopp ; Fr. coupe; Arm. coupen;
It. coppa ; Sp. copa ; Ir. capa, or capan ;
W. cwb, civpan ; L. cupa, cuppa, whence
cupella, a cupel, a little cup ; Ch. 3D ; Ar.
V>
f. Class Gb. No. 48. See also No. 6.
The primai-y sense may be, hollow, bend-
ing, Russ. k'opayu, or containing. See No.
50. 52. 68. and 'Coop.]
1. A small vessel of capacity, used common-
ly to drink out of. It is usually made of
metal; as a silver cup; a tin cup. But
the name is also given to vessels of like
shape used for otiier purposes. It is usu-
ally more deep than wide ; but tea-cups
and coffee-cups are often exceptions.
2. The contents of a cup; the liquor con-
tained in a cup, or that it may contain ; as
a cup of beer. See 1 Cor. xi.
3. In a scriptural sense, sufTerings and afUic-
tions ; that which is to be received or en-
dured.
0 my father, if it be possible, let tliis cup pass
from me. Math. .fxvi.
4. Good received ; blessings and favors.
My cup runneth over. Ps. xxiii.
Take the cup of salvation, that is, re-
ceive the blessings of deliverance and re-
demption with joy and thanksgiving.
Cruden. Broion.
5. Any thing hollow like a cup ; as the cup
of an acorn. The bell ofa flower, and a
calyx is called ajlower-cup.
6. A glass cup or vessel used for drawing
blood in scarification.
Cu^ ajirf can, familiar companions; the coh
being the large vessel out of which the cup
is filled, and thus the two being constantly
associated. Swi^.
Cups, in the plural, social entertainment in
drinking ; merry bout.
Thence from cups to civil broils. Milton
■CUP, V. i. lu surgery, to apjjly a cupjiing-
glass to procure a <li.'ichai-ge of blood from
a scarified part of the body. Encyc.
2. To supply with cu|)s. Obs. Shak.
€UP'BEaR'ER, n. An attendant of a prince
or at a .feast, wljo conveys wine or other
liquors to the guests; ;in officer of the
king's household. Neh. I.
CUR
eUP'BOARD, n. [cup and board.] Origin-
ally, a board or shelf for cups to stand on.
In modern houses, a small case or inclo-
Bure in a room with shelves destined to
receive cups, plates, dishes and the like.
Bacon. Dryden.
CUP'BOARD, V. t. To collect into a cup-
board ; to hoard. [JVot used.] Shak.
eUP'GALL, n. A singular kind of gall
found on the leaves of oak, &c. It contains
the worm ofa small fly. Encyc.
€UP'-ROSE, n. The poppy.
€U'PEL, n. [L. cupella, a little cup.] A
small cup or vessel used in refining metals.
It retains thein while in a metallic state,
but when changed by fire into a fluid
scoria, it absorbs them. Thus when a
mixture of lead with gold or silver is
heated in a strong fire, the lead is oxyda-
ted and vitrified, and sinks into the sub-
stance of the cupel, while the gold or sil-
ver remains pure. This kind of vessel is
made usually of phosphate of lime, or the
residue of burnt bones, rammed into a
mold, which gives it its figure.
Encyc. Lavoisier. JVicholson.
€UPELLA'TION, n. The refining of gold
or silver by a cupel or by scorification.
Lavoisier. JVicholson. Encyc.
€UPIDTTY, n. [L. cupiditas, from cupidus,
from cupio, to desire, to covet. See class
Gb. No. 22. 24.]
An eager desire to possess something; an
ardent wishing or longing ; inordinate or
unlawful desire of wealth or power. It is
not used, I believe, for the animal ajjpetite,
like lust or concupiscence, but for desire
of the mind.
No property Is secure when it becomes large
enough to tempt tlie cupidity of indigent pow-
er. Burke.
€U'POLA, n. [It. cupola ; Sp. cupula ; from
the root oi cup, or rather from W. cop, a
top or summit.]
In architecture, a spherical vault on the top
of an edifice ; a dome, or the round top of
a dome. Encijc.
€U'POLAlD, a. Having a cupola. [Mt
used.] Herbert.
eUP'PER, H. [from cup.] One wlio applies
a cupping-glass ; a scarifier.
eUP'PING, ppr. Applying a cupping-glass,
with scarification ; a drawing blood with
a cupping-glass.
€UP'PING-GLASS, n. A glass vessel like
a cup, to be apphed to the skin, before and
after scarification, for drawing blood.
eUTREOUS, o. [L. cupreus, from cuprum,
topper.]
Coppery ; consisting of copper ; resenihling
copper, or partaking of its qualities.
Encyc. Boyle.
eUPRIF'EROUS, a. [L. cuprum, copper,
and fero, to bear.]
Producing or affording copper; as cuprifer-
ous silver. Tooke, Ru.is,
€UR, n. [Qu. Lapponic coira ; Basque chau
irra ; Ir. ^yr, gaier, a dog.]
A degenerate dog ; and in reproach, a worth
less man. Addison. Shak. Dryden
ell'RABLE, a. [See Cure.] That may be
healed or cured ; admitting a remedy : a-^
a curable wound or disease ; ncurnhl' r\ I
Dr>/.h ■■
CU'RABLENESS, n. P.;ssibility of hvw-
cured, healed or remedied.
CUR
eU'RACY, > [See Ctire and Ctt-
CU'RATESHIP, <, "• rate.] The ofiice or
employment of a curate ; the employment
of a clergyman who represents the incum-
bent or beneficiary of a church, parson or
vicar, and officiates in his stead. Swift.
2. A benefice held by license from the
bishop.
eU'RATE, n. [h. curator, or curatus, from
ctira, care. See Cure.]
A clergyman in the church of England, who
is employed to perform divine service in
the place of the incumbent, parson or vic-
ar. He must be hcenced by the bishop-
or ordinary, and having no fixed estate in
the curacy, he may be removed at pleas-
ure. But some curates are peqietual.
Eyicyc.
2. One employed to perform the duties of
another. Dryden.
CU'RATIVE, a. Relating to the cure of
diseases ; tending to cure. Arbuthnot.
€URA'TOR, n. [L. See Cure.] One who
has the care and superintendence of any
thing. Swift.
2. A guardian appointed by law. Ayliffe.
•3. Among the Romans, a trustee of the af-
fairs and interests ofa person emancipa-
ted or interdicted. Also, one appointed to
regulate the price of merchandize in the
cities, and to superintend the customs and
tributes. Encyc.
4. In the United Provinces, or Holland, the
Curator of a University superintends the
affairs of the institution, the administra-
tion of the revenues, the conduct of the
professors, &c. Encyc.
€URB, n. [Fr. courber, to bend ; Russ. kor-
ohlyu, to bend, to draw in, to straiten.]
1. In the manege, a chain of iron made fast
to the upper part of the branches of the
bridle, in a hole called the eye, and running
over the beard of the horse. It consists
of three parts ; tlie hook, fixed to the eye
of the branch ; the chain or links ; and the
two rings or mails. Encyc.
2. Restraint ; check ; hinderance.
Rehgion should operate as an effectual cur6
to the passions.
3. A frame or a wall round the mouth ofa
well.
4. [Fr. courbe ; It. corba, a disease and a
basket.] A hard and callous swelling on
the hind part of the hock ofa horse's leg,
attended with stiffness, and sometimes
pain and lameness. Encyc.
A tumor on the inside ofa horse's hoof.
Joh7}son.
A swelling beneath the elbow of a
horse's hoof Bailey.
CURB, I', t. To restrain ; to guide and man-
age ; as a horse. Milton.
2. To restrain ; to check ; to hold back ; to
confine ; to keep in subjection ; as, to curb
the passions.
And wisely loam to curb thy sorrows wild.
jniton.
3. To furnish or surroimd with a curb, as a
well.
4. To bend. [Xot 7ised.]
i\'U}','V,T),pp. Restrained; checked ; kept
ill -iiliipction; furnished with a curb.
(I IM; IXG, ppr. Holding back; checking;
M-ii. lining.
flKBlNG, J). A check.
CUR
CURB'-STONE, it. A stone placed at the
cilge of a pavement, to liolil the work to-
f ether. It is written sometimes kerb or
irb.
tURD, n. [Ir. cruth ; Scot, cnids. Some-
times in English, crud. The primary sense
is to congeal or coagulate. See Crystal.]
The coagulated or thickened part of milk,
which is formed into cheese, or, in some
countries, eaten as common food. The
word may sometimes perhaps be used for
the coagulated part of any liquor.
° Bacon
€URD, V. t. To cause to coagulate ; to turn
to curd. '^I'"!'-
eURD'LE, V. {. [sometimes written crudle.
See Curd.]
1. To coagulate or concrete; to thicken, or
change into curd. Milk curdles by a mix-
ture of runnet.
2. To thicken; to congeal; as, the blood cur-
dies in the veins.
eURD'LE, V. t. To change into curd ; tt
cause to thicken, coagulate, or concrete.
Runnet or brandy curdles milk.
At Florence they curdle their milk with arti-
choke flowers. Encyc.
2. To congeal or thicken. The recital cur-
dled my blood.
€URD'LED, /^;). Coagulated; congealed.
€URD'LING, ppr. Concreting; coagulating,
CURD'Y, a. Like curd; full of curd ; coag-
ulntcil. Arbuthnol.
€URE, n. [L. cura ; Fr. cure ; L. citro, to cure,
to take care, to prepare ; W. cur, care, a
blow or stroke, aftliction ; curaw, to beat,
throb, strike ; curiaw, to trouble, to vex, to
pine or waste away ; Fr. curer, to cleanse
" se curer les dents,'" to pick the teeth ; It.
cura, care, diligence ; curare, to cure, attend,
protect ; also, to value or esteem ; Sp. cura
cure, remedy, guardianship ; curar, to ad
minister medicines; to salt, as meat; tt
season, as timber; to bleach thread or liii
en ; to take care ; to recover from sick
ness ; curioso, curious, neat, clean, hand
some, fine, careful. The radical sense of
this word is, to strain, stiotoh, extend,
which gives tho snisc nf lieiiliii;.', that is
making strong, iind nl" cure, .^iiiicrlutend-
ence. But the Welsh hastlie sense ofdri
ving, a moditiod appliealicni dI' extending
and this gives the sense of sei)aration and
purification. In its application to hay,
ber, provisions, &c., the sense may be to
make right, as in other cases ; but of this
I am not confident.]
1. A healing; the act of healing ; restora
tion to health from disease, and to sound
ness from a wound. We say, a medicine
will effect a cure.
i. Remedy for disease ; restorative ; that
which heals.
Colds, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure.
I>ryJen
',i. The employment of a curate ; the core ot
souls ; spiritual charge,
CURE, V. t. [L. c^iro. Sec the Noun.] To
heal, as a person diseased or a woundei
limb ; to restore to health, as the body, or
to soundness, as a limb.
The cliild was cured from that very hour.
Math. xvii.
2. To subdue, remove, destroy or put an end
to ; to heal, as a "
CUR
Christ gave his disciples power to cure di:
eases. Luke ix.
When the person and the disease ai
both mentioned, cure is followed by o/bi
fore the disease. The physician cured the
man of lus fever.
3. To remedy ; to remove an evil, and restore
to a good state.
Patience will alienate calamities, which it
cannot cure.
4. To dry ; to prepare for preservation ; as,
to cure hay : or to ))repare by salt, or in
any manner, so as to prevent speedy pu
trefaction ; as, to cure fish or beef.
€U'RED, pp. Healed ; restored to health or
soundness ; removed, as a disease ; reme
died ; dried, smoked, or otherwise prepar
ed for ijreservation.
eU'RELESS, a. That cannot be cured or
healed ; incurable ; not admitting of
remedy ; as a cureless disorder ; a cureless
Dryden
a physician ; one
Harvey.
e-feu, cover-fire.]
• bells at night, as a
Bacon.
[L. curialis, from curia, a
II,
eU'RER, n. A healer
who licals.
eUR'FEW, n. [Fr. CO
The ringing of a bell (
signal to the inhabitants to rake up tlieir
fires and retire to rest. This practice ori-
ginated in England from an order of ^Vil
liam the conqueror, who directed that a
the ringing of the hell, at ei^rhr o'clock
every one should |ini mit \u< lejlit and go
to bed. This woni is ii..t ii-r,l in Auier
ca; although the praetii-e ot'iiriiiiiig a lie
at nine o'clock, coiirinues in many place
and is considered in New England, as
signal for people to retire from conii)ai
to their own abodes ; and in general, the
signal is obeyed
A cover for a fire ; a fire-plate. [.Vo/
used.] "
CURIAL'ITY
t-]
The privileges, prerogatives, or retinue of a
court. [A'ot used.] Bacon.
eU'RING, ppr. Healing ; restoring to health
or sountlness ; removing, as an evil ; pre-
paring for preservation.
CU'RING-HOUSE, n. A building in which
sugar is drained and dried.
Edtoards, W. Ind.
CURI0L06'le, a. [Gr. xrptoJioyia, propriety
of speaking.]
Designating a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in
which a thing is represented by its picture.
}Varhurton .
CURIOSITY, n. [L. curiositus. Sec C-
1. A strong desire to sec something iinMl.or
to discover something iinknoun, i iili( i li\
research or inquiry ; a desiretn i:iaiit\ tli-
senses with a sight of whai i- mw . r un-
usual. Or to gratify tin' nun,! v,i,:iinu
discoveries; inquisitiv< n, \ i ■'-
?-ios5<i/ leads him to vicns ,1 I'.il-
bec, to investigate the oiiL;;n 1 I: ,' 1, te
discover the component parts uf a iiiiner-
al, or the motives of another's actions.
2. Nicety; delicacy. Shak
3. Accuracy ; exactness ; nice performance ;
euriousness ; as the curiosity of workman-
ship. Ray.
4. A nice experiment ; a thing unusual or
)rthy of curiosity.
There hath been practiced a curiosity
CUR
a tree on the north side of a wall, and at a little
height, to draw it through tlic wall, &.C.
Bacon ■
5. An object of curiosity; that which excites
a desire of seeing, or deserves to be seen,
as novel and extraordinary.
We took a ramble together to see the curios-
ities of this great town. Mdison .
[The first and the last senses are chief y
used.]
CURIO'SO, n. [It.] A curious i>erson ; a
virtuoso.
eU'RIOUS, a. [L. curiosus, from cuj-a, care.
See Cure.]
1. Strongly desirous to see what is novel, or
to discover what is unknown ; solicitous to
see or to know ; inquisitive.
Be not curious in unnecessary matters, nor to
pry into the concerns of your neighbors.
2. Habitually inquisitive; addicted to re-
search or enquii-y ; as a man of a curious
turn of mind : sometimes followed by ajler,
and sometimes by of.
Curious after things elegant and beautiful ;
curious of antiquities.
Woodward. Dryden.
Accurate ; careful not to mistake ; solicit-
ous to be correct.
Men were not curious what syllables or par-
ticles they used. Hooker.
4. Careful ; nice ; solicitous in selection ;
difficult to please.
A temperate man is not curious 0/ delicacies.
Taylor.
5. Nice ; exact ; subtile; made with care.
Both these senses embrace their objects — with
more curious discrimination. Holder.
G. Artful; nicely diligent.
Each ornament about her seemly lies.
By curious chance, or careless art, composed.
Fairfax.
7. W'rought with care and art ; elegant;
neat; finished; as a cunoui girdle ; curi-
ous work. Ex. xxviii. xxx.
8. Requiring care and nicety; as curious
arts. Acts xix.
9. Rigid : severe ; i)articular. [Little used.]
Shak.
10. Rare; singular; as a cunous fact.
eU'RIOUSLY, adv. With nice inspection ;
inquisitively ; attentively.
I saw nothing at first, but obsei-ving it more
curiously, the spots appeared. A'ewton.
2. With nice care and art ; exactly ; neatly ;
elegantly. Ps. cxxxix.
.!. In a -iii'jidnrmanner; unusually.
< I Klol SNKSS, n. Fitness to excite ctiri-
cisity ; e\:ielticss of workmanship.
■,;. rsingulariiy of contrivance.
i.S. Curiosity.
eURL, !'. /. [D.kruUen; Dan. krdller ; to
i-url, to crisp; Corn. A'nViia.]
I. To turn, bend or form into ringlets ; to
el isp : as the hair.
•.'. To writhe; to twist; to coil ; as a scr-
3. To dress with curls.
The snaky locks
That eurUd Mcgaera. Milton.
4. To raise in waves or undulations ; to
iisbinzaii'
Dryden.
Seas would be pools, without the brushir
To curl the waves.
CURL, V. i. To bend in contraction ; to
shrink into ringlets. Boyle.
2. To rise in waves or undulations ; to rip-
ple ; and particulariy, to roll over at the
summit : as a curling wave.
CUR
CUR
CUR
;>. To rise in a winding current, and to roll
over at the ends ; as curling smoke.
4. To writhe ; to twist itself.
Then round her slender waist he curled.
Dryden .
0. To shrink ; to shrink back ; to bend and
sink. He curled down into a corner.
■eURL, n. A ringlet of hair, or an)' thing of]
a hke form.
2. Undulation ; a waving ; sinuosity ; flex
ure. JVewton.
3. A winding in the grain of wood.
CURL'ED, pp. Turned or formed into ring
lets ; crisped ; twisted ; undulated.
CUR'LEW, n. [Fr. courlis or corlieu.] An
aquatic fowl of the genus Scolopax and the
grallic order. It has a long bill; its color
is diversified with ash and black ; and the
largest species spread more than three feet
of wing. It frequents the sea shore in
winter, and in summer, retires to the
mountains.
2. A fowl, larger than a partridge, with Ion
ger legs, which frequents the corn-fields in
Spain" Trevour.
€URL'INESS, n. A state of being curly.
€URL'ING, ;)/fr. Bending; twisting; form-
ng into ringlets.
€URL'ING-IRONS,
An instrument
"■ for curling the
€URL ING-TONGS
hair.
CURL' Y, a. Having curls ; tending to curl
full of ripples.
eURMUD'GEON, n. [Fr. cmtir, heart, and
mechaiit, evil. JVares. Qu.]
An avaricious churlish fellow; a miser ; s
niggurd ; a churl. Hudibras.
eURMUD'GEONLY, a. Avaricious; covet-
ous ; niggardly ; churlish. L'Estrange
CUR'RANT, II. [from Corinth.] The fruit
of a well known shrub belonging to the
genus Ribes, of which Grossularia is now
considered a species ; the grossberry or
gooseberry and tlie currant falling under
the same genus. Currants are of various
species and varieties ; as the common redj
and white currants, and the black currant.i
2. A siBall kind of dried grape, imported|
from the Levant, chiefly fi-om Zante and
Cephalonia ; used in cookery
€UR'RENCV, n. [See Current.] Literally, n
flowing, running or passing ; a continuec'
or uninterrupted course, like that of i
stream ; as the currency of time.
^ijliffe
2. A continued course in public opinion, be
lief or reception ; a passing from persoi
to person, or from age to age ; as, a re
port has had a long or general curre?ia/.
Johnson.
3. A continual passing from hand to
as coin or bills of credit ; circulatio
the currency ofcents, or of English crowns;
the currency of bank bills or treasury
notes.
4. Fluency ; readiness of utterance : but in
this sense we generally use Jlucncy.
5. General estimation ; the rate at which any
thing is generally valued
He takes greatness of kingdoms according to
their bulk and currency, and not after intrinsic
value. Bacon,
6. That which is current or in circulation.
as a medium of trade. The word may be
nppliedto coins, or to bills issued bv'au-
thority. It is often applied to bank notes,]
and to notes issued by government.
Crmvford.
CUR'RENT, a. [L. cmrens, from curro, tc
flow or run ; Fr. courir, whence courier
and discourir, to discourse, concomir, tc
concur, &c.; It. correre ; Sp. Port, correr,
to run ; W. gyru, to drive, or run ; Eng
hurry. It seems to be connected with tlie
roo t of car, cart, chariot, like currus. See Ar.
j«^ and ^y^. Class Gr. No. 7. 33.
15.] " ' ,,
1. Literally, flowing, running, passing, j
Hence, passing from person to person, or
from hand to hand ; circulating ; as cur-
rent opinions ; current coin. Hence, com-
mon, general or fashionable ; generally
received ; popular ; as the current notions
of the day or age ; current folly.
ft'atts. Swift. Pope,
2. Established by common estimation ; gen-
erally received ; as the current value of
coin.
.3. Passable : that may be allowed or admit-
te.l. Shak.
Now jfassing ; present in its course ; as
the current month or year.
CUR'RENT, n. A flowing or passing ; a
stream ; applied to JJuids ; as a current of
water, or of air. The gulf stream is a re-
markable current in the Atlantic. A current
sets into the Mediterranean.
2. Course ; progressive motion, or move-
ment ; continuation ; as the current of
time.
3. A connected series; successive course;
the current of events.
4. General or main course ; as the current
of opinion.
eUR'RENTLY, a. In constant motion ;
with continued progression. Hence, conj-
monly; generally; popularly; with gen-
eral reception ; as, the story is currently
reported and believed.
CUR'RENTNESS, n. Currency; circula
tion ; general reception.
2. Fluency; easiness of pronunciation. [.Yot
much used.]
CUR'RICLE, n. [L. curriculum, from curro,
to run.]
1. A chaise or carriage, with two wheel
drawn by two horses abreast.
2. A chariot. [JVot in use.]
3. A course. [JVot in use.]
CUR'RIED, pp. [See Curry.] Dressed by
currying; dressed as leather; cleaned;
prepared.
CUR'RIER, n. [L. curiarius ; Fr. corroyeur.
See Curry.]
\ man who dresses and colors leather, after
it is tanned.
CUR'RISH, a. [See Cur.] Like a cur ; hav
ing the qualities of a cur; brutal; malig
nant; snappish; snarling; churUsh; in
tractable ; quarrelsome.
Sidney. Fairfax. Shak.
CUR'RISHLY, adv. Like a cur ; in a brutal
manner.
CUR'RISHNESS, n. Moroseness; churl
islmess. Feltham
CUR'RY, V. t. [Fr. corroyer ; Arm. courreza ;
Sp. curtir ; Port, cortir. The French and
Armoric word seems to be compounded of
L. corivm. a hide, and tlie root of rado, to
scrape, or of a word of like signification.
The Sp. and Port, word seems to be allied
to cortex, bark, from stripping , or to L.
cuiius, short, from cutting. But the L.
corium is probably from a root signifying
to scrape, or to peek See Class Gr.'No.
5 and 8.]
1. To dress leather, after it is tanned ; to
soak, pare or scrape, cleanse, beat and
color tanned hides, and prepare them for
use.
2. To rub and clean with a comb ; as, to
curry a horse.
3. To scratch or claw ; to tear, in quarrels.
By setting brother against brother, '
To claw and curry one another. Butler.
To rub or stroke; to make smooth; to
tickle by flattery ; to humor. But gener-
ally used in the phrase,
To curry favor, to seek or gain favor by flat-
tery, caresses, kindness, or officious civili-
ties. [JVot elegant.] Hooker.
CUR'RY-COMB, n. [See Comb.] An iron
Instrument or comb, for rubbing and clean-
ing horses.
CURRYING, ppr. Scraping and dressing ;
cleaning; scratching.
CURSE, V. t. pret. and pp. cursed or curst.
[Sax. cursian, corsian ; Arm. argarzi. Qu.
Ar. ^j^.J
, To utter a wish of evil against one; to
imprecate evil upon ; to call for mischief
or injury to fall upon ; to execrate.
Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.
Ex. xxU.
Bless and curse not. Rom. xii.
Curse me this people, for they are too mighty
for mc. Num. xxii.
. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, har-
ass or torment with great calamities.
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose
Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as
those.
3. To devote to evil.
CURSE, V. i. To utter imprecations ; to af-
firm or deny with imprecations of divine
vengeance.
Then began he to curse and to swear. Math.
CURSE, n. Malediction ; the expression of
a wish of evil to another.
Shimei — who cursed me with a grievous
curse. 1 Kings ii.
2. Imprecation of evil.
They entered into a curse, and into an oath.
Neb. X.
3. Affliction ; torment ; great vexation,
rtill make this city a curse to all nations,
xxvi.
4. Condemnation ; sentence of divine ven-
geance on sinners.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of die
law. Gal. iii.
5. Denunciation of evil.
CURSED, pp. Execrated ; afflicted ; vexed ;
tormented ; blasted by a curse.
2. Devoted to destruction.
Thou art cursed from the earth. Gen. iv.
3. a. Deserving a curse ; execrable ; hateful ;
detestable ; abominable.
4. a. Vexatious ; as a cursed quarrel ; cursed
thorns. Dryden. Prior.
CURS'EDLY, adv. In a cursed manner ;
Pope.
CUR
enormously ; miserably ; in a manner to
be cursed or detested. [Jl low word.]
■CURS'EDNESS, n. The state of being uu
der a curse, or of being doomed to execra
lion or to evil.
■CURS'ER, n. One who curses, or utters a
curse.
CUR'SHIP, n. [See Cur.] Dogship; mean-
ness ; ill-nature. Hudibras.
CURS'ING, ppr. Execrating ; imprecating
evil on ; denouncing evil ; dooming to evil,
misery, or vexation.
CURS'ING, n. Execration ; the uttering of
a curse ; a dooming to vexation or misery.
CUR'SITOR, n. [from the L. curso, cursilo,
to run.]
In England, a clerk in the court of chan-
cery, whose business is to make out origin-
al writs. In the statute 18 Edward III.
the cursitors are called clerks of course.
They are twenty four in number, and are
a corporation among themselves. To each
are assigned certain counties, to which he
issues writs. Encyc
eUR'SIVE, a. [It. corsivo, running. Set
Course and Current.]
Running ; flowing. Cursive hand is a run
ning hand. Fry.
eUR'SORARY, a. Cursory ; hasty. [JVot
in use.] ShaA:
ClJR'SORILY, a. [See Cursory.] In a run
ning or hasty manner ; slightly ; hastily
without attention ; as, I read the paper
cursorily.
CUR'SORINESS, n. Slight view or atten
tion.
CUR'SORY, a. [L. cursorius, from cursus.
See Course.]
1. Running ; hasty ; slight ; superficial ; care-
less ; not with close attention ; as a cur-
sory reading ; a cursory view.
2. Running about; not stationary.
CURST, pp. of curse. [See Cursed.]
CURST, o. Hateful ; detestable ; froward
tormenting ; vexatious ; peevish ; malig
nant ; mischievous ; malicious ; snarling
a word however whicli can be hardly said
to have a definite signification. It is ap
plied to any thing vexatious. In some of
its applications in old authors, it appears
to be the Dutch korst, crust, and to signify
crusty, crabbed, surly.
CURST'NESS, 71. Peevishness; malignity;
frowardness ; crahbedness ; surliness.
CURT, a. [L. cuHus.] Short. [Rarely used
and nM elegant] Broiim
CURTA'IL, V. t. [composed of L. curtus.
Fr. court, short, and tailler, to cut ; taillc.
edge.]
To shorten ; to cut oft" the end or apart ; as-
to curtail words. Hence in a more gene-
ral sense, to shorten in any manner ; tc
abridge ; to diminish ; as, to ciirtail our
privileges. It is followed by q/" before the
thing shortened. His name was curtailed
o/'threc letters. We are curtailed of our
rights.
CUR'TAIL-DOG, n. A dog whose tail is
cut off", according to the forest laws, and
therefore hindered from coursing. Shak.
CURTA'ILED, pp. Cut short or shorter;
abridged.
€URTA'ILING,p;)r. Cuttingsliort or short-
er; abridging.
CURTA'ILING, 71. Abridgment; abbrevi-
ation. Suift.
Vol. I.
CUR
CUR'TAIN, n. kur'tin. [It. cortina; Low
L. Sp. Port. id. ; D. gordyn ; Fr. cour-
tine, in fortification. This word tnay
be from the root of court, and from the
sense of separating. I think it is not a
contraction of the It. coperlina.]
1. A cloth hanging round a bed, or at a win-
dow, which may be contracted, spread or
drawn aside at jjleasure ; intended for or-
nament, or for use. Also, the hangings
about the ark, among the Israehtes.
2. A cloth-hanging used in tiieaters, to con
ceal the stage from the spectators. This
is raised or let down by cords. Hence
the phrases, to drop the curtain, to close
the scene, to end ; to raise the curtain or
the curtain idll rise, to denote the opening
of the play. And to draw the curtain, is to
close it, to shut out the light or to conceal
an object ; or to open it and disclose the
object. Behind the curtain, in conceal
ment, in secret.
3. In fortification, that part of the rampart
which is between the flanks of two bas-
tions, bordered with a parapet five feet
high, behind which the soldiers stand to
fire on the covered way and into the moat.
Encyc.
4. In scripture, tents ; dwellings. Hab. iii. 7.
CUR'TAIN, V. t. To inclose with curtains
to furnisli with curtains. Shak
eUR'TAIN-LECTURE, tj. Reproof given
in bed by a wife to her husband.
Jlddison
CURT'AL, n. A horse with a docked tail.
B. Jonson.
CURT'AL, a. Short; abridged; brief.
Milton
CURT' ATE, a. [L. curtains, from curto, u
shorten.]
The curtate distance, in astronomy, is the
distance of a planet from the sun to that
point, where a perpendicular let fall from
the planet meets with the echptic.
Encyc.
Or the intei-val between the sun oi
earth, and that point where a perpendicu-
lar, let fall from the planet, meets the eclip-
tic. Cyc.
CURTA'TION, 77. [See Curtate.] The '
terval between a planet's distance from
the sun and the curtate distance.
Chambers.
CURT'ILAuE, 71. In law, a yard, gard
inclosure or field near and belonging to a
messuage. [This is probably from court
or the same radix.]
CURT'LY, adv. Briefly. [Mtinuse.]
CU'RULE, a. [L. cunUis, from currus, a
chariot.]
Belonging to a chariot. The curide chair or
seat, among the Romans, was a stool with-
out a back, covered with leather, and
made as to be folded. It was conveyed in
a chariot, and used bv public officers.
CURV'ATED, a. [See Curve.] Curved
bent in a regular form.
CURVATURE, 71. [L. curvatura. See
Curi'f.]
A bending in a regular form ; crookedness,
or the manner of bending ; flexure by
which a curve is formed. Encyc.
CURVE, a. citrv. [L. currji.i, bent, crooked
cxtrro, to bend, turn or wind ; Fr. courbe,
courbcr ; It. curro, curvare : Sp. curvo, cor-
var. If 6 is not r:idical, this word belongs
54
C U S
to Class Gr, W. cor, a circle ; but qu., lor
in Russ. it is krivei.]
Bending; crooked; inflected in a regular
form, and forming part of a circle ; as a
curi'e line, which may be cut by a right
lino in more points than one. Encyc.
A curve line is that which is neither a
straight line, nor composed of straight
lines. Cyc.
CURVE, n. A bending In a regular form,
or without angles ; that which is bent; a
flexure ; part of a circle. In geometry, a
line which may be cut by a right line in
more [joints than one. Encyc.
CURVE, V. t. [L. curvo ; Fr. courier ; Russ.
krivlyu.] To bend ; to crook ; to inflect.
CURV'ED, pp. Bent ; regularlv inflected.
CURVET, 71. [It. corvetta; Fr. courbette;
S|). corveta. See Curve.]
1. In the 7nanege,a particular leap of a horse,
when he raises both his fore legs at once,
equally advanced, and as his fore legs are
falling, he raises his hind legs, so that all
his legs are raised at once. Encyc.
2. A prank ; a frolic.
CURVET, V. i. [It. corvcttare ; Fr. courbet-
ter ; Sp. corvetear.]
1. To leap ; to bound ; to spring and form a
curvet.
2. To leap and fi-isk.
CURVILIN'EAR, ? [L. curvus, bent, and
|CURVILIN'EAL, <, "" titiea, a line.]
Having a curve line ; consisting of curve
lines ; bounded by curve lines ; as a cur-
vilinear figure.
CURVILINEAR'ITY, ti. The state of be-
ing curvilinear, or of consisting in curve
lines. Guth. quinctilian. Pref.
CURVING, j5i;)r. Bending in a regular form ;
crooked.
CURVITY, 71. [L. curvitas.] A bending in
a regular form ; crookedness. Holder.
CUSHAT, 7t. The ring-dove or wood-
pigeon. Scott.
CySH'ION, 7t. cush'in. [Fr. coussin ; It.
cuscino ; D. kussen ; G. kusstn
Port, coxim ; Arm. coufztn-
sj.^^, , Ch. <03 keesi, a little cushion
for the elbow.]
1. A [jillow for a seat ; a soft pad to be pla-
ced on a chair ; a bag, stuff"ed with wool,
hair or other soft material.
2. A bag of leather filled with sand, used by
engravers to support the plate.
3. In gilding, a stuffing of fine tow or wool,
covered by leather, on a board ; used for
receiving the leaves of gold from the pa-
per, in order to its being cut into proper
sizes and figures. Encyc.
Lady^s cushion, a plant, a species of Saxifra-
ga. Lee.
Sea cushion, sea pink or thrift, a species of
Statice. Lee.
CUSHION, V. t. To seat on a cushion.
CUSHIONED, o. Seated on a cushion;
supported by cushions. Johnson.
CySH'IONET, 71. A little cushion.
Beaum.
CUSK'IN, 71. A kind of ivory cup. [Aotin
use.] Bailey.
CUSP, 71. [L. aispis, a point.] The point or
horn of the moon or other luminary.
Encyc.
Qu. Ar.
c u s
CUT
CUT
CUSP'ATED, a. [L. ciispis, a point.] roiiit-
ed; emliiig in a jioiiit.
CUSP'IDAL, a. Ending in a point.
More
€USP'ID;\TE, I [L. cuspidalus, from
€USP'1DATED, S cuspis, a point.]
Having a sharp end, like the point of a spear ;
terminating in a bristly point ; as a cus-
pidate leaf. Martyn
CUS'TARD, n. [Cymbric nostard. Junius.
I snspect the first syllable to be W. c
curd, cheese.]
A composition of milk and eggs, sweetened
and baked or boiled, forming an agreeable
kind of food.
CUSTARD-APPLE, n. A plant, a species
of Annona, growing in the West Indies,
whose fruit is of the size of a tennis ball,
of an orange color, containing a yellowish
pulp, of the consistence of custard.
Encyc.
CUSTO'DIAL, a. [from custody.] Relating
to custody or guardianship.
CUS'TODY, n. [L. custodia ; It. and Sp.
id.; from L. custos, a watchman, a kee|)er.
This word has the elements of castle., W.
cas, the primary sense of which is to sepa-
rate, to drive off; hence, to defend, to hold.
See Chaste]
1. A keeping ; a guarding ; care, watch, in-
spection, for keeping, preservation or se-
curity.
Uuder the custody and charo;e of the sons of
Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle
Num. lii.
The prisoner was committed to the custodi/
of the sheriff. Hence,
2. Imprisonment ; confinement ; restraint of
liberty.
3. Defense from a foe ; preservation ; secu-
rity.
There was prepared a fleet of thirty ships for
the custody of the narrow seas. Bucon.
tUS'TOM, n. [Fr. coutume, for coustume;
It. costum ft, costume; Sp. coslumbre ; Port.
costume ; Arm. custum. Qu. L. consuetiis.]
1. Frequent or common use, or pi-nctice ; a
frequent repetition of the same act ; hence,
way ; estabhshed manner ; habitual prac-
tice.
The priest's custom with the people was —
1 Sam. ii.
We have no such custom. 1 Cor. xi.
The customs of the people are vain. Jer. x.
2. A buying of goods; ))ractice of frequent-
ing a shop and purchasing or procuring to
be done.
Let him have your custom, but not your
votes. Addison.
The shopkeeper has extensive custom,
or a good run of custom. A mill or a man-
ufacturer has extensive custom, or little
custom.
3. In law, long established practice, or usage,
which constitutes the unwritten law, and
long consent to which gives it authority.
CustoiTisare general, which extend over a
state or kingdom, and particular, which
are limited to a city or district. Encyc.
CUS'TOM, II. t. To make familiar, [r
Accustom, which is the word used.]
2. To give custom to. Bacon.
CUS'TOM, n. [Fr. coutume, from cm'dei; for
couster, to cost.]
Tribute, toll or tax ; that is, cost or charge
paid to the public.
Render custom to whom custom is due.
Rom. xiii.
Customs, in the plural, the duties imposed
by law on merchandize imported or ex-
ported. In Great Britain and the U. States,
this word is limited to these species of duties.
eUS'TOM-HOUSE, n. The house where
vessels enter and clear, and where the
customs are paid or secured to be paid.
CUS'TOMABLE, a. Common; habitual;
frequent. Johnson
2. Subject to the payment of the duties call-
ed customs. Law of Massachusetts
CUS'TOMABLENESS, n. Frequency ; con-
formity to custom. [lAjtle used.]
CUS'TOMABLY, adv. According to cus-
tom ; in a customary manner. Hayward.
eUS'TOMARILY, adv. [See Customary.]
Habitually ; commonly. Ray-
CUS'TOMARINESS, n. Frequency ; com-
monness ; habitual use or practice.
CUS'TOMARY, a. [Fr. coutumier.] Ac-
cording to custom, or to established or
common usage ; as a customary dress
customary compliments.
i. Habitual ; in common practice ; as ctts-
tomary vices.
3. Hokling by custom ; as customary ten-
ants, who are copyholders.
4. Held by custom"; as a customary free-
)ld.
CUS'TOMARY, n. [Fr. coutumier, coustu-
mier.] A book containg laws and usages,
or customs ; as the customary of the PTor-
raans. Coivel.
CUS'TOMED, a. Usual; common; to which
we are accustomed. [See Accustomed.]
Shal,-.
2. Furnished with customers. Bacon.
CUS'TOMER, n. One who frequents any
place of sale for the sake of purchasing
goods ; one who purchases goods or wares.
2. One who frequents or visits any place
for procuring what he wants. We say,
mill has many customers. Hence a person
who receives supplies is called a customer
the smith, the shoemaker and the tailor
have their customers ; and the coffee-house
has its customers.
3. A toll-gatherer. Obs.
CUS'TOS, n. [L.] A keeper ; as custos lirc-
vium, the principal clerk ol the conmion
pleas; custos rotulorum, kecjier of the
rolls and records of the sessions of tlie
peace. England.
CUS'TREL, n. [Qu. Old Fr. coustiUier,
from L. scutum.]
A buckler-bearer. Also, a vessel for holding
wine. [JVot in 2ise.]
CUT, V. t. pret. and pp. cut. [Norm, cotu,
cut. This word coincides in elements
with the W. cat, a piece, cateia, to cut,
cwta, sliort, cwtau, to shorten, and with
ysgythru, to cut off, to lop, to shred, to
carve, which Oweji deihiccs from y.<<u:ii-th.
U'l
is derived to u.s from the Wel^h or iM.t
may be a question ; but 1 have not found
the word in any of the Gothic or Teuton-
ic languages. It is obviously from a com-
mon root with the L. ccedo and cudo, and
the primary sense is to thrust, to drive, to
strike ; and to exit off is primarily to strilu
off. We have proof of this in our own
language ; for a stroke with a whip is call-
ed a cut, and our common people, when
they urge a person to ride or run with
haste, cry out, cut on, cut on. The fact is
the same with many other words which
now signify, to separate with an edged
tool. See Class Gd. No. 2. 4. 8. 43. 49.
5G. 59. and in a different dialect. Class Gs.
No. 5. & 28. 32. 40. 41. 42. (>;.]
1. To separate the parts of any body by an
edged instrument, either by striking, as
with an ax, or by sawing or rubbing ; to
make a gash, incision or notch, which sep-
arates the external part of a body, as to
cut the flesh. It signifies also, to cut into
pieces ; to sever or divide ; as, to cut timber
in the forest. But when an entire separa-
ration of the body is intended, it is usually
followed by off, down, asunder, in two, in
pieces, or other word denoting such sever-
ance.
" Ye shall not cu< yourselves," that is, ye
shall not gash your flesh. Deut. xiv.
2. To hew.
Tliy servants can skill to ctit timber. 2 Chron
3. To carve, as meat ; to carve or engrave
in sculpture. Addison.
4. To divide ; to cleave, by passing through ;
as, a ship cuts the briny deep.
5. To penetrate ; to j)ierce ; to affect deej)-
ly ; as, a sarcastn cuts to the quick.
(5. To divide, as a pack of cards ; as, to cut
and shuffle.
7. To intersect ; to cross. One line cuts an-
other at right angles. The ecliptic cuts the
equator.
8. To castrate.
To cut across, to pass by a shorter course, so
as to cut off an angle ordi.stance.
To cut asunder, to cut into pieces ; to divide ;
to sever.
He bath cut asunder the cords of the wick-
ed. Ps. cxxix.
To cut down, to fell ; to cause to fall by sev-
ering.
Ye shall cut down their groves. Ex. xxxiv.
Hence, to depress ; to abash ; to hum-
ble ; to shame ; to silence ; as, his elo-
quence cuts doion the finest orator.
Addison.
[This phrase is not elegant, but is in pop-
ular use.]
To cut off', to separate one part from anoth-
er ; as, to cxU off a finger, or an arm ; to
cut off the right hand figure; to cut off a
letter or syllable.
2. To destrov ; to extirpate ; to put to death
untimely. "
Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord 1
ICincs xviii.
Evil doers shall be cut off. Ps. xxxvu.
3. To separate ; to remove to a distance, or
to prevent all intercourse. A man in an-
otlier coiuitry or in prison is cut off from
lii.-i I'ciunlry or his friends.
1. To iinen-ii|)t ; as, to cut o_^"communication.
5. To separate ; to remove ; to take away ;
as, to exit o/ten years of life.
6. To intercept; to liinder from retin-n, or
union. The troops were cut off from the
ships.
7. To end ; to finish; as, to cut off all con-
troversy.
8. To prevent or preclude ; as, to cutoffsdl
occasion of blame.
CUT
CUT
CYC
9. To preclude or shut out. The sinner cuis
)iiniself 0/ from the benefits of Christianity.
10. To stop, interrupt or silence.
The judge cul off the counsel very short.
Bacon.
To cut on, to hasten ; to run or ride with the
utmost speed ; a vulgar phrase.
2. To urge or drive in striking ; to quicken
blows ; to hasten.
To cut out, to remove a part by cutting or
carving ; as, to cut out a piece from a board ;
to cut out the tongue. Hence,
2. To shape or form by cutting ; as, to cut
out a garment ; to cut out an image ; to
cut out a wood into walks. Hence,
3. To scheme ; to contrive ; to prepare ; as,
to cut out work for another day. So we
say, to strike out.
4. To shape ; to adapt. He is not cut out
for an author. [JVot elegant.]
5. To debar. [JVot common.] Pope.
6. To take the preference or precedence of;
as, to cut out a prior judgment creditor.
Kent.
7. To step in and take the place of, as in
courting and dancing. [A vulgar phrcise.]]
8. To interfere as a horse, when the shoe of
one foot beats off the skin of the pastern
joint of another.
To cut sliort, to hinder from proceeding by
sudden interruption.
Achilles cut liirn short. Dryden.
2. To shorten ; to abridge ; as, to cut short
of provisions or pay ; to cut the matter
short.
To cut up, to cut in pieces; as, to cut up beef
2. To eradicate ; to cut off; as, to cut up
shrubs.
CUT, V. i. To pass into or through and sev-
er ; to enter and divide the parts ; as, an
instrument cuts well.
2. To be severed by a cutting instrument ;
as, this fruit cuts easy or smooth.
S. To divide by passing.
The teeth are ready to cut. Arhuthnot.
4. To perform a surgical operation by cut-
ting, especially in lithotomy.
He saved lives by cutting for the stone.
Pope.
5. To interfere, as a horse.
To cut in, to divide, or turn a card, for de-
termining who are to play.
•CUT, pp. Gashed ; divided ; hewn ; carved ;
intersected ; pierced ; deeply affected ; cas-
trated.
Cut and dry, prepared for use ; a metaphor
from heivn timber.
CUT, n. The action of an edged instrument:
a stroke or blow, as with an ax or sword,
2. A cJefY ; a gash ; a notch ; a wound ; the
opening made by an edged instrument,
distinguished by its length from that made
by perforation with a pointed instrument,
3. A stroke or blow with a whip.
4. A cliannel ma<le by cutting or digging ; a
ditch ; a groove ; a furrow ; a canal.
5. A part cut off from the rest ; as a good cut
of beef; a cu/ of timber. Also, any small
piece or shred.
6. A lot made by cutting a stick ; as, to draw
cuts. Sidney.
7. A near passage, by which an angle is cut
ofT; as a shorter cut.
8. A picture cut or carved on wood or metal
anci imjiresscd from it. Brown.
9. The stamp on which a picture is carved,
and by which it is impressed.
10. Tlie act of dividing a pack of cards.
Also, the right to divide ; as, whose cut
is it?
11. Manner in which a thing is cut ; form;
shape ; fashion ; as the cut of a garment ;
the cut of his beard. StMingfleet.
12. A fool ; a cully ; a gelding. [jVot in use.]
Cut and long tail, men of all kinds; a pro-
verbial expression borrowed from dogs.
CUTA'NEOUS, a. (_See Cuticle.] Belonging
to the skin, or cutis ; existing on, or aftec-
ting the skin; as a cutaneous disease ; cu-
taneous eruption.
CUTH, in Saxon, signifies known, or fa
mous. Hence, Cuthwin, a famous con
queror; Cuthred, a famous or knowing
counselor ; Cuthbert, known bright, or fa-
mous for skill. Gibson.
CU'TICLE, n. [L. cuticula, dim. of cutis,
skin, the same as hide, which see.]
1. The scarf-skin ; the thin exterior coat of
the skin, which rises in a blister ; a thin
pellucid membrane covering the true skin.
2. The thin external covering of the bark of|
a plant. Darwin
•3. A thin skin formed on the surface of li-
quor. JVewton.
CUTIC'ULAR, a. Pertaining to the cuticle
or external coat of the skin.
eUT'LAS, n. [Fr. coutelas; Arm. contelag
zen ; It. coltellacdo ; Port, cutelo. Th'i:
word seems to be from the L. cultellus, a
least the Italian and French are so ; and
71 in the Armoric is casual, as in other
words in that dialect. The curteleaxe
or curtelax of some authors, and curt
oj:, seem to be t;orriipted, or they are from
Sp. corlar, L. curto, to cut. Cutlas is the
more correct orthography.]
A broad curving sword ; a hanger ; used by
soldiers in the cavalry, by seamen, &,c.
CUT'LER, n. [Fr. coutelier;'Korm. coteller;
Arm. conteller or coutellour ; Port, cutileiro ;
It. collellinaio ; from L. culler, a knife.]
One whose occupation is to make knives;
and other cutting instruments. 1
CUT'LERY, n. The business of making
knives ; or more generally, knives and otiier
edged instruments in general.
CUT'LET, n. [Fr. cutelette, a little side or
rib ; cute, side.]
A small piece of meat for cooking ; as a
veal cutlet.
CUT'PURSE, n. [cut and purse.] One who
cuts purses for stealing them or their con
tents ; a practice said" to have been com
mon when men wore purses at their gir
dies. One who steals from the person ; a
thief; a robber. Shak. Bentley.
ICUT'TER, n. One who cuts or hews.
2. An instrument that cuts ; as a straio-cutter.
3. X fore tooth, that cuts meat, as distin-
guished from a grinder.
4. A small boat used by ships of war. Also
a vessel with one mast and a straight run-
ning bowsprit, which may be run in upon
deck ; rigged nearly like a sloop.
Mar. Diet.
5. An officer in the exchequer that provides
wood for the tallies.
(i. A ruffian ; a bravo; a destroyer. Obs.
CUT' -THROAT, n. A murderer ; an assas-
sin; a ruffian. South. Dryden.
CUT'-THROAT, a. Rlurderous ; cruel ; bar-
barous. Careie.
CUT'TING, ;)pr. [See Cut.] Dividing by
an edged instrument ; cleaving by the
stroke or motion of an edged instrument,
as by a knife, ax, or saw; hewing; carv-
ing; intersecting; piercing.
2. a. Piercing the heart ; wounding the feel-
ings ; deeply affecting with shame or re-
morse ; pungent ; piquant ; satirical ; as a
culling reflection.
CUT'TING, »i. A separation or division ; a
piece cut off; a slip ; as the cuttings of
2. The operation of removing a stone from
the hlad<ler.
CUT'TLE, I [Sax. cudele, from the
CUT'TI.E-FISH, \ "-sense of withdrawing
or hiding, allied to cuddle, VV. cuziaw, to
hide. Arm. cutoff, or cuddyo, to hide.]
1. A genus oi' mollusca, called Sepia. They
have small arms, with serrated cups, by
which they lay fast hold of any thing. They
have also two tentacula longer than the
arms ; the mouth is in the center of the
arms, and is horny, and hooked like the bill
of a hawk. They fee<l on sprats, lobsters
and other shell-fish. They have a little
bladder under the throat, [near the liver,
Cuvier,] from whicli, when pursued, they
throw out a black liquor that darkens the
water, by which means they escape.
Hence cuttle is used for a foul-mouthed
fellow ; one who blackens the character
of another. Encyc. Shak.
2. A knife. [.Vot in use.] Shak.
CUT'-WATER, n. The fore part of a ship's
prow, or knee of the head, which cuts the
water. Also, a water-fowl, a species of
gull; or rather, the Rynchops, or razor-
bill.
CUT'-WORK, n. Embroidery. [JVot in use.]
B. Jonson.
CY'ANITE, n. [Gr. xvavoi, sky-colored.] \
mineral of a Berhn blue color, passing into
gray and green ; called bv HaQy, disthene.
CYAN'OuEN, n. [Gr. ivmoj, blue, and
yivrau, to beget.]
Carljureted azote, or carburet of nitrogen,
the compound base of Prussic acid ; oth-
erwise called Prussine. lire.
CYATHIFORM, a. [L. cyathus, a cup;
Gr. xiu9o5.]
In tlie form of a cup, or drinking glass, a
little widened at the top. Lee.
CYC'LADES, n. plu. [Gr. xuxXoj, a circle.]
A number of isles arranged round the isle
of Delos, in the Grecian Sea, in the form
of a circle.
CYCLE, n. [Gr. *vx>.o{, L. cyclus, an orb
or circle ; Ir. ciogal. Q.u. Eng. gig ; Ch.
Heb. Jin. Class Gk. No. 13. 16.]
1. In chronology, a period or series of num-
bers, which regularly proceed from first to
last, and then return to the first, in a per-
petual circle. Hence,
,2. The cycle of the moon, or golden number,
I or Metonic cycle, so called from its invent-
] or Meton, is a period of nineteeu years,
C Y L
which being completed, tlie new and lull
moons return on the same days of tl
month.
3. The cycle of the sun, is a period of twenty
eiglit years, which having elapsed, the
dominical or Sunday letters return to their
former place, and proceed in the former
order, according to the Julian calendar.
4. Cycle of indiction, a period of fifteen years,
at the end of which the Roman empe-
rors imposed an extraordinary tax, to pay
the soldiers who were obliged to serve in
the army for that period and no longer.
5. A round of years, or period of time, in
which the same course begins again ; a
jjeriodical space of time. Holder.
6. An imaginary orb or circle in the heav
Milton.
CYC'LOGRAPH, n. [xDxJ.05, circle, and
ypc^ito, to describe.]
An instrument for describing the arcs of
circles.
CYCLOID, n. [xvx'Koi, circle, and eiio; form.]
A geometrical curve on wliich depends
the doctrine of pendulums ; a ligure
made by the upper end of the diameter of
a circle, turning about a right line
Bailey.
The genesis of a cycloid maybe conceived by
imagining a nail in the circumference of i
wheel ; the line which the nail describe
in the air, while the wheel revolves in 1
right line, is tlie cycloid. Johnson
CYCLOID' AL, a. Pertaining or relating ti
a cycloid ; as, the cycloidal space is the
space contained between the cycloid and
its substance. Cham.be.
Or the space contained between the
curve or crooked line and the subtense of
the figure. Bailey.
CYC'LOLITE, n. A name given to Madre-
pores. "Diet. JVai. Hist.
CYeLOM'ETRY, n. [Gr. xvx%o;, circle, and
/tfTpfu, to measure.] The art of measur-
ing cycles or circles. IVallis
CYCLOPE'AN, a. [from Cyclops.) Pei--
taining to the Cyclops : vast ; terrific.
Hall.
CYCLOPE'DIA, } [Gr. xrx^oi, circle, and
( JY'CLOPEDE, <, "• rtaiSfia, discipline, eru
dition.]
The circle or compass of the arts and scien-
ces ; circle of human kuowledge. Hence,
the book or books that contain treatises
on every branch of the arts and sciences,
arranged under proper heads, in alpha-
betical order. [See Encyclopedia.]
CY€LOP'IC, a. Pertaining to the Cyclops :
gigantic ; savage. Bryant.
CY'€LOPS, n. [Gr. xvx-Ku^ ; xuxJto;, a circle,
and u4., an eye.]
In fabulous history, certain giants, the sons of
Neptune and Amphitrite, who had but one
circular eye in the midst of the forehead.
They inhabited Sicily, and assisted Vulcan
in making thunderbolts for Juiriter.
Lempriere
CYDER. [See Cider.]
CYG'NET, n. [L. cygnus, cycnus, a swan
Gr. xvxvoi.] A young swan. ii'hak.
CYL'INDER, n. [Gr. xAivSpot, from xvXu
5u, to roll, from xv%iu, id. ; L. cylindnis ;
C Y N
Sp. ciUndro ; It. id. ; Fr. cylindre ; Heb. Ch.
'jSj, Ar. jL:=.toroll.]
In geometry, a solid body supposed to be
generated by the rotation of a parallelo
gram round one of its sides ; or a long cir
cular body of uniform diameter, and its
extremities forming equal parallel circles.
Encyc. Bailey.
CYLINDRA'CEOUS, a. Cyhndrical. [Lit-
tle used.] Lee. Bot.
CYLIN'DRIC, ) Having the form of
CYLIN'DRICAL, ^ "" a cylinder ; or parta-
king of its properties.
CYLIN'DRIFORM, a. [cylinder and form.]
Having the form of a cylinder.
CYL'INDROID.n. [cylinder ami ^liof, form.]
A solid body, approaching to the figure
of a cylinder, but differing in some res-
pects, as having the bases elliptical, but
parallel and equal. Encyc.
CYMAR', n. A slight covering; a scarf;
roperly, simar.
CYMA'TIUai, ? ^^ [L.; Gr. xv^Larwp, a lit-
CY'MA, I "' tie wave, from xviaa, a
wave.]
Ill archiltcture, a member or molding of the
cornice, the profile of which is waving,
that is, concave at the top and convex at
bottom.
CYM'BAL, 71. [L. cymbalum ; Gr. xv/iSa'Kov
It. cembalo.]
1. A musical instrument used by the an
cients, hollow and iriade of brass, some
what like a kettle-drum ; but the precise
form is not ascertained.
A mean instrument used by gypsies anc
vagrants, made of a steel wire, in a trian-
gular form, on which are passed five rings,
which are touched and shifted along the
triangle with an iron rod held in the left
hand, while it is supported in the right by
a ring, to give it free motion. Encyc.
CYM'BIFORM, a. [L. cymba, a boat, and
forma, form.] Shaped like a boat.
Martyn
CY'ME, I [Gr. xvfia, fetus, from xvu, to
CY'MA, ^ ■ swell.] Literally, a sprout, par-
ticularly of the cabbage. Technically, an
aggregate flower composed of several flo-
rets sitting on a receptacle, producing all
the pi-imary peduncles from the same
point, but having the partial peduncles
scattered and irregular ; all fastigiate,
forming a flat surface at the top. It is
naked or with bractes. Martyn.
CYM'LING, n. A squash. Virginia.
CYM'OPHANE, n. [Gr. xv^^a, a wave, and
(jiatwj, to appear.]
V mineral, called also chrysoberyl. Its color
is green of difixjreut shades ; its fracture
conchoidal or undulated, and in hardness
it ranks next to the sapphire.
Haiiy. Cleavdand.
CYMOPH' ANGUS, a. Having a wavy
floating light ; opalescent ; chatoyant.
CY'MOSE, I Containing a cyme ; in the
CY'MOUS, \ ''' form of a cyme. Martyn.
CYNAN'CHE, n. [Gr. xv^ayzv, a dog-col-
lar, angina ; xvm; a dog, and oyj;M,to press
or bind, to sufibcate.]
C Y R
A disease of the throat, attended with in-
flammation, swelling, and difficulty of
breathing and swallowing. It is of several
kinds and comprehends the quinsy, croop
and mahgnant sore throat.
CYNAN'THROPY, n. [Gr. xv^v, adog, and
avdpunoi, man.]
A kind of madness in which men have the
qualities of dogs.
CYNAR€TOM'ACHY, n. [Gr. xvu>i>, a dog,
apxtos, a bear, and ftaztj, a fight.]
Bear-baiting with a dog. [^ barbarous word.]
Hudibras.
CYN'IC, } [Gr. xvvi,xo{, canine, from
CYN'I€AL, ^ "• xv^v, a dog.] Having the
(jualities of a surly dog ; snarling ; cap-
tious ; surly ; currish ; austere.
Cynic spasm, a kind of convulsion, in which
the patient imitates the howfing of dogs.
Encyc.
CYN'IC, re. A man of a canine temper ; a
surly or snarling man or philcsoplier ; a
follower of Diogenes ; a misanthrope.
Shak.
CY'N'ICALLY, adv. In a snarling, captious
or morose manner. Bacon.
CYN'ICALNESS, n. Moroseness ; con-
tempt of riches and amusements.
CYN'ICS, re. la ancient history, a sect of phi-
losophers, who valued themselves on their
contempt of riches, of arts, sciences and
amusements. They are said to owe their
origin to Antisthenes of Athens. Encyc.
CYN'OSURE, n. [Gr. xwosovpa, the tail of
the dog, Ursa minor, the little bear.]
The constellation near the north pole, con-
sisting of seven stars, four of which are
disposed like the four wheels of a chariot,
and three lengthwise, like the beam ; hence
called the chariot or Charles's wain. As
seamen are accustomed to steer by this
constellation, it is sometimes taken for
that which directs or attracts attention.
Encyc. Milton.
CYON. [See Cion.]
CYPHER. [See Cipher.]
CY'PRESS, re. [L. cupressjis ; Gr. xnrtoptsffoj.]
A genus of plants or trees. The most re-
markable arc the sempervirens or com-
mon cypress, the evergreen American cy-
press or white cedar, and the disticha or
deciduous American cypress. The wood
of these trees is remarkable for its dura-
bility. The coffins in which the Athenian
heroes and the mummies of Egypt were
deposited, are said to have been njade of
the first species. Encyc.
2. The emblem of mourning for the dead,
cypress branches having been anciently
used at funerals.
Had success attended the AmericaDs, the
death of Warren would have been sufficient to
damp the joys of victory, and the cypress would
have been united with the laurel.
Eliot's Biog.
CYP'RIN, a. Pertainiug to the fish of the
genus Cyprinus.
CY'PRUS. re. A thin transparent black stuff.
Shak.
CY'RIOLOG'IC, a. [Gr. xupios, chief, and
>.oyo5, iliscourse.] Relating or pertaining
to capital letters. Encyc.
DAB
DAD
DAG
CYST, n. [Gr. xv;ii, a bladder.] A bag or
tunic which includes morbid matter in an-
imal bodies. Encyc
CYST'I€, a. Pertaining to a cyst, or con-
tained in a cyst. The cystic duct is the
membranous canal that conveys the bile
from the hepatic duct into the gall-bla<l-
der. Tin; cystic artery is a branch of the
hepatic;. Hooper.
Cystic oxyd, a name given to a peculiar sub
stance, supposed to be generated in the
bladder or rather in the kidnevs. IJrt
CYS'TOCKLE, n. [Gr. xv;h, a bladder, and
rfl.ri, a tumor.]
lernia or rupture formed by the protru-
ion of the urinary bladder. Hooper.
CYSTOT'OMY, n. [Gr. xv^j, a bladder, and
ttfivu, to cut.]
The act or practice of opening encysted tu-
mors, for the discharge of morbid matter.
CYT'ISUB, n. A shrub or tree. Also, a gc-
js of trees ; tree-trefoil.
CZAR, n. A king; a chief; a title of tlie
emperor of Russia ; i>ronounced tzar, and
so written by good authors.
CZARINA, n. A title of the empress of
Russia.
CZ'ARISII, a. Pertaining to the czar of
Russia.
D.
Jj, in the English alphabet, is the fourth
letter and the third articulation. It holds
the same jilace in the English, as in the
Clialdee, Syriac, Hebrew, Samaritan,
Greek and Latin alphabets. In the Arabic,
it is the eighth ; in the Russian, the fifth ;
and in the Ethiopic, the nineteenth letter
D is a dental articulation, formed by i>lacing
the end of the tongue against the gum
just above the upper teeth. It is nearly
allied to T, but is not so close a letter, or
rather it does not interrupt the voice so
suddenly as T, and in forming the articu-
lation, there is a lingual and nasal sound,
which has induced some writers to rank
D among the lingual letters. It has but
one sound, as in do, din, bad; and is i
er quiescent in English words, except in a
rapid utterance of such words as hand-
kerchief.
As a numeral, D reprcsents_^i'c hundred, am
when a dash or stroke is placed over it,
thus D, it denotesyiDC thousand.
As an abbreviation, D stands for Doctor ; as
M. D. Doctor of Medicine ; D. T. Doctor
of Theology, or S. T. D. Doctor of Sacred
Theology ; D. D. Doctor of Divinity, or
dono dedit ; D. D. D. dat, dicat, dedi
cat ; and D. D. D. D. dignutn Deo donuii
dedit.
Da Capo. [It. from the head.] In inusic
these words signify that the first part oti
the tune is to be repeated fi-om the begin-
ning.
DAB, V. t. [Fr. dauber, or from the same
root. It has the elements of dip, dub audi
tap, Gr. tvnru, and of daub. Class Db.
No. 3. 21. 28. 58.] j
1. To strike gently with the hand ; to slap :
to box. BaiJey.\
2. To strike gently with some soft or moist
substance; as, to dab a sore with lint. '
Sharp!
D.\B, n. A gentle blow with the hand.
2. A small lump or mass of any thing soft:
or moist.
3. Something moist or slimy thrown on one.
4. In lato language, an expert man. [See
Dabster.]
5. A small flat fish, of the genus Pleuronec-
tes, of a dark brown color.
DAB'CHICK, n. [dab or dip and chick.] A
small water-fowl. [
DAB'BLE, r.<. [Heb. hsa tnhal, or frotn
the root of dip, Goth, davpijan, Belgici
dabben or dabbekn. See Dip.] \
Literally, to dip a little or often ; hence, to
wet ; to moisten ; to spatter ; to wet by lit-
tle dips or strokes ; to sprinkle.
Simfl. IViseman.
DAB'BLE, v.i. To play in water; to dip
the hands, throw water and splash about
to play in mud and water.
2. To do any thing in a slight or superficial
manner; to tamper; to touch here and
there.
You have, I think, been dabbling with the
text. Atterbury
3. To meddle ; to dip into a concern.
D.^B'BLER, n. One who plays in water or
mud.
2. One who dips slightly into any thing ; on<
who meddles, without going to the bot
torn ; a superficial meddler ; as a dabblei
in politics.
DABBLING, ppr. Dipping superficially or
often ; playing in water, or In mud ; med
dling.
DAB'STER, n. [Qu. from adept, with ster.
Sax. steoran, to steer.]
One who is skilled ; one who is expert
master of his business. [Not an elegant
word. See Dapper.]
DACE, n. [D. daas. Qu. Fr. vendoise.] A
fish, the Ciwrinus leuciscus ; a small river
fish, resembling the roach. JValton.
DA€'TYL, n. [Gr. iaxruXof, a finger ; L,
dactylus ; probably a shoot. See Digit.]
A poetical foot consisting of three syllables,
the first long, and the others short, like
the joints of a finger; as, tegmln(, carmine.
DAC'TYLET, n. A dactyl. Bp. Hall.
DAC'TV'Lle, a. Pertaining to or consisting
of dactyls; as dactylic verses; a dactylic
flute, a flute consisting of unequal inter-
vals. Encyc,
DAC'TYLIST, n. 
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